The "Quid Pro Quo" WB 130.4 Build

qnguyen · Apr 5, 2020

Corona Virus, You Suck!

It looks like I may have to wait a few months to start my tank. Tampa Bay Saltwater is not shipping until the country comes out of lockdown and they have a backlog of orders to clear. I am not a fan of dry rock so I will just have to wait I guess. Patience is a virtue in this hobby.

qnguyen · Apr 5, 2020

"Priceless"

I am bored out of my mind with this self-quarantine. I decided to tally up how much I have spent so far on this build.

Here is what I spent broken down by category. I listed the full retail price as well as the discounted price I paid.

Type	MSRP	Paid	Savings
Controller	$3,007	$2,822	$185
Lights	$2,326	$2,277	$49
Tank	$2,337	$2,103	$234
Sump	$1,320	$1,320	$0
Return Pump	$1,500	$1,130	$370
Frag Tank	$1,407	$1,113	$293
Live Rock	$949	$949	$0
Refugium	$649	$649	$0
Skimmer	$654	$529	$125
Plumbing	$560	$560	$0
RODI	$480	$409	$71
UV	$440	$336	$104
SW Mixing Station	$352	$321	$30
Gyre	$520	$320	$200
Misc	$362	$311	$51
Manifold Pump	$369	$295	$74
Heater	$425	$274	$151
ATO	$184	$179	$5
Testing	$197	$177	$21
Battery Back-Up	$130	$117	$13
Salt	$100	$90	$10
Maintenance	$79	$63	$16
Total	$18,345	$16,344	$2,001

Here is the same spending broken down by what I spent at each store. P2P refers to used equipment that I bought from someone else.

Store	MSRP	Paid	Savings
GHL	$2,597	$2,412	$185
Waterbox	$2,337	$2,103	$234
Giesemann	$2,057	$2,057	$0
BRS	$2,233	$1,894	$340
eBay	$2,100	$1,605	$495
Synergy Reef	$1,320	$1,320	$0
MarineDepot	$1,314	$1,243	$71
TBS	$908	$908	$0
LuckReef	$780	$780	$0
P2P	$1,206	$740	$466
Plumbing	$560	$560	$0
Amazon	$420	$371	$49
Aquarium Specialty	$170	$151	$19
Ranco	$289	$146	$143
Battlecorals	$54	$54	$0
Total	$18,345	$16,344	$2,001

This does not include the cost of my basement sump room. Nor does it include annual maintenance items like salt, 2-part dosing, additives, filter replacements, etc. Oye vey. ;Nailbiting;Facepalm

I have a detailed spreadsheet that includes links to where I purchased each item if anyone is interested to get it to save themselves some time. Just send me a PM and I will send you the file.

tippin.turtle · Apr 5, 2020

No doubt you're in deep. Every penny I spend the more it makes me cringe. For my own
well being I stopped counting. I'm finding denial a welcoming place to occupy.

qnguyen · Apr 6, 2020

tippin.turtle said:
No doubt you're in deep. Every penny I spend the more it makes me cringe. For my own
well being I stopped counting. I'm finding denial a welcoming place to occupy.

Lol. I'm with you bud. My wife gave me a cap of $20,000 to spend (excluding livestock and corals) and I intend to use every last penny! I have a few more big ticket items to buy like an ION Director and a MP10WQD or Nero5 for my frag tank.

liverock · Apr 7, 2020

qnguyen said:
Corona Virus, You Suck!

It looks like I may have to wait a few months to start my tank. Tampa Bay Saltwater is not shipping until the country comes out of lockdown and they have a backlog of orders to clear. I am not a fan of dry rock so I will just have to wait I guess. Patience is a virtue in this hobby.

The whole state of Florida is under lock down here. The airlines are barely flying....flights down 90%. I expect we may be at it again here in a couple of months. Lets all just do what we have to survive and still be here in a couple of months.

Richard TBS

qnguyen · Apr 11, 2020

It’s Alive!!

I got lucky. A member of my local reef club broke down his tank and I bought all 90 lbs of Fiji live rock that has been in his system for about 4 to 5 years. Really nice stuff. There are some encrusting corals and a bunch of sponges. I was planning on 135 lbs (1.5 lbs per gallon), but I actually like the extra space at 1 lbs per gallon. I’ll probably buy 50 lbs from TBS once they re-open and toss it in my refugium. I still love the bio-diversity of TBS rock.

