Melev's new 280g Starfire tank thread - Page 24

melev · #**576** 07/18/2007, 01:02 AM

It is just about ready to go. Here are the pictures of the progress.

First the wall was drilled where the bulkheads will plumb through. Spaflex travels through a closet to the fishroom. I'll fill the gap around the plumbing with Great Stuff later to keep humidity from seeping into the closet and house.

I decided to use a Mag 7 instead of a Mag 9.5 for now. I have the 9.5 and the plumbing is ready if I have to swap it out by removing a single bushing beneath the union.

The water will drain to the skimmer section of my sump via spaflex.

The painted plumbing was dry and ready to install.

And the sand is in.

melev · #**577** 07/18/2007, 01:05 AM

Here is a close up of the drain pipe. I saw a similar idea recently thanks to Lukinrats, and decided to give it a try with this tank. The drain has a black gutter to act as a surface overflow, and the locline hops over it currently.

Hop · #**578** 07/18/2007, 01:15 AM

It looks really nice melev. I'm kind of eager to see it with water and stuff now!

melev · #**579** 07/18/2007, 01:37 AM

After plugging in the Mag 7 to one of the new GFCI-protected waterproof outlets (that was nice to have handy), I turned on #6 on the DJ powerstation. Next I opened the ballvalve slightly.

I had to add another 20g of saltwater to my sump as well.

Here you can see the water coming out of the anti-siphon hole.

Water was added to the tank in a vase standing on a plastic bag to keep the sand from being disturbed.

And that was as far as I got. I totally forgot to add the Durso on the other side of the wall as planned, so those parts are waiting for the paint to dry so I can glue them into the spaflex line. Oops!

spleen93 · #**580** 07/18/2007, 01:58 AM

Looking good, Marc. Looking forward to seeing how that drain works for you. Great pics of the clowns laying eggs too. That vase in the angled tank looks a little precarious as it's filling with water - I have visions of it toppling over and smashing.

Spleen

melev · #**581** 07/18/2007, 02:36 AM

It was fine. I got the in-line Durso installed, and it is running now. The Mag 7 is more than enough flow. Really it is too much. I may swap it out with a Mag 5 after all. The drain line is probably 11' long and the end is not submerged and still it doesn't drain steadily. Then again, it is brand new plumbing so it probably will slime over in the next week or so. I need to quit tinkering with it and make the light suspension bracket now.

melev · #**582** 07/18/2007, 02:42 AM

Looks like tomorrow I can put in the Houston Black Onyx Percs I got in January, the Rose BTA I got last Thursday, some corals, a Purple firefish, and see how it does.

reeftankjunkie · #**583** 07/18/2007, 02:42 AM

That's going to look awesome full of corals. What fish, if any are going in.

reeftankjunkie · #**584** 07/18/2007, 02:43 AM

Nevermind, I guess I was typing too slow.

melev · #**585** 07/18/2007, 02:44 AM

I don't want to add any other fish in there other than those three, so I can put in thing like Sexy Shrimp, Porcelain Crabs, maybe a cool Pipefish or some Seahorses.

Micki · #**586** 07/18/2007, 07:43 AM

AWESOME Marc!!! Why do you ahve to wait until tomorrow to add the fish? This is part of the same system right?

Hop · #**587** 07/18/2007, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by melev
The drain line is probably 11' long and the end is not submerged and still it doesn't drain steadily.

If it doesn't calm down over the next couple weeks, I thought I may have seen somemthing and may have a solution. But no sense throwing it out there until we know whether it will settle on it's own

kwl1763 · #**588** 07/18/2007, 09:40 AM

You've got to put clams in there man. it looks like was made for that!

sdf_beanhead · #**589** 07/18/2007, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Micki
AWESOME Marc!!! Why do you ahve to wait until tomorrow to add the fish? This is part of the same system right?

I think he means later today. You know his days are a little offset from ours, I mean look what time he does all this work

Micki · #**590** 07/18/2007, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sdf_beanhead
I think he means later today. You know his days are a little offset from ours, I mean look what time he does all this work

You're probably right there. I didn't think about the time difference.

andyjd · #**591** 07/18/2007, 10:14 AM

Are they there yet ?

melev · #**592** 07/18/2007, 12:56 PM

I just woke up. I'll see if I can impress y'all. I wish I had a bunch of colorful LR to put in there, but I don't.

purebullet417 · #**593** 07/18/2007, 01:11 PM

def get some lr and some clams in that tank

jacjr14 · #**594** 07/18/2007, 01:20 PM

Well If you need that live rock I am not sure if you saw but franks tanks has it on sale right now 1.75 a pound!

melev · #**595** 07/18/2007, 01:24 PM

I'm sure it is gone. Plus it had mushrooms...

Lordhelmet · #**596** 07/18/2007, 01:49 PM

i thought you loved mushrooms!

melev · #**597** 07/18/2007, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lordhelmet
i thought you loved mushrooms!

Yeah, in your tank!

melev · #**598** 07/18/2007, 02:24 PM

I just watched a FedEx guy carefully carry my box to the front door. As if he knew that he had live fish in his hands. That's a nice change.

Micki · #**599** 07/18/2007, 02:27 PM

Geezzz
Marc, turn down those MH lights! Are you tring to blind your fish???

Kentanner11 · #**600** 07/18/2007, 02:28 PM

Ya gotta love fedex. loL!