|
Murdoch's 160G Tank Build
Well, I guess it's about time that I do up a tank journal. I've just moved my 55 up from Edmonton to Fort Mac, and the trophy wife has given the go ahead to upgrade!! YIPPEE!!
This first post is essentially going to be my plan in words... not much else. I am having a custom tank built for this build. I've heard many say that they regret buying a used tank, so.... I'll bite the bullet and go new. The dimensions are: 48Lx30Wx26H... Euro braced, Black Silicone, External overflow in the center of the back, and an external Tunze wave box on the back left corner. The only equipment that will be visible will be the 2 Tunze 6105's... one in each rear corner, up top. I'll be skimming with a Vertex IN 250 Lighting with a 6x54 Tek, as well as a 4x54... 10 bulbs total (All KZ, 4 Coral light II, 3 Super Blue, and 3 Fiji Purple) Dosing with my 3 individual dosing pumps (BRS Ca, Soda Ash, and Mg) Nutrient reduction will consist of a full Zeo system supplemented by GFO, and of course Carbon. In the 55 gal sump will be a fuge with frag rack, and cheato. The control system is courtesy (not free... I wish) of Digital Aquatics RKE. Virtually everything will be run by the RKE, but the important thing to mention is the APC, or Advance Pump Control module. This is designed for the Tunze line, and will be running the wave box, as well as the 6105's giving a well designed, and all encompassing dynamic flow through the tank. I will continue on with my SPS addiction as the dominant force in this tank as well. On top of that, there will be the Zoa fillers, a small handfull of LPS, and, of course, the clams!! Hopefully my luck with clams improves, as I had a bad streak for a while there... along with many of the rest of us! Anyways, entry one is now complete. Wish me luck, and feel free to tag along. Any suggestions, tips, or ideas are more than welcome. Oh, and one last thing... I want to pre-emptively thank Dez for the inspiration, and frags over the last while... thanks for creating and fueling my addiction buddy!! I also want to thank Steve at Red Coral in Edmonton. Fantastic stock, prices and service! Thanks man! |
As I lay in bed last night thinking (read: obsessing) about this build I had an epiphany. I bought 2 used Tunze waveboxes, and could not decide if I wanted to use both, (facing each other, one on either side), or just use one (and have a backup). I asked for opinions, and decided to use just the one. Now... since this tank is going to be viewable on 3 sides, I didn't like the idea of having the external waveboxes taking up viewing space on the side, but until last night, I could not think of a good way around it. Suddenly... it dawns on me. Why not use both boxes, put the external boxes on the back side of the tank leaving 3 fully viewable sides, and have the flow coming out towards the front, and then sucked back in towards the back? Done! Problems solved! Soon, I will be doing up drawings, and see if I can figure out how to post them here.
One question for you though... what would you use for a return pump? I don't really want to spend big dollars, but I want something of a good quality. The tank is about 160 gallons, and will be in the basement, with an average sized stand... so I'll need a pump for good flow at about 5 feet of head pressure. I'm sure I've missed other details, but this will be ongoing... keep watching! |
Well, not much of an update, but here's a little one. After much planning, thought and well... way too much money, I now have my tank which is fully cured and ready for water. On top of that, I have all of my equipment except for my tunze 6105's which are unfortunately on back order, and my APC which the suppliers don't have yet. Apparently I`ll be using my koralias and the waveboxes for flow for now. Oh... and I'm missing one fiji purple bulb due to my jerk dog and his 106lb foot. Thankfully it was only one.
