Phuzzykins' 300 gallon AGE Build Extravaganza

[speedingredline]

What is that power cord for the 3 vortech's, customer made or special order from ecotech?

 

[jthomps123]

Thats one slick a@@ setup you got there!

 

[rastarainy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15217895#post15217895 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by phuzzykins

what's the tank on the right side of the picture for?

 

[phuzzykins]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15493284#post15493284 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by speedingredline

What is that power cord for the 3 vortech's, customer made or special order from ecotech?

It's a mostly off-the-shelf cord (3 IEC C13 to 1 IEC C14)... I replaced the C14 connector with a NEMA 5-15P.

Here's a link to the cord: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000JCNOG6

And the connector: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002BWBYU

Cheers,
-Matt

 

[phuzzykins]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15519432#post15519432 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rastarainy
what's the tank on the right side of the picture for?

That's a 29 gallon tank that will be used for quarantine. It's currently full of rock that will be moved to the 300 gallon tank.

Cheers,
-Matt

 

[phuzzykins]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15519121#post15519121 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jthomps123
Thats one slick a@@ setup you got there!

Thank you... it's not quite where I want it yet, but it's getting there. I designed and managed a datacenter in a former life, so I'm pretty anal retentive about cabling and equipment organization.

I finally got my long-awaited Neptune Apex controller, so it's almost time to finish off the equipment panel.

Cheers,
-Matt

 

[phuzzykins]

Well, it's been a long time without an update, and a long time without visible progress. Which is why there have been no updates!

Between lousy weather, health issues, and friends flaking out a few times... the tank sat in a crate in my driveway for 3 months. I finally broke down and hired professional movers, and they had it inside and on the stand within 30 minutes of showing up. Not cheap, but no part of this has been cheap.

And here's what you all came to see... pics! Not as nice as usual, since I just took them with my iPhone.

First, the stand sitting on its tile pad. My roommates and I managed to get the stand in by ourselves.

Next, the movers ease the tank (still on the crate bottom) down the hill with dollies. I can't believe that only 3 guys were able to handle this move with no special equipment.

There was some head scratching as they tried to form a plan for getting up the steps.

But they got it up on the stand.

And after triple-checking the level and doing some cleaning, I started the freshwater test.

And finally finished up the EZ-Tube frame of the light rack...

And did some work on the plumbing.

Updates will (hopefully) be flowing more regularly now!

 

[RGibson]

Here are a few pics of the rest of the build, just to keep things moving along.

First, an overall shot of my utility room / fish room:

Starting on the left you can see my water heater, a 44 gallon Brute container for RO/DI, utility sink, the collection cup of the skimmer, return pump with reactor manifold, Glass Cages sump, equipment panel, and finally, a 29 gallon tank that will be used for QT.

The equipment panel is made up of removable plastic panels (a mix of starboard and expanded PVC) on a frame of 2X4s to allow for cables to be tucked out of the way.

A sump shot:

Skimmer, chiller, and the corner of the sink. The line going to the skimmer will be used to feed the chiller, and the skimmer will be gravity fed from an overflow.

RO/DI. Can you guess how many PPM iron my tap water is?

And finally, the mass of plumbing fittings still to be assembled. The Hayward bulkheads were a thoughtful gift from AGE.

More to come when the weather clears and the beast can actually be moved into the basement.

Cheers,
-Matt

What kind of materal did you used to mount the ele ballasts?

 

[phuzzykins]

What kind of materal did you used to mount the ele ballasts?

The ballasts are mounted on 1/2" thick Star Board (HDPE plastic). It's easy to work with, and holds screws very well.

 

[RGibson]

Were did you buy it?

 

[phuzzykins]

Were did you buy it?

I bought mine from Interstate Plastics.

 

[phuzzykins]

I finished draining out the tap water from the main tank, and filled both overflow boxes with salt water to check the drain plumbing for leaks. So far, so good.

I spent an hour or so earlier today doing the dunk & swish treatment on 200lbs of dry rock. Not sure if I'll be able to get my mer-man to pose in the tank before the urge to aquascape and get salt water in the tank takes over.

 

[Reefer08]

Is this an acrylic or glass tank? Very nice tank build, im subscribed now!

 

[popper231]

that's one sweet tank....i see you got a hose to fill water...do you not filter the water?

 

[phuzzykins]

Is this an acrylic or glass tank? Very nice tank build, im subscribed now!

Thank you for the kind words!

It's a hybrid tank - the bottom is 1" thick PVC, the top is 3/4" acrylic, the front and sides are 1/2" starphire glass, and the back is 1/2" standard glass. The two external overflows are 1/2" thick black acrylic.

 

[phuzzykins]

that's one sweet tank....i see you got a hose to fill water...do you not filter the water?

The tap water was just for the leak test - none of it is staying in the system. On the off chance that I had a leak, I didn't want to have to discard hundreds of gallons of RO/DI water.

 

[phuzzykins]

Not a lot of obvious progress today... mostly just fiddly plumbing bits for the return lines.

I did, however, get the metal halide lamps lit!

 

[phuzzykins]

I'm a little bleached, but I should color up nicely under these 10k halides...

Back to my corner.

 

[Robb in Austin]

I don't care who you are, that ^ is freakin' funny! Thanks! I needed a laugh.

 

[mako199]

Awsome Build!.......Are you a little concerned about those reflectors being so close to the ceiling (heat wise)?