tims bigin' tank

[tims]

Well robert keeps yellin at me so here is what i am about to under take..
have a AGA 120 galllon with drilled mega overflows which give a flow rate of 1200 gph. was going to go with the 90 gallon but Doug1 talked me out of it!

well lets start from the bottom up shall we! ( please any suggestions are very welcome)
the sump..
it will be a 50g tank that i have already ( 5 of them actually) it is more of a cube then anything else. 36x18x18 . i think that will make a nice sump. another thing is most are already drilled at each end so all i have to do is add a bulkhead and i now can hook up external pumps..
planning on getting an external pump most likely the gen x- 55 for the return, and spliting that. Robert has rubbed off on me .. i have changed my mind on the pump several times already.. about to go to closing on my houes so i have to wait a bit longer before i go on another spending spree..

alone with the sump, i am plannng on making a geoff skimmer( geoff did you make an offical name for it yet?) the pump for that may be the gen x 40.. but not sure either...
no plans on a cal. reactoe as of yet...

now up to the tank.. outside first...
planning on a CLS for it looking at genx-30 or 40 or the dart or barracuda ( sequence).

[VWD]

Tim very nice,have to keep us up to date , By the way I also want a geoff skimmer , just so busy I never find the time . Will some time soon I hope or maybe someone will make it for Me.



Vince

[tims]

to continue on...

going higher above the tank..
i am planning on a DYI lighting system.. i was thinking 4 x 96 PC lighting but now thinking VHO. or at least for now. MH is not out of the question as of yet. But money will be flowing out pretty darn fast..( had to use an extra 5g's for closing!!!).
the stand or cabinet ( really a cabinet) will be made by me. it will look like it fits in to the room and a piece of furniture..the canopy for it will be on straight track for selves tis way is i need to change the bulbs i will have full extentions and not worry about getting anything in the water.
i am plannng on leaving several inches from the back of the cabinet to the wall for air movement.
i was able to get a hold of ( going to make robert reallllllllyyy jealous)
a chiller from work, and a 6 stage ro unit..all free o'charge.( got love working in research!!). the chiller may or may not come into play..

the inside of the tank.
planning of getting another 50 LBS of LR ( plus what i have already) for the tank. i am planning on have a SSB in the front of the tank.( this will help support the buggers i have now) and having the LR lifted off the bottom all togeather ( using PVC most likly). the CLS will have a spray bar on it, which i was planning on pioning down the back of the tank behind the LR...

i think that is it so far.. But as you all know.. plans seem to change form time to time

please any input or suggestions are welcomed..
i am planning of a ful photo spread as i go along!

[tims]

thanks Vince.......
geoff said he was goingot put his sjimmer in a PDF ( tapping my foot right now geoff ) so it would be easier to have in front of us...

[motorslave]

A free chiller AND a free RO/DI? Yes Im jealous! Sounds like a good plan. Make sure to design the light set up so it will be easy to the MH when decide to do it...cause as you said, Im rubbing off on you so you WILL change your mind! Sounds like youre going with the same idea with the CLS as I am as far as running the spray bar and CLS off of one pump. Do you know how your going to lay out the sump yet? Im going to have a garden hose hook up so I can easily drain and clean when I do water changes. I have two of the Gen-x 30s running my CLS and spray bar in the 55. Good pumps, a little noisy running next to each other, but both of mine are behind the tank and not in the stand. I did have some trouble with one of the impellors stopping while the motor kept running but that seemed to be related to the impellor housing being tightened down incorrectly. How are you going to set up the CLS? Where will the returms be for it?

Is this a 48x24x24 tank?

Oh yeah...Its about time! Now I have to hurry and get going on mine, of course Im at the mercy of shipping now!

Oh and...wheres the pics?

Robert

[tims]

yup robert it is the 48x 24x24 tank.
yes i am planning on leave room for MH down the road. i will also have venting in place in just incase.
as far as the CLS and spray bar , i am not 100% sure if i will run one pump or two pumps, thinking two genx30's or the darts..( anyone know if they are quite?)..
i am planning on doing an over the top for the closed loop.. but as you well know nothing is on stone yet.... although i really like the way geoff has his.. and i do have a mag 12 laying around too...hmmmmm...
since hte sump has either one or two drilled holes in it already . i was palnning on one for the skimmer and one for the return pump. i wonder if it is possible to mke a quick disconnect at the skimmer so one could drain the sump with a hose?. of course that would mean a ball valve on the skimmer side...

[motorslave]

Also, Im going to make a chamber where the drains come into the sump that will act as a settling chamber for detritus with enough room for me to vacum it out. I got a little wet/dry vac for just this purpose!! (and the budget decreases!)
How much room is in your stand? Is it the same basic size as the tank? I am now realy glad I oversized mine its nice to have the room.
I would go bigger than the 30s for pumps if you do use two, go for the 40s! More power!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Robert

[tims]

i have about 7 foot to work with, the cabinet is goingot look like it belongs to the living room. so i am planning on having semi rounded selves on the side for various things ( books and such) these will have hindges so it will swing out for easy access.. casey had mentioned removable sides on his a while back for access and that gave me the idea for the hindges.. as long as i dont go heavy on them.. now all i need is the software for the computer so i can draw all of this out! i have autocad but i have not idea how to use it...
of course i will have to upgrade my table saw before i do this too...

[Doug1]

Originally Posted by tims

since hte sump has either one or two drilled holes in it already . i was palnning on one for the skimmer and one for the return pump. i wonder if it is possible to mke a quick disconnect at the skimmer so one could drain the sump with a hose?. of course that would mean a ball valve on the skimmer side...

Tim be sure and use ball valves for shutoff and true unions so that the pumps can be pulled out for maint or replacement.
I made removable end panels on my stand because the 55 wide sump just slides in the stand. Having a door on the front and end will make pump maint a lot easier.


Oh and VHO not PC, don't make me come out there and smack you with the book. I know I learnt you better

[DAC]

vho and not PC , but why?
(dont mean to but in on your thread tim)

[Reefdude5]

Hey I want to ask a question too! This may sound stupid but what are true unions? Do they allow you to disconnect the PVC? How does this work if everything is PVC glued?

[wanareef]

reefdude

True unions are a combo valve and union - less space but cost more $$ great for close quarters. http://www.savko.com/files/ntu89.gif

tims

I would go with the Sequence 750 series pumps for the closed loop - or even the 1000 series. The 3600SEQ12 flows 3200gph and the one that I have is the 4200SEQ12 flows 3800gph both 750 series pumps. http://www.azponds.com/new%20sequence.htm

Here's another link http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...5&pagenumber=1

Yea me too - stay away from PC's - not much light- cost too much to replace

[skeety]

This is all great....but WHERE are the pics?

[tims]

i dont have any pictures Yet.. have not started making anything...

Okay Doug ! VHO it is... think 4 is enough? i hope to start the drawing of everything by the weekend..
Yup was planning on the tru unions..
wanna.. thanks for the links! that was one heck of a good read on that tank!

DAC this will be a instruction and info thread soo any question by anyone is always cool!

[skeety]

Originally Posted by tims

i dont have any pictures Yet.. have not started making anything...

Hope you know I was just teasin.

I'm very excited to watch this unfold!