Leak turns into new build

[MichaelClark55]

Now that was a day from hell. Turned on the return pump for a test spin. Both pressure side bulkheads leaked. Only had them barely hand tight. They are in a spot so tight I couldn't get my hands into. Getting them out was no fun. Putting them back in was even worse than the first time. I did find a way to tighten them this time with some needle nose vise grips from the top of the overflows. Only a 1/4 turn but it felt just right.

Had to cut out the top half of the pressure side of PVC to get to them. Um, why did I not bother with unions? I will be cutting them in before this is done that's for sure!

Cranked up the powerheads, 2 new SW-8s, and 2 SW-4s. Going to leave it on full bore for 24 hours just to shake it out. Looks like a day at the beach in there.

Lights are going up tomorrow if I don't have another day like today.

Dining Room view.

My big hands were not made to fit in that space.

One side done. These are some old controllers using for mock-up. Wanted to run the wiring.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Now that was a day from hell. Turned on the return pump for a test spin. Both pressure side bulkheads leaked. Only had them barely hand tight. They are in a spot so tight I couldn't get my hands into. Getting them out was no fun. Putting them back in was even worse than the first time. I did find a way to tighten them this time with some needle nose vise grips from the top of the overflows. Only a 1/4 turn but it felt just right.

Had to cut out the top half of the pressure side of PVC to get to them. Um, why did I not bother with unions? I will be cutting them in before this is done that's for sure!

Cranked up the powerheads, 2 new SW-8s, and 2 SW-4s. Going to leave it on full bore for 24 hours just to shake it out. Looks like a day at the beach in there.

Lights are going up tomorrow if I don't have another day like today.

Dining Room view.

My big hands were not made to fit in that space.

One side done. These are some old controllers using for mock-up. Wanted to run the wiring.

Looks good. Wish you would've asked before gluing the bulkheads. I just slip fit mine and omitted the glue . Everything on the underside is glued, but everything in the overflows is just friction fit .

 

[MichaelClark55]

Didn't glue the bulkheads. I was referring to the pvc below. The bulkheads are just in a tight spot.

 

[MichaelClark55]

New system is up and running......finally.
This thing is amazing. Sitting next to it, my wife asks if it was even running. It is whisper quiet.
This has been a journey for sure but being able to design and build all the different aspects has been a blessing.

Today didn't go without mishaps but ended well. Stabbed myself in the thumb with my very sharp knife. Super glued it, I may get a stitch or two later. After turning on the return pump for the first time the left drain bulkhead had a small leak. Cut into the wall behind some trim in the dining room and was able to access the bulkhead nut and give that 1/4 turn with the supplied wrench and bingo. Right side return line had a tiny leak. New clamp on the 3/4 flex pipe and done.

Got the C. Prolifera and LR moved into the new sump refugium and it looks great.

The flow is absolutely perfect, just what I was planning and it worked out.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

New system is up and running......finally.
This thing is amazing. Sitting next to it, my wife asks if it was even running. It is whisper quiet.
This has been a journey for sure but being able to design and build all the different aspects has been a blessing.

Today didn't go without mishaps but ended well. Stabbed myself in the thumb with my very sharp knife. Super glued it, I may get a stitch or two later. After turning on the return pump for the first time the left drain bulkhead had a small leak. Cut into the wall behind some trim in the dining room and was able to access the bulkhead nut and give that 1/4 turn with the supplied wrench and bingo. Right side return line had a tiny leak. New clamp on the 3/4 flex pipe and done.

Got the C. Prolifera and LR moved into the new sump refugium and it looks great.

The flow is absolutely perfect, just what I was planning and it worked out.

I'll have your grape Montipora frag in the next week or so.

 

[MichaelClark55]

Sweet!

 

[Captmcfly]

I want to build a stand that will let me stack the 3 tanks. DT on top draining into 4' 33g fug draining into 55G sump on bottom. Anyone done something like that? I'm an architect and I will be designing it today. Looking for ideas. I need to leave room for large ATO storage.

Plumb rodi direct. Save room and have an endless supply of top off !!

