578 gal Fish Only Tank build!

[SanClementeEric]

So I went down to Lowes got some JB Weld and cut up some small acrylic pieces and patched it up. Will wait for it to dry over night and test leak tomorrow.

View attachment 50017
The crack in the sump caused by me dropping the pliers

JB weld? Is that a viable repair option?

 

[ERIC1975]

JB weld? Is that a viable repair option?

Yeah I think so it does take a full day to cure completely but once it is its rock hard. The direction says its good enough to even sand and polish! I leak test it for two days and it's all dry. I sandwiched the crack between two small sheets of acrylic inside and outside.

 

[SanClementeEric]

Can we see the sump and plumbing? Also, did you do the overflow test to see if it'll hold the overflow water in the event of a power outage?

 

[SanClementeEric]

578g will have at least 5000 lbs of total weight on the stand and flooring. Have you checked to see if that's okay?

I hope so or think so. I think I have enough support...no? My current stand for my 225 gal probably have less than half of the support of this one. The existing low wall itself will give extra support in the middle that a normal stand doesn't have.

I think, maybe, he was referring to the actual floor being able to hold all this weight. Are you flat on concrete slab under that floor or are you raised above the ground? But yeah, that's a lot of weight.

Maybe you need a lazer level alarm if the tank starts getting lower!! LOL!

 

[ERIC1975]

Can we see the sump and plumbing? Also, did you do the overflow test to see if it'll hold the overflow water in the event of a power outage?

Yeah I'll take some pics when I'm home Sunday. Plumbing is pretty basic not that fancy like others lol.
Oh and the sump was more than enough to hold overflow water. Still has room for at least another 20-30 gal more if needed. The check valve works like it supposed to. I know some people are paranoid and say don't trust check valve but it works on my 225 for the last year. A lots of things can go wrong and there's no way anyone can guarantee to avoid them all.

 

[ERIC1975]

I think, maybe, he was referring to the actual floor being able to hold all this weight. Are you flat on concrete slab under that floor or are you raised above the ground? But yeah, that's a lot of weight.

Maybe you need a lazer level alarm if the tank starts getting lower!! LOL!

The floor is on concrete slab so it's all good. The only thing I'm worry about is if we get hit with a big earthquake and everything starts shaking. We actually got hit with a small one about a week ago I don't know what magnitude but I can feel the whole house shook for a few seconds...scary.

 

[Leo G]

Great set up so far looks like fun

 

[rayray]

Truly worthy setup! Where did you get the coral inserts?

In my previous FOWLR with inserts, they got covered with algae & detritus. So I had to have huge flow and snails & tangs to clean the algae off the inserts. What is your plan?

 

[rayray]

IMO one way to deal with earthquakes is to let the water slosh onto your floor. If you try to contain the water inside the tank (eurobrace) it might make the top heavy structure fall over. The water will take energy with it and will lower the center of mass. I doubt you can brace that 5000+ pound tank (stationary) with anything effective that is discrete.
BTW, nice setup

 

[ERIC1975]

Truly worthy setup! Where did you get the coral inserts?

In my previous FOWLR with inserts, they got covered with algae & detritus. So I had to have huge flow and snails & tangs to clean the algae off the inserts. What is your plan?

I bought these coral inserts off some guy on CL a few years ago thinking one day I would build a tank to put them in
As far as keeping them clean of algae... Tangs, sea urchins and a hard toothbrush should do it lol.

 

[ERIC1975]

Got my first fishes in today so excited!!!!
A nice big healthy Achille tang, a powder brown tang, a Picasso trigger a Pinnatus batfish.

 

[ERIC1975]

I'm planning on installing some white led strip light in the sump area with a magnetic switch so the light automatically turns on when the door opens.
View attachment 50325
Will take some pic of the sump area and plumbing once light is installed.

 

[djam]

those fish look like damsels in a 120....lol

 

[mmarro22]

Hey Eric, any updates?

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[ERIC1975]

Hey Eric, any updates?

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Been meaning to take some update pics hopefully this week. Been busy fighting this persistent ich infection
But looks like things are turning around.
By the way can you find me a Bariene tang?

 

[mmarro22]

Been meaning to take some update pics hopefully this week. Been busy fighting this persistent ich infection
But looks like things are turning around.
By the way can you find me a Bariene tang?

I'll keep an eye out. Just started buying fish again a few days ago. About the ich why not just dose copper in the display? I went fallow for 3 months ich came back I just dumped copper lol

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[ERIC1975]

I'll keep an eye out. Just started buying fish again a few days ago. About the ich why not just dose copper in the display? I went fallow for 3 months ich came back I just dumped copper lol

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Yeah that what I did. I was running hypo salinity at 0.09 for over 2 weeks but it didn't seems to do much so I just stared Cupramine 4 days ago and things already gotten better. However I had 4 casualties so far I guess due to copper sensitivity even though I started the dose real low and moved up to 0.5 over 4 days

 

[mmarro22]

Yeah that what I did. I was running hypo salinity at 0.09 for over 2 weeks but it didn't seems to do much so I just stared Cupramine 4 days ago and things already gotten better. However I had 4 casualties so far I guess due to copper sensitivity even though I started the dose real low and moved up to 0.5 over 4 days

Things will be better soon now. Best of luck, keep us posted!

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[ERIC1975]

Alright time for an update.
First up are some pics of my sump and equipments

This is the right side of the sump where the return pipes are coming down from the tank. I was able to fit this massive skimmer along with my return pump and my DIY bio pellet reactor

Skimmer and biofilter section filled with 2 cubic feet of Marine pure media

55w UV plumbed in one of the return lines

Left side of sump

For auto top off I hooked up a solenoid valve in series with a float valve. The solenoid is set on a timer to open for 45 mins a day. That's how long it take to top off my tank for daily evaporation. I no longer need ATO reservoir.

 

[ERIC1975]

Also installed one of these magnet door lock to prevent my kids from access to the sump. The lock is open and close with a magnet key or any magnet.

Here's the "control center " with a battery back up for the return pump.