**former thread of the month** Rebuilding the Reef - Log of a 90 Gallon Restarted - Page 5

Jamesurq · 12/29/2004, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by melev
I'm glad you are staying addicted. Are you going to restart your sand trade process to seed this new sandy substrate?

Stay in the hobby long enough, and you'll see stuff like this occur:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...73#post3995773

I was thinking about another sand trade when the weather gets warmer. For now, I ordered a couple scoops of sand from "Guy". He has a 900 gallon refugium and I gave him some sand from my system during the sand trade.

Cool things in that thread!

Project Reef · 12/29/2004, 07:51 AM

James, excellent progress. You sure do have a lot of LR in there though. Perhaps you can take out the piece of rock on the far right upper corner. Try visualizing it. You'd end up having a neat sloping reef.

Jamesurq · 12/29/2004, 11:18 AM

Yeah - I had it like that in one of the attempts. It was a little lacking and really drew focus to the inlet of the closed loop. I'm not a big fan of lots of rock - but the overall structure when viewed from all three sides provides a LOT of mounting space for frags... (hint, hint)..

bugshop · 12/29/2004, 09:17 PM

Hi James,
I'm glad to see you're getting it up an running again.
How's the new GRS club comming?

Timmy

lebowski · 12/29/2004, 09:25 PM

Dang James.. Sucks to hear about the tank.. I bet the new one will rock hard tasty abs..

Do you still have that 55 or whatever going? (back from the SWF days?)

Good luck on this project!

horkn · 12/29/2004, 10:30 PM

glad to see you have the tank functional again after your mishaps...

i love the remote sump/fuge idea....i plan on a basement sump myself.. when i get my own house

Jamesurq · 12/30/2004, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bugshop
Hi James,
I'm glad to see you're getting it up an running again.
How's the new GRS club comming?

Timmy

Club is doing well for being around such a short time. We have 15 members and all are active. The LFS situation around here is relatively weak (sorry Craig). I toured all of them on Tuesday with my family and they all agreed it was pretty sad. There is one store that has potential, but it's not where it needs to be.

How's your group? Maybe we could both meet up half way (say, Columbia?

)

Jamesurq · 12/30/2004, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by lebowski
Dang James.. Sucks to hear about the tank.. I bet the new one will rock hard tasty abs..

Do you still have that 55 or whatever going? (back from the SWF days?)

Good luck on this project!

Wasup Elvis - the tank I had from SWF days was this original 90 gallon. I have a 50 gallon Oceanic and a 30 gallon AGA out in the garage empty that I plan on incorporating into this system - 50 gallon Xenia and softie growout and 30 gallon algae based refugium. No point in setting them up yet....

I'll get to it in the next couple months though.

Thanks for tagging along.

Jamesurq · 12/30/2004, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by horkn
glad to see you have the tank functional again after your mishaps...

i love the remote sump/fuge idea....i plan on a basement sump myself.. when i get my own house

Good luck with your setup. I really wish I had a basement - this crawlspace with a dirt floor is not fun to work in!

horkn · 12/30/2004, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jamesurq
Good luck with your setup. I really wish I had a basement - this crawlspace with a dirt floor is not fun to work in!

until then i will make due with my 35g tank, which by most standards has just started..

yeah, i worked at my dads plumbing shop for a few years, one too many crawlspaces for me.....

IMPERATORFAN · 12/30/2004, 10:39 AM

Nice setup. What K is your 400W at? That's the exact kind of blue/white mix I'd like to get on my next round of bulbs.

Scot

Jamesurq · 12/30/2004, 10:47 AM

The 400 Watter is a 20k Radium - and it's overdriven with a 430W High Pressure Sodium ballast (HQI). With a standard ballast, the Radium is very blue.

It's actually quite fun watching the lights warm up. Instantly, the 2 65W PC actinics come on and as the 10K ushios warm up everything gets really yellow. Then the radium comes on and get's blue. As it and the ushios get to their full strength, the tank color gets to a perfect balance (in my opinion)...

datman422 · 12/30/2004, 10:54 AM

hI James I have been flowing your thread a couple days of now and I think you are doing a great job. I too and in the process of upgrading to a 150 gal. I started the set up around the same time you did and I am pretty much at the same stage you are now. It seems from time to time that things do happen the way you plan it, but its alway ok to redo and restart. I am in the process of resetting up my close loop and I am changing my design to Melev CL. Since we are in the same boat, any input from you on my thread would be most grateful . oh, I also have a buddy reefer that is setting up a 90 gal within the next few weeks. He is currently gather the material and supplies to do the upgrade. thx

Dat-

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=491195

Jamesurq · 12/30/2004, 12:38 PM

Thanks. I commented on yours - looks like a good project. Going with acrylic gives you the easy drilling option. Buy a 1 - 3/4" drill bit and a bunch of bulkheads...

