SaraB's 268 Gallon Build¦ Try #3!
- Thread starter SaraB
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SaraB
Coral Killer
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14018079#post14018079 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BenjieC
So I can my tanks back now? So I can get rid of them again. LOL
No, not done with them yet. They are still full of Live Rock and fish that need to be kept out of the new system yet until I'm sure it's stable and cycled.
EnglishRebel
Retired Rebel Reefer
I'm confused here -- not difficult I admit .
The pump thread and the PVC threads should be the same (FPT or MPT) both of which are tapered. Are you saying that pumps come with some oddball thread. I just finished hooking up my main pump and the standard PVC female adapter fittings from Lowes worked fine.
glparr
Waterbox Keeper
The Dart pump that drives Sara's system definitely has a different thread. Standard PVC fittings thread in with no problem, but are not as tight, which is, I'm sure, why people were saying use lots of tape. The special parts we got have a different shape to the threads and definitely sealed better. As I threaded them in, I could feel that it was a tighter fit. I believe they would have sealed well with tape, but we'd re-done the plumbing so many times, we had no interest in any more trials.
Gary
Gary
SaraB
Coral Killer
Here's a link to the 2" pump union. There is a difference in the threads.
http://www.hottubworks.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=2-11-3560
http://www.hottubworks.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=2-11-3560
EnglishRebel
Retired Rebel Reefer
Sara
That's a standard MPT (male pipe thread) that is on all the fittings you buy at Lowes or HD. I am still confused as to where the statement "special thread" came from.
Thanks
BTW Great job.
glparr
Waterbox Keeper
I'll chime in by saying there is a definite difference in the threads. I know because I was the one on my hands and knees inserting the parts. The standard PVC fittings threaded into the pump housing all of the way with little or no resistance. The part designed for insertion into pumps had the tight-fit resistance I would expect from a threaded fitting. Maybe it's just a different manufacturer, but I could tell they wouldn't leak whether we used silicone sealant or tape.
Gary
Gary
I learned the difference when talking with the owner of Ocean Motions. Most of the fittings that we regularly use are cast pvc. There are machined pvc fittings available that according to the guy at OM fit much tighter and will not thread all the way in before they get tight.
The dart from sequence recommends using pipe dope on the mpt that is inserted into the 2" fpt of their pump... this works wonders and is the only way to get their dart golds to not leak and not break the volute cover. Many layers of silicon tape is the fastest way to a broken non-warranted pump, bc they advise against it in their user manual available in pdf at their website.
SaraB
Coral Killer
Here's some long awaited photo's of the system with some changes done. The system has been running for over 2 weeks with no leaks and I think I'm in the clear now! 
Here's some more of my extremely helpful friends that came over to help change out some of the plumbing that was done.
Here's Gary thinking what did I get myself into for volunteering to help ... I hope this is over soon!
Here's the famous Rod as well ... he came over to drill a new drain on my fuge and tweak the surges he built for me.
Here's the new 3" Manifold that replaced the first 2" one installed to better handle the flow from the tank and surges.
This is also the 2nd drain that was added to the fuge as the first 1" one was not keeping up. This new one is a 1.5" drain.
This is the pump union (black pvc piece) combined with Marine Grade Silicone that fixed my ever painful leak. I'll be using these unions for the Sequence Pumps going forward. I also added a pump pad to limit vibration and movement.
More updates to follow!
Here's some more of my extremely helpful friends that came over to help change out some of the plumbing that was done.
Here's Gary thinking what did I get myself into for volunteering to help ... I hope this is over soon!
Here's the famous Rod as well ... he came over to drill a new drain on my fuge and tweak the surges he built for me.
Here's the new 3" Manifold that replaced the first 2" one installed to better handle the flow from the tank and surges.
This is also the 2nd drain that was added to the fuge as the first 1" one was not keeping up. This new one is a 1.5" drain.
This is the pump union (black pvc piece) combined with Marine Grade Silicone that fixed my ever painful leak. I'll be using these unions for the Sequence Pumps going forward. I also added a pump pad to limit vibration and movement.
More updates to follow!
customcolor
New member
rod who???....
just kidding.....that reminds me i need to get some more frozen food
glad to hear about the lack of leaks!
just kidding.....that reminds me i need to get some more frozen food
glad to hear about the lack of leaks!
SaraB
Coral Killer
I've been cooking some large pieces of Marco Rock since last April in anticipation of the tank being running. My friend Lisa and I took the rock to the carwash first for a blasting to make sure it was clean before I cooked it. I added some already cured rock to help the process along.
Here's the rock cooking in the garage ... my husband can't wait for it to go away and free up some space!
About 2.5 weeks ago I added my 4 large pieces of Marco Rock to the display and added some existing liverock to the fuge to get the curing of the new tank moving. I peeled off the ends of the protective wrap on the tank so I could watch. This is not the final resting place as I'm hoping to get a rock stacking expert from the area over sometime in the next week to help build a couple of structures. I also have all the rock from the last system (200 pounds) still running in the old system waiting for a new home somewhere in the new system.
Here's a few pieces in the fuge as well.
I tested my water last night for the first time and Nitrites, Nitrates and Ammonia are all at 0. I'm going to continue to exercise patience and take it slow with adding my fish and corals.
Here's the rock cooking in the garage ... my husband can't wait for it to go away and free up some space!
About 2.5 weeks ago I added my 4 large pieces of Marco Rock to the display and added some existing liverock to the fuge to get the curing of the new tank moving. I peeled off the ends of the protective wrap on the tank so I could watch. This is not the final resting place as I'm hoping to get a rock stacking expert from the area over sometime in the next week to help build a couple of structures. I also have all the rock from the last system (200 pounds) still running in the old system waiting for a new home somewhere in the new system.
Here's a few pieces in the fuge as well.
I tested my water last night for the first time and Nitrites, Nitrates and Ammonia are all at 0. I'm going to continue to exercise patience and take it slow with adding my fish and corals.
SaraB
Coral Killer
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14087845#post14087845 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dejavu
Looks great! I need to see some live stock.
Thanks Brian! I'm working on getting all the pieces together so I can get some livestock in there sometime soon. Will some more rock count?
The system looks great Sara. I'm glad you were finally able to get the leaks under control.
I love those big Marco Rock pieces you have. I'm anxious to see the final rockwork!
In one of your posts, you mentioned going to a larger drain on the refugium because 1" wasn't keeping up. How much flow do you have going through the fuge?
I love those big Marco Rock pieces you have. I'm anxious to see the final rockwork!
In one of your posts, you mentioned going to a larger drain on the refugium because 1" wasn't keeping up. How much flow do you have going through the fuge?
SaraB
Coral Killer
Thanks Ryan. I'm really not sure how much flow I have going into the fuge. It's being fed off of my primary drain and the flow will eventully be controlled by how much I can feed my skimmer and it will receive all the rest after that. There's a 2" pipe that drains into the fuge and I had to really cut the flow back after the skimmer with a valve to not overflow that tank, so an additional drain fixed that. The skimmer has not yet been plugged in, so everything could change when that happens!
So where's your update Ryan?
So where's your update Ryan?
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1502721&perpage=25&pagenumber=2
I just updated mine last night. Between holiday parties, Chirstmas, New Years, and not to mention a little local reef club drama, I hadn't had too much time to work on it - but I'm back now!
I just updated mine last night. Between holiday parties, Chirstmas, New Years, and not to mention a little local reef club drama, I hadn't had too much time to work on it - but I'm back now!
Patience? Whats that? C'mon Sara, Can you at least add one fish for us Similar threads
