My car just lost it's home

[smallaussiereef]

Hey guys just thought i'd share with you the fist stages of my new coral prop system I have now built the stand and positioned the tanks and started pluming the drainage

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/64967P1020172.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/64967P1020171.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/64967propsetup.jpg

As for specs... i am using 2 of the yelow tubs one for a clean sump and the other for a refugium.....holding plenty of live rock and maybe some macro....... will be using a sequence dart for flow which will be divided into all of the tubs (13500lph).... one tub will be lit by a 400w mh the other by floro's ...... i have a large skimmer on order to clean up some........

Any coments are welcome...

[Brandino007]

Sounds like it will do just fine.

[connecticut cichlids]

I will be watching this thread for sure! :)

[hamburglar]

Yes, looks good to me! have a blast! I love the plumbing stage!

[smallaussiereef]

I am a little concerned that 13500lph will be to much flow in the 2 pools??? there will be 4, 1 inch outlets per pool....i will be using some ball valves to meter flow to the pool with fluro's over it as it will most likley become a settling tank for mushroom propogation section.......what do you guys think i should post some pics of the pressure side of the plumbing this arvo.. I will be ordering the pump and 400w within the next week or so.....i am plning to have this system up and running by the end of the month....... how much live rock do you think i will need in my refugium ?? I am guessing that the total water capacity will be about 400litres or 100 gallons, Which with minimal head loss which i expect will be about 33times water turnove per hour,........... is this too much ????

[smallaussiereef]

Hey guys just finished some more plumbing......
The pressure side...... decided to have the tubs at the other end of the rack for convienience......... used 1.5 inch ofr main pipe then split to 1 inch this should be plenty for the flow i will be using. I also decided to go with 3 outputs per tub rather than 4...... 4 just looked to be too many.....

Again guys any input is good input to me as i am relatively new at this.....
Thanks

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/64967propsetup4.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/64967propsetup3.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/64967propsetup2.jpg

[smallaussiereef]

Also will 400w be too much over one of these tubs?? i mean the water will only be about 8 inces deep?? the light will probably be about 3ft from the water level as it will have to be to get full coverage of the tub.... I thinks most of my zoo's would color up reall nice under this amount of light though.... i am also interested in keeping some sps

[NwG]

On such a shallow tub you could use just about any light, VHO, T5, and Pc would work just fine.. The light is so close and and dosen't have to penatrate into the water..

[Treeman]

Make sure you put an anti siphon hole on at least 2 of the pressure lines right at water level.

[smallaussiereef]

hey treeman good idea :) never thought of that how big should the hole be ??

Hey NWG so does that mean that yes 400w halides will be to much???

[Dizzyswimmer]

Tagging along

[Treeman]

Just start with a smaller hole...say 5-7 mm and turn the pumps off and see if it breaks the siphon. If it doesn't just go a little bigger until it does. Just remember that it will get slowly blocked over time with algae etc. So don't make it to small.

[Andrew]

Looks like a good set-up. Im trying to get some ideas.

[robwsup]

I've used 3x400w over my prop systems. Water depth was 8" and lights were 14" above the water.

[smallaussiereef]

Yeah what were you proping robwsup?? how did it all look/grow what bulbs were you using?? what other specs can you share from this system... did you have any heat dramas??

[robwsup]

Heat, no, but humidity sucked.

We were propogating SPS, LPS, Zoanthids, Xenids, etc. All could be adjusted to the bright light.

[smallaussiereef]

yeah cool thanks for you input rob i think i will go the 400w...... power costs arent to much of a worry,..... i think it works out about 18 dollars a month for the light in Aussie dollars.... for 10 hours a day..... so yeah should get better coloration and growth i hope

[smallaussiereef]

ys update i got my new lights today..... will post pics when i get home.... am outa town atm,.......

[smallaussiereef]

Hey guys things have been a bit quiet waiting on some equiptment to rock up. but finally my new 400w light roced up so i went out and mounted it..........

I have decided to move things around a bit and am now using half of a 1000lt sorage container for my sump so i can bump my water volume up to combat temp and perameter fluctuations.......

Any more input is quite welcome

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/64967prop1.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/64967Prop.jpg

[robwsup]

I've got one of those containers. I was wondering if it would be okay to cut in half.

