Skins 120 Build

[Skins]

Hello all. Mine isn't anything special but I enjoy reading other people build threads and have takes bits and pieces to create mine. I thought that maybe I may be able to do the same for someone else. I currently have a 75 with a 30 gallon sump and 1o gallon fuge under the stand. I hate having all the mess in my living room so I am going to plumb to a fish room in my basement. I live in a townhouse so storage is a premium. The first order of business was to create a new closet in the den to free up the closet that will be my fish room.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG_0413.jpg old closet

http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG_0412.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG_0419.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG_0420.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG_0423.jpg

[Skins]

More of the new storage closet. I have yet to finish painting the outside to match the existing den. All the cable was phished and moved, doors installed, HVAC re-routed and old storage contents put into the new closet.

http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG_0442.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG_0443.jpg

[Skins]

Next up was to upgrade the elictrical for the new fish room. I added at total of 40amps. One 20 block is on a GFI plug for my skimmer & return pump, the other is a GFI plug pigtailed to two other plugs. I also ran a additional line that isn't hooked up for future expansion.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG_0446.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG_0451.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG_0450.jpg

[Skins]

Next was to frame the exterior wall, enclose the bulkhead and frame access panels for the sanitary standpipe and an access panel for the tank lines.

http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG_0457.jpg
This is the exterior wall framing and the access panel framing for the sanitary line. I intend on tying into the sanitary and plumbing to it with a gooseneck and flow pump to dump wc water from the 100 gallon sump next.

http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG_0458.jpg
Framing for the tank plumbing access panel. It is hard to tell but the plywood boxed beam is a steel load beam. I am framing this entire section to be a ceiling . The sump will be setting on this side so I want the humidity to roll onto the other side and I will have a hard board ceiling with an exhaust fan collecting the moisture.

http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG_0456.jpg
Random picture of blocking I added. I wanted secure monting to hang shelving, water filter and stand for two 55 gallon drums for fresh and salt water.

[Skins]

Pictures of the tank, stand, hood, skimmer and sump. The tank is used 120 dual center back overflows, lights: 2-250 MH mogals, 2-36VHO's (I'm swithing these out to 4-t5's on a 660) all on ice caps, skimmer is a ASM G3 and the sump is a 100 rubbermaid and return pump is a panworld. I'm adding another 1-00 gallon to serve as a fuge. I am waithing on my vcalcium reactor as we speak.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG_0398.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG_0399.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG_0394.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG_0433.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG_0438.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG_0436.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG_0434.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG_0439.jpg

[Skins]

Even though no one coomented on my build pics, I will press on any way. I guess my setup is busted up or something

102137 102138

102139


Insulating the walls

[Skins]

First picture is the sanitary cleanout acess panel. Also it shows a threeway. One is running to the slop sink, the other is to the drain from the sump for water changes. The other pictures just show the drywall job.

[ChuckG]

Guilt driven response below... :celeb1:

Looks great Skins! I love these builds that require moving walls and electrical around the house. Looking forward to seeing the end result!

[Slim_jim989]

Looking good so far, what do you plan on having for your livestock?

[Skins]

first pic is the bulkhead access panel where the dt drain lines and returns will be fed. Second is a closeup of the first. Third pic is the water lines I ran for the slop sink and the supply for the ro/di unit. Fourth pic is another shot of the sanitary access panel and the drain line saddle valve I added for the slop sink and the sump water change drain line.

[Skins]

First pic is the access panel for the slpo sink water lines abd adding the exhaust fan if needed. The other pics are of finishing the drywall.

[john_blaze]

Thats a lotta DIY...you should put a thread on there too!


Looks great so far though, keep it up!

[tecsavi]

That new tank is sweet!! I've seen this system build personally and he has done an incredible amount of DIY work for this new tank. Very well thought out. Let me know when you are ready to move to the new tank and we'll knock it all out.

[Skins]

Painting the walls with catalyzed epoxy semi-gloss white. The access panels where the holes are, are done and painted. Once the walls get another coat and dry, I will put them in place

<a href="http://s995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/?action=view&current=IMG00078-20100302-1928.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00078-20100302-1928.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>




I added base and urethane caulked it to the floor and painted the floor gloss enamel. I returned the floor paint up the wood base to create a secondary containment within the room in case a disaster flood happens.:eek1:
<a href="http://s995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/?action=view&current=IMG00085-20100309-2217.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00085-20100309-2217.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>


More to come. Getting close to starting to build the sump stand,fuge & frag tank stands, plumbing, shelving etc,.

