ijnoj09's Cadlights 70G Artisan II Build

ijnoj09 · 08/03/2015, 03:22 PM

Hi All, I wanted to start a thread on my new Cadlights 70G Artisan II Build. I've been a long time lurker on Reef Central and have been out of the hobby for almost 10 years. I previously kept 10G, 20G and 40G reef tanks in the past and when I tore down my last tank, I thought I would never get back into the hobby. The past year or so I've been itching to start up another tank and finally took the plunge and dove back in. I'm really amazed and how much the hobby has advanced since I was in it back then.

This will be my first tank running a sump so I'm pretty excited to finally set up a tank the way I've always wanted. I was a little apprehensive about ordering a cadlights tank from all the horror stories I've read about misc parts missing in orders and they're customer service. I ended up ordering the tank from a LFS that I've had a great relationship over the years, he gave me a great deal and I figure if I ever had a problem with the tank, he could help me get it squared away with cadlights.

Picked up the tank last friday and I was really impressed with how everything was packaged. The tank and stand were built well and everything seemed to be included that should've came with the package. My only gripes are that the sump design didn't look like the pictures I've seen online and the plumbing. I'm converting the plumbing to standard and hardplumbing everything, part's should be arriving tomorrow. I've never worked with PVC before so this should be interesting.

Very excited about getting this new project underway and sharing my journey with you all, stay tuned.

Reduck · 08/03/2015, 04:12 PM

Congrats! Glad it came together for you!

ijnoj09 · 08/03/2015, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reduck

Congrats! Glad it came together for you!

Thanks! you get that tank pad issue squared away?

Reduck · 08/03/2015, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ijnoj09

Thanks! you get that tank pad issue squared away?

Yes. It will be here Wednesday. I had to threaten to dispute the cc charges to get them to answer me. Then I asked them to fedex it, and they just shipped it ups ground. What a mess. Hopefully it will be in place and ready to fill by Friday.
If they shipped the right one, I'll be thrilled. If they shipped the wrong one, I'll be calling the cc company again. Just horrible customer service. I am keeping my fingers crossed that nothing else happens as I don't want to have to call them for help again!

I tossed out 60 gallons on not so FSW already due to the length of time it mixed.
I have people that would like to buy my old tank and stuff waiting, and waiting.

As I said, good luck. It's a beautiful system! I'll keep an eye on your build!

sixpackgarage · 08/03/2015, 07:30 PM

damn, that's sexy

ijnoj09 · 08/03/2015, 11:19 PM

Cadlights uses metric fittings/piping on their tanks and I wanted to detail the parts I used to convert the plumbing to standard sizing after doing a lot of research to see how other people did it.

These are the parts I am using to do it.

For the main drain, I ordered the following part from Flexpvc.com:

8697-040 1.25 inch x 40mm DIN UNION http://flexpvc.com/cart/agora.cgi?pr...&p_id=8697-040

For the emergency drain and return line, I bought the following from Lowes so I could run 3/4" piping:

23923 3/4" x 1/2" Bushing 437

EuroGTI gave me the idea to use this bushing. He said he had to sand down the pvc pipe to get the bushing to fit, but I didn't need to do this. The bushing seemed to just slide on the pipe with a snug fit with no need for sanding. You would then just need a 3/4" coupling to connect it to a 3/4" sch40 piping.

I'll have details of the rest of the plumbing once I get the rest of the parts tomorrow and everything hooked up.

michael.lemke · 08/03/2015, 11:38 PM

I had to have my CC company call cad to get my custom tank delivered. At least they are good tanks when you finally get them.

michael.lemke · 08/03/2015, 11:39 PM

Nice looking tank!

ijnoj09 · 08/04/2015, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michael.lemke

Nice looking tank!

Thanks! What size tank did you have cadlights build for you?

michael.lemke · 08/04/2015, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ijnoj09

Thanks! What size tank did you have cadlights build for you?

60x30x22

ijnoj09 · 08/04/2015, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michael.lemke

60x30x22

Nice tank!

Reduck · 08/04/2015, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michael.lemke

60x30x22[

wow. Nice. That there is my retirement tank! They had a 150 at RAP NY close to those dimensions, it, like yours, was spectacular. Best of luck with it!

ijnoj09 · 08/04/2015, 08:42 PM

Plumbing parts are here... This is gonna be interesting. Never worked with pvc before.

ijnoj09 · 08/06/2015, 10:52 PM

Well I haven't gotten a chance to work on the tank. I had a unfortunate accident the other night and sprained my foot pretty bad. Sucks not being able to work on this. I have new toys waiting for me to pickup from my LFS too.

