Noobie starting 75gal mostly DIY

[Tampico]

Hello all, I am super new to Saltwater. Never had a SW setup. Lots of FW. Had 8 tanks running @ one time with Lake malawi cichlids. Took some time off from the aquariums because alot was happening in my life. New baby, home shopping. We have been settled in our home for 2 years and my daughter is now 5. I wanted to try SW, mainly because after setting up a 45 with a few cichlids, I noticed my daughter was only interested in the tank when there were babies. She wanted to hunt and find them, ( although they never last for long in a cichlid tank) I thought the variety of a sw tank, and the nature of things hidden for her to find would be fun and a learning tool for her.

I started to read articles a few months ago, almost made the mistake of buying a used SW 29gal setup. I had this 75 drilled acrylic tank, that I had planned on using to winter a few pond fish. Has a few scratches that I think I can get out. Just got a ro/di unit. will have to wait a few weeks to buy the next piece . Here are some mid-build stand picks.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f223/Tampico96/P1010282.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f223/Tampico96/P1010288.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f223/Tampico96/P1010283.jpg

The drilled holes are what I am dealing with @ this point.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f223/Tampico96/P1010291.jpg
1 1/4 drilled through right side about 2 inch from the top

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f223/Tampico96/P1010292.jpg
This is a 3/4 hole 2 inches from the top left side


http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f223/Tampico96/P1010294.jpg
This is also a 3/4 hole in the left back corner


It was my intention to use the right holes with a section of pipe and a cap for the intakes. Filled with holes or slots along the top. Built a mockup today @ work and will take the camera in to take some photos.

I also had pplanned to use some locline & y's I have to make a double return top and bottom on the left side. With a provision to build a spray bar for the front edge. Will post some pictures this weekend. Plan to spend most of the weekend @ work. Snow coming and I am in charge of facilities
:mad:

I will use a sump if I can decide what to use. I wanted to make a 20tall into sump and return with another 20gal tall for Fuge. They are just too tall. I also have a 55 that I may get away with. Built the stand alittle tall in the begining to use this 55 gal.

concept:
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f223/Tampico96/55galsumpoption1.jpg

[Tampico]

I have access to a wierd selection of items from time to time. During a remodel several of these light fixtures were removed and up for grabs. I managed to get a hold of 2 of the 2 bulb units. I'd like to try to make these work until I "find" some MH ballasts.

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg/itemDetailsRender.shtml?xi=xi&ItemId=1613536805&ccitem=

[fishesRdelicious]

welcome to Reefnest,
you dont look like a newb, looks awesome
great job on the stand and hood, any diy pics of making it
those shop lights will be fine for a while but like you said mh is the best way to go

[Tampico]

No other photos of the build process. Its a 2/4 subframe with the the exterior skined in 1x3 and bead board. It was a little over a week of illegal lunch hour home projects @ work. Did not take pics of it until I was busted by the owner. Sounds like my punishment may be helping him set up a wine tasting setup outside his cellar. Will get pics again on monday, playing with a few plumbing ideas and had a hard time explaining it. Its all dry fit now and can be changed fairly easy and then the pieces can go back into the parts bins.

I figured I could try the lights to start. The T5s seem to have a huge following too. Problem is I only gave myself 14inches of clearance on the hood from the water line. Is that enough room for MH?

I have 2 120v 8inch fans I had planned on putting on the hood left and right side. Now I cant drill the holes. I dont want to look @ the fans. so I am planning on putting them on the top. May use them to pull heat out of the hood. not sure will have to play.

[Tampico]

Any suggestions on getting the glue residue from this tank? Its acrylic and they had 3 different stick thermo's on it and some tape. The glue stayed behind and is now a dust trap. should I try ronsonal (AKA lighter fluid)? something safer? I know goof off and goo gone discolor plastic so not touching this thing with those. Sorta scared to use anything really will have to test it on the back but need some suggestions on what to try

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f223/Tampico96/P1010297.jpg

[zooqi]

Hi, very good to see you here and to share all these pictures with us. I learned few good things from this and the first thing is that you do a good job with woodworking :) and I wish if i was talented like that.