 

[MichaelClark55]

Plumb rodi direct. Save room and have an endless supply of top off !!

I wish I could. My DT is in my Living Room. No way to get plumbing to rodi filter in laundry room.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

I wish I could. My DT is in my Living Room. No way to get plumbing to rodi filter in laundry room.

Direct plumbing does make kalk addition in ATO water a bit difficult, if you planned on going that route.

 

[MichaelClark55]

Direct plumbing does make kalk addition in ATO water a bit difficult, if you planned on going that route.

No, direct plumbing from DI filter to tank is not possible for me. This does remind me though. I want to get into dosing via pump system. I assume by the looks of your highly successful reef that you dose? Can you share your experience dosing alk, mag, and calc? I have been doing 10% weekly water changes and maintaining levels around 9-10 dkh, 450 calc & 1300 mg

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

No, direct plumbing from DI filter to tank is not possible for me. This does remind me though. I want to get into dosing via pump system. I assume by the looks of your highly successful reef that you dose? Can you share your experience dosing alk, mag, and calc? I have been doing 10% weekly water changes and maintaining levels around 9-10 dkh, 450 calc & 1300 mg

Well, I wouldn't go as far as to say highly successful. LOL Everyone has issues from time to time.

I use a Jebao quad head dosing pump (DP-4, I believe). I make my own calcium, carbonate, and magnesium solutions from Randy Holmes-Farley's reefkeeping article (http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/). I also dose a homemade mixture of vodka and vinegar for nitrate control. In addition to that, I add calcium hydroxide to my ATO water, primarily for better pH control.

My calcium always runs a bit high, about 435-455 ppm. My alkalinity runs 10-11 dKh. Magnesium also runs high in the 1300-1500 ppm range. I do water changes once a month....about 30 gallons at a time. I also add trace elements manually once or twice a month.

I would highly recommend dosing as it allows a reefkeeper to spend their time enjoying the tank and performing other work instead of spending all of your time worrying about water chemistry.

 

[MichaelClark55]

Well, I wouldn't go as far as to say highly successful. LOL Everyone has issues from time to time.

I use a Jebao quad head dosing pump (DP-4, I believe). I make my own calcium, carbonate, and magnesium solutions from Randy Holmes-Farley's reefkeeping article (http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/). I also dose a homemade mixture of vodka and vinegar for nitrate control. In addition to that, I add calcium hydroxide to my ATO water, primarily for better pH control.

My calcium always runs a bit high, about 435-455 ppm. My alkalinity runs 10-11 dKh. Magnesium also runs high in the 1300-1500 ppm range. I do water changes once a month....about 30 gallons at a time. I also add trace elements manually once or twice a month.

I would highly recommend dosing as it allows a reefkeeper to spend their time enjoying the tank and performing other work instead of spending all of your time worrying about water chemistry.

Awesome! When you get a chance snap a pic of the area where you keep your chemicals and pump. As big as my stand is there is almost no room left!

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Here's an older photo. The only things that have changed is that I've added a spill pan, I now also dose vodka, and I've changed out the containers after some leaks. Other than that, the setup is the same.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

I'll get you an updated pic this evening.

 

[MichaelClark55]

I'll get you an updated pic this evening.

Thanks, I'm going to have to build a shelf over the sump. I have no footprint left. Maybe the containers could go on the outside right side of the stand.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Thanks, I'm going to have to build a shelf over the sump. I have no footprint left.

If space is at a premium, I'd recommend the 4 or 5L space saver containers from US Plastics:

https://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=44510&clickid=search

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Here's a current pic:

 

[MichaelClark55]

Here's a current pic:

I may have to use some wider shorter reservoirs and build a shelf over the ATO tank for them. I have 0 footprint space.

 

[Neo Jeo]

Nice build!

I told myself, if mine leaks on my 120 im getting a 300g. Long as it dosen't ruin my living room and my finished basement...

 

[MichaelClark55]

Got the livestock moved last night. All good so far. Update pictures coming. I did go out and buy one new animal. Check this guy out.

MVI_0142

• MichaelClark55
• Mar 16, 2019