View Full Version : New to me(used)tank build
TomToro
11-25-2007, 8:41 AM
Starting my new tank build and thought I'd document it. I promise not to update unless there's something very new happening.:)
The wall it's going into is perpendicular to the old setup. My wife is letting me keep both:grinyes: What a woman!
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o242/TomToro/11-20-07reef023.jpg
Here's the tank with the twin sumps. The rabbit has to move:
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o242/TomToro/240build11-23-07003.jpg
This the workout/fishroom that will house all the equipment:
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o242/TomToro/240build11-23-07008.jpg
I built the stand up 5" so it will begin 37" off the ground.
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o242/TomToro/240build11-23-07004.jpg
Two skimmers. An etss 800 and a clone I got for free. I'll use the 800 on the new build and maybe use the clone on the old reef:
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o242/TomToro/240build11-23-07011.jpg
Sorry for the blurry pics. Better next time.
Thanks for looking,
Tom
Catpicklesdog
11-25-2007, 8:46 AM
Can't wait to see how this one progresses!!!
alexuta
11-25-2007, 10:19 AM
Come on Tom, pls. update us with the progres...
Reefscape
11-25-2007, 11:00 AM
Great stuff Tom, really looking forward to seeing this build from you, the last one was superb work, really impressive..
Niko
clown-lover
11-25-2007, 11:43 AM
Very cool... But can we get a FTS of that one on the wall.. It looks spectacular..
TomToro
11-25-2007, 12:18 PM
You folks are the greatest! Very motivating. O.k., here are two more, just taken. I had to get my wife and daughter to help with the lifting.
It's finally in!
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o242/TomToro/240buildsteptwo11-25-07001.jpg
Here it is from the fishroom:
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o242/TomToro/240buildsteptwo11-25-07004.jpg
I know it's very dirty and I've got my work cut out for me. Gotta be careful. It's my first try at acrylic:help:
My old reef tank didn't have too many pics taken when it was built in almost 20 years ago, but I'll see what I can dig up. It's pretty ugly back there. Not state of the art at all. The new tank promises to be about the same technology with the exception of a good skimmer. I'm nothing if not cheap.
Thanks again, everybody,
Tom
P.S. Hey Niko, good to hear from you my friend and thanks for the very nice words!
alexuta
11-25-2007, 12:41 PM
Very nice work, Tom... It will be a very nice view in your house!
Keep us updated.
Reefscape
11-25-2007, 2:23 PM
Superb Tom...how many gallons are we going for this time?
Niko
daayda3
11-25-2007, 2:26 PM
cool
how big?
I think I may be the most jealous of the fact you now have TWO fishrooms.
TomToro
11-25-2007, 7:24 PM
Superb Tom...how many gallons are we going for this time?
Niko
Hey Niko,
This one is 240gal display with two 35 gal sumps. One dedicated to caulerpa and the other miracle mud and LR. Not set in stone, still collecting opinions. The guy I bought this from had the two sumps connected by a 2"bulkhead so levels were equal. He then had two seperate overflows and return pumps. I kind of liked the redundancy because they were on seperate circuits in case of a faulty gfci or pump failure. I'll have 4 seperate circuits. I'll have a cold water line run with a RO unit installed. A hole will be drilled into the outside wall with a closeable pvc valve so I can vent the water changes under my deck.
Here's the equipment list as I'd like it to be. Some equip. I have, others I've yet to buy. I know I'm not ready, but I really wanted to get this in the wall before my wife changed her mind.:)
etss 800 skimmer yes
blueline 55 hd not yet
mag 12 not yet
mag 18 not yet
2 stealth 300w heaters not yet
2 korolia 4s not yet
2 x 4' NO lights yes
1 x 72 " 3x55w pc actinic yes
FOWLR
Bare Bottom
Nothing great, just good enough for fish and LR.
Take care,
Tom
TomToro
11-25-2007, 7:28 PM
I think I may be the most jealous of the fact you now have TWO fishrooms.
