ckimble Posted December 17, 2007 Share Posted December 17, 2007 I wanted to document and share my upgrade from my current 90g reef to a shiny new 280g. My current tank has been up and running for about a year now, and I am quickly learning and outgrowing that setup. The 280 dimensions (72x30x30) fit what I was looking for as I like what the 30" width allows for aquascaping. Carlos @ RCA is giving me the hookup for the tank and misc equipment. The tank has been on order for several weeks and should be available the week after Xmas. The wait has been timed perfectly as several of the large components will be DIY. On to the details so far... Tank: Euro-braced 280G 72x30x30, center overflow, and will be drilled for closed loop Custom-built sump and stand by yours truly Filtration: Deltec AP851 I scored used from Reef Central Flow: Oceans Motion 4-way powered by a dart pump Return will be powered by a snapper pump Possibly will be adding a Tunze wavebox in addition to the OM depending on flow characteristics Lighting: 3 x 400W PFO ballasts Luminarc III reflectors 14K SE Hamilton bulbs VHO Actinics Custom Canopy TBD Control: Digital Aquatics ReefKeeper II Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckimble Posted December 17, 2007 Author Share Posted December 17, 2007 Given my ISTP personality profile, I wanted to tackle this project full-on and DIY as much as possible. Not neccesarily to save money, but rather to have things exactly like I want them. Case in point the stand. Looking at what is available in this size pre-built, I wasn't happy with my options. Most designs out there are all frilly with lots of crown moulding, raised panel doors and a general foo-foo design. Not to mention small door openings, and just good-enough structual design. I came up with my own plan and attached the photo documentary of the build... -enjoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckimble Posted December 17, 2007 Author Share Posted December 17, 2007 I have been playing with acrylics for a couple months now, building "stuff" i find I need for the reef or otherwise. It is amazing what you can do with this material. I am getting better at the technique so it was time to knock out the sump for my new tank. I wanted to incorporate a refugium in the design and came up with this layout. I just filled it with water this weekend and it is rock solid. The overall dimensions are 48x24x14. Can't wait to put it to work.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckimble Posted December 17, 2007 Author Share Posted December 17, 2007 I have built a small rack to hold the American DJ power switch as well as the RKII. My biggest complaint on my current tank is the way it is wired. It is a royal pain to remove devices for cleaning and such. With this setup I wanted to have everything terminate in a single location and use good cable management to make maintainance easier. I believe this should work out nicely RKII and powerstrip Block diagram for the geeks... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Headless_donkey Posted December 17, 2007 Share Posted December 17, 2007 Looks great! I am jealous of your shop. Can I have a beer? BTW I find it helpful on my power strip to have like things next to each other. For example pumps are 1-3, fans and heater 4-5, lights 6, etc.. Just a thought. It helps me keep track of what is where. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckimble Posted December 17, 2007 Author Share Posted December 17, 2007 Looks great! I am jealous of your shop. Can I have a beer? BTW I find it helpful on my power strip to have like things next to each other. For example pumps are 1-3, fans and heater 4-5, lights 6, etc.. Just a thought. It helps me keep track of what is where. Thanks... stop on by anytime, there is always cold beer in that 'fridge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+dapettit Posted December 17, 2007 Share Posted December 17, 2007 How do you like your RKII? I just programed mine this weekend and it the best money I have ever spent. I like how you recessed the strip and the RKII. Here is a photo of mine: Dave- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckimble Posted December 17, 2007 Author Share Posted December 17, 2007 The RK appears to be pretty sweet. So far, I haven't done much with it except for mount it and load a simple program. I will keep this updated as the tank moves along. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsr Posted December 18, 2007 Share Posted December 18, 2007 What are you cutting the material with? Table saw, router? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckimble Posted December 18, 2007 Author Share Posted December 18, 2007 I rough cut the pieces with a 80T blade on the table saw. To get the smooth edge for bonding I trim it up on the router. I have also tried the tablesaw and scraping method. It works alright, but the edges are never perfect. If I can find a good deal, I plan on getting a jointer to make quick work of the edge prep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsr Posted December 19, 2007 Share Posted December 19, 2007 When you use the table saw and router do you get any melting on the plexi? Are you using a fixed speed router or variable speed? I have used a jig saw in the past and found that if you use a higher RPM, it starts melting. I also found that melted plexi that falls on bare skin HURTS! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckimble Posted December 19, 2007 Author Share Posted December 19, 2007 I have found that extruded material will melt horribly while cutting and is an all around pain to work with. The cell cast does not, and cuts beautifully. The first couple of projects I tried were all with cheap HD plexi i.e. extruded and it was very difficult to work with. Yeah, I know the melted plastic on the hand feeling.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckimble Posted December 19, 2007 Author Share Posted December 19, 2007 I think I am done with the sump for now minus a couple of misc additions for probes and such. I figured I should bring it in the house to give it a shot in the stand. It was tight, but fits nicely. Until the tank and pumps show up I can't really start on the major plumbing. Up next is ATO and custom media reactors. on to the pics... Skimmer side \ fuge section Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsr Posted December 21, 2007 Share Posted December 21, 2007 And where can you buy sheets of cell cast around town? I have only seen the stuff at Home Depot. Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. I am wanting to build a custom sump as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckimble Posted December 21, 2007 Author Share Posted December 21, 2007 And where can you buy sheets of cell cast around town? I have only seen the stuff at Home Depot. Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. I am wanting to build a custom sump as well. You can get 3/8" and thicker at Regal Plastics. Unfortunately their 1/4" is extruded, if you want cast it is special order. I also found you can get cast at Interstate plastics, but haven't bought from them yet. The material from Regal is more expensive, but it is name brand i.e. Plexigls G. What I was quoted at Interstate was "import" material. I see you are in Cedar Park as well, you are more than welcome to use my shop if you want to give it a shot... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckimble Posted December 29, 2007 Author Share Posted December 29, 2007 Got the call from Carlos yesterday, the tank has arrived from Oceanview. I made the calls and got a bunch of friends lined up to help lift. Last night after close, Carlos, Misty, and Jake delivered the tank. It took about 5 minutes and we had it up on the stand. Thankfully it fit, with about 1/8" to spare on the sides. This thing is massive, but looks incredible. I definitely can't wait to get started on the plumbing and get it full of water... Stay tuned... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+dapettit Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 Very nice. I remember the feeling I had when we finally got our 150 up! Good luck and keep posting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckimble Posted January 1, 2008 Author Share Posted January 1, 2008 First Off... Happy new year! I am a little groggy today as we did it up hard at a friends house last night. They got their kids Guitar Hero III for Xmas, so the adults stepped it up and showed them a thing or two. I have been making nice progress on acquiring, building, and getting the tank ready for water. I have most of the big equipment to get things plumbed out, just waiting on an order of union ball valves. They are supposed to arrive tomorrow, so hopefully by the end of the week I can fire it up and leak test my work. There is too much to update, so I will just show you the pics of where I am at... 6000GPH of flow just waiting to be unleashed This is an awesome deal for anyone needing water reservoirs. Austin Home Brew will sell you these for $10 a piece. I plan on using one for the top-off, and the other is going to be plumbed in for mixing SW and doing water changes. I built this the other day for running PhosBan, but it came out so nice I plan on building a second for charcoal. The concept is very similar, so I may also build a larger calcium reactor to use with this setup. Nice thing is they are easy to build and the materials are fairly inexpensive to acquire. For the drains, I wanted to try the Hofer Gurgle Buster. On my 90 I am currently running Durso standpipes and they work alright. They are a little noisy, and take up a lot of room. I don't have the room in the overflow on this tank, so it was either a Stockman or the Hofer. They are basically the same concept, except for the direction the water enters the standpipe. Sometimes the timing of a picture is everything.... Installed Here is where it sits today. The last thing I did was cover the back in limo-tint and installed the bulkheads. I am going to run a bead of silicone around the bulkheads on the inside to hopefully minimize the chances of developing a leak down the road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Headless_donkey Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 Nice. I like those drain pipes. Let us know how they work. I was real close to using one, but I guess I chickened out. If you get making Calcium reactors down I want one. Where do you buy the acrylic cylinders. Happy New Year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph9123 Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 Can't wait to see the final tank all set up. Looking great! -Joseph Le Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckimble Posted January 4, 2008 Author Share Posted January 4, 2008 Nice. I like those drain pipes. Let us know how they work. I was real close to using one, but I guess I chickened out.If you get making Calcium reactors down I want one. Where do you buy the acrylic cylinders. Happy New Year. The reactor is my next project (after plumbing) so you can check it out to see if you like the design. I get the tubing at Regal Plastics off Metric and 183ish. They have all your DIY supplies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckimble Posted January 4, 2008 Author Share Posted January 4, 2008 Can't wait to see the final tank all set up. Looking great!-Joseph Le Thanks Joseph... I still owe you a canopy for frags. Once I get past the plumbing we can talk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenM Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 Is it up and running yet? I'll have to bring you the drawings of where I need the sump drilled so I can see it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckimble Posted January 8, 2008 Author Share Posted January 8, 2008 Is it up and running yet? I'll have to bring you the drawings of where I need the sump drilled so I can see it! not running yet... but close. Sure, stop by after work and we can get that sump taken care of. give me a call -craig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckimble Posted January 10, 2008 Author Share Posted January 10, 2008 Just a quick update as it is late and I need to go to bed. I have been working hard on getting the tank ready for the water test. It is full of water and I am letting it run to work out the bugs in the system. Yesterday I filled it up and discovered one of the ball valves was bad and leaked through the shutoff. Of course it was the most difficult location to have to replace. The Hofer drain pipes took a while to dial in but are woking nicely now and are very quiet. I still need to tweak the drains to the sump cause there is a fair amount of noise there, but a little adjusting should fix that. Other than that everything is holding solid. I have some tweaks I need to make, but overall I am happy with the initial testing. I will shut up now and just show the pics... OM 4-way Pumps plumbed through the wall in the garage Short clip of the sump in action Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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