Overland04's 50g Rimless BareBottom SPS Starphire Build

[Overland04]

So it think its about that time to the build thread on my new setup.
The purpose of this tank is to be able to bring the beauty of my 125g up to Massachusetts with me while I complete a masters course in photography.

I will do this log to inform all readers on my journey with a fresh start. I will include all vendors and prices paid for my equipment and supplies. Please feel free to comment on all products and vendors that I used with respect

The basic idea behind the tank is an 50 gallon rimless on a tabletop stand. I have grown to like the look of an over sized stand compared to the size of the tank. the dimensions of the tank will be 36x18x18 and the stand will be approximately 49x26x41

I want to do a painted stand, all my other setups have been stained and I guess I'm just getting tired of the wood grain. I haven't picked a color combo but I'm going for a contemporary look to match the rest of my decor

I will be buying all new equipment for this build, the only think that will make the trip to mass is around 50lbs of live rock from my 125g and the Reef Keeper elite.

The tank will be built and setup in my home in New York and in September it will be taken down and rebuilt in Massachusetts for the year that I will be there. I was going to start the tank when I moved but I figured I can get all the kinks out and have it designed, functional and cycled by the time I get to school. Otherwise I would waste months waiting for it to settle in.

[Overland04]

The tank was ordered on 4-2-09 from Glass Cages. The delivery date was set for 4-19-09. They had a trade show in New York so they were able to build it and send it with there trade show supplies.
The total for the tank with shipping was $291. Even though they don't have the best reputation I couldn't turn down the price and availability.

Overall thoughts on the tank are:

I wish I new about the extra glass they put on the bottom,
They should wear gloves when using silicone,
They could have trimmed the excess silicone off before delivery,
Large bulkhead holes, 1-1/2" and a 1",
Otherwise after a couple hours of cleaning Im really happy with it

[Overland04]

Shot of the tank before I cleaned it

http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww47/Overland04/IMG_0998.jpg

[Overland04]

The stand;

I'm probably going to overbuild the stand like I usually do, but always better over than under.
It will start out with notched 4x4 posts and boxed in with 2x4. It will have a top layer of 3/8 milk white plexiglass than 3/4 finished birch underneath for a smooth surface.
It will have two wide doors and a skinny center post.
I will try to make the inside as big as possible to accommodate the 40g breeder sump, calcium reactor, 10lb bottle, 5 stage RO/DI, carbon reactor, phosphate reactor, auto top-off, vortech module , RKE elite, and Reef Fanatic PH controller.

[Overland04]

4x4 posts
http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww47/Overland04/IMG_1011.jpg

Notched for 2x4
http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww47/Overland04/IMG_1012.jpg

Boxed with 2x4
http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww47/Overland04/IMG_1013.jpg

Bolted corners
http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww47/Overland04/IMG_1016.jpg

[1DeR9_3Hy]

Thanks, great detailed pics btw!

[Overland04]

Top and Bottom bases
http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww47/Overland04/IMG_1017.jpg

Sides, using 1/4 pre-primed luan
http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww47/Overland04/IMG_1018.jpg

Sides with door cutouts, and sump ontophttp://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww47/Overland04/IMG_1022.jpg

Cutting the return and drain holes
http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww47/Overland04/IMG_1023.jpg

[Overland04]

Molding prep
http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww47/Overland04/IMG_1024.jpg

Time for paint, I chose chocolate covered raisins as a color. eggshell finish
http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww47/Overland04/IMG_1027.jpg

Inside I used "kills" anti mold basement paint. White
http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww47/Overland04/IMG_1029.jpg

Main paint done with plexi top
http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww47/Overland04/IMG_1030.jpg

[Overland04]

Time to paint molding
http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww47/Overland04/IMG_1038.jpg

removable back to get the sump in
http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww47/Overland04/IMG_1039.jpg

I chose flat black as a molding color
http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww47/Overland04/IMG_1041.jpg

[Overland04]

Finished Stand
http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww47/Overland04/IMG_1073.jpg

[RcReefer]

wow very clean stand

[Overland04]

Lighting: ATI Sunpower 6 light 36" 39w T5 High Output fixture
Bulbs:
ATI - Blue Plus (x3)
ATI - 12000k Aquablue Special
ULV 75/25 14000k AquaSun
ULV 10000k AquaSun

Total cost with shipping $609
Reef Geek

[Overland04]

New Fixture
http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww47/Overland04/IMG_0992.jpg

http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww47/Overland04/IMG_0994.jpg

I haven't decided on the correct order yet.
http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww47/Overland04/IMG_0997.jpg

[imcosmokramer]

that stand is sweet. tagging along

[Tangweed]

That stand looks rich..

