Project Phish 240 Journal

[phishx]

Here is my new 240 gallon...
(96x24x25.5)
the pick up was super hectic considering i had to do it COMPLETELY BY MYSELF, but never the less, it got done :D

no stand as of yet, im hoping to work with a pretty good craftsman and get everything done to spec. im not too sure about dimensions for the stand/canopy yet but i will post pics and drawings as i go along.

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[phishx]

barely fit in the truck!
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[phishx]

only issues that i can see so far with the naked eye is the silicone inside the tank in the corners in some small spots is starting to come out... im not sure if i shud pull it out and re-silicone the corners or if i shud just silicone directly OVER the old silicone...

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[energy_crisis]

How the heck did you move that 240 by yourself?

[phishx]

Im Hawaiian bro! common :D
i had help getting it into the truck... no help out...
i used 3 wooden horses and plenty of back. walked it step by step into the apartment ;)

[Corriander]

Get all that old silicone out of there and put in new. If it failed in one place, others can not be far behind. Besides, it is easier to do it now then after it drains on to the floor and your GF takes a bat to the front pannel . . . :D

[phishx]

thx Jim...
shud i just cut it out with a razor? what silicone should i use to replace the old, and how shud i apply it? should i ONLY re-do the side corners or the bottom as well? the bottom seems to be in great shape still... no chipping anywhere...

only issue with replacing some of the silicone is that near the corner over there is about a 1" gap between the overflow and the glass that goes back about 7"s... i cant see the silicone in this corner because the corner is covered in coraline and worst of all, i cant reach back to feel it or apply if needed... any ideas? i think i might just have to hope for the best with that side...

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[Corriander]

I can swing by Thursday if you want to plan out the base, plumbing and such. We can figure out the silicone situation the too.

[phishx]

im free Thursday... what time is good for you?
thx for the help w/ the silicone... im pretty sure i would have only made it worse attempting to do it by myself :fun4:

[lowbudget]

yeah old silicone will not stick to new silicone. you are going to have to remove all the silicone. use sharp razor blades it helps...

[818]

Jim is a hell of a handy man. You are in good hands.

[phishx]

O trust me, i know... that guy guides me from point A to point S... i consult with him with almost every move i make...

[phishx]

my MAIN IDEA with this tank is to have it be 100% economical... i want to be able to have a "BIG TANK" and low electric bill...

only thing i will be increasing from the 100g to the 240 is
return pump size
and 2 VHO's...
1 added skimmer...
2-3 Seios...
everything else will be the same... that is the main reason i am staying away from SPS... i dont want reactors everywhere...Co2 injections n all that stuff... i like a simple and easy tank... less i gotta fight with this stuff, the more i can sit back and enjoy it.

240 electricity usage as follows.

-2x 175 MH (7 hours a day)
-2 skimmers (not sure of pumps yet)
-2x VHO's (4 hours a day)
-Heater set for 73 degrees (would like to avoid using heater as much as possible)
-2x little giant4 returns OR 1 dart return (what ever uses less wattage and produces less heat into the tank)
-1x 30 watt UV
-a few more Seios here and there for good current (about 4-5 total...im currently running 3)
-canopy fans?

my electric bill last month was $62.89... i can live with a $20 increase if i need to. but i ALMOST doubt it will rise that much... most of all my Seios will shut ON and OFF with the main lights.

im sure there are a few things i might be missing out on :confused: ... please feel free to chime in at will.

[SteveOhh]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9228839#post9228839 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by phishx

everything else will be the same... that is the main reason i am staying away from SPS... i dont want reactors everywhere...Co2 injections n all that stuff... i like a simple and easy tank... less i gotta fight with this stuff, the more i can sit back and enjoy it.



You don't need reactors to run SPS...................if you're willing to dose daily.

You will need a top off, so you might as well dose your top off w/ kalk.....................you can get away w/ mixing your kalk solution daily & having your top off system hooked into that..............

I think mchava turned off his calcium reactor & is dosing daily using Randy's 2 part & is getting great results..........For less then $25, I bought enough media to make myself 5 gallons of A & B, so it's economical too........

STeve :D

[818]

I agree with Steve:D

[phishx]

HEY THANKS FOR THE INFO STEVE...:D
the last thing i wanted to get into was all those reactors... i have a hard enough time with skimmers... but dosing might be a option... i wonder if i can get the top off 5 gallon jug placed in the stand... that would be prime... i cant wait to see how this thing will turn out... i remember that mchava was telling me about a top off that he made that was like super easy... i need to get more info on that...

i forgot to mention that another reason im not doing SPS is because i dont want to upgrade my lights... with 175's im right where i want to be electricity wise...not to mention, they dont heat the water very much at all... that is also another + to smaller lights, i DO NOT want to run a chiller.

my only question is... how long will that $25 for dosing last? 1-2 months?

