drummereef's 180g in-wall build - Page 4

drummereef · 03/28/2009, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by crvz
Wow, well done. Thanks for sharing all the details. I assume there's about zero worry in the texture of the laminate regarding tank support?

Thanks crvz.

Yeah, I thought about that before I bought it, but the 'dots' are so small it's probably irrelevant. That first shot is a 'macro' shot of the laminate so they look huge. In reality the dots are about a the size of a pin hole and very shallow. I know the rim on my tank is about 7/8" wide where it will be sitting on. Just got to do three last pieces of trim in the rough opening and I can get the tank on there. I'll mess with the bottom shelf as I go, since I don't know the final dimension of the sump yet.

page 4 is mine.

drummereef · 03/28/2009, 01:27 PM

Here's an updated sump design. It has a smaller skimmer section and much larger return section. Approx volume of the drain/skimmer section is 15 gallons. Approx volume of the return section is 21 gallons at normal operating water level. Total volume of the sump is about 70 gallons. I will still add a bubble chamber for the return from the remote refugium. Still debating on how to do that.

What do you think about the 4" baffle at the bottom of the drain section? Do you think it would trap detritus before the skimmer? The sump will be constructed out of 3/8" acrylite acrylic. Do you think it needs a rim around the top?

Eel-byte · 03/28/2009, 02:54 PM

Cant wait to see this ting up and running!

gradth · 03/28/2009, 03:02 PM

Looking great drummer. Your making mine look like a redneck fish tank.

BTW, we talked about the Marcorocks. I got half my order today and the stuff is awesome. Not to mention 1/4 the price of live rock.

drummereef · 03/28/2009, 03:04 PM

Very nice indeed. I just saw it over in your thread. The rock looks amazing. Definitely what I will be putting in my reef.

drummereef · 03/28/2009, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Eel-byte
Cant wait to see this ting up and running!

Thanks Eel-byte. Me too!

Hop · 03/28/2009, 04:15 PM

I would soak that baserock in vinegar and water and then cook it for a while(4-8 weeks), while seeding it with live rock... I couldn't believe the amount of po4 that mine leached. Of course it masked itself for the first few years with just prolonged algae stages typical of new tanks and then exploded...

drummereef · 03/28/2009, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hop
I would soak that baserock in vinegar and water and then cook it for a while(4-8 weeks), while seeding it with live rock... I couldn't believe the amount of po4 that mine leached. Of course it masked itself for the first few years with just prolonged algae stages typical of new tanks and then exploded...

Ewww. That's not good. Thanks for the heads up, Hop. I might get started on that sooner than later then. Do you really think the 'explosion' of phosphate was only from the rock? Were there any changes to your system that might have caused this buildup?

Bill14 · 03/28/2009, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by drummereef
What do you think about the 4" baffle at the bottom of the drain section? Do you think it would trap detritus before the skimmer?

I'm not sure that 4" baffle is going to catch much since you'll have another 5" of water over it. I'd guess the detritus will float enough to populate both sections equally. But I've never tried it. Maybe somebody who has will chime in.

Great detail on putting down the laminate. Looks great!

Hop · 03/28/2009, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by drummereef
Ewww. That's not good. Thanks for the heads up, Hop. I might get started on that sooner than later then. Do you really think the 'explosion' of phosphate was only from the rock? Were there any changes to your system that might have caused this buildup?

Yeah, unfortunately I do. I had my own issues, but my neighbor had an instant explosion and we set his tank up with a far better nutrient export system than on mine. And from cruising the boards I've seen a bit of a pattern. Many have success without doing anything to the rock, but many have HA, dino and cyano issues within the first few months. I figure what the hey, if your taking your time, do the vinegar and water or muriatic acid bath over night and start cooking them while seeding it all with some live rock now. it would give you the best environment right off the bat.

I bet you would see po4 readings as high as .05 at the end of the first week of cooking.

drummereef · 03/29/2009, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bill14
I'm not sure that 4" baffle is going to catch much since you'll have another 5" of water over it. I'd guess the detritus will float enough to populate both sections equally. But I've never tried it. Maybe somebody who has will chime in.

Great detail on putting down the laminate. Looks great!

Thanks for the kind words, Bill14. Slowly but surely it's coming together.

Melev said the same thing you did about the half baffle in the sump. I might end up taking it out if people feel it's a bad thing.

drummereef · 03/29/2009, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hop
Yeah, unfortunately I do. I had my own issues, but my neighbor had an instant explosion and we set his tank up with a far better nutrient export system than on mine. And from cruising the boards I've seen a bit of a pattern. Many have success without doing anything to the rock, but many have HA, dino and cyano issues within the first few months. I figure what the hey, if your taking your time, do the vinegar and water or muriatic acid bath over night and start cooking them while seeding it all with some live rock now. it would give you the best environment right off the bat.

