my new 225 tank

[fly guy]

Just thought i would post a couple of pics here...im kinda proud of the set up...it took long enough to finally get together being as we had a baby in march...........i started the project in late April.

It is a 225, dsb lps/predator tank......predators yet to be determined as i am just now putting the rock that has been cooking for 10 weeks in the tank...HOPEFULLY this evening if the dust clears a little.

I built the sump myself from scratch out of 1/2" plexi.

The system uses a sequence barracuda to power a Oceans Motions 8 way water router...i had paul cut me a custom drum that is spread evenly 1/3, 1/3 etc......my point in doing it that way was so that i never had more than 1/3 of my cls flow going to the spraybars at one time. You can see in the picture of the plumbing that they are right next to each other as far as the OM ports go.........the other six OM ports go across the back of the tank...3 on each side of the overflow and have omniflex nozzles to control their direction.

The return is powered by sequence dart which also supplies flow to a canister filter for running carbon and a pci 1/4 horse chiller. Lighting consists of 3 250 mh's and 2 110 vho's.

I have all the rock lifted with acrylic rods on a concept which i came up with becasue i hate the look of pvc as well as it allows for much better flow underneath than pvc provides.

As soon as i finish this i am doing a 90 BB sps tank build which is incorporating oceans motions as well as a sweet tank that James built me with a 100% external coast to coast overflow........i am going to have some SERIOUS flow going through it......exact number yet to be determined.(plotting)

[Michael7979]

I like the acrylic rod idea to keep the rock off the bottom and to use it as a stabilizer, ( assume that is for diggers to not cause the rocks to tumble down).

Looks like you are off to a good start keep the picture coming..........

[fly guy]

, ( assume that is for diggers to not cause the rocks to tumble down).

Looks like you are off to a good start keep the picture coming..........


thanks...

actually its for complete and thorough flow through the tank....i lift my rock about 3 inches off of the substrate.......I dont practice the theory myself becasue i like the look of rock wall to wall...but i think you could actually get away with much less rock than the 1-1 1/2 lb per gallon standard to achieve adequate biological filtration becasue all of your rock is actually being used....with good random flow and spraybars flowing both in and underneath the rock.....there are no dead spots anywhere.......

just finished putting rock in........kinda sad.......this rock had about 4 different colors of coralline on it before i cooked it.......im really hoping the blue and oranges come back

[Michael7979]

thanks...

actually its for complete and thorough flow through the tank....i lift my rock about 3 inches off of the substrate......


Interesting.............I'd like to see another picture of it (close up) after the sand has settled, if you would please. So if you add "a digger" do you add rubble for them or not? Or do you just let them go as is? Thanks

[fly guy]

i posted a little more info on the lift HERE (http://www.pnwmas.org/forums/showthread.php?t=1133)......

and my original one for a glass tank WITH a pvc frame...but the pvc is entirely sumbmerged in the sand and out of sight ....HERE (http://thereeftank.com/forums/showthread.php?t=70387)

I think as far as the digger goes...i dont think it would be necessary...but then again, the only "diggers" i have kept are a couple of diffeent eels....ive always been more into corals than the fish...there very well might be some critters that require some rock in the sand............ ??????

[impur]

Great job, very stylish plumbing job. Can't wait to see it stocked.

[fly guy]

heres an update......

had a 46 thati was using as a holding tank for half of my lps........it cracked so i ended up adding a bunch of corals abouot 24 hours after adding water to the system.......

everything seems to be just fine.......the lights on the tankm are pc's off of the 46 though....lol

canopy being worked on still

[fly guy]

well ive added a few more corals, and just today i got in the rest of my plumbing parts for my BB 90. I had James build me a tank with 100% external coast to coast overflows and im going to use a OM 8 way on it as well for flow...only difference is its going to be run by a dart instead of a barracuda

heres a pic of the 225 a little ore stocked and the new that is getting partially unwrapped possibly tonight

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/2257.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/90coasttocoast.jpg

[impur]

That new tank is gonna be sweet! Love the coast to coast overflow.

