you takes some pretty good pics there.

Thanks...

Looking good, nice to see your tank after talking about it at RC today.

It's progress has been alot slower than I would like, but the red nuisance algae keeps me from adding much, as it can over grow some corals.

I think I am more excited about my Nano tank at this stage.. :confused::silly:

Well, This hasn't been the best build to say the least.. I have decided to tear the system down and start from scratch, plus make a couple upgrades to make life easier. I am really just not happy with the way I did things (as it was my first attempt at a tank, and I rushed in head strong)


I am getting rid of the nuisance rock (not going to mess around with cooking or scrubbing) and replacing it with clean Tonga LR, Powerheads are going to be gone completely in the system and plan to setup a closed loop system thru the floor of the tank, I am going to pick up an RO unit and start this system on RO water from the first drop, LR and LS with lights out for 2 months. Completely redoing my aquascaping with a pvc sub-structure. I am going to add a drain system to my sump for easy water changes, ATO system, redoing the plumbing (in hopes of tracking down the reason for my bad microbubble problem). Things I should have thought about from the beginning I suppose. I figure now is the time to do this as its not fully stocked, most of my corals can be moved to my 20G nano (as long as they don't have any of the nuisance algae attached to them) including the pygmy angel (not sure if I will move the cleaner wrasse in there yet, or just sell him)

Live and Learn. :mrgreen:

dont be too anxious on that tonga, unless ur LFS has some in right now ur not getin any

My LFS has a couple 1000 pounds... :wink:

srry, double post

then your all set

just makin sure u werent getting your hopes up to find out no mores being shipped:wink:

I used Conduit piping...It was about 1/2 the cost of PVC and for the sub structure, it was all I needed...

Oh right on! Thanks Glenn. I will remember that! you just get it at home depot/rona?

PS: Again, thanks for the tank tour. I'm looking forward to coming back and photographing it for you. :mrgreen:

yep..HD down the hill from you has it...

The tear down is coming along, Tank is empty as of today, just need to get some help to move the tanks outside so I can drill some new bulkheads for my Closed Loop. I'm going to be running a Reeflo Dart on the CL, to 4 seperate returns in the floor of the tank. My sump return is going to return back where it was originally.

Picked up a Bulk Reef Supply RO unit from Red Coral couple days ago, and a Dual TDS meter, finally got it installed today with no leaks. TDS reading as of today is 000ppm :mrgreen: I wasn't gonna start this tank with a single drop of tap water.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...ROUnitwTDS.jpg

im in calgary too and i am very pleased to hear you get 0 ppm with this filter.
how much did you pay for it?

I payed $109.99. I was pretty happy to see 0ppm too.. was expecting 1 or 2ppm... It does fluctuate between 0 and 1.. but mostly 95% of the time i check it, its reading 0..

Ordered my ligthing today:

Galaxy Dual 250W Electronic Ballast:
http://www.tfjpetcenter.com/ProductImages/galax250.jpg

2x Reef Optix 3 Plus Double-End HQI Reflectors:
http://www.prairiereefsupplies.ca/im...ectors_ro3.jpg

Drilled the bulkheads for my closed loop today in the pouring rain.. :mrgreen: 2" drain and 4x 1" returns, will be running on a Reeflo Dart.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...nk/CLbulks.jpg

Also picked up some Adhesive vinyl today from a fellow reefer (thanks Glen). So will attempt to put that on tomorrow.

Small Update:

Vinyled the tank... I did the sides to hide the substructure of the rock.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...ackground1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...ackground2.jpg


And installed the CL Bulkheads:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...20Tank/CL1.jpg

i was thinking about the same idea, so is the bottom returns for the pvc structure?

No, the substructure will only be covering my 2" drain, the returns will have flared ends directing flow 'up' my two walls and around my centerpiece rock formation/overhang.

What do you think about the vinyl? Im still unsure about it..

is vinyl a piece of plastic that is coloured like what you get at petsmart or something, i would personally( just speaking for myself) just spray paint the back with krylon fusion, and i wouldnt do the sides because i like to look down the sides but if you only want to look at the front the also spray paint the sides, i think it last alot longer and you wont get salt creep between. of course that's if vinyl is what i think it is.

This vinyl is the type that is used to make signs on cars, airplanes and such...

Picked up the plumbing for my closed loop today. :mrgreen:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...plumbing75.jpg

Just need the actual 2" and 1 1/2" pipe.

Things are a bit slow with this re-build, but I got my lighting today. Thanks to the guys at Red Coral!

I had originally ordered the Reef Optix 3 reflectors, but the shipper screwed up and sent the Lumen Max 3's instead. So I went with them instead, being the better reflector supposedly. And then the Dual 250W Galaxy Electronic Ballast.

