Well, I re-thought things and decided that having my return plumbing go right through the back wall posed a risk of overflowing my sump. Even with a syphon break, the water pressure in the tank would still drain a fair amount of water.

Because my return plumbing is now going up and over the back wall, there wasn't really a benefit to closing it all in the way that I had originally planned.

Here are some sketches I did:


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e9...nkdrawing3.jpg




http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e9...nkdrawing2.jpg




http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e9...ankdrawing.jpg




I plan on having black acrylic on the back wall to prevent the overflow and plumbing from being visible.



- Chad

Well, I have been playing around more and learning more features of the program and came up with this:


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e9...completed3.jpg




http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e9...completed1.jpg




http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e9...completed2.jpg




All of those pictures are to-scale of the actual measurements.


- Chad

These sketches are still using MSPaint??? Or have you started using something else?

Looks like Google SketchUp to me.

Midknight's right. I just downloaded sketchup yesterday after Albert told me about it.
It... is... awesome! (and free)
I know that Google is taking over the internet (and maybe even the Earth), but I don't even mind.

- Chad

Looking great Chad! Comming along very nicely and quickly! I cant remember if you mentioned whether or not you gave that pump a finishing pass with something lighter?


That looks like an awesome program! I tried to find it on google but was unable to? Any idea where I should be looking? Im probably just being dense:redface:

Here
 

Thank-you!

I actually had the brilliant idea of searching it on google right after I posted that, and found it.

Chris

Go
 

The tank looks cool so far. Here are my thoughts:

1. Is the tube in the middle a supply line from the sump? If so, is it going to have something to prevent it from draining water back into the sump if the pump shuts off?

2. Do you think there will be enough flow throughout the tank with all the supply lines running so close to the overflow? You could maybe add 45* PVC elbows to the ends of the pipes on the sides to help circulate the water.

That's about all I can think of.

If this tank turns out half as cool as your little cubes did, you'll be laughing. :wink:
________
LovelyWendie99

The bulkhead on the inner wall of the tank is the intake for the closed loop. The sump is supplied via the overflow. Even though I couldn't really draw it on sketchup, the plan is to have 45 degree elbows on the returns so that the flow is directed towards the lower front of the tank. With 700+ gph from each return, the circulation in the tank should be sufficient - for my plans at least.

Chris,
Actually, what you see on the pump is just what I did with regular old sandpaper. I havent gone over it yet, but will probably finish it off with a pollishing wheel on my dremmel. I am kind of glad that the iwaki is now going to be the sump return... it will be in a more prominent spot and will also be easier to clean.
- Chad

Update:
 

I just picked up the tank yesterday and here's a photo:



http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e9.../061212046.jpg



I turned out to be 30"x18"x17" (lwh) and the builder did a pretty good job on it. It initially came with euro bracing but that came off right away - I just like the plain top look more. The inside measurements and my predicted water level make this tank about 35gals; with the expected output of my two pumps, I am figuring that I will have 40x's turnover! There is even room to add more flow if needed (not needed) because my bulkheads are 1.5" but my current pumps have only 3/4" fittings :o .

- Chad

Chad the tank looks really good are you going to have it a SPS with high flow i take it.

looking good man

asmodeus,
Thanks! It sounds like overkill but the plan for this tank was actually zoos and rics. My last three tanks have been in the 30-40x's range and I have always been really pleased with higher flow (as long as the velocity is kept down). My only concern right now is that my sump is a lot smaller than I thought it was - (only 16gals total volume and I still need to leave room for drainage when the pumps are off). I am worried that my 730gph return rate is going to wreak havoc with micro bubbles...

The tank builder forgot to add the sheet of black acrylic to the back wall, but he is cutting it for me now and I will put it in myself. I figure that it should look better with the overflow not visible. I am also considering using a razor blade to clean up the silicone job in the corners. Finally, I have the overflow eggcrate off and am going to black that out as well.

- Chad

How are you going to have fish and coral there is no water in your tank, take it back they are trying to rip you off :)



Er anyways :) Beauty...looks very nice sir.

Haha, ya those fellas at Gold's have been great to deal with, but....

...delivered, with water and livestock? That's more like it!

Looking pretty snappy ,Chad . Be careful with that razor blade :)
Thought you had gone to sleep there, for the moment .Nice to have things happening again....................Dave

Well I didn't like how much the closed loop intake strainer protruded into the tank so I cut it down a bit.


Here is a pic of the modified one next to stock:


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e9.../061213003.jpg


Here you can see that it takes up a lot less room:


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e9...9/strainer.jpg



I wouldn't normally recommend reducing the size of the strainer, because that only increases the likelihood of a blockage. In this case however, I am not concerned because the bulkhead/strainer size is 1.5", but the pump is only 0.75" in/out. This modified stainer still had more surface area (I think) than a stock 3/4" strainer. Also, I am not keeping an anemone or anything in the tank that would be capable of blocking it all by itself.

- Chad

What did you use to bond the piece back on?

Isn't it obvious? He used baby blood.

