Tank build and Numbers for the Mechanical Perfectionist.

[Whyley]

Hi guys.

I'm in the middle of a tank build and would like to share some of the things I have found while pawing around the web. Better yet a thread which I can consolidate my information and refer to as needed. Better than that with any luck people who know their stuff will chime in and offer valuable input as I go. Win Win and a little selfish.

In my small mind (blame the nature of my work). When it came to the mechanical end of my build I hit the engineering library and spent a couple hours pouring over mech books and journals filling a notepad with numbers and scribbles to arrive at my final design. (which is still changing) That was weeks ago. Today, I'll be damned. I stumbled accross a very sharp fellow who has posted a good chunk of things I had done the long painfull way.

This might be old hat to alot of you but man I wish someone had pointed me in this direction a month or so ago.




WATER FLOW.
Going to start with the guy that inspired this thread. *Attention to detail combined with simplification.

The guy even coded up a Calculator for us. As always people are stuck in their ways and there are some things I do disagree with. However produce the same result.

Hydraulics for the reef keeper.
http://www.beananimal.com/articles/hydraulics-for-the-aquarist.aspx


Same cat.

Silent & Fail-Safe Aquarium Overflow System.
http://www.beananimal.com/projects/silent-and-fail-safe-aquarium-overflow-system.aspx


Waynes Reef World! I spent $1500 with Wayne and Garth because their videos saved me several hours of homework. I love these guys. They explain things perfectly for me. Party on BRS. Check out the whole series. Priceless I'll probably post it again and again.

Adding a Sump and overflows to our Reef Tank -- Ep:6 How to set up a saltwater aquarium.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaDDKNA4cn0&list=PLFDFAB0066A083F12&index=6&feature=plpp_video


Because I think I'm funny... I might have been drinking.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRm0LnZjP60&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAjXYfTtGas

Making Holes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87yJbAW32hQ&list=UUcJv2rQDivg8NwXIxydJ86A&index=5&feature=plcp

I really like these guys, Good info. Just didn't work out I'm in Canada.
http://www.glass-holes.com/main.sc


SCWD Flow characteristics.
http://www.3iqventures.com/threefourthinch.html


Iwaki Pumps.
Spec Sheet.
http://www.iwakiamerica.com/products/wmd.htm

Pump Curve.
http://www.iwakiamerica.com/Literature/MD_WMD/30Rcrv.pdf


Pipe, Fittings and Valves.

Brian Boker is the best sales rep I have been lucky enough to deal with. He's the man! Don't tell him I sent you.
http://www.markssupply.net/

ROCK.

Might just sit back and wait for the one I want to turn up.
http://www.marcorocks.com/MarcoRocksCherryScape.aspx


Rock on Wayne.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BdOqC_6ykU&list=PLCF8D9F804B3DFA95&index=1&feature=plpp_video


Keep it together.
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/threaded-rods/bolts/fasteners/ecatalog/N-8k5Z1z0o42f

http://www.marcorocks.com/bondingmortar.aspx



Heat

Don't bother looking any further. This write up is perfect in every way. I do this for a living and this guy explains it better than I ever could.

Thermodynamics for the Reef Aquarist
http://www.beananimal.com/articles/thermodynamics-for-the-aquarist.aspx


Dosing

I use these guys at work for precision equipment. I have not settled on a pump yet but If you want absolute precision talk to these guys! I deal with Tara Coote. They also get all test kits, sterile containers, refractometers, especially bulk chemicals dirt cheap. Ignore pricing on the website. I didn't send you, might have to setup a business account as they are a national distributor.
http://canadawide.ca/catalog/p_pumps_peristaltic.html


Tank

I chose the 56gallon. Only the bottom is tempered. It fits my design perfectly. I have a 30.5" span in a very load bearing wall in my basement. Without engineering point loads and pulling a permit this is the largest tank I can find to fit my current dimensions. I intend to Herbie the back.
http://www.marineland.com/uploadedF...and Column Aquarium Specs and Sizes Chart.pdf

Livestock

hahaha... Your guess is better than mine. I'm mechanical black and white nerd. Cant seem to wrap my head around the whole fish/CuC/Coral dynamic. What I can do is provide exactly perfect conditions for anything provided I'm given exact figures to develop a system for. I created a post just for this, right here. I have one friend here who has replied. Jinks is appreciated and I have followed up with every suggestion he/she has made.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2210674



I have a lot to add and I hope those of you who read this will add as well. This post will be edited daily.

