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FishyFishy's 33 Gal SPS dedicated build
So I started this project on October 20th, after receiving a $10 33 REGULAR with overflow score off kijiji. I am just now getting to my build thread. In fact, I just did the whole thing which took me an hour... then clicked something... and it erased the whole thing!!! :twised: Anyways, this will be my first SPS dominated tank... and I can't wait! Tank is currently cycling.
__________________________________________________ _____________ ***Current FTS (cycling) - Novemeber 1st, 2010*** http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3...a/DSCN1780.jpg Tank: 33 Gallon Long (36"L X 12"D X 15"h) Rimless tank Right corner overflow - 1 stand pipe, open top, drilled sides. Black acrylic covers on overflow with combs at the top All sides but front painted black Stand: DIY 2X4 stand 42" tall !! I wanted it around eye level when watching TV. Perfect! Sump: Megaflow Model 3 sump Phospad and floss in prefilter Rubble/dead SPS in media area Floss in bubble trap Mini Fuge with Cheato Macro in return chamber Equipment: Lighting - Main - Wavepoint 36" fixture with 4 X 39W bulbs (2X 460NM + 2X 10,000K) Moonlights - Oddysea 18 LED moonlight submersable tube Fuge light - Clamp on fixture with 10,000 K screw in bulb Water movement - 1 Koralia Nano Return pump - Coralife Turbo Sea 1270 (1268 GPH rating) Skimmer - Return pump driven Berlin X2 (upgrading to hydor performer soon) In sump Reactor - AquaC XP Plus - return pump driven SeaChem Purigen Boyd Chemi Pure Elite Electronics/ATO - Tunze Osmolator (Not installed... have to get un-lazy) DIY GFCI outlet on electronics board 2X Powerbars 1 Woods digital timer (love these things) Apex controller to come. Heat - 300W Fluval E300 digital heater in sump. Plumbing 1" PVC all the way through 1 X check valve 4 X Ball valves Still waiting on my reducers for in tank return. (currently have just a PVC outlets). Stock 15 Lbs Jakarta live rock - Thanks Red Coral! 40 Lb huge rock! - this thing is just huge. Things to do: - Install tunze Osmolator - Build/purchase cabinet panels - Purchase Apex controller - Purchase dosing system Build Pics- Stand finished, sump plumbing mocked up. http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3...01014-1707.jpg Stand Painted, sump plumbed, return pump attached http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3...a/DSCN1763.jpg http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3...a/DSCN1764.jpg http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3...a/DSCN1776.jpg Electronics panel, powerbars, GFCI outlet http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3...a/DSCN1767.jpg http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3...a/DSCN1769.jpg Tank now set up. Rocks in, leaks fixed - Waiting on the cycle! http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3...a/DSCN1780.jpg http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3...a/DSCN1784.jpg http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3...a/DSCN1783.jpg http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3...a/DSCN1782.jpg Left the overflow un-painted to see what goin on in thurr! http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3...a/DSCN1781.jpg Sump http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3...a/DSCN1773.jpg http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3...a/DSCN1778.jpg Mini Fuge/Cheato http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3...a/DSCN1789.jpg Electronics Panel http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3...a/DSCN1779.jpg Skimmer pulling dark skimmate already http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3...a/DSCN1788.jpg AquaC Reactor http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3...a/DSCN1790.jpg |
Now I have myself a dilemma.... On an SPS dominated tank.... Would you go sand or bare bottom? It is bare bottom now, but I'm pushed towards adding sand for some reason. Any input?
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Alot of SPS'ers don't use sand for the reason that they can have huge flow in the tanks. you have a 1270 GPH pump you have lots i take it .
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I'm also having a small issue with micro bubbles. I changed the coarse foam pads I had in the bubble trap to a finer floss. That helped a lot, but there are still quite a few upon closer inspection. Any ideas?
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Nice tank! I noticed that your "herbie" overflow only has one stand pipe. That's living on the edge! :). Seriously though, if you are in fact using that one pipe as a herbie it can and likely will (down the road) block and cause your tank to overflow! Herbies should always have emergency pipes in case the main can not keep up. Also, I noticed that you are using a ball valve on your drain. Those are a royal pain to dial in your overflow water level. Gate valves are so much easier. With the combination of one stand pipe and a ball valve on that line I would be a little worried.
If you want to add an emergency overflow you can drill a hole into the side of your overflow box that is higher than the top of your main standpipe. Then run that emergency line on the outside of the tank and down to the sump. |
Nice start and I see a lot of my movie collection sitting there behind the tank lol.
Hard to tell from the pics but did you lay plywood down under the tank before you filled it? And is there 2x4s on end underneath your flat lying 2x4s on the stand's top? |
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Btw, your tank is a 33 not a 33 long. A 33 long is 48" long, yours appears to be the standard 36" long. It is a great looking tank though, and I am interested to see how it turns out! |
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As for the gate valve, I drove around to 4 different stores closest to me and could not find a 1" gate valve. The blue handled one I have is actually smooth as butter for now. Picked it up at Ocean City. Its by far the smoothest ball valve I have seen (for now!). Eventually I will upgrade to a gate valve. Quote:
I had no idea that a 33 long was a 48! My last 33 was 30", so I assumed it was a long. My mistake! ha:redface: consider it edited. |
I have also noticed that there is quite a bit of what I think is algae (not diatoms). See pics and let me know what to think of it.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3...a/DSCN1798.jpg http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3...a/DSCN1796.jpg http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3...a/DSCN1797.jpg http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3...a/DSCN1795.jpg |
That will go away I think you're right on the id. They're annoying because the bubbles get chewed up in the powerheads and you think there's a microbubble issue somewhere in the system. When only my T5s are on the bubbles stop being released and my water clears. I'm pretty much clear of this now on my new setup.
Good to hear about the vertical 2x4s. I was more concerned about that then the plywood. I think the valve thing needs to be sorted out though. You can drill your emergency drain into the back or side panel and add a 90 on the end so it's above your primary. |
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