Well I think my plumbing is done.

[StirCrazy]

Seeing as I went over to Brad's the other day and gently persuaded him to get his 20 gal plumbed into the rest of the system I thought I better gem my A$$ in gear and do my plumbing before he came over and made me :D

I had to first connect my 25 gal and my 33 gal sump together and then bring my drains into the receiving chamber of my sump.
http://members.shaw.ca/stircrazy/plumming/25galand33galtogeather.jpg

Then I had to build a spray head for the supply to my 25 gal (which is one of the drains from the 90 gal) this head has 4 nozzles that can each be aimed in a different direction.
http://members.shaw.ca/stircrazy/plumming/25galspraybar.jpg

Then I had to get that hooked into the system.
http://members.shaw.ca/stircrazy/plumming/25galspraybarin.jpg

Steve

[StirCrazy]

Next I had to build my return pipes; the pump is connected to the pipes with braided PVC hose.
http://members.shaw.ca/stircrazy/plumming/return.jpg

This is the temp set up in the tank until my Loc-Line order arrives.
http://members.shaw.ca/stircrazy/plumming/tempreturn.jpg

The sump with the heater and return pump installed. http://members.shaw.ca/stircrazy/plumming/sumpwithheatandpump.jpg

And final the new piping mess in the back of my cabinet.
http://members.shaw.ca/stircrazy/plumming/plummininback.jpg

Now I just need to add some tap water and do a leak test.. hmm I think I will wait another month or two to do that just to see who cracks first.. Brad, or Mike :D :D

Steve

[Aquattro]

Steve, I think you should skip the water. You are the founder of the "Dry Reef" technique and water would just ruin your rep!!

[StirCrazy]

hmm "dry Reef" eh, ya ok so now I need 100Lbs of Dead "live rock" and I need everyine who loses corals to send me them. I will have the nicest "dry reef" yet, No Algae problems either :D

Steve

[Troy F]

Nice work Steve, fill 'er up. I can't believe you're taking so long ;) .

[Aquattro]

And about cracking.....the only thing tht's going to crack Steve, is the dried out silicon on your tank. You should try to get water in it before the warranty expires.

[DJ88]

No Algae problems either <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Isn't this what everyone wants? Seems to me you have the best of all worlds.. Pretty plumbing, pretty lights, pretty stand. All this and dry silicone.. ;) But the great thing is.. no algea. Where are those pretty little rocks you posted a pic of? ;) LOL! Brad you are a bad influence. :D

;)
hee hee

Can't wait to see it with Water Steve.. Looking good. smile.gif

[BC_Grl]

So far, Steve- nice set up. We still are not even close to putting water into our tank... I still have some questions re: your set-up... Are you willing to answer them? :cool:

[StirCrazy]

hey Jeanna, ask away and I will try to answer.

anyways you all thought it was going to be another month befor I put water in my tank, well so did I :D BUT I got a fabulas deal on 100 to 120LBS of well established and cured rock today that I couldent refuse so I have to have my tank ready for it in 2 to 3 weeks (that means salt in the water to I guess and also sand in the tank :D . so anyways I got home had supper and the ITCH hit me.. Sooooo

Filling the tank
http://members.shaw.ca/stircrazy/testrun/filling.jpg

Still filling the tank
http://members.shaw.ca/stircrazy/testrun/stillfilling.jpg

the 25 gal and the 33 gal fillin
http://members.shaw.ca/stircrazy/testrun/25galfilling.jpg
http://members.shaw.ca/stircrazy/testrun/25galsumpfilling.jpg

[StirCrazy]

static level
http://members.shaw.ca/stircrazy/testrun/staticsumplevel.jpg

checkin everything out
http://members.shaw.ca/stircrazy/testrun/checkinitout.jpg

Comming to life
http://members.shaw.ca/stircrazy/testrun/commingtolife.jpg

Spray bar doin its job
http://members.shaw.ca/stircrazy/testrun/spraybarworkin.jpg

system stabble
http://members.shaw.ca/stircrazy/testrun/systemrunning.jpg

I do have a few drips and I would apreaceate any sugestions on how to seal them up with out taking anything apare.. can I just put pvc glue over the joints to seal it up?

Steve

[kris]

duck tape

[Mak]

Look's awesome steve ;) .

Now come's the hard part. Figuring out exactly what you want in your tank tongue.gif .

