Starting a 180, initial progress

[chrisguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10657774#post10657774 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RandyO
Hey Chris,
Looking good. I haven't visited this thread since May. Been busy myself.

What you busy?!?!? You act like you recently bought a LFS or something...

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10657774#post10657774 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RandyO
I saw your glass overflow box. How much room did you leave between the top of the overflow box and the bottom edge of the trim on the aquarium? It does not look like much. Without teeth in your overflow box, you don't have any way to lower the water level. I would guess the water will crest 1-2" over the top of that box if you use a large return pump.

Speaking of that, I have an extra Hammerhead Pump. Let me know if you want to try it out on your system when your close to up and running. I have an extra Barracuda too, but need to replace the seal on it.

I prefer a lower flow through the sump which is why I was looking at the Marlin and similar level pumps for the return. There is exactly 1" between the top of the overflow box and the underside of the trim. This should be fine with lower flow.

When I am ready I'll give you a call. If you still have the pump, I'll take you up on that offer, just to see how it flows. I do plan to use the retun pump to supply other things, like Carbon and Phos reactors, etc. so that will keep some of the flow out of the display.

On the other hand, I may use the hammer for the Closed Loop as it flows much better than a Dart. I was considering running two darts in series as I think I read somewhere that you can get crazy flow from that and it would allow me to have both active in the event that one had an issue, vs a cold (on the shelf) spare. Any thoughts??

 

[chrisguy]

Little update before I head out for some family fun time.

The tank is on the stand in the garage. Man is it tall. The stand is 42" tall. I've started the plumbing. Need to get a couple more parts before plumbing is complete. I plan to do a water test in the garage before moving the tank into the house.

I water tested the sump this AM and found another leak. This one looks like a seam let go, oh so slightly. I am guessing it happened when the sump was stored on it's side in the basement on the cement floor for about 6 months. I've applied some weld-on 16 and will water test it again tomorrow.

Still need to make a return pump decision. I need to give Randy a call as I think I am going with the Hammer if he still has it.

 

[Conesus_Kid]

I didn't realize that you weren't using the "tub" for your sump. Had you given that option any thought?

I'm thinking of something on par w/ Steve Helinski's setup.

 

[chrisguy]

At this time the "tub" is my tank while I get the new tank up and running. I don't have the room to keep the tub connected as part of the system at this time, so once the 180 is up, the tub comes down. I do have future plans to have the tub connected as a grow out tank, but that's a little while down the road. I need to get this project done before going down that route.

 

[chrisguy]

Sump is holding water again!!

Was hoping to water test the tank in the garage today, but that didn't work out. I miscounted and was short 1 Savko True Union Ball Valves. So I placed another order, which wasn't bad as I really needed a couple other things anyway. If all goes according to plan, I will finish the Closed loop plumbing this week and have a full tank water test for the weekend.

Since I was ordering "stuff" I also ordered a DC-4 for my AC Jr. This will give me 4 other controllable outlets. My plan is to use the DC-8 by the tank and the DC-4 by the sump. I'll need to make a small electrical panel so that I will have the ability to power off devices on demand without messing with the ACjr.

 

[chrisguy]

AND...

So this thread doesn't go too far without a picture. Below is the tank on the stand from last weekend. For reference I had my two boys pose near the stand. The short kid at the front (Josh) is 5 and stands about 44" tall. His brother (Nick) is 7 (8 in December) and is about 55" tall.

 

[dreaminmel]

Looks awesome Chris! Can't wait to see it all set up

 

[chrisguy]

Accomplished quite a bit tonight. Installed the last true union valve let it sit for a while then added water from the garden hose. The garage water test was as expected. I needed to tighten a couple unions, had one bulkhead that needed a quarter turn and as always the threaded connection on the input side of the Dart leaked. The good news is that I found and fixed all leaks. I also installed the lights just to see what they would look like and all was working well. Putting the bright blue/purple lights in your garage really attracts your neighbors. Had about 6 people stop over to see what was going on.

The plan is to keep water in the tank and run the closed loop for a couple days to verify no leaks. This weekend I will complete the final parts of the stand. I'm on track to have it in the house and running by the end of the month.