It looks like you have done a good drawing of your system and gave yourself enough room for light in the hood too.

If 55 fits inside the stand then you will have a better filtration than the smaller one you had in mind.

Few things that I would change or it might be a good idea to change.

You won't be needing a ball valve on the blue line coming down from the tank. You will need to put a hole facing down an inch bellow water level to kill the siphone (if you not sure what I mean i can take few pictures for you)

The hole that you have in the tank in the bottom... what is that for ?

and back to the sump,, the yellow line goes out of the pump and it splits to go to the tank and one to the fuge... When the water level drops where the pump is the water coming from the fuge will bring some air with it and it will suck in the line to your tank and you don't want this.

to prevent this you can build another baffles like you have in the left to kill bubbles or you can modify it a little differently.

http://reefnest.com/general/45.jpg

[zooqi]

# 1 is to control how much water going to the fuge and more you close it faster water goes to the fuge...

# 2 is to control how much water going the tank in case if your pump is a little too strong for the overflows.

# 3 you can make that line go a little to the right closer to where the water from the fuge coming to give it more chance to get ride of air not that the baffle won't do that..

Make sure the acrylic you are cutting is not tight anywhere and little lose before you cilicon it . Acrylic expands with heat and you don't want water pressure and acrylic pressure crack the sump.


I think I got everything and if I remembered something else will get back to you..

[zooqi]

you were typing the last one while I was working the graph for you..
Alchool should remove it (I don't mean the beer can in your hand ) :) (rubbing alchool)

and as for the lights I won't put hat fixture in the hood but you can use the ballast from that and with saltwater it will rust so we use endcaps for a long life.
http://www.aquariuminstruments.com/media/UL-ENDCAP.JPG

here here one from Dr. Foster Smith
http://a1272.g.akamai.net/7/1272/1121/20020627204431/www.drsfostersmith.com/images/products/large/p_161085.jpg

Dr Foster Smith (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=6&pCatId=3931)

[zooqi]

and if you want the water to go up (return ) on the right just a flip..
http://www.reefnest.com/general/46.jpg

[Tampico]

No idea why that hole is in the bottom... I did not cut any of the holes. Story goes like this. I am @ this estate auction. The bid comes to me for $40 and I am ready to bail. I have a tank graveyard in my basement the way it is... no current need for another tank. But before I can say no ... the other bidder starts yelling... "They this tanks has holes in it.. I want out" .... hmmm oportunity... I say " what there is holes in it" Auctioneer relists the say and I get it for $1... I may be able to fix it after all;)

Dilled tank could be a good thing If I could figure out a layout using the holes. Will post picks on Monday again. Will try to get some his weekend but with snow coming... I have to make sure all is well with driveways parking lot and sidewalks or I will have 400 employees calling @ 8am monday wanted to express their "love"

[zooqi]

You can use bulkhead with cap to close that hole or you can clean it well, get a piece of acrylic and weld on. I would've taken it for that price too. Good buy holes can be extended to a bigger size easily with hole saw.

[Tampico]

Few things about a time table for this project. I hope to be added SW, rock (thinking a mix of manmade and LR) and sand by middle to end of may. Already have about 200lbs of southdown saved from the cichlid days. I do have a few questions that are going to need answered down the road.

1. I have read a ton about rock. I want to make most of it and then add some aquacultured rock from florida (or someplace else if anybody had some suggestions) I would like to seed my manmade with this purchased rock. For those that have made rock, do you use any oyster shells (available @ the feed store)? I was thinking about mixing cement and a mix of southdown and oystershells. I have also read that some are mixing in rock salt with the sand. While the rock soaks this salt leaches out leaving small holes where the salt had been. Curing tanks are finished and in the basement. 2 55gal brute trash cans with 3inch shower drains and ball valves for easy water changes. Will post pics of that project too.

