2024 Ohio Reef Frag Swap

2024 flyer

Author Topic: My Project!  (Read 9470 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

mb5322

  • Guest
My Project!
« on: October 22, 2006, 09:08:45 »
I started my "project" a couple of days ago, I'm building a "aquarium" room, as well as a family room. So far so good, I'm going to finish drywalling today, and run all the electrical work. The tank is a 240 gallon 8x2x2, which I intend to be a full blown reef, if I can ever get the construction work. I conned Scott Wilson from Just Corals into plumbing and setting up the tank. Scott is a great guy and has been nothing but helpful in my million questions. Sorry for the mess, but I'm still under construction. Hopefully all will be done and the tank plumbed soon. I'll post pictures as I move along.

[attachment deleted by admin]

Offline Slicktrax

  • Posts: 1,020
Re: My Project!
« Reply #1 on: October 22, 2006, 09:22:24 »
great start so far, i look forward to seeing your progress.
That one guy who used to be on all the time......

Offline micki

  • Best mamaw Reefer!!!
  • Posts: 7,239
  • My munchkins! :)
Re: My Project!
« Reply #2 on: October 22, 2006, 09:46:54 »
Very cool!  It will be fun to watch as your project grows.  Scotts a good guy. :)

Offline Reefinmike

  • was Illnino
  • Posts: 1,012
Re: My Project!
« Reply #3 on: October 22, 2006, 10:52:25 »
looks great..

tell me about all the goodies

lighting?
skimmer?
type of tank(sps, mix, fowlr)

its great having equip in a different room... keeps the noise down a good ammount.

mb5322

  • Guest
Re: My Project!
« Reply #4 on: October 22, 2006, 12:13:05 »
looks great..

tell me about all the goodies

lighting?
skimmer?
type of tank(sps, mix, fowlr)

its great having equip in a different room... keeps the noise down a good ammount.

to answer your questions:
No Idea
No Idea
and Mix reef

Sorry just haven't gotten that far yet, but Scott has some great ideas, but we need to see what the budget is going to be after the construction, new carpet and family room set

Offline ohioreef

  • Lifetime Premium Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4,673
  • Founding Member
Re: My Project!
« Reply #5 on: October 22, 2006, 14:52:17 »
Awesome!! I'd love to do something like what you're doing!!

Offline Reefinmike

  • was Illnino
  • Posts: 1,012
Re: My Project!
« Reply #6 on: October 22, 2006, 18:01:23 »
check out www.hellolights for MH

go with electronic ballasts... theyre nicer,

Offline Secondgen

  • Lifetime Premium Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,372
Re: My Project!
« Reply #7 on: October 22, 2006, 18:19:41 »
Who is the maker of the tank? I noticed that you do not have plastic trim on the top or bottom of the tank. Is it a custom built unit?

mb5322

  • Guest
Re: My Project!
« Reply #8 on: October 22, 2006, 18:55:04 »
Who is the maker of the tank? I noticed that you do not have plastic trim on the top or bottom of the tank. Is it a custom built unit?

Not sure, I got the tank Through a guy Scott Wilson from Just Corals knows.

Offline Secondgen

  • Lifetime Premium Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,372
Re: My Project!
« Reply #9 on: October 22, 2006, 19:04:37 »
I see.

Offline micki

  • Best mamaw Reefer!!!
  • Posts: 7,239
  • My munchkins! :)
Re: My Project!
« Reply #10 on: October 22, 2006, 19:55:13 »
If you are going to have SPS, MH lighting is a must.  :)

mb5322

  • Guest
Re: My Project!
« Reply #11 on: October 22, 2006, 23:59:02 »
Ran into a million problems today, but finally at 11:55 p.m. I'm sitting down with a beer, and all the drywall and electrical work done, drywall gets first coat of mud tomorrow. Not to many interesting pictures, the only thing remotely tank related is my soon to be "power" wall of plugs I put in.

[attachment deleted by admin]

bigfalcon36

  • Guest
Re: My Project!
« Reply #12 on: October 23, 2006, 00:17:33 »
nice work

Offline Secondgen

  • Lifetime Premium Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,372
Re: My Project!
« Reply #13 on: October 23, 2006, 00:39:21 »
You are doin all the work yourself? Wow great job. When do you plan to have it all up and running? Do you have a projected time?

