Madreefers New Build/Upgrade
 

Well I had my tank setup before I was a member on here so I never got to start a tank thread, so here's a new start.
I went away on vacation in the begining of Sept and I came back to find that my housesitter put some scratches in my tank. They are minor but as most of you also suffer from OCD when it comes to your tank, it just bothers me that they are there. And people don't notice the scratches until I point them out.:biggrin:
Well it was my wifes relatives that caused the scratches. Well she feels bad about it so I now have the go ahead for a new tank. My build will probably be up and running near Xmas.
So far this is all i've got. Should have the tank by mid Nov
1 1/2" steel stand. 60" long 30" wide and 36" tall. I went for a taller stand as I hate bending down to look at a tank. It should support 5000lbs. The sump will be in my basement as one won't find in the stand anyways due to the side braces.

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...eda894e350.jpg

1st person to tag along :mrgreen:

Nice stand Bill, I like taller as well, my DIY built in stand is 37" tall. Is your new tank getting custom built by the guy in Calgary?

Looks like a good start. Looking forward to seeing this tank setup. I'm sure it will be sweet.

Anthony

How is your sump fit inside the stand?

Sump in basement not in stand.

Yup, Concept is building it. Paul from Oceanic Corals is looking after it all for me. It'll be the same same size as the stand but only 30" deep. I just went with normal glass, black silicone, eurobraced with a coast to coast overflow and herby drains. The stand is going to a cabinet maker to be skinned to match the cabinets in my house. I want to paint the stand white first. Powdercoating wont be neccesary as sump will be in basement. This will be a slow build as my wife has no idea of costs involved. Saving up my allowance for the funding:lol:
Relatives made me the stand for free so that is a huge savings.

Those diagonals should make that stand earthquake proof. I've done many build by putting aside allowance money. It's good in a way because you have time I between stages to really think and plan.

Nice tank build following along,and I will be able to see your glass being put together:biggrin:

Yea i'm getting pumped. Couple more allowance days to go before the tank is paid off and can be started.:lol:

subscribed :D

Great tank dimensions Bill
I don't envy you reaching the back, but I sure wish my tank had all that space for scaping - and a coast to coast :biggrin:

Have you decided yet if you're going to stick with your current equip ?

Haha I wish my wife liked the dimensions. She thinks it's too big and does'nt want to part with the my round tank. It does look good where it's placed.
Yea the overflow will take up 6" but will still have 24" for aquascaping. I'm going to see if a 4" wide overflow will be able to work.
Yes I plan on using all of my old equipment. I guess a list of my equipment should be part of my journal too eh?

Like I said, a slow build. At least it's painted now. I know, just a stand but it's a start.:lol:

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...nkbuild003.jpg

It's a build thread, and a pic is a pic

Keep 'em comin' Bill :biggrin:

I am so glad your getting a new tank....lol I will follow along this build.

Haha yea I bet Blaine.

I wish I had a basement to put my sump in, great for doing water changes too. I take it your using the same sump on the new system?

Yea basement sumps are great. I have an unfinished basement. I never get in trouble for spilling water. Plus the basement is scarey so my wife doesn't go down there much. Yes I'll be using the same sump. For now:biggrin:

I have spilled and overflowed more water with this basement sump i currently have than any other. best part is i get away with it down there.

It's great isn't it. No more getting the ol stink eye for minor spills. Plus she never notices new equipment purchases.

Ok you guys now I'm really jealous!

tank design
 

hi bill

i took the liberty of making you a drawing.

in this design i went with a semi coast to coast overflow , by doing so it allows both of your returns to be tee'd off and ran on either side of the overflow box and will be hidden by the acrylic back panel, a slip x threaded bulkhead is then used with loc-line and flow dispurser.

i did it as a bean animal with 2 x 1 1/2" drains and a 2" emergency drain

both returns are 1" and a valve(union BV preferably) on both returns are used to control flow.


this design allows you to access your ball valves from the back of the display without having to reach in your box , it also allows the maximum volume to aqua scape with.

by doing a bean animal you allow yourself a bit less tuning of the herbies gate , but in turn will cost a bit more in plumbing as you are adding an extra drain.

