The Journey - 300+ Gallon System Build - Picture Heavy

[Newbie Aquarist]

I imagine we are about the same age, 28 here. I do get a lot of light in the room so hopefully this helps a lot. The build has been 3 months in the making, but well worth it. As a stock list goes, I have some ideas but nothing planned out. I really want a couple tangs, and more fairly wrasses. (don't tell the Tang police)

I am loving everything so far. For a future small frag I can become a decoy and advert the tang police in another direction.:lolspin::lolspin::lolspin:

 

[bpcardona]

I have been lazy about posting, but have a ton of updates. However, I gotta say posting is somewhat time consuming. Therefore before I spend the time posting, I need to know if anyone is following. I am making this build thread partly for me, documenting the progress. But mainly I am doing it to share ideas, and get feedback.

So anybody following this thread?

 

[worm5406]

Not a single person...

/me pushes everyone else back and turns the light off.

Of course we are.. Come on......

 

[SABOB]

Yes,please continue


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[Crazy_Beaver]

I am following!

 

[wakelust81]

Still following!

 

[sirreal63]

I am still here.

 

[bpcardona]

Sorry for asking, but I just don't want to waste time if no one cares. So to follow will be several updates. I will try to keep them in chronologic order. First up:

Window tinting!

As stated before I receive a lot of light in the morning hours through 4 picture windows. I decided to get them tinted and this is the result.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/90102096@N03/8504076474/" title="Untitled by elitecoral, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8250/8504076474_1532d73e1b_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="Untitled"></a>
This is just before the install

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/90102096@N03/8549765525/" title="Untitled by elitecoral, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8252/8549765525_a864164237_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="Untitled"></a>
The right window has tint the left does not

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/90102096@N03/8550866464/" title="Untitled by elitecoral, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8237/8550866464_47dac1f879_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="Untitled"></a>
The left two window with, right without


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/90102096@N03/8421856912/" title="IMG_0508 by elitecoral, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8194/8421856912_6a660337a9_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="IMG_0508"></a>
Before

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/90102096@N03/8554913868/" title="Untitled by elitecoral, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8386/8554913868_61e94fafb3_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="Untitled"></a>
After
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[owenspackman]

I've been waiting for updates and I'm still following!

 

[sirreal63]

We have the same style picture windows on both ends of our house, and they are tinted but ours are covered so we don't get the same amount of light through them that you do. The tinting really helps but I wouldn't worry about trying to do more, the incidental diffused light reaching the tank won't make much difference.

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

After reefing I believe your second calling is window tinting.

 

[bpcardona]

Next update, and the most painful.

Plumbing:

So I decided to go with two pumps. Both are Reeflo Darts. One will control the display turnover and the chiller. The other will run a manifold with various equipment. I had a second hole drilled in the tank (again by FAOIS) and it looked great! (Foreshadowing: theres a problem coming soon). I spent a lot of time dry fitting all the pipes. I finally got around to gluing everything together. I save the pump fittings for, think these fitting were the most expensive.

So here it is:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/90102096@N03/8554032345/" title="Untitled by elitecoral, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8094/8554032345_09c157a91d_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="Untitled"></a>
The tanks discharge (right side)

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/90102096@N03/8555138170/" title="Untitled by elitecoral, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8509/8555138170_747b3c0158_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="Untitled"></a>
Discharge right side

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/90102096@N03/8554029549/" title="Untitled by elitecoral, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8228/8554029549_71fed49d5e_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="Untitled"></a>
Exit the wall into the garage

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/90102096@N03/8555133570/" title="Untitled by elitecoral, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8555133570_ec7b247dc5_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="Untitled"></a>
Pumps


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/90102096@N03/8554027629/" title="Untitled by elitecoral, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8378/8554027629_93d567ceba_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="Untitled"></a>
Manifold

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/90102096@N03/8554034469/" title="Untitled by elitecoral, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8507/8554034469_8f5b5b1b25_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="Untitled"></a>
Tank return

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[worm5406]

I do not see any problems coming.

Well except for that orange cord behind the manifolds and that ipad charger.

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

I do not see any problems coming.

Well except for that orange cord behind the manifolds and that ipad charger.

I totally agree. So far everything looking good.

 

[SuperDodge]

I'm watching the thread! I'm impressed!

 

[tgunn]

Looks good so far. The dart is an awesome flow pump! Wish I'd never gotten the big sequence 1000 (hammerhead equiv) instead of it.

 

[owenspackman]

Looking good, what are you planning to run off the manifolds?

 

[FUA]

Still here, great work!!

 

[rishma]

fun read. thank you for posting. As you can see by my post/year ratio, I agree it is a lot of work to post.

I hope the manifold works out for you. You definitely made a good call not putting it on the same pump as your return. You would never have been able to reliably maintain a siphon over time.

The manifold valves look a little challenging to access/plumb based on the picture. The height above the ground/above the sump and the distance between them make routing each line a bit tricky. I am sure you can pull it off.

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

Great progress b. Don't keep us hanging.


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