[Overland04]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15027112#post15027112 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by imcosmokramer
that stand is sweet. tagging along

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15027216#post15027216 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tangweed
That stand looks rich..

Thank you!
I took a chance with the color, as a rule black and brown usually never go good with each other but I'm really happy the way it came out.

[GaryR1984]

Looks really nice. One question, where did you order the light?

[Rich D]

beautiful stand, I love the look of BB tanks

[Overland04]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15027528#post15027528 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GaryR1984
Looks really nice. One question, where did you order the light?


I purchased the light from Reef Geek, It's not on there site but if you call them they'll be glad to help.
The total with the 6 lights came to $609

[Overland04]

Time to do a parts list for all the components under the hood.
I have mostly everthing on order and as I get them I will post again where I got them and how much I paid for them.

Return pump - Eheim 1260

Display circulation - Vortech MP40

Light fixture - ATI Sunpower 6x36 39w

Skimmer - Reef Ococpus Extreme 200

Heaters - ebo Jager - 250w

Calcium Reactor - Geo 612 package with Reef Fanatic: 10lb bottle, regulator, ph controller and arm large media

Bulk Reef Supply media reactors: Carbon / Phosphate

Bulk Reef Supply RO/DI - 5 Stage w/ auto shutoff

Eductor Nozzle

Thats all that I have on order. I dont think I need much more to get the ball rolling, but it is my first time having an SPS tank so im sure I'll be buying more in the future.

[Overland04]

I recieved the 1260 pump today. I'm doing a leak test on my sump and I noticed that the pump vibrates against the glass at the bottom. Is there anyway to stop that?

[jener8tionx]

My mag 12 was doing the same thing. I used some pieces of airline super glued to the bottom of the pump and things were much more quiet.

[Overland04]

I'm going to give it a trail run with out the glue tonight. Have you had it there for long enough to say it works long term? I doubt it'll wear out but I was wondering if it will find a way to cut thru the tubing some how.

I hear people using a mouse pad, has anybody used one with a comment on that?

[Overland04]

I have let the pump run for 5 days now and it is almost silent. I guess that it needed a little time to break in.
I cant wait to get some water in the display!

I have decided to wait the full 6 weeks for the rock that I took out of my 125g to do a cooking cycle. I figure its been in there for 4 weeks why not wait another two.

[Alaskan Reefer]

That stand is gorgeous. I use a silicone hot pad under my pumps which makes a small difference -- not much really though, they're Eheims as well. :)

[Overland04]

Finally....................Water!!!!!

Doing a final leak test
http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww47/Overland04/IMG_1052.jpg

[DEERE G]

Looks like GC did a nice job on your tank. Everthing looks nice so far.

[Overland04]

At first I was so worried because I ordered the tank not knowing there bad reputation. Some love them some hate them. So far so good, I'm keeping my eye a seem that looks weaker than the rest. I just finished the plumbing so I'm going to run the heaters, get it up to temperature and have a sleepless night waiting for a possible leak.

[DEERE G]

Are you still planning to go BB? Looks like you purchased some nice equipment.

[DaveG99]

I like the color of the stand. Very nice. Im also thinking about getting one of those fixtures for my tank but the 6x24 one.

Whats the plexiglass on the top for? Shouldnt you have some foam under the tank?

[spleify]

Very nice clean setup. Excellant work!!

[Johnny C]

WOW... this looks like it will be a VERY nice setup! I love how clean/modern it looks, let alone filled with SPS!

I'll be following along, be sure to keep us updated! ;)

[jungliztkruger]

very clean build :)

[Overland04]

I still plan to go bare bottom, it's a first for me so Im trying to keep my variables to a minium. I have decided to use a calcium reactor, t5 lighting and a monitor to keep it as much a set it and forget it type system. So from this point the temp should be kept within a 1/2 degree of my target temp along with calcium maintained with little effort once the reactor is dialed in.

It passed the leak test last night so I have finished the plumbing and now bringing the salinity up.

Thank you all for following!

[Overland04]

I went with the plexi top just for the fact of being different. I wanted to go with a shiny surface and I knew that most tops will get scratched over time with saltwater always dripping on it and being wiped off. The white plexi was a great solution and something new that I wanted to try out.
I've decided not to use foam because I've used 3/4 finished birch and 8" on center 2x4 bracing. Than the plexi was was manufactured for goverment standards and was flat as glass when it went down.
It's been a nerve racking couple days with water finally in it but it's been fine and I think it'll be ok.

[mixer911]

Looks Great! Awesome job on the stand too.

[Overland04]

Skimmer time!