1 is a full syphon, 2 is a trickle or so and the emergency stays dry untill its ever needed(god forbid)


here some jpegs i made i can adjust anything you like if you just tell me what you would like to change and the dimensions you would prefer.

sorry for the delay buddy and hope you dont mind me poisting this public to help with design.

60 x 30 x 36h
19mm all around

http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/...ps761727ed.jpg

http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/...pse393bf91.jpg

http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/...psac38cd66.jpg

http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/...ps90780635.jpg

http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/...psfd56c354.jpg

http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/...ps919b13c7.jpg

THIRTY SIX INCHES TALL?! ZOMG are you a giant?!?!

Also.. :pop2:

Well everyone is a giant compared to you (and me) :razz:

Haha!! No not at all. Those measurements are not correct. Only 30" tall:lol:

haha well you get the idea design wise anyways:P

Hey Denny! I like it. But i only want it 30" tall. I'm no giant.:lol:
My only concern is that I really don't want my tank to stick out too far as this is the area it will be going in. I have to keep the wife some what happy. She already thinks it's too big

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...lumbing005.jpg

I only have 5 1/2" from my wall at the moment. I'm worried about being able to reach behind to adjust or even plumb it.

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...lumbing006.jpg

As you can see it's in a bay window so with the round tank I can reach behind.
Another question. Is this black acrylic wall going to cover the whole back pane of glass? Cuz it wouls dave me from having to paint it.:wink:
I'd like the plumbing to go with it as well. When Paul places the order please tell him of any extra charges as well.
Thanks man

we can always go internally as well , if reaching behind the tank will be an issue by going internal all your plumbing will come out from the bottom of the tank , we can do your returns out the overflow body if you like?

if you like bill i can do a internal drawing for you and we can go from there?:)

the acrylic i do a full panel if its external unless the customer request otherwise(vinyl for example) internal we do acrylic on the overflow box and vinyl on the back, so yours right now as it stand is a full gloss black panel on the back with no vinyl.




if theres anything you want to add we can add it to your crate, payment and order will be made through paul but we can accomodate anything he may not have in stock:)

cheers

denny

gloss white and blue are other color options for your acrylic or vinyl:)

I just sent you a text message:lol:

No thanks, i'll just stick with black.

Man I have not been paying enough attention to canreef lately. Stupid work. This looks pretty awesome. If you need a hand with the move give me a shout. Looks pretty sweet.

Yea i'm pumped about it. I just may hold you to that offer. Good to see you visit the site again. Wondered where you've. Maybe the other PG member on here will start posting again. I have yet to hear how his move went.

by the way, I really like your existing tank in that space. It's a great use of that space with the corner tank and looks like it fits there quite well.

Thanks kien:smile: that's why my wife is a little upset I'm going to a rectangular tank. She thinks it'll be too big and not look good in that spot. And she's probably right :twised:

But the most important question...will you cat still be able to reach up and enjoy the tank?

Haha yea she sits there for hours. The fish are not at all afraid. The other cat is not interested at all in the tank.

Oh my build seems so slow. Picked up 4 20lbs bags of sand, 2 Atlantic Crushed Coral and 2 Aragonite Sand. This cost me $120 locally. What would you guys have paid in the bigger city's? I'm going to be using about 5lbs of my old sand for seeding this stuff. I would really like to use straight sugar sand which I now use in my tank right now. I keep reading that people have huge sandstorms using the Vortech MP40s. I have never once had a sandstorm in my tank now using 2 and 1 MP10 at 100% but it must just be from the curvature of the half circle glass. So i'm not taking any chances since i'm going to a rectangular tank and will be running 4 MP40s on it. My last rectangular tank was 5 tanks ago.

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...nkbuild001.jpg

Let the rinsing begin.

Decided to change the seal in my Barracuda pump today. They seem to go every 3 years.

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...umpseal004.jpg

Think i needed to change?
2 more weeks and the new tank should arrive.

I guess a lot depends on how open the aquascaping is. I had sandstorms even with heavier sand but eventually the sand gets tired of blowing around and settle in :lol:

So did you enjoy the rinsing part? :razz: