Jen's 90g upgrade...

[AlabasterEskies]

Okay so I got a tank on Wednesday, and lights on Friday. Now for the hard part...

Deciding how to set it up/plumb.

I have options:

A) set up the tank w/ sump underneath it.

B) Set up the sump plumbed thought the wall into the garage.

Option B has some pros/cons. If I plumb into the garage, the tank will be quieter and in some aspects much easier to maintain since there is room for water and SW storage right next to the sump. Drawback is in the summer the garage gets Supper HOT.

Option A means hauling buckets weekly and a bit of noise (not to concerned about noise) but the room has AC and wont get over 80deg in the summer. So I would think there would be less of a chance of needing a chiller or having temp issues.

WHAT do you all think?

Once I figure out for sure where the sump is going then we get to figure out how to plumb the thing, since this is my first sump filtered tank. (I'm starting to want to just get it hooked up with a canister and call it that... I know how to do that... Canisters and within my comfort level.

~jen

[DaveMorris]

Put the sump under the tank and your water storage in the garage. Temp isn't too tough to deal with that way.

[Jessy]

Use the sump you'll be glad you stretched out of your comfort zone. If your garage gets really hot in the summer I'm kind of with Dave and say do the sump under your stand. There are lots of ways you can make your tank silent, ie herbie overflow method, insulating and rubber pads to cut down the vibrations. If you are interested in seeing how a silent tank works you can try and contact loose electron on SDR. He has method that seems to work really well.

[AlabasterEskies]

i'm trying to think exactly how hot it would get out in the garage, at least air temp and then if the door isn't open hotter. so like in the high 80's for a month of the year and a couple days hotter. I guess the other benefit is that I can use a lot larger sump out there were trying to fit one under the tank I have to use a smaller one that fits...

[DaveMorris]

If you go with a larger sump in the garage, get a 55g drum for top off water and get a really good fan to blow across the top of the sump. It is amazing how efficient a nice fan can be. I bet you could make it work without the heat being too much of a problem.

[AlabasterEskies]

Cool, I was planning on doing some sort of auto top off anyway so if you think a industrial fan will work I am game :D

Now to planing the sump layout.

I have been looking at DIY sumps and they seem to consistently have the PS then 3 2" spaces to trap bubbles then the Refugium another spacer or two and then the return pump. some also have a chamber for bio/media as well.

my Sump will be ~60g tank 48" long

Does this sound about right?

[DaveMorris]

Get the absolute biggest that you can. More water volume in your system is a good thing. Also, check out Marc Levenson's site. He is a sump expert and has a lot of great info on his site that can help you out a lot in the planning stages.

www.melevsreef.com

[Jessy]

I think if you can get it in the garage that would be the best... OOOO you can even do a RDSB (remote deep sand bed) .... can i build my dream setup vicariously through youROTFL

[AlabasterEskies]

Sure you can as long as you help (pay for it:p) or at least help plan it.

I am going to try to make this as nice as possible at the lowest price. I do think I am going to pay the $400 for the VorTech.

[Shells]

Jen,

I have my tank against a wall which on the other side is a shed (not the garage) if mine was next to a garage and I used the garage everyday (where I had to walk past the sump) then I would place the sump in the garage. If you don't use your garage then I would be leary about placing it in the garage.

You need to have your sump some place where you can put your eyes on it every once in a while.

I know for me - I never walk out to the shed, so I choose to not place my sump in there.

BUT - I would, no matter where you place the sump - plump your chiller (if you get one) and place your ballast for you lights (if you have them) in the garage.

Anything that generates heat - I would place in the garage.

Hope this makes sense.


Shelly

[treylane]

garage in winter gets COLD too, dunno bout everybody else, but I've had several garage tanks, and heating the tank costs me a lot more than chilling it. Chiller should probably go in the garage just for the noise / space factor, but I'd leave the sump under the tank unless you've got specific plans for it that justify a bigger heating bill - i.e. making it huge, and sectioning part of it off as a frag tank or something.

[AlabasterEskies]

so plumbing....

The tank has 2 holes drilled in the bottom of it. and I was planing on having the return come through them and up into the rocks which will be piled around them. what are you thoughts on using a Switching Current Water Director (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4588+10668&pcatid=10668) so that water is switched back and forth or would it be best if the water just went though both all the time and I get a powerhead to simulate wave movement?

[treylane]

Alright, this is what I was told when I bought a scwd, and of course I ignored it, BUT here goes anyway:

SCWD is cheapo, crap gear. It's fun for a few months or however long it lasts, but it'll eventually die, and it significantly cuts the flow rate down from your return. Just tee your return if that's what you want to do, and use powerheads for wave movement if you like. Ideally, get controllable powerheads (vortech, tunze, whatever is out there these days), but they're pricey and not always possible to get right off the bat. Most cheapo powerheads will eventually die when being switched on/off all the time, but they're inexpensive, easy to replace, and will buy you some time to save up for nicer ones.

[mazilla]

As far as sound goes, you hear more noise from the clip on fan in my canopy than the rest of the tank/equipment. My sump is under the tank and it didnt take anything more than keeping all the ends of my plumbing underwater(to avoid splashing sounds) and some time dialing in the overflow so that there was only a small drop between water levels.

Why not use the drains as drains and do an over the top return(with or without SQWD) using flexible pvc? Thats what i have(minus the SQWD) and it allowed me to get the tank very close to the wall, and it(return system) can be removed/repaired quickly and painlessly.

[AlabasterEskies]

Okay this might help make the scimatics of this project more understandable.

on the left a top view layout of were /how the tank will be placed in my room. On the right -top is where the holes are drilled if you are viewing the tank from the front. Center right image is how I want my rock layout looking top down. bottom kinda how the rockwork should look from the front. there are really, really ruff sketches so please take that into account.

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa210/AlabasterEskies/Untitled-1.jpg

Okay here are some happy snap pictures of the tank as it sits on my front porch - trying not to get soaking wet.

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa210/AlabasterEskies/_MG_5366.jpg
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa210/AlabasterEskies/_MG_5360.jpg
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa210/AlabasterEskies/_MG_5367.jpg
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa210/AlabasterEskies/_MG_5362.jpg
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa210/AlabasterEskies/_MG_5363.jpg
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa210/AlabasterEskies/_MG_5361.jpg
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa210/AlabasterEskies/_MG_5368.jpg
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa210/AlabasterEskies/_MG_5370.jpg

[AlabasterEskies]

So I final got to patcking the holes in the bottom of the tank.

reason for this was 1) they leaked. and 2) I want going to be using them.

Patching was easy enough - I got to use the table saw which is always fun :) and after 24hr I am now testing the seal which is good!! whoot!

So I guess I have to go get my plumbing supplies today!

~jen

[AlabasterEskies]

obviously it isn't finished, but I got it together... I think it may be sturdier then the floor it is going on, lol

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa210/AlabasterEskies/clown5of2.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa210/AlabasterEskies/clown4of2.jpg

The plan is to face the stand and put cabinet doors on it, but I haven't decided if I want to do that right away or in the future (like summer brake)

[Jessy]

obviously it isn't finished, but I got it together... I think it may be sturdier then the floor it is going on, lol

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa210/AlabasterEskies/clown5of2.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa210/AlabasterEskies/clown4of2.jpg

The plan is to face the stand and put cabinet doors on it, but I haven't decided if I want to do that right away or in the future (like summer brake)

wow that thing is built like a army tank!! 4x4?? WOW

[AlabasterEskies]

it is as heavy as a tank too. for that matter is could probably support one as well!

rather it be over kill then brake, right?!

[AlabasterEskies]

So I am sure you all have been waiting with baited breath to see how the stand is coming along...

It is drying waiting for the varnish and hopefully Thursday it can get set up.

here is how it looked after I put the face and molding on, and the pre-stain conditioner went on:

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa210/AlabasterEskies/clown5of13.jpg
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa210/AlabasterEskies/clown4of13.jpg

Now after 3 coats of red mahogany.

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa210/AlabasterEskies/clown10of13.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa210/AlabasterEskies/clown11of13.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa210/AlabasterEskies/clown12of13.jpg

OH and just a couple fun shots of the huge! Bristle worm I found at the bottom of my bucket of Live Rock!!!

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa210/AlabasterEskies/clown6of13.jpg
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa210/AlabasterEskies/clown7of13.jpg
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa210/AlabasterEskies/clown8of13.jpg

[Shells]

looking great keep the photos coming!

[nahtanoj]

dang jen! you went to town on that stand, looks good!

[Jessy]

Saweet looking stand. And that worm is one of the nasties. Don't put it back in the tank :)

[AlabasterEskies]

Its in place! and already inhabited!

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa210/AlabasterEskies/_MG_5432.jpg

I am thinking a hood my be necessary! ROTFL

Doors get hung tomorrow.

[AlabasterEskies]

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa210/AlabasterEskies/_MG_5443.jpg

My rock work :D

[Jessy]

I like the rockwork, but seriously zip tie that. It looks very precarious.