+Dena Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 Bought this from another member well over a year ago. Finally, work is in progress. Tank - 280g - 6' x 30" x 30" Stand - hubby rebuilt the stand with 2x2 steel and coated with Al's Bed Liner to prevent chipping and rust. Top is a stained oak that comes out 4" for a ledge. The tank will be fully enclosed with the oak going in-between the steel...basically insetting them and using magnets so they can all come off. Under the sump is a piece of plywood that is sprayed in the liner and will be siliconed to the inside of the stand to help prevent leaking water from escaping. Under the stand is a nice cushiony rubber mat. Canopy - my husband is still working on that...lots of little pieces to make it stable and allow for both sides to be as open as possible at the same time. Sump - purchased last year from another member...not sure how many gallons, but it's almost as long as the tank. Return Pumps (ordered) will be two Pan World P50X (or something like that). Skimmer - will be an ATB skimmer, can't remember exact model Lights - we have three 250W MH's with Luminarc Mini Reflectors, however, if we can afford it (won't know until next mth), we are just going to buy AI SOL Blue LED's. We will probably end up getting 8 modules. Flow - for right now will rely on the return flow and a Tunze Wave Box (older 6212). If that isn't enough then we are going to look at some MP40's. Controller - Apex - not sure what probes my husband plans on buying. That's all I can think of right now. The stand frame is done...will have to wait to finish it until we get the important stuff ordered. New overflow box is being built because the other broke. Most of the plumbing is done, but hubby forgot an L piece and we need the pumps to finish it. I attached a photo of his work table...right next to the tank LOL. Dena Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brooks Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 WOOH! Glad to see you are still in the hobby, Dena! This tank is going to be crazy. I'll be following along. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikedelgado Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 me too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Dena Posted January 23, 2012 Author Share Posted January 23, 2012 I've been quiet, but I check out the forum practically every day. Trying to stay good and not buy anything because I have no place to put it. My 120 is getting a little neglected...partly because I just wanted the big tank to be up and running so I can move things over. I have a Vlamingi Tang that is pretty large...he's going to LOVE LOVE this new home. It's one reason why I wanted such a large tank...I didn't want to part with him. I plan to keep things pretty easy as far as coral. Later one I may stick a couple of my have SPS in it. I've got a leather that is probably close to a foot and a half around...going to look small in this tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard L Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 Cool idea using the bedliner material to protect the steel. How is that applied (spray, paint, other)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Dena Posted January 23, 2012 Author Share Posted January 23, 2012 There's a spray kit you have to buy. We got it from 4 Wheel Parts (I believe that's the name of the store). It sprays every where so if you do it in a garage you need to cover everything you don't want specs on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Dena Posted February 4, 2012 Author Share Posted February 4, 2012 Here are some more photos. We set the new overflow in place. Only one of the return pumps came in...they are back ordered 4-6 weeks. We have one similar and will be ordering replacement parts for it while we wait for the new one. Last night we ordered 6 of the AI modules and our Apex controller. We need 8 modules, but could only afford six right now so we could get the controller. I'll have to save up for the other two and my skimmer. We're water testing it now and it's got a leak. It was drilled for closed loop and we plugged all the holes, but the one on the back is leaking...looks like it's the bulkhead. Going to try something different this weekend. It's exciting to see water in it, but I want to see SALT water in it. Dena Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Dena Posted March 25, 2012 Author Share Posted March 25, 2012 Long overdue for some updates. We nixed the old sump and wake maker for a custom PM sump and 2 MP 60's. Everything on this is now brand new aside from the tank itself. Added the sand...I had to get in the tank to actually spread it out. Added water, which took us two weeks because we had to mix it, fill it, mix it, fill it, etc. When the water was half way, I put the rock I had curing in the tank. Otherwise I wouldn't have been able to mess with it if the tank was full...unless I put on a swim suit. Here are some photos as things continued. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Dena Posted March 25, 2012 Author Share Posted March 25, 2012 We also bought a JBJ 800W heater and are going to be getting another Apex thing...PM2 or PM3. This will give us the ability to connect our skimmer to it so it shuts off if it goes wacky. It will also give us another temp. probe so we can measure the temp in the sump also, and will have a salinity port so we can eventually add to that. Here's a pick of all the wires. Hubby is still working making that look better by grouping wires, etc. I also included a photo of the first three fish. I bought some chromes last night to test things out. They seem to be doing excellent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Dena Posted March 25, 2012 Author Share Posted March 25, 2012 The only problem I have is how loud the thing is. It's basically the water going into the overflow...any ideas on how to quiet that down? Once the canopy is complete it will help some, but it sounds like we have the ocean in our living room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wizardx322 Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 The only problem I have is how loud the thing is. It's basically the water going into the overflow...any ideas on how to quiet that down? Once the canopy is complete it will help some, but it sounds like we have the ocean in our living room. maybe a sponge in the overflow but then you would have to clean it every so often and that tank is awsome!!!! the AI Sol look great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Hydro Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 The only problem I have is how loud the thing is. It's basically the water going into the overflow...any ideas on how to quiet that down? Once the canopy is complete it will help some, but it sounds like we have the ocean in our living room. Looks great, even better in person. There was no water when I saw it but it is huge and viewable from 3 sides, that's really cool. I think that its increasing the flow in to the tank will help. If you are able to cover the bulkhead(s) with water it will stop pulling in air which makes it loud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Dena Posted March 26, 2012 Author Share Posted March 26, 2012 Yeah...Jason was thinking of a way to put a different screen and an elbow to raise up where the water level is in the overflow. He's just not sure if what he wants to do will fit in the space. I broke down and moved everyone over to the new tank. They all seem to be doing well. Realized I was missing one of my Hippo's. Jason found him when we moved the sump out of the old tank...he had jumped out and landed in the back on the floor. He was jerky for the mice. That really sucks because I had two and they are one of my favorite fish. Dena Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
offroadodge Posted March 26, 2012 Share Posted March 26, 2012 The only problem I have is how loud the thing is. It's basically the water going into the overflow...any ideas on how to quiet that down? Once the canopy is complete it will help some, but it sounds like we have the ocean in our living room. Looks great, even better in person. There was no water when I saw it but it is huge and viewable from 3 sides, that's really cool. I think that its increasing the flow in to the tank will help. If you are able to cover the bulkhead(s) with water it will stop pulling in air which makes it loud. +1 for what Stephen said, you will either have to put more water in the tank or throttle down the overflow rate. Its easier to get the timing correct with the 1st option but may require a larger return pump. In my build thread you can see i tried 4 different pumps till i found the one that worked W/O a dought. I tried a MAG 12,18, and 24 none worked. So i went overkill and bought a Reeflo Hammerhead, problem solved. Now if its the water entering the sump socks and the sound there, just extend the pipe down into the water in the sump 1/2" and it will be completely quiet. No need to glue the pipe there either, just put a union and small piece of pipe slipped together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishypets Posted March 26, 2012 Share Posted March 26, 2012 Dena Can we see the inside of overflow box? You might need to raise the pipes in the overflow up so the water doesn't have too far to fall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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