Islander’s Old School Reef – 900 Gallon Display

[yifan917]

Originally Posted by vashawn

SICK clean BUILD!!!

I love the crib more than tank lol

Originally Posted by dmarkham

Wow just Wow

[yifan917]

Originally Posted by bigzman

When are you doing a test run? Do I see threaded bulk heads? Any worries on minor leaks from all those threads (Also salt creap)? I assume the valves are adjusted to accommodate water making it to the top? Are those check valves?

The test run will be early next week. Yes there is a chance it might leak from the threaded bulk heads, finger crossed. I don't have a choice though because I am converting from imperial to metric (bulk heads are all from the US, and other plumbing parts were sourced locally which are all in metric) And apparently this is the only way to do it in Taiwan due to the limited variety of plumbing parts. The ball valves will regulate the water from the closed loop pumps to the tank. Both ball valves and gate valves will also seal the water when I am taking apart the CL pumps for maintenance. The transparent plumbing part you see is the screen / guard for the pump intake.

Originally Posted by wjgeese

one word of advice re: all the ball valves. I would install them so they can be removed easily...after a couple of years they will freeze solid w/ calcium carbonate build up...best to remove them every once in a while and give a vinegar bath.
Otherwise, WOW! Nice build!

Yes, I totally agree, unfortunately in my case due to limited space I couldn't install any true union ball valves which are more durable and WAY easier to use than the cheap ball valves that I have installed. You are right, I will need to vinegar bath them once in a while otherwise they will lose the entire function.

[yifan917]

Yes, use the true union ball valves if you have the real estate in the plumbing area, I can't use them due to space limitation and lack of supplies. Otherwise I would go with true union ball valves all the way!

Originally Posted by bigzman

wjgeese,

I agree. I assumed the reason for using the threaded bulk heads was to make it removable but noticed all three cant untwist together. That said I would place true union ball valve PVC across all bulkheads. Meesee2 and I planed the 850 gallon closed loop with true unions. Primarily since the whole union can be serviced our replaced. (Granted it will cost a small fortune but well worth it). True unions ball valves are far better at moving and adjusting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZMAs_Irj7A

[NeverlosT]

looks awesome! Where in Taiwan are you? I fly into Taipei pretty often and then head to Taichung for business, I could bring you some plumbing bits! haha, It looks like you are in good shape already though.

Have you used that CA reactor before with the Peristaltic pump? Is it designed to run continