**former thread of the month** Rebuilding the Reef - Log of a 90 Gallon Restarted - Page 3

Don_Gnomio · 12/18/2004, 02:27 PM

ill tag along...

more pics plz!

Victor

RSanders · 12/18/2004, 02:55 PM

Is your drywall work done. If so I didn't see any firestop around the plumbing, I hope you used some. If not you'll have a fire hazard/heat loss issue from where all the plumbing passes through the floors. It wouldn't be too late to get back in there and spray some if the tank is still empty.

Just trying to help, not add to the aggrevation.
Good luck!

~R

Jamesurq · 12/18/2004, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RSanders
Is your drywall work done. If so I didn't see any firestop around the plumbing, I hope you used some. If not you'll have a fire hazard/heat loss issue from where all the plumbing passes through the floors. It wouldn't be too late to get back in there and spray some if the tank is still empty.

Just trying to help, not add to the aggrevation.
Good luck!

~R

Explain?

Is this used any time you pass pipes through the floors? IE: with toilet drains, sinks, etc?

And if so, what material is used?

Interesting concept.

OH - and tank is empty and out on my back porch. New tank is in the garage - the paint on the back glass is drying. Plumbing is almost ready. Got 1 more home depot trip for a couple 3/4" elbows and a whole lotta gluing.

Jamesurq · 12/28/2004, 11:47 AM

OK - so here's the replacement tank for the cracked one:

MiddletonMark · 12/28/2004, 11:48 AM

That's what I like to see!

Jamesurq · 12/28/2004, 11:49 AM

I decided not to drill it - and ran the closed loop imput over the top based on Melev's design...

Jamesurq · 12/28/2004, 11:50 AM

here's some of the new plumbing - the old stuff had to be sawed off to get the old tank out... GRRR!!!

Jamesurq · 12/28/2004, 11:51 AM

Plumbed up and WET!

MiddletonMark · 12/28/2004, 11:51 AM

The Melev-style CL works great ... a great solution.

I'm just happy to see you back working on this again

thrlride · 12/28/2004, 12:13 PM

Awesome James! To all reading his log, the day he cracked his tank I got a PM with quite a few expletives!

Looks great Jamesurq. You beat me to water.

Mickey · 12/28/2004, 12:16 PM

James: Glad you decided to stick with it and sorry about your setbacks. But, so far, looking good with the new tank.

Nice job!

Mickey

Jamesurq · 12/28/2004, 04:19 PM

Thanks everyone! - Here's the southdown cloud I created. Searched high and low and finally found a source for a few bags. The plan was to put about 100-150 lbs of sand in it - but decided to go with a single 50 lb bag.
Anyone for a milkshake?

Jamesurq · 12/28/2004, 04:20 PM

mmmmm... All that frothy goodness....

Jamesurq · 12/28/2004, 04:22 PM

big skimmer working overtime:

Jamesurq · 12/28/2004, 04:23 PM

Water in the sump starting to clear up a little. Man that skimmer works well!

Jamesurq · 12/28/2004, 04:27 PM

Here are 2 of the 3 pumps.

In the foreground a mak4 (skimmer pump)

In the background, an LG 4 (return)

The LG had a clog in it's line when I first ran it - scared me! Made me think the pump wasn't working. Kept it running for a while and it created so much back pressure that the pipe flew off. Turns out I hadn't glued 2 connections (out of about 100) and the clog was in-between them! Water went flying up all over and after I pulled out the plug I found that the clog was made from an overusage of glue - it had created a complete seal on the pipe. Knife with a long handle, and I had cut the glue out. Resealed and we're good to go. That old LG pump has been a workhorse. loud as hell - but just keeps pumping.

Jamesurq · 12/28/2004, 04:29 PM

Here's a view of where the overflow/return lines are headed. They go about 30 feet in the crawlspace and up through the floor. Underneath the floor directly under the tank, the Ampmaster pump is hooked up and running... Some really nice flow out of 4 outputs.

Jamesurq · 12/28/2004, 04:31 PM

Because of this work on the tank, other priorities have taken a back seat... Like cleaning up the garage....

Oops.

Jamesurq · 12/28/2004, 04:34 PM

1 day later - tank is clearing up.

I attribute this to a couple of things.

1 - good skimmer.

2 - added some small pieces of liverock to the tank to aid in the bacteria production.

Jamesurq · 12/28/2004, 04:36 PM

closer view:

Basically just enough sand to keep the bottom covered. I don't want it to be above the bottom black plastic band of the tank - I'd rather not see the worms from the side...

Jamesurq · 12/28/2004, 04:37 PM

Turned on the Ampmaster 3000 - nice flow with good ripples on the surface:

Jamesurq · 12/28/2004, 04:38 PM

a closeup shot in the corner - notice the nice wave patterns.

Jamesurq · 12/28/2004, 04:40 PM

The overflow - megaflow setup.

I used my own plumbing - it's actually the stuff I had from the old tank. No point in paying $50 for a couple feet of PVC.. The durso standpipe is setup with a small piece of tissue paper in the large sized hole. I find that this provides plenty of air for flow and softens the sucking sound. It's almost completely silent.

Jamesurq · 12/28/2004, 04:42 PM

The water cleared up mostly - so my first attempt at aqauscaping. I felt that I had too much rock in the last setup - so in this first attempt I kept about 40 lbs out of the tank (out of 150 total). This 40 lbs represents 1 rock.

Jamesurq · 12/28/2004, 04:43 PM

Here's a better shot of the first attempt. I wasn't happy with it - and it changed about 5 times.