[Skins]

I guess I'll post some pics of the stuff I have been collecting. MP'40's, BRS reactor with media, Inline TDS meter for my AirWaterIce 5 stage, new filters to fill said tank with 5 stage, 60 pounds of BRS base rock in addition to the 90 of live rock I have in my existing 75. I'm going to cherry pick from the two and reduce the amount of rock in the DT and the rest is going to the sump. I forgot to post my Koralin Reactor. This will be added with my existing ReefKeeper Elite, salintry & calcium probes.

<a href="http://s995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/?action=view&current=IMG00088-20100310-1921.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00088-20100310-1921.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/?action=view&current=IMG00090-20100310-1922.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00090-20100310-1922.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/?action=view&current=IMG00092-20100310-1923.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00092-20100310-1923.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/?action=view&current=IMG00091-20100310-1923.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00091-20100310-1923.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/?action=view&current=IMG00089-20100310-1921.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00089-20100310-1921.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>


Some pics of my 75 I'm upgrading from. Excuse the condition, I haven't cleaned it up but wanted to show what is getting moved over. Please keep in mind these are all from a camera phone so the quality is poor.

<a href="http://s995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/?action=view&current=IMG00094-20100310-1924.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00094-20100310-1924.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/?action=view&current=IMG00095-20100310-1924-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00095-20100310-1924-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/?action=view&current=IMG00098-20100310-1925.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00098-20100310-1925.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/?action=view&current=IMG00099-20100310-1925.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00099-20100310-1925.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[sdc19982002]

Great job on the fish room. keep the pics coming.

[Skins]

So I finaly got around to building the sump and fuge stands. They are made out of 1-1/4" tube steel welded together. The fuge will be the taller tanks and will be fed by one of the drain lines. It had to be that high so the sump could be under it clearly. The sump is elevated so I can plumb it to the three-way on the main sanitary line to do water changes. I still need to wire wheel the welds, solvent wipe and paint it.


http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00162-20100320-1220.jpg



http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00168-20100320-1502.jpg



http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00160-20100320-1118.jpg



http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00173-20100320-1708.jpg



http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00174-20100320-1959.jpg



http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00175-20100320-1959.jpg



http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00179-20100320-2001.jpg




http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00172-20100320-1708.jpg

[jdargonaut]

nice work on the stand! very cool, I like how there are added supports on the sides of the stock tanks.

[thetonyage]

pretty cool, i cant wait to see it all set up

[Jadams]

Very cool build you've got going. Looks to be very well thought out! :thumbsup:

[Skins]

Thanks for the kind words.

[Skins]

Pictues of the sump plumbed to the sanitary for water changes. This is SUCH a huge upgrade for me and buckets during water changes


http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/sumpdrain.jpg



http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/sump.jpg



Plumbed the fuge to the sump. On skims higher than the other in case of a blockage. I only have one line below the fuge because Lowes was out of true unions...BOOOO.


http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/sumpdrain1.jpg


http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/fugeskimming.jpg

http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00196-20100329-1842.jpg


http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00191-20100329-1820.jpg

http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00190-20100329-1820.jpg



65lbs BRS base rock to go with the 80 I have in my current setup
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/rock.jpg

[Pdubss]

looks good, I wish I owned a house so I could build a more permanent set up like yours

[tankdude]

I really love your new sump, well thought out and very impressive.

[Skins]

Mminor update

I replaced the stock tank bulkhead with a schedule 80 1" bulkhead. Some said you need to use a 1.25, but a 1" 80 fits like a glove, no leaks. First pic is the pump plumbed in.


http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00205-20100403-1740.jpg


The next pic shows the return lines. Barely visable is a T and ball valve to run a manifold for the carbon/phos & calcium reactors. The ball valve over the sump is a bleader valve to throttle the return pump if needed. This pump produces serious pressure!


http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00208-20100403-1923.jpg


We have water!!! All the bulkheads, unions and joints are DRY. Thank goodness.


http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00210-20100403-2000.jpg




Next up is to plumb to the floor above, mount the pump to the floor, install the fuge light, install the ro/di filter and the carbon/GFO & calcium reactors.

[Rosengrant826]

holy crap!!! that is simply amazing. I love everything you done it looks so great. keep up the work.

[Skins]

holy crap!!! that is simply amazing. I love everything you done it looks so great. keep up the work.

Thanks so much for saying so. A lot of hard work. I was nieve when I started this thinking it would be a month build. LOL

I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel finaly. Should have some more pictures today of making the penetration in the floor to bring the lines upstairs.


Happy Easter everyone.:bounce3:

[Skins]

Sooo, some pictures of bringing the lines up from the basement.

The first pic is showing the common chase wall dividing the kitchen and living room. The new 120 is going where the 75 is now. The idea is to have everything stubbed in to the wall so it is a couple quick unions and the new tank is up and running.


http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00214-20100404-0955.jpg

The other side of the common wall.


http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00215-20100404-0956.jpg


Moving the stove out to access the wall.

http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00216-20100404-1150.jpg

http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00217-20100404-1150.jpg


Cutting the access panel.


http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00220-20100404-1222.jpg


Penetrating the other side.

http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00223-20100404-1353.jpg


This picture shows the lines run in the chase going to the basement sump room. The black line is the return, the whites are the drain lines. I also added some plywood blocking to stabilize the GWB. If all goes as planned, I hope to do the transfer next weekend. I'm not holding my breath though.:fun2:


http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00224-20100404-1503.jpg




Some pictures of the BRS dry rock in a muriatic bath. Nasty stuff foamed up. Glad I did it. The are now being rinsed in RO/DI water.


http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00228-20100404-1611.jpg

http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00230-20100404-1613.jpg

[Skins]

Ok, I have hit my first road block I am hoping to get input from the follow reefers. I have 2-250 moguls and I am thinking I need 2-400 watt fixtures. The canopy is configured so the lights are a good 12" above the surface. I am SPS heavy. I am looking for suggestions on ballasts and wattage. I am leaning towards 2-400 watt new adjustable wattage galaxy ballasts with radiums. Thoughts, suggestions?? :confused::confused:

[Persius]

Skins - I am following your build with interest. I am in the process of a similar sump room build as well.

I am also finishing walls and floor of what was an unfinished space. Can you give more detail of how you built up and finished the floor? I like the idea of a secondary water containment - kind of like a nuclear reactor :lmao:

Also what brand of epoxy paint did you use?

Keep up the great project!

[Skins]

Skins - I am following your build with interest. I am in the process of a similar sump room build as well.

I am also finishing walls and floor of what was an unfinished space. Can you give more detail of how you built up and finished the floor? I like the idea of a secondary water containment - kind of like a nuclear reactor :lmao:

Also what brand of epoxy paint did you use?

Keep up the great project!

Thanks for the reply. The floor wasnt built up per se. It was the exposed slab. I am VP of a large commercial interior company here in DC so paint is up my alley. I put 1"x2" base down with urethane caulk applied to the bottom edge contacting the concrete floor. The base was primed/painted on all four edges using standard wood primer and finished with Sherwin-Williams single component waterborne semi-gloss epoxy; the same finish as the walls/ceilings. The floor was acid etched, neutralized with TSP and two coats of urethane gloss was applied. I have yet to install the 1" threshold on the inside of the door. In essence creating a secondary containment. In fact this is very near what they use for contaiment for desiel vessels. You will be good to go. Be sure you use a stiffle bristle brush when using rhe acid and keep it WELL ventilated. The floor coating will fail if the concrete doesnt have an adequate surface profile for the paint to adhere to.

[tecsavi]

That was some NASTY stuff coming off that rock! I am ready to help you move everthing into that new tank this weekend, give me a call. I can't wait to see everything up and running.

[Skins]

So here are some pictures of hooking up the drain lines and return lines. I hard piped to above the bulkheads and then 45 the lines to the spaflex. A huge thanks to Techsavi for the help today. He's the guy in the tubs. The one is 6' off the ground. The plumbing is super clean run this way with minimal elbows, most are sweeping turns.



http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00005-20100410-1714.jpg



http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00007-20100410-1721.jpg



http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00008-20100410-1722.jpg



http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00009-20100410-1723.jpg



http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00006-20100410-1715.jpg




Tomorrow we are going to drain my current tank, move it away from the wall far enough to get the new tank in place, refill the existing tank and hook up the new tank to run a 24 hr leak test.




This last pic is of the ecosmart driver upgrade. My gen2 mp40 driver died right before my big move. Suffice it to say, Vortech customer service far exceedes the glowing reviews they are already getting. They have a customer for life from me. BIG KUDOS!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00003-20100410-1531.jpg

[Bradandjacqui]

That guy in the Parker jersey looks HOT!!!

[Skins]

Small update. As I guessed, I didn't get my tank transfered but I did get my drains and returns in the DT made. Just got my new bluewave 400watt ballasts to upgrade from my current 2-250 watt ice cap ballasts. Man these things are HUGE!! I can feel my wallet aching just looking at them. They look like a small electric car. :eek1:

http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00016-20100413-2124.jpg



I am supposed to get my new reflectors and Ushio bulbs tomorrow.

[HowieB]

Wow, great do-it-yourself skills. I'm planning a 120 upgrade but will have to hire someone for the electrical.

[Skins]

Wow, great do-it-yourself skills. I'm planning a 120 upgrade but will have to hire someone for the electrical.



Thanks. I have a ton of help though.


Some more new stuff.

Reefoptix Retro Reflectors


http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00021-20100414-1728.jpg



Ushio bulbs. Holy cow 400's are HUGE. I have always had single and double ended 250's. These are monsterous compared to 250's :bigeyes:

http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00022-20100414-1728.jpg

http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00024-20100414-1729.jpg

All hooked up for a dry run. Super bright. I can't wait to see it on the tank. I think the 15k's are going to be exactly what I want.

http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00020-20100414-1724.jpg

[Skins]

Next BIG step. Drain the existing 75 and move it out of the way. Very nerve racking.

http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00035-20100417-0928.jpg




Draining the 30 gallon sump and 75 gallon DT.


http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00039-20100417-1045.jpg


http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00036-20100417-1034.jpg





Huge purple tip Acro out of water. The Duncan didn't look good at all. The polyps looked like snot running out of the skeleton. Very unnerving.


http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00041-20100417-1104.jpg


http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00042-20100417-1104.jpg




Filled back up and in it's temporary place until the 120 has the final connections and a dry run with fresh water. All told the coral were out of water about 20-25 minutes. Everything went off without a hitch. Minimal slime from the corals and polyp extension after about 10 minutes after the tank was full and running again. SIGH!!! :crazy1::crazy1:



http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00051-20100417-1338.jpg

[Skins]

Moment of truth......


http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00068-20100418-1412.jpg



http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00069-20100418-1412.jpg



http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00070-20100418-1413.jpg


http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00073-20100418-1508.jpg





After 3 months, everything is hooked up and thankfully, no major leaks. I do however have a major problem with the return pump overtaking the drains. I have the return bleeder half open to keep the return over taking the drains. I am stumped on what to do. Thoughts???

[cilyjr]

good thinking on not having the 90degree angles on your plumbing. good friend of mine had to go back and use flex to get rid of his. what a difference it made in both flow and noise.

[Skins]

Tank cleaned, now time to wash sand.

http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00080-20100424-1438.jpg






WooHoo. Sand in the tank!




http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00083-20100424-1929.jpg





http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00087-20100424-1934a.jpg





While i'm waiting what seems like a month for the RO unit to fill about 200 gallons of water, I started finishing off the fish room. The access panels were installed. Reefkeeper modules and power strips mounter as well as the ranco heater controller. I also set the fuge light. I am sooo close. :bounce3::bounce3:



http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00088-20100425-1908a.jpg






http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00089-20100425-1908.jpg





http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00091-20100425-1909.jpg





http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00093-20100425-2024.jpg

[jimmycent]

Looks good now seeing it all come together. Your not wrong about those ballasts, there huge when being able to compare them to something (inside cabinet) Look forward to the transfer. Any reason you didnt go with some lumen brights for reflectos? Keep it up

[tecsavi]

You should put some pictures up of those modified reverse dursos you made, those are sweet. Super quiet and absolutely no bubbles, great design. I also like your design of the drain from the tank and refugium being used as circulation over your ifuture frag rack.

