I run two heaters on my 165g. Not sure why so many heaters are in your sump. That's waaaaay overkill.

There is redundancy here, yes, but I'm not running them all, just the 200 watters.
The 2 x 250w heaters are backups on a Ranco, just in case the main heater circuit craps out due to either a Reefkeeper failure, or a Heater failure tripping the GFCI.
As for the 3 x 200w heaters; I prefer smaller heaters rather than large ones that can go haywire and cook things. I feel 3 x 150w just wouldn't cut it as it can sometimes hit 68F in our Livingroom.

Just ordered the Reefkeeper Elite, some switches and a Hub. I received a decent offer from a member for used, but for the cost difference, new it is.
Time to get some more plumbing done.

cant wait to see more pics!

OK, more pics, but only 'cause you asked :mrgreen:
I wasted half my night on the phone with 2 members ... 2 1/2 hours talkin' 'bout reef stuff. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but, trying to be polite while doin' plumbing is difficult.
So ... here is what I got done tonight.
And because we can't edit our posts, I have to post new pics of where I'm at;

I re-arranged the drain plumbing under the tank. I still want to brace the main drain line to alleviate any stress from the bulkhead while I'm crankin' the valve. Only issue is I haven't found a chunk of something to stuff in there yet (see second pic to understand space between pipes and wood).
http://i749.photobucket.com/albums/x...d/DSC00821.jpg
http://i749.photobucket.com/albums/x...d/DSC00823.jpg

I got the lines run to the sump ( on the right you see my SW holding tank with it's outlet valve )
http://i749.photobucket.com/albums/x...d/DSC00824.jpg

I had to re-arrange the heaters as the drain lines interfered with their locations, so this is where we're at now
http://i749.photobucket.com/albums/x...d/DSC00826.jpg

It's kinda hard to see in the last pic, but that's my skimmer stand. It's reflecting off the back glass.
The wife used to work with stained glass, so I used her glass grinder to round out the upper corners of the gussets to let the bubbles out.
Maybe tomorrow I'll get enough done to glue the pipes and do a water test.
I still have to plumb the DT pump before that happens. After that there is the Sump pump with it's circuit of 2 x reactors, UV/Chiller and Chaeto.

Looking good dude! I see what you mean with the heaters :lol: can never be too careful

Keep those pictures coming. I love how everything is setup up so cleanly. Great work. Gives me plenty of ideas for my tank.

Thanks guys.
Since the rock is still cooking, I'm being overly fussy. I think I spent 2 hours just on the drains under the tank :smile:

Thats totally the way to go though... Do it right the first time, and make it look nice so you don't look at it every day and want to rip it apart.

Very nice progress, I'm glad to see someone else doing a sump room build thread with detailed pictures. I'm about to start mine and already you have given me a bunch of awesome ideas.. Keep up the good work!

:biggrin:

Makin' some headway now. Got the plumbing to the sump tested and re-done. Had water running through the DT for the first time.

http://i749.photobucket.com/albums/x...d/DSC00844.jpg

Think I'm happy with the overflow levels and such. Still can't adjust the sump level until all the rest of the gear is plumbed in, but it's a start.
I added an extra return valve for feeding/pictures and it's working out great.
I've started to play with the Herbie overflow levels, and think I'm happy with where the levels are to start with. I have a Gate Valve that I haven't used yet on the return line, a True Union Ball valve on the bypass and a Ball valve for a shut-off. I think this will cover it.
The main drain inside the overflow is about 6" tall with a 3/4" strainer on top of it and the emergency is about 2-1/4" from the DT level, minus the strainer. It's all good for now with the testing.

Got the light mounted and holeeeeeeee is it ever briiiiigggghhhhttttttt.
And right here I'll give a shout out to viper901 for sellin' me such a great light :mrgreen:
http://i749.photobucket.com/albums/x...d/DSC00837.jpg

Good thing I modded it.
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=82405
If I could not control the 8 bulbs there might be an issue

I changed the eggcrate overflow thingy and though you all might like to see this. There's no noise as it's above the water line.
http://i749.photobucket.com/albums/x...d/DSC00835.jpg

More pictures to come when I plumb the next circuit.
This will involve the chiller, uv, chaeto and 2 reactors.