I tried it on a glass tank - and if you read about half way through this thread you'll see how successful I was...

RGibson · 12/30/2004, 02:02 PM

Jamesurq- you need to put a pvc pipe cut long ways 2 in dia work and put it over the cross bar to keep the heat off of it or it will brake.

Jamesurq · 12/30/2004, 02:21 PM

I was going to use a few ceramic tiles - I like your idea too...

RGibson · 12/30/2004, 03:49 PM

With the pvc pipe you will have air moving through it to help to cool it much better.

Jamesurq · 12/30/2004, 04:33 PM

ahh - I see. But wouldn't ceramic have a much better cooling capacity than pvc?

Perhaps I'll suspend the ceramic tile on small pvc risers?

obcr12000 · 12/30/2004, 05:16 PM

Jamesurq - nice job! i especially like what you've done with the front corners of your tank! looks good

Jamesurq · 12/30/2004, 06:38 PM

Thanks! I'm getting there. Ordered a cleanup crew - it'll be here on Wednesday. Meanwhile, I"m running the lights so they'll have something to eat... Stupid - I know, but you have to order enough for free shipping...

RGibson · 12/30/2004, 06:56 PM

pvc risers will work make sure the ceramic tile are of light color

Slartibartfast · 12/30/2004, 08:54 PM

Interesting thread!

However, I am curious. How did a "tripped breaker" cause such a catastrophic failure? Did it happen while you were on vacation?

Jamesurq · 12/30/2004, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Slartibartfast
Interesting thread!

However, I am curious. How did a "tripped breaker" cause such a catastrophic failure? Did it happen while you were on vacation?

Yes.

BTW - love the logon ID - didn't you win an award for Norway?

Slartibartfast · 12/30/2004, 09:08 PM

Regarding the login id -- it used to be something that was fairly guaranteed not to be taken on forums. But alas, that is not true anymore. I'm looking forward to the HHGTTG movie coming out soon.

But about your tank disaster. I don't mean to be morbid, but I would like to have a few more details. How long was the breaker off? What was the temp in the room? I'm trying to determine how long a reef can survive without power.

Jamesurq · 12/30/2004, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Slartibartfast
Regarding the login id -- it used to be something that was fairly guaranteed not to be taken on forums. But alas, that is not true anymore. I'm looking forward to the HHGTTG movie coming out soon.

But about your tank disaster. I don't mean to be morbid, but I would like to have a few more details. How long was the breaker off? What was the temp in the room? I'm trying to determine how long a reef can survive without power.

My dad just got me the British import CD HHGTTG Tertiary Phase. Apparently hard to get here.... Pretty cool.

As far as the tank disaster details, I was not there - it was being housed at a friends house. I can tell you though that my tank was heavily stocked and it probably didn't take long for the situation to get pretty rough. I would say oxygen was the big factor as it occurred in a room that would have allowed a comfortable temperature to exist....

Anyways - enough about the past. I'm all about the rebuild..

12/29/2004, 07:51 AM	#102
Project Reef **** R.C. Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 5,844	James, excellent progress. You sure do have a lot of LR in there though. Perhaps you can take out the piece of rock on the far right upper corner. Try visualizing it. You'd end up having a neat sloping reef. __________________ - Ali

12/29/2004, 09:17 PM	#104
bugshop Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Anderson/ Belton S.C. Posts: 652	Hi James, I'm glad to see you're getting it up an running again. How's the new GRS club comming? Timmy __________________ Greenville, SC Reefer? Join the PMAC.

