Randy's 180G Reef-Photo Journal

[rdmpe]

AAARRGH - I finally gave RC a small portion of the money that this web site has saved me so far a few days ago in the form of a premium membership for $24/year. But I guess it's not "active" yet? I don't have the logo and still get the search busy window!!!

So Tyler - how 'bout a link to the rock cooking thread, and who the heck is Sean T. ? :lol:

 

[tgunn]

AAARRGH - I finally gave RC a small portion of the money that this web site has saved me so far a few days ago in the form of a premium membership for $24/year. But I guess it's not "active" yet? I don't have the logo and still get the search busy window!!!

So Tyler - how 'bout a link to the rock cooking thread, and who the heck is Sean T. ? :lol:

Heh, it took a few days for mine to get activated...

The thread is here. SeanT is the login of the guy who started the thread and seems to know the most about the process. I'd suggest posting a message in that thread...

Tyler

 

[rdmpe]

Uh... My wife just mentioned doing an in-wall
(we do have a perfect spot for it)...

I didn't know what to say. So I just played it cool and said oh yeah that would be a great place to do that some day...

Maybe once I cut my teeth on this 180 I can go for a 240 in wall and use the 180 for a sump :beer: :bounce1: :bounce3: :dance:

 

[tgunn]

Uh... My wife just mentioned doing an in-wall
(we do have a perfect spot for it)...

I didn't know what to say. So I just played it cool and said oh yeah that would be a great place to do that some day...

Maybe once I cut my teeth on this 180 I can go for a 240 in wall and use the 180 for a sump :beer: :bounce1: :bounce3: :dance:

:lol: Congrats!

When I was first going to be setting up my tank I took my wife to see LittleBlueGT's reef. He has a basement fish room. She said, "Hmm, this room for all the equipment sure does make things easier, doesn't it? Maybe you should do that...". I almost dropped on the spot. :lol:

Tyler

 

[rdmpe]

I was pretty floored when she mentioned it. To tell you the truth though, I think my Mother In Law probably suggested it. The Mom is an interior designer and has some clients with nice SW tanks. So she has some appreciation for what can be done.

The beauty is the wall would be right at the dining room table, and behind it is our utility room...

Well, that's a project for a few years down the road...

 

[tgunn]

I was pretty floored when she mentioned it. To tell you the truth though, I think my Mother In Law probably suggested it. The Mom is an interior designer and has some clients with nice SW tanks. So she has some appreciation for what can be done.

The beauty is the wall would be right at the dining room table, and behind it is our utility room...

Well, that's a project for a few years down the road...

That would be awesome.. We're eventually planning on putting some chairs by the tank so we can have coffee there in the morning. A dining table by the tank wuold be great too; but nobody would eat because they'd be too busy looking!

Heh, gotta have the ideas for "the next tank" in mind at all times. I keep thinking of a room divider in my unfinished rec-room. :lol:

Tyler

 

[rdmpe]

I'm trying to get the stand level AND get good support around the entire perimeter (the walls of the stand are the support for the tank). I think I'm going to get it even with shims in whichever corners need it, then somewhat gently add shims around the perimeter wherever they'll slide in. Then I'll put some more water in it so that it puts some more pressure onto the shims, then I'll have to go around the stand with my dremel and trim the shims even with the surface of the stand wall.

This is going to be a big PITA. Anyone have a better suggestion???

 

[tgunn]

I'm trying to get the stand level AND get good support around the entire perimeter (the walls of the stand are the support for the tank). I think I'm going to get it even with shims in whichever corners need it, then somewhat gently add shims around the perimeter wherever they'll slide in. Then I'll put some more water in it so that it puts some more pressure onto the shims, then I'll have to go around the stand with my dremel and trim the shims even with the surface of the stand wall.

This is going to be a big PITA. Anyone have a better suggestion???

This is one thing I LOVED about my steel stand; four screw adjustable feet. Not the best for pressure points though.

Get some synthetic shims from Home Depot; they're in the window section. They look almost like plastic; they're not going to swell when wet like the cedar shims.

I think you''ve pretty much got the right idea there...

Something you might want to try that Melev suggested for Bheron's setup is to get a piece of pressure treated 2x4 and make solid wood shims out of thin slices of wood; that way you can just slide 'em under and not worry about breaking them off..

Otherwise I think you've got the right idea. Painful but it'll work.

Tyler

 

[rdmpe]

I had already started with the shims so I just went with them. I got it really level and filled all of the gaps where I could get one in. Turns out that it wasn't that difficult to trim them. I just took a carpet knife and scored the thicker pieces really well and then they broke off nice and clean. The thinner ones I could actually cut right through with a few passes. So it wasn't too bad. I als picked up some oak "shoe" trim for around the bottom.

