Tom - This is off subject from the light track discussion, but are you planning on running your eco-cooler on this tank or a regular chiller? Just curious, our tanks are similar in size and I am going to try the eco-cooler on mine this summer in an attempt to lower some cost just didn't get it hooked up in time for this past summer.
The inwall 380 starfire reborn
- Thread starter Sparkss
- Start date
- Status
lvpd186
Reefing in NE
Sorry to butt in, but I was going through your thread and saw that you were talking about lighting tracks so I thought I would share something from the OMS forum. Towards the bottom of this link you can see some really good photos of a lighting system on a sliding rack. The owner of the tank is a former "tank of the month" from here on reefcentral.
jnarowe
New member
And if you haven't already seen it, check out Oregon Reef's Lighting. 
I plan to. If you need me to I can provide the links to the eco cooler threads that I participated in last summer, documenting how it handled the heat, albeit on a smaller tank, but the new tank will have the lighting further away from the water and not have a glass top (our current tank does). So I fully expect the eco cooler to pull it's weight (versus pulling KWHs
).Thanks for all of the lighting track links and ideas. Right now I am more focused on the plumbing and getting the gravity feed setup for the skimmer. That has been what most of my research has been about today , since I am running the plumbing pipe now. I will be tackling the lighting the middle to end of next week, after the box track arrives (and after hours or on the weekend, since I am working my "day job" next week again.. vacation time is over 
).
, since I am running the plumbing pipe now. I will be tackling the lighting the middle to end of next week, after the box track arrives (and after hours or on the weekend, since I am working my "day job" next week again.. vacation time is over ).
mako56
Premium Member
Yep there are wheels in there it works really nice because I have the room. They are a bit over built :rolleye1: but that's what millwrights do :lol: and it was all scraps from work so the price was right. But I still wish the tank was wider 24" just doesn't do it. You will have so much fun with your new tank.
Well, as I reported earlier I finished upo the electrical, but I still need to clean up the extension cords and what not. I will take care of that tomorrow.
I finished up the plumbing, here is what I have so far :0
From the back:
a shot where you can see the left side return. I used the 45's on both returns in order to re-use the union ball valves from the previous tank setup. It ended up pushing them out further from the tank than I wanted, so they don't line up with the 90's coming out of the bulkheads. If this ends up being a problem I will jsut cut them all off, put in regular 90s on the bottom and buy new valves. The valves are to control the flow and help balance the return to both sides of the tank.
and the right side return
Here is a shot underneath (yea, I got a little messy with the glue).
I finished up the plumbing, here is what I have so far :0
From the back:
a shot where you can see the left side return. I used the 45's on both returns in order to re-use the union ball valves from the previous tank setup. It ended up pushing them out further from the tank than I wanted, so they don't line up with the 90's coming out of the bulkheads. If this ends up being a problem I will jsut cut them all off, put in regular 90s on the bottom and buy new valves. The valves are to control the flow and help balance the return to both sides of the tank.
and the right side return
Here is a shot underneath (yea, I got a little messy with the glue
).
Here is the drain that will be plumbed to gravity feed the skimmer, and the standpipe for overflow/backup purposes. The open end of the 2"t will have a gatevalve attached for controlling the flow through the skimmer. I am waiting until I move the skimmer into place before doing the last bit of plumbing, so that I can accomodate the placement of the inlet to the skimmer, etc.
As you can see from the other pictures, the tank is about 75% filled. I lost a day+ due to our ATO reservoir running out and needing to be filled via the RO/DI unit. The way I have it plumbed in it puts priority to the top off reservoir, so it filled that until full then automatically went back to filling the tank. We get about 4" of water per day, and it is 9" from the top. So right around Tuesday evening it should be filled. That works out as the salt is scheduled to arrive on Wednesday.
As you can see from the other pictures, the tank is about 75% filled. I lost a day+ due to our ATO reservoir running out and needing to be filled via the RO/DI unit. The way I have it plumbed in it puts priority to the top off reservoir, so it filled that until full then automatically went back to filling the tank. We get about 4" of water per day, and it is 9" from the top. So right around Tuesday evening it should be filled. That works out as the salt is scheduled to arrive on Wednesday
.small update. The plug in the right hand CL bulkhead just won't seal. No matter how much teflon tape I use it still drips *aarrrgghh*, so I am going to use the trick I read about here, to put some silicone on the threads versus the teflon tape. Hopefully that will stop the drips.
Also, several of the teeth for the overflows were broken in the original move, and I managed to break even more getting it up onto the stand and into position. So I am planning to just cut them all out (and file down the lip so it is smooth) and put in some egg crate instead. Does anyone know where I can find black egg crate ? or at least gray ? (ones that are reef safe, naturally).
