DIY QT tank from scratch

[impur]

Well its out of necessity so i can treat the AEFW that have somehow infested my SPS corals. Got some wood, some pvc and went to work. The new miter saw came in SOOO handy for this. The setup will be a 10gal display with a 10gal sump, DIY 70w 10k MH pendant, DIY PVC overflow, and a DIY stand. Let the pics begin

The start of a basic 2x4 stand
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[impur]

Here is the light i'll be modding to accept the 70w DE MH bulb. The bulb fits perfectly.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/impur/DIY/P6030160.jpg

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Drilling vent holes for heat.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/impur/DIY/P6030163.jpg

[impur]

Here is a dry fit of the PVC overflow i'm making. I sure hope this thing works lol

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/impur/DIY/P6040170.jpg

[impur]

Well on top of building this i also got 3 fence posts into the ground and cemented in so i'm pretty beat. I'll finish up gluing the overflow tomorrow, and wire up the ballast to the fixture. After the pvc glue dries it will be time for a leak test. I hope to have this thing running wed or thurs as i should also have my TMPCC by then.

[inkto]

That'll make a nice QT setup... I would put a cross brace on that light bracket to help support the pendent.

It's hard to tell from the pics but I don't get the overflow... how will the siphon be maintained?

[impur]

Thanks. The pendant is only gonna weigh 1 or 2 LBS, and with 4 3" screws it holds pretty tight. I do plan on using a few of the triangles i cut for support.

I got the idea for the overflow from 3reefs. There will be a hole in the first elbow that points down on the outside of the tank, and i'll have a check valve on it, so any air that builds up there will be removed. The last upright, the one coming out of the T, will be left open to allow air to escape. You simply suck the air out of the check valve and it starts up the syphon. From the posts that had used this type of overflow, most did not even need that valve but it sure can't hurt.

[Ahbrit]

What happens with a power outage with the syphon?

[impur]

If the power fails, the level in tank falls until the syphon is broken by air entering the drain. The 'T' on the outside, combined with the vent stack stops the siphon break before the air can break under the bottom 'U' in the tank. This leaves the over the tank 'U' filled. When the power starts back up and the water enters the top drain again, there is enough suction to clear the air in the drain tube.

Here is a link for more info on the overflow
http://www.3reef.com/forums/i-made/nice-cheap-diy-overflow-29396.html

[rong666]

That is a great thread. I can't wait to try this on a nano.
cheers,
Ron
PS: More pix please

[impur]

Ok got some more done tonight :D

This would make a perfect nano setup Ron. I could fit a 20gal on that stand too. Hmmmmmmmmmmm

Here is the overflow being tested. I did not glue the "U" that goes over the tank, rather I used teflon tape to create the seal. I wanted a test before i glued it all together. It did not keep up as i turned up the water from the faucet, i'm hoping thats because of either 1. i have not installed the air release yet or 2. because there is air coming in from not gluing them. Anyway it suited me fine so i went ahead and glued it up
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/impur/DIY/P6060180.jpg

Simulate a power outage
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/impur/DIY/P6060182.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/impur/DIY/P6060183.jpg

[impur]

Next i moved onto the light. I picked up some 14 guage extension cord wire. Of course Jerry's didn't have black so i got orange :(

Here is the ballast. Its freakin huge for just 70w laugh
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[impur]

Got my TMPCC today :D Should have the return pump soon as well.

Also finished up the overflow, added a few supports for the light holder and did some grinding to the fixture to make the bulb fit better. Last thing to do is put it together and leak test, i'll do that sunday i think and i'll have more pics.

[Reefin']

any updates?????

[impur]

You beat me to it! My friends are getting married so i've been busy helping and doing the bachelor party thing last weekend.

Tonight i plan to hook up all the plumbing and run the leak test, so i will definately have more pics tonight :) I picked up a Rio 1700 from Keither for the return. I'll also run my AC500 and 2 tunze minis for water movement in the tank. That should be good flow for the SPS.

[impur]

Here we go. Leak testing now. I'm a little concerned about the overflow. It keeps up fine, but is a little noisy. Not sure how to fix that. A lot of the sound comes from the vent stack. Putting a piece of acrylic with a hole in it helped a bunch. But sometimes a sucking sound can be heard from the intake inside the tank. Also the water crashing into the sump is REALLY loud. I might remake the overflow out of 1.25" and do hard plumbing the whole way.

