400g Envision Reef Build

[kilmca]

I'm almost done filling it! See link for additional info and pictures.
http://www.pnwmas.org/forums/showthread.php?t=8770

Thanks

[Albright]

Seeing pictures would require us to join.

As much as I'd love to see your build I have no interest in joining the board for the Pacific Northwest Marine Aquarium Society.

Post 'em here! :)

[Untamed12]

Sure...Oregon. You are lucky. I had to drive my Envision tank 5 hours to get it home. Always nice to see another Envision vision!

I agree...I would love to see pictures, but I'm not willing to sign up to ANOTHER board just to see yours.

Brad.

[Nanook]

Go ahead and post the pictures here.

[kilmca]

I forgot you have to be a member to view the pictures that I post but if you go to flickr.com you can see them. Links are below. Here is a picture of the full tank. Go here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/16991411@N05/) for additional pictures.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3225/2860755694_2c601377a9_b.jpg

[Jflip2002]

Are you going to utilize a wavemaker, or just keep it 300g full? =)

[uhuru]

he says in the first post that he is still filling it

[ox5477]

How deep is the tank? Looks much bigger than 400G... or maybe I just don't have a feel for that water volume...

[kilmca]

The tank is 24" deep, 32" wide and 120" long.

Yes the tank will be completely filled. Plumbing is taking a little longer than I would have liked. Doesn't help the wife planned a beach weekend this past weekend so we didn't get home till Sunday late.

Fish and corals are still doing great but around 250 of the 300 gallons is fresh saltwater so not having a protein skimmer or sump going yet is not hurting anything.

I will be doing a leak test on the plumbing tonight, if everything works out fine i'll be filling the sump and the tank the rest of the way.

Than i'll be setting up the skimmer.

[GSMguy]

another gorgeous Envision tank, i love it.

[kilmca]

Well the tank is full of water and the return plumbing is done. Still have to setup the skimmer and make other adjustments.

One issue i'm dealing with is that I have two overflows and each overflow has two 1.5" diameter dursos. Here is the problem, only two of the 4 durso's are working. I have the dart pump turned down a little because I need to get a Y locline on each return rather than just a single on each return. Some of the corals wouldn't be able to handle the flow if i let the dart run at 100%. I plan on using the dart at 100% eventually but I need to disperse the flow some more.

I even tested running the dart at 100% and still the two 1.5" diameter durso's can handle the flow. Does anyone know what a 1.5" durso is rated for? I read somewhere that a 1" durso can handle 2500 gph, if that's true than I guess I only need two 1.5" durso's to keep up with the dart.

Any advice would be helpful.

Here are some pictures and go here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/16991411@N05/) if you want to see more pictures.

Left Side Shot
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/2908166968_32a901a6b6_b.jpg

Right Side Shot
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2386/2908167800_0f2fee741f_b.jpg

[Untamed12]

I wish you had put up your plan before you did the plumbing....Maybe it will be fairly easy to change....

Since you've proven that you can handle all of the flow through only two of the 1.5" drain holes (one in each box), you are in a perfect position to eliminate the dursos and do "Herbie" drains.

While dursos can quiet the drains considerably, Herbie style are absolutely 100% silent.

Here's a photo of my twin Herbies... on my two overflow boxes....on my two 1.5" drains....powered by my Dart at 100% flow...on my 400 gallon Envision tank... Sound similar? The commonalities are pretty freaky!

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r118/untamed_photos/Aquarium%20Construction/100_0484copy.jpg
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r118/untamed_photos/Aquarium%20Construction/100_0485.jpg
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r118/untamed_photos/Aquarium%20Construction/100_0462.jpg

[Condiman]

I am very impressed excellent work

[kilmca]

Untamed12,

Thanks for the information. I have to do some research on the herbie drains. I belive it would be pretty easy to change over to herbie drains because i have access to the back and underside of the tank.

I have to see if they are totally necessary since I got the loclines I needed and I can now run the pump at 100% and nothing gets hurt. Also the dursos are pretty quiet, actually i think they are very quiet compared to the external overflows I had on the previous tank.

Thanks again and that is freaky how similar our tanks are, what are the dimensions of your tank?

[Untamed12]

6ft x 4ft x 26"H

I'll just add that the Herbie method eliminates any air bubbles getting carried down into the sump. This means that you can have the drain tube exit below the water line in the sump. There is no splashing or bubbles and everything stays a lot less salty in general.

