Not a typical doctor's waiting room... 450 gallon reef

[gws294]

Originally posted by longhornreefer


Owning a Deltec is like owning a hybrid car, it literally makes your farts smell like roses. Maybe that is why they charge a little extra than their competition.

Now that's the best argument I've heard so far for going Deltec. ''





Jnarowe, you might look here for storage tanks.

http://www.plastic-mart.com/class.php?item=911



Great work guys... following with interest.

Geoff

[longhornreefer]

I have been following bubble masters for a few months now, and I may try one on my own personal reef, but when recommending a skimmer to go on the 4th FL of a hospital above a few million dollars worth of MRI machines etc, its Deltec all the way, helps me sleep at night.

[jnarowe]

Thanks for the responses about the reservoir. That one looks very nice and I want to replace my 96g Rubbermaid bins with something larger. I am trying to find square ones to maximize gallons per sq. ft. and they are tough to find.

And regarding the overflow, I wouldn't even consider egg crate as it will grow algae like you can't believe because of all the flat surfaces.

I use removable overflow combs and I think they would be ideal for your application as well.

Here's a pic:



These are 12" and I have 6 of them on my tank. They are really handy because you can pull the comb out and take it to the sink to clean. And there's no issue with trying to dislodge stuff from inside the tank.

[longhornreefer]

That comb looks perfect, i'll try to copy it first, and if it doesn't work, i'll call aquamedic. Thanks Jonathan.

[tanya72806]

lol I love these things about skimmers I think my bubbleking is the best out there lol I tell you what my deltec was amazing HIGHLY recommend them to anyone but I love my BK

[thedude15810]

I personally cannot wait to play with a bubbleking and a bubblemaster but like Brian said, the Deltec helps me sleep at night. On setups that we don't have daily contact with, only components tried and tested are used. This is not to say that BK's and BM's aren't better we just don't have experience with them.

John

[Dudester]

Originally posted by longhornreefer
I have been following bubble masters for a few months now, and I may try one on my own personal reef, but when recommending a skimmer to go on the 4th FL of a hospital above a few million dollars worth of MRI machines etc, its Deltec all the way, helps me sleep at night.

Sorry to be such a stickler for detail, but I can't let this pass. It's not a hospital, it's a medical office building. You are correct in that there is a lot of expensive equipment beneath our office, including an outpatient surgery center and radiology facility on the 1st floor. We certainly don't want a flood to drain down through the floors below. This was a major factor in the planning of this system.

Since Brian and John are "sandbagging" I'll provide a small update. The sandstorm is almost completely clear, and the aquascape looks fantastic (nice work, John!). There is plenty of swimming room despite 400 lb of LR, and there are a number of large and small arches. Most importantly, there are ample flat spaces upon which to mount corals. The 'scape was well planned out, with different zones for SPS, LPS, rics and clams. There will be some mixing of species throughout the reef, but we will also have these specific zones of concentration as well.

Despite the massive amount of water flow, the tank runs nearly silently, which is important since it's in an office waiting room. We open our doors to patients tomorrow, and while the kids will only have lit rocks and sand to look at, I'm sure they'll still find it interesting.

Jonathan - love the removable comb, thanks for the idea.

And thanks, everyone, for the excellent comments and input.

[mrcrab]

Excellent job on the setup, well planned and executed.

Can't wait to see it with the colored sticks!

[jnarowe]

I swear I posted that I got that comb inexpensively on ebay from AquaCave, but I don't see the post ow. I wonder if I posted it in the wrong thread?

[jnarowe]

Originally posted by gws294
Jnarowe, you might look here for storage tanks.

http://www.plastic-mart.com/class.php?item=911
Geoff

great link Geoff. Thanks!

[tanya72806]

lol I remeber readin about that jnarowe lol matbe it was in another thread

[longhornreefer]

We just got a nintendo Wii, so I won't be installing the lights until later today, pics to follow, check back in at around 7 or 8ish.

[jnarowe]

and please post a vid of your flailing about when you play the Wii!

[lurshy]

Still a little cloudy, i think we used 220-240 lbs of live sand, John?

Does that Sump have enough spare volume to hadnle the overflow in case of power loss? You were talking later about the need to protect the floors beneath you.

BTW a most excellent setup Congratulations! and may you be cyano free.

[thedude15810]

Lurshy,

Nice observation. That was when we filled the sump way way too high and the return was off. The running water level is a solid foot lower and has no problem handling a power loss.

John

[GMFett]

Ok- so about 30 minutes later and I'm finally caught up on this thread. Where do i start??

Brian and Juan- You guys really are amazing at what you do. The plumbing is unbelievably clean- love that schedule 80 alll the way. The install is so clean so far. Brian- you can start building my "control box" whenever you are ready. That thing is freaking awesome! This is the most professional install i've seen! Glad you got a trial run with my tank brian!!!

Mike- holy crap! you officially have the coolest waiting room in the world! do you think the kids will be scared when they walk in and the bearded college student is checking out the tank? seriously first class! i cant wait to come see it!

Anxiously awaiting more pics!!!!

-Marcus

[thedude15810]

More pictures!

So Kingfish was busy this weekend scrambling to get this thing operational. Basically, we got it filled and running Friday night (literally an hour after they finished the tank room), scaped and finished the sand on Saturday, and got VHO's up today.

Here's what 400 pounds of Tonga live rock look like in an RX7



Deltec right after cleaning



Plumbing shot (again) showing the return line from reservoir. Water changes will be a quick ball valve turn (the line is the one secured to the wall).



Another shot of mission control

[thedude15810]

Picture better showing the running sump level (this is actually a little low)



Cloudy tank



Beginning of the cabinet



Temporary Cabinet



Longways shot

[thedude15810]

Far side Day 2



Front Day 2



Near side Day 2



Tanning bed anyone?

[thedude15810]

Note the holes for Lumenarcs above

Far side VHO



Front VHO



Near side VHO



Strainer



Hope ya'll enjoy!

John

[gkarshens]

Looks awesome! I love all the open space. Now fill it up with corals!

[tanya72806]

Re the side panels able to come off ?

[alien9168]

great photographs and documentation of this project!

[thedude15810]

Thanks guys!

The whole stand/canopy is only temporary so no, they don't come off easy (as we found out today)

John

[GMFett]

Sweeet job guys. Damn they finished that place up fast!