[alpha0r]

I love how you did the overflows. Are you planning to lay the frags on the bottom of the tank or will you put them on eggcrate? If you put them on eggcrate it will be easyer to clean any junk that falls to the bottom of the tank, simply stick a piece of hose down there and start sucking.

[maxvan1]

you should make somthing so the lights can rise, it looks like some parts might be hard to get to, and if you can just raise the light when you want to work, that would be nice...?

[smallaussiereef]

robwsup, Yeah i just used an angle grinder went right around.... i have had it filled to the brim curing live rock out in the sun for a couple of months and it's fine...... might look a bit daggy but eh who cares it was free........ P.S I will be adding some inch air hose around the top to make it look neater.

alpha0r, I will probably use some eggcrete although i am not planing on having much detruis on the bottom as the way i have the pressure piping ran and the amount of flow i should have.

Maxvan1, I can manually rise the light at any time....... i will post some pics today how..... but basically...... the chain is on some cup hooks all i have to do is lift the 2 chains at once and hook it up on the cup hooks....verry easy........ i work on the KISS theory. (Keep It Simple Stupid) hahaha

My planned start up date of the end of the month is really close and i doubt i will have it done by then, i think my pump will be here next week, as for now i am just keeping some stock in my inside prop tank which is so crowded (See Gallery)

[smallaussiereef]

Hey guys have a quick update for ya.......... ,y new sequence reeffol dart rocked up yesterday and i have just about got it plumbed up........... little mor work tomorow and it's time for a fresh water test :) then live rock in the next week or 2...........

How much live rock would people suggest using???

I was thinking about 40kgs about 90pounds

[smallaussiereef]

Here you go guys the most exciting time the frsh water test.......... Went awesome....... few minor easy to fix leaks but otherwise fine........ should be able to order my live rock soon, and wait to cycle........... :)

then turn out some frags........ the flow from this pumps unreall and so quiet i am going to reduce the size of the outlets on the pnods as there is heaps of water coming outa them but it's not with much force....... so i will reduce them till i get a nice balance..

Heres a pic of the system almost complete
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/64967Proprunning1.jpg

The pump
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/64967prop_pump.jpg

A better pic of the light showing how i can lift and hook
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/64967light.jpg

And a pic of the water return, where alot of water comes back.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/64967P1020360.jpg

Tomorow i will be posting some pics of the electrical work and im gonna make a heap of frag plugs to cure while my system cycles..

It holds about 100gallons i have already 2 300w heaters i am unsure weather this will be enough... but it will experiment for a few days with fresh water before i get the rock and salty water into it...

So happy :)

[axeman45t]

Hello fellow Aussie
Set up looks great.
Are you going to run a chiller on this system. (sorry not sure what state you are in).

[maxvan1]

That is schweet! (yes, schweet! lol ;) )

[smallaussiereef]

I am in far western NSW..... not running a chiller yet......... unsure how i wil combat heat............ maybe an A/C in window job runing across the water surface............

at the moment i am trying to warm the water........ it's been about 2-6 deg every night here and i have 700w of heating.......... am thinking about getting another 300w heater and insulating the tubs......... planned salt water start up date is about the 25th of this month........ so i will have to work it out by then :) . should be all good.

Cant wait to get the stuff out of my verry cramped holding/ old prop tank...................... but want to make shure i can keep the temp stable Before i go any furthur ......... which shouldn't be to far off at all.........I am so excited its almost become a reality......

[majesticangelfish]

Mate, where did you get the sequence? are you happy with it? Looks great! Well done:thumbsup:

[smallaussiereef]

Hey josh......... got sequence from reefonline.com.au ......... yes verry happy nice and quiet

[hunterpandme]

clap, clap, clap

[ciaolong]

keep up dude :) hope to have a chat with u on msn soon :P

[smallaussiereef]

Originally posted by hunterpandme
clap, clap, clap


Thanks heaps i think :confused:

Guys am away for a week but when i get home i am planing on spending a solid couple of days on the system, Will pos pics soon........... just made about 150 frag pluges ver the last cpl of days :)

[majesticangelfish]

Originally posted by majesticangelfish
Mate, where did you get the sequence? are you happy with it? Looks great! Well done:thumbsup:

Thanks mate!

[Krypticol]

Looks great! I'm jealous, and soon enough, I'll be there!!!

[smallaussiereef]

Originally posted by Krypticol
Looks great! I'm jealous, and soon enough, I'll be there!!!