[StirCrazy]

Ok so it was recomended that I try weld-on 16 to seal the joints, after reading about it on there site I decided to give it a try, I think I am comming down off a glue high after having my head in the cabnet cementing for 30 min :D but I think it might work, Thanks Brad.

Steve

[SuperFudge]

Nice Job Steve,
3 sides are sweet !

Couple Q`s...

Is the sump with the spray bar going to be a fuge?

Will it siphon back from the main tank feed lines,when the return pump is shut off?

Marc.

[ 25 June 2002, 18:55: Message edited by: Superfudge ]

[bongy]

Hi Steve.

Are you using welbon 16 on pvc joint? If you have to use glue, I think you should probably use Marine Goop instead. Welbon 16 is a solvent based glue for acrylic (disolved acrylic). Don't think it will work too well on PVC.

If it is on acrylic, forget about this mail.

Bongy

[Axial Corillite]

I havent been on canreef for a while and look what i find. :eek: For a second i thought i was on the wrong board! It's about freakin time.Where did you get the rock from?

[StirCrazy]

Originally posted by bongy:
Hi Steve.

Are you using welbon 16 on pvc joint? If you have to use glue, I think you should probably use Marine Goop instead. Welbon 16 is a solvent based glue for acrylic (disolved acrylic). Don't think it will work too well on PVC.

If it is on acrylic, forget about this mail.

Bongy<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hey Bongy, thats what I thought also but I found this on IPS's (the makers of weld-on)website

"IPS Weld-On 16 Cement

A clear and thick cement for industrial grade acrylic. Heavy-bodied solvent for quick bond. Cements styrene, butyrate, and other plastics. Use on irregular edges, especially when high-strength (not bubble-free) joints are required. Good outdoor weatherability."

if it doesent work then I will cover it with something else :D but it seams to be sticking very good.

Marc, for your two questions

1, Is the sump with the spray bar going to be a fuge?

It is a 25 gallon tank (the one you can see in the end of the stand and is intended for a secondary show tank (or a mantis home :D )

2, Will it siphon back from the main tank feed lines,when the return pump is shut off?

No it won't as the spray bar is fed from one of the drains in the main tank, so when the water level drops below my overflow bar, the flow to that tank stops. the level in here is higher than the sumps so it will remain constand and the sump will take up al the drained down water.

Mike, thats what you get for going away and never callin :D oh by the way I have the second week of july off and I am going to be getting the rock then.. hint hint :D :D seriously though you need to stop by for coffee or something one of thease days Mike.

Steve

[ 25 June 2002, 22:28: Message edited by: StirCrazy ]

[StirCrazy]

oh ya.. I started filling the tank at 7pm with RO/DI, maby I can get the sand in befor I go camping .. that way it will have a week to settle out.

Steve

[stephane]

Hey Steeve about the time you put someting in
hope to see a fish soon!!!!!

Weld on 16 will glue pvc like hell dont worry!
I prefert it to PVC glue because of one big reason,it's clear so nobody could see the mess

[DJ88]

second weel of july off <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">There are wheels in July? why didn't anyone tell me this? I could uses some new ones.. :D

sorry couldn't resist..

bongy,

I use weld on all the time with PVC. Works great. smile.gif you can bond PVC and acrylic together with it.. sometimes. ;)

[StirCrazy]

Thanks Steph good to hear that it will work smile.gif

well I finaly found something in this hobby that is cheep smile.gif long lengths of hose for the RO unit.. 25' for 3.80 inc taxes :D : D
so now I have a hose all over the rood going to the front room whare my tank is.
http://members.shaw.ca/stircrazy/testrun/rounit.jpg

http://members.shaw.ca/stircrazy/testrun/rounitplumbing.jpg

Steve

[Aquattro]

So it looks like you'll be sleeping on the couch tonight, eh/

[DJ88]

I am impressed steve.. Can't wait to see it with the rock and lights going..

No more fake shots tho.. ;)

[Aquattro]

I think I should drive over to Steve's to make sure he is really putting water in there and not just playing with Photoshop -LOL

[DJ88]

Hee hee.. you know those photo editors.. easy to make anything appear real.. :D

[bongy]

Hi Steve,

Yes, but if you look at their selection guide here:

http://www.ipscorp.com/ind_html/selectind.html

You can see that they don't recommend 16 for PVC rigid to PVC rigid. I only use 16 on acrylic and PVC glue on PVC.

However, if your pipe is not under too much pressure and it works for you, then, it's probably ok. But just something to keep in mind next time.