[fly guy]

Finallyfound the 3/4" starboard i was looking for and rigged it up with the first invisible rock lift ive done for a BB tank.......worked out just as planned(for a change).......i DID have to cut the hunk of starboard lengthwise to get it into the tank.

Anybody interested in having me make one of these invisible rock lifts for you shoot me a PM and we can talk about it.

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/starboardspraybarsin.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/bulkheads.jpg

[fly guy]

Nearly done plumbing the 90....got the 8 way plumbed so the hard part is done.....

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/8way-90.jpg

[impur]

Jeez that things a monster! Great job, did you find the flex pvc easier to work with? The stuff i have was wound so tight on the role i can't get it to even lay straight.

[fly guy]

Thanks Impur.
Flex pipe IS easier to work with although it takes a little practice or like you say, it is tough to get the angle right and it is also prone to leaking if you dont use a ton of HOT primer and most importantly, make sure that it is seated flush in the fitting.
Put it in the dryer or out in the sun, or in the bathtub full of hot water next time it isnt behaving for you...........
And for perfectly straight runs, use hard pvc

[impur]

I tried the bathtub and the flex went right back into its curled position after about an hour. I'll try the sun all day then dryer ;) Thanks for the tips.

Miles

[sknoch78]

Put it in your oven for a few minutes to make it a little more plyable, then roll it out. Once it cools, it will hold its shape.

[impur]

I'll give it a shot, thanks!

[fly guy]

a coupla pics of the 225 now that its been up and running for 6 weeks...already scraping coralline off of the acrylic


http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/center225.jpg
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/stoniepatch.jpg
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/full225.jpg

[CCR]

Nice friggin job!!!!! My compliments go out to ya(rock2) Can't waite to see it all in person.

Oh yea, be leary of virgin goats (naughty)

[fly guy]

Thanks Blaine. : )

Let the goat thing GO!!!!!!!!

Blaaa aaaa aine (naughty)

[CCR]

I tried the bathtub and the flex went right back into its curled position after about an hour. I'll try the sun all day then dryer ;) Thanks for the tips.

Miles


This sounds very personall !!!!!DOH!

[fly guy]

One thing to keep in mind is that the tendency for that flex pipe to curl in one direction is never going to go away completely.....you need to get it soft for the time you are gluing it and use the bends to your advantage................Once in place it will hold the bend you glued it in.........IF you require a perfectly straight run that supports itself, that is where you need to use the good old fashioned hard stuff.........

[fly guy]

:D

rock is done cooking......im filling my BB 90 with water as we speak. (clap) (clap) (clap)

no silly comments on the buckets of water in the tank please they are there to hold the starboard down until there is enough water to put some rock in


Im getting SO CLOSE to 6 months of effort paying off and i can relax and just enjoy the tanks for a while:D

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/closed/P1010007.jpg

[fly guy]

I have enough water made to start up the CLS. Heres a vid of the OM 8 way in action : )

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/th_om8wayonthe90.jpg (http://s64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/?action=view&current=om8wayonthe90.flv)

[impur]

Nice! I only see 4 outputs though?

[fly guy]

Nice! I only see 4 outputs though?


2 spray bars, 2 top middle, 2 on each of the sides i can aim different directions with the omniflex nozzles.......that coast to coast overflow across the back top made plumbing kinda interesting.

Ive got the drum set up with 3 ports open so it varies between 3 full and 6 partially open at all times with the spraybars never taking more than 1/3 of the total flow...but if needed every now and then i can close the other 6 ports off and blow hard through the spraybars to get anything out from under everything...i dont think i need to from the tests i did but the option is there. I went through 4 drums before figuring out the 3 ports 120 degrees thing ws the way to go...my 225 is set up the same way drumwise...

thanks : )

[fly guy]

Rock is in (clap)

ALMOST done with the 6 month long project of building these two systems

What a pain in the @$$ its been. Even if it has been a gratifying pain in the @$$.:D

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/P1010035.jpg

[R-3]

