moovinfast Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 Got the tank home. Now I need to start getting things together for it. Tanks is 4x4x2' Here is the tank Here is the back wall. Continuous overflow, two closed loop intakes and 4 returns from the sump. Closed loop returns are through the bottom of the tank. Here is the bottom before it had been drilled The bottom. Has 8 3/4" returns for the closed loop Here is the the part behind the overflow. From left to right are Return,Durso Overflow, Closed Loop intake, Closed Loop intake, Durso Overflow, Return And here is a pic of the back he had so you can kind of see how its all hooked up Ive already picked up 2 dart pumps. Want to do one for the closed loop and one for a return. For lighting I have 4 250w electronic ballasts and pendants, but would like to get it down to two. Does someone make a DE pendant that is large enough to cover 4x4 with 2 pendants? Not sure what to do for a stand. Was thinking of using 4x4 posts with 2x6s wrapped around the top and bottom. Would a single piece of 3/4" mdf on top support the tank? Was thinking of making a 1' edge on the two sides and front so it has a bar around it. Somewhere to place a drink while looking into the tank. For the return I wanted to use one of the Darts. Could I use it with an 1" SCWD and then have each side split into 2 3/4" returns? Can I do similar with the closed loop? Go from the dart to a 1" SCWD and then have each side of the SCWD go to 4 3/4"" returns. So it would run all 8 in total? The darts are rated at 3600 GPH. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
culp686 Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 i'll throw it out there first. beautiful tank. so, if you want to come up with a design, we could probably come up with some tube steel and i have a welder that we could throw it together with. or i have a couple of friends that are great with wood. let me know. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReeFit Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 Got the tank home. Now I need to start getting things together for it. Tanks is 4x4x2' Here is the tank Here is the back wall. Continuous overflow, two closed loop intakes and 4 returns from the sump. Closed loop returns are through the bottom of the tank. Here is the bottom before it had been drilled The bottom. Has 8 3/4" returns for the closed loop Here is the the part behind the overflow. From left to right are Return,Durso Overflow, Closed Loop intake, Closed Loop intake, Durso Overflow, Return And here is a pic of the back he had so you can kind of see how its all hooked up Ive already picked up 2 dart pumps. Want to do one for the closed loop and one for a return. For lighting I have 4 250w electronic ballasts and pendants, but would like to get it down to two. Does someone make a DE pendant that is large enough to cover 4x4 with 2 pendants? Not sure what to do for a stand. Was thinking of using 4x4 posts with 2x6s wrapped around the top and bottom. Would a single piece of 3/4" mdf on top support the tank? Was thinking of making a 1' edge on the two sides and front so it has a bar around it. Somewhere to place a drink while looking into the tank. For the return I wanted to use one of the Darts. Could I use it with an 1" SCWD and then have each side split into 2 3/4" returns? Can I do similar with the closed loop? Go from the dart to a 1" SCWD and then have each side of the SCWD go to 4 3/4"" returns. So it would run all 8 in total? The darts are rated at 3600 GPH. For the tank, i wouldn't use any kind of MDF or particle board, it blows up when it gets wet. I run dual SCWD's just like your asking, but i don't have quite so much pump. You may have to throttle them down a tad.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gill Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 That was worth the drive! Cant wait to see how big that carpet anemone get's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkBirkett Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 Help Don't use MDF it will swell when it gets wet. Maybe a 1" plywood then paint for protection. The post for a welded stand sounds great. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moovinfast Posted June 1, 2010 Author Share Posted June 1, 2010 Well here is how he built a stand for it. I think its all 4x4s and 2x6's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgf86123 Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 Dude, you can make a better looking stand than that LOL Shoot a message to Saltfinsax, aka Steve, he's doing the cover and canopy for Roy's stand, and he does some awesome work, as does Shane, USCG-CWO, he does awesome work as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReeFit Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 Here are some pics of a typical stand. cover it with 3/4" plywood as the deck and you can do sheetrock, or whatever on the sides, or just leave it open. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReeFit Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 Thats just the basic frame. you can put a floor in the bottom for pump / sump etc. you can side it with panels, wood trim, sheetrock. you could even tile the top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nwcoralfarm Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 Looking awesome, please keep the pics coming!