No worries. I am getting Starboard for the bottom of the tank.

Yes the barebottom vs sand is a big question for me. I agree about not wanting coraline on the bottom, but even if I do a fake sand bed that will get covered as well.

For now, I am going with starboard and if I hate it ill add a 1/4 inch of sand and perhaps a goby.

We will see.

Well, my live rock arrived today. I currently have about 70 lbs of Deep Water Tonga in my 90 gallon so I re-odered another 70 as I love the look of it over the standard Fiji. It is more expensive but well worth it. I also have another 50 of Fiji rock to go under the Tonga.

I took it out of the box and placed it in one of my barrels of salt water. It will stay in here until some of the pollution is gone from it. After a few hours in the bucket I am glad I did this because MAN DOES IT STINK! My wife is not pleased. Just look:

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...1393Medium.jpg

I will be changing the water daily until this clears up a bit.

I also found the strangest creature lurking near the surface of my smelly mess. Anyone recognize this?

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...1397Medium.jpg

I also replaced the foam to the thicker 3/4" pink styrofoam and cut it out as per Alberts help.

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...1402Medium.jpg

Now I just need to get someone to lift the tank for me! Any takers? ;)

I also installed the bulkheads so that they can have a week to cure along with the tank.

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...1401Medium.jpg


The rest of the week will be plumbing the tank and refugium.

This thread is timed beautifully as I am also in the process of getting ready to set up a new tank, quite by coincidence to those exact dimensions. I love the external overflow boxes, awesome idea; and those tunze powerhead rocks "rock". I will keep following your progress and may need to borrow a few of your ideas if you don't mind.

Not at all. Who is making your tank?

where are you from? i'm in mission bc, i can help lift it if you are near by

Hey Keith,

There's no silicone lubricating any of the O-rings is there? Cause if there is, you're going to have to cut it all out and replace the O-rings.

andrewsk where did you get the strainer for your bulk head. I am guessing golds. also i just set up a 150 gal tank that golds made for me with a silent overflow as well and it is the quitest tank i have heard, your tank is looking good.

Most of my stuff is from Golds yes. I am going to ask albert for some advise on the overflows. I have been reading up on the Durso Overflows a lot this week and they seem to be pretty good as well. Ideally I would like to have the 2 outlets in each overflow run through seperate pipes (So 4 total) to the sump. That way, if there is ever a clog, the others can take over without a flood. I am still researching.

Albert,

No silicone on the O-rings itself. Just around the gap where the bulkhead did not go snug to the glass.

Out of curiosity, why not put silicone on the O-Ring. Would it mess something up?

I am in Calgary, but thanks. I am going to have a few buddies over this week to lift it so I should be ok.

But if your ever in Calgary :)

The silicone acts as a lubricant and causes the rubber ring to squeeze out.

Lots of people seal the gasket with silicone, I don't think it is necessary thought.

The Durso is a waste of time with the overflows you have built into your tank. I'll show you how they work next time you're in.

Last time I was at Gold's Dennis said he would put a quote together. He needed to check on the starfire glass pricing I think. I will be going starfire on the front and sides. I will also get a quote from Wais, which is where I bought my present tank, Danny treats me pretty good; although so do Dennis & Albert. I never thought I would outgrow my 130 gallon in 18 months. Maybe you can come over some time and give me some ideas.:lol:

These same people have the gasket squeeze out from under the fitting. this is not an opinion, but rather what will happen when you put silicone on a rubber gasket. :)

Sounds good to me. Feel free to let me know if you want to check anything out yourself. What size are you going for?

Here is a picture of me with my new skimmer that arrived today. :)


http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...rewsk69/HS.jpg



Just kidding.

and i thought i had a big skimmer :D

Richard

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...newskimmer.jpg

I mentioned it earlier in the thread, but it is exactly the same size as yours. 72x30x24
I might be able to go 31 deep, but any bigger and I can't get it downstairs unless I move (which I just might)
I would love to come and take a look. I think when the time comes to switch tanks I will be in a bit of trouble as there is a lot to move. I doubt I will need much if any new live rock as I have a tank full now. Encrusted corals and where to put the corals while I aquascape is what worries me.

