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View Full Version : And so it begins, NEW TANK!!!!!!


eddybabyhd
02/28/2006, 03:37 PM
Well after having my tank in the wall going on three years, and my growing interest in SPS, i have decided to set up a new tank in replacement of my current tank...I know, I know seems to be a pattern lately...Out of the manys reasons for the conversion, one stands to be the most prominate ELECTRICAL USAGE...My current tank is pumping out about 7500 watts of juice 24/7, most of which is blamed on the Tim Allen approach (more power). And some to poor planning, the whole do it wrong three times before doing it right. So I have chosen to go to a 120, with a closed loop and small sump/pump...I have had great success with SPS and would love to have a smaller SPS only tank

The tank was custom made by Gary Walker at ART. I just got to pick up my tank today, and i have to say...I was a little bit skeptical at first with the whole thing, but Gary made it a very easy transaction, and an even more impressive tank

these are some pics of the new system

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/eb6713/Picture026.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/eb6713/Picture027.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/eb6713/Picture028.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/eb6713/Picture030.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/eb6713/Picture032.jpg


Thanks again Gary and Emily, it looks great

captbunzo
02/28/2006, 04:52 PM
Very pretty! What is the plan with the lower grid of squares. Will those pass water into the overflow as well as at the surface level?

eddybabyhd
02/28/2006, 04:57 PM
yes, there will be 2 bulkheads in the bottom of the overflow, one with a standpipe ensuring the surface level stays near the top, and the other for the inlet for my closed loop...This took away the danger of running a closed loop, for there will be no suction inlets int he tank at all...That was something i saw on a tank at ADG aquarium design group in houston, and it seemed very practical

they used a hole with eggcrating in it, but gary was able to facilitate a CNC design very similar, much better looking

way to be a show off Gary

captbunzo
02/28/2006, 05:21 PM
Sounds like a wonderful idea. I am a little confused, however, as it sounds like the lower holes would dillute the surface water overflowing into the overflow, which you'll be (I assume) feeding to a skimmer in your sump.

eddybabyhd
02/28/2006, 05:25 PM
the standpipe will catch all the water flowing to the sump, this will give me all the surface skimming i will need, as i will not be running probably 500 gph through the sump...My skimmer is huge for this applicaiton, and hopefully will keep up very well...i have never had a problem with film or anything on my current tank...

although, if i do not get the desired flow when initially set up, i will have to seperate the bottom of the overflow from the top, drilling out the side of the box, this will keep the two at seperate pressures

captbunzo
02/28/2006, 05:34 PM
Yeah - I was thinking that you could pretty easily split the box into an upper and lower section. My only concern would be making sure that my surface water was not diluted at all - gotta keep the skimmer performing as best possible.

But I love the idea of the grid as a closed loop input. What a wonderful way to avoid crunched critters! :)

pwhitby
02/28/2006, 11:24 PM
I think I recognize that work.....

keep us posted, and I hope you get yours up and running faster than mine.

P.

JR719
03/01/2006, 01:20 AM
Looks good. Hopefully won't take too long to set up. Post pics of the progress.

JR

eddybabyhd
03/01/2006, 02:55 PM
I am debating even though i went with the closed loop design, but i am trying to decide whether or not to go with two tunze streams or with a closed loop on an OM 4way, or squirt...I dont know if anyone has any experience with the Ocean Motions, but any feedback would be great

captbunzo
03/01/2006, 03:15 PM
I don't, but a lot of folks around here do and love them. I might possibly do so if I had a bigger tank and the extra $200 - $300 to spend on it.

pwhitby
03/01/2006, 03:43 PM
i love OM.

they are external
they work
they handle lots of flow
inexpensive to operate.

just my quick thoughts. I especially like not having tunzes and stuff visible inside the tank itself.

eddybabyhd
03/01/2006, 04:03 PM
Well i certainly understand that...teo tunze 6000's on a multi controller will run me about 750...and the OM will be around 200...so that is the direction i am leaning...

Paul i knew you had experience with them, I guess i can deal without the tunzes functionality and definatly could deal without the size...I just hope i get the same results from the OM

Gwalker
03/01/2006, 04:11 PM
I'm always glad to hear that the customer liked the finished product. It does look much better with all the protective paper pulled off!

Gary

dustin Combs
03/01/2006, 04:14 PM
the streams are a little hefty but they create such a great flow around the tank. The randomization with the controller can't be beat. I also added a wave box to simulate the wave action. BUT I guess you can't go wrong with the 4way. What pump are you going to put it on?

eddybabyhd
03/01/2006, 04:29 PM
Blueline 150...I love the tunze's, i love the functionality of them...Like I told Gary earlier this week...