Dry fitted:

In tank:

I am not expecting much of a cycle since these rock were only out of water for 3 hours. Excited to finally see this thing up and running after 18 months of planning and building!

Cwentz758 · Apr 11, 2020

Just went through this whole thread....there were parts of me that wiggled... a few times. Sick build!

qnguyen · Apr 17, 2020

Cwentz758 said:
Just went through this whole thread....there were parts of me that wiggled... a few times. Sick build!

Thanks! I heard that wiggling is one of the early symptoms of COVID19. Please take care of yourself! ;Doctor

qnguyen · Apr 18, 2020

What should I do to keep myself busy while I wait for my tank to mature? I guess I will enjoy a few Corona’s with my Synergy Reef Systems cooler during this never ending Covid19 lockdown. Stay safe everyone and don’t drink and drive (not that there is anywhere to drive to!).

Futuretotm · May 5, 2020

qnguyen said:
Saltwater Mixing Station

It is nothing exciting, but it's an important step to getting this tank wet.

Here is the exact part list along with shopping links in case anyone finds it useful. I used all furniture grade, colored PVC and mostly schedule 80 fittings. You can go cheaper with white and schedule 40.

The two 44-gallon Brute cans and lids cost $150 in total.

The pump is a Pan World 50PX ($160). You can use a smaller one like the 30PX, but this is also a back-up in the unlikely event that my Abyzz A100 return pump breaks down. The 50PX has 3/4" inlet and outlet so all piping and fittings are sized at 3/4".

The two water-level gages cost approximately $30 each and was made with:
(2) 1/2" uniseals ($4)
(2) 1/2" 90-degree elbows ($3)
5' of 1/2" clear sch 40 pvc ($8)
The water line markings for 10-gallons, 20-gallons and 30-gallons are at the 7.5" mark, 15" mark and 22" mark. This applies to the 44-gallon Brutes.

The plumbing costs $92 and consists of:
(3) 3/4" uniseals ($6)
(3) 3/4" 90-degree elbows ($5)
(2) 3/4" single union ball valve ($15); I used single-union for the RODI and Saltwater outlets, but you could use true unions (double) if you wanted to.
(1) SHMONO 3/4’’ PVC Check Single Union Ball Check Valve ($12); this is optional to prevent saltwater from flowing back into the RODI barrel. It is the dark gray piece after the ball valve on the left RODI container.
(2) 3/4" PVC T-fittings ($3)
(2) 3/4" sch 80 union slip x thread ($12); the Pan World 50PX has threaded inlet and outlet so I used the slip x threaded unions. You may need to alter this if you use a different pump.
(1) 3/4" true union ball valve ($11); I had this lying around so I used it for the ball valve at the top (going into the SW mixing barrel). You can use a single union ball valve as well.
(3) 5' sections of BioTek Marine Black 3/4" SCH 40 Furniture Grade PVC Pipe ($28).

The spigot costs $36 and consists of:
(1) 3/4" true union ball valve ($11); you will have to swap on the slip fitting on one side to threaded. The threaded side is required to accept the
(1) 3/4" Colder male thread quick connect adapter ($8)
(1) 3/4" Colder barb quick connect anti-drip coupling ($17); the adapter and coupler work together to provide a fast way to connect and disconnect your output water line.

So the total cost was $468. But wait, there's more! Don't forget:

The BRS 7 stage 75GPD Pro Plus RO/DI system and Water Saver Upgrade Kit which cost another $390.
I also installed an XP Aqua RO/DI Flood Guardian ($70) as my primary shut-off for the RODI. The RO float valve is my secondary back-up.
I had the Costco shelving unit lying around, but it is probably around $100 brand new.

So the grand total is around $1,000.

Never touched PVC/sch80 etc, your list is a great cheat sheet. Copy Paste!!!!
Thank you. What kind of PVC cement did you use?

AGAIN THANK YOU

qnguyen · May 5, 2020

Futuretotm said:
Never touched PVC/sch80 etc, your list is a great cheat sheet. Copy Paste!!!!
Thank you. What kind of PVC cement did you use?

AGAIN THANK YOU

I used Oatey clear primer and clear cement. I recommend getting the smaller 4 oz cans. I found the applicator ball from the 4 oz can easier to use than the larger ball from the bigger cans.