2. Is there a website that offers livestock profiles? When I raised cichlids, Profiles of each fish was available on the website. I'd like to find a website that has a large list of corals and fish so I can start to put together a tank stock wishlist. So far all I know that I really want are clown or 2, blenny of some sort and some zoos.

3. Is there anybody further south? I just did a map quest and montoursville is 2 hours from here. Not good as I am on call 24/7 every other week. I'm way down the river in Lancaster county with the Amish. about 3 miles from ThatFishPlace.

[JollyGreen]

Excellent wood working skills, and it looks like you have a hardcore wood working shop too! I used to do some wood working 8 years ago, but I only did some small night stands and other stuff before I went off to college, now I have no room. :)

I was thinking you might be able to make that hole work for you. You could put a bulk head on it and then run some pipe up the corner of the tank and maybe put a U on top. That would let the return water from your sump flow up the tank and come out at the top just like some other setups. As long as you don't mind some PVC pipe or other tubing in the corner of your tank. You could use some suction cups or something else to stabalize the pipe in the corner.

I'm very interested in seeing what you end up doing with that hole.

And I agree, $1 for that setup is a great deal!

[Tampico]

The room I am working in is a little misleading. I have a good chop saw, a great table saw and a panel saw. Most work done in that room is hvac mechanicals. Alot of the tools I brought from home. Would build it @ home but there was 2 problems. First, evening family time gets priority so cant work on it every night. I do get a hour lunch break everyday and that is moving this along. Also, alot of the lumber was salvaged from a crate we got in from germany. (they make crates so much better than me... They must laugh when I send them a crate made from crap lumber.)

The second problem is my workshop has 3 pinball machines and 2 shuffle alleys taking up my work area. You can barely move in there. This summer they will get moved out, but not before the small barn on my property is turned into a game room.

I just painted the subframe for the stand today. Funny how fast paint dries in that room. There is 2 boilers and 2 chillers in that room.

[Tampico]

Almost forgot

Zooqi

When you posted the sump layout. The red circle would be my return pump. forgot to label it. I fed the fuge from the return pump because I thought that was the correct way. if the protien skimmer is in the first chamer and the return is in the second chamber............ The fuge would dump water into the return section, bypassing the chamber with the skimmer. I'd like to get a mandarin fish a year or so after the cycle and I thought if the pods went past the skimmer, far fewer would make it up to the tank.. Did I explain well enough?

[Tampico]

Thought I would show the ideas I had for the plumbing, because it was just too hard to explain. May end up doing an overflow box on the left as suggested. also need to look into finding another way to do the drains I have. The more I look @ them the bigger they seem. Here is what I tried today. Went rooting in bins @ work to try some things out. nothing is glued so it is just like playing with legos.

Looking for opinions onwhy this would not work, be safe or if there is a better way to do it. Its just easy for me to through it together and take a photo rather than try to explain it

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e269/Tampico1996/RearPlumbingidea.jpg

missing a few pieces to fill it all in but it gives you an idea what has been stuck in my brain the past week. Also thought some flex would keep vibrations down.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e269/Tampico1996/proposedtankfrontplumbing.jpg

with 4 movable jets on the left and a spray bar blowing down the fron glass. All water should move right to the drains. Ive seen alot of overflows that pull from near the surface. Thought as long as there was good tank movement that would not matter.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e269/Tampico1996/Rightintakesside.jpg

Here is the dual inlets. Just a quick concept proof.


http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e269/Tampico1996/Rightintakesabove.jpg

right drains from above.


I await the pending opinions, comments or flames. Thanks

[zooqi]

The skimmer on your drawing will go next to the blue line coming down then and this way water level stays same all the time. I missed the part with skimmer if you mention it and where to place it.