12/18/2004, 02:27 PM	#51
Don_Gnomio Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Miami, Fl Posts: 1,005	ill tag along... more pics plz! Victor __________________ VICTOR ALONSO "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind dont matter and those who matter dont mind." -'Dr. Seuss' Current Tank Info: 55g mixed reef

12/28/2004, 11:48 AM	#55
MiddletonMark Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 14,441	That's what I like to see! __________________ read a lot, think for yourself Current Tank Info: 58g stony reef [250w10k, 250w 20k MH, 2x vho act, Octopus150, 6060 + 6000] ; 60g mixed tub

12/28/2004, 11:51 AM	#59
MiddletonMark Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 14,441	The Melev-style CL works great ... a great solution. I'm just happy to see you back working on this again __________________ read a lot, think for yourself Current Tank Info: 58g stony reef [250w10k, 250w 20k MH, 2x vho act, Octopus150, 6060 + 6000] ; 60g mixed tub

12/28/2004, 12:13 PM	#60
thrlride Aka lemmywinks Join Date: May 2003 Location: Harrisburg, NC Posts: 8,017	Awesome James! To all reading his log, the day he cracked his tank I got a PM with quite a few expletives! Looks great Jamesurq. You beat me to water. __________________ Beer Snob Current Tank Info: 210 gallon FOWLR (H&S 200a-1260 , panworld 50px-x, 2x Vortech w/ WWD)

12/18/2004, 02:55 PM	#52
RSanders Moved On Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 28	Is your drywall work done. If so I didn't see any firestop around the plumbing, I hope you used some. If not you'll have a fire hazard/heat loss issue from where all the plumbing passes through the floors. It wouldn't be too late to get back in there and spray some if the tank is still empty. Just trying to help, not add to the aggrevation. Good luck! ~R

12/28/2004, 11:47 AM	#54
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	OK - so here's the replacement tank for the cracked one:

12/28/2004, 11:49 AM	#56
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	I decided not to drill it - and ran the closed loop imput over the top based on Melev's design...

12/28/2004, 11:50 AM	#57
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	here's some of the new plumbing - the old stuff had to be sawed off to get the old tank out... GRRR!!!

12/28/2004, 12:16 PM	#61
Mickey Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Cheshire, CT Posts: 1,256	James: Glad you decided to stick with it and sorry about your setbacks. But, so far, looking good with the new tank. Nice job! Mickey

12/28/2004, 04:19 PM	#62
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	Thanks everyone! - Here's the southdown cloud I created. Searched high and low and finally found a source for a few bags. The plan was to put about 100-150 lbs of sand in it - but decided to go with a single 50 lb bag. Anyone for a milkshake?

12/28/2004, 04:20 PM	#63
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	mmmmm... All that frothy goodness....

12/28/2004, 04:22 PM	#64
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	big skimmer working overtime:

12/28/2004, 04:23 PM	#65
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	Water in the sump starting to clear up a little. Man that skimmer works well!

12/28/2004, 04:27 PM	#66
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	Here are 2 of the 3 pumps. In the foreground a mak4 (skimmer pump) In the background, an LG 4 (return) The LG had a clog in it's line when I first ran it - scared me! Made me think the pump wasn't working. Kept it running for a while and it created so much back pressure that the pipe flew off. Turns out I hadn't glued 2 connections (out of about 100) and the clog was in-between them! Water went flying up all over and after I pulled out the plug I found that the clog was made from an overusage of glue - it had created a complete seal on the pipe. Knife with a long handle, and I had cut the glue out. Resealed and we're good to go. That old LG pump has been a workhorse. loud as hell - but just keeps pumping.

12/28/2004, 04:29 PM	#67
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	Here's a view of where the overflow/return lines are headed. They go about 30 feet in the crawlspace and up through the floor. Underneath the floor directly under the tank, the Ampmaster pump is hooked up and running... Some really nice flow out of 4 outputs.

12/28/2004, 04:31 PM	#68
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	Because of this work on the tank, other priorities have taken a back seat... Like cleaning up the garage.... Oops.

12/28/2004, 04:34 PM	#69
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	1 day later - tank is clearing up. I attribute this to a couple of things. 1 - good skimmer. 2 - added some small pieces of liverock to the tank to aid in the bacteria production.

12/28/2004, 04:36 PM	#70
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	closer view: Basically just enough sand to keep the bottom covered. I don't want it to be above the bottom black plastic band of the tank - I'd rather not see the worms from the side...

12/28/2004, 04:37 PM	#71
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	Turned on the Ampmaster 3000 - nice flow with good ripples on the surface:

12/28/2004, 04:38 PM	#72
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	a closeup shot in the corner - notice the nice wave patterns.

12/28/2004, 04:40 PM	#73
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	The overflow - megaflow setup. I used my own plumbing - it's actually the stuff I had from the old tank. No point in paying $50 for a couple feet of PVC.. The durso standpipe is setup with a small piece of tissue paper in the large sized hole. I find that this provides plenty of air for flow and softens the sucking sound. It's almost completely silent.

12/28/2004, 04:42 PM	#74
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	The water cleared up mostly - so my first attempt at aqauscaping. I felt that I had too much rock in the last setup - so in this first attempt I kept about 40 lbs out of the tank (out of 150 total). This 40 lbs represents 1 rock.

12/28/2004, 04:43 PM	#75
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	Here's a better shot of the first attempt. I wasn't happy with it - and it changed about 5 times.