Still the baddest project going!

I think the clear tubing looks good and the vent covers should look nice as well. Just super clean, very well thought out. Keep up the good work!

Bill

/drool

Those Silenx fans are great. Much quieter than most other fans I've heard and they're not too $$. Are you going put one or two behind the vent above your ballast? Just curious.

I really hope that clear pipe works out. If its successful, it makes me wonder how tricky it would be to custom bend a solid piece of that stuff... Prolly have to insert something flexible into the middle of it to maintain interior diameter tho. Man your build has my brain spinning circles around one subject: "must build own custom tank!" I mean, custom designing and building it all is half the fun.

What page is your equipment list on? I am in need of help on heater selection on large tanks. As I see yours is a huge tank I have been wondering what heater you are going to use.

Amazing tank, absolutely amazing. I'm scared to even try a setup with a sump because I'm worried the plumbing will end up all over my carpet. To undertake something like this is crazy. Absolutely crazy. Can't wait to see this thing in action.

I'd love to see a school of anthias in there. I know you said you're worried about them getting too large, but I love anthia schools and you actually have the tank to do it.

The only thing I worry about (and I know you do too) is that pipe that comes up the back. And I' being really nitpicky here. Your tank looks prettier empty than mine does full. The artistic pipe thing mentioned by another poster a few pages back could work. To be honest, it's not the pipe itself, its what that pipe will look like after a couple months. I know you said you have a replacement pipe already, but changing tht thing out an cleaning it that often seems like it may become kind of a drag.

Thanks!!!



No, all three fans will be in the end of the stand blowing all the air out (utility room is directly across from the end of the stand), the vent will be the source of all the air coming in which will blow over the ballasts.



Don't have one yet, it's all over the place. For heater I haven't decided yet, but it will be a titanium heating element with a controller.



LOL! It's not a scary or as risky as most think. I too love anthias, and I could probably get away with it, at least until they get large and have to be swapped out.

Only time will tell if cleaning and swapping pipes becomes a drag, I don't anticipate much other maintenance requirements, empty the skimmer regularly, water changes will be done with pumps and hoses, and top off will be automated, just have to keep the 15g barrel full. Hopefully it will be easy to maintain, I've designed as much as I can with this in mind so those things like pipe replacement will be simple as well. Really, all I'll have to do, is kill the flow, remove the 90* in the tank, unscrew the pipe, screw in the new one and re-attach the 90* in the tank. Oh, and put the pipe in a bucket of vingar to break up any coraline.

Ultimately it's just a matter of taste, what looks good to one person might look terrible to another. I think the pipe issue is just that. IMO, trying to cover the pipe with an artistic cover would look tacky (like a yard full of gnomes ) , but that's just my taste.

everythings looking great!!

every time i read the title E i just cant help but think you have a 12 ft bong stashed somewhere lol

Like a yard full of gnomes.... I just spit diet coke all over my keyboard..

hahahahahha
cant wait to see this thing with water in it.

do u expect any bowing once its filled with water? also did u order the frame with the doors or did u make it?

Thanks!!!




LOL! Thanks buddy!




LOL! Thanks, I can't wait either!



I don't expect any bowing at all, the tank is actually very overbuilt, in-fact, with all the bracing and dimension it could have been done out of 1/4" and I used 1/2" just to beef it up. The frame I built using of Poplar and just routered the outer edge.

I am drooling and thinking of a place I could build a tank like yours. What are you going to put in the tank once its setup? And you probably said it before but how many gallons is your tank?

LOL! I'm planning a completely mixed reef... Ricordia , Zoanthids, Blastos, Acans, Micros, Chalices, Clams, Goni's, Lobos, and lots of Acros. A nice mix of small fish including leopard and melanaris wrasses, lyretail anthias, flame and or potters angels, possibly 1 center piece tang, blennies, gobies, shrimp, stars, and anything else I just can't live without. Tank is only 140 gallons (outside dimensions) so it should be interesting how much I'm actually able to fit in the tank.

lol "only 140 gallons"

I'm serious... The 225g that I maintain at my folks is out of room and we have a local in our club with a crowded 600g. This baby still feels like a nano to me despite the volume...

Well I have a new plan for both the canopy and return pipe, I'll let everyone in on the idea once I build it/confirm it's going to work.

I just ordered the last of the loclines I need, the float valve for the ATO, and will have my power management tomorrow night. That should be everything to get water in it, I'll take more pics as things start coming together. All that's left I think it the canopy, sand, and my water changing station.

u know u could of just ran ur return up the middle of the tank through a bh.

No, I don't want anything in the tank up to the top of the water, and I don't trust a check valve enough...

Looking very nice!

dude seriously... FINISH this thing already! I been waiting too long to see what this thing will look like stocked... You're killin' me.



:lmao: That went through my head once too.

nice to see that clear pvc, i hope it stays clear for you, looks really good now, so does everything else nice and clean it will be a big help in the long run. it will look awesome with a bunch of small fish in your tank, and the length help to make territory without them getting into each others. definatly need at least one big fish to stick out and the rest small. but where oh where is your QT tank, with all those fish, i think you might want one.

if you would like i could help you out by putting some of those frags in my tanks.

anything new?

Here's some updates:

So I'll start small...

Here's the power management, yes I just put them in the stand (still need to prime it)... I pulled out the stand and actually stood on it (right in the middle) and not a crack our of it so it's staying simple.



ATO Float Valve is installed.



Dual sumps are plumbed and connected.



Loc Lines are installed.



