380 Starfire SPS in a closet - Page 6

normanfine · #**126** 09/04/2007, 08:47 AM

wow that is a nice setup going

normanfine · #**127** 09/04/2007, 08:47 AM

wow that is a nice setup going

dandy7200 · #**128** 09/04/2007, 06:12 PM

I can see it now: "Hun, can you reach back there and unplug the skimmer pump?"

That will teach her to unplug my top off pump because it's making noise

I picked up my sump today:

It fits:

erics3000 · #**129** 09/04/2007, 07:48 PM

I feel like I should start calling you Sinsee. It is really Coming along sweet...

Bax · #**130** 09/04/2007, 08:06 PM

This is an amazing build.

Where do the D cell batteries go in that thing!?!

dandy7200 · #**131** 09/04/2007, 08:47 PM

Thanks guys! I got quite a bit done this last week. Starting to get anxious for the tank......

danskim · #**132** 09/04/2007, 08:58 PM

Cool sump. What's it made of?

dandy7200 · #**133** 09/04/2007, 09:07 PM

It's fiberglass. It looks thick since it has a 2" foam core for insulation.

mfaustria · #**134** 09/04/2007, 09:57 PM

Just tagging along your thread, man everything is comming along nice. But can't wait to see how everything turns out, and for the tank to arrive. Please take lots of picture of the tank when everything is set up in place.

Paikuhan · #**135** 09/05/2007, 11:11 AM

WOW that control panel is huge, very nicely done.

Antiguan · #**136** 09/06/2007, 08:37 PM

Dan,

This thread is very informative and a great help to an overwhelmed (with different equipments and options) newby like me. Great planning and experience is a hell of a combination and you are blessed with both.

Trevor

scarletknight06 · #**137** 09/06/2007, 10:13 PM

awesome build. I have one question though (sorry if it was already asked):

How are you going to deal with the temps (heat and cold) in NoVA if your sump is in a shed like that? seems like there's not enough insulation (even though the sump is insulated) and the chiller will be working overtime in the summer, and the heaters in the winter. If you have a solution to this, please let me know, b/c as a fellow NoVA resident, I'd like to do the same thing one day (insta fishroom w/o an addition to the house!).

dandy7200 · #**138** 09/06/2007, 11:03 PM

mfausttria, paikuhan, Trevor, thanks!

scarletknight, don't know unless you try it right? Most temperature control will be done in the sump. Chiller will be a closed loop in the sump and a large yet to be selected heater or two or ten will be there as well. 600 gallons of the total 800 gallons will be inside so that only leaves 25% exposed to the temp extremes. If one extreme or another (hot/cold) is hit, then the ACIII will simply cut the return pump until the 200 gallons outside has a chance to catch up. There will be more than enough flow intank so even if it is 30 minutes of every hour during the most extreme few temp days we have around here I think it will be fine. Only one way to find out.....

scarletknight06 · #**139** 09/06/2007, 11:18 PM

keep us updated. I hope it works for you!

pardalis · #**140** 09/07/2007, 01:17 AM

Looking great!!!!

dandy7200 · #**141** 09/07/2007, 01:17 PM

Maybe late next week this picture will be taken in my living room

20 20 · #**142** 09/07/2007, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dandy7200
If one extreme or another (hot/cold) is hit, then the ACIII will simply cut the return pump until the 200 gallons outside has a chance to catch up. There will be more than enough flow intank so even if it is 30 minutes of every hour during the most extreme few temp days we have around here I think it will be fine. Only one way to find out.....

Living in southern PA, here, and have been considering doing the same thing, putting a chiller outside. If you cut the return pump on a 10 degree day in January, aren't you concerned that the pipes to and from the outside unit will freeze? Or even if the power goes out for a few hours. That's my biggest concern.

tanya72806 · #**143** 09/07/2007, 01:56 PM

Im in Staten Island I have my chiller outside. Its on a Medusa controller. The return pump runs through it so that theres water running through it at all times. I also have a back up pump on hand JIC the return dies for some reason it can be swapped out. The heat this summer did nothing to the water and last winter the cold made no diffrence. My chiller I built a room around it. The room is just a lil bigger then the chiller. Instead of plywood my husband used concrete boards. Then he used styrofoam on the outside of it. He also has a grate on one side for heat to leave it.

dandy7200 · #**144** 09/07/2007, 01:59 PM

Good point 20 20. What I am looking to do, is use a actuated valve to shut off flow on the outlet of the pump right after the chiller tee. Just between the chiller tee and the actuated valve I am going to run a 1/2" tee that will bypass the valve and return to the tank. This should let just enough flow through the system to keep the heating/chilling components working hard without to much cycling and prevent freeze up and not actually shut down the main pump. I figure if I tie this valve to my feed timer on my controller as well, it will be tested at least once a day.

20 20 · #**145** 09/07/2007, 03:36 PM

Ah, that's a good idea. How about during a power outage?

dandy7200 · #**146** 09/07/2007, 04:29 PM

Power outage, same command line with the valve should let the sump water reheat or cool. Long term, I have a gas generator that I can run to keep the tank going, short term power outages, the tank will be sustained by a vortech w/ battery backup.

surg_xero · #**147** 09/08/2007, 12:23 PM

Dan,

Do I understand your sump correctly.... It's composed of insulating foam with a fiberglass shell. Did you fabricate it yourself?

akbuuur · #**148** 09/08/2007, 12:25 PM

hey dan,
are you going to get brand new live stock or are you going to transfer alot of stuff over from your 54 and your other (75 i think it was?)

dandy7200 · #**149** 09/09/2007, 12:10 AM

Yep, the livestock will all transfer with the exception of the soft corals and rock from the 75. I might add one or two new things as well

I only plan to put about 250# of rock in the tank, I want it really open. 50# of that will come from my 54 so I need to pick up about 200# or so to cycle the tank with. I do have about 100# of rubble rock that I have collected over the last few months and that will be used to fill in any gaps.

Antiguan · #**150** 09/09/2007, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dandy7200
OK, here is the deal with the light rack:

3ea luminarcs centered on 3' intervals flanked on both sides by VHO and T-5's running perpendicular to the face of the tank:

Dan,
Where did you get the light racks and connections for the lighting? Thanks for sharing the information!

Trevor