[PreacherMan607]

Awesome!...........Someday I'll have one like that! Great looking tank!

[dismalorb]

Hey kilmca,

Beautiful tank! Now I know what I can expect from James when I have him build me the 450 I'm over-half paid on! :)

Oh the joys of living in Oregon. :)

[kilmca]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13498602#post13498602 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dismalorb
Hey kilmca,

Beautiful tank! Now I know what I can expect from James when I have him build me the 450 I'm over-half paid on! :)

Oh the joys of living in Oregon. :)

You won't be dissapointed if you get a tank built by James, he's also great to deal with.

Untamed12,

I was considering an 8ft x 4ft x 2ft 480 gallon tank but the 400g plan was the design that won. I think i'll be trying the herbie drains if they get rid of bubbles. I've heard to go with gate valves rather than ball valves, right? Ball valves aren't really reliable, so I've heard.

[kilmca]

I'm not very good at updating progress on the tank on a regular basis. The skimmer has been going for about a month now and i just got the calcium reactor setup this past week. I'm very impressed by the skimmers performance, i guess i shouldn't be that because of all the good reviews i read before i bought it.

Still haven't finished the cabinet work around the tank but hopefully in the next couple weeks that will come together.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3279/3030926387_062eae34b1_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3142/3030927959_b812ea06da_b.jpg

[kilmca]

I've also added some new livestock, corals and fish:
Melanurus wrasse
Hammer coral
Millipora frag
tan with blue polyp monti
brown with white polyp monti
green zoos and red and blue zoos

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3248/3006358830_a17f0ff0af_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3228/3030933929_e6f7de741d_b.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3027/3030925317_9a3a627d65_b.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3192/3031765768_e65bf86b24_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3166/3031775920_b63ed1f233_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3017/3031773834_f668e1ff47_b.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3037/3031763182_df1112967d_b.jpg

[garrettm85]

Kilmca,

Nice to follow another great local tank! We definately are lucky here in Oregon.

Keep us updated over at PNWMAS aswell. I have been following your posts there also and things are looking nice!

Let me know if you want to come check out my system sometime. I would be more than happy to do some trading or just chat reef.


Garrett

[Untamed12]

Untamed12,

I was considering an 8ft x 4ft x 2ft 480 gallon tank but the 400g plan was the design that won. I think i'll be trying the herbie drains if they get rid of bubbles. I've heard to go with gate valves rather than ball valves, right? Ball valves aren't really reliable, so I've heard. [/B]

Mine is 72" x 48" x 26".

Yes, the Herbie completely eliminates air from going down the drains. That is why they are silent. It is also why you can make the drain exit below water line in the sump and there will be no splashing noise and less salt creep.

It is not that Gate valves are more reliable...it is that they are more adjustable. You need that adjustability to fine tune the water level above the Herbie drain in the overflow box.

[SaraB]

Great looking tank! I too have an Envision's tank and hopefully some plumbing gets done tonight! (90x30x26)

[mpoletti]

Is that the PM422 or 622? Do you think it will keep up with your demands?

Beautiful tank and set up? I really like the distance the tangs can swim back and forth.

[GSMguy]

if someone were to start an envision club i think the tanks would all be amazing.
Kilmca did you just stab that milli frag with a thumbtack? will the metal inside the frag corrode and cause problems?

Nice skimmer, is that with the dart gold motor?

[kilmca]

I had two ball valves sitting around so i just added them to my dursos and i completely got rid of the bubble problem I had. It didn't reduce the overflow noise at all but there was not much to begin with. So i guess i have a durso/herbie split system.

[kilmca]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13761189#post13761189 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by garrettm85
Kilmca,

Nice to follow another great local tank! We definately are lucky here in Oregon.

Keep us updated over at PNWMAS aswell. I have been following your posts there also and things are looking nice!

Let me know if you want to come check out my system sometime. I would be more than happy to do some trading or just chat reef.


Garrett

I posted a similar update on PNWMAS this weekend. I haven't been spending much time on either site but if I spend anytime on one it's usually PNWMAS.

I would like to see your tank. I sometime get down to Salem and i'll be sure to let you know when i do.