Nice Skimmer! That thing is a beauty. Looks great. Get some corals in there. Later Ryan

[fly guy]

coupla more pics with lights.....got the canopy back on....my left ballast isnt firing though. (scratch) .....need to figure it out

still dont have enough water to run the sump yet....ill start it up in the morning

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/tankleft-1.jpg
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/tankright-2.jpg

[CCR]

WOW Those rocks look like there floating(fishhit) (brick)

[fly guy]

Tanks been up for almost two days.........First one of my sps transferred over......i prolly wont add any more for a week or so.......but just wanted to throw one frag in to see how it might like its new home.....threw a milli frag in there.........3/4 PE after a couple of hours

He was a little ticked off at first as i just slam dunked him from tank to tank....but hes fine now : )




http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/closed/DSC_1739.jpg

[CCR]

It must have been pissed!!!!!!!! I see 5 sticks of it, and unless my eyes desieve me. I swear, it's givin ya the bird!! LOL Nice job Fly. Long project, but looks very rewording :)

[Ronjunior]

It must have been pissed!!!!!!!! I see 5 sticks of it, and unless my eyes desieve me. I swear, it's givin ya the bird!! LOL Nice job Fly. Long project, but looks very rewording :)
I was thinking the same thing! :)

[reefgeek84]

Fly guy what kind of pump are you running on your OM?

[fly guy]

A barracuda on the 225 and a dart on the 90

[CCR]

and flow, quiet, for 2 3/4 sea swirls, one pump split????

[fly guy]

and flow, quiet, for 2 3/4 sea swirls, one pump split????

Watchoo talkin about Willis??? I really dont understand????

[CCR]

Watchoo talkin about Willis???



FLOW!!!!!! BETWEEN THE 2 PUMPS, WITCH IS BETTER, FOR SPLITTING, ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRG

[fly guy]

FLOW!!!!!! BETWEEN THE 2 PUMPS, WITCH IS BETTER, FOR SPLITTING, ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRG

Why are you so angry???? Geesh. Would you like to talk about your anger issues?? Maybe in a PM conversation, or over a beer??? If you need somebody to talk to Blaine....Im here for ya.

......

You mean which pump between the Barracuda and the DArt??? They are similar as far as i can tell........the barracuda of course puts out more flow and isnt nearly as quiet as the DArt.

Ive never used a sea swirl, so i dont know how that would relate.

[fly guy]

Well ive got a few stonies moved over from the 225.......nothing i REALLy like.......rocks been in the tank for 8 days now.........everythings running right where it should be.........

I moved over a couple of poci's a few acros, 3 little millis and a couple of birdsnest frags.......oh, and a hydro ive got mounted to a frag-mag.

Im gonna let them hang out for a week...see how they do and then start moving some of my better corals over.

Im currently running a 10k xm on the left side and a 15k xm on the right...looks kinda funny but i am determined to do a little growth experiment with the two drastically different bulbs. On paper, the 10k side should get much more growth, but i need to prove it for myself, as i have been really happy with my 15ks.

These are taken with my macro lens, so i cant get a FTS in one frame. One of each side under the different lights and then an extra shot of the left without the 10k on....im not loving the color of that 10k but it is still burning in a little and i really want to see how the growth difference is...IF any

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/more/bbleftfrags.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/more/bb90frags.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/more/bb9015kalone.jpg

[nu2reef-n]

Tank looks nice, Fly. Are you also running actinics, if so how many bulbs and what type?

[oldbrownies]

in theory the 10K xm should have much more growth, but the 15K just looks so good.

are you running 250s?

[fly guy]

Thanks Dave : )

I run 3 250 watt xm's over the 225...no actinics. On the 90 I DO have actinics, 2-110w uri supers. although if i was running just 15k's and not the 10...i think i would do with out them as well.

As far as the more growth thing..i am really curious if that extra light and more than double the par is really even usable by the corals. Thats why im doing this little experiment. I have great growth under the 15k's.......but i just want to prove for myself how much difference there really is....if any.