Don't be jealous. :headshake2: My house is so small that it has to be two rooms in one (fish/workout). It's gonna be crowded. Another reason I'm glad it's acrylic. Can you imagine my teenagers swinging metal weights around a glass tank:eek:?
Almondsaz
11-25-2007, 7:57 PM
Tom: terrific tank, like to see the progress of your build. The ETSS 800 Skimmer will be great!
Don't be jealous. :headshake2: My house is so small that it has to be two rooms in one (fish/workout). It's gonna be crowded. Another reason I'm glad it's acrylic. Can you imagine my teenagers swinging metal weights around a glass tank:eek:?
Scary, but I'm still jealous. I want a fishroom. :drool:
TomToro
11-25-2007, 8:44 PM
Tom: terrific tank, like to see the progress of your build. The ETSS 800 Skimmer will be great!
Thanks Almond! I hope you're right on the skimmer. With the right pump (blueline 55) it should allow me to keep a pretty heavy bioload.
Take care,
Tom
trippkid
11-25-2007, 9:07 PM
Looks like it will be an awesome set-up when your done. Keep us posted on the progress.
Matt
TomToro
11-27-2007, 9:03 AM
Tank is as clean as I can get. The bottom is stained that color from the outside , but it won't show because of the substrate.
Electrical almost finished. 3 seperate circuits. Two 15 amp and one 20 amp. The white outlets are on the 20 amp circuit and the rest are the 15s.
No on to drill the double sump.
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o242/TomToro/Tankelectrical3circuits11-27-07004.jpg
Reefscape
11-27-2007, 9:07 AM
Nice update Tom and thank you for replying earlier to my question..Did you make the stand yourself? or did it come with the tank???
Niko
TomToro
11-27-2007, 4:40 PM
Nice update Tom and thank you for replying earlier to my question..Did you make the stand yourself? or did it come with the tank???
Niko
The basic stand came with the tank. I took it apart to get it into the room re-assembled it and added another layer of 2x4 bracing on top to increase the height. I wasn't happy with how low my other tank is and vowed not to let that happen again. I have plans to pretty it up so we don't have suffer too badly when we exercise. That's way down on the priority list.
I appreciate the interest!:)
salty420
11-27-2007, 7:39 PM
wow what a great project! so awesome!!
clown-lover
11-27-2007, 8:32 PM
I am eagerly awaiting updates on this thread.. I'm taking notes for when I can do this..
Reefscape
11-28-2007, 5:55 AM
The basic stand came with the tank. I took it apart to get it into the room re-assembled it and added another layer of 2x4 bracing on top to increase the height. I wasn't happy with how low my other tank is and vowed not to let that happen again. I have plans to pretty it up so we don't have suffer too badly when we exercise. That's way down on the priority list.
I appreciate the interest!:)
Yes, i think its a great idea raising the height of the tank, its a pet hate of mine, having to stoop or look downwards to get a good view inside a tank..Great work mate...
Niko
mandy21
11-28-2007, 7:33 AM
Incredible. I'll live vicariously through you until I can do something like this myself.
TomToro
11-29-2007, 7:44 AM
Thanks, everybody for the kind words!
Today and tomorrow I'm going to two different reefer's houses to get some ideas. One guy has his set up with all the bells and whistles. Not something I can afford, but I think I can do some diy to copy his stuff. He's insisting he drill the tank for me and install permanent overflows. Currently I have the old school removable overflows with dual pipes (1200gph) each and U tubes. Never used these before so if I run into trouble, I might take him up on his offer. I use just one cpr overflow on my existing tank with an aqualifter to keep the siphon. I will ask him to drill my sumps for the skimmer and pump.
The second reefer is building a new house and we're getting his room ready for a good size tank. Floor drain, water line, reinforced joists, exhaust fan (humidistat), greenboard, tile floor, etc. He can't understand why I'm pretty excited about this project. This reefing is a sickness and there's nothing like spending somebody else's money:grinyes:
Best regards,
Tom
TomToro
12-17-2007, 7:55 PM
Not too much to tell. Got hooked on ebay and bought too many water pumps for my use. Maybe I'll do a closed loop with the extra ones.
