RocketEngineer's 75g/125g Setup
- Thread starter RocketEngineer
- Start date
RocketEngineer
Space is big.
I'm glad you enjoyed the thread. I try to take pictures along the way to give folks ideas. I find DIY is infinitely more satisfying than just going out and buying another person's design. Also, if it breaks the only person I can blame is myself. Then again, if it breaks I know how to fix it and hopefully can prevent it from breaking in the future.
Great to follow along on this thread. Thanks Rocket. I also just finished putting a sump together and will soon start on my plumbing. I'm interested in your plumbing set-up from the T off the return. Could you describe why you branched off as you did rather than a straight line T over to the fuge?
Appreciate it! Also, thanks for the tip on the plastic razor blades. Didn't even know they made those.
Appreciate it! Also, thanks for the tip on the plastic razor blades. Didn't even know they made those.
RocketEngineer
Space is big.
When I was laying it out in 3D I couldn't get the pipes to sit under the top rim of the sump without the pump hitting the back of the return section first. However, playing with it tonight I realized that by changing the orientation of the pump volute I could get the result that I want and have a very straight run. I'm glad you mentioned something. This is the result:
A little reworking of the positions and trimming one of the pipes and the plumbing has two less fittings and it fits like a glove. Gluing it together will eliminate some of the gaps so I will probably increase the length of the piece between the two tees.
One thing to consider is this layout doesn't have any dead areas. The refugium supply off the end of the manifold means there isn't a dead end that can collect detritus. The 45 degree elbow above the valve is there because the pipe going to the return has to go around the external overflow box and I would rather not fight with the set of the 1" tubing.
About the razor blades, neither did I until I got them for Christmas. I wonder where I can get more....
As a side note I had an inspector decide to take a closer look.
She started in the skimmer section, crawled over the return section and sniffed around in the refugium. I hope the skimmer can pull cat hair out of the tank.
Hey, I found some plastic blades at a few different places. It looks like you can get blunt edges or razor-sharp edges depending on what you need. Here's one link:
http://www.pjtool.com/plasticrazorblades100pcs.aspx?gclid=CJruuYGZ6bQCFUbf4AodgDEAdw
These blades are apparently used in auto detailing so an auto parts store might carry them. I'll check that out first - hate it when shipping costs more than the actual item you need...
Also, thanks for the explanation and new pictures. You already inspired my stand, now you're inspiring my plumbing! Will you be supporting that long end of piping to the fuge under your cabinet or is it rigid enough like it is?
http://www.pjtool.com/plasticrazorblades100pcs.aspx?gclid=CJruuYGZ6bQCFUbf4AodgDEAdw
These blades are apparently used in auto detailing so an auto parts store might carry them. I'll check that out first - hate it when shipping costs more than the actual item you need...
Also, thanks for the explanation and new pictures. You already inspired my stand, now you're inspiring my plumbing! Will you be supporting that long end of piping to the fuge under your cabinet or is it rigid enough like it is?
RocketEngineer
Space is big.
My plan is to use some Mold-A-Holder to support the very end of the run. That way if I pull out the pump for maintenance it won't move too much.
RocketEngineer
Space is big.
Another weekend, another step forward on the upgrade. I finished the external box on the 125g by installing gussets under the box. I also glued the return pump manifold and the tank return together. Next is masking off and painting the back of the 125g.
RocketEngineer
Space is big.
This weekend I was able to finish installing the gussets under the external overflow box and painted the back of the tank.
Tank masked off and painting completed:
Plumbing placed:
A zoomed in picture of the gussets:
The drains:
The left hand bulkhead is for the Durso, the center one is the siphon, and the right hand bulkhead is for the emergency drain.
Another weekend, another step forward on the upgrade.
Tank masked off and painting completed:
Plumbing placed:
A zoomed in picture of the gussets:
The drains:
The left hand bulkhead is for the Durso, the center one is the siphon, and the right hand bulkhead is for the emergency drain.