Wow, it's been almost 3 weeks since my last post. Time is flyin' by.
I've plumbed the Return and Chiller/UV/Chaeto pumps a couple of times.
I'm happy with the return, but the other is about to change again, so no pics.
And I've also decided to make a sump design change.
With the sock hanger after the bubble trap, it's counter-productive. It's noisy and creates bubbles.

http://i749.photobucket.com/albums/x...d/DSC00826.jpg

I'm moving the Heaters to the right, and putting the Sock hanger in their place, with the Reactors hanging inside the sump in front of the Skimmer.
The overflow will go through the Skimmer chamber, down through the Socks, then up and over the Heaters as it exits the bubble trap.
I'm mostly happy with the other pump circuit, but need to re-route the Reactor circuit, so pics later.

I tried cutting the silicone out, even with a guitar string, but no go. I ordered the original glass snug enough that I couldn't get a blade through.
I ended up taping the glass, scoring it, and smacking it. It took a freakishly hard blow to break it.
Tomorrow I pick up the new glass.
I'll post a pic next week once I'm happy with the setup.

While the silicone is curing, I'm going to finally tackle the wiring.
I picked up a new Reefkeeper Elite last week and can now start all that planning etc.
If you missed it, and because I can't edit the original post ...
I originally bought a Reefkeeper Lite, but will use it on the QT as I now want more modules on the DT than I had originally planned on.

Sigh, another disappointing post, but, on the upside, I have what I think will now be a killer sump.
Sump v2.0 didn't pan out. The baffles couldn't keep up with the pump.
So, I have yet again cut the glass out, ordered more, and cleaned up the tank.
I picked up the new pieces of glass tonight and, for the first time, my buddy Wayne @ Cando Burnaby messed up a measurement.
Another day of waiting before I can install the new pieces :sad:

I might as well show you the second plan that didn't work, and I was thinking it wouldn't as the linear overflow wasn't enough, but I had to try. Good thing the DT is still empty.
The whole idea here was to get as much 'pump' area as possible and have a small skimmer chamber while being able to have the heaters inside the bubble trap. Not an easy feat to accomplish while using an Aqueon with a center support in the way.
The whole layout has now changed, and I am really stoked about it.
I researched skimmers and have a plan now that will accomodate a Vertex Alpha 170 down the road, so onward and forward.
So here is what couldn't handle the flow. I was so disappointed I forgot to get a pic of it with the socks and heaters installed. Anyway, it'll give you an idea where the next plan is going, but without the front to back flow. And for those of you liking this layout, it will just barely handle 600gph. The sock tray was 4-3/4 x 10-1/4ish and the outflow was 4-3/4 x 7-1/4ish

http://i749.photobucket.com/albums/x...d/DSC00854.jpg

Just to clarify, the new layout will have full-sized 17-1/4 baffles. It will now be ... Inlet to skimmer chamber, down through 3 x 4" socks, then up and over the heaters right before the cross-support.
Kinda-sorta like the layout in the previous post pic, but with the socks between the skimmer and the heaters.
I'll have enough room to get a mag-float in there and still retain almost 25g of pump area. Lots for water changes without turning the pump off on a 110g system.
If you've seen the earlier pics of the 'finished' plumbing, you'll appreciate what I have planned once you see it. Very tidy with lots of access to everything.
Plus, the baffles should now be able to handle almost 1200g/hr, so plenty as I'm only needing 900-1000. v2.0 could only BARELY handle 600 and it was spilling over. Man am I glad I don't need to have this system running anytime soon.
The chaeto tank is being moved to the back from the front and all the plumbing is being re-done to clean it up.
$200 in wasted glass, silicone and PVC, but hopefully I'll be happy with sump v3.0.
Stay tuned ..... time for a frosty

And to add, I'm sure everyone's becoming bored with the same updates.
Thing is, I have so much left to do that I can't get to until this damned sump is ready.
Once I get past this weeks-long hurdle, you may actually see me make some fast progress.