I drilled my own holes in the sumps today. Bought the diamond saws at gl*******s.com. Very easy to use and cheap.
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o242/TomToro/sumpholes001.jpg
I discarded the 35gal sumps and replaced them with a 55 and 50. Figured I needed more water volume and room for LR.
Set the tank on it's side and started peeling the brown junk off the bottom. That's a job in itself.
Still working on buffing out that bleepin' acrylic.
TomToro
12-17-2007, 7:57 PM
Let's see if I can beat the censor. Gla$$holes.com. I wonder if they know their name is a bad word.
Tom is that you with the thumbs up snarl?
TomToro
12-18-2007, 7:33 AM
Tom is that you with the thumbs up snarl?
That was me 32 years ago:). That's my son. He's the muscle in the project and he helps me move things around. He's also a ham!
Subliminal
12-18-2007, 1:46 PM
Nice progress!
No reef in this one?
Closed loop is a great idea. Powerheads are for n00bs. ;)
That was me 32 years ago:). That's my son. He's the muscle in the project and he helps me move things around. He's also a ham!
So I'm not the only one that has a son as slave tank labor. :lipssealedsmilie:
TomToro
12-18-2007, 8:32 PM
Nice progress!
No reef in this one?
Closed loop is a great idea. Powerheads are for n00bs. ;)
No reef to start with. My family is sort of bored with it (I love the reef), so I thought I'd give them some shiny new fish to watch.
I'll have everything in place to switch over except the big expense...the lights. Then when I've gotten completely frustrated by the fish beating the heck out each other for dominance and turf, I'll sell 'em off and start the reef again. :mad2: How's that for optimistic?
Closed loop will be a challenge for me. Never done one before.
TomToro
12-18-2007, 8:35 PM
So I'm not the only one that has a son as slave tank labor. :lipssealedsmilie:
LOL!!! I'm sure your's listens better than mine. I have to wait until he's in the right mood before I ask him to help. Sometimes I even stoop to bribery.:wall:
Subliminal
12-18-2007, 10:38 PM
Closed loop will be a challenge for me. Never done one before.
You know, I thought it would be too, but turned out to be pretty easy. You've the ability to drill and set it up before hand, though, and that's a beautiful thing! If you have a moment, check out my blog posting...I pretty much outlined my whole experience.
TomToro
12-19-2007, 7:48 AM
You know, I thought it would be too, but turned out to be pretty easy. You've the ability to drill and set it up before hand, though, and that's a beautiful thing! If you have a moment, check out my blog posting...I pretty much outlined my whole experience.
I will do that. Thanks for the help.
TomToro
12-26-2007, 10:59 PM
Here are some pics of the sump(s) so far. I also have the skimmer and pump plumbed. If you guys have any criticisms, please let me know before I find out the hard way. The baffles are 1" apart and the refugium height on both sumps will be 12".
I have two 1200 gph overflows (4 1" hoses) going directly into the first compartment in the first sump where it will flow over some gac laying on light diffuser material.
From there it goes through two baffles into the refugium.
Then on to the three bubble trap baffles and into the first return (mag 2400). This mag will push about 1800 gph as it enters the tank.
What it doesn't push, will flow through the 1" bulkhead connecting the two sumps, slowed by a baffle into the next refugium.
Then through another three baffle bubble trap and into the return section with a mag 700 that after all is said and done will push about 400gph back into the tank.
This will supposedly push 2200gph into my tank through two return lines. I will also have a tee and valve on the mag 2400 to equalize things by pushing extra water into the second sump if needed.
Lastly I'll have another tee and valve and connect the two return lines to even out the flow from each.
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o242/TomToro/Christmas2007andnewsump013.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o242/TomToro/Christmas2007andnewsump015.jpg