Another weekend, another step forward on the upgrade.
luck7773
In Memoriam
ps need help
ps need help
180 gl is 6x2x2. the stand i am building is going to be supported by center beam 4x4cherry 6' span with 2 2x4 bolted and glued together one on each side (front) the back is sitting on 6 2x4 (wall), top is 3/4 plywood. i like to avoid the additional support in the center ps it sits 44" high. email luck7773@yahoo.com i can email you pic
ps need help
180 gl is 6x2x2. the stand i am building is going to be supported by center beam 4x4cherry 6' span with 2 2x4 bolted and glued together one on each side (front) the back is sitting on 6 2x4 (wall), top is 3/4 plywood. i like to avoid the additional support in the center ps it sits 44" high. email luck7773@yahoo.com i can email you pic
luck7773
In Memoriam
180gl
180gl
180 gl is 6x2x2. the stand i am building is going to be supported by center beam 4x4cherry 6' span with 2 2x4 bolted and glued together one on each side (front) the back is sitting on 6 2x4 (wall), top is 3/4 plywood. i like to avoid the additional support in the center ps it sits 44" high. email luck7773@yahoo.com i can email you pic
180gl
180 gl is 6x2x2. the stand i am building is going to be supported by center beam 4x4cherry 6' span with 2 2x4 bolted and glued together one on each side (front) the back is sitting on 6 2x4 (wall), top is 3/4 plywood. i like to avoid the additional support in the center ps it sits 44" high. email luck7773@yahoo.com i can email you pic
brianryan8
Member
Great set-up. Looks like a lot of dyi
RocketEngineer
Space is big.
luck7773, this is my personal build thread, not the stand thread. If you have stand questions, post them in HERE.
whiteshark
Active member
I wish I lived near someone who was doing a project this in depth. I can just imagine how much I could learn if I could be a part of it.
RocketEngineer
Space is big.
Thanks. I pride myself on building much of my setup. It also saves lots of money over buying pre-built units. As an example, if I had purchased enough LEDs to cover the 125g, I would have to pay over $3000 vs the $900 I spent on the pieces. There are a few splurges but otherwise I try to be smart about what I spend compared to what I build.
RocketEngineer
Space is big.
Read all the build threads you can find, ask questions, and PLAN. Having a plan on paper or digitally is key for any build because it lets you look at things before you buy anything. Changes in a plan are easy, changing things once you've started can get expensive.
FYI, I started planning for the upgrade to the 125g before I had built the stand for the 75g. I didn't expect to do the upgrade quite so soon after the 75g was up and running. A local deal came that I couldn't pass up. I will say that in the last 6 months I have headed off two major issues in the design stage that saved me a lot of time and effort later. The first was reversing the sump to put the ATO and skimmer on the same side and the second was settling on a purchased 40B for a sump instead of spending hundreds building a custom sump tank. Hopefully by the one year mark since picking up the new tank it will be on the stand and full. We will see.
RocketEngineer
Space is big.
A snowy morning. While shoveling I realized that I had snow in my tank.
Just a thin layer but still.
Just a thin layer but still.
RocketEngineer
Space is big.
Today I was looking at the 75g today and realized I haven't posted anything but the upgrade for some time. So tonight I figured I would provide perspective.
First, the two Acan Lords that I started with.
The first Acan two years ago:
Today:
This thing has gone NUTS. Honestly I can't tell you how many heads are in this colony. Started with 4 and grew from there.
The other Acan Lord two years ago:
Today:
This one has about 20 heads all total. A nice increase from the three I started with.
The hammer I picked up ~18 months ago:
This afternoon:
First, the two Acan Lords that I started with.
The first Acan two years ago:
Today:
This thing has gone NUTS. Honestly I can't tell you how many heads are in this colony. Started with 4 and grew from there.
The other Acan Lord two years ago:
Today:
This one has about 20 heads all total. A nice increase from the three I started with.
The hammer I picked up ~18 months ago:
This afternoon:
RocketEngineer
Space is big.
The last one is the Acro. When I bought it:
Today:
The funny thing is you can't even see the frag plug any more.
So while folks may want fancy show colonies as soon as they start, I find it better to buy small corals and let them grow. Among other things, when I loose one it hurts the wallet a lot less.
Today:
The funny thing is you can't even see the frag plug any more.
So while folks may want fancy show colonies as soon as they start, I find it better to buy small corals and let them grow. Among other things, when I loose one it hurts the wallet a lot less.
I am eventually going to do something similar as RocketEng.
I am going to build a Stand, DIY LED Luminaires, sump and maybe the shimmer, I'm in the Philly area if want to join in when I start.
I got a 120G Oceanic Tech Tank waiting for this.
Nice work so far Rocket. Going to see if a Electrical Engineer can match your build quality.
RocketEngineer
Space is big.
Thanks. The woodworking was fairly straight forward. The challenge for me will be getting the LEDs up and running. With all the folks at work with mad electrical skills, I will be leaning on them for help.