Oh yeah, and you should give that Tecsavi guy a big frag of your pink millipora, looks like he is doing most of the work. :lol2:

[Skins]

Looks good now seeing it all come together. Your not wrong about those ballasts, there huge when being able to compare them to something (inside cabinet) Look forward to the transfer. Any reason you didnt go with some lumen brights for reflectos? Keep it up


Thanks. I was worried about how close the reflectors would be to the surface. I retro'd an existing hood and I didn't like the distance of the hood top to the surface.



Tech: You look busy because we give you the easy jobs. :spin2:

[Skins]

Look what the Fedex elf delivered. Holy cow!! I thought the ballasts were big. This skimmer is HUGE....VERY HUGE :bigeyes: Looks cool though. Can't wait to fire this thing up! RO water is almost done. Crawling to the finish line.....:sad2:


http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00096-20100427-1817.jpg


http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00098-20100427-1836.jpg



This picture does nothing to show the size and scale of this beast.

http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00104-20100427-2128.jpg



Here is a beer in the bubble chamber to show scale. No cracks about my beverage either.:hammer:

http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00105-20100427-2129.jpg

http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00106-20100427-2129.jpg

[glaukos]

nice
i can't wait to see it full

[john rochon]

AWSOME build, but man 400w way overkill. you could easily run a full SPS with 250w lamps. I'd juts downsize your return pump to match drain flow.

[Typlus5]

It appears the sand is dry, when you do your swap over are you expecting a mini cycle? Or is the sand live and I don't know what I'm talking about:-) I'm planning an upgrade and wanted to change out my sand bed for a finer grain than what I currently have.
Just be sure to wear SPF 50 and welding goggles when you open your canopy...
Great build, very informative.

[RVANANO]

Awesome!!!!

[tecsavi]

That skimmer is massive!! I know you were pumped to get that thing, I can't wait to see it up and running in your equipment room. Now you can harness that excess flow you have on the return to drive that skimmer. How many gph do you need to drive the skimmer?

[Skins]

nice
i can't wait to see it full

Thank you very much.

AWSOME build, but man 400w way overkill. you could easily run a full SPS with 250w lamps. I'd juts downsize your return pump to match drain flow.

Thank you for the compliment. You think 400's are too big? I dunno, I had 250's and they were very weak at the bottom of the tank. I am very sps and clam heavy. thanks for the input. I can always go back to the 250's if I need to. I didn't want to downsize the return because of everything I am feeding off of it. I solved it by going from 1.25" durso's to 1.5".

It appears the sand is dry, when you do your swap over are you expecting a mini cycle? Or is the sand live and I don't know what I'm talking about:-) I'm planning an upgrade and wanted to change out my sand bed for a finer grain than what I currently have.
Just be sure to wear SPF 50 and welding goggles when you open your canopy...
Great build, very informative.

Thanks. Alot of what i have done was inspired by the wealth of info here. I am glad I can help you in some way and return the favor. As for the sand, I want from a 55 to a 75 with new sand and had zero cycle. I am however expecting a slight cycle due to the sheer jump in size. I have oolite sugar sized sand. Many don't like it. I love it. I have turbos who generaly stay on the glas and rocks who will travel the sand.

Tanning bed and reef tank, the new frontier.:lolspin:

Awesome!!!!
Thank you. It means alot

That skimmer is massive!! I know you were pumped to get that thing, I can't wait to see it up and running in your equipment room. Now you can harness that excess flow you have on the return to drive that skimmer. How many gph do you need to drive the skimmer?


You seen it first hand tonight. I told you the pics don't do it justice on how large it is.

[Skins]

So it's been some time since I have updated my build so here it goes. Excuse the mess, it's construction in the works.

Overall shot of the water storage/mixing station platform which doubles as a platform for the octopus skimmer and the not yet installed calcium reactor. The RO unit is float valved to the upper tank for top-off as well as being plumbed to the lower can for filling the lower tank for saltwater making.

http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00035-20100531-2103.jpg

http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00031-20100531-2102.jpg

Line from the upper tank to the other. To the left is the plumbing from the lower tank.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00032-20100531-2102.jpg

Lower tank plumbing. The lower tank as staded above is for saltwater mixing. The return line has a T to recirculat the saltwater back to the lower tank to mix the salywater. Once mixed, this ball valve will be closed and in the second picture you can see the line going to the sump to add the newly nixed saltwater. I still need to install the mounting brackets to secure the piping.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00033-20100531-2102.jpg

http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/Skins63/IMG00034-20100531-2103.jpg