All the cool kids have them...JK

eddybabyhd
03/01/2006, 07:19 PM
everything i have read about the OM's is that people are running them with Dart's Sequence 6000 and such...do they OM's restrict flow very much...I think a Sequence 6000 would be a little overkill for my new tank...Remember I went down this road last time, and stuck myself with a 3/4 hp pump, that is ridiculous to pay electric on

pwhitby
03/01/2006, 08:24 PM
im running mine from a sequence 4200

OMs do not restrict flow at all.

I may use tunzes as well.....but if I do, they will be hidden in the rockwork of the tank.

eddybabyhd
03/02/2006, 10:32 AM
Does anyone know how fast the OM switch from outlet to outlet based on running the sequencial 1,2,3,4 method

pwhitby
03/02/2006, 10:37 AM
15 seconds. Runs at 1 rpm (approx)

eddybabyhd
03/02/2006, 10:42 AM
thanks paul...i think the blueline 150 will power the closed loop well...i think im going to lean towards one of the versions that splits between two outlets at once, i dont think my tank could handle all that coming from one outlet at a time

eddybabyhd
03/07/2006, 10:10 AM
Well worked til late last night getting the rubbermaid installed inline on the system to age new water, so the transfer will be a little less shocking...a bucket of southdown in there as well...

just waiting on the stand, my ocean motion 4-way, and the electricians to wire my 30 amp plug array in the living room

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/eb6713/Picture033.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/eb6713/Picture035.jpg

oh, why did i let myself get talked into this, oh yeah, i remember

MyMonkey
03/07/2006, 10:22 AM
Can't wait to see the progression.

eddybabyhd
03/22/2006, 03:16 PM
I had pondered over the flow options too long, i decided to give Paul at OM a call. I could not determine where i want to place my outlets for my closed loop. Paul instructed me to place the returns in a pattern that made the whole tank roll from the back towards the front. I must admit before parusing this forum, i have never seen holes drilled in the front bottom of a tank. But i understand the logic in it now, and am very excited.

The idea is to have the top two holes in the back with elbows on them blowing behind the rock, and the bottom two holes blowing towards the front glass, and then the front two blowing towards the overflow box. keeping everything suspended to be caught in the filter

here are some pics of the setup(sorry for the glare)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/eb6713/DSC03361.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/eb6713/DSC03362.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/eb6713/DSC03366.jpg

eddybabyhd
04/02/2006, 09:09 PM
got a little plumbing done...hope to be done by this weekend with water and sand

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/eb6713/Picture382.jpg

aleiodubua
04/03/2006, 04:33 PM
I really like that tank. Looks very nice. Wish I had an acrylic tank :(

_Sooner_2
04/03/2006, 05:48 PM
I would love to see this when filled. I'm intrigued by the placement of the lower grid. I have to admit, I don't understand the mechanics...nothing new for me. lol

It seems that the water level in the tank would only rise to the level of the stand pipe? The grid is more than large enough to allow the 500gph you talked about earlier. How will you restrict the flow through the grid, which would then allow the tank to fill to the surface overflow?

I'm sure you guys have it all worked out, I just can't picture it myself. Please post pics after you fill it. Visuals help me a lot! :)

Ronnie

eddybabyhd
04/03/2006, 06:18 PM
Well to tell you the truth, the way that this was acheived was by dividing the upper and lower sections on the overflow box. so what you see (the standpipe) will actually be alot shorter. After a freshwater test, this was quickly realized. And nessesitated dividing the two sections to keep them at 2 seperate pressures

this idea was born without workign out the physics...but i still believe that in the long run is going to work out great

_Sooner_2
04/03/2006, 06:44 PM
Plz keep the pics coming. I especially like to see pics of plumbing and equipment. To me, these are as interesting as actual tank shots.

Ronnie

MyMonkey
04/03/2006, 09:00 PM
Nice job on that plumbing.

eddybabyhd
04/06/2006, 09:04 PM
well i havent got alot more done, but i had about 15 minutes tonight to work on some more plumbing...the Ocean Motions arrives in the morn, and that is the real kicker on plumbing, so tommorrow it will be

its like the night before christmas

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/eb6713/Picture383.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/eb6713/Picture385.jpg

eddybabyhd
04/07/2006, 09:19 PM
Well i was able to finish the plumbing...I mean the Closed Loop plumbing, god that was alot of pipe. And had a sucessful wet test, although I think i am going to order another version drum for the OM, I got version 2 and 3, but i am going to order the version 1 as well.