The CL and returns are all working really well. However, I did come up with one problem. When I shut everything down and the sump fills up to it's max height, it causes the uniseals between my fuge & sump to drip about 4 drops per minute.

My darn drill has a bent shaft (I dropped it off a ladder and it landed just right). So when I was drilling the holes for the uniseals, I think the hole saw was wobbling enough to get slightly oversized. So either the addded head pressure or the added deformation of the tub walls creates a slight drip there.

It's fine when everything is running though.

So I'm filling my tank with the garden hose and it has a little ball valve on the end of it. The restriction causes the water to come out pretty fast. The hose comes out of the tank for just a second and scores a direct hit on the window curtains but the wife was not home and it is all dry now

So back to the sump/fuge drip, I think I'm going to have to use bulkheads there. The thing is, I'll have to use two bulkheads with a "close nipple" between them. I don't know of a bulkhead that is made to seal from both sides.

If anyone knows of a bulkhead that can seal both sides, I'd love to hear about it. I think the uniseals would have been fine if the holes were not drilled oversized...

Maybe I should bite the bullet and get a real acrylic sump. But I think I'd still need a two piece in order to get the thing in and out of the stand. So I'd still need the whole bulkhead thing.

 

[rdmpe]

OOPS...

:eek1: :lol:

 

[rjwilson37]

OOPS...

:eek1: :lol:

Art Deco... Hey, you didn't tell us you were an interior designer.

 

[rdmpe]

I call it...

Igbay Platsay

hehe

 

[rdmpe]

Hey RJ, I was just checking out your thread, really great 90g. I love your aquascaping. I want to also have plenty of open space around my tank. I want to try to do three seperate islands in my tank. I am going to use pvc to partially support the rock I think. I have a lot of aquascaping to do but hopefully it will work out nice.

 

[reefarchitect]

Just tagging along.

Good planning and attention to detail. Very inspiring...

 

[rdmpe]

reefarchitect - thanks. I just wish that some of the things I planned had worked out better! I'm very disappointed about ditching the motorized valve setup that I wanted to do off the sump return. But that's the price I'm paying for a silent drain I guess...

 

[reefarchitect]

RD,

I am considering/on the verge of upgrading to a 180. I read your entire thread today and found it very useful. It is a shame about the motorized valve, but I think you did well in not taking a stab at drilling the tank. Sometimes the safer road is the one to choose. I can't imagine your torment had you given it a try only to have the bottom crack...

Keep up the good work.

 

[rdmpe]

Well, I'm TRYING to get things done, but "work" keeps getting in the way Since I had to take the sump/fuge tubs out to put bulkheads in, I decided to take the opportunity to tear EVERYTHING out of the stand and paint the whole inside of the stand with this stuff

I saw someone else used it and it sounded like a good idea to me. The last thing I want is mold growing in there, it will be pretty warm and humid after all. It has some antimildew additives but I don't see how it would contaminate the tank once it's all dry... I'm also planning to eventually install a small exhaust fan that blows air from the stand out into the room. I don't have any way to vent it anywhere else without a major PITA type project. So hopefully blowing it out into the general room will be OK.

 

[tgunn]

Well, I'm TRYING to get things done, but "work" keeps getting in the way Since I had to take the sump/fuge tubs out to put bulkheads in, I decided to take the opportunity to tear EVERYTHING out of the stand and paint the whole inside of the stand with this stuff

I saw someone else used it and it sounded like a good idea to me. The last thing I want is mold growing in there, it will be pretty warm and humid after all. It has some antimildew additives but I don't see how it would contaminate the tank once it's all dry... I'm also planning to eventually install a small exhaust fan that blows air from the stand out into the room. I don't have any way to vent it anywhere else without a major PITA type project. So hopefully blowing it out into the general room will be OK.

Sounds like a good plan.

Hint for the fan; have two vents; one a fan blows into, and the other one just open where the air can escape. If you have the fans pulling air out of the canopy the humidity and saltspray will eat them alive in no time.

Tyler

 

[rdmpe]

...If you have the fans pulling air out of the canopy the humidity and saltspray will eat them alive in no time....

DOH! I didn't even think of that - thanks!!!

I'm going to get some of these fans - they seem to be the most nearly silent fans that I can find after reading some reviews and looking at flow vs. noise numbers. Going to use some of these in my Maristar light also to replace the loud fans that it comes with.
http://www.silenx.com/products.asp

 

[tgunn]

DOH! I didn't even think of that - thanks!!!

I'm going to get some of these fans - they seem to be the most nearly silent fans that I can find after reading some reviews and looking at flow vs. noise numbers. Going to use some of these in my Maristar light also to replace the loud fans that it comes with.
http://www.silenx.com/products.asp

Those look pretty decent. I used Vantec Stealths in the 120mm size. They're certainly noticable when I run them at 12v. I use an adjustable wall-wart and have them running at around 6v so they're more silent.

Tyler