[phishx]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9228251#post9228251 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by phishx


only issue with replacing some of the silicone is that near the corner over there is about a 1" gap between the overflow and the glass that goes back about 7"s... i cant see the silicone in this corner because the corner is covered in coraline and worst of all, i cant reach back to feel it or apply if needed... any ideas? i think i might just have to hope for the best with that side...

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I was thinking... WHAT IF i just removed the overflow to re-do the silicone job in that corner then after im done, replace the overflow!??

does that sound logical? the overflow is only kept in with silicone... this would also give me a good chance to clean the side of the tank :D

[Bergovoy]

good idea, actually probably the only idea. Be careful removing the overflow, it can break. Lots of sharp razor blades and be very careful please, .

Get the wall paper scraper handle, it is about 10 inches long and holds a 3 or 4 inch razor blade in the end. You will get better leverage and reach with that thing.

also after you remove the silicone, clean the edges with denatured alcohol.

And my guess, is that you will have to remove a ton of silicone, (possibly all of it???)

Good luck

bill

[Charles99]

FYI- You won't have a lot of flow out of your "drain" bulkheads located @ the top of the overflow. There's no pressure @ the water surface.

[phishx]

not sure i know what that means...?

[Charles99]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9233909#post9233909 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by phishx
not sure i know what that means...?

From the looks of your pics, you have a bulkhead in the overflow box and another @ the opposite side of the tank (with screen). They are located @ the top of the tank, hence the top of the water column. There is very little pressure @ the top of a water column, compared to greater pressure @ the bottom of the column. The lack in pressure is not going to push (flow) very much water into your sump.

[phishx]

OooOoooHhh... i get it... hmm... meaning, if my return pump(s) are too strong... the return (bulkheads) might have trouble keeping up right?

what would be the best option to fix this kind of issue...

[Charles99]

make an external durso. Run the inlet for for the dursos toward the bottom.. (only thing I can think of aside from drilling the tank).

[SteveOhh]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9231092#post9231092 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by phishx
my only question is... how long will that $25 for dosing last? 1-2 months?

More like 3-6 months..............normally you're only dosing 10-50 ml per day of each...............

[phishx]

external durso sounds like a good plan... i will talk it over with my general contractor :D

but what if you miss a few days, will that have like some super impact on the corals?

[phishx]

nothing else accomplished so far this week... BUT i think i will clean the tank since its kinna dirty :D

[Corriander]

If you can, fill it up and add a couple gallons of vinegar. It will remove all the old deposits. Drain and rinse a few times.

[flat broke]

Another tip for getting the silicone out between the overflow boxes and the tank: If you can get your hand all the way down in there, take some piano wire/stainless wire/a "G" guitar string and wrap it around a stick on each end. Then use the string to cut through the silicone. This method works on stuff tougher than std silicone, so if you have the room, it will help you avoid putting pressure on the overflow boxes with a razor.

After you do that, clean the tank EXTREMELY well before starting the scraping work on the tank glass silicone. The reason being is that you don't want to push dried coraline etc into the seam when you are trying to cut the old stuff out.

Good luck,
Chris

[phishx]

ok... here is what i gather... soak tank with water and vinegar a few times... then clean THEN remove over flow? or should i just clean the tank and wait for Jim to get here w/ further directions :D

Hey Jim, should i just remove the over flow now or wait till u come for measurements and such?

[Corriander]

Just do a single soak, but make it a long one. Like overnight with vinegar.

I'll be by on Monday. What time are you free?

[phishx]

shud be free by 2:30... good for you?

[phishx]

hey jim,
if at all possible, might you be able to bring those end caps for the UV... my tangs keep getting Ich on and off... it would be kewl to get this thing up and running again...
thx a bunch bro

btw... im soaking the tank w/ 3 gallons vinegar over nite... see u tomorrow... hope u stil got my number ;)

O did you get the invite for the baby shower?

[phishx]

movin a little slow... BUT leak test is officially complete...
coraline is ready to be sucked out :D

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[hawaiian_boi]

you ned to fill that thing with tons of sps...thats the only way to go......and dont lie you had help carrying that tank into the house(menehunies)

[Jar*Head]

If you can handle that tank by yourself, why don't you go compete for the strongest man on earth? How much do you think that tank weight? Not to mention 8f long.....