Be there meaning Aus???

[Krypticol]

Ha yea....I wish....
"I'll be there," at the fresh water test of my own well planned,
well built prop tanks...possibly similar to yours because I like the look, and design of it all...
Thanks for posting, we appreciate the inspiration.
Have a great day from the opposite end of the Pacific!!!

[smallaussiereef]

Originally posted by Krypticol
Ha yea....I wish....
"I'll be there," at the fresh water test of my own well planned,
well built prop tanks...possibly similar to yours because I like the look, and design of it all...
Thanks for posting, we appreciate the inspiration.
Have a great day from the opposite end of the Pacific!!!

Hahaha no worries........ will be adding some new pics soon when i get home as i am on holidays at the moment........ ;)

[sales weasel]

I love it!! Those tubs and the little seats make great overflows! I'm doing something similar in my garage. However, I did something stupid and bought 3 55g glass aquariums. I got a good deal at $275US but could have used plastic swimming pools for kids or livestock feeding tanks for much less. It's almost summer here, so it's pretty warm in the garage. I'm looking at ways to keep it cool.

[smallaussiereef]

Originally posted by sales weasel
I love it!! Those tubs and the little seats make great overflows! I'm doing something similar in my garage. However, I did something stupid and bought 3 55g glass aquariums. I got a good deal at $275US but could have used plastic swimming pools for kids or livestock feeding tanks for much less. It's almost summer here, so it's pretty warm in the garage. I'm looking at ways to keep it cool.

Hey they both hold water, lol tanks look nicer coz you have a good view of stock...... i saved the cash and bought the tubs......

I will be in the same situation come our summer we get the extremes where i live anywhere up to 48 degrees c in the summer and as low as 0 degrees c in the winter :( hopefully by summer i will have an insulated room with a reverse cycle A/C keeping the room at 25 deg c

[smallaussiereef]

guys i am having a little trouble keeping the water warm awith our cold nights....... atm i have 4 300w heaters,.... i think th solution is to build like a mini greenhouse around it all in the shed... like insultaing but cheaper..........

anyone else have any ideas??

[majesticangelfish]

Maybe try and just insulate the huge sump, with plastic and foam?

Glass over the pools?

Maybe try using the teo 400w lights on a reverse photo period for the two tanks (one on all the time), adding heat during the night? or even run all the lights when its coldest?

Anyway HTH, Better get back to my Aquaculture exam study:(

[smallaussiereef]

Yeah thanks josh.......... i tried insultaing everything with plastic sheet today and it worked yay......... 3 of the 4 heaters kicked out miltuiple times and it has only bee like 7 odd degrees here today...... :) just goes to show how much heat can escape our tanks........ Soon will be updated with pics, saltwater and live rock :)

[AQUAN8TOR]

This is gonna sound dumb, but during a water change could you put solid core foam insulation under the pools and the large vat?? DOW makes pink solid foam insulation here in the States that would seem to me to be perfect for your situation. It doesn't compress very much at all, and would just slide under your current setup to keep the bottom side insulated, and rather well I might add. Just a thought.

[smallaussiereef]

Thanks mate i will look into it., i still have fresh water in it now so i can drain it at any time
:)

[smallaussiereef]

Hey guys have an update for you's the system is now up and running sorry i have been a bit slack taking photos....

Heres some pics

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y251/smallaussiereef/Prop%20system/Tank.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y251/smallaussiereef/Prop%20system/runnng.jpg

Cheers
Adam

[SaltyH2O]

smallaussiereef,
Nice setup. Is the top of your stand covered with medium density fiber board (MDF)? If it is you should paint it to protect it from drips and spills. Unprotected MDF will swell and fall apart when it's exposed to moisture. Thanks for sharing your setup.

[smallaussiereef]

Originally posted by SaltyH2O
smallaussiereef,
Nice setup. Is the top of your stand covered with medium density fiber board (MDF)? If it is you should paint it to protect it from drips and spills. Unprotected MDF will swell and fall apart when it's exposed to moisture. Thanks for sharing your setup.

Nah dude it's a chipvoard designed for use in kitchens... works great have had a fir bit of water on it anow and it just runs off..

:)

Thanks for the concern though

[spk]

SmallAuusieReef,

What did you end up using for the insulation and did you insulate the sump too?