Alright, some progress. Sump v3.0 works :biggrin:
In the pics to follow, there's some split loom missing 'cause I ran out, and the final Chiller stand hasn't been made yet, but you get the idea.
Now I can start on the electrical panel.
Plus the long list of other things I won't bore you all with.
I'll only post these pics due to the edit restriction.

http://i749.photobucket.com/albums/x...d/DSC00898.jpg

http://i749.photobucket.com/albums/x...d/DSC00899.jpg

Nice progress! I actually love the loom idea! Looks a lot better than clear tubing. Nice and clean.

Keep up the good work!

Sump v3.0 is awesome!

Your persistence definitely paid off. :biggrin:

Whoa that sump is crazy!

Whole macrel that sump got full fast! Looking good dude! Can't wait to see it all wet!

Thanks all.
Ya it sure got crowded fast in there. I couldn't imagine using something smaller.
The loom is supposed to block light so I don't have to clean out the hoses. Only time will tell.

How much gap is there between the loomed hoses and the filter sock holder? That could be a pain in the neck to change them when you have do it every3 days or so.

you could hang the reactors on the outside of the sump to the right-ish side if you find it a pain to get the socks out....

Thanks for the thoughts. This is why I'm glad it worked out that the manifold outlets ended up right in the middle.

There's about 4" clearance

I don't want to take a chance on an external leak

If it becomes a pain in the but, I can put the reactors in the return area. Plus, if in the future I buy something like an Alpha 170, that's where they will have to go.
To start with, I wanted them out of the way of the pumps but I most likely will put them there anyway. It'll look tidier with shorter hoses and I'll only have one hose to work around.
Then I would route the chiller hose behind the skimmer so I can see better what's going on there.

So a teaser for y'all.
If you like seeing hardware and so on, stay posted for pics of my electrical panel ( If all you want to see are live things, you'll have to wait awhile longer ).
I got it 90% finished this weekend. All I have left to do on it is finish labeling all the cords.
I'll get a pic of it up over the next couple of days.
And a word of warning;
If you like over-kill, check back.
If you are inclined to bash, be nice and just looky-no-talkie as it's quite the, well, you'll see :wink:

Aaarrrrgh
One or two more days before I post pics :neutral:
I woulda put pics up tonight, but I don't wish to fill Photobucket with stuff I can't delete. Not liking the 'can't edit' limitations ........................... :sad:
Anywayyyyyy
I thought I had all needed parts, but have to make yet another trip to the electrical store.
Stay tuned, it will be quite the pic :cool:

OK, here's the panel. Yes, it's crazy alright, just like I promised :mrgreen:

I can't help but hear in my head the theme song from 2001: A Space Odyssey

http://i749.photobucket.com/albums/x...d/DSC00905.jpg

http://i749.photobucket.com/albums/x...uild/Panel.jpg

I've still got lots left to do, but I'm this much closer.
I need to make a light barrier for the Chaeto tank, a splash guard for the electrical panel, the final Chiller stand and a bunch of stuff under the DT needs to be connected and labeled.
Also a light barrier ( sorta like a canopy ) for the DT and maybe screens instead of eggcrate.
And I haven't programmed the RKE yet either. Oh, plus a float switch in the overflow box. I'm sure there's more.
I'm hoping, when I test the cooking rock over the next couple of days, that I will be able to fill the system soon.
I'm still following Myka's cooking advice, but it's killin' me waitin' so long for the nitrates and phosphates to go away.

Are you cooking with Lanthanum?

That will erase your phosphates.

Thanks for the tip.
I've read about Lanthanum and have opted to do it naturally with weekly 100% waterchanges.
Today I have 1.0 NO3 and about 0.04 P4. It's gettin' there :biggrin:

I really like the way you built your sump and love the look of your organized wiring. I think I am going to ask my husband to re-orginize mine like yours.

Thank you :biggrin:

Here's another overflow cover mod. I'm thinkin' this is the one I'll keep.
I tried eggcrate, thought about using mesh, but this is it. Now I can remove my standpipe strainers and have full flow.

It just happens to hold the flood switch at the perfect height and I slotted it for my ground, temp and pH probes. Plus it blocks light, so no huge algae issues in the box.