That external Overflow box is the way to go! That's a really clean look, can't wait to see rock in there, it's gonna look like a glass box full of color. Won't take very much aquascaping to conceal intakes and such. That setup is gonna ROCK.

Won't that lead to iron contamination?

There was a measurement that was out on the tank that interfered with my plumbing plans - Albert has been awesome to deal with and said that he will take the tank back and make it right.
I think that while I'm waiting, I will drill my sump for a bulkhead. It is approx 17gal sump but I need to leave room for water to drain when I shut the pump off so it will only have about 12gals of water in when operating. Do you think this will be ok for a pump rate of 730gph? Or is it too small?
Thanks,

- Chad

I'm still wondering what you used on the strainer?

Chad
I had a mag 5 running in that sump, matter of fact its the same mag that you let Tony get. Never had any real issues with it. Mind you I am kinda use to high evaporation here at my house so I am constantly topping of the tanks.

Tony,
I used Gorilla Glue from Lee Valley on the strainer. That stuff is frightening how strong it holds. There's no info as to whether it's reefsafe or not, because as far as I know, it has never been used by anyone. The whole job probably took 1/4 of a drop of glue.

Thanks Paul good to know, hopefully the extra flow of the Iwaki won't put it over the top. The tank is actually only about 17gals and I just wanted to be sure that it was going to work before I go and drill it.

- Chad

Cool, thanks for the info. I've had trouble bonding ABS type materials before (I ended up needed to use a lot of 2-part epoxy {not the underwater stuff}). I'll have to pick up some of this. For some reason I think I've heard of it but I can't think of what context it was in. I'm sure once it's cured it's probably as reef-safe as anything, one would think anyhow.

What size hole you gonna drill? If you want 1" bulkheads I can lend you my 1-3/4" glass bit if you want. Afraid I only have that and 5/8" (for float valves) so if you want bigger I can't help. Anyhow let me know if you'd like to borrow the 1-3/4" or the 5/8".

I think Home Depot carries Gorilla glue as well. I have used it for wood work but found it did not store well after opening so dont get too big a bottle !!
....................Dave

Tony,
Thank you for the offer - actually it is a 3/4" bulkhead. I have never used a proper circular bit before, I've always used a dremmle with a diamond bit before and that is probably what I'm gonna do this time.

- Chad

Update:

I am still waiting for the new tank to be finished but I came across something that I found 'interesting'. An online company is using a photo of my 12" cube to advertise on their website:

http://ac-nc.com/Saltwater_Aquarium_Products.htm

The funny thing about it, is that is probably the worst picture I took of that tank - it was back when I first set it up and the corals had not yet filled in, and I had not moved it to the hole in the top of the desk so it is leaning against the wall, half off the desk. The moral of the story: Don't trust what you see on the internet, anyone can copy and paste and make themselves look like a legitamate business.

Here is the email I sent them:
Hello,
It has been brought to my attention that you are using a photo of an aquarium, that I "Designed : Built : Maintained" to advertise on your site. The fact that you are using it for a commercial venture without getting permission or giving proper recognition, bothers me a great deal. This is the photo in question:

http://ac-nc.com/images/Products_1.jpg

I took that picture while the tank was temporarily against a wall and it doesn't even look as good as the tank did when it was set up properly - I seriously doubt that any benefit derived from the false advertising will outweigh the negative attention it will get in my different threads online.

True to my word,

- Chad

i know that what they are doing is stupid but they could not have picked a better nano and the pic looks good too

Ask for a kickback :)

Thanks Steve! I actually wish that they at least would have used a better picture -


Subdued - that's a great idea! It's probably cheaper for them just to find a picture of another person's tank to rip off....

Happy New Year Guys,

- Chad

This has been CRAZY!
 

Hey guys, still waiting on the tank but I wanted to give you a quick update on the situation with the LFS in the States that was using a photo of my 12" cube to advertize their custom building.

On RC, two different members posted in defense of AC's actions. I thought, 'alright there's always two sides to every story' but I thought the second one was bogus because the account was just created today and their only post was in my thread.... then... an RC mod points out that both 'different' members were posting from the same IP address. Here it is if you want to see it:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...=&pagenumber=2


http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/inde...gopid=1007992&


Oh and the comment "This is turning into the Watergate of reefing!", ya, I made that up all by myself.


- Chad

Case closed
 

Well that LFS has now removed my picture from their website and the owner sent me a very nice apology letter. Nothing like a little drama while I wait to continue my project...

- Chad

Funny how nothing happens until there is a little publicity.. :lol:

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ebmunchkin.jpg

Isn't it ironic that I linked to another site to add this poignant message. :lol:

Bwahahahaha... Thats classic Tony!

:lol: :lol:

Ryan,
I was thinking the exact same thing. After the mystery troll got burned on RC, I suddenly had an email from the owner and the photo was taken down sometime during the night.... hmmm

That's hillarious Tony! Do you mind if I share that in the other threads?

- Chad

Don't need my permission, it's not mine. I saw it on reddit.com this morning (in my usual morning routine of reading time-wasting websites :lol:) so it's public-domain.