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 If it were me, I'd get Spectra to make a steel stand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowman Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 If it were me' date=' I'd get Spectra to make a steel stand.[/quote'] I agree, then you can cover it with panels. I also would consider a Barracuda for the closed loop. Nice tank BTW!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moovinfast Posted June 1, 2010 Author Share Posted June 1, 2010 Would I notice a big difference between the Dart and the Barracuda for a closed loop? The dart is 3600 and the barracuda is 4500 but the dart is 100w less to power. Would the dart still be ok for the return. Ive had a few people tell me that its going to be too much flow going through the sump. The return is going to be split into probably 5 3/4"returns and have a head height of 5-6 feet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stylaster Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 looks nice! I had a 260g cube several years ago, it was a real pita to clean the coralline off! If you need any tips or help feel free to give me a call and i can come up and help Roy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stylaster Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 Would I notice a big difference between the Dart and the Barracuda for a closed loop? The dart is 3600 and the barracuda is 4500 but the dart is 100w less to power. Would the dart still be ok for the return. Ive had a few people tell me that its going to be too much flow going through the sump. The return is going to be split into probably 5 3/4"returns and have a head height of 5-6 feet. use the larger pump for the closed loop, also are you going to use some sort of device like ocean motions 4 or 8 way to randomize currents? I would highly recommend it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moovinfast Posted June 1, 2010 Author Share Posted June 1, 2010 I was hoping to get away with using a 1" SCWD for the closed loop since you can sometime find them used for cheap. So I would go from each end of the SCWD to 4 3/4" returns for a total of 8. But I have been looking for a deal on a 4 way oceans motions instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef165 Posted June 2, 2010 Share Posted June 2, 2010 Good looken tank! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanareef Posted June 2, 2010 Share Posted June 2, 2010 If I were you, use the Bean Animal Silent Overflow set it once and forget it. That's what I'm using and will for the 200gal. looking good If you can find the Hayward 3-way ball valve and just add a motor that turns it about 1 - 6 rpm's be almost like the OM but cheaper. Ebay new/used $75 .02 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grassi Posted June 2, 2010 Share Posted June 2, 2010 Nice tank! I'm with andy for stainless steel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grassi Posted June 2, 2010 Share Posted June 2, 2010 One post more and I'm a whale! Sorry, I couldn't resist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moovinfast Posted June 2, 2010 Author Share Posted June 2, 2010 If I were you, use the Bean Animal Silent Overflow set it once and forget it. That's what I'm using and will for the 200gal. looking good If you can find the Hayward 3-way ball valve and just add a motor that turns it about 1 - 6 rpm's be almost like the OM but cheaper. Ebay new/used $75 .02 link.... ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReeFit Posted June 2, 2010 Share Posted June 2, 2010 If you go with SCWD, you will probably over do it with the large pump unless you throttle the pump back a bit. I think maximum flow is in the 3k range. if you have more than one supply comming from the pump then it wouldn't be hard to divide up the flow between them. i would also have a backup SCWD in case it fails on you which is why you may want to make sure you have more than one supply comming off the pump in case of a mechanical failure, it won't accidentally burn up your pump. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nwcoralfarm Posted June 2, 2010 Share Posted June 2, 2010 Just personal experience, but I have found sqwd's to be nice for the first few months and then completely unreliable. The smallest bit of anything in there and it will completely destroy the inside's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackaninny Posted June 2, 2010 Share Posted June 2, 2010 Nice pics. Tagging along on this thread. I'd go with the steel only if you are going to leave it exposed or it is less expensive than a wood one which you could/should cover with sheetrock, tile, wood veneer, or heck even a metal skin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted June 2, 2010 Share Posted June 2, 2010 Just personal experience' date=' but I have found sqwd's to be nice for the first few months and then completely unreliable. The smallest bit of anything in there and it will completely destroy the inside's.[/quote'] +1. I would *never* plumb a SCWD into a major aquarium project like this. There's a reason why Ocean's Motions are so widely liked (in spite of their price)... they're fairly reliable and can be fixed/maintained. SCWDs are (IMnsHO) cheap junk that waste energy (30% of your flow will be used driving the mechanism). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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