Still waiting for pics ReefJ! lol
ReefJ's Reef Tank Build
- Thread starter ReefJ
- Start date
Still waiting for pics ReefJ! lol
OK finally I got some more pics. I've been really busy with school so I haven't had much time to mess with the tank.
I finished the plumbing last weekend and finished/tested the closed loop today. I'm posting a link of the video I shot to show you guys the closed loop I built today.
Basically its a coralife 1500gph turbo sea in-line pump plumbed thru a SQWD. I ran vinyl tubing up the back of the tank and connected them to two pieces of 1" pvc pipe that I teed off and put a 90 degree elbow on the end. I added threaded 3/4" bushings to adapt them to the locline fittings. Each pipe sits at the end of the tank with the loclines aiming toward the other side. I bought plastic pipe hangars that I will mount to the inside of the canopy to hold the pipe ends in place over the tank. Hopefully this will give me enough flow to not have to put any powerheads in my tank. I'm thinking it will be fine with a 2500gph turnover between the sump and the display and about 1200-1500gph on the closed loop. We'll SEE!
Next project that I will start Friday is the fake rock wall. I'm also posting some pics of how my plumbing for the sump looks.
ReefJ
I finished the plumbing last weekend and finished/tested the closed loop today. I'm posting a link of the video I shot to show you guys the closed loop I built today.
Basically its a coralife 1500gph turbo sea in-line pump plumbed thru a SQWD. I ran vinyl tubing up the back of the tank and connected them to two pieces of 1" pvc pipe that I teed off and put a 90 degree elbow on the end. I added threaded 3/4" bushings to adapt them to the locline fittings. Each pipe sits at the end of the tank with the loclines aiming toward the other side. I bought plastic pipe hangars that I will mount to the inside of the canopy to hold the pipe ends in place over the tank. Hopefully this will give me enough flow to not have to put any powerheads in my tank. I'm thinking it will be fine with a 2500gph turnover between the sump and the display and about 1200-1500gph on the closed loop. We'll SEE!
Next project that I will start Friday is the fake rock wall. I'm also posting some pics of how my plumbing for the sump looks.
ReefJ
I had the ball valves made up, just didn't put them in yet. They will go in this weekend as well as the foam or rubber under the two pumps.
Ok here's the vid of the closed loop running with the sqwd. I got tired and fell asleep the other night waiting for this video to upload to photobucket. Let me know if you guys think there is enough flow. I am considering exchanging the wide angle nozzles on the loclines for a more narrow stream. What do you guys think?
ReefJ
ReefJ
Does anybody know where I can buy reef-safe foam insulation in tucson? I plan on starting the rock wall this weekend and all that Lowes and HD carry is that great stuff crap and it is white. I also heard that great stuff starts dissolving after a year or so. What do you guys recommend?
ReefJ
ReefJ
scubabum1983
New member
you can try the pond stuff, but honestly i used the regular yellow gap filler, but to keep it from getting torn up i used 2 part epoxy found at the hobby shop then threw sand on it while it was sticky. its been more than a year for me and other than a couple spots you cant tell its foamed, and i have urchins chewing on it so i know its rugged, but here is a warning. sometimes foams can leach out the curing agent, this did happen to me and others, you have to run the tank for a couple weeks no skimmer, and do a total water change. the curing agent attatches to the skim and will stick to your skimmer cup and making it worthless. looks like its cracked and the stuff gets rock hard. after a month or so the agent passed. unfortunatly my skimmer cup will never be the same because i didnt find the thread where someone else said it happened to them before i had my skimmer running in the early stages. but the foam and rock was worth doing. you can see a pic of my rock wall on this fourm if you want to see how it looks.
Fishaholic, you down to come over this weekend and help me move my tank back onto the floor? I think the foam will be much easier to just spray directly onto the tank on its side. I'm gonna silicone the eggcrate to the overflows and back wall and just foam directly to the eggcrate. Give me a call if you can come by! Johnny you are invited too! 
ReefJ
ReefJ
fishaholic911
New member
I do not know if I can make it, you live too far, it all depends on if I have the gas money
Just give me a call when you are ready
Just give me a call when you are ready
Rock Wall Pics
Rock Wall Pics
Pics of the rock wall build. I'll be adding more tonight and tomorrow. I'm shooting to get the rock wall DONE by end of the day tomorrow, so I can get water and my live rock in this weekend. I got some pretty decent pieces of lace rock from tropical kingdom to fill in the gaps where I didn't have enough dead coral pieces. Thanks for the info johnny they had exactly what I needed.
ReefJ
Rock Wall Pics
Pics of the rock wall build. I'll be adding more tonight and tomorrow. I'm shooting to get the rock wall DONE by end of the day tomorrow, so I can get water and my live rock in this weekend. I got some pretty decent pieces of lace rock from tropical kingdom to fill in the gaps where I didn't have enough dead coral pieces. Thanks for the info johnny they had exactly what I needed.
ReefJ
Thanks Miguel.
More Rock wall pics
More Rock wall pics
Ziptied the rocks to the eggcrate this morning and siliconed the eggcrate into the tank this afternoon. Just got done foaming the tank. Thought I would share some pics with you guys.
Also, does anybody know if I absolutely HAVE to use the 2 part epoxy on the foam to keep it from breaking down under the metal halide lighting? I bought two large packages of the stuff but if I don't have to use it I'd prefer to just leave the tank as is. Have any of you guys had issues with the black pond foam dissolving over time?
ReefJ
More Rock wall pics
Ziptied the rocks to the eggcrate this morning and siliconed the eggcrate into the tank this afternoon. Just got done foaming the tank. Thought I would share some pics with you guys.
Also, does anybody know if I absolutely HAVE to use the 2 part epoxy on the foam to keep it from breaking down under the metal halide lighting? I bought two large packages of the stuff but if I don't have to use it I'd prefer to just leave the tank as is. Have any of you guys had issues with the black pond foam dissolving over time?
ReefJ
richpoolboy
New member
I would like to start by saying i have NO personal experience with this, with that being said i have seen foam "out of water" deteriorate in a matter of weeks and to be honest the tanks i have seen that were done with the epoxy and sand thrown on to it looks really cool.. just my opinion..
Yeah, I'm gonna just do the epoxy and sand regardless. Just got the new tank itch and wanna get it over with already. Been over a month in the process of getting it to this point. Oh well, no point rushing it now I guess.
I'll post pics of the finished product tomorrow once I get the sand glued on.
ReefJ
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