Also, this PVC cutter worked well for me:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07T2YG963?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

Futuretotm · May 5, 2020

qnguyen said:
I used Oatey clear primer and clear cement. I recommend getting the smaller 4 oz cans. I found the applicator ball from the 4 oz can easier to use than the larger ball from the bigger cans.

Also, this PVC cutter worked well for me:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07T2YG963?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

again thanks
I was about to order the exact replica of your parts however I’m having a hard time figuring out how to connect it to my jebao 15000.

qnguyen · May 5, 2020

Futuretotm said:
again thanks
I was about to order the exact replica of your parts however I’m having a hard time figuring out how to connect it to my jebao 15000.

I have never used the Jebao’s, but I heard that they come with hose adapters (1-1/4", 1-1/2" and 2") as well as PVC slip fittings (1-1/2" and 2"). You first have to decide what size PVC you want to use for your return line. I don’t know what type of flow you want to handle, but let’s assume you want to go with 1” PVC. And I am also assuming you will use this in-sump. In that case, what I would do is to use the 1-1/4” hose adaptor that comes with your Jebao. Connect it to a six inch piece of black vinyl tubing or braided vinyl tubing (don’t forget to use clamps) to reduce vibration. Then connect to a reducing 1-1/4” barb to 1” threaded male connector. And then use either a 1” threaded/slip union (for easy disassembly later) or a 1” female thread to slip coupling. From there, you can start to hard plumb with normal 1” PVC.

Futuretotm · May 5, 2020

qnguyen said:
I have never used the Jebao’s, but I heard that they come with hose adapters (1-1/4", 1-1/2" and 2") as well as PVC slip fittings (1-1/2" and 2"). You first have to decide what size PVC you want to use for your return line. I don’t know what type of flow you want to handle, but let’s assume you want to go with 1” PVC. And I am also assuming you will use this in-sump. In that case, what I would do is to use the 1-1/4” hose adaptor that comes with your Jebao. Connect it to a six inch piece of black vinyl tubing or braided vinyl tubing (don’t forget to use clamps) to reduce vibration. Then connect to a reducing 1-1/4” barb to 1” threaded male connector. And then use either a 1” threaded/slip union (for easy disassembly later) or a 1” female thread to slip coupling. From there, you can start to hard plumb with normal 1” PVC.

you are amazing
Thank you
I’m doing this for my water change station, but the same concept applies

qnguyen · May 5, 2020

Futuretotm said:
you are amazing
Thank you
I’m doing this for my water change station, but the same concept applies

Oh, I see. In that case I would use the included PVC slip fitting for 1-1/2 inch. And then connect it to a 1-1/2 inch slip/slip Union for easy maintenance. And then reduce to 1” or 3/4” with a slip/slip coupler. I don’t think a saltwater mixing station really needs 1”, but I guess it doesn’t hurt.

Futuretotm · May 6, 2020

qnguyen said:
Oh, I see. In that case I would use the included PVC slip fitting for 1-1/2 inch. And then connect it to a 1-1/2 inch slip/slip Union for easy maintenance. And then reduce to 1” or 3/4” with a slip/slip coupler. I don’t think a saltwater mixing station really needs 1”, but I guess it doesn’t hurt.

that is exactly the route I went!
Again thank you for all your help. BTW did you paint the letters (SALT and RODI) on there? or stickers?

qnguyen · May 6, 2020

Futuretotm said:
that is exactly the route I went!
Again thank you for all your help. BTW did you paint the letters (SALT and RODI) on there? or stickers?

I used these vinyl stickers.

Here are some other OCD-inspired purchases in case you also suffer from the same disease! I love the look of these cable wraps. It also comes in black:

And these are the smallest cable concealers that I could find. It is just big enough to handle one Cat-5 cable for my Profilux Monitor:

And these 1-foot extension cords with flat rotating heads help me keep everything looking sharp and tucked in:

Cheers

Futuretotm · May 6, 2020

qnguyen said:
I used these vinyl stickers. Here are some other OCD-inspired purchases in case you also suffer from the same disease!

I love the look of these cable wraps. It also comes in black:

And these are the smallest cable concealers that I could find. It is just big enough to handle one Cat-5 cable for my Profilux Monitor:

And these 1-foot extension cords with rotating heads help me keep everything looking sharp and tucked in:

Cheers