Reduck · 08/07/2015, 05:22 AM

Sorry to hear that. Feel better!
Today's the day for my move!

ijnoj09 · 08/07/2015, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reduck

Sorry to hear that. Feel better!
Today's the day for my move!

Ya it's a bummer... Good luck on the move!

ijnoj09 · 08/09/2015, 11:26 AM

Worked a little bit on some aquascaping ideas. Used 50lbs of Walt Smith Reef 2.1 rock supplemented with about 10lbs of dry fiji rock for the base. Really impressed with the Walt Smith rock, I got some a nice selection of pieces I got in a 55lb box from Premium Aquatics.

ijnoj09 · 08/09/2015, 05:41 PM

Just picked up new toys for the tank. I opted not to run the crappy pump and skimmer that comes in the package from Cadlights and upgraded to a Vertex Omega 130 skimmer and Sicce Syncra 4.0 pump.

ijnoj09 · 08/15/2015, 09:36 PM

Got a chance to work on the plumbing today. This was my first time working with PVC and it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. Just need to take your time and measure everything and test fit. I had a slight miscalculation on the T section to the ball valves. I didn't leave enough room to install straight barb reducer fittings as it ends up being too close to the the main drain piping. I'm debating whether to redo that section but I might just end up using 90 elbow barb fittings. Other then that minor error, I'm pretty satisfied with how everything turned out, just letting it cure and tomorrow I can hook everything up and fill the tank!

michael.lemke · 08/16/2015, 05:00 PM

Plumbing looks really good man!

ijnoj09 · 08/16/2015, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michael.lemke

Plumbing looks really good man!

Thanks!

ijnoj09 · 08/16/2015, 08:59 PM

Plumbing all installed.

TylerVT26 · 08/19/2015, 02:40 PM

Looks great, I am setting up my CAD lights 70 as well!

ijnoj09 · 08/20/2015, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerVT26

Looks great, I am setting up my CAD lights 70 as well!

Thanks! Good luck on your tank.

DrPheel · 08/20/2015, 12:23 PM

Great tank !! purple rock looks awesome, Id love to be rich enough to afford a CAD lights tank and stand.

Looking forward to see this setup go wet

08/03/2015, 03:22 PM	#1
ijnoj09 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Chino, CA Posts: 68	ijnoj09's Cadlights 70G Artisan II Build Hi All, I wanted to start a thread on my new Cadlights 70G Artisan II Build. I've been a long time lurker on Reef Central and have been out of the hobby for almost 10 years. I previously kept 10G, 20G and 40G reef tanks in the past and when I tore down my last tank, I thought I would never get back into the hobby. The past year or so I've been itching to start up another tank and finally took the plunge and dove back in. I'm really amazed and how much the hobby has advanced since I was in it back then. This will be my first tank running a sump so I'm pretty excited to finally set up a tank the way I've always wanted. I was a little apprehensive about ordering a cadlights tank from all the horror stories I've read about misc parts missing in orders and they're customer service. I ended up ordering the tank from a LFS that I've had a great relationship over the years, he gave me a great deal and I figure if I ever had a problem with the tank, he could help me get it squared away with cadlights. Picked up the tank last friday and I was really impressed with how everything was packaged. The tank and stand were built well and everything seemed to be included that should've came with the package. My only gripes are that the sump design didn't look like the pictures I've seen online and the plumbing. I'm converting the plumbing to standard and hardplumbing everything, part's should be arriving tomorrow. I've never worked with PVC before so this should be interesting. Very excited about getting this new project underway and sharing my journey with you all, stay tuned.

08/03/2015, 04:12 PM	#2
Reduck Because I can.... Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Jackson, NJ Posts: 1,045	Congrats! Glad it came together for you! __________________ The tank ate my wallet... Current Tank Info: CADlights SAIO 75G, control, dosing and feeding by Apex, lights and pumps by Ecotech, ATO by Tunze, Skimmer by Bubble Magus, Reactor by Innovative Marine

08/03/2015, 07:30 PM	#5
sixpackgarage reef mechanic Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 819	damn, that's sexy __________________ my build: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2512689 my fuge thread: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2523500 Current Tank Info: DSA NEO 65G reef powered by Kessil

08/06/2015, 10:52 PM	#14
ijnoj09 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Chino, CA Posts: 68	ijnoj09's Cadlights 70G Artisan II Build Well I haven't gotten a chance to work on the tank. I had a unfortunate accident the other night and sprained my foot pretty bad. Sucks not being able to work on this. I have new toys waiting for me to pickup from my LFS too. Last edited by ijnoj09; 08/06/2015 at 11:28 PM.