[Reef_Dweller_69]

First let me say welcome to reefnest Tampico. That stand/canopy and tank looks great. Very nice workmanship I must say. As far as your lights if your going to spend $130+ on that fixture you can get this for just about the same price. Thanks to Mo I now have MH over my tank :D. Try them you will like them without a doubt. That company also is a sponsor of RC. Keep us posted on your tank.

http://www.hellolights.com/25methalbalk.html

[Tampico]

Thanks for the info. Those lights were from a remodel. No money was spent. I was only trying to cut a few corners. Well truth be told I like circles. The fixtures were free and if they are not used for the tank I can alway use them in the basement. Seems like there is alot of reefers using the T5s lately. Think its less heat and alot less cost to operate. So far in the project I have $10 invested in the tank and $70 in some of the wood for the tank. $45 of that the red oak trim. I had wanted to try these lights first since the price was so good. That way I can spent the savings on a good skimmer. Not sure if I should be looking @ venturi or needle valve. Was thinking ASM
http://www.thatpetplace.com/Products/KW/F49AX%2bF49B%40/Class/Fish+Supplies+Protein+Skimmers/T1/F49BB+0578+0017/EDP/50076/Itemdy00.aspx


Would I need 2 or 3 MH250 for a 4ft long 75?

Any thoughts on the plumbing?

[Tampico]

Quick lighting update. 2 250 watt Metal Halide ballasts just showed up. Gift form the contractor fairies. Still need mogal bases and reflectors. But I guess that answers the lighting issues, as long as 500watts of light is not too much for a 75 gal.
Think its in the right zone though. No way around the bulbs will have to buy those but every little bit helps

This build is gonna rival any of the cheap reef setups.

[zooqi]

You should be in good shape to have 2 250 MH. I would not use 2 175 as I have done before and jumped to 2 250 MH. I added an actinic bulb Ez ballast to the hood to start the tank in the morning with it and to have it on few hours before bed.

What bulbs are you going to use with those ballasts ?

[Tampico]

No clue on what bulbs I am going to use. Need to hit ThatfishPlace and see bulbs. I see the different k values and dont have a clue what I will like, 10 12 14k. Will have to see them in action to really decide.

Any opinions on the plumbing ?

[Reef_Dweller_69]

Here ya go buddy a link for the reflector and mogul socket

http://www.hellolights.com/methalparref.html

I think 10k MH bulbs will be good if you plan on using actinic vho's with them (best growth from what I read and hear), if you don't go that way next best that will give you some growth as well are the 14k's. They have a more crisp mix of white and blue specturm

[Tampico]

Thought I would drop in and show the next bit of DIY. Its just the MH Light bar. Working on a Rittal enclosure for the balasts now. and also another light bar similar to the MH one for 2 VHO bulbs. Need to get you all photos of the cabinet now that it is stained and painted. Still not sure what to do with the plumbing. Moved that to a backburner while I think it out. But here are 2 photos of the light bar.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e269/Tampico1996/p1010304.jpg

2 250watt Ushio 10k

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e269/Tampico1996/P1010306.jpg

[rickyfins]

I am still willing to chat plumbing when you have time!

thanks,

Rick

[zooqi]

Nice idea and how did you mount the side piece short to the two long pieces ? Do they make a piece to mount them like that.

[Stephany]

Gary M's tank has a pipe bringing his bottom hole of his tank, to the top of his water. And he built his rocks up around that. It's kinda neat, but you'd have to mess with the rocks to hide it.
Instead of a bulkhead, I would recommend to cut a larger (circle or square) piece of acrylic, and coat it with weldon. That way the pressure of the water being in it, will push it against the bottom of the tank for the seal. I've heard stuff about bulkheads leaking on occassion. That's how a lot of the people with plywood tanks keep their glass sealed in the front window.

Also, why not keep both overflows separate? That way if one gets clogged, it won't affect the other. Just run two separate lines down instead of bottlenecking them together. Great safety feature.