Offline micki

  • Best mamaw Reefer!!!
  • Posts: 7,239
  • My munchkins! :)
Re: My Project!
« Reply #14 on: October 23, 2006, 08:32:31 »
Cool!  Building our house ourselves was one of the funnest things I've done!  I can appreciate being excited about drywall mud.  ;D

Offline scott wilson

  • Adult
  • ****
  • Posts: 768
Re: My Project!
« Reply #15 on: October 23, 2006, 09:14:52 »
The tank is a old oceanic tank it is a beast. IT has a double 3/4" bottom the overflow in sin the center of than tank.  The largest challenge this tank poses is it only has access holes in the top. It has 3 foot x foot or so access holes. This is really restricting. There was some talk about cutting the top to open it up more and adding eurobracing. Not sure if this is a god idea.  Any one have ideas about how to cut the top of a constructed tank?   

[attachment deleted by admin]

Offline Secondgen

  • Lifetime Premium Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,372
Re: My Project!
« Reply #16 on: October 24, 2006, 21:45:54 »
Just a thought, and it might be totally off the wall, but I know when taking a car windsheild out one method is piano wire. Just feed the wire between the top peice and tank (wear protective gloves) then start working your way back and forth until you seperate the top peice of glass. I have never done this to a tank only cars, but the concept seems like it would be the same.

mb5322

  • Guest
Re: My Project!
« Reply #17 on: October 24, 2006, 23:43:29 »
Just a thought, and it might be totally off the wall, but I know when taking a car windsheild out one method is piano wire. Just feed the wire between the top peice and tank (wear protective gloves) then start working your way back and forth until you seperate the top peice of glass. I have never done this to a tank only cars, but the concept seems like it would be the same.

This would work to take it off, but there are no plastic pieces along the top and bottom edge like a normal tank, the top piece provides support like the plastic pieces would for the sides.

mb5322

  • Guest
Re: My Project!
« Reply #18 on: October 25, 2006, 10:59:05 »
OK, Hardware for the tank ordered today:
2 Dart water pumps @ 3600 GPH for closed loop
1 Dart water pumpt @ 2500 GPH for sump/refugium/skimmer
2 Oceans Motions 4-ways (upgrading with motor and drum later)
1 Octopus DNW-200 Needle Recirculating Skimmer
1 75 Gallon Refugium

Tentative install date of Saturday the 28th of this month

All hardware and installation courtesy of Scott Wilson from Just Corals
« Last Edit: October 25, 2006, 11:02:11 by mb5322 »

Offline micki

  • Best mamaw Reefer!!!
  • Posts: 7,239
  • My munchkins! :)
Re: My Project!
« Reply #19 on: October 25, 2006, 20:28:29 »
COOL!

Offline Secondgen

  • Lifetime Premium Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,372
Re: My Project!
« Reply #20 on: October 28, 2006, 00:29:04 »
Sounds like your gonna have a great system. Can't wait to see the finished product.

mb5322

  • Guest
Re: My Project!
« Reply #21 on: October 29, 2006, 17:53:02 »
I got the ceiling textured  today, now I'm just waiting for some of the drywall mud to dry on the walls so I can paint.......color of paint chose....Beach sand between your toes...of course, I did get the stand built for the refuge and got a coat of killz on everything in the fish room. The tank hardware installation got pushed back to this Friday, my oceans motions got hung up in customs in Canada so blame it on the Canadians. Carpet is getting laid tomorrow, and all new furniture delivered Friday. I'm slowly but surely starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel


[attachment deleted by admin]
« Last Edit: October 29, 2006, 18:03:19 by mb5322 »

Offline Secondgen

  • Lifetime Premium Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,372
Re: My Project!
« Reply #22 on: October 29, 2006, 18:35:50 »
From the height of the table it looks like it will be a gravity return fuge, is this right? Everything sounds great, keep up the good work.

mb5322

  • Guest
Re: My Project!
« Reply #23 on: October 29, 2006, 18:50:56 »
From the height of the table it looks like it will be a gravity return fuge, is this right? Everything sounds great, keep up the good work.

yeah it will be a gravity return, with fairly low flow through it

Offline ohioreef

  • Lifetime Premium Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4,673
  • Founding Member
Re: My Project!
« Reply #24 on: October 29, 2006, 19:36:00 »
Looking nice!!! You'll have to host a meeting after you get it done so we all can see it in person!!!

mb5322

  • Guest
Re: My Project!
« Reply #25 on: October 29, 2006, 21:47:27 »
I need to get this beast cleaned this week, anyone have any tips or tricks to doing this? Or do I just need to roll up my sleeves and get dirty?