Wow that is a big honkin' skimmer. Was that at some kind of a aquarium show or something?

Yes at the Interzoo 2006 in Germany. (I was not there) :)

Fell free to give me a PM any time. Probably best to wait a few weeks until I get my skimmer and lighting and some water in the tank!

Richard,

Nice skimmer. How big is your tank?

Is that a Big Al's price tag I see there?

That skimmer is freakin huge.

That Skimmer is the big als skimmer, its the dual turbo floater 5000 with dual ocean runner pumps.
im actually in the process of setting up my tank aswell, its a 9'x2'x18" starfire tank. 200 gals, Garry is actually coming to silicone it back up for me tonight... it was to big to fit down the stairs so i thought i would cut it apart, long story short, front panel breaks, Garry gets new lino in his kitchen....



Richard

Richard I was talking about the other skimmer, but yours is no slouch either. :mrgreen:

Its ok Joe Reefer i was replying to andrewsk anyways :P

Richard

I run the turbo floater 5000 "shorty" with the ocean runner pumps, never had room the the tall boy.

Is this a "who's got the biggest skimmer" :)

Im running an ASM G6 with 3 x Sedra 9000 pumps.

I love you skimmer! :mrgreen:

"can your SKIMMA!! do this?!?!?! " lmfao, inside joke i guess. lol

Kind of like sports cars
 

I've heard some say that some people get exotic skimmers to make up for other shortcommings. :lol:

So what does it mean when your skimmer is DIY :eek: :eek: :redface: :redface:

:lol:

Here is a skimmer question.

I am also going to be adding OZONE to my new system. Have any of you noticed that skimmate production goes WAY down when this is added?

From what I have read, that is normal. I will be adding ozone later this year I hope, I will update here my results.

I am thinking the same thing. I will run my new skimmer for 2 weeks (after breakin) and measure skimmate, then add the ozone for 2 weeks, then remove it again. Ill do a picture comparison as well.

ozone breaks down certain types of piping... what does it do to an acrlic skimmer?? i have been uncertain of adding ozone because of that.

Check with the skimmer manufacturer. I checked with ASM, they are supposed to be ozone safe. I expect the o-rings will wear down though.

Well I have a new update for anyone following along. The tank has now been placed on the styrafoam sheet and filled with water! (No leaks yet)

I have hooked up the wavebox and one of my Tunze Streams and the flow from the wavebox is truly amazing. So far, the best purchase I have made. I cannot wait to get my Corals in there.

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...1407Medium.jpg

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...1406Medium.jpg

In the images above you can see the wave being kicked up by the wavebox!

I also got the custom starboard installed. I cut it on a 45 degree angle so it did not touch the original silicone, and filled in the spaces/gaps with new silicone. Since silicone does not stick to starboard, it was simply used for filling in the spaces. All the silicone on the top of the starboard was removed/wiped off before the water was added. So far it seems to be working very well.

The Overflow box is now working well and is very silent. The strainer on the left is connected to the Main flow pipe which has a gate valve attached at the sump. The valve is closed to allow just less than enough water to flow through. The pipe on the right catches the tiny bit of extra flow and the tank is totally silent.

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...1409Medium.jpg

I have a temporary Sump set up until the new one from Golds is done. Albert???? :)

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...1410Medium.jpg

It had to be special ordered to allow my skimmer to fit into it.

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...1423Medium.jpg

My live rock is still cooking/curing and the rotten smell is almost gone now.

We are also completing construction on the sump room so I hope to have this all set up in the next 2 weeks, followed by the sump, lights and then the Aquascaping can begin!

Great thread ,Andrew ,keep the pictures and info coming ! Looking pretty impressive so far .
Dave.

Lookin' good

Impressive, my next setup will have to have those overflows, that is awesome.