[MOX]

looking good keep us posted

[Tampico]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6907105#post6907105 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rickyfins
I am still willing to chat plumbing when you have time!

thanks,

Rick

Thanks Rick, I have spent far too much time @ work the past 2 weeks and they have messengers block on the work network. Hope to find some time next week in the evenings. That is the next real big issue. Just picked up some crushed oyster shells and want to start making some rock this weekend. Think my first batch will just be agro, cement and oyster shells. May get daring on the second batch and add cheetos or macaroni. Will see. I have to just pay for Photobucket, cant get enough photos on there and still need to post picks of the Brute trash containers with shower drains in the bottom to soak my DIY rock in for 4-6weeks.

[rickyfins]

Cool! Sounds good to me, and I am glad to see everything is going well.

rick

ps talk to you next week

[fishesRdelicious]

mo might have some pictures but what he does with diy rock is take old peices of bread and put it in the concrete. it makes lots of holes and makes it look more natural. then all you have to do is wait for the bread to dissolve away and you have some sweet rock.

[Tampico]

Zooqi Bosch Extruded has a ton of hardware. (For small projects, its insanely expensive. But we use alot of it @ work. Here is a product link. Really cool stuff

http://www.airlinehyd.com/Pneumatics/Bosch/bosch.asp


Stephany -- All of the plumbing is just dry fit. I put the plumbing together just to see it. (I'm really hands on, and wanted to try a few things that I could not visualize on paper.) Its almost like playing with legos. The plumbing is the big issue still to do. Just bought a new pump with 600g/h @ 0 head so it may be better for the sump and work the 1200g/h into a closed loop. Also just got The Ushio bulbs, ballasts, A TDS meter and a digi PH meter.

Things to buy yet.

A skimmer ( need to replace the high quality SC100 my friend gave me :D )
Test kits
Seed live rock

I still may make my May 12th goal.

[Tampico]

Sorry for the long delay since my last posting. I was so excited about this project. I love DIY. This project was so much of that and I really enjoyed it. I had a target date of middle of May for a finish, because my wife was going to buy me some Live rock for my birthday. I guess I have always been hard to buy anything for. I never really need anything. Well the rock is not what I ended up getting for my birthday, it was a divorce instead. So the whole thing was put on hold and put into storage. Tank had alot of progression after these posts, but I have been in a "mood" the past few months.

A friend asked the other day what my status on the tank was. (he works at a LFS) I told him that I needed a skimmer yet and some Live rock to seed my Concrete rock. (have about 140lbs of it made, how much of it will be used I have no idea, just made alot and will fill in with the live as the aquascaping allows. I also just quit smoking so I now have alittle extra money to waste on another habit. SW is less likely to kill me I think. I was given a Red Sea Berlin XL (150-400gal rating) with the turbo venturi pump. Anybody have any opinions on this skimmer, or if there is any mods to be suggested, maybe a DIY needlewheel?

[fishesRdelicious]

its definately not the best skimmer, but you can try it and see how it works.
so how far are you along now, what peices of equipment do you still need?

[Tampico]

I think I have gotten most of the items covered up to this point. I have all my pumps, a 55gal sump/fuge built. The skimmer has been an issue, but I think it is improving. I'm hoping that something better will come around. But I think that the skimmers are improving, first I had the Seaclone, now the berlin. Still not going to buy one yet, something better will show up I'm sure. I have the 2 MH 250w 10,000k I also have a 4 bulb compact flor. with moon lights that I am going to suppliment the 10ks with. Lots of DIY rock made, so I'm gonna need 20-30 pounds of real LR when actual setup time comes, maybe more. I will also need a bit of ssand at setup time to spike my southdown sand. Just got a 24gal aquapod that I plan to use as a QT. Also have a 1/4 chiller, but hope to not need it. I have patience. Maybe too much. Will see when I finally get all the bits. Sad part is I have not even set up the tank and I really would rather have more depth. The stand was built with that in mind.