Lowboy frag tank addition to shaky's reef

shakygator

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I have been planning to add on to this system for a while now, to give me more room to separate things. My current frag tank kinda developed into a BTA tank anyways and I need somewhere to grow out some other things.

Picked up a used lowboy locally this weekend. Currently deciding how to plumb this into my existing system. Lots of ideas going around still. Original plan was to place it under the window, but there are some caveats:
  1. I have to rebuild this wall in the next year, so I'll have to move the frag system to do this. Not a deal breaker but I'd rather avoid.
  2. My water storage system kind of blocks the best routes for plumbing this in. I'm also considering moving my dosers/apex and putting the lowboy to the left of the current 40 breeder. I've been wanting to build one of those nice apex "cabinets" anyways. Of course, that expands this build drastically.
Equipment planning (subject to change -- as always):
  • Jebao DCS-3000
  • Jebao SCP-90
  • Noopsyche K7 Pro II (x2)
No filtration needed as I'm going to plumb into the existing -- somehow. Kind of want to add a large fuge under the frag system too. Maybe a Tuff Stuff stock tank or Husky tote. Or a 40 breeder. I prefer to use a rubbermaid stock tank, but sadly it's just too big for this area. I'm also considering consolidating my return pumps, as this current plan will end up with 3 separate returns.

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Existing setup, plus display on the other side of the wall:

Display: 105G DSA Neo rimless
Sump: Custom 71" ~70 gallon
Frag Tank #1: 40 gallon breeder
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revhtree

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Love those shallow tanks!
 
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shakygator

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I don't have much progress to add to this yet as the exterior wall of my home needs to be rebuilt first. I am planning that now so I can get my lagoon setup!

In the meantime I was in need of new lights for my 40 breeder and unfortunately ALSO for my 105g display. I had purchased a pair of noopsyche k7 pro for the lowboy but decided to put them up over the nem tank. Good color, shimmer, and most importantly output.

Here are some PAR readings - at no more than 50%! I have not tested full power on these yet. They have a good punch and the spread is noticeably better than my old fixtures. So far everything has responded favorably.
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shakygator

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I finally rebuilt the wall in the reef room that was delaying my lagoon build. It really really really needed to be done, so I did it. And when I say I rebuilt the wall I really did. I had to rip all the studs out, or what was left of them. Water and termite damage is no joke.

I will be redoing the siding on the rest of this wall probably next year, but for now I addressed the critical part which was the reef room wall.

Sump/frag tank in quarantine too
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The best before pic I had...my wife had already started tearing things off
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Hey where did the wall go?
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Ran out of time on day #1..club reef is open for business, one day only
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And then a day or two, or three later after sheathing, house wrap, a new window and of course the siding (hardie)
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I'll spare you the progress pics on the internal build...but about a week later. Decided to paint it "ocean" colors. Went with 2 different tones, one for that deep water feel and one a little lighter
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Since the reef room was back in operation I then did a large water change (75 gallons). I was wanting to do this anyways to "reset" the system. Things have been funky and throw in the construction dust, etc...thought it would be beneficial.
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So at this point I started planning the lowboy addon. Basically planning to do something like this. The sump/fuge will be a 40g tub from tractor supply. Not a rubbermaid because the dimensions didn't work for me. Will be using uniseals instead of bulkheads on it.

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Have most of the parts on order and really the only thing left to figure out will be the lights. So far I am really liking the noopsyches color and quality. I may be getting another pair for the lowboy.
 

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That's a clean install. Looking forward to seeing 50g go up. Also, glad to hear the Noopsyches are holding up well. Based off the diagram, the 50 is going under the window with the sump/fuge?
 
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That's a clean install. Looking forward to seeing 50g go up. Also, glad to hear the Noopsyches are holding up well. Based off the diagram, the 50 is going under the window with the sump/fuge?

Yes sir, that is the plan. Since I plan to move my mangroves into that tank they should benefit from the window light.
 
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A little progress as I have been accumulating gear and making decisions. I have decided that I will not be plumbing this system into the existing. Part of this was because I didn't like my physical options for running plumbing over there. Also I was concerned I was going to have too much run off from all of the tanks plus the 40g tub and overflow the sump. I do plan to build a new sump in the sometime future so maybe I can re-visit this when I get to that point.

Still planning to use this 40g tub as the sump and figured out how to build a little skimmer chamber to keep the water consistent - oh yeah since this is a standalone system now I picked up a used RO INT-150. Same skimmer I have on the main system and I love it. The tank will drain into this 7g container that was the perfect size for the skimmer - where I will cut a slit at likely around 9-10" to drain into the main tub. I have a 32g brute just out of frame in this photo full of LR I have been cooking for 5+ years that will likely all be used to scape the 50g and the rest will go into this tub. Might do some fuge/mangroves in the tub too - not sure, playing it all by ear for now. The mangroves will still be used in the 50.

I ordered the replacement set of noopsyches since I ended up using the first pair on the current frag tank. I also ended up using the SCP90 I had planned for this tank in the main tank and then ordered an SCP70 to use in the current frag tank. That means I have no powerhead for the 50g now. Might get another SCP70? I love the gyre flow pattern and I'm concerned the SCP90 will be too much for the shallow 50 but the SCP70 might not make it across the whole tank.

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Oh and I finally painted my outside walls.
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Drilled the tank tonight. Forgot how much I hate drilling tanks, but it's done. I will be building the internal baffle out of an ABS sheet I have. Not quite sure how I want to cut the teeth yet. I have a small CNC router/engraver but I am not sure I can fit the ABS sheet in there as the work area is quite small. Might have to cut it with a dremel or my router. If I go that route I am going to try and build some sort of jig to assist.

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Been a little busy - but spent the weekend painting the back of the tank and building my ABS overflow.

I have never done an ABS overflow like this but I'm overall pleased with how it came out. I used my heat gun and a jig to form the shape. Had a little warping at some spots so the heat gun wasn't perfect, but it'll do.

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I also put some hooks in the ceiling for lighting while I could still easily move the tank. Planning to paint that little section over the closet before I fill the tank up. Maybe today. (no the cat is not floating - he likes to get on top of the cabinets)

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spideybry

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Been a little busy - but spent the weekend painting the back of the tank and building my ABS overflow.

I have never done an ABS overflow like this but I'm overall pleased with how it came out. I used my heat gun and a jig to form the shape. Had a little warping at some spots so the heat gun wasn't perfect, but it'll do.

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I also put some hooks in the ceiling for lighting while I could still easily move the tank. Planning to paint that little section over the closet before I fill the tank up. Maybe today. (no the cat is not floating - he likes to get on top of the cabinets)

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Great job with that overflow. You going to install some sort of grate to keep critters out? Don't want snails or anything going over.
 
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Not sure. I was gonna try to cut teeth with my CNC but I decided that smooth skims better and teeth were more trouble than they were worth. Maybe ill build a lid out of acrylic or print something on my 3d printer. TBD
 
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Built a fixture for my lighting. I may need to get some longer hanging cables though as this is pretty high off the water. It is a shallow tank though so I may light it up and see what numbers it produces (I have a PAR meter).

The tank is about ready to get wet though - only outstanding items are:
  • Build standpipes (Texas weather has our plumbing supply low so I had to get creative with fittings - will probably rebuild later when supplies are up)
  • Build drains, I have some flex PVC planned for this
  • Cut slits in the skimmer tub/chamber
Current state of affairs:
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jandlms

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Looks great so far. I am planning something very similar except my frag will be plumbed into a master sump. Any idea what type of tank yours is? I want a lowboy but the only ones I am seeing are Zoomed and I don’t know if the bottom is drillable on them.
 
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Did a little work on my skimmer overflow container. I just needed to cut a slit at the appropriate height to overflow into the stock tank. While I was cutting it I got a nifty idea to build some down spout/scuppers. Having a 3D printer is nice for these things because I was able to get an idea, design a part, and produce that part all in the same day.

The skimmer chamber:
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Quick design in Sketchup:
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Aaand done:
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Finally got it filled!

When I went to install all the plumbing the Jebao DCP-3000 I ordered last august had a snapped impeller. Grrr! Thankfully I have some extra sicce pumps that I recently pulled from the display tank so I was able to hook one up to get it flowing. Ordered another DC pump since the sicce 3.0 is too much flow for this tank (845gph or something like that).

Plumbing is a bean animal. I don't use Ts though and I rarely hook up the open channel's airline. I just let the emergency handle any extra if necessary. I've never seen a need for the open channel to convert itself to a siphon.

The rock in this tank I've had cooking in a 32g brute trashcan for the better part of a decade. I seriously haven't touched this rock since like 2012-2013. Just kept it wet with a circulation pump and a lid on it. A testament to the trusty old MJ1200. I'm hoping this helps jump start the tank, but I did dump a bottle of microbacter7 in there to assist as well.

Not hooking up the skimmer or lighting yet. Need to figure out a pretty way to mount my ReefAngel, etc.

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I didn't put much effort into the scaping. It's really just so I have somewhere to put my mangroves as this is a lagoon/growout/frag tank. I still wanted it to be unique so I made sections where I plan to separate corals, or something.

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