[ckusnierek]

Time to start phase one!

Build the stand.
getting lumber tomorrow. I will just build the rough frame for the stand and canopy.
Nothing will get finished till the tank is in place.

Also going to run 2 20a circuits to the tank. Plenty of power and maybe a 3rd for 220?

It will not be easy but doable. I have to snake wires thru the walls up and over about 18 feet to get to the utility room.

since my ro/di in also in that room I will also pull some 1/4" tube thru to the tank for ATO.

 

[crvz]

should gave gone with radiums.

My system (300 gallon display with 120 gallon frag tank, including five 250W MH bulbs), will barely be over 25 amps in the worst case. So I think two 20 amp circuits should suffice.

 

[ckusnierek]

I do LOVE radiums but was GIVEN 3 Icecap ballasts and Icecap DE pendants!
Cant pass that up..

In time I might go to radium on galaxy ballast with lumenbrights!

 

[crvz]

In time I might go to radium on galaxy ballast with lumenbrights!

That is almost exactly what I've got (though I'm using the lumatek brand, it's the same manufacturer as galaxy). Compared to the Icecap fixture that I got from the reviewer program, with Phoenix bulbs, there's no comparison. The radiums gave out a lot more light (though you have to consider that the lumenbright reflectors are considerably nicer than the icecap reef illuminations fixture) and the color was better. All my coral seemed happier under the radiums as well. I still have a lot of experimenting to do, but thats my initial result.

 

[wharyat]

Yep, 2-20A circuits should be more than enough. I went with 2-20s for mine mostly for redundancy sake so I could split up tank-critical systems.

Lumenbrights rock.

 

[jlombardi29]

Cant wait to see this tank!! If you need a hand or need to part with some coral just let me know

 

[Brutality]

Cant wait to see this tank!! If you need a hand or need to part with some coral just let me know

I second this one, I will drive to indiana no prob if your brother gives you to much stuff( there is no such thing tho..:doh

 

[ckusnierek]

Getting ready to go shopping!

(4) 2*4*8'
(12) 2*4*6'

White waterproof primer

100' 10-2 with ground romex
2 receps and boxes.

2 AFCI Combo breakers!!!
Super important! Arc Fault / GFCI combo breaker they are not cheap but could save my life and house! Not sure if I can get them local but I'm going to try!

(16) 1*2*8' for the canopy and storage.

I'm just going to frame the stand and paint it and do the electrical this weekend.

I will finish the stand one the tank is on it.

 

[fchidsey]

Here is a sad story when we do search warrants on Grow houses we have to take the equipment from the grow photograph it and destroy it I can't tell you how many Lumitek ballast I have seen cut to pieces and thrown in the trash.

 

[ckusnierek]

Ok I got it and after talking to a local electrician I did not get the AFCI just GFCI outlets.

I was going to get two GFCI breakers and he also said that was a waste of $$$

He said with such a short run less then 20' and only one outlet per breaker the chances of a arc were slim to none.

And with the GFCI breakers costing $50 and the outlets only $5 that too made sense to use a standard 20a breaker and GFCI outlets.

Saves a few bucks I can put elsewhere.

 

[fihsboy]

Maybe into a new MP60?

 

[ckusnierek]

How about 4 of them?

 

[fihsboy]

Saweeeet!

 

[deanp88]

Chris, what is your brother going to do with that tank? Will he be taking it with him? I've had the bug to upgrade myself and I hate to see a large tank go to waste...

 

[ckusnierek]

Chris, what is your brother going to do with that tank? Will he be taking it with him? I've had the bug to upgrade myself and I hate to see a large tank go to waste...

He is trying to sell it.
350g acrylic RR with 100g custom sump.
$2500 I'm sure I can get him to throw in a 5 foot tall skimmer he has for it.

 

[deanp88]

That actually sounds like a really good deal. My wife would probably not agree.

 

[ckusnierek]

Time for a few pics not the tank or anything just preliminary stuff...

Here is where the tank will sit
It will be flush with the hallway entrance on the right and will stick out 8 feet to about where the center of the chair in the left is.

Yes it will stick out 8 feet although it's only a 6 foot tank. the first 24' will be a cabinet floor to top of canopy for supplies and on the lower 1/2 my skimmer. It's an external ETSS 800 that stands about 30' tall. My stand will only be 32-36 inches tall do I want to have easy access to it.

Hard to tell from the pic but this iv a very long room about 30 feet long end to end and about 14 feet wide. Fireplace on the center wall left side (out of pic)
That's my 125 (6') in the back there.

In the foreground is my sons toy/play area the tank will separate these two halves.

Please excuse the mess....
I did not feel like cleaning up my sons mess just so I could make my own.

The tank will actually cover 1/2 of that return air vent which will work out well to keep the stand ventilated. I am going to install a small filter there to catch salt and keep it out the the furnace system.

 

[fchidsey]

Very Cool. Looking forward to following another great TRT build.

 

[ckusnierek]

Ok I know this may sound insignificant to you all but it was a mile stone for the build.

I got the electrical ran (not finished)

With out that this build would not be possible. That single outlet is attached to the entire basement circuit and is already about maxed out. (see above pics)

It was much tougher than I thought it was going to be.

Cut a small hole to feed the snake threw:

Here is where the wires will enter the utility room:

I actually had to cut out the header to get access to the small space there about 2" from the bottom the the duct the the drywall underneath in the hallway.

Here is the space I was working with. It's hard to tell but where the snake came into this space is about 10 feet away

I have to tape a hanger hook to the end of a telescoping pole to fish out the snake but necessity is the mother of invention right?
I got the snake threw.

Time to start pulling wires. Man that 90 degree turn coming down the was was a killer I thought I was going the break the wires.

WHOO HOOO
2 sets or wire and a 1/4" nylon tube for RO/DI Top Off.

And the wires/tube entering the utility room. My RO/DI is in there by the way.
Tomorrow I will install the boxes and get the outlets installed and hot!
Then there is a pile of lumber in the garage waiting for me!

 

[fchidsey]

I was going to ask if all of that was going in the same box??? based on your signature