Jesse's LeeMar Rimless 100g build
- Thread starter Tangwich
- Start date
Jesse,
Love your tank build. I'm in the same boat beginning to pull together and pool equipment for my upgrade from a 30 gallon all in one to a 100 gallon build. Wanted to go with a 120, but the Mrs. was not very keen to that idea, so a 100 gallon was the compromise. Oh well, a happy wife is a happy life. Might I ask the size was your original sump? I've contacted the same company that won't be mentioned and have had a great experience thus far and am waiting for them to get back to me with a quote. I'm intrigued by your second design. Any regrets on ditching the refugium?
I'm fortunate to have a good friend who is a master welder, so he's going to make me a steel stand which will all me full access through the front and one side of the stand. It will be diagonally braced across the back and on one end and should be bomb proof! I just have to do more research on how to skin the stand. I'm going to build the front so it will be one removable piece and I'm going to add water proof foam to the interior of the panel to help reduce any sound from the equipment.
On your return, are you going to be placing on the tank side to help direct water flow or will it just be coming straight out towards the front of the tank? What is the advantage to this type of return as opposed to the typical return coming back through the overflow box? Is it so you can reduce the size of the overflow?
I appreciate the information on your pump. I've been tinkering with plumbing diagrams and also think I'd like to build a simple manifold so that the main pump can operate my return, BRS double reactor and leaving an additional open valve for expansion down the line.
Anyway, thanks for the great thread on your build, I'll be following along and best of luck getting it all together! I know it will be fantastic!
Mike in HB
Love your tank build. I'm in the same boat beginning to pull together and pool equipment for my upgrade from a 30 gallon all in one to a 100 gallon build. Wanted to go with a 120, but the Mrs. was not very keen to that idea, so a 100 gallon was the compromise. Oh well, a happy wife is a happy life. Might I ask the size was your original sump? I've contacted the same company that won't be mentioned and have had a great experience thus far and am waiting for them to get back to me with a quote. I'm intrigued by your second design. Any regrets on ditching the refugium?
I'm fortunate to have a good friend who is a master welder, so he's going to make me a steel stand which will all me full access through the front and one side of the stand. It will be diagonally braced across the back and on one end and should be bomb proof! I just have to do more research on how to skin the stand. I'm going to build the front so it will be one removable piece and I'm going to add water proof foam to the interior of the panel to help reduce any sound from the equipment.
On your return, are you going to be placing on the tank side to help direct water flow or will it just be coming straight out towards the front of the tank? What is the advantage to this type of return as opposed to the typical return coming back through the overflow box? Is it so you can reduce the size of the overflow?
I appreciate the information on your pump. I've been tinkering with plumbing diagrams and also think I'd like to build a simple manifold so that the main pump can operate my return, BRS double reactor and leaving an additional open valve for expansion down the line.
Anyway, thanks for the great thread on your build, I'll be following along and best of luck getting it all together! I know it will be fantastic!
Mike in HB
Hello Mike,
I'm surprised that the wifey had a problem with only 20 more gallons, especially since my 100 and a 120 are exactly the same length and width, just 4 inches shorter in height. Either way, I'm sure you'll agree that the important part is the fact that you're approved for an upgrade so congrats on the future new tank.
As for my original sump. It was 40"20"18(tall) and I loved the design, just didn't fit in my stand. My new design is almost identical with the exception of no fuge and number/size of filter sock holder. No regrets on ditching the fuge...well atleast not yet since my tank and sump are still dry as a bone. lol. I am planning on going with a couple reactors along with my skimmer to take care of nutrient control as well as water clarity.
Sounds like you have things pretty well planned out which is the one biggest piece of advice I always give anyone that asks what's the one biggest piece of advice I can give anyone that's planning a tank build. lol.
As for my return, I requested for it to be drilled on the opposite corner of my overflow because just as the design of my sump, I want for the flow to systematically push organics in one direction. I never really understood the reason for returns where the overflow is (other than aesthetics of course) I mean, you figure, detritus that's headed towards your overflow so that it can go down under to get filtered is now getting pushed back into the tank and settling who knows where. I got locline and am pointing the flow towards the overflow. That will push that thin layer of film that tends to build up on the surface. And for flow under the surface, 2 vortech mp 40's will do the rest.
Not sure if I answered all your questions as I'm at work and working hard. lmao. If you have any questions, feel free to ask here or pm. Whatever works best for you.
no real updates. am still waiting on another big shipment that's due to be delivered this thursday. will do a good amount of work on the tank this weekend and update then. so far all i have done was caulk the inside of the stand to make it water proof and put the foam pad that goes under my sump. also did my overflow drain plumbing.
thanks, much appreciated.
thanks, much appreciated.
Finally some progress!
First I must say that things have been real hectic at the office lately and I love that this hobby allows me to completely distract myself from work. Things are moving along slowly with the tank build, but I really am enjoying seeing it as a long term project (marathon as opposed to a sprint)
Now onto the updates and LOTSO PICS.
I give credit where credit is due and the idea of using foam padding (lowe's or hd) came from Kenny aka BabyJess a few years back. It really does work for dampening sound/vibration and it also pools small water spills.
Next, I got 3 shipments that forced me to realize how bad my reefing OCD has become over the years. lol
I wasn't looking forward to plumbing the tank because I have never worked with Sch 80 pvc, but I have been told what a PIA it is. So after countless number of times of Aaron telling me NOT to plumb the tank with Sch 80 due to cost and difficulty, I decided that me dummy and me like shiny charcoal gray look so I threw caution to the wind and with the help of my girl (so glad I have a gf that loves the hobby as much, if not more, than I do. She rocks at plumbing), we started with the overflow drains.
Here are my overflow pipes. One will serve as my main drain and the other is my emergency just in case the first 1.5 inch pipe were to get clogged with a beach ball.
And here's what it looks like in my overflow. Side view and top down pics.
And sticking with the clean look, the top sits perfectly to hide away the pvc.
First I must say that things have been real hectic at the office lately and I love that this hobby allows me to completely distract myself from work. Things are moving along slowly with the tank build, but I really am enjoying seeing it as a long term project (marathon as opposed to a sprint)
Now onto the updates and LOTSO PICS.
I give credit where credit is due and the idea of using foam padding (lowe's or hd) came from Kenny aka BabyJess a few years back. It really does work for dampening sound/vibration and it also pools small water spills.
Next, I got 3 shipments that forced me to realize how bad my reefing OCD has become over the years. lol
I wasn't looking forward to plumbing the tank because I have never worked with Sch 80 pvc, but I have been told what a PIA it is. So after countless number of times of Aaron telling me NOT to plumb the tank with Sch 80 due to cost and difficulty, I decided that me dummy and me like shiny charcoal gray look so I threw caution to the wind and with the help of my girl (so glad I have a gf that loves the hobby as much, if not more, than I do. She rocks at plumbing), we started with the overflow drains.
Here are my overflow pipes. One will serve as my main drain and the other is my emergency just in case the first 1.5 inch pipe were to get clogged with a beach ball.
And here's what it looks like in my overflow. Side view and top down pics.
And sticking with the clean look, the top sits perfectly to hide away the pvc.
And this is where those 2 pipes drain to. Gate valve will help make this the most quiet overflow I have ever had in any tank of mine......HOPEFULLY.
Left is the emergency drain
NOTE: Not pictured on emergency drain is the approx 10 inch pvc pipe that runs down into the bottom of that first chamber. Forgot to put that on before taking the pic.
Next, what do you do when you're out of heroin or top ramen to boil in a pot? You cook your locline of course.
The return plumbing was next to tackle.
BRS sells a tool that's meant to help ease the pain of removing or adding locline pieces. Well I said "I don't need no stinkin' tools" and after putting the locline in the hot water for a couple of minutes, it got soft enough to be able to remove links pretty easily and to attach the actual return nozzle.
Left is the emergency drain
NOTE: Not pictured on emergency drain is the approx 10 inch pvc pipe that runs down into the bottom of that first chamber. Forgot to put that on before taking the pic.
Next, what do you do when you're out of heroin or top ramen to boil in a pot? You cook your locline of course.
The return plumbing was next to tackle.
BRS sells a tool that's meant to help ease the pain of removing or adding locline pieces. Well I said "I don't need no stinkin' tools" and after putting the locline in the hot water for a couple of minutes, it got soft enough to be able to remove links pretty easily and to attach the actual return nozzle.
Next shout out goes to my boy Jeffrey Lam, aka JeffreyLam here on SCR. lol. Gave me some good info and a great visual on building my manifold that I will use off my return pump to feed reactors and whatever else I may need in the future.
The Mock up
Glued, looking all nice and pretty like the dirty little whore that she is...oh wait,....sorry, got a little carried away.
Lastly, my return plumbing was a PIA to get all figured out and then to glue, but the key trick really is using as many true unions as possible for modulariririty. I can break down the plumbing easily to be able to do maintenance on any part of the overflow AND return as well as my return pump.
Here's how that turned out. I'm pretty pleased with how it all finally came together.
Baby's Got Back
Finally..........FULL FRONTAL NUDITY
The Mock up
Glued, looking all nice and pretty like the dirty little whore that she is...oh wait,....sorry, got a little carried away.
Lastly, my return plumbing was a PIA to get all figured out and then to glue, but the key trick really is using as many true unions as possible for modulariririty. I can break down the plumbing easily to be able to do maintenance on any part of the overflow AND return as well as my return pump.
Here's how that turned out. I'm pretty pleased with how it all finally came together.
Baby's Got Back
Finally..........FULL FRONTAL NUDITY
Next shout out goes to my boy Jeffrey Lam, aka JeffreyLam here on SCR. lol. Gave me some good info and a great visual on building my manifold that I will use off my return pump to feed reactors and whatever else I may need in the future.
The Mock up
Glued, looking all nice and pretty like the dirty little whore that she is...oh wait,....sorry, got a little carried away.
Lastly, my return plumbing was a PIA to get all figured out and then to glue, but the key trick really is using as many true unions as possible for modulariririty. I can break down the plumbing easily to be able to do maintenance on any part of the overflow AND return as well as my return pump.
Here's how that turned out. I'm pretty pleased with how it all finally came together.
Baby's Got Back
Finally..........FULL FRONTAL NUDITY
The Mock up
Glued, looking all nice and pretty like the dirty little whore that she is...oh wait,....sorry, got a little carried away.
Lastly, my return plumbing was a PIA to get all figured out and then to glue, but the key trick really is using as many true unions as possible for modulariririty. I can break down the plumbing easily to be able to do maintenance on any part of the overflow AND return as well as my return pump.
Here's how that turned out. I'm pretty pleased with how it all finally came together.
Baby's Got Back
Finally..........FULL FRONTAL NUDITY