I also have this week off... and all (I hope) of my plumbing except for the means to tie my RO system into my house plumbing. I'll pick that up tomorrow when I go to grab all of the wood for the stand. Oh... one more thing. I also ordered up two more tanks. (not received yet though) A 40x18x18 frag tank, and a 24x18x18 water change tank. My existing 55 will be used as a sump, on top of that will be the frag tank, and on top of that will be the water change tank. Flow will all come from my new Sedra 2000a pump. It will be tee`d off to 2 3/4" lines... one to the display, and the other going up to the water change tank. From the water change tank, water will over flow to the frag tank, then down to the sump. For a water change, I will close a valve to the water change tank, and open a valve to the frag tank, isolating the water change tank. Then a drain valve from the water change tank will be opened and will drain to the floor drain. From there, fill the tank with RO water, put salt in, turn on a Koralia and a heater, and walk away... wait for a while and revearse the valves. Done. For the record, I fully admit that I stole this idea from Dez... Thanks buddy!! I will likely also use this tank as a quarantine tank when need be. Anyways, wish me luck. Thinking time is over... GAME ON! I`ll post some pics over the next few days. The tank is a beauty! |
Looks like a great start to what should be a kick arse tank..... Have you looked at the reeflo line of pumps? They are not overly expensive, seem to be a good quality and definitely have the push to get you up from the basement
|
Johnny,
I wouldn't have the water change tank drain into the frag tank (this will cause bubbles and salt creep). Tee off the pump and feed the frag tank separately. Hope this helps. And I've already showed you how to post pics, so get on it stat! |
Quote:
|
Quote:
I'm confused. Why would the WC tank draining into the frag tank cause this? I was just going to use a pipe stand overflow plumbed directly into the frag tank. Maybe I'm missing something... but I don't see the issue. Please enlighten me. BTW... sorry I didn't call yesterday. V wasn't feeling well, and as is I made her run around town until 4 with me getting parts. |
Drains always have bubbles, unless you have your WC tank outfitted with a Herbie. Bubbles will rise and splash, causing salt creep. Does this make any sense? I think you'll be happier with a separate feed and overflow.
|
Ok... but wouldn't I end up with the same problem in the sump... x2? That said... the level in the sump is lower... which is probably where you're going with this.
|
Sumps are designed with baffles etc so that bubbles don't end up back in your display tank. Think of your frag tank as a display tank - you probably don't want to see bubbles while inspecting or viewing your frags. That's where probably most of the salt creep in a tank happens - in a sump. A lot of people have covers over the drain area of the sump to try and reduce this. The use of filter socks helps (I don't use em). But if your think of your frag tank as a secondary display tank, you probably don't want to see bubbles. It will work the way you have it planned, but I'm just giving you an option that I would go for if I had the choice.
|
You might be onto something here Dez. Fortunately for me, I found out that Rona in Fort Mac has PVC fittings. Wish I would have known that before running around the entire city on Sunday! hahaha
|
Well... the stand is built The old tank is temporarily relocated to the bathroom The new tank is on the stand. The waveboxes are tucked neatly into their new holes. The lights are on top of the tank (and going to fit PERFECTLY)..... and the RO water is trickling (that might be overstating the matter) into the tank. I'm BEAT. Movie time. I'll see about pics tomorrow.
|
PICS! First one's a test... the new tank in transport:
http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...7/DSC01406.jpg |
SUCCESS!!!! WAHOO!
Here's the progress so far: Kindly excuse the half arsed stand... the stucture is complete, pretty will come once me and my wife decide on a design. http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...7/DSC01407.jpg http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...7/DSC01408.jpg top view of the back side: http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...7/DSC01409.jpg The lights... you know, in case you haven't seen tek lights before! lol http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...7/DSC01410.jpg The gear and piping which all make my basement look like a war zone. http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...7/DSC01411.jpg Side view of the wave box... needs a little tweaking. Unfortunately that tweaking may involve 2 new motors. Damn. http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...7/DSC01412.jpg And the last pic of the old tank (after the move into the bathroom). Unfortunately, this is not at it's prime. I'll see what I can do about getting a good shot of it when it looked nice. http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...7/DSC01413.jpg |
So, the plan as it stands is to let the tank get up to temp (or as close as it will come to it by the time I go to bed tonight) and put all of the rock that I have been cooking for the last 3.5-4 months in there. I'll likely also put some, if not all of the dry marco rock that I picked up in there. Tomorrow the temp should be good so I'll put in a few of the rocks from the 55. As long as it has no coral attached (maybe some tester zoas) I figure it can go in. Once that's done I'll get on 'operation plumbing'. and bring the piping over to where the stand will be in the fish room. Let that sit for a bit, then go and learn how to weld on my brand new 1940's buzz box donated by my sister. That sounds like a good days worth of work... hopefully by Thursday morning I'm ready for the last bit of plumbing, and I can transfer everything else over.
|
Finally, pics. Looks good. I would take the foam ring off of the wave box so that you never have to take them out to clean. I've only had to take mine out I think 2 or 3 times in almost 2 years - due to snail climbing in. If you take the foam ring off, you get less resistance also, making it a tad more efficient.
|
Thanks buddy! And once again, thanks for the tips.
|
Here's the freshly (and crudely) welded and painted stand that will house my sump on the bottom, frag tank in the middle, and the water change tank up top. Trust me when I say this... you don't need to see the welds! I just tought myself today!! hahaha.