All together and filling
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/impur/DIY/P6160020.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/impur/DIY/P6160021.jpg

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[impur]

Overflow in action
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[impur]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/impur/DIY/P6160026.jpg

Here you can see all the air that is in the line. Obviously that is the cause of how loud it is. Any ideas?? I'm gonna do some other testing with larger PVC
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/impur/DIY/P6160027.jpg

[impur]

Ok i cut the vent stack down. That helped the flow a TON! Before the water level was creaping up to the black trim on the tank. Now its down to right above the intake, so i think i need to lower the intake and this will be perfect.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/impur/DIY/P6160029.jpg

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[impur]

I'll cut the intake down an inch or 2 and see how that goes in the morning.

[Reefin']

u might want to try to put a cap on the vent(do not glue) and drill a hole through the cap and pipe(all the way through). and now u have an adjustable vent by twisting the cap...helps with the noise alot....hth
Reynaldo

[impur]

Thanks! I do plan to put a cap on that vent, the acrylic piece is just to simulate that so i don't have to keep removing it and redrilling it to get the hole the right size.

[Reefin']

i think u misunderstood me. ithe hole if drilled into the side of the cap( through the cap and pipe),not the top. then u will have an adjustible hole by simple turning the cap.......hth

[impur]

Oh i see. Thats a great idea Reynaldo!!!

[impur]

Ok i cut down the intake more and as a result had to cut the vent stack down more too. But it runs virtually silent now, but you can still hear the water crashing into the sump. So i'm gonna live with it for a month, maybe hang a sheet or blanket around the sump to dampen the sound a bit

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/impur/DIY/P6170032.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/impur/DIY/P6170033.jpg

[Michael7979]

Miles build a small stand out of eggcrate that is just higher then the waterline and then put a small piece of foam filter on that. The water will have to go thru the foam filter and not just crash into the sump should make things more quiet and it gives you filtration. HTH

[Ahbrit]

I agree with Michael. it will also prevent splashing through the sump area

[impur]

Miles build a small stand out of eggcrate that is just higher then the waterline and then put a small piece of foam filter on that. The water will have to go thru the foam filter and not just crash into the sump should make things more quiet and it gives you filtration. HTH

You mean in the sump where the water enters?

[Chief]

Here is a link to what they are talking about.

http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75909

Go to the bottom of the thread where Tat2d posts pics of his old and new sump. It is the first pic. Eggcrate with blue filter material on top.

Jay

[impur]

I can't view those pics, i was a victim of the Super Mod's internet powers.

[Chief]

I'm sure Bobby (Tat2d) won't mind if I borrow his pic.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v636/spayne377/Internet/Untitled-1copy.jpg

Jay

[impur]

I get it now, thats what i was picturing. Thanks for the pic. I might have to give it a shot.

So its been running a few days now with no probs. Its still silent with the occasional slurp because the vent stack is still completely open, i need to pick up a cap. I'll be draining it tomorrow and putting it in place inside, then hooking up all the necessary equip. Will try to start filling it thursday.

[Barelycuda]

You could also use a 4" filter sock. Then it would kill 2 birds with one stone. One for filtration & the second for noise reduction. Worked great on mine.

Cuda

[impur]

Yah good idea Sarah, i have a few filter socks laying around i'll put to use. The sound is very minimal now, and since its only going to be a temp setup (plus i got the ok on the sound from the wife) it will be just fine. I don't think its any louder than my 29.

[impur]

Ok got everything drained and moved inside. Hanging the pendant tonight and adding the additional HOB filter and PHs for circulation. Hope to have water and corals in it this weekend and begin the first dip.

Over this past weekend, i dipped 3 corals in the TMPCC. I dosed the recommended amount, 1mL TMPCC per 200mL water and dipped for about 20 min. At the 15 minute mark i began blasting the corals with the baster. I did not see many FW in the container afterword, and it did not kill the pods running around in there. Also, i still found redbugs on the corals after the dip as well. So i'm going to have to try a much more concentrated dip next time. I'll do 2X the recommended dosage next and see how it goes.

[Reefin']

whats TMPCC?

[impur]

Tropic Marin Pro Coral Cure. Great dip, it kills all FW as well as redbugs :D


http://www.tropic-marin.com/web/english/produkte/pro-coral-cure.htm

[vanz]

So what's the update on this? Got any recent pics?

Oh yeah, forgot to ask...what's that blue thing sticking out of the PVC?

[impur]

Well it served its purpose and i took it down after a little more than a month. It will probably be used for QT for new incoming stuff for my tank. Here is a pic when it was in action.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/impur/P8140195.jpg

[vanz]

Umm...I can't see the overflow in that picture. So why did you take it down anyway?

[impur]

Yah i didn't use the overflow, didn't end up needing it. I just did 100% WCs thru the QT stage. I only needed it to QT my SPS for 5 weeks. Now my 75 is going in its spot. I'll still use it, just only set it up when i have something to QT.

[Nyles]

Well get her ready to rip... Im bringing over some SPS and zoos for you to QT.... LOL