Thanks

Steve

[smallaussiereef]

Originally posted by spk
SmallAuusieReef,

What did you end up using for the insulation and did you insulate the sump too?

Thanks

Steve

I made like a mini greehouse around the system with clear plastic (you can see some of it in the picture) which helps alot..
Then i used some home insulation around the tubs ( the ugly yellow stuff you can see round the tub) Yeah i put this same stuff around the sump :)

Cheers
Adam

[metalManiac]

muahahahahhaha i can see my frags growing ever so slowly in your prop system smallaussiereef! :mixed:

[smallaussiereef]

guys though id post a link to some of the frags i have growing at the moment
http://photobucket.com/albums/y251/smallaussiereef/Avaliable%20Frags/

:)

[NewMariner]

Bump!!! Any more updates? How is the temp fairing?

[smallaussiereef]

Ahh ye old thread has been bumped from the deep, Yeah things are goin awesome guys, sorry ihavent updated sooner but i will take some pics friday and post.

I got the temp stable enough now onl fluctuates about 1-2 degrees. :)

[Gundo5000]

Nice forum. Good pics.

[smallaussiereef]

Guys i know, im slow..... heres a few newish pics i have

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y251/smallaussiereef/Prop%20system/P1040394.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y251/smallaussiereef/Prop%20system/P1040393.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y251/smallaussiereef/Prop%20system/P1040392.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y251/smallaussiereef/Prop%20system/P1040391.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y251/smallaussiereef/Prop%20system/P1040390.jpg

Cheers
Adam

[Pacman100]

Looks like it is coming along nicely! Have you had any troubles with high temps now that it is warmer there?

[smallaussiereef]

Nah Temp is going great, having huge ammounts of evap though like 20 l per day but the auto top off takes care of that :)

[lil_fishey]

lets get some more updates it lookin GREAT

[jun41]

Sweet setup. How are you dealing with calcium demands. I didn't see it mentioned and I don't see a calcium reactor.

[smallaussiereef]

Nope no CA reacto, i am using a calcium suplement and a Kh supplement as required. I will get some more pics next weekend as i am dooing a big move and moving the system to a new home ;) Thanks for the great comments guys

[gemini aquarius(t)]

i have a sickness......and the only cure is more pictures>>>>

[SaveOurReefs]

Wow, I saw the pictures when you started like last summer, looks like its coming along pretty nicely!

[gemini aquarius(t)]

6 months and no update???;/
whats this?

[king4345]

Wish I had a garage... Need some more pics.

[prsouthfl]

any updates yr later
sweet set up

[ZOAKEEPER]

Is the car still in the driveway? Or have you opened up your own store yet? Let's see some pics!!

[rickkott13]

are those for sale?? great setup too.. looks sweet

[A.T.T.R]

how high is the bulb off the water?

[mhhauser321]

Wow I really like the simplicity of your setup, To me it shows how much can be accomplished with such ease if you know what you are doing.

matt

[freetareef]

updates?
still goin?

[sbabs]

That is freakin cool. You can really set up shop on a dime if you know what you are doing!

[adolfo425]

Very nice setup. Hope to get a place to where i can do a setup like yours for my own prop system. Keep posting new pictures.

[reefmanmatt]

still waiting for the "my wife kicked my ***" part ! great build , very cool . i didnt catch the name of the reflector/hood your using ? 2 300 watt heaters will be plenty !!! i run a 300 with a 150 for a spare on my 120 setup and the 150 rarely turns on .

[zach_24_90]

would love some updates!

[kawicivic]

this guy hasnt even done anything on RC in 1.5 years and hasnt responded to anything in this thread in over 5...

who finds these threads?!?

lol

[DeepSeaBeauti]

Maybe there like me trying to get my post count up.


Orrrrrrrrr , they just dont check the post dates.

lol

[fishgeek12]

cool setup!

[Enyo]

I think people are just attracted to this kind of project and wish more people posted about them!

[reefling]

+1 enyo

[keihi20]

I just want to know where he got the kiddipool? it looks saweet! or i lookED sweet

[nowlan]

The kiddie pools are easy enough to come by.

I like this example better. Sand pits from toys r us.

http://www.mattrichards.id.au/Mark.html

Wish i had the space.

[jeff@zina.com]

I just want to know where he got the kiddipool? it looks saweet! or i lookED sweet

WalMart.

Jeff

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