New Build! Calling it Big Blue Reef

[Will_W]

So I found a deal on a new RedSea Reefer at my local fish store and i am super excited to start a new tank! Its going to be a challenge as the front corner seal is busted.... but we have a glass guy who is willing to come to the house and pull the front glass off and reseal it entirely. and if that isn't good enough they are going to fabricate a Euro brace around the top edge for extra support! when I get it I am going to upload some pictures and try to be much more active in progress pics and replies!

 

[SpyC]

sounds cool! It may be worth having them add some extra support on the base of the tank to help keep those seals strong. Are you going with the red sea stand or custom stand?

 

[Will_W]

Got it with the Stand and the Sump. I like that idea about extra support around the base of it. No idea why i didnt think of that as well... Im gonna have to look up some ideas for that. Thanks for the idea

 

[SpyC]

Got it with the Stand and the Sump. I like that idea about extra support around the base of it. No idea why i didnt think of that as well... Im gonna have to look up some ideas for that. Thanks for the idea

I forget what the real name of it is, but it looks like a eurobrace on the bottom of the inside of the tank. Second hand red sea tanks have a bad habit of blowing a seem and any extra support could go a long way. Also ensure there are no gaps between the tank and stand.

 

[Will_W]

Got to pick it up and had to call in some major favors to help me unload it and this thing is no joke.... son of a gun was ridiculously heavy but it is in place now! Definitely have a lot of cleaning to do all over. Gonna replace some parts and it's gonna be a fun project! Pics to come!

 

[Will_W]

Here are some from loading it up and after it was set in place

 

[kevgib67]

Following, how many gallons is the display?

 

[Will_W]

160 gal on the display and a 40 gal sump. It's a red sea xxl 750 v3

 

[Will_W]

So today I ordered some replacement parts, door hinges, openers, return outlets and o rings. Does anyone have random flow generators? Thinking about adding some but I was also thinking a pair of gyres. One on each side facing the front.... a lot to figure out still. Control system.... lighting... sump parts... that's even before I can think of aquascaping and livestock

 

[Rusty_L_Shackleford]

Got to pick it up and had to call in some major favors to help me unload it and this thing is no joke.... son of a gun was ridiculously heavy but it is in place now! Definitely have a lot of cleaning to do all over. Gonna replace some parts and it's gonna be a fun project! Pics to come!

Congrats! Your definitely going the right route by having a pro pull and reseal the glass. Good idea for the extra reinforcement. Red sea tanks are HEAVY. I have a 130dd and live in a 3rd floor condo my wife and I barely got it up the stairs, even with a hand made for them.

 

[Will_W]

Yea it took 4 guys all we had (and two of them lift big weights 6-700lb deadlifts) both those guys were out of breath moving this tank. Thank goodness there were no stairs and some moving dollies

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Following along!

 

[Will_W]

Today my 7 year old future stepson and I did a lot of scraping in the sump trying to remove some of the old growth from it. He seems excited and we talked about how the water is going to flow and the stages of the sump and how it is going to work. He was a bit sad that the refugium was going to be in the back and not the front so if I flip the sump around I will have to redo all the pipes and plumbing that came with the tank.

 

[Will_W]

Life has gotten in the way a bit but here is the current update.
So far I have replaced lots of smaller parts (overflow screens, corroded hinges, sponges, ato floats and lines, Return plumbing fittings). Got a new 5 stage RODI system from BRS. and I have deep cleaned the glass for the display, overflow, sump, and the ATO tank. Major cleaning and scraping and more cleaning and more scraping repeat.

Still to do:
- Get the tank to the shop for reseal and custom lower seal bracing, eurobracing
- I am going to have additional power outlets put in at the tanks location with its own breaker.
Start ordering equipment:
- Control System - ?
- Return Pump - Syncra 1000-2500 GPH
- Skimmer - Reefer DC 900 Protien Skimmer
- Display Powerheads - Gyre XF330 x 2
- Heaters - BRS Titanium
- Lighting - AP9X LED Light Panel x 2

Trying to narrow down equipment for this system. one thing i havent figured out is what type of control system i am going to use. Does anyone have any experience both pros and cons for the Coralvue Hydros system vs. Neptune Apex? any help or advice is extremely helpful!

 

[Will_W]

Well this is just an update. tank was never able to get to the shop to get repaired. it was a big blow to my plan and the tank sat in limbo looking pathetic and very overwhelming. but recently got up the courage thanks to my better half and well i guess im gonna be doing it myself.

with the help of my you tube university degree, watching a lot of build videos, reading a ton of forums. i think i can do it. shout out to @schafon giving me some courage. between his thread and some other youtube videos i think i can do it.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/rebuilding-red-sea-tanks.978308/



However i was given a large sheet of 3/8" glass (used to be a shower door). i had a brilliant idea of what if i cut a one piece brace and set the bead in the same time i reseal the one side of the tank.

If once the new seam is set on the corner and on the euro brace. 24 hours later install a new seal that would re-seal the entire front, sides, and around the inside of the new single piece euro brace.

my only thought would be do i clean and reuse the original gussets?

 

[Will_W]

Here is the shower glass that will be cut down to size. I used the floss pics to remove the plastic gusset pieces. Still need to clean the inside really good before sealing

 

[Will_W]

Build Update... life. let me tell you life got crazy. since May we have had many projects happen around the house and unfortunately the tank build got put on pause. It got to the point where it was discouraging to look at. The custom cut shower glass as a one piece eurobrace idea was a bust. So that didnt help motivation. But we set some time aside over the weekend and went ahead and finally sealed the tank. We used ASI silicone and put a 16 degree edge on it so it is very thick with a lot of surface to adhere to. Fingers crossed it is going to work. Now that it is curing now and I hope that i will be able to put water in the tank after thanksgiving and let it sit for a "water hold and leak test" ill probably let it sit with water till after the first of the year.

In the mean time I am in need of a return pump. I was looking at the maxpect jump DC 10K series. any guidance, thoughts, ideas, criticisims?

still struggling to figure out a control system along with compatible equipment (real challenge. more so than I originally guessed).

Any help would greatly be appreciated.

I will try and get some pictures posted within the next few days.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I'm going to tag @Troylee to possibly be able to help you!

 

[Will_W]

So the sealant i think is a good thick bead some spots arent as clean as i had hoped but the entire front and the one side is one continuous bead. Need to finish cleaning the edges up but what do you guys think?

 

[Will_W]

So while i wait and figure out the pumps i did finally replace the parts i had ordered a while ago. And yes ot was wayyyyy too long of a wait. So we have replaced the return y connector, all the o rings, the adjustment diaphragm, the nozzles. We set up all the plumbing as well so we could start filling with water to do the leak test.

Would it be better to get all the pumps and have them run during the test? I know they put out quite a bit of force against the glass, but is it enough to matter? Still thinking about the maxspect gyres for the display flow.
Maybe mounting them vertically on the overflow box?