aquariansaltwater Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 So here is the new tank. It's an Oceanic 155 gallon Bowfront. I have spent several weeks in preparation for the tank to get here. I put a huge stockpile of equipment together. There is a list below of all the equipment. Tank and Equipment: -Oceanic 155 Bowfront, stand and matching canopy (used) -40 gallon acrylic sump (used) -Reeflo Snapper Return pump (used) -PCX-30 closed loop pump (used) -ETSS Reef Devil Skimmer (used) -3 Sun Systems Galaxy switchable Halide Ballasts (new) -1 Lumen Max large reflector (new) -2 Lumen Max Elite small reflectors (new) -3 Elos 250 watt bulbs (new) -2 8" coolmaster cooling fans 110cfm (new) -Current USA Gamma UV sterilizer (new) -Lifeguard Fluidized Sand Filter (new) -Knop Calcium reactor and CO2 tank (used) -Various bulkheads, ball valves, unions etc to make every part of the plumbing removable. Plumbing fittings filled two and a half 5 gallon buckets. Approximately $350 -Apex tank Controller (new) -90 lbs #1 sand (new) -20 lbs Live sand from West Side Aquarium -140 lbs established live rock with corals -100 lbs base rock -Livestock from my other tanks...Purple tang, Yellow Belly Blue Hippo, Regular Blue Hippo, mated pair black ocelaris clownfish, royal gramma, pajama cardinal, Auriga Butterfly, Four Blue Head Yellow Bodied Chromis...and a Mata tang I am getting from Gill this weekend. I will post pictures of the equipment and build over the next couple days. Check back...I will get them downloaded and resized this evening. I will start posting them tonight if I get done early enough. Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquariansaltwater Posted September 5, 2010 Author Share Posted September 5, 2010 I apologize for the slow picture posting. I had a disaster last night trying to fill the tank. My brand new 5 stage RO unit came to me with a broken apart. We epoxied it with industrial epoxy. It held for the first hour...then...not so much. However after the first hour of checking on it every 5 minutes I decided it was good to go. Then a couple hours later I went back to the tank and noticed the ro water drip was super slow...then discovered about 40 gallons of water on my laundry room/kitchen and hallway floors...not so bac in the kitchen and laundry where there is linoleum...however in the hallway it is carpeted. I finally got to sleep this morning at about 6:30. Then I spent all day helping a friend get his tank ready to go. I promise I will get the pictures up tomorrow. Please check back. Thank you for your patience. Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquariansaltwater Posted September 6, 2010 Author Share Posted September 6, 2010 more pics... more equipment... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquariansaltwater Posted September 6, 2010 Author Share Posted September 6, 2010 more pictures still... a few more pictures...check out the plumbing on the backside...my girlfriend says it looks like the old "pipes" window's screen saver...I think she's right...all except the color. =0) More pics in next post still... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquariansaltwater Posted September 6, 2010 Author Share Posted September 6, 2010 last pic posting...for now... this is the last set for now. I will put some up in a few days after it is full and ahs rock and inhabitants. The first one is where the tank actually sits now. The second is with two of the three lights on...The shop only had two of the three Elos bulbs I needed. I have to go back Tuesday to get another. The last pic is of the tank the day I got it...all empty and soul less. It's alive and kicking now though. Stay tuned for more. I will post pics as I stock it as well. Thanks for checking it out. Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquariansaltwater Posted September 6, 2010 Author Share Posted September 6, 2010 So...I thought I would share the "Blooper Reel" as it were. When we first plumbed the tank we installed the ETSS skimmer backward. Then I knocked the Skimmer over and snapped the vertical tube off...TWICE. The second time we glued bracing in. When we first installed the overflow tubing Brandon fron West Side Aquariums informed me of my overlooking the fact that two of the return lines were 2/3 of the way down the tank...effectively draining 100 gallons or so into my 40 gallon sump. Then night before last when I was supposed to be posting pictures...I was up all night mopping and shop vac'ing water from my exploding RO unit. =0) So it's not all fun and games...but the build is done now...on to the fun part. Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReeFit Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 So...I thought I would share the "Blooper Reel" as it were. When we first plumbed the tank we installed the ETSS skimmer backward. Then I knocked the Skimmer over and snapped the vertical tube off...TWICE. The second time we glued bracing in. When we first installed the overflow tubing Brandon fron West Side Aquariums informed me of my overlooking the fact that two of the return lines were 2/3 of the way down the tank...effectively draining 100 gallons or so into my 40 gallon sump. Then night before last when I was supposed to be posting pictures...I was up all night mopping and shop vac'ing water from my exploding RO unit. =0) So it's not all fun and games...but the build is done now...on to the fun part. Matt Dude nice tank, i feel your pain, been there with steam cleaners and shop vacs more than i care to admit. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emerald525 Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 Awesome looking setup Matt. I will definitely call and come check it out next time we stop at Tim's! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowpunk Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 Call me crazy, but I love setting up tanks... It's half the fun I think. Thinking out a flow design and making sure all your stuff is silent. The whole process is just fun I think... like the back of the tank shot the best...lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emerald525 Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 Call me crazy' date=' but I love setting up tanks... It's half the fun I think. Thinking out a flow design and making sure all your stuff is silent. The whole process is just fun I think... like the back of the tank shot the best...lol[/quote'] Be careful what you wish for Brandon. I have you on my short list if I ever need a tank drilled or plumbed. (laugh) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowpunk Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 bring it on, I take cash or coral(naughty)... I'm still working slowly on my own totally custom setup as I get the cash. The suspense is killing me! I keep changing things to be bigger, badder, and better since I have more time then money at the moment. hopefully I can get the stand welded up in the next few months, and the new french doors will be in by then too so it will be able to fit into the house...DOH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquariansaltwater Posted September 6, 2010 Author Share Posted September 6, 2010 So I filled the tank tonight...then I drained it. I found a couple weepers...not a surprise considering my vast lack of plumbing experience and the complicated manifold we built for the thing. Funny thing is...the leaks are in the bulkheads...not the plumbing. =0) All except for the one fitting I missed gluing. =0Þ Tomorrow I will pull it away from the wall and run over it again one last time...seal it all up and then fill it for the last time. I'll post pics asap. I love setting tanks up...Especially now that my tool collection supports it. I have hole saws for glass and acrylic. and good pipe cutters. It makes life a lot easier. I have 5 tanks I am currently working on. all the way from a 35 gallon oceanic cube up to the 155 bowfront...oooh...wait. I take that back...I have 6. =0) I'll put small build threads up for each one at some point. Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luv951 Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 hmmm, that tank looks familiar.... Nice build. Its nice to see it went to someone that is doing such nice things with it. Beats sitting in my garage collecting dust. Keep posting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Electrokate Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 Looks great, hope things go smoothly from now on. Course in this hobby... you just never know (: Kate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquariansaltwater Posted September 10, 2010 Author Share Posted September 10, 2010 Well...I think someone is telling me not to put this tank up. I've gone through 3 pumps now. The main pump I originally aquired was a used Reeflo Snapper. It bit the dust. I had a PCX-30 for my closed loop. When I fired it up the water was spraying out the inlet and sucking into the Loc Line Returns?!? Turns out it was running in reverse. We tried to rewire it to no avail. I gave up today and purchased a PCX-40 that seems to be running a lot better. It also turns the correct direction. =0) When I was filling the tank I also went through a BRAND NEW PCX-70. When we opened up the impeller on it, there were blue plastic shavings all over in the housing...there's no blue plastic in the impeller housing for it to chew up??? the water I was pumping was RO out of a 5 gallon bucket that I made sure was clean before I started. So that pump got returned to the manufacturer as defective. I'm awaiting a replacement. Now I have a used Dolphin Brand 2100 Max pump. It runs really quietly and pumps close to what the Snapper did using about 1/3 the power. I can buy a replacement impeller for it for $40 to pump anywhere from the current 2100 GPH to 7200 GPH...includeing several steps in between. I'm starting out where it is at and if I need to do so will step it up a notch. Since I have no return pump and only my closed loop. I am running a Gen X 6000 submersible pump as a return right now. I have a small (underated might I add) hang on back skimmer in the sump for now since my ETSS will run off the return pump. I have several power heads dagling over the back of the tank for flow. It looks like a rat's nest right now. Hopefully tomorrow my Dolphin will be in place and I will have a fully functional tank up and running at last. Keep your fingers crossed for me!!! In other news...I scored a really cool coral yesterday!!! I snagged a $30 Oregon Tort Colony!!! I'm totally excited. I have it housed temporarily in a trusted friends tank untill this one is up and stable for a while. =0) Thanks for all the positive feedback. Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thatguy559 Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 wow sounds like a pump nightmare....your plumbing is pretty crazy looking. i have always wanted to do a closed loop. but dont want to take the chance of shattering my 120g aqueon they said the bottom is only tempered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquariansaltwater Posted September 11, 2010 Author Share Posted September 11, 2010 Well...had the next in a great line of scares this morning. I woke up to work on the tank and crawled down below to install the new closed loop pump...drip... DRIP...DRIP...DRIP!!! On the top of m y head!!! What the... The cross brace under the tank was full of water and dripping at an alarming rate. That's not good. Further investigation showed a weepy bulkhead directly over the cross brace on the top of the tank...dripping down below the plastic trim and directly on my head under the tank...A little twist with the pipe wrench and viola...no more leak. I added 50 pounds of rock and a couple corals along with 150 hermits this afternoon. I aquired a large Montipora colony that wasn't doing so well. It went in the tank under the lights. It seems to be slowly getting better. I also got a green slimer from the same guy...also in poor shape. It looks great already. 4 or 5 more days and it should look great. I managed to put enough viable sand from my other tanks and some kick starter stuff to avoid a cycle. I went straight to algae!!! lol. I just wish I had my main return pump so I could put my water through the sand filter and UV sterilizer. Give it a week or so...I'll be there. I have 140 pounds of live rock with corals on it living in two totes in my garage that are going in the tank in a few days...as soon as I get the pump kinks all worked out. I'll get a couple shots of the rock in the tank tomorrow or the next day. I also threw about 20 lbs in the sump. I have three slow flow chambers in the sump that have deep sand beds in them as well. I know I know...I'm a cheater. =0) Thanks for all the support and kind words. Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquariansaltwater Posted September 20, 2010 Author Share Posted September 20, 2010 So I have the tank away from the wall and up and running with a small submersible pump to test the overflow half of the system before I put pressure in the return side. It seems to be running smooth so far...tomorrow I fire the closed loop...the day after I fire the return pump with the skimmer, uv, and sand filter. Wish me luck. I have fish in it already...talk about jumping the gun. I have a clown tang, a mata tang, a kole eye tang, an as of yet unidentified Angel, and a lonely chromis. I also have about 120 lbs of LR and a couple coral frags in there. Oh yeah...and 175 hermits a few snails, a emerald crab and a fire shrimp too. I'll post pics of the tank in a day or so. Thanks for looking. Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reef-Aquarian Posted September 20, 2010 Share Posted September 20, 2010 You better make same space in the garage for the next couple builds. I don't think Stacey is letting us play in the living room any longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquariansaltwater Posted September 21, 2010 Author Share Posted September 21, 2010 ...especially after you spelled her name wrong!!! S-t-a-c-y!!! =0) Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny_NaCl Posted October 12, 2010 Share Posted October 12, 2010 looks good, put up some new pics i wanna see how it looks lit up with those halides. i just bought this pendant for the tank (250 watt) and im ordering 2 more. so my tank should be super bright. do you only have 1 pendant or is there 3 on your tank>? http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem.aspx?idProduct=HT1491&child=HT1493 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquariansaltwater Posted October 14, 2010 Author Share Posted October 14, 2010 I've got three Galaxy switchable ballasts from Sun Light. I have them all burning 250w moguls in Lumen Max Elite reflectors. I originally bought Elos 250w bulbs, but they were WAY too bright for this tank. I also wanted more blue in the coloration of the bulb, so I switched to Artemis 250w 20k bulbs. I got just about perfect light with these for the tank. I actually have to put some of my LPS in the shadows to protect them still. In your 175 you have about six inches more depth before the bottom of your tank...it should be perfect for that tank. I'll stick photos up tomorrow... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquariansaltwater Posted November 18, 2010 Author Share Posted November 18, 2010 I finally got some pumps for the tank. Nick at Roxe City got me the hookup. I have a Mag 36 return and a Mag 12 on the skimmer. =0) Sorry for not getting photos up. I had a string of Computer issues. I'll work on some pics soon. I will shoot them when I have the tank against the wall this week. Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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