I made a run to HD today and picked up a few supplies for the lighting rack, I should have enough to put it all together when the box track gets here on Thursday. I debated just building the rack today, but decided to take a break and just knock out the projects in one day (later this week), versus a little bit each day (I change into work clothes when out in the garage, so I will only ruin one pair of jeans, etc, throughout this project).
I also still need to get in there and clean up the extension cords, etc. I will try to get to that later this week.
We are working on replacing our current Deltec skimmer with a larger one. Once we have certain aspects finalized I will share the details here. I just want to make sure that the new one will fit and workout with the space we have available before committing to it , but suffice it to say that I will do just about whatever it takes to get the new one in... just short of moving the tank itself 
Also, several of the teeth for the overflows were broken in the original move, and I managed to break even more getting it up onto the stand and into position. So I am planning to just cut them all out (and file down the lip so it is smooth) and put in some egg crate instead. Does anyone know where I can find black egg crate ? or at least gray ? (ones that are reef safe, naturally
).I made a run to HD today and picked up a few supplies for the lighting rack, I should have enough to put it all together when the box track gets here on Thursday. I debated just building the rack today, but decided to take a break and just knock out the projects in one day (later this week), versus a little bit each day (I change into work clothes when out in the garage, so I will only ruin one pair of jeans, etc, throughout this project
).I also still need to get in there and clean up the extension cords, etc. I will try to get to that later this week.
We are working on replacing our current Deltec skimmer with a larger one. Once we have certain aspects finalized I will share the details here
. I just want to make sure that the new one will fit and workout with the space we have available before committing to it , but suffice it to say that I will do just about whatever it takes to get the new one in... just short of moving the tank itself 
MrCrab
So the Krylon Fusion for plastic is reef safe once it dries/cures ? I was also thinking about the gutter guard material, especially since it already comes in the darker color(s)
And as soon as the box track arrives on Thursday I will get the lighting track done
. I am wanting to use 2 tracks for stability sake. Even a garage door uses two tracks, and a 3rd if you have an automatic opener. The only thing I have not completely decided upon is if I am going to use a separate light mover for each light or one mover to move the entire rack back and forth. There are advantages to both methods (and I already have 2 movers). Right now I am leaning towards 1 mover for both, although that will take more effort in setting it up (believe it or not ).
Johnathan
Those removable teeth look great, but I was interested in the egg crate, or some other similar thin material so as not to block the flow of the surface water. Basically to make it like a toothless overflow by putting the egg crate back behind the lip, so it would break up the water after it goes over the lip, versus before, where it would stand a better chance of mixing the surface protiens back into the tank/water instead of skimming them off into the overflow. That was also why I planned to sand down the lip to make it smooth across it, to offer less chance of breaking up the surface before it enters the overflow. But since we plan to gravity feed our skimmer, and will likely be injecting ozone, I need to make doubly sure that nothing makes it into or past the overflows (or it would be toast).
Thanks for the heads up on the removable teeth though, at least now I have a really good fall back option if my original plans don't work out (which happens more often than I would like, or care to admit).
So the Krylon Fusion for plastic is reef safe once it dries/cures ? I was also thinking about the gutter guard material, especially since it already comes in the darker color(s)
And as soon as the box track arrives on Thursday I will get the lighting track done
. I am wanting to use 2 tracks for stability sake. Even a garage door uses two tracks, and a 3rd if you have an automatic opener. The only thing I have not completely decided upon is if I am going to use a separate light mover for each light or one mover to move the entire rack back and forth. There are advantages to both methods (and I already have 2 movers). Right now I am leaning towards 1 mover for both, although that will take more effort in setting it up (believe it or not ).Johnathan
Those removable teeth look great, but I was interested in the egg crate, or some other similar thin material so as not to block the flow of the surface water. Basically to make it like a toothless overflow by putting the egg crate back behind the lip, so it would break up the water after it goes over the lip, versus before, where it would stand a better chance of mixing the surface protiens back into the tank/water instead of skimming them off into the overflow. That was also why I planned to sand down the lip to make it smooth across it, to offer less chance of breaking up the surface before it enters the overflow. But since we plan to gravity feed our skimmer, and will likely be injecting ozone, I need to make doubly sure that nothing makes it into or past the overflows (or it would be toast).
Thanks for the heads up on the removable teeth though, at least now I have a really good fall back option if my original plans don't work out (which happens more often than I would like, or care to admit
).strittmatter
New member
I have also read that the Krylon Fusion is reef safe once dry. I don't have water in my tank yet but have painted some PVC with it so hopefully what i have read is true. 
tacocat
Premium Member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8874011#post8874011 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sparkss
Does anyone know where I can find black egg crate ? or at least gray ? (ones that are reef safe, naturally
Yeah, I do. There's some in my garage.
How much do you need?
Hector.
tacocat
Premium Member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8876971#post8876971 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sparkss
Hector,
Just enough to go across the overflows, so only about 4" X 36". But I think I will try the Krylon route since you are so far away from us
No problemo.
- Status