I bet you would see po4 readings as high as .05 at the end of the first week of cooking.

Wow, thanks for the heads up on that one. You know, now that you say it I have noticed an influx of dinos with people using these rocks. I'll definitely soak and cook them before they go in the display. I got all kinds of time before this thing get up and running.

Hey Hop, what do you think of the sump design?

crvz · 03/29/2009, 04:14 PM

Sump design looks good, but I don't know how much that 4" baffle is really going to do. It would definitely depend on the amount of water flow you've got going through the sump, but in any case I'd think it needs to be taller to be effective. How do you plan on cleaning out that area if it does work well?

Hop · 03/29/2009, 05:02 PM

It looks good. I would probably make the skimmer section bigger just in case next year skimmer company X comes out with the best of the best skimmer, but you need a 20x20 space for it...

dean1977 · 03/29/2009, 06:38 PM

Hop, when you got the marcorocks was it prior to the time that they started "pre-cycling" the rock?

drummereef · 03/29/2009, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by crvz
Sump design looks good, but I don't know how much that 4" baffle is really going to do. It would definitely depend on the amount of water flow you've got going through the sump, but in any case I'd think it needs to be taller to be effective. How do you plan on cleaning out that area if it does work well?

Ok, good points again crvz.

I plan on roughly 900gph at most through the sump. That's about 5x the display volume. I think I could get in there with some tubing to clean it out if it gets dirty. But, if everyone thinks it's unnecessary, or could cause problems later, I'll take it out.

Is there anything else you would add? I might want to do a rack for probes, but I can design that after I get the sump built. I'll run carbon in a reactor so I probably won't do a section for bags. All will be plumbed off the main return pump from the manifold.

Hop · 03/29/2009, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dean1977
Hop, when you got the marcorocks was it prior to the time that they started "pre-cycling" the rock?

My neighbors was after... I used reeferrocks which has sadly gone out of business. CAP'n Jer was awesome

But I'm not sure how much pre-cycling is really going on. From what I see and read, he is so busy and short on rock alot (which is a good thing)... But I would still take that extra step, to avoid problems down the road...

drummereef · 03/29/2009, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hop
It looks good. I would probably make the skimmer section bigger just in case next year skimmer company X comes out with the best of the best skimmer, but you need a 20x20 space for it...

Ok, got it Hop. I was trying to figure the "actual" footprint for the 250 the last couple days and the smallest I could make it was 13.5 x 16.5. This was wall to wall with no extra space, and I had to turn the output in a bit. I'll go ahead and make the skimmer section 20" square.

crvz · 03/29/2009, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by drummereef
Is there anything else you would add? I might want to do a rack for probes, but I can design that after I get the sump built. I'll run carbon in a reactor so I probably won't do a section for bags. All will be plumbed off the main return pump from the manifold.

Nah, not right now. Making it somewhat generic does add to 1) it's ease of implementation for any hardware you may chose or upgrade to later on, and 2) the ability to sell it for the next move/tank upgrade.

Like you said, little probe holders or brackets can come and go as needed.

Hop · 03/29/2009, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by drummereef
Ok, got it Hop. I was trying to figure the "actual" footprint for the 250 the last couple days and the smallest I could make it was 13.5 x 16.5. This was wall to wall with no extra space, and I had to turn the output in a bit. I'll go ahead and make the skimmer section 20" square.

yeah, but then you may want the extended neck and an askoll pump

I'm debating about picking one up after Tuesday myself

drummereef · 03/29/2009, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by crvz
Nah, not right now. Making it somewhat generic does add to 1) it's ease of implementation for any hardware you may chose or upgrade to later on, and 2) the ability to sell it for the next move/tank upgrade. Like you said, little probe holders or brackets can come and go as needed.

Totally. I figured once I move my Aquacontroller Jr from the 40g I'll get a better idea how to personalize it. I might make some removable probe brackets and something for the top off control as well. I like the 'bare bones' idea on this so far too.

drummereef · 03/30/2009, 10:43 AM

Here's another design for the sump, per Melev's request.

He wanted to see a top rim with radius corners and a center brace for maximum support. I also re-measured the space under the stand and can squeeze a couple more inches in this thing. This will give me approx 75 gallons at only 14" high.

Thoughts?

spleify · 03/30/2009, 10:45 AM

Looks good Brett!!

Gonna be a sweet setup!!

Bill14 · 03/30/2009, 11:25 AM

Very nice! You are going to love all that space.

