"Embarking the Journey" Reef Build by Clayton

[Clayton Jessup]

So as promised here is a little update going on with my build ...

I am currently not with any funding to place a order for a Controller setup , so I did something a little bit different to kinda help me move a little forward.

I wanted to have a cleaner and nicer area to work with my Electronics in my stand . I thought my little modification to my stand that I had already did was not enough . So I busted out the Jigsaw and went to my stand .. here is what I did I removed the current electronic for that I had on the left side of my stand and opened up the section made the opening much wider then the original plan.

The reason I did this was to create more room for cables to come into the new addition I was adding to my stand . Thanks to some connections of which I had I was able to get a amazing deal on a very nice metal Locker/cabinet, I then screwed this in to the left side of my stand , to isolate my electronics from the rest of my stand and equipment/ water . Here are some pictures of the locker, cabinet

So with the new add on to my stand I would have a more isolated area for all my electronics , and they would be housed in a safe area. Now I just needed a way to get all my cables into this new locker/cabinet . So I decided to bust out my 1.5 or 60mm diamond hole saw and drill a few holes to help cables come into this locker/cabinet.. in total I drilled 4 1.5in holes to help for current and future cables ... and sprayed it with some black spray paint to make it blind in a little better and to cover up the scratches etc..

From here I needed something to mount my surge protectors to and I didn’t want to use wood . So there was enough room in my locker/cabinet to mount a 1/4in thick sheet of acrylic. So that’s what I opted for ..

Now that I had a isolated area for my electronics they now needed Power. I just happen to have 5 of theses 4 outlet TrippLite Surge protectors. So o came up with a simple and easy solution to mount them to the acrylic sheet , using some zip ties , that way if I ever needed to remove them I can very quickly.. I used a total of four surge protectors in my locker/cabinet...

I then mounted my 5th surge protector on the back of my stand , and that is where all the four of the locker plug into.

After this was done it was not long let’s say tell my tank got wet [emoji97][emoji97].. like two days later I added about 90g of RO water to the tank and it’s currently in a leak test state making sure everything is working and functioning properly ..

I then connected my Tunze ATO and the container and it has been running for a view days now .. I am just wanting to check all plumbing and that everything is performing properly ...

Sorry on the long update but it was quite a bit. As well my next little update is that I am currently waiting to take my state exam to officially become a nurse if all goes well and God be willing . So before salt and rock are added I kinda want to secure that I pass my state exams so hopefully not much longer before this tank really gets rolling ..

Thank you all for reading this if you all made it to the end of this post. Sorry once again. Please let me know what you all think of the progress and the work I did.. thank you again R2R ..

 

[najer]

Nice work.

 

[Clayton Jessup]

Nice work.

Thank you very much najer, it’s a slow work in progress... thank you again.

 

[MapleReef]

Alright!! U have water in it!! Looks really good so far!

 

[Mandelstam]

Just found this thread today. Great job! Looks super promising! [emoji3] Inspiring and with lots of ideas!

 

[Clayton Jessup]

Alright!! U have water in it!! Looks really good so far!

MapleReef thank you very much! I am trying to do my best with it. I just installed something tonight on it as well. Sneak peek ...

 

[Clayton Jessup]

Just found this thread today. Great job! Looks super promising! [emoji3] Inspiring and with lots of ideas!

Mandelstam , thank you so much for the kind words about my thread! I am trying to do the best that I can with what I have and the little finds which I have right now , until I get working hopefully soon. Let me know if there is any questions I could answer for any of your ideas [emoji362] . Thank you again .

 

[MapleReef]

MapleReef thank you very much! I am trying to do my best with it. I just installed something tonight on it as well. Sneak peek ...

Alright!! Looks like ur gonna put urs to use before I will! Let me know what u think!

 

[Idoc]

Great progress! Coming along nicely! Good move on the cabinet redesign for your electronics. As I have found out, you always end up needing more space than you planned for all those wires and controllers, etc...

Since I can foresee a GHL Profilux in your future, lol, the base module needs a depth of around 8-9" minimum (due to cords sticking out the back).

 

[iemsparticus]

Looking great, man!

 

[iemsparticus]

MapleReef thank you very much! I am trying to do my best with it. I just installed something tonight on it as well. Sneak peek ...

I’ve been tempted to get a couple of those nozzles... will look forward to your thoughts on them.

