WOHOOOO!!!!!!!!!

[DJ88]

No lights or anything yet but here it is. smile.gif

Thanks a lot to Shao. smile.gif

Beat ya Troy.. ;)

http://members.shaw.ca/dj88/pix/running.jpg

[Jack]

Right on Darren, this is going to be a sweet tank. What a setup :eek:

[christyf5]

Looks great Darren! Thats quite the setup.
If you don't mind me asking, what is the black sediment in your refugium (? the highest tank with the most sand).

Christy smile.gif

[DJ88]

Miracle Mud. I put a BIT too much sand in there. had more in my old tank than I thought. lol

[Son Of Skyline]

Congrats Darren! I hope to be able to have a setup like yours one day smile.gif

[BCReefer]

Darren,

When you put live rock in the sump, I assume it does the same job as having it in your main tank? If so this would be a good way to increase your natural filtration without taking the “swimming room” from your fish.

[smokinreefer]

on behalf of darren,

the rock is situated in the sump temporarily, as the system is too cloudy to try arranging/placing it in the main tank, as there are alot of corals scattered around that we wouldnt want to crush.

tho the sump, does have a dsb, it may act as a refugium/growout...and may house some live rock/rubble.

but yes, one can place live rock in the sump to increase filtration without sacrificing swimming space in the main display.

[ 28 May 2002, 11:31: Message edited by: smokinreefer ]

[DJ88]

Thanks again Shao.

Patrick. he hit the nail on the head. I may have a couple of pieces of LR in the sump but not much.

Most of the corals are now relocated in the main tank.

Tho I do have loads of frags of digitata and will probablybe selling some of my extras.

[SuperFudge]

Lookin good Darren,

Glad to see her up and running.

What happened to our between tank/fuge face peice?..not going with it anymore?

Your going to hate me for this,but couldnt you just turn around the union/valve fitting on the intake to the pump,that way you can flip the valve closed and remove the pump without water spilling out?

Looks sweet!!,makes me want to get finished with mine.

Marc.

[ 28 May 2002, 19:49: Message edited by: Superfudge ]

[EmilyB]

Nice group of sumps :D Where's the tank ? tongue.gif

[DJ88]

Here's the main tank tonight.

http://members.shaw.ca/dj88/pix/new_tank.jpg

[DJ88]

Marc,

the face piece is drying. :D had to finish painting it. smile.gif

Ya kinda lost me with the union question. If you are talking about the blue handled ball valve that is for the skimmer feed. Once I hook it up that is. The skimmer goes online in about ten minutes. :D if I am wrong tell me in simpler words. Mind is fried. lol

Funny Emily.. lol.

It's looking a lot better now. as you can see. smile.gif

[smokinreefer]

looks awesome darren! :eek: :D

[SuperFudge]

Heh,sorry Darren....That just may be me as a delenquint in Shao`s avatar pic ;) .

Anyways,coming out of the bottom right of the sump,you have a bulkhead.(intake for the pump)
Right after the bulkhead is a grey valve/union fitting.....
If you just flipped that fitting around,you could shut off the valve,undo the union(wich would be on the right side then) and remove your pump without water spilling out of the sump.

Anyways,i didnt want to complicate anything for ya,but i have a bunch of these valves/unions and i love them just for that use alone.

Marc.

[ 29 May 2002, 20:14: Message edited by: Superfudge ]

[Troy F]

Marc, that fitting is Spears' true union ball valve, basically a ball valve between two unions. Very nice valves but pricey. At least I think that is what you're referring to.

[DJ88]

hey Marc,

Troy's got it right. The beauty of these baby's is you can disconnect it on either side of the valve. :D Worth the extra $$$. Best investment I made on this tank I think. Or one of them at least. smile.gif

[Silverfish]

Just wondering where one might find a Spears true union ball valve? ;)

[DJ88]

BCGas services. Or otherwise known as Industrial plastics. About a five min drive from my door. ;)

[JimE]

Might be common knowledge for you guys but some info on union ball valves. Look if the valve bodies are pinned together thru the threads where the union nut screws on. Without the pins there is nothing holding the valve together when the nuts are taken off, and they usually leak or can blow apart. Some valves are built this way, some arent. Just a heads up.

Jim

[Silverfish]

Jim, thanks for the heads up.

Darren, it's a 6 min drive from my house.. tongue.gif

[DJ88]

Without the actual lid here is it all unfinished. Painted ones will be up in the next day or two when I get time. :D

http://members.shaw.ca/dj88/pix/standlid_unpainted.jpg

[ 30 May 2002, 14:44: Message edited by: DJ88 ]

[SuperFudge]

Oh,Thanks Troy & Darren,

I havent heard of those...they sound sweet!

I just have the ones with a union on one side...that is what i thought those were.

Good to see the plan come together Darren.

BTW,How goes the broken Skimmer ?
Marc.

[ 30 May 2002, 20:56: Message edited by: Superfudge ]

[StirCrazy]

um..er which is the front :D

Steve

[DJ88]

There is actually three fronts if you want to get picky.. ;) smart a$$

Here is a shot with the lid trim all on. forgot that one.. lol

Marc,

The broken skimmer.. hmmm.. Haven't touched it yet. Still to mad. May have to cut out the fitting, glue a new piece of acrylic overtop of the hole with new PVC fittings installed in that. .

http://members.shaw.ca/dj88/pix/standlid_unpainted_2.jpg

[ 30 May 2002, 23:10: Message edited by: DJ88 ]

[Troy F]

Darren, are there doors on the stand or just a removable piece?

[DJ88]

One solid door Troy, Much easier access to the whole stand.

[BCReefer]

I agree. Cherry wood is $$$ but I was looking at some nice wood that stains nice. I wish I did it that way on my current stand.

If the wife ever finds a job I am purchasing a 60G tank. I will custom the stand and stain it red. My brother will be welding me the metal stand and then like Darren I would mount the wood to the stand. Darren hope you don't mind me stealling your idea. I will like to get some up close picture on how you did everything at a later date.

Cheers,
Patrick

[BCReefer]

Darren,

IS that the natural finish or will you change it at a later date?

the stand really makes the system look good.

In my final system I hopping for a Wild Cherry colour or something like that.

Cheers,
Patrick

[DJ88]

Patrick,

Once the sealant dries I will be painting it the same speckle paint as the rest of the stand.

[Troy F]

Patrick, you'd have to go with a more expensive plywood for a cherry stain but when your time comes I can point you in the right direction. On the other hand you could go with a fir or spruce plywood and just stain to your choice. Personally, I like birch and actual cherry would be fantastic but pricey.

[Mushroom Boy]

Looks sweet Darren! Now I'll HAVE to come up for a visit! :D

I really like how the refugium and main display are incorporated into one whole system display. Looks awesome!!!

Paul.

[Bob I]

Makes me reaffirm my faith in the KISS principle :D What is the size of the main display tank?

[DJ88]

Thanks Paul. smile.gif

Antime you want to come up. I am off of school for the summer so am around pretty much 24/7. I am workign on the wiring for the hood right now so I should have new pictures very soon of the system all lit up.

Bob,

I don't think I could get much simpler. One pump doing everything. No powerheads no nuttin. :D the main tank is a 45 cube. 24x24x18. All tanks in one stand. Fully enclosed, very functional IMO.
As it stands now my power consumption has been cut almost in half(by about 40%. Less clutter in the main tank with better flow and circulation. I can now make up for this cut in power by increasing my lighting. All works for me.

[DJ88]

Well it's all painted and dry now. Today I mount the lighting. smile.gif

http://members.shaw.ca/dj88/pix/stand_painted.jpg