Fred's 150 gal build.

[fchidsey]

Today was really good I thought. I made supports to raise the Chiller off the bottom of the stand, Glued the Refugium together, Cut and Glued a stand for the skimmer so it could sit in the sump, and cut and glued the over flow box for the Tank. Very thing was leak tested and passed the first time. Here are the Pics.



Leak test for the Refugium. It passed first try YAAAAA.



the Skimmer stand setting up.



The Refugium and the Skimmer stand in thier homes.



The Tank Overflow in place. This also passed the leak test. (the bulkheads are still enroute.



Another View.



The tank in place on the stand. (boy that thing is heavy)

Still working on some plumbing, and wondering where I am going to have room for a Calcium Reactor I guess I will make room some where.

[fchidsey]

Just a Quick Update. I'm dripping water from the I/O into the Tank. I spent all day running a 20 amp circuit isolated for the tank. and scored 100 lbs of base rock from craigslist for 100 bucks.

[Fat Tony]

Looks good, wish I had that much access to my plumbing

[fchidsey]

Thanks Tony. I wish more people would chime in with there opinions on this thead. LOL. (you seem to be the only one following.)

[Reeftanker3295]

It looks like the tank featured on one of the magazines this month, forget which one haha its a nice design, like a peninsula.

[fchidsey]

Thanks

[motorslave]

Things are looking good! Maybe I missed it but how are you going to hang the lights? I would strongly consider doing the overhead portion different than the drawings. Instead of using dimensional lumber use 2"x2" along the ceiling and down the wall. Magnets along the 2"x2"s an in corresponding spots along the inside of the exterior panels. That way you have maximum access to get into the tank and work around the top. This makes life SOOOOO much easier. I have done this on my tank. The panels are built out of 1"x4" pine and door skin for reduced weight. The 2"x2" structure gives a steady place to mount the panels.

[motorslave]

Also, an you get a closer shot of the skimmer in place? It looks like a shorter version of my skimmer and the outflow of the skimmer ill need some space because if the skimmer is properly powered then there will be a good amount of water flowing through it and that amount of discharge coming from 1 1/2" pipe will be a lot for a small area. I have 55g sump and my skimmer is set up external. You can look at my build thread to see. I am about to try a new drain from the overflow to the sump. I am going to eliminate the bubbles completely. Being that there is about 6' horizontal run from the tank to the sump with a union, it is easy to change out the plumbing for new ideas and changes in the system.

[fchidsey]

the canopy is going to be built from 1x6 hardwoood boards as soon as money permits it is going to be simialr to MeuserReef's 120 Gallon Reef Build I have a good friend who makes home entertainment canters and is goiong to help me with the finish work. my plan is to have seven doors on the canopy and an open top for cooling.

[motorslave]

That will be sweeeeeeet! I will use someone who knows what they are doing for the finish on the next generation of the system.
I'm looking forward to the finish product!

[fchidsey]

That is interesting about the skimmer I hope I don't need a bigger sump at least soon. I ran this on my other tank with the same genx 4 pump and had no micro bubble issues so I really don't anticipate any issues and the return is going in to where the main tank returns so i am hoping there will be no issues.

I was also thinking about a bag on the return to trap some of the bubbles.

[motorslave]

Actually I am referring to the force of the water leaving the skimmer. Mine is ran by a Gen X PCX-55 and have two becketts. Did you mean PCX-40, external? pressure pumps are the best for becketts.

[fchidsey]

ya that is the whooie it will run through the chiller then the skimmer then back to the sump.

[motorslave]

Running through the chiller first will cut down on the effectiveness of the skimmer do to loss of pressure

[fchidsey]

Ya i know but for right now its a sacrfice between that and the return to the tank which is already a little short.