Shipwreck's 400g build

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shipwreck

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Apr 1, 2011
I did find Melev's post about replacing the bearings and seals and definitely looks simple enough thanks for the tip on where to source the bearings. I have to get the details off the pump and call reeflo to see if I can get the seals as well.  I may just pick up another pump in the mean time and then keep this as a spare.

I also think I may downgrade the dart impeller to the snapper impeller as well. In my test the 300gph really got the 150g sump tank moving, looked like rapids.  Was a good test thoughshowed my overflow box and drain lines could handle the flow with no problems (or leaks).
 
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shipwreck

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Apr 1, 2011
Picked up a replacement pump today. Now I will find the seals/bearings to fix the old pump and will have a spare ready to go for all my pumps.

The tank has its first fish as well. No not a tank or even a wrasse. I picked up two tiny goldfish and in the tank they look minuscule. They will help me test the flow systems, put some motion in the tank and then move to the pond to grow up.

Back to plumbing tomorrow with the hopes of it being all done by the end of the week.
 
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shipwreck

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Apr 1, 2011
Not as many updates as I would like.

Lets see, since my last update..  I went to Germany 3 times, enjoyed Christmas, suffered through the flu.  Oh you probably meant the tank.

The tank is not as far as I would have hoped.  I have purchased a new skimmer, a Reeflo 250 unit for the tank.  I have gotten the plumbing all completed and glued except for the one OM surge device.  If all goes well I hope to get start putting the rock in next weekend. I just need to find a source for acyrlic rods to build up the rock work. If anyone has a source please let me know.

I also had a little setback today during the testing.  The motor on the OM8 way, which was used when I bought it, seems to have died.  Now I need to find a replacement for it.
 
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shipwreck

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Apr 1, 2011
Picked up the fiberglass rods mark recommended and some more fittings. Still trying to find replacement motor for the oceans motions 8 way on my return line. Tonight, tomorrow and Saturday are all slated for the tank since the wife is out. Hope to make some good progress and post some updated pics this weekend. Time to leave work now so I can start working.
 
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shipwreck

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Apr 1, 2011
So had a good couple of days with the tank.  There is now water flowing from the RO unit into the tank!!!  Will post some pics and update tomorrow.
 
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shipwreck

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Apr 1, 2011
Water!!! We have water!!

So I have all the plumbing completed, the tanks in place, the rock is built and it is filling with RO water.  I do have some things to work out yet.  The motor on the oceans motions 8 way died during my water testing so I need to find another motor for that, but looking at alternatives other then the original.  Also I need to figure out how to control the closed loop wavemakers.  I had a PLC I planned to use but my cable is dead so I need to find another cable or a small controller.  I was thinking a small arduino type controller may work, any suggestions would be great.

A shot of the rockwork - I still need to figure out what to do to cover the glass so you can't see the mess behind the tank.
IMG_0850.jpg


200gpd RO Unit
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The new skimmer - a reeflo 250
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The top tank is a 40g frag tank, the bottom tank is 25g fuge tank, and the one in the back is a 40g QT tank.  The frag tank is fed by two 1' lines from the Oceans motions 8way
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The Oceans motions surge devices each fed by a dedicated dart pump.  They really move the tank water around.  These are what I need to find a controller for.
IMG_0854.jpg
 
C

ChatBot

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This is going to be a amazing home for whoever moves in fish wise.
 
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shipwreck

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Apr 1, 2011
pulpfiction1 link said:
I have a couple of used pumps ,1100 gph range
Click to expand...

Ok. I am not sure you posted this in the right thread.  I am not looking for pumps. The motor that turns the drum on the oceans motions 8 way had a gear break so I need to replace it.
 
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shipwreck

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Apr 1, 2011
Ok.  So the tank is full of water, salt and up to temperature.  Now it just has to sit and mature.  I have been working on the other equipment.  I retrofitted the 200gpd Vertex unit so that it has 3 prefilters and 2 di chambers.  I have mounted some of the reefkeeper elite and ordered some more components for it.  My controller for the surge devices is in the mail.  I have got the drain noise down.