[kilmca]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13762246#post13762246 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mpoletti
Is that the PM422 or 622? Do you think it will keep up with your demands?

Beautiful tank and set up? I really like the distance the tangs can swim back and forth.

That is a PM422. I got it off of craigslist and used it on the previous 200 galllon setup. So far it's keeping up with this tank but i don't have much demand. I've been checking my calcium every other day and it's staying right at 400.

The whole reason for going with a 10' long tank was for the Tangs. I can't wait till they get larger.

[kilmca]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13762253#post13762253 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GSMguy
if someone were to start an envision club i think the tanks would all be amazing.
Kilmca did you just stab that milli frag with a thumbtack? will the metal inside the frag corrode and cause problems?

Nice skimmer, is that with the dart gold motor?

No i got that milli frag already attached to the plastic golf tee so no metal. I just haven't used any epoxy and permantly placed the frag yet.

That is the dart gold motor, it's a great motor and it runs really cool compared to the dart return pump which is a ao smith motor.

[Untamed12]

Can you post a picture of your overflow box, the drains and the valves? You should completely remove the durso and standpipe on the drain above the valve. You can leave the durso on the emergency pipe, but no water should be going down that pipe anyway.

The only sound you should hear should be the sound of the water falling into the overflow box and you can reduce this by dialing the valve back to raise the water line so that the water doesn't fall very far.

Ball valves work...but gate valves work better as you can more accurately adjust them.

[kilmca]

I just added a ball valve to the end of the pipe going into the sump and adjusted the ball valve so very few bubbles were entering the sump. There is no water flowing through the backup dursos. It's been running like this for over a month and now problems. I don't see a problem in the future since I still have the full capacity of the back up dursos in each overflow.

It would have been nice to use a gate valve but since i had the 2 ball valves sitting around i thought i would use those. It did take a little time to get them adjusted. I reduced the amount of bubbles going into the sump enough that they do not make it to the return pump.

I don't have any pictures here at work but I could take some tonight.

[rob1991]

the clown tang is awsome! how long have u had him?

[kilmca]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13766227#post13766227 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rob1991
the clown tang is awsome! how long have u had him?

Thanks

Clown, Blue and Sailfin Tang were all added at the same time in mid january of 2007. I also added the pair of Lyretail Anthias and Potters angel at that time too. The other fish have been added slowly since then.

[xXReefXx]

nice tank!!

[kilmca]

Finally made some more progress on the tank and trim work around the tank. No special additions to mention. I had to shut down the calcium reactor because my ALK got too high. I was getting ready to leave for 10 days during xmas time and didn't have time to play with it. I was able to get about 100 gallons of water changed in a week before I left to lower the ALK. I have been doing a 25 gallon water change every 5 days since i've been back to get everything back to normal. Some corals didn't like the high ALK, others could care less or so it appeared. More pics at the following link.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/16991411@N05/

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3421/3216440280_6d322c454c_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3404/3215587551_ef62412b4c_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3382/3215585175_4a25c6e5b7_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3364/3216428872_a87e765ddd_b.jpg

[InsaneClownFish]

Looks great! Boy does that guy James build some nice tanks. ;)

[Untamed12]

From those of us in the Envision club...yes, he does build nice stuff.

Time to mount some small SPS frags in there! Don't bother with big colonies, you'll have those in no time.

[SaraB]

I love the look of that tank!

James does build fantastic tanks! I'm hoping to move some fish over into my new 268G Envision tank this weekend.

[Jhardain]

Very nice tank!! Look forward to seeing the progress of it.

[kilmca]

Thought I would share some updated pictures. First one is FTS, second one is with moonlights on. The moonlights are just (2) 9 watt actinic PC bulbs from a retrofit kit i had laying around. Other pics are of some fish. You can always check out more pictures here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/16991411@N05/).

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2471/3827423459_c01f0dd3bf_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2648/3846751458_38534f9143_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2634/3844612102_1bd985a20e_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3454/3827422817_84bbde4b1e_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2527/3844613296_fa5f5699e8_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2481/3838465907_a5966e82cf_b.jpg

[kilmca]

Here are some pictures of corals.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3457/3827421083_bc4173e4bb_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2654/3828218974_1f7f79e44a_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2436/3844601274_5d36836c38_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2573/3828220412_c6a3ed7b5a_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2476/3585940515_2cae0a8994_b.jpg