12/29/2004, 09:25 PM	#105
lebowski Notorious Reeferus Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Chicago Posts: 3,048 Blog Entries: 1	Dang James.. Sucks to hear about the tank.. I bet the new one will rock hard tasty abs.. Do you still have that 55 or whatever going? (back from the SWF days?) Good luck on this project! __________________ "Only the pure in heart and soul can make a good soup!" - Ludwig Van Beethoven

12/29/2004, 10:30 PM	#106
horkn Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: milwaukee wisconsin Posts: 4,125	glad to see you have the tank functional again after your mishaps... i love the remote sump/fuge idea....i plan on a basement sump myself.. when i get my own house __________________ people write stupid things in this space Current Tank Info: 200g DIY wood reef, 2x 250w SE 10k MH 2x80 t5ho, 75g sump, Geo Ca RX, ASD 6" recirc skimmer

12/30/2004, 10:54 AM	#113
datman422 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Bay Area California Posts: 1,120	hI James I have been flowing your thread a couple days of now and I think you are doing a great job. I too and in the process of upgrading to a 150 gal. I started the set up around the same time you did and I am pretty much at the same stage you are now. It seems from time to time that things do happen the way you plan it, but its alway ok to redo and restart. I am in the process of resetting up my close loop and I am changing my design to Melev CL. Since we are in the same boat, any input from you on my thread would be most grateful . oh, I also have a buddy reefer that is setting up a 90 gal within the next few weeks. He is currently gather the material and supplies to do the upgrade. thx Dat- http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=491195 __________________ "Why do we kill to teach that killing is wrong? " unknown author. Current Tank Info: as off Jan, 2005 upgraded from 50 to 150gal. 300lbs LR. 2" LS. Mixed Reef. Berlin skimmer. Dual 400W PFO MH.

12/29/2004, 11:18 AM	#103
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	Yeah - I had it like that in one of the attempts. It was a little lacking and really drew focus to the inlet of the closed loop. I'm not a big fan of lots of rock - but the overall structure when viewed from all three sides provides a LOT of mounting space for frags... (hint, hint)..

12/30/2004, 10:39 AM	#111
IMPERATORFAN Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Louisiana Posts: 297	Nice setup. What K is your 400W at? That's the exact kind of blue/white mix I'd like to get on my next round of bulbs. Scot

12/30/2004, 10:47 AM	#112
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	The 400 Watter is a 20k Radium - and it's overdriven with a 430W High Pressure Sodium ballast (HQI). With a standard ballast, the Radium is very blue. It's actually quite fun watching the lights warm up. Instantly, the 2 65W PC actinics come on and as the 10K ushios warm up everything gets really yellow. Then the radium comes on and get's blue. As it and the ushios get to their full strength, the tank color gets to a perfect balance (in my opinion)...

12/30/2004, 12:38 PM	#114
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	Thanks. I commented on yours - looks like a good project. Going with acrylic gives you the easy drilling option. Buy a 1 - 3/4" drill bit and a bunch of bulkheads... I tried it on a glass tank - and if you read about half way through this thread you'll see how successful I was...

12/30/2004, 02:02 PM	#115
RGibson RGibson Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 2,377	Jamesurq- you need to put a pvc pipe cut long ways 2 in dia work and put it over the cross bar to keep the heat off of it or it will brake. __________________ RGibson

12/30/2004, 02:21 PM	#116
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	I was going to use a few ceramic tiles - I like your idea too...

12/30/2004, 03:49 PM	#117
RGibson RGibson Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 2,377	With the pvc pipe you will have air moving through it to help to cool it much better. __________________ RGibson

12/30/2004, 04:33 PM	#118
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	ahh - I see. But wouldn't ceramic have a much better cooling capacity than pvc? Perhaps I'll suspend the ceramic tile on small pvc risers?

12/30/2004, 05:16 PM	#119
obcr12000 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: San Diego Posts: 18	Jamesurq - nice job! i especially like what you've done with the front corners of your tank! looks good

12/30/2004, 06:38 PM	#120
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	Thanks! I'm getting there. Ordered a cleanup crew - it'll be here on Wednesday. Meanwhile, I"m running the lights so they'll have something to eat... Stupid - I know, but you have to order enough for free shipping...

12/30/2004, 06:56 PM	#121
RGibson RGibson Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 2,377	pvc risers will work make sure the ceramic tile are of light color __________________ RGibson

12/30/2004, 08:54 PM	#122
Slartibartfast Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 204	Interesting thread! However, I am curious. How did a "tripped breaker" cause such a catastrophic failure? Did it happen while you were on vacation?

12/30/2004, 09:08 PM	#124
Slartibartfast Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 204	Regarding the login id -- it used to be something that was fairly guaranteed not to be taken on forums. But alas, that is not true anymore. I'm looking forward to the HHGTTG movie coming out soon. But about your tank disaster. I don't mean to be morbid, but I would like to have a few more details. How long was the breaker off? What was the temp in the room? I'm trying to determine how long a reef can survive without power.