Ctimpson's 135 gallon Reef Tank... Build Thread...

[Ctimpson]

Ok, so say hello to the newest member of the Big Tank Club... This tank is going to be my new baby... I am so happy with this purchase... I will post pics tomorrow morning of this beast... Sorry everyone, but I couldn't out do Biff, but I don't care, I love this tank... Basically, tank specs are as follows... 135 gal. AGA 72" x 18" x 24" with right hand corner overflow... Stand that is completely wired for all electrical needs and the entire stand is fully insulated... The canopy opens from the front on two hinged doors. Lighting consists of 2x 250 watt Metal Halides with ballasts, 4 VHO 112watt Super Atinics, with an Ice Cap 660, 4 moonlights... Just to give you an image of where this tank is going to go, my bedroom is 12' x 8'... On the 12' wall, there is my 42" Plasma and then this tank... My bed is in front of the plasma, so really the rest of the entire room, is this tank...

Next up comes all the questions, I am sorry for this is going to be a long post, so thanks in advance...First, in the overflow there is 2 inch bulkhead and 2 1inch bulkheads for the returns... All I have at this moment in time is a Rio 2500 as the return pump for my 60 gallon. Will this still be ok to use as the return and if not can anyone recommend what I should use... I am going to use my 40 gallon as the sump and fuge, so should I run the overflow piping from the right side of the tank to the left side with some ball valves to cut the flow, and into the skimmer portion of the sump/ fuge, then returning straight up to the returns... Also, I currently have a brand new EuroReef RS80, do you think it would be ok to still use the skimmer, or upgrade to like a Octopus? Any other thoughts would be appreciated.... Thanks...

 

[Bergovoy]

hello, and welcome... Get ready, sit down, strap in, GO......

You call that a long post, and you apologize for it... phushaw...


Lost of questions and all good ones..

Most of the answers are going to be, well, how much money do you have and want to spend...

The other answers will be discussions like chevy, or ford, or cadillac...

My first suggestion is to plan on installing unions right after the bulkheads so you can make changes easily...

and yes, you can use your return pump that you have. Would I use it, no, but you can for a while...

Same with the skimmer.

The issues of left side, right side, dont really matter, except to maybe be cleaner piping or tibing and if you have anything inside the cabinet, i.e. braces, etc...

Pictures would help.

Also where do you live??

bill

 

[Ctimpson]

I live in Fullerton and would definately appreciate some advice... First off, Berg I have been on this site for awhile, but really don't post a lot, but I would really appreciate your advice... You really do know what you are talking about and I say screw all the crap that has been going on back and forth... Anyways, I have my 60 gal with a 20 gallon sump that has been running for quite awhile and am going to transfer everything over when this one is ready... I will post pics tomorrow first thing in the morning... In responce to your questions, I want to do this tank right and am willing to spend roughly about 200 a week it until it is ready to go... Currently, my equipment consists of a Rio 2500 as a return. A Rio 800, and rio 180 running continuiusly, and 2 maxijet 1200's on the maxijet wavemaker... Like I said a Euro Reef rs80 and I have a Aquaclear 802 that I could use for something. Their are 3 holes drilled for bulkheads in the overflow, I am guessing, but will check tomorrow morning for sure, that the drain is 1.5" and the 2 returns are 1"... Basically, Bergovoy, could you run down some options for the setup... Any help would be appreciated..... thanks.... Chris

 

[Bergovoy]

hey chris, I know you been around for a bit, I think we have talked before..

I appreciate your wanting to do it right, and I believe that with your current tank up and running, you can have the time to make that happen.

Also, I would be like you, and although I want it right, and have the time, I still want to save money. I think everyone is like that, we would much rather spend the money inside the tank then outside it..

One of my first observations is that you have SIX pumps, all generating HEAT into your tank...

Is this what you are running in your current tank, or similar numbers of pumps?,

Do you have any problems with heat or temperature or chillers now??

As an example, I had an internal return pump, and went to an external and picked up five degrees cooler water temp. Tehre is more to that story, as I was using a MAG 24, which is known to be WARM, I mean HOT...

But just want to remind you of the heat, vs motor vs, electricity, vs chiller, ....

Do you know if the tank / glass is TEMPERED??? Is it possible to drill more holes??

Then to get to the MEAT of this build...

WARNING, boring stuff coming, MATH Stuff coming...

But, it is kinda necessary, and once you are done withit, you can forget all about it...

what is the dimensions of the forty that you want to use for your sump?

HAve you read or discussed the issues regarding teh amount of flow through a fuge should be??? This discussion is basically about there can be too much flow through a fuge and if so, what is that number...

I really dont have a magic number for how much flow should go through a filter/sump/fuge... I think it depends on many other variable factors, how much rock, how much sand, both in your fuge and in your tank. what and how you feed your tank, what and how and when you light your tank and fuge, etc...

BUT, GENERALLY, I personnly, based on what I read and what seems to be working for me now... subscribe to a theory of SLOW and LOW flow through my refugium.

So,with that in mind, I am thinking of something in the neighborhood of 3-5 times your tank volume, so between 400 and 750 gph of actual water flow.

so,depending onhow it is plumbed, about 500-1000 gph pump...

I would look for something that puts out low heat / uses least power...

And after reviewing the specs on the RIO 2500, that actually may be the right pump after all...

As for piping, I would suggest tubing...

I would use 1.25 inch tubing, so you will need an adapter to go from the RIO 2500 barb fitting (Actually I am not sure if it is barb or not), to a adapter to bring it up to the 1.25 inch size. from there run the tubing up to the bulkheads, but dont connec tit yet...

They sell a WYE fitting, and I would use that, about 8 ionches from the unions, at thebulheads.

Thnyou will need two adapters to go from the barb to pvc fitting.

You can also reduce it at that point to the one inch size of the bulkhead. The unions will be cheaper too, if you make them smaller here...

Then connec the tube via adapter to the unions, then to the tank...

If you want, you can put a ball valve either rightnext tot he the unions or just before teh wye...

You may also want to look for a george fisher tru-union valve...

They are one part, but they make up the union, ad the valve, and are very reliable and will not get 'sticky' later on, like the regular pvc parts WILL...

They about five bucks more then if you werwe to buy the seperate parts, but, they will be more compact... i.e. take up less space...

Anyways, I will let you digest this, or ask me to clarify what may not have come out right, or whatever...

Where is fullerton?

IS that off the 57 near angel stadium?? or on the way...

 

[Bergovoy]

see, told you, you got nothing to worry about on your little post beeing too long

 

[afelder]

Sounds like you have what you need for starting but will likely want to upgrade and make some changes in the near future. Equipment choices among reefers is like asking which is better my G-d or your G-d go with equipment that meets what you feel your needs are that has a good reputation and you can afford.

And lastly

 

[Ctimpson]

I am in fullerton off the 91 about 15 min from angel stadium towards you... On map quest you are about 30 min from me... I don't know what the WYE stands for... I will post some pics of what my overflow looks this afternoon... Hopefully that will help... Some of my other reefer friends are suggesting a Magdrive 12, for my return pump... Any thoughts...

 

[Bergovoy]

cool, u are close ... wanna hook up over the weekend?

call me to discuss your availablity

626-358-4840


the wye, is like a TEE, except it looks more like the letter Y

one tube going in the bottom, and two coming out the top, one to each return nozzle/bulkhead

 

[Ctimpson]

First let me say that I appreciate your offer, however I am a waiter and work Saturday's and Sunday's until about 3:00, also I do not have a car due to a crappy DUI awhile back... So for the time being, I am forced to get all of my info from forums like these and then pay my roomate to drive me places... Today, I sanded down my stand, which took all **** day and ordered my bulkheads... 1.5" for the drain and 2 1" for the returns... I am going to order my new halide bulbs tomorrow... Any recommendations for 250watt Mogul base bulbs? I am looking into the Mag drive 12 for my return, but am entertaining the thought of an external pump instead... I am also thinking of just using a large rubbermaid container for the sump instead of my 40 gallon glass tank... Any thoughts on this... Let me say again that I totally appreciate your help and advice Bergavoy...

 

[Ctimpson]

First Pics...

Ok, so here are the first images for this build thread... Today was spent sanding down my stand... Whoever painted this setup was an idiot... The stand and canopy were painted with the stone textured spray paint, SEA FOAM GREEN of all colors, so the surface was as rough as sandpaper... Upon sanding, I discovered that the stand is constructed of really nice finished plywood, so barring any screwups, we have decided to stain the setup with a very light stain... The canopy still has to be sanded and all of the trim on the stand, but it will be worth the work. I ordered my bulkheads today, and will be ordering my new metal halide bulbs tomorrow. Any recommendations on 250 watt Mogul Based bulbs. I am thinking of 14000k but I am open to suggestions... The tank is currently filled with 3 gallons of vinegar and like 120 gallons of water... I will let that soak until tomorrow when I get home from work and will scrub it and refill again... The pics are nothing special, but hey at least they are some pics... Thanks everyone in advance...

 

[kmax74]

looks good so far but the greenish blue was total custom probably one of a kind

 

[Bergovoy]

WOW, I am impressed with teh sand job, very GOOD...

Second, I dont work, so if you want me to come by your place, I can, just let me know when and where.

make sure you prep the areas where teh new bulkheads will go, get a razor blade and scrape it SMOOTH, probably didnt neet to empasize that as you are a prepping machine...

anyways, let me know if you want me to come by when it is time to plumb..

As for the rubbermaid, that will work, many peeps use that. I personally like to show off my sump and see through the sides and stuff, but again that is persona preference..

Anyways, call me to discuss if you want.

bill

 

[L.A.-Lawman]

you might want to add another MH bulb to the center of the tank, if bill helps you out be sure you lite the thing while he is there. he can give you the best course of action...

M.E. has told me that 1 MH/2ft of tank. unless you have a good reflector.

have you decided on a skimmer?

 

[Ctimpson]

Well, for now I am thinking of just using my euroreef rs80, seeing how it is only a month old. although I am thinking of just selling it and picking up a octopus skimmer... I think I will be fine with the 2 halides because honestly I like mushrooms and softies more than SPS, but I do want to have some realy nice montipora in the tank, but I can position them under the halides... I didn't do any work on the tank at all today because I spent the 3 hours after work moving one of my tanks out of the room and into the kitchen... I am thinking I should just invest in an RO unit seeing how the unit will pay for itself when it comes to fill this monster... Can anyone recommend a decent one and does anyone know if you can hook the unit up outside instead of in the house... See I rent a room and my room is outside of the main living areas, so the less stuff in the house the better... Thanks

 

[kmax74]

i use a unit from buckeye field and stream and i hook it up to my garden hose if that helps you any

 

[Bergovoy]

Hello,

Not to start a discussion on filters, but they are all the same... I mean most of them are all the same..

What you pay for is service and setup. *(there are different ways / combinations of filters/cartridges, for different tastes)

I usually recommend
www.filtersdirect.com

Yes it can be hooked up outside, it can be set up to be 'portable; you just roll it out when you want it..

The biggest thing I try to reccomend to peeps is to buy the three gallon pressurized storage container. This way you have water ON DEMAND, i.e. when you need it...

If you dont get that tank, it is drip, drip, drip,



and depending on how you plan on using it, it can pay for itself real quick...

I use mine for fresh water, evap water, drinking water, and i have a tap on the patio for drinking water for my cat.