WOW, look at my tank:D

[prow]

hello peoples this is a belated start to my clam tank, but do pics of things along the way. the transfer over from my old system was a rough one. more because of other things going on in my life (good kinda stuff ) while setting up this tank. my old tank was running with Ca reactor and topoff but i did nothing else for about 9 months and know the reactor media was way done in that time. i did not even wipe off the outside of the tank. the corals and fish did fine up until some of my T5 bulbs went out. i was only running 3 bulbs for the last 5 months. so some of the corals lost some color and i messed up a few while tearing up the old reef. but they will be fine no worries. they have already started to recover. the fish are fine. i got some new guys too i keep most of the old fish. all, except the regal tang and swallow tail angel. going for more small to mid size fish this time around.

well check it out, i am finally doing my chronicle. lets see where to start, mmmm. how about listing everything.

Tank: 180gal AGA two built in overflows, off center. each has a 1.5" bulkheads(overflow) and 1" bulkhead(returns).

Stand/Canopy: 36" Walnut wood stand with 12" Walnut wood canopy. dark stained.

Sump: 34gal DIY acrylic.

Refugium: 34gal DIY acrylic. using 2x TCP 16watt 5100k bulbs for lighting-(melves bulbs) great bulbs, i get great growth with these.

return pumps: 2x panworld 100PX(pressure rated pumps 790gph)

skimmer: ASM G4xx with sedra 1500gph NW.

lighting: 3x 250w MH with XM 15k bulbs (dont like them, so i will be getting Reeflux 10k soon) and spider reflectors. 2x 110w VHO super actinics for sups. 2x2 LED MTB moontubes from fishbowl innovations(moon lights).

Cooling: 1/3hp arctica chiller. 4x 4" icecap fans in canopy. 2x 6" sunlight supply air king clip on fans under stand for sumps and pumps.

Heating: 1 visi-therm 300w and 1 visi-therm 250w

Flow return pumps (4 outputs) + 2 Koralia #4's (soon to be 2x tunze 6100's on multicontroller)

RO/DI topofftyphoon 3 RO/DI unit with 40ish gal holding tank(rubbermaid). fully auto topoff system.

Other stuff 2x aqua jr controllers with dc8's. yes i need. korallin Ca+ reactor C-1502 with reef fanatic deluxe CO2 regulator ran with control/ph monitor. overflow and run dry sensors with controllers for RO/DI holding tank auto fill, main tank overflow sensors, sump overflow sensors with run dry sensors. overflow system needs explaining read on i will be posting the details. more things, mostly DIY but go into those as they come up.

[prow]

ok now on to some pics. first the nuts and bolts of my system. i must say sorry i deleted the pics of bulding my sumps. so i can not show you how easy working with acrylic is/was. but trust me its simple. any whooo, on to the pics.

for my plumbing i used mostly genova plumbing part as there elbows and tees and things are not as bulky as other brands and they have the best variety IMO. i also used charlotte which is also nice but bulky-they are great for needed fatter sweaping elbows.

here we have my main overflow. 1.5" pvc pipe feed via 2x 1.5" bulkheads. fyi all PVC plumbing is either dwp(for drains) or sch-40(returns). ok, i ran a elbow out of the bulkheads so they drain back behind the stand. and added gate valves to control flow to each sump as needed/wanted. as it is both are wide open.

left side.





right side.



both sides

in this one you can see the spa tubing i used. those two there are going to and coming from the chiller. on will go up for a return the other to the pump.

[prow]

nexted i lined the bottom with some shelving paper. doing this really quiets everything down. my friend did this and for the past few years i have been itching to do it. i can not believe i did not do this before. it would have been well worth it to drain the sump and add this shelving paper if you want to make things silient.

you can use any, i used something different than my friend. got these at lowes, but you can get them almost anywhere.
i used this stuff just below for a first layer and top layer.

[prow]

then the second layer. i used this here, its bit thicker. i want super quiet.

[PEMfish]

Fun fun.

[prow]

then one more layer like the first then done and ready for the sumps.

[prow]

Originally Posted by PEMfish

Fun fun.

[Dakota1231]

Looks great so far never thought about using the shelving paper stuff good idea

[prow]

ok now for the sumps. again sorry i lost the building pic of the sumps. i am ticked off at my self for that. so here i hooked the return line coming from the chiller, the other spa tubing is zip tied to the return, it goes to the pump.


looks like this straight on.

[PEMfish]

3 layers, sounds like toilet paper. You could sleep in there.

[prow]

now the right is different. i used 3/4 tubing from the pumps output then tee'd it off with a 3/4x3/4x1" tee. the 1" goes up to for a return the tee'd off run goes back through the refugium. i put a gate valve to control the recir flow.

[AndtheBonus]

Wow looks great!

[prow]

Originally Posted by PEMfish

3 layers, sounds like toilet paper. You could sleep in there.

lol, its quilty soft

[prow]

a quick shot of the plumbing to the chiller.

[prow]

here are my twins pumps my system.