I got some pics here that show the closed loop

THIS WEEKEND, SAND AND SALTWATER, ugh

but i am getting closer

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/eb6713/Picture386.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/eb6713/Picture390.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/eb6713/Picture389.jpg

Gwalker
04/08/2006, 01:21 PM
god that was alot of pipe.

I usually have more left over pipe than what you have on your tank with most of my projects! I guess it all about perspective. Looks good though!!

G

eddybabyhd
04/13/2006, 09:37 AM
Well after a long and trying weekend and weeknights, i have most of everything moved, the monster of an old pump has been shut off, and my electric meter is back to a slow creep

here are some updated pics, sorry for the blue, the tank is still really cloudy from the sand

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/eb6713/DSC03396.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/eb6713/DSC03397.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/eb6713/DSC03398.jpg

and i was even able to stick two of my maxijets in the overflow box attached to my old wavemaker. It works great, also keeps fish away from the closed loop intake

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/eb6713/DSC03399.jpg

Travis L. Stevens
04/13/2006, 09:38 AM
Very nice! Thank you for sharing your progress

eddybabyhd
08/10/2006, 05:28 PM
Well i haven't got around to posting any recent shots lately, but here are some of the finished system. I added my skimmer, and calcium reactor. Also added some pics of the new power strips and chiller. Everything is up and running great now. I recently put a kent float valve in the sump to regulate the level of ro top off i am using. Also added some kent phosban reactors for rowaphos and carbon

This chiller seems to be working a little bit this summer, but thats to be expected

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/eb6713/6-12-06001.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/eb6713/6-12-06002.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/eb6713/6-12-06003.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/eb6713/6-12-06005.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/eb6713/6-12-06006.jpg

by the way, i love the american dj power strips, they are a lifesaver.

VCoo71
08/10/2006, 07:00 PM
i will second the american dj powerstrips....i just picked up 2 of the 8 plug strips off of ebay for 25$ a peice shipping included!

no more unpluging things is very nice!

charlie

eddybabyhd
12/07/2006, 10:41 PM
Well finally got my frag tank plumbed in a few weeks ago. And just loaded it up with some Hydro frags. It is the same 60ish gallon I used to have set up as a refuge and mangrove tank. On the new tank i decided to make it a frag/refuge. The original plan was to remove the partition in the middle and do all frags. But I decided the fuge was just to valuable.

The difference on this go around is I am using dual 175 watt halides instead of the 70 watt's i had on before.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/eb6713/Photo0008.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/eb6713/Photo0007.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/eb6713/Photo0006.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/eb6713/Photo0005.jpg

I know the glass is dirty, geeze im lazy

pwhitby
12/08/2006, 12:04 AM
looking good.

Thats a lot of hydnophora you have there

eddybabyhd
12/08/2006, 12:08 AM
Yeah, I had to frag up the colony i had. It was just too big. I dont know what im going to do with all them. Unless there are others interested in them. My colony was still about the size of a soup bowl after the fragging. It was probably pushing basketball size before

somethinfishier
12/08/2006, 10:16 AM
Nice setup. Looks really good.

papagimp
12/08/2006, 10:45 AM
Eddy, I'd be interested in one of those hydno frags. I got a green hydno frag at the last meeting and almost all of it RTNed away, I saved one little lump that has since done extremely well and finally getting a nicer green to it. But I'd like a backup just in case. What ya want for one?

I really like what you did with the sump/frag tank like that. Looks awesome. Making my brain start to think of all sorts of ideas for my tank now. (seems like everytime I make up my mind, one of you guys posts up something cooler than what i was thinking.)

eddybabyhd
12/08/2006, 11:00 AM
Shouldnt be a problem, I have 39 total. And am fragging some massive pavona tonight.

you got pm

eddybabyhd
02/14/2007, 10:10 AM
Havent got to update for a while. Added a new skimmer yesterday, ASM g4 Plus. I am now awaiting more Uniseals to make it into recirculating model and the replace the one Paul gave me.

But the major task was getting with 11x17 skimmer into a sump already pack with equipment. It certanily wont be coming out for a bit. Is the general concensus that the the recirc mod with the drain coming straight into the skimmer the best way to rig these up?

Here are some pics

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/eb6713/6-12-06075.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/eb6713/6-12-06073.jpg