I really dont like the color...at all. IF i prove that the 10k's do provide signifigantly more growth.......i would have to throw some serious actinics up there to get rid of that yellow hue.......

Im going to break up a few corals of similar size and put them in similar spots in the tank on each side and we will see after a 2-3 months how it turns out : )

[nu2reef-n]

I'm interested in your little test, please keep us posted. I run 10 K's with three 48" actinics and one 48" 50/50. I run the fourth light as a 50/50, because it looks more like sunset and sunrise when the M.H.'s aren't on.

[fly guy]

This is what i did with my afternoon........

I just matched all water parameters and slam dunked all of my sps from the 225 into the 90.

:D
I used my macro lens so ya gotta scroll for it

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/tankleft-2.jpghttp://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/tankright-3.jpg

[180Brandy]

Looking good Fly!

[siskiou]

Tell me more about the magnet frags! :D

[SnowboardKid26]

ill be by tommorow to see it in person.

[fly guy]

Tell me more about the magnet frags! :D


What would you like to know?? : )

I make them myself for a few bucks apiece in material costs or you can buy them from aquamags.com.

Making them consists of buying the magnets and encapsulating them inside acrylic or pvc so they wont rust or leak into your tank. Then you can either shape and coat them with epoxy and sand or simply glue a frag to them

I like them a lot : )

[siskiou]

Maybe I can buy a few from you once I'm ready for corals?

[fly guy]

Maybe I can buy a few from you once I'm ready for corals?

I hate to say it.......but the frag mags are a great DIY way to save some a few bucks if you really like them. And I have come up with a couple of different ways to make them and am more than happy to share how i did it......BUT, I would have to charge pretty much the same thing Aquamags does IF i were going to make them for sale.

I am looking into a quote for some magnets from a different supplier in bulk.......and we'll see what he comes back with and that could change. but at the price I have to pay for the magnets right now............its pretty much a DIY thing and not a for sale thing

Sorry Suzanne. : (

:)

[siskiou]

its pretty much a DIY thing and not a for sale thing

Sorry Suzanne. : (

:)

No worries! :)

I'll have to look into maybe learning how to make these.

[fly guy]

I havent updated this in many months so figured id add some pics and a couple of FTS

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/closed/DSC_2571.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/closed/DSC_2750.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/closed/DSC_2761.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/closed/tenius.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/closed/candiess.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/closed/DSC_2746.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/closed/crab.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/closed/bottlebrush.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/closed/PURP.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/closed/DSC_2551.jpg

[fly guy]

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/closed/DSC_2754.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/closed/DSC_2747.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/closed/DSC_2781.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/clam-1.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/more/zoos.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/more/moonstone.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/more/froggy1.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/closed/DSC_2779.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/more/candyfeedd.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/more/ricpatch3.jpg

[fly guy]

And a couple of fts

The 225 is 7 months old and the 90 is 5 months old


http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/90full.jpg


http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/225fulll.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/side225.jpg

[reefgeek84]

Looks good man, I like all the ricordias....

[fly guy]

havent updated here in a while....

heres what I have to update.......

Double tank crash first of july....cooked them...dont ask.....lol Lost everything but a few fish, a couple candies and most zoanthids

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/frags/deathhh2.jpg

and the 225 rebuilt with a frag forest...still working on the 90 before its ready for pics....

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/rebuild/side225.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/rebuild/side225-2.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/rebuild/full225.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/rebuild/rainbowmonti.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/rebuild/DSC_5017.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/rebuild/DSC_5016.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/rebuild/DSC_4943.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/rebuild/DSC_4944.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/rebuild/DSC_4948.jpg

[civicsit]

wow, nice job on getting it back up and running. Good luck with the tank. I think that your tank has too many frags, you should give me some! ;)

[fly guy]

wow, nice job on getting it back up and running. Good luck with the tank. I think that your tank has too many frags, you should give me some! ;)

thanks. :)

Ya...i like watching corals grow......there will be a few pieces getting the boot sooner than later as stuff grows out. ;)