Need to exchange one of them tho, as they came with two different reflector patterns, one is fully dimpled, the other is only dimpled in the corners. So waiting to hear back from Kevin about the 3rd one he has at the store.

Not sure which bulbs I am going to use yet... I am thinking about Ushio 14K with 1x54W KZ Fiji Purple and 1x54W Giesemann Super Actinic on TEK Retrofit units, but I'll have to see how things go.

Anyways, enough talking... PICS!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...Tank/250MH.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...ank/250MH2.jpg

Very nice! So where ya gonna put the chiller:mrgreen: Glad we had a matching reflector for ya.

Well, I started putting some of my CL plumbing parts together last night and ran into a ever so slight problem... The holes I drilled near the back of the floor for the CL, are too close together, and I can barely squeeze the T to split the flow, let alone the T with 90s to line up with the bulk heads... it just ends up being to wide.. I have NO idea what I am gonna do to get around this problem.

Could you post a picture of the problem? It would help with troubleshooting.

A picture might help, because I'm probably imagining this way wrong. But a couple ideas do come to mind. If the T is too large, hacksaw 1/4" off the ends to make it a smaller T. Also instead of regular 90's, use street 90's, you'll save on a lot of space with those. (For example: http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/Plumbi..._23/index.html ) Good luck!

Yea, I will try and get a pic or 2 tomorrow..

I think I figured out what I'm gonna do regarding the CL plumbing issue... I'm just gonna run the CL return to 3 of the 4 bulkheads, and then T off my return pump from the sump to take the place on the 4th CL bulkhead.. Should keep my plumbing fairly clean.

So the holes in the tank are too close together? I've seen this in the past before and I actually cut and welded a PVC elbow and tee together to make a custom fitting, however that's last resort kind of stuff. Can you move the tee further from the tank to allow for two 45 elbows or some spa-flex to fix the problem?

Well I solved my problem... I decided to scrap the forth CL return hole with a piece of scrap acrylic and LOTS of silicone...

This made it possible to plumb the 3rd CL return in the back... All three CL returns have a ball valve at the base of the bulk head, to control individual flow..

Got 2 joints to glue, that I just gotta plumb into the pump. I think I will have a beer when I finish it... It's been an headache.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../CLreturns.jpg

And a quick shot of the underside... which should be finished tomorrow.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...CLplumbing.jpg

Good luck with the patch....that would make me nervous. I see a rebirth af a reef tank...a seriously kicked up reef tank:lol: When do you think you will have water in it?

I'm pretty confident in that patch job :lol:... I know the acrylic won't crack, and the silicone sealed up smooth and tight (and plenty was used)..

As for water, I'm hoping to leak test the patch and CL by end of the weekend, I just need to get my sump moved out, cleaned out, and put back in.. Which is a big task when the roommates aren't around. LOL

Couple updated shots from tonight...


Got most of my return plumbing done, just a quick link up to the return pump and I'm set. Not sure what to do with my closed loop pump though... I was thinking of scrapping my Fuge (on the right hand side of sump) in the sump and just placing the pump in that section to keep all the plumbing under/in the stand... just not sure if thats a good idea, and it can't go above my sump on a shelf because I don't have the clearance for it.. I'm also contemplating on moving the tank somewhere else in the room so I can place some bar stools infront of the tank, which obviously would affect my decision on the placement of the CL pump.

Any ideas on the CL pump??

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...ewplumbing.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../ftsshot11.jpg

It might be a good idea to lift the CL intake up a little, otherwise it'll be prone to suck up sand which will damage the seal on the pump causing the bearing to fail.

Oh, you mean in the Display? Wasn't planning on having sand tight around that bulkhead... I'm putting a pvc structure in both corners for my scape... and whereever my rock footing is, is where the sand stops so a good 6-8" I'm thinking.. I'll have to keep it in mind tho

Plumbing update......

IT'S DONE!!!:mrgreen:

... and I must say, I think it turned out quite well. I decided to take the Snapper out of the "old" refuge section in my sump, and added a "deck" to the right side of my stand which is up against the wall, so should keep the pump fairly hidden, and also will allow me to incorporate the refuge still.. Win/Win!

Pics:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...k/75plumb1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...k/75plumb2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...k/75plumb3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...k/75plumb4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...k/75plumb5.jpg

And I also ended up moving the tank from where it originally was:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...k/75plumb6.jpg

oh wow thanks. lol you did it when i was at work

but that patch is sealed. and i am sure it will be able to hold the load otherwise its going to be a fun mess to clean up. i'm sure it won't come to that

lol..

:mrgreen:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...nk/Filling.jpg