125g setup...the wall.....shook... - Page 5

Scuba_Dave · #**101** 12/11/2003, 04:03 PM

For some reason ($$ perhaps) Dolphin has their own custom Unions/collars for the pumps. They are due in from Marine Depot on Tuesday 16th. In the meantime I hooked up the Iwaki 70 to get things going & test. Big micro bubble problem I have to solve.
Only 1 small leak on the union after the output on the pump. Took the union (threaded) apart, retaped threads & resealed, leak is gone

The gutters are full of leaves, I have to go to old house & pu ladders & unclog. Causing water to back up into basement

60g is still slowly leaking, we are going ot be at the old house for the weekend while the new house has main room floor refinished.
I decided to wait until Sat night/Sun am to move the 60g inhabitants to their new living quarters. This gives the tank another 2 days of testing/tweaking. I have started to move some extra LR from both tanks to the new tank
Salinity is dead on at 1.024
So far only lightly cut 1 finger...and almost got another one shortened. Sawzall nipped me...always wait for the sucker to stop completely before putting fingers neer the blade

has thrown my typing off....oh well..back to work on house...see ya later...pics posted on weekend from the old house

For the return (trips 11& 12 to HD) I went 1" to upstairs from pump, then along back of tank w/1". T'ing off at the 2 braces. SAt each brace it drops to 3/4" & there is a ball valve & 12" locline. Then at the end I extended with 3/4" pipe to another ball valve and a 3rd 12" locline. Nice flow going w/just return pump.
I have a small PH in there, and a small filter that have both ben going for 2 days
Tank has been well circulated. For now I only have 80w NO over the tank (mostly for looks).

I think the Tang will be quite happy

Scuba_Dave · #**102** 12/12/2003, 08:40 AM

Hopefully pics from the last week will be posted tonite/over the weekend.
3 small easily fixed leaks - Union as posted, one drain had a small leak near a connection in the basement, and the threaded drain from the sump to pump had a small leak. All just drips.
The Iwaki 70 must be pumping more then 1250gph, one 1.5" overflow will not handle the flow. It will eventually fill up & overflow the tank.
Late Sat/early Sun I shoudl be transferring everything over. Can't wait!

Scuba_Dave · #**103** 12/12/2003, 10:29 AM

and the micro problem is mostly gone. I think it was the leak on the input to the pump from the sump. I think it was acting like a venturi & sucking air in. I'll have to fine tune everything Sun am

seawillow · #**104** 12/12/2003, 10:52 AM

following along and waiting for more pics!!

Scuba_Dave · #**105** 12/12/2003, 11:00 AM

Hopefully pics tonite.

geez, just remebered the camera is at the old house....I'll have to stop & pick it up

as a sidenote, looking back, in retrospect I am glad I started out w/smaller tanks. We had a FO 30g for 2.5 years that "trained" us on water changes & testing. Altho a 55/75g would of been a better tank to start (since I setup the 30g again shortly after going reef) for more room
Then we started a reef (slowly) in Jan w/larger tank. I have learned a lot since then & feel I now have enough experience to totally mess up a 125g

With letting the tank mature (6 months) and then adding corals & waiting for them to grow; I'm still over a year away. But I can wait. Maybe by next year I'll have some frags/corals for the auction

I have also already returned about $120 in plumbing that I did not use to HD, of course I "re-invested" that in the electronic timers...

Scuba_Dave · #**106** 12/12/2003, 07:32 PM

OK, round three of the pictures

Tank is filling up, about 3 days to fill 125g tank & 30g sump with a 100gpd unit (did not leave running 24x7)

Scuba_Dave · #**107** 12/12/2003, 07:33 PM

Dual 1.5" (2.5" holes drilled w/diamond hole saw) drains on long end. This end will have a cabinet to enclose drains & electrical

Scuba_Dave · #**108** 12/12/2003, 07:34 PM

Drains completed up top, now down to the basement

Scuba_Dave · #**109** 12/12/2003, 07:35 PM

Drains inside the tank

Scuba_Dave · #**110** 12/12/2003, 07:36 PM

View of drains from the basement, return is 1" line. Other 2 lines are 1.5" flexpipe

Scuba_Dave · #**111** 12/12/2003, 07:37 PM

Sump area, notice the "Y" that will eventually go to a 75g fuge.
100gpd RO/DI from Air/Water/Ice is on the wall.
That beam is supported by steel columns, no need to reinforce the floor

Scuba_Dave · #**112** 12/12/2003, 07:38 PM

Sump area w/2 55g drums & 1 30g drum + odds & ends

Scuba_Dave · #**113** 12/12/2003, 07:41 PM

Notice the expensive stand for the pump. The idea for now is to get everything up & running. Then I need to finish moving & painting the house to keep the wife happy.
She has been more then understanding in letting me spend most of my past 2 weeks getting this setup