And here's what I ended up doing for the pipe... I took runningstix's idea of building a chase which will have a door covering the front for access (yes it's still to be built). The chase will have a dual purpose; it will hide the return pipe, but it will also hide a cable which will be run for raising and lowing the light pendant (also still to be built) with a switch.

Some more drying time needed, sanding, more mud, more sanding, texture and paint.





Hopefully this makes everyone more happy with the pipe. I do wish it didn't cut off as much of the end view as it does.

Progress! Yay!

I like the chase, Eric. I think it will look really nice finished up.

Everything else looks good, too, except for your RO stand. I'd add a little bracing just from looking at the pics, but you can see it (and stand on it!) in person so I'll take your word on it. Looking forward to seeing this hoist system, it's piqued my interest.

Very nice its coming along the excitement grows on as water filling day comes to view.


Adolfo

Thanks! I'm off on Friday and hope to get the chase finished by then so I can fill it and see how it runs. My wife wants me to move the office to the basement so construction needs to end asap... We now have a set of bedroom furniture taking up our sitting room, so I have to be done by this weekend.



Thanks! I hope to see some water in it very soon.

Would be sweet if you could have put some commercial MH recessed cans above the tank, but Im sure the t5 setup you have planned will look good as well, and probably have the added benefit of being easier on the wallet

love it more and more:D
haha, i just noticed your sumps are plumbed the same way my LFS does its displays

Great build! I thought the clear PVC was slick, but the pipe hiding wall looks fantastic. I think it really helps frame the tank, and once finished will really tie in well with the rest of the room. Can't wait to see the tank wet!

Anna

Looking good now. Crazy power management, I'd be labeling those switches after you get it hooked up and wired. Getting close.

yea
ud never have the i-have-to-unplug-everything-just-to-see-which-one-is-the-pump-for-the-turf-scrubber problem i have

Dude I wish I was still stationed at Fort Carson so that I could see your set up in person when its up and running. Truly a professional setup and a fantastic job you're doing. Can't wait to see it with water in it.

great job!!! love the chase, good way to hide the pipe! what about using the clear pvc u bought to come out of the chase in to the tank...i think that would finish off the look, and be less noticeable. coming along great!! awesome!!

Yeah... Cheaper in every way and should still do the job...



I couldn't get a larger sump in there due to the supports, but I can certainly plumb them together!



Thanks! Stay tuned for an update.



Yep, they will all be labeled as soon as I figure out where everything will be wired.



LOL! Yeah, been there done that, never again.



Wish you were too, we have a great club here now, and my door is always open to fell addicts.



I'll be using the clear in the tank, but because I won't be able to remove the pipe to clean it it has to be white.



So here's what I did today, hope you guys enjoy... Can you say WET!!!

Under the stand:


I wrapped the ATO drum stand in left over PVC Sheet to give it a better look for you guys.


Fans are installed and running, these babies are silent!!! With 3 of them running full speed, the air flow from the furnace is louder!


The fans blow directly into the utility room:



Chase is finished, you can see how much it cuts off.


FTS:


FTS:


Here's the finished tank (except the lights)...


After 4 hours of RO/DI running:

Looks awesome!

Awesome Job!

What a blast to follow along on such a sweet build!

Thank you for taking the time to post for us all to enjoy.

Great work on the whole project, you should be proud.

Thanks!




Thanks!

Water!

wahoo!!! water!!! only bout 4more days n she'll be filled! j/k haha

+1 on the thanks! i have truly enjoyed following this!!

good jib! cant wait to see the lights installed!!

now with a front tank shot i cant really notice that pipe stickin outta the chase.

keep it up!!!

Wow i am impressed we got water in the tank. Not the right kind of water but soon we will have salty water for all your stock.


Adolfo

Wow, what a culmination of all your hard work. Thanks for including us in the journey. It is exciting to me seeing water going in this thing, I can only imagine how you must be feeling. Great job.

Amazing... Absolutely Stunning... serious is a great looking tank.. blows me away how sweet it is.. the whole design...

Looking forward to the sand and rock additions.

im kinda concerned about that barrel on its side?

are u going to put like some sorta edge to to stop a runaway barrel incase a kid gets get their roll on?

its, uh, kinda got the big piece of wood from the doorframe in the way?

The chase looks amazing now that it's finished! Congrats on starting to fill it up!

I resisted commenting in that same fashion, lol.

oh lol..i never saw that.. those bottom pics on that last page never uploaded b4.

One small thought, you used clear PVC for in the tank on the return but white where it comes from the wall. I'm assuming(which I hate to do cause I'm usually wrong) this is where the elbow can be removed for cleaning the clear PVC? Why not paint the white pvc elbow to match the wall? It wouldn't jump out at you so much.

Anyway I've been following this for a while and it is an amazing project. Keep up the great posts. Can't wait to see the canopy...

YES, YES, YES!!!




4 days? Maybe longer... I can't believe the dribble coming out of this thing...

Thanks!



Sure it's the right kind of water, it's just not mixed yet.



Thanks, yeah I'm pretty stoked, but not looking forward to trying to put the rock work all together...



Thanks! Maybe I'm just getting used to it, but it's seems really simple to me now.





I'll leave it alone since it's already covered.




Ditto





Thanks!











Guess you just can't please everyone...


Thanks for all the posts and taking the time to reply and follow along on what seems like is taking forever... I think the only thing that's going to take longer is getting it filled. Again, THANKS!!!

how far till it fills?
how much salt are u gonna have? get a pic of your salt or something as it goes in i dont think ill see that much salt in one place for a while