[Corriander]

My 30" tall 150gal weighs about the same as that 240. I managed to not only get it in to my 2nd floor loft but up on the 30" high stand by myself. All you need is a funiture dolly, some 2x4's and two or three saw horses. If just takes a little longer than muscling it around with half a dozen people.

[Jar*Head]

Your 150g can't weight as much as the 240g.... I used to deliver Tank for Tong. I know exactly how heavy your 150g tall is compare to standard 240g.

[skairik]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9320736#post9320736 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by REEFER714
If you can handle that tank by yourself, why don't you go compete for the strongest man on earth?
LOL!!!

[Corriander]

Actually . . .

My 150 (72x18x30 in 3/4" glass) weighs 468 lbs
See's 240 (96x24x24 in 1/2" glass) weighs 367 lbs

I know he moved it himself. I told him how to do it.

Here is how:
Screw two 2x4's (8ft) on to a furniture dolly ($15 at Harbor Freight) so the dolly is directly in the center.

Set the frame/dolly on two adjustable saw horses to the same level as the tank stand and line it up next to the stand.

Slide the tank on to the 2x4 frame and secure it with a tie-down strap.

Lift one side, push (or kick) a sawhorse out of the way and lower to the ground.

Repeat on the other side to set the tank on the ground. You can now roll it any where you need.

Reverse to get it in to a truck (though it helps to slide it off the frame and dolly while driving). Repeat to get it out. Reverse again to get it on to the stand.

Leverage allows even a small person to lift the tank. The 2x4 frame also allows you to slide it up small curbs or steps with little hassle.

The only help you might need is with moving the saw horses.

[phishx]

dude... any person that CANT do this simple job on his own needs to hit the gym... the tank is not that heavy... :lmao: 3 wooden horses and a little bit of time.

REEFER714... but if i remember correctly... comparing my build and your build... im bigger then you... prolly not by a whole lot more, but nevertheless, i am... i have no issues laying on a bench and repping 225 a minimum of 3 times...

moving this tank was simple... a little caveman ingenuity and "THINKING SMARTER, NOT HARDER" is all it took... Corriander gave me a bunch of advice before i went to get the tank, and i followed most of his instructions... not all to a T, but im sure that if i did, it would have prolly been more easy then it was in the first place...

+ never discredit the FACT that i am HAWAIIAN...
-shaka

[Jar*Head]

LOL, you two are smarter than the rest of us :). Congrats, you two are the reef genius :). Do you two mind to give me a hand to move my cube out of my house. Took half a dozen + 2 to bring it in .... Hope you two genius can help me get it out this time.

[Jar*Head]

By the way, i am 4"11, a buck 20 but i can press 225 for at least 3 reps too. Dude, i think you have a bit too much cushion between your muscle and skin :)

[Jar*Head]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9328357#post9328357 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by REEFER714
By the way, i am 4"11, a buck 20 but i can press 225 for at least 3 reps too. Dude, i think you have a bit too much cushion between your muscle and skin :)

phishx, if you can walk 25 miles with 75lbs pack on your back within 7hrs then talk to me :)

I am not trying to bashing ya. but moving such a large tank by yourself is too good to be truth. Honestly, i don't believe it unless i see it with my own eyes. Please forgive my ignorant :) peace.... Happy reefing

[Corriander]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9328319#post9328319 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by REEFER714
Do you two mind to give me a hand to move my cube out of my house. Took half a dozen + 2 to bring it in .... Hope you two genius can help me get it out this time.

Perhaps asking how someone managed a difficult task would be more effective than throwing sarcastic remarks around, particularly when you will be needing help accomplishing a similar task in the near future.

It's wonderful to know there are people out there who feel compelled to trash a thread on someone's tank build. I hope you don't have to experience the same thing if you choose to share moving and setting your tank back up with RC.

[818]

I dont think Reefer714 is taking the time to read.

They are using sawhorses. All you do is have it set on a pair, then penguin it to the next one, and so on. They arentl littleraly carrying the tank like someone would carry a jug of water bro, I too wouldnt belive it;).

I did the same thing to move my 110g tank from one wall to the other while I was in a knee brace.

[hawaiian_boi]

i weigh 225 and can bench 405 8 times...i still cant pick up a 200 gallon tank...lol and im hwaiian too

[Bergovoy]

You guys are missing it though. He indicated that with levers and other means and methods he was able to position it by himself. I dont doubt that.

Nor do I doubt that he would have loved to have two more like himself to make that task much easier.

Can it be done vs is that the best way to do it, is two different things.


AND BTW: I AM EFFING HUNGRY!!!!

Arent these local molos supposed to meet for grind li' dat?!?!?!

Call me at 626-358-4840

[hawaiian_boi]

i was waiting 4 a call also 909 653 8185