So the next thing to figure out is lighting.  The frag tank and the fuge tank are going to be T5's for now since I have all those already, but will probably upgrade to some DIY LED's eventually.  My big question is how to light the main tank and I am looking for suggestions.  I already have 2 400 watt MH ballasts and lumenarc reflectors but no bulbs.  Trying to decide if I should use these with some T5's or if I should just start with LED's.  I really like the ideas of LED's but with the 36" depth of my tank I can't find much first hand experience at those depths.  The other problem I see right now is that solutions that may work for the depth will use almost the same power as the MH's anyways so not sure the benefit is there.

Looking for comments or arguments and experiences for either option.
 
unibob

unibob

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I have 2 900w ish LED unit, I think it would for sure penetrate the depth, problem is I don't think they would do well with the humidity of the tank/salt creep. Send me a pm if you are interested in seeing photos.
 
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phi delt reefer

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shipwreck link said:
Ok.  So the tank is full of water, salt and up to temperature.  Now it just has to sit and mature.  I have been working on the other equipment.  I retrofitted the 200gpd Vertex unit so that it has 3 prefilters and 2 di chambers.  I have mounted some of the reefkeeper elite and ordered some more components for it.  My controller for the surge devices is in the mail.  I have got the drain noise down.

So the next thing to figure out is lighting.  The frag tank and the fuge tank are going to be T5's for now since I have all those already, but will probably upgrade to some DIY LED's eventually.  My big question is how to light the main tank and I am looking for suggestions.  I already have 2 400 watt MH ballasts and lumenarc reflectors but no bulbs.  Trying to decide if I should use these with some T5's or if I should just start with LED's.  I really like the ideas of LED's but with the 36\" depth of my tank I can't find much first hand experience at those depths.  The other problem I see right now is that solutions that may work for the depth will use almost the same power as the MH's anyways so not sure the benefit is there.

Looking for comments or arguments and experiences for either option.
Click to expand...


build the rock work up and keep corals between 8 and 24" deep. No need to keep corals on the sand bed where you cant reach them in case they need to be moved. Maybe add some bottom dwellers to keep that space interesting. You could put non-photosynthetic corals down there (sun coral, gorgs, etc)
 
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shipwreck

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Apr 1, 2011
Picked up a Led unit today and borrowed an apogee light meter to test it. I will test it tonight/tomorrow and post the results and some more details. 
 
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shipwreck

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Apr 1, 2011
mark0933 link said:
If you want to try out my LED's with the meter let me know.  (just so you have something to compare to)

Mark
Click to expand...

Hey Mark,  I have to find a manual for the meter as I realized when I got it home not sure I am using it right.  If we can arrange a night this week I would happy to come down to your place after work, see your tank and check you lights.  I have to take the meter back next weekend, probably Saturday.

Darryl_V link said:
This is an awesome build.  How long from inception to now?
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I picked up the glass just over 3 years ago from a friend in Gatineau.  The big part was the renovations required for this tank.  I have literally gutted what had been a 2 car garage, raised the ceiling, replaced the roof, restructured 2 of the 3 walls, installed water/plumbing, gas lines, all new electrical, and then all the finishes.  The tank got built after the room demo was done, built up and then I had to do the finishing of the renos.  Since christmas the tank has gotten a very focused effort.  The big push is the wife who wanted all the build up supplies out of the rest of the house and wants her new laundry room (which is the other end of the tank room).

So I hung the light, will definetely need at least 3, but that would be 450watts vs the 1000 I had been considering (2x 400w MH + 4x 54w T5).  Need to figure out how to use this apogee meter to check par but visually looks good.  Not as much shimmer as I would have hopped for but the light looks very promising.
 
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