Anemonebuff · 03/30/2009, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by drummereef
Ewww. That's not good. Thanks for the heads up, Hop. I might get started on that sooner than later then. Do you really think the 'explosion' of phosphate was only from the rock? Were there any changes to your system that might have caused this buildup?

I have also heard that the Marco Rock is high in PO4, probably silicates as well. I would run it in a tub of water with GFO for a week or two.

03/28/2009, 01:27 PM	#77
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,671	Here's an updated sump design. It has a smaller skimmer section and much larger return section. Approx volume of the drain/skimmer section is 15 gallons. Approx volume of the return section is 21 gallons at normal operating water level. Total volume of the sump is about 70 gallons. I will still add a bubble chamber for the return from the remote refugium. Still debating on how to do that. What do you think about the 4" baffle at the bottom of the drain section? Do you think it would trap detritus before the skimmer? The sump will be constructed out of 3/8" acrylite acrylic. Do you think it needs a rim around the top? __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278g system, Vortech MP40W, MSX250A, Lumen Bright Mini, Galaxy Select-A-Watt Ballasts, 250w Radiums, CREE RB LEDs, Reeflo Dart Return, NextReef Reactors, Neptune Systems Apex, some coral and a couple fish. Click My Homepage To See The Build.

03/28/2009, 03:02 PM	#79
gradth Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Vancouver WA Posts: 518	Looking great drummer. Your making mine look like a redneck fish tank. BTW, we talked about the Marcorocks. I got half my order today and the stuff is awesome. Not to mention 1/4 the price of live rock. __________________ Josh Click on the redhouse for my 180 build. Current Tank Info: 180 gallon pennisula reef

03/28/2009, 03:04 PM	#80
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,671	Very nice indeed. I just saw it over in your thread. The rock looks amazing. Definitely what I will be putting in my reef. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278g system, Vortech MP40W, MSX250A, Lumen Bright Mini, Galaxy Select-A-Watt Ballasts, 250w Radiums, CREE RB LEDs, Reeflo Dart Return, NextReef Reactors, Neptune Systems Apex, some coral and a couple fish. Click My Homepage To See The Build.

03/28/2009, 04:15 PM	#82
Hop Carpe Noctem!!! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 8,646	I would soak that baserock in vinegar and water and then cook it for a while(4-8 weeks), while seeding it with live rock... I couldn't believe the amount of po4 that mine leached. Of course it masked itself for the first few years with just prolonged algae stages typical of new tanks and then exploded... __________________ Hop Current Tank Info: 300-gallon in-wall system (mixed reef)

03/29/2009, 04:14 PM	#88
crvz Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: houstonia Posts: 7,782	Sump design looks good, but I don't know how much that 4" baffle is really going to do. It would definitely depend on the amount of water flow you've got going through the sump, but in any case I'd think it needs to be taller to be effective. How do you plan on cleaning out that area if it does work well? __________________ -Chris- You don't win friends with salad. "Look! They're trying to learn for free!" ... "Use your phony guns as clubs!" Current Tank Info: rectangluar? wet?

03/28/2009, 02:54 PM	#78
Eel-byte Premium Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Duluth, Mn Posts: 1,498	Cant wait to see this ting up and running!

03/29/2009, 05:02 PM	#89
Hop Carpe Noctem!!! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 8,646	It looks good. I would probably make the skimmer section bigger just in case next year skimmer company X comes out with the best of the best skimmer, but you need a 20x20 space for it... __________________ Hop Current Tank Info: 300-gallon in-wall system (mixed reef)

03/29/2009, 06:38 PM	#90
dean1977 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: south jersey Posts: 544	Hop, when you got the marcorocks was it prior to the time that they started "pre-cycling" the rock?

03/30/2009, 10:43 AM	#97
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,671	Here's another design for the sump, per Melev's request. He wanted to see a top rim with radius corners and a center brace for maximum support. I also re-measured the space under the stand and can squeeze a couple more inches in this thing. This will give me approx 75 gallons at only 14" high. Thoughts? __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278g system, Vortech MP40W, MSX250A, Lumen Bright Mini, Galaxy Select-A-Watt Ballasts, 250w Radiums, CREE RB LEDs, Reeflo Dart Return, NextReef Reactors, Neptune Systems Apex, some coral and a couple fish. Click My Homepage To See The Build.

03/30/2009, 10:45 AM	#98
spleify Team RC Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 9,588	Looks good Brett!! Gonna be a sweet setup!! __________________ Make it a Great Day!!!! Current Tank Info: 60 gal SPS cube, with 25 gal refugium, 400W MH, DIY Lumenarc III, DIY skimmer, DIY stand and canopy. 40 breeder LPS with 40 gallon sump, DIY stand, 250W MH

03/30/2009, 11:25 AM	#99
Bill14 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 237	Very nice! You are going to love all that space.