Offline Secondgen

  • Lifetime Premium Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,372
Re: My Project!
« Reply #26 on: October 29, 2006, 23:08:25 »
Role them sleeves up pal! ;D

Offline micki

  • Best mamaw Reefer!!!
  • Posts: 7,239
  • My munchkins! :)
Re: My Project!
« Reply #27 on: October 30, 2006, 06:55:24 »
Role them sleeves up pal! ;D

Yep...  ;D

Offline ohioreef

  • Lifetime Premium Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4,673
  • Founding Member
Re: My Project!
« Reply #28 on: October 30, 2006, 07:25:40 »
If it's glass, use a razor blade to remove any corralline. If it's acrylic, I believe the choice is a credit card or something similar.

mb5322

  • Guest
Re: My Project!
« Reply #29 on: November 05, 2006, 19:07:17 »
The plumbing finally got done yesterday, after poor Scott spent 2 entire days getting it all worked out, but it got done and I'm thrilled with it, the closed loop was really the way to go the water really churns in the tank. obviously with sand and live rock it will hide the vast majority of the plumbing, now if I could just find 500 lbs of sand I can get it started cycling.

[attachment deleted by admin]

Offline ohioreef

  • Lifetime Premium Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4,673
  • Founding Member
Re: My Project!
« Reply #30 on: November 05, 2006, 19:19:16 »
Nice rottie!!!!

mb5322

  • Guest
Re: My Project!
« Reply #31 on: November 05, 2006, 19:22:59 »
Nice rottie!!!!

His name is Tyson, as you can see much to my wife's dismay he's already sleeping on the new furniture. Tyson is a full bred German Rottie....last trip to the vet he weighed in at 167 lbs. he's a monster

bigfalcon36

  • Guest
Re: My Project!
« Reply #32 on: November 05, 2006, 20:54:50 »
Very nice set-up...I'm jealous!  I can't wait to get my new set-up started.

Offline Slicktrax

  • Posts: 1,020
Re: My Project!
« Reply #33 on: November 05, 2006, 20:56:38 »
it is coming along great.  its going to be beautiful when you are done.
That one guy who used to be on all the time......

Offline ohioreef

  • Lifetime Premium Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4,673
  • Founding Member
Re: My Project!
« Reply #34 on: November 06, 2006, 09:03:22 »
His name is Tyson, as you can see much to my wife's dismay he's already sleeping on the new furniture. Tyson is a full bred German Rottie....last trip to the vet he weighed in at 167 lbs. he's a monster

We have a full blooded, what we've been told, American rottie. I'm not sure how much she weighs, but she's no wimp!!


Offline scott wilson

  • Adult
  • ****
  • Posts: 768
Re: My Project!
« Reply #35 on: November 06, 2006, 09:14:18 »
Looking nice.  The worst part of this job was getting the 75 gallon tank at the far end of the room in a room that was just whide enough for it to fit.

Offline ohioreef

  • Lifetime Premium Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4,673
  • Founding Member
Re: My Project!
« Reply #36 on: November 06, 2006, 09:24:28 »
Looks awesome!!!

Offline micki

  • Best mamaw Reefer!!!
  • Posts: 7,239
  • My munchkins! :)
Re: My Project!
« Reply #37 on: November 06, 2006, 09:29:21 »
Good job to both of you! 

Offline Secondgen

  • Lifetime Premium Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,372
Re: My Project!
« Reply #38 on: November 15, 2006, 00:15:20 »
Very nice job!  :)

Offline micki

  • Best mamaw Reefer!!!
  • Posts: 7,239
  • My munchkins! :)
Re: My Project!
« Reply #39 on: November 15, 2006, 07:38:46 »
How are things coming?

mb5322

  • Guest
Re: My Project!
« Reply #40 on: November 15, 2006, 08:44:10 »
How are things coming?