What I did is took an old 90g stand, cut it to 40"W, rewelded it, then added the square tubing frame up top for the water change tank. All three levels will have a plywood base. http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...7/DSC01414.jpg Now onto the plumbing! Ugh. |
Poorly ventilated basement + pvc primer and cement + a few beers = BAD IDEA!
I feel stoned... kind of tempted to call poison control. Meah.. The last two fittings that I had to do.... effed up. Oh well... back to Rona in the morning. LONG day. Started at 10am. Welded that stand, ate, started plumbing... finished at 1am... incompete. 97% complete.... but still incomplete. |
looking good man - love the built in wavebox!
|
FINALLY the plumbing is done! I now have all of my livestock in thhe new tank, and the old 55 is tucked neatly in the bottom of that stand. Encountered a new little problem though... the IN 250 that I bought will not fit under the frag tank as is. GAH!!! I'll have to do a little thinking on this one. Also... one of my wave boxes is no longer working. It's just on full time (doesn't pulse). No good.
Anyways... here's a few pics. Don't mind the aqua scaping.... that's for tomorrow. http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...7/DSC01418.jpg http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...7/DSC01417.jpg http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...7/DSC01416.jpg http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...7/DSC01415.jpg |
BTW... WOW! Is this ever a lot of work!! I didn't think it was going to be this labour intensive!! lol
|
OK... all seems to be well and good! Thankfully! Here's a few shots of the preliminary aquascape. Most of this will be staying as is, but there will be a few changes. Specifically, many of the corals will be relocated to space them out some, and already a few of the rocks look to me like they need a tweek.
Anyways, let me know what you think. The view from the couch. http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...7/DSC01419.jpg The right side view. http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...7/DSC01420.jpg The left side view. http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...7/DSC01421.jpg Looking down the tunnel. http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...7/DSC01422.jpg And, of course, the full frontal! http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...7/DSC01423.jpg Please excuse the wires and junk. They didn't make the priority cut, and this took WAY longer than planned/expected. |
Oh... and btw, it's not actually that blue. I'm running 4 New Gen, 3 Super Blue, and 2 Fiji Purple. (I'm still down a FP because of my jerk dog's foot) And sorry for the poor pics... get used to it! lol
|
Love the plumbing behind the foosball table. Did you finally lube it up?
|
Haha! No, not yet. Basement has been in pretty rough shape, and no time for foos lately. I actually found an unopened bottle of lube with the spare handles though!
|
Alright... here is the second attempt (more or less final) at the aquascape. I can't figure out why my pics look so blue... any tips? I may have already mentioned this, but I'm running 9/10 4' t5's (one broke, no replacement yet). There are 4 KZ New Gen, 3 Super blues, and 2 Fiji Purples. It's really not that blue. Anyways, here ya go!