The only critters that make it into the box have to go through the teeth and, unless they grow to huge proportions, will flush through if they decide to go down the waterslide.
I glued small pieces on the underside to stop it from sliding too far left/right/forwards.
Guess I should clean up the edges a bit as it looks like poop in the pic.
http://i749.photobucket.com/albums/x...d/DSC00910.jpg

Now I have to make my mind up about using a mesh cover vs eggcrate.

Tonight's progress starts with re-arranging the loc-line outlets in the hopes of not having to drill anti-siphon holes

http://i749.photobucket.com/albums/x...urnNozzles.jpg

Then I finally got some wiring done under the tank

http://i749.photobucket.com/albums/x...d/DSC00928.jpg
http://i749.photobucket.com/albums/x...d/DSC00927.jpg

Just that much closer
The liverock in the rubbermaid readings are getting harder to decipher;
Today, 2 days after a 100% WC, I get hard to decifer NO3 and maybe 0.04 PO4.
So I did a control test to help me with the colors.
The PO4 is definitely there but the NO3 is Soo hard to read.
Guess I'm still waiting.
I'll keep up with the rubbermaid WC's while I find more things to finish with the build.
Once I run out of things to do, I might get impaitent and fill this thing :twised:

Forgot to mention;
I moved the SL1 from the electrical panel in the sump room to under the tank. I put the Hub in it's place on the panel

So I've decided to change something again
I hope the rock finishes curing soon, before I waste any more money on re-doing stuff. ( the rock is actually really close to ready )

I didn't like the idea of having a chaeto light in the sump to promote all kinds of stuff on my pumps, heaters and skimmer, and I was wasting some return volume, sooooooo .......
I bought a 5.5g and am in the midst of plumbing it on top of the shelf above the sump. What the hey?, it only weighs 40# full. This will give me about 20g of running water during a WC

The baffling didn't go so well due to my surprise of the black silicone I thought was clear, and now it looks like something Bill the Cat left behind, but whatever. It'll work. The premise is to have an 8 x 8 x 8 Chaeto tank overflow into what may become a frag tank that drains back to the sump. The frag tank is surprisingly large considering the tank size. In half a 5.5g I have enough room for one of those pricey racks @ 6x6 :rolleyes:

Keep in mind I don't have any critters right now, so this me planning ahead and I know it will need to grow.
I already have plans in mind to shuffle the room a bit.
I have room for another 30" of tank beside the sump, not to mention all that space above if i build strong enough shelving/stands.
Ok, I may be going on a bit, but I have no Reefie friends to talk to :biggrin:

I will post some pics after I test the flow through the sump again
I've included an emerg overflow and suspect all will be good

you should also plumb in a algae scrubber since you are doing such an elaborate job on your build! Look forward to the final day when it goes live with stock.

msjboy

Thanks, I am also really looking forward to seeing some livestock !
I am hoping with the Chaeto and HC GFO I won't have to add the extra maintenance of a scrubber. Only time will tell
There will be room for it later, but I won't need it to start with as the stocking will be gradual

............ So when are you going to be done? :lol: I've been waiting for months ;)

Tell me about it. I've been stalling as I hope to fully cook the rock. I've been doing weekly WCs.
I did a WC on the 7th. On the 9th I had less than 1ppm NO3 and 0.04ppm PO4. Today I still have the same readings.

Once I get the chaeto tank ready I'll re-test the system. At that time I'll set up the ATO, pump hi/low switches and work out any bugs I can find. Then I'll run it up to temp and test the chiller, backup ranco and whatever else comes to mind.
I'll also set up the RKL.

Once that is all done, I may lose patience with the rock. But honestly, I want to at least see the NO3 go away.

So, to answer your question;
I'll wager you have a new mouth to feed before we do :razz:

haha, most likely, the wife will be getting induced next week if it doesnt happen over the weekend, as she is now 39 weeks! (almost 10 months!)

Holee that is long. Kid must want to come out full-grown.
Well, if I don't talk to you before then, here's to everything going swimmingly
Don't forget to maybe not eat before you go into the delivery room and remember, no matter how much your wife will hate you, she still loves you !

LOL I can hardly wait for "this is all your fault". :lol: