BornToHula

Wow time sure does fly by, I've been so busy I have been neglecting the tank build. Anyway, with a renewed focus things are going to start moving again, and hopefully moving along fast! I have mostly completed the canopy. The exhaust fans have been installed, and the lights are fitting snugly. I had to beef up the canopy quite a bit to where it could handle the weight of the lights, but it looks like it is handling them perfectly. I still need to add a shim to one side of the canopy so it rests on the tank evenly, and I need to add something so the canopy cannot slide backwards off the tank when I'm putting the lights in. I also have completed installing the glass into the sump. The silicone job I did was very messy, but I think it will perform just fine. Some of the silicone is still drying so the jigs are still in place. Still TONS of stuff to do but I'm getting back on track. Here's part of the schedule I've been working off of for the past week. I'm not certain I can keep up the pace, but right now we're on track to going wet on 3/5/16 to start cycling the tank.

Got the exhaust fans installed in the canopy. I don't think I'll have to worry about the lights overheating! The only items left to do on the canopy are to install the middle rail that holds up the ATI lights and then stain/seal the new wood.

Good ideas! A union and ball valve will be added before the manifold. The check valves I have are the union type so I got that covered. Haha, its a pretty easy program to learn and there is already a ton of aquarium/reef stuff in the database. I did spend a good chunk of time on it, but I have to visualize stuff before I can begin working on it or it ends up being a mess. I use it for all my woodworking projects as well.

Hopefully this is the last post where all I show is plans! Things are starting to move, just a little slower than I would like. Work has started on modifying the canopy and hopefully some plumbing will be completed this weekend. Take a look at my designs below and let me know if you have any criticisms or critiques. Sump: Standard 75 gallon tank, I will be getting glass cut to make the baffles/filter sock stand. Basic layout. Water level in skimmer/return section is 11 inches. My current skimmer will need a stand so it sits at a 7 inch water level. Filter sock area. The idea is water will come in from the drains in the back section, once that is full it will flow through the socks and out the bottom. If socks are clogged it will just drain over to the right. I wouldn't be able to cut the big holes in glass for the filter socks, so I will cut acrylic to hold the socks which will rest on glass shelves that are siliconed in. Plumbing overview: The manifold area needs to come in a bit so all the connections will be over the sump. I am also thinking of adding a tee to the flex PVC portion for a future calcium reactor.

I will be starting to build the baffles of my sump soon, does anyone have recommendations for a glass company in town that has 1/4 inch glass and can do some cuts? I will be building a filter sock system similar to the one shown here and I don't think the bond using acrylic on glass will be sturdy enough to support this (ignore the rest of the sump, my layout will be different) : The dogs approve the tank as well!

Thanks! The goal is to have it wet before Christmas. The stand and canopy are from Costal, they are basically Planet Aquariums' in house stand builder. Its 1 foot tall. I'm going to have to do a few modifications to fit the lights under it.

The tank is finally in!

Yes, I got a stand and canopy made to go with the tank. I haven't seen them yet, but I'll be sure to post lots of pictures when I do! Also, ordering the stand with the tank gives the tank a 7 year warranty which is why, along with time constraints, I ordered the stand instead of making it myself.

If it's the tank I saw at RCA, then it looks awesome! If there are a couple of unidentified fingerprints on the left glass pane... it wasn't me. [emoji6] Hey no touching!!

If you don't mind my asking how much did the electrical work run you (ballpark) ? I need to do the same thing in the near future. I can't really help you in regards to pricing. I'm in the home building business and used the same electrician that does the work on all the homes we build. That being said its a really quick job if you have room for the circuits already and the drops are simple (not on an exterior, or extra high wall). Mine took less than an hour to complete and parts are probably around $100 or so.

Electrician just left, I now have two dedicated 20 amp circuits with GFCI for the tank! The tank is in at the store too, just waiting on delivery!

Wow I thought I had removed a couple of big bubbles in my tank but those are at least twice as big!

Perhaps you are right. I don't need the special features at all, its just fun having the latest gadgets to play with! I definitely should have done more research on the Vectra to see it wasn't apex ready before pulling the trigger and ordering it though. I think that Jaebo is the exact same pump as the Waveline with different stickers on it. Good call on going with the Jaebo as its much cheaper. Unfortunately I did open the Vectra box to look at it so hopefully BRS will still accept its return.

You don't, for the time being at least. The Vectras do have a similar controller to the Vortechs, which is why I assumed it would hook right up to the Apex WXM module. Apparently Ecotech changed something internally so it does not connect. I will probably end up keeping it, but the though has passed my mind to return it and get something like this Waveline: http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/dc12000-a-waveline-apex-ready-dc-variable-speed-pump.html

I hope so! The people at Apex quoted in the reefcentral thread didn't seem too hopeful. After doing some internet snooping I saw that Apex announced a return pump recently, and considering they just released their own powerheads I'm sure Ecotech isn't too happy Apex is entering their markets.

In other news I was browsing reefcentral today and saw that the Vectra returns pumps aren't compatible with the Apex WXM module . That was the major reasons I went with it, I assumed that all the Ecotech stuff always works with Apex. Guess not. I was really looking forward to having the Vectra go into feed mode when I use the Apex automatic feeder so all the food doesn't go down the overflow. I don't see any other pumps that will do this either, so I guess I will stick with the Vectra. Everything else about it seems good.

Thanks for the info on not using tape. Now that you mention it I can see how the tight fitting on plastic threads could cause an issue with the tape though.

Any reason why to do an acid bath over curing it for a few weeks? I'm curious because I'm in the process of curing some Marco rock and the dry rock I bought from you and wondering if I should go the acid route instead.

Congrats again, can't wait to see this set up! What kind of bath are you giving those Marco Rock? Acid bath?

Ok cool. I will be using the tape or paste on the threads to be sure there are no leaks. Yep, bought the second ATI fixture during the halloween sale from premium aquatics. No word on when its going to ship from ATI yet. Thanks, I will probably saw the ends off the adapters to give a better looking fit.

I can't seem get my threaded adapters to fit all the way into my bulkheads. There are still threads left in the bulkhead, but it would take a huge amount of force to screw these guys in. Is it normal to have this much space between an adapter and bulkhead?

I'm skeptical of the 35 hours as well. There doesn't seem to be any real reviews of it out there either, so I guess we are both early adopters. As long as a single backup battery can last a full workday I'll be happy.

I was worried that a single gyre running may not agitate the surface enough produce enough oxygen for the tank. Once the battery kicks in the gyre will automatically go to 30%. You can daisy chain two backups together to get double to run time on a single pump, no unplugging the old backup and plugging in to the new one required.

I can't find a pet food container size that will work for me. I think I may go the DIY route and build a small glass or acrylic tank for my ATO reservoir. A dual electric solenoid setup is wayyyy over my head so I'll leave that for yall to figure out. In other news got a new shipment of equipment in today! 2nd Gyre XF150 2 Ice Cap Modules Ice Cap Battery Backup (I'm thinking of going ahead a getting a 2nd one so each unit will have a backup.) Vectra L1 return pump Apex Leak Detection module with 3 leak detectors Another Apex powerbar 2 Finnex 500W heaters I *think* all I have left to order is: 2nd ATI Hybrid Powermodule - I'm trying to wait for a coupon or for it to go on sell, doesn't look like its going to happen though! T5 bulbs Plumbing parts Sand 2 boxes of salt 75g tank for sump Work to be done before the tank arrives: This weekend I am going to start curing the dry rock I have. I power washed it clean this past weekend so hopefully the curing process wont take more than a few weeks. Move the 40g planted tank away from the new tank's spot. Have electrician install 20 Amp circuit, GFCI, replace current outlet with a 20 amp outlet and hopefully add a 2nd 20 amp outlet. Cut baffles and install in sump

Ah, that would be ideal to have it hooked up to the RODI unit. Unfortunately my unit is at the opposite end of the house and I don't think my wife would allow a water line to be running through the kitchen! Cool, thanks for the recommendation. A little more than I was hoping to pay, but I will definitely keep and eye on it for black Friday!