Here is the left side: http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...7/DSC01425.jpg Here's the right side: http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...7/DSC01426.jpg Here's the semi secluded, and fully temporary (until my frag tank arrives) 'frag bed' (almost all of these frags have been accidental casualties of the 3 tank moves in the last 4 months) Anybody need some birdsnest? lol But seriously! http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...7/DSC01427.jpg And last, but most importantly, the full frontal! Take note of the set up at the front right of the tank. There are 3 marco rock in a little island secondary to the main rock set up. There`s a smallish one on the left, then a really big one that is mostly flat, with a decent sized protrusion on the top, (in betwween these two is the green candy coral) and then on top of it is another smallish one that I epoxied to the big one with the protrusion. I really like how that part turned out. There is a sepertaion of about 4 inches in between this section and the main section. http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...7/DSC01424.jpg |
Got home last night to disaster!! Could have been much worse, but the was a water spill all around the tank. I checked the actual tank... all seems well and good. Checked the plumbing... dry. The only thing that I can come up with is that the waveboxes started to spash over the edge somehow. I don't understand how, but this is what I came up with. When I set them up, I was getting a pulse that was hitting every 3rd wave. The waves were fairly small, about 1/2"-3/4". The trail of dried up salt was over the one side right beside the wavebox that I've been having some troubles with. I wonder if there was an issue with the wave controller, and the pulses changed giving me a larger wave which spilled over??? Who knows. I wish I had a video camera on there to see what happened. Unfortunately, the puddle of water hit the drivers and the wavecontroller, so I don't know if I have wave boxes at all any more... :-( I'm going to let them dry out for a day or 2, and see what happens. I just wish that my 6105's were not on back order. All I'm running right now is 43 koralias (various sizes up to 750 gph) and my return pump which claims 2100 gph @ 4' - no way I'm getting that out of it. I'd guess that since I've got my 1.5" valve on the herbie choked back... I'm gettting about 1000gph out of it.
In other news, I now have my Zeo reactor running, and the Zeo dosing has begun. Tonight (assuming that I have no more water on the floor) I'm going to set up my dosing pumps which will be fed from a 5 gallon water jug in order to keep maintenance down to a minimum. I'm hoping that 5 gallons will last me about 6 months. That's likely a little bit of wishfull thinking, but we'll see. Also, Im' starting to get a little bit of a diatom outbreak. To be expected I guess. I should probably do a parameter check... especially for amonia and nitrites. Maybe on the weekend. Oh... one more thing. I lost a coral in the switch. My orange M. Cap is on the way out, if not already out. Not really sure why, but it happened. |
Not really sure how/why I didn't think to put this in here, but here is my current stock list:
Fish 2x Black and White Oscilarris Clowns 1x Regal Tang (not to toot my own horn, but one of the nicest I've ever seen) 1x Purple Firefish 1x Back Capped Basslet 1x Rainfords Goby 1x Tail Spot Blenny 1x Barnicle Blenny (one of the coolest little dudes I've ever seen) 1x Flame Hawkfish (one of my faves!) 1x McKosker's Wrasse 1x Yellow Clown Goby Inverts 1-2 Small Emerald Crabs 1-2 Pom Pom Crabs (LOVE THEM!) 1-2 Fire Shrimp (have only seen one lately... starting to think the other has died) Clams 2x 2" Ultra BLue Maximas 1x 5" Golden Teardrop Maxima 1x Purple with unique greyish pattern Crocea 1x Blue mantled Squamosa Corals 1x open brain 1x Hammer 1x Chalice 4x Really nice Zoa Colonies (don't care about their names) A whole bunch of various SPS (Milles, Acros, Montis, etc) And here is what I want to add: Fish/Inverts 1x Majestic Angel or a Glod Flake Angel (I like the size/looks of the Gold Flake, but the price of the Majestic) 1x Powder Blue or Achilles Tang (can't decide which yet) 1 male, 3 female group of Anthias (likely Lire Tail, Dispar, or Bartletts) 1x Six Line Wrasse 1x Other wrasse (Melanarus, Blue Star Leaopard or Ruby Head) 2x Blotchy Anthias (I prefer to call them 'Punk Rock Anthias') 1x Fathead Sunburst Anthias 1x Venustus Angel 3x Purple Firefish 1x Blue Spot Jawfish (maybe) 1x Pitol Shrimp/Goby I like Yasha Hase, and High Finned Red Banded... we'll see. 1-2 Neon goby I want a group of 3-4 Fire shrimp (have to add accordingly) 3-4 Cleaner Shrimp I'd certainly appreciate some input. If you see something that I've overlooked that won't work, please inform me. BTW, I know that the Angels are risky... wish me luck. Also, I'd appreciate opinions as to what to add first and last. To me, the only things that may be an issue are Achiles Tnag and the Angels which I plan to add last. Everything else I think should be ok whenever... Yes? Oh... and of course I'll be adding whole bunches of more corals!!! I'll have some better pics coming very soon. It seems that my cell takes better pics than my $400 camera. GRRRR! |
6-line wrasse will most likely terrorize any other wrasse and probably any anthias you want to add.
|
Thanks Laurie! I definetly missed that one. I'll do some more in depth research on each of the fish on the list and come up with a plan, and I'm sure a few modifications. In light of the six line not working out, I think I'm leaning towards the Melanarus. Teh lost pest control from the six line can hopefully be made up by the Melanarus.
|
looks good man.
|
Here's the photo's I promised.