On a not so positive note, my acrylic sump has a minor leak again. This time about 4 inches higher than the last leak, on the same joint. I decided to add a strip of acrylic to the outside of the sump to better seal the whole joint. I guess I should have stored the sump better during it's down time. Keeping positive, it's already sealed and should be back in action tomorrow.

 

[SkiFletch]

Chris, you could also consider running a bead of silicone along the inside of the problem joint on the sump. It won't support much force, but slow drips can be sealed with silicone. You can also check out Lowes or Home Depot, they did just get a new GE silicone designed for use with acrylic...

 

[KurtsReef]

I have an extra 2" and 1" true union from Savco!

Good to see the tank up on the stand, I am sure your fish are happy where they are but more than likely miss the interaction of being right in there with the family. (Well, I feel like my fish like interacting)

 

[chrisguy]

I've been continuing the progress.

~ Finished all painting of the main stand, inside and out
~ Built a shelf to hold the MH Ballasts
~ Built a small shelf for the Closed Loop pump
~ Build a bracket to hold a fan inside the stand
~ Siliconed the entire inside of the stand up to the point of the front openings.
~ Built a frame that attached to the back of the stand to hide the plumbing.
~ Built a set of doors to for the frame to make it look nice and neat. Still need to sand the wood filler and do some touch-up painting.

I think I'll be moving the setup inside the house this weekend so that I can work on the drain and return plumbing. Looks like I am not going to make my end of September operational date, but I missed July and August, so I am getting used to these delays.

Picture of the ballast shelf and closed loop with OM 4-way

Current picture of the setup, still in the garage.

 

[magdelan]

Chris, What are the chances that you bought that light from CRP? I saw it on her tank and wanted it. She said that she had already sold it. It looks similar to my 36in. light. WHat kind is it and what bulbs are you running?

Mike

 

[SkiFletch]

Damn Chris, lookin sweet

 

[chrisguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10843735#post10843735 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by magdelan
Chris, What are the chances that you bought that light from CRP? I saw it on her tank and wanted it. She said that she had already sold it. It looks similar to my 36in. light. What kind is it and what bulbs are you running?

Mike

Those are in fact CRP's lights. We worked out a deal where she was able to deliver them to Buffalo when she came out with her family to pickup her new boat early in the summer. I haven't changed anything with the lights since I got them. I'm waiting to see what they look like with the tank full of corals. In the garage test I liked the color produced by the lights.

As for the type and bulbs, I'll have to post something later.

 

[crp]

Hi Chris!

Great to see the tank coming along nicely.

The bulbs are 3 250W HQI double ended 14K bulbs and 2 140W VHO's.

 

[Chrsnwk]

Chris -

Your setup is looking awesome... Great work on the stand. Major kudo's on the very well thought out and neat plumbing job as well. A lesson I've learned over the years is how wonderful unions can be. I think you are of the same mindset

 

[chrisguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10845938#post10845938 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Chrsnwk
Chris -

Your setup is looking awesome... Great work on the stand. Major kudo's on the very well thought out and neat plumbing job as well. A lesson I've learned over the years is how wonderful unions can be. I think you are of the same mindset

Thanks!!!

Keep in mind that from the picture's perspective it's a 10 foot finish. You can't see the details (aka flaws). I'm happy with the results but it is far from a professional job.

For some of the "runs" on the CL I have 3 unions. Overkill, maybe, but they also allow me to easily tweek the direction of a pipe.

 

[derrikd]

wow looks great So far

 

[Chrsnwk]

Chris -

The only one that needs to be satisfied with the finish is you, be it 10' or 10". Overkill on the plumbing for the sake of versatility isn't overkill in my book. I wish I had done some things differently as I've hacksawed and reworked my plumbing over the years. I'll never build a system again without a valved breakable connection at the very least on or near each bulkhead, and on each side of a pump.

Again... great work. If it's ready, I can't wait to see the finished product when this buffalo reef crawl thing gets organized.

 

[KurtsReef]

Nice idea on the ballast shelf, have been thinking of where to mount mine as they are currently just sitting on the floor.