 

[Clayton Jessup]

Alright!! Looks like ur gonna put urs to use before I will! Let me know what u think!

So here is another little update I added a pair of Random Flow Generators from VCA or in other words Vivid Creative Aquatics .

https://vividcreativeaquatics.com/shop/34in-random-flow-generator-rfg075/

Thanks out to MapleReef for introducing them to me. Here are the pictures of the RFG nozzles ... I absolutely love them

To use the the pair I had to go to my LFS and pick up a Y adapter for my 3/4in lock line. Here is the idea of how I installed them on my 75g..

Overall I am very impressed with them. I shot off my Dual MP10 ‘s and they were creating some pretty good flow in my 4ft 75g. I installed on on my shorter side of the tank my Width , and the longer section is running along my back panel of my tank.

My MP10’s I moved from the sides and installed them on my back wall as well , to open up all my 3 viewing panels as well !

I prefer them there in this location. They hide a lot easier in the black around vs the sides of my tank. I think later down the line I ll add a 3rd MP10 to the back Center to create more flow in the tank as well. And I am still planning to up grade my RP to a Vectra M1 as well when funds allow.

Thanks for reading the up date hope it adds some insight on the amazing products from VCA and their RFG Nozzles .

 

[Clayton Jessup]

Great progress! Coming along nicely! Good move on the cabinet redesign for your electronics. As I have found out, you always end up needing more space than you planned for all those wires and controllers, etc...

Since I can foresee a GHL Profilux in your future, lol, the base module needs a depth of around 8-9" minimum (due to cords sticking out the back).

Idoc thank you for the kinda words something told me I needed more space for my electronics. I am really hoping I can get a GHL Profilux rather sooner then later. But thank you I didn’t realize that it needs about 8-9in minimum for all the cables. Thank you again. Do you know if you can run the Powerbar 5.1 with the the Profilux Controller, or do I need to have the controller to use it? Cuz I am thinking I ideally would like two 5.1 Power bars on my system. So I was thinking I’ll buy one then the controller on a latter date , but that’s only if I can is it like in a stand alone situation. I have reached out to GHL with the same question still waiting on a response.. just thought I would ask you.

 

[Clayton Jessup]

Looking great, man!

iemsparticus thank you for the kind words, it’s always appreciated here on my thread. Thank you again!!

 

[Clayton Jessup]

Idoc I meant do you know if I can run the Powerbar 5.1 without the controller? sorry. Or do I need the P4 to use the Powerbar5.1?

 

[Clayton Jessup]

I’ve been tempted to get a couple of those nozzles... will look forward to your thoughts on them.

In all honesty iemsparticus I absolutely love them and I am so glad I got them , I have only had them on less then 24hrs but I can see a difference in the flow patterns of my tank. I would say order a pair . I’ll try and post a video of the flow of the RFG Nozzles, with my Vortechs off , so you all following my thread can see the flow that they make . I’ll bring them up to the water surface and allow air to come into them . My recommendation is do your self a favor and order a pair. I mostly did it to maybe help me save on ordering a additional Vortech MP10 , and pushing it maybe to a little latter of a date. When funds are a little bit better for us . But I love my VCA RFG Nozzles !!!

 

[iemsparticus]

In all honesty iemsparticus I absolutely love them and I am so glad I got them , I have only had them on less then 24hrs but I can see a difference in the flow patterns of my tank. I would say order a pair . I’ll try and post a video of the flow of the RFG Nozzles, with my Vortechs off , so you all following my thread can see the flow that they make . I’ll bring them up to the water surface and allow air to come into them . My recommendation is do your self a favor and order a pair. I mostly did it to maybe help me save on ordering a additional Vortech MP10 , and pushing it maybe to a little latter of a date. When funds are a little bit better for us . But I love my VCA RFG Nozzles !!!

Do you have an idea as to how much flow you have running through them from your return pump?

 

[revhtree]

Looking good!

 

[Clayton Jessup]

Looking good!

Thank you very much Revhtree , for the kind words !!! Took those words to heart lol [emoji23]

 

[Clayton Jessup]

Do you have an idea as to how much flow you have running through them from your return pump?

Ismsparticus , I had to turn down my Sicce Syncra Silent 5.0 down some to get my ghost overflow a little more on the white side. Right now if I had to guess I am thinking I am pushing around 400-600gph , through them. I don’t have any flow sensors so like I said it’s all a estimated guessing ... sorry I don’t have better answer for you..