Still looks pretty blue, but the colours are better than the other camera. Here is the little island of rock I talked about earlier... close up style. http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...7-20212817.jpg http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...7-20212827.jpg And a few coral shots, with some specific areas included. http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...7-20212404.jpg http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...7-20212238.jpg http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...7-20212230.jpg Evidence of my dead M. Cap... :( http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...7-20212219.jpg http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...7-20212315.jpg http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...7-20212351.jpg http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...7-20212153.jpg http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...7-20212139.jpg http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...7-20211834.jpg |
Looking good there Camino. Man, all of your negative space kinda makes me jealous. The phrase "open water" doesn't exist in my household.
|
Quote:
I guess it's true, eh? We always want what we don't have! Any thoughts on my stock list? I think I'm sitting pretty good, but I wouldn't mind the Dez seal of approval! |
Busy night last night!! Wasn't feeling well all day, so I ended up napping on the couch off and on for most of the day... and then of course, couldn't sleep last night. Took the opportunity to get a few things completed.
First, I hooked up my Moon Light Controller for the RKE. I had to run about 20' of extension wire for each pod as my controller is in the fish room which is about 25 feet from the tank. 4 lunar blue LED pods strategically placed to shine over the good areas. Looks amazing when they're on. I'll try to snap a pic or 2 tonight with them on... hopefully it turns out ok. Then, I mixed up 4 gallons of Calcium Chloride, Soda Ash, and Magnesium Sulfate/Chloride. I couldn't remember which dosing pump I used for each, so I set up the pumps to pull water from the sump and just return it back in. Hopefully this will flush it well enough that I don't end up with any solids forming and plugging. I then FINALLY hooked up the tunze ATO to my RO reservoir. All I need now is a level switch of some sort fro the reservoir. And last, but certainly not least... I cleaned up after 'hurricane upgrade' that hit my basement while all of this was happening. YIKES!!! Can't believe that my wife didn't kill me in the mean time! |
Today I put together a shelving unit from Canadian tire to store all of the fish gear. It's in the bathroom right beside the fish room.
After that was done, I cleaned the rest of the disaster area, and properly ran oll of the cords and dosing pump tubing inside the fish room. And.... Some more pics for anyone that likes to... um... see pics! lol Here's my Tailspot Blenny and his favorite hiding spot http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...DSC01427-1.jpg Here`s the `fish room`. Notice that my skimmer is too tall for the stand? Damn. My frag tank will be on the middle level (apparently on a 2x4 frame so that the skimmer will fit), and the water change tank will be on top. The lights up top are for sale, but if nobody wants them, I'll use them for the frag tank. I'd like to go DIY LED though. And, yes, that is my little beer fridge that's built right into the wall conveniently located right beside the foos ball table. http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...7/DSC01430.jpg Shot of the 'Man cave' now that the mess is starting to subside. http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...7/DSC01433.jpg This is a shot of the amount of plumbing and electrical that had to be run. The plan is to put 2x4 pieces to support the pipes, and then cover it up with either tile or wood. It will be used as a little beverage shelf for aroun the foos ball table. http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...7/DSC01432.jpg And as I had promised earlier, here's 2 shots of the 55 in it prime (before the move) http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...-22_112416.jpg http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...-22_112433.jpg |
Well... the second casualty of the tank swap is now somewhat official. I haven't seen my flame hawkfish (one of my favortite fish) in about 6 days. I've been holding onto hope, but I'm no longer optimistic. Crap.
|
very nice;
whats your bulb combo? Love the greens you have in the tank. Normally i HATE green for almost every damn coral is green or brown but you got the good greens :D |
Sorry to hear about the flame:sad:.... I have one and he's one of my fav fish
|
| All times are GMT. The time now is 10:31 PM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.3
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.