08/07/2015, 05:22 AM	#15
Reduck Because I can.... Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Jackson, NJ Posts: 1,045	Sorry to hear that. Feel better! Today's the day for my move! __________________ The tank ate my wallet... Current Tank Info: CADlights SAIO 75G, control, dosing and feeding by Apex, lights and pumps by Ecotech, ATO by Tunze, Skimmer by Bubble Magus, Reactor by Innovative Marine

08/03/2015, 11:19 PM	#6
ijnoj09 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Chino, CA Posts: 68	Cadlights uses metric fittings/piping on their tanks and I wanted to detail the parts I used to convert the plumbing to standard sizing after doing a lot of research to see how other people did it. These are the parts I am using to do it. For the main drain, I ordered the following part from Flexpvc.com: 8697-040 1.25 inch x 40mm DIN UNION http://flexpvc.com/cart/agora.cgi?pr...&p_id=8697-040 For the emergency drain and return line, I bought the following from Lowes so I could run 3/4" piping: 23923 3/4" x 1/2" Bushing 437 EuroGTI gave me the idea to use this bushing. He said he had to sand down the pvc pipe to get the bushing to fit, but I didn't need to do this. The bushing seemed to just slide on the pipe with a snug fit with no need for sanding. You would then just need a 3/4" coupling to connect it to a 3/4" sch40 piping. I'll have details of the rest of the plumbing once I get the rest of the parts tomorrow and everything hooked up.

08/03/2015, 11:38 PM	#7
michael.lemke Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: greeley co Posts: 395	I had to have my CC company call cad to get my custom tank delivered. At least they are good tanks when you finally get them.

08/03/2015, 11:39 PM	#8
michael.lemke Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: greeley co Posts: 395	Nice looking tank!

08/04/2015, 08:42 PM	#13
ijnoj09 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Chino, CA Posts: 68	Plumbing parts are here... This is gonna be interesting. Never worked with pvc before.

08/09/2015, 11:26 AM	#17
ijnoj09 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Chino, CA Posts: 68	Worked a little bit on some aquascaping ideas. Used 50lbs of Walt Smith Reef 2.1 rock supplemented with about 10lbs of dry fiji rock for the base. Really impressed with the Walt Smith rock, I got some a nice selection of pieces I got in a 55lb box from Premium Aquatics.

08/09/2015, 05:41 PM	#18
ijnoj09 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Chino, CA Posts: 68	Just picked up new toys for the tank. I opted not to run the crappy pump and skimmer that comes in the package from Cadlights and upgraded to a Vertex Omega 130 skimmer and Sicce Syncra 4.0 pump.

08/15/2015, 09:36 PM	#19
ijnoj09 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Chino, CA Posts: 68	Got a chance to work on the plumbing today. This was my first time working with PVC and it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. Just need to take your time and measure everything and test fit. I had a slight miscalculation on the T section to the ball valves. I didn't leave enough room to install straight barb reducer fittings as it ends up being too close to the the main drain piping. I'm debating whether to redo that section but I might just end up using 90 elbow barb fittings. Other then that minor error, I'm pretty satisfied with how everything turned out, just letting it cure and tomorrow I can hook everything up and fill the tank!

08/16/2015, 05:00 PM	#20
michael.lemke Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: greeley co Posts: 395	Plumbing looks really good man!

08/16/2015, 08:59 PM	#22
ijnoj09 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Chino, CA Posts: 68	Plumbing all installed.

08/19/2015, 02:40 PM	#23
TylerVT26 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 29	Looks great, I am setting up my CAD lights 70 as well!

08/20/2015, 12:23 PM	#25
DrPheel Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 161	Great tank !! purple rock looks awesome, Id love to be rich enough to afford a CAD lights tank and stand. Looking forward to see this setup go wet __________________ Dr's 70G Rimless Cube Build Thread : ==> http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2511564 <==