Let me get some coffee in me to wake up, and I'll take some more pictures, I got sand in the tank and refuge, and I'm ordering rock either today or tomorrow

Offline micki

  • Best mamaw Reefer!!!
  • Posts: 7,239
  • My munchkins! :)
Re: My Project!
« Reply #41 on: November 15, 2006, 09:48:42 »
Cool!  Love pics!  ;D

mb5322

  • Guest
Re: My Project!
« Reply #42 on: November 15, 2006, 10:35:11 »
Ok, here's what the sand looks like, hopefully I get some rock in it before the weeks over.

[attachment deleted by admin]

Offline Secondgen

  • Lifetime Premium Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,372
Re: My Project!
« Reply #43 on: November 15, 2006, 15:01:34 »
That is cool lookin. Is your overflow for the main tank in the center of the tank?

mb5322

  • Guest
Re: My Project!
« Reply #44 on: November 15, 2006, 15:21:39 »
That is cool lookin. Is your overflow for the main tank in the center of the tank?

Yes, it's quite different from anything I've seen, it's literally an island in the middle of the tank. I'll see if I can get a picture for ya.

mb5322

  • Guest
Re: My Project!
« Reply #45 on: November 15, 2006, 15:28:54 »
Ok, for you Secondgen here's a pic of the overflow, and I added in a picture of the refuge with the overflow box, and the piping for it that goes into the main tank, the pipe with all the holes is the exhaust, it's actually supposed to sit with the holes just above water level, to let most of the air escape, but I bumped into it trying to take a pic of it, but it gives you an idea of all the bubbles this little bastard creates.

[attachment deleted by admin]

mb5322

  • Guest
Re: My Project!
« Reply #46 on: November 15, 2006, 15:39:09 »
Oh, why I'm pic happy, here's a pic of my water changing/mixing barrel, nothing but a closed loop with an iwaki pump, and a T plumbed in to hook a hose up to, to pump the waste water out to the neighbors yard ;D

[attachment deleted by admin]

Offline scott wilson

  • Adult
  • ****
  • Posts: 768
Re: My Project!
« Reply #47 on: November 15, 2006, 15:53:16 »
What happens if you have a t at the last 90 on the return from the fuge and then have the outlet not have little holes but split the surface of the water.  I would just tinker with it.  Does the foam in the overflow box ad more bubbles?  Try the ball valve idea and have t before the ball valve with another drain back to the sump incase you restrict it too much.

angel

  • Guest
Re: My Project!
« Reply #48 on: November 15, 2006, 15:54:32 »
you are running mh's correct? how is the heat situation? i didn't see a chiller and the surrounding area of the rear of tank looks like insulation? just curious. i have enough heat isues with my tank free standing in the room.

mb5322

  • Guest
Re: My Project!
« Reply #49 on: November 15, 2006, 15:58:12 »
you are running mh's correct? how is the heat situation? i didn't see a chiller and the surrounding area of the rear of tank looks like insulation? just curious. i have enough heat isues with my tank free standing in the room.

nothing right now, but two 110 watt pc, but yes after I get rock in it and the tank cycles I'll be adding a light rack with 4-250 watt MH, and either PC actinic blues or T5 actinic blues, I'm going to have an exhaust fan, and a cool air intake in the ceiling, to cut down on heat, and moisture. but I plan on crossing that bridge when I get to it

Offline scott wilson

  • Adult
  • ****
  • Posts: 768
Re: My Project!
« Reply #50 on: November 15, 2006, 16:00:05 »
it is an outside wall in a ranch house.

angel

  • Guest
Re: My Project!
« Reply #51 on: November 15, 2006, 16:00:14 »
cool thanks for the info.

Offline aquavista99

  • Posts: 1,807
Re: My Project!
« Reply #52 on: November 16, 2006, 00:45:27 »
Looks great, mb5322. How much does your tank weigh? Looks like it would be a nightmare to move (heavy???). Looking forward to your updates!!!

Offline Secondgen

  • Lifetime Premium Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,372
Re: My Project!
« Reply #53 on: November 16, 2006, 15:42:58 »
Thanks for the pics mb5322, looks great. That overflow in the middle is very unique. Everything looks really good.

Offline Reefinmike

  • was Illnino
  • Posts: 1,012
Re: My Project!
« Reply #54 on: November 19, 2006, 19:47:21 »
lookin good. my wc situation is similar, except mine gets pumped out by the return pump an new water drains in. IME...  i just stock atleast 4 bags of salt and im doing waterchanges weekly. its soooo easy...

 

Powered by EzPortal