Then I will go back & neaten up & build permanent structure, install dedicated eletric panel, Fish room sink, etc etc

Scuba_Dave · #**114** 12/12/2003, 07:42 PM

Another view of the sump, the bucket helps keep the bubbles down. In addition their are 90 elbows on the end of the drains pipes, pointing towards the back of the sump

doh pic didnt post

Scuba_Dave · #**115** 12/12/2003, 07:44 PM

Another view of the sump, the bucket helps keep the bubbles down. In addition their are 90 degree elbows on the end of the drains pipes, pointing towards the back of the sump

try this again, I just hate that 30 second posting rule
I heard Karl is pushing for a 30 minute limit for me...

Scuba_Dave · #**116** 12/12/2003, 07:46 PM

Tanks is up, pump is working, 80w NO 9200k lights installed for now. Some extra LR from my 55g tank is in the tank

Scuba_Dave · #**117** 12/12/2003, 07:48 PM

Top of the tank, shows returns. 1" return pipe runs near the back of the tank. At each cross brace a 3/4" line T's off w/ball valve & 12" loclines on the end. Loclines will eventually have flared nozzles. At the end of the 1" return is an additional ball valve & another locline.
Iwaki 70 is pumping over 1250gph at present. I'm getting some really good flow so far

Scuba_Dave · #**118** 12/12/2003, 07:50 PM

Close up of the flow coming out of the locline.
Picture doesn't do the flow any justice

Scuba_Dave · #**119** 12/12/2003, 07:53 PM

Picture of tank, all wrapped up in plastic. Floor is being sanded & recoated. So tank & sump are enclosed, an air pump from back bedroom (25' of tubing) is pumping air from a window into the tank.
Stopped by the house & the fumes aren't as bad as I thought
And the floors look awesome!!!
Late Sat/early sunday I'm hopefully moving everything from the 60g to the 125g.
Depending upon if the floors are done by then & the house is all aired out

R Baxley · #**120** 12/12/2003, 09:55 PM

lookin' good dave. i am extremely jealous!

Scuba_Dave · #**121** 12/12/2003, 10:31 PM

Thanx, it's been fun, and more work then I thought. Too many trips to HD!! And this is only the startup. The stand still has to be enclosed & finish work, cabinet for drains built, sump stand built, Sub panel installed & electric run
I'm glad it's winter, I should have plenty of time to work my way thru this.
The tank actually looks small in the big opening

nancysnuwave · #**122** 12/12/2003, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Scuba_Dave
Last pic of the night. Close-up of the drilled holes. Just a little bit of chipping after drilling. I drilled from the inside out, so the chips are on the outside. Totally covered by the bulkheads. 2.5" holes, for a 1.5" thruput.

Hi

I'm curious to learn about your drilling? What did the Diamond hole saw set you back?
CHris

nancysnuwave · #**123** 12/12/2003, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Scuba_Dave
So 100gpd unit
Ever watch water drip??

Local grocery store.. water @ 25cents/gallon - bulk, 6 filtered..: >

Scuba_Dave · #**124** 12/12/2003, 10:43 PM

Drilled w/diamond hole saw 2.5" (1.5" bulkhead) from inside of the tank using a drill press. 1st time I ever drilled glass. A little nervous. I had tank outside w/hose running, filled end of the tank a little & started to drill.
I'm not sure how long it took, seemed REALLY long time, lotsa noise. You are not actually drilling, you are grinding away the glass.
2nd hole went much faster once I was used to the noise & got the feel of it. You can teel when the bit is simply tirning, and when it is actually grinding.
Only thing I would change is to use a tripod to drill. Very hard to tell how much pressure you are putting on glass with a spring loaded drill press

Scuba_Dave · #**125** 12/12/2003, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by nancysnuwave
Local grocery store.. water @ 25cents/gallon - bulk, 6 filtered..: >

Ever try to lug 200g of water home from the store?

125g in tank, 30-35g in sump, maybe another 5g in piping, 55g in drum for top-off/emergency/just in case

Then another 55g drum to fill for Kalkwasser

My RO/DI cost me $155, and I've been using it for almost a year
Cost will be well below .25 gallon by the time I finish setting up the 75g sump & the 180g in the new addition

TDS=1 in a container that was not "super clean" when I filled it
I have replaced the intial filter so far, cost $5

RO/DI in the house is well worth it. My wife won't drink tapwater, and we are divers so need bottled water for diving (RO only)