Thanks
Whyley.

 

[cloak]

Whoa! That's a lot of reading. I was going to give you some informative links, but I think you might be on the right track... GL.

 

[Whyley]

Whoa! That's a lot of reading. I was going to give you some informative links, but I think you might be on the right track... GL.

Fire away, Your help is both appreciated and required. I will take any suggestion seriously. I'll research it to the best of my ability and when I find it valuable I'll add it to my post/bible. Thanks for your support

Whyley

 

[cloak]

Here's an "off the wall" link. (bookmarks are a good thing)

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-12/nftt/index.php

GL.

 

[Whyley]

Ok, I like it. I'm all about mechanical and know nothing about biology, trying to learn. I just tried to add a "algae" section to my post in respect to your post. Since it has been over an hour since my original post I can not edit it now. I have contacted an administrator about it as this would defeat the whole purpose of my thread.

Thanks again, your support is appreciated

 

[rivero9897]

Seems like you got it all covered for the most part.. that's a lot of research you got there. GL with your build man.

 

[Whyley]

man I really want to edit that initial post as I come across new things to add.. I've still got old things too add just got too tired when I was writing it. Any ideas who I should talk to about making it editable?

 

[Whyley]

Due to the profound interest my thread has gained. haha. Thought I would toss up an update.

I was hit with an infraction with threat to delete my account from admin for post padding on my own thread. I sent a reply to the hall monitor who chose to ignore it.

For that reason I chose to leave reefcentral at that time. I could care less how many posts I have on this site. I am just a guy that built a tank and had to reach 10 posts to I think PM someone at the time? Don't remember don't care.

Following that I have compiled the most definitive tank engineering blog I have seen on the internet. It includes all imaginable plumbing numbers, materials testing, Pump curves, pump db by make (only 7 at this time) tank design (hidden external overflow herbie only. As tested it is the quietest and most efficient), Glass cutting/crafting, Glass type/Clarity index, LED array manufacturing, mosfet, drivers, diodes, spectrum based on coral species with par/depth values, Lab view DAC touchscreen implementation, PLC, Arduino re-engineered reefkeeper. Essentially everything I could prove to be true and reliable about the mechanical side.

Basically I cut the ****.
This is a science. The hippy fruitcake bullshit we are lead to believe on the internet is so fraught with error and marketing you can count the accuracy percentage on your left hand.

Sorry no help with fish. You want a fish? Get yourself a biologist. They can tell you exactly what type of environment you must provide.

I have 1 very happy low maintenance fish based on the advise of a biologist who is a co-worker. (realistic feed, maintenance and cost) You will find that with the advise of a biologist the smallest cost you will incur is your tank you will throw out your store bought tank. (standard sizes are made for fresh water fish, not the habits of saltwater fish and especially corals)

My tank has been engineered to accommodate my corals, I made it deeper to suit my fish. His requirements habits and needs have been met and exceeded.

My corals receive light on a schedule at depths based on par meter values and times are set by the previous years data. Since all my corals come from Australia, I have used last years history from their home.

Please put the time into engineering your tank. Its much more important than you might think. Find my blog and contribute to the straight up science of engineering a real tank for your fish and corals. Its not expensive when you do the math yourself and find that hippies love to charge you 300% on crap that does not matter.

I could not be happier with my tank. I appreciate all the help I have received from reefcental members. But at this time I'm still Flipping The Bird to their Admin!