Thanks.

Bongy

[StirCrazy]

Hopefuly it won't be a problem I am not actualy bonding PVC with it I am only putting around threased joints hoping to seal the threads with out taking it apart.. I checked it this morning it is as hard as rock so we will find out soon if it worked smile.gif

Against my better judgment I left my RO unit going while I sleeped. I have 15" of water now.. 1/2" more that I calculates so all is good smile.gif

Looks like tonight I will be adding salt and sand.

Steve

[Axial Corillite]

Hay steve I think i lost your phone # again :rolleyes: . Give me a call on my cell I only have a few tanks to clean today.
888-4638

[Aquattro]

Mike, I'll call you also. I need to get that 175w back.

[SuperFudge]

Originally posted by StirCrazy:

No it won't as the spray bar is fed from one of the drains in the main tank, so when the water level drops below my overflow bar, the flow to that tank stops. the level in here is higher than the sumps so it will remain constand and the sump will take up al the drained down water.[/QB]<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Sorry Steve,i had meant the feeds for the main tank (each 1 inch dia? and on both sides at mid hieght in your tank)siphoning back thru your mag pump when the pump or power is off.

Marc.

[ 26 June 2002, 16:56: Message edited by: Superfudge ]

[StirCrazy]

Ahhh ok Marc, ya I have a hole drilled above the water line on each on so they don't syphone anything back at all.. I am going to change them around later and lower the hole to just under the water line so there are no bubbles.

Steve

[StirCrazy]

well after adding 7 bags of sugarsand this is my wonderfull tank :D

http://members.shaw.ca/stircrazy/testrun/milkshake.jpg

and here is a pic of the top of the tank, kinda looks like lake erie to me :D : D

http://members.shaw.ca/stircrazy/testrun/scum.jpg

the funny thing is I put in 3 bags of the salt water conect sand and no scum, just a few tiney floaties. I added 4 bags of caribsea and bag bubble bath time.. wierd...

Steve

[DJ88]

You can't honestly tell me there is sand AND water in that tank at the same time????? ;)

Looks good. :D .

Start up the skimmer. and it will clear in time. As well that Powerhead trick..

[StirCrazy]

Originally posted by DJ88:
You can't honestly tell me there is sand AND water in that tank at the same time????? ;)

Looks good. :D .

Start up the skimmer. and it will clear in time. As well that Powerhead trick..<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">AND SALT :D :D :D

um no skimmer yet.. well I could set up the sea clone but I think that would be a waist.I am leaving to go camping on friday for a week so it can clear on its own..

Steve

[DJ88]

jsut get some pumps to get it circulating.. smile.gif and throw a cooked shrimp in there.. or a uncooked one.. either way.. throw something in there to start rotting. small child.. anything.. ;)

congrats.. now the addiction really sets in..

[StirCrazy]

Already done :D I have some fine west coast shrimp inthe tanks starting to fester as we speak smile.gif the big tank has the MJ1200 and the 25 gal which I just finnished putting salt and sand in has the "free" powerhead I got with my salt in it.

Steve

[StirCrazy]

well just got back from camping and figured I should do a update.. so after 6 days the main tank has cleared to this
http://members.shaw.ca/stircrazy/testrun/6days.jpg

Steve

[Bryan]

Steve:

Are you trying to settle out the southdown in freshwater, if so you are up against a losing batttle. the Ph of our water will dissolve the sothdown and it will never run clear. Add salt to the tank to bring the PH up.

[StirCrazy]

um.. er.. its not southdown and there is SALT in the water

but thanks anyways :D

Steve

[Doug]

Steve, the best for myself to clean it up, was the skimmer and a power filter w/floss.

[StirCrazy]

Ok, so I started up the whole thing today and added a bit of filter floss. 6 hours later this is the result.
http://members.shaw.ca/stircrazy/testrun/6days1afternoon.jpg

Steve

[Skimmerking]

Hey there Steve ,I used my fluval 404 with cotton batten and that cleared up in about 6-8 hrs awesome stuff to use ..

keep us informed buddy :eek:

[StirCrazy]

ok well I am impressed with the speed at which my tank is clearing, in 24hours it has gone from lake erie to this

http://members.shaw.ca/stircrazy/testrun/clearingnice.jpg
so I think I will just leave it to clear on its own untill I get my rock into it.

Steve

[kris]

hey steve i found mine took around 3-4 days to become fully clear. i through in a shrimp to help the process go quicker as well.