I went with an Octopus Extreme 200. I think for the price tag it should be a great skimmer. I have given it a vinegar bath rinsed it out and placed it into to sump. I need to raise it up since the recommendation is 8-10" of water.

http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww47/Overland04/IMG_1057-1.jpg

[Overland04]

http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww47/Overland04/IMG_1058-1.jpg

[Overland04]

I have placed most of the equipment under the stand. I have some room issues including where to put my top off bucket, so for now its on the outside. I would like to find a smaller sealed maybe one or two gallon container to use but I haven't come across one yet.
I have been battling a humidity / noise battle between fans so Ive been doing a trial and error for the past couple of days. I have a 6" fan that that blows a ton of cfm but it sounds like a siren going off, now I'm using two computer fans that I got off some old dell towers and they seem to work well and be quiet. If they continue to work ill make a nice bracket and holder for them.

Otherwise waiting for a cycle that hasn't come yet. Ive only used 10#'s of rock so far from my 125g so maybe I still wont get a cycle. All parameters are sitting pretty but I'm still going to give it a couple more weeks.

<a href="http://s704.photobucket.com/albums/ww47/Overland04/?action=view&current=IMG_1234.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww47/Overland04/IMG_1234.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[b_julien]

Very nice work on the stand. I really like how everything is laid out underneath.

[Bill14]

Looking great so far. The stand is very nice. I like the extra ledge around the tank. I'm in constant need of space to set things down.

Is that RO/DI unit plumbed directly to the tank?

[Overland04]

Thanks for the comments,

The way I have it now, the water comes into the RO/DI unit and goes out to a 5 gallon bucket that has a float valve in it to shut the water supply off. From there it gets gravity fed (orange tube) down to a float valve in the sump. The system works great but I can't fit the 5g bucket under the stand. I'm trying to locate a 1-2 gallon container that fits but I haven't found one that works well yet.

The nice thing about this is that there is always a constant drip into the tank so there is never a rush of fresh water getting dumped into the water column.

[Kenzy]

Could something like this http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/popup_image.php?pID=466&image=0 work or maybe this http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/Jugs-and-Cups/c55/p465/Industrial-Weight-2-1/2-gal-Square-Jug/product_info.html

Great set up, are you going to cover the back of the display tank with something?

[Overland04]

I think either one will work great, thank you! I have been looking in local stores through passing hoping to find something but never did. If I go with one of those ill be totally self contained under the stand, WooHoo!

I would really like to keep the glass totally see through, Ill have to wait until I get all the rock inside before I make a final decision. I plan on keeping all the rocks away from the glass in order to leave a circular swimming motion for fish but I might not have enough room. We'll see

[Bill14]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15276606#post15276606 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Overland04
Thanks for the comments,

The way I have it now, the water comes into the RO/DI unit and goes out to a 5 gallon bucket that has a float valve in it to shut the water supply off. From there it gets gravity fed (orange tube) down to a float valve in the sump. The system works great but I can't fit the 5g bucket under the stand. I'm trying to locate a 1-2 gallon container that fits but I haven't found one that works well yet.

The nice thing about this is that there is always a constant drip into the tank so there is never a rush of fresh water getting dumped into the water column.
I have a couple of concerns with that ATO setup. One is that if the float valve in the sump fails, you will have a continuous supply of fresh water going into your tank from the RO/DI system (through the bucket and into the sump). You may find this an acceptable risk for a "maintenance free" ATO system.

The second is TDS creep from your RO/DI system constantly cycling on/off filling up your bucket (as it fills up your tank). A guy in my local club came up with a pretty cheap and clever way to avoid this. Here's a .link (http://www.idahoreefs.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1192). There are other solutions as well.

[Overland04]

WOW, What a great idea, I new that I was running into a problem with the TDS creep but I was willing to pay for the convince. I've been working on a high/low switch system but my Reef Keeper Elite is so unreliable I always go back to the float system.

On this new way, once the water gets to the top of the bucket, what do I do to tell the supply line to stop feeding water through the RO/DI unit. Right now I have a solenoid that stops the supply line when the level gets met in the bucket.

Do you know if running a full five gallons at a time will eliminate TDS creep?

[Bill14]

You use the same float valve you have now. You just contain it inside the cylinder. When the water level gets low in the bucket , air is allowed into the cylinder and causes it to drain triggering your float valve to open. When the bucket fills back up, water will flow back up the tubing and your float valve works as it does now.

5 gallons should at least help with the TDS creep if not elminate it. I'm sure I've read a number somewhere, but I don't recall off the top of my head. I manually pump 5 gallons out of my RO/DI reservior with each use, so I'm effectively doing the same thing.

[Overland04]

I get how the bucket system works, but when the water level reaches the top of the bucket and the float valve closes, what stops the RO/DI unit from pushing more water? The float valve can only handle minimal pressure, maybe 10 to 20 psi. I run about 65psi at my RO/DI and I don't think the vacuum pressure holding the float valve closed in that little chamber will be able to hold back the pressure. If the float valve lets even the smallest amount of water through, than we're back to square one.

[Bill14]

The float valve provides back pressure to the solenoid and the solenoid handles shutting off the supply to the RO/DI unit. My solenoid handles from 40-100 psi. You mentioned you had a solenoid hooked up, so I figured that's how you were currently configured. With the anti-tds creep device, you wouldn't change the setup (if it's setup they way I'm assuming). You are just "wrapping" the float valve so it doesn't cause the unit to click on until the bucket is close to empty.

Does that help or am I still not understanding your question?

[Overland04]

Ooops, my apology. I never explained how my system works now. I have a float switch in a 5 gallon bucket about half way. The water supply line to my RO/DI has an electronic solenoid that cuts the input when the level reaches half way. The supply line will be shut off till the level drops about two inches in the bucket than the switch opens the solenoid to allow more water to be fed to the bucket.

[Bill14]

Ah, now I understand. I think the same setup would work. You would just put your float switch inside the black cylinder. Alternatively, you can get a kit like this (http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~action~view~idProduct~SP5131~idCategory~FIRORASO~category~Shut_Off_Valves-Accessories-Reverse_Osmosis-Saltwater_Aquarium_Supplies~vendor~.html) (probably for much cheaper then listed in the link).

[Henry Bowman]

Check autotopoff dot com

They have quite a few different set-up's components etc...

[drtrash]

What is flow rate thru sump? Did you turn on the MP40?

[Overland04]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15281690#post15281690 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Bill14
Ah, now I understand. I think the same setup would work. You would just put your float switch inside the black cylinder. Alternatively, you can get a kit like this (http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~action~view~idProduct~SP5131~idCategory~FIRORASO~category~Shut_Off_Valves-Accessories-Reverse_Osmosis-Saltwater_Aquarium_Supplies~vendor~.html) (probably for much cheaper then listed in the link).

I'm going to try the DiY project just to see if it works. I have come up with some modifications that I will try and I'll post my results when I get a chance. I want to try to make it out plexi glass or something flashy like that. Thanks so much for the info and the help!

[Overland04]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15284001#post15284001 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by drtrash
What is flow rate thru sump? Did you turn on the MP40?

The 1260 does around 600gph, I hooked up the mp40 and have ran it in all the settings. Though I don't have any rock in it yet, I think the flow will be ok in the smaller size of the tank.

[Overland04]

So the tank has moved to its final location in Turners Falls Mass. Moving a tank has to be the most difficult thing in the hobby. I attempted to save all the water, rock, and coral and move it by truck to its new location. The tear down was time consuming, the move was quick and the setup was quicker. I had the tank up and running in about three hours.
Since I was not living in Massachusetts at the time I was forced to set it up and hope that It would be ok till I was able to check up on it a week later. I was not able to have the Reef Keeper status up online when I left cause I didn't have internet access yet so I had no idea what was going on with the tank for that week. Well I didn't go so well. It happened to be that the week I was gone there was a heat wave and basically everything in the tank died. When I finally made it back my apartment was 92 degrees and the tank was holding a strong 88. A few SPS corals seemed to make it but most of them died. I have added a few LPS that I had from my 125g just for color in the mean time.
The pictures show the nasty cycle the its going through. I'm still battling fluctuation level across the board do I don't fee comfortable putting fish or inverts yet.

Thanks for following!

http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww47/Overland04/IMG_1474.jpg



Under the Hood

http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww47/Overland04/IMG_1475.jpg


Electrical Center

http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww47/Overland04/IMG_1476.jpg

[Overland04]

Ive been running the calcium reactor for a couple days now and I had it set real low just to break it in.
I just took a calcium reading and to my luck i'm off the scale!
CA - over 500
DKH - 6.7
PH - 7.46

Not so good.....time for some water changes

[Bill14]

If your reactor was set too high, wouldn't you alk be too high as well? You alk looks low. What were your values prior to bringing the reactor online?

[justurmom]

looking at all those equips you got plugged in your electrical center makes me jealous haha. looks good so far!

question: how are you liking barebottom? is it a PITA to clean the diatoms and algae growth?

[fishsuse29]

Great thread and i love the stand. couple questions
I dont think you mentioned it but, what size it your sump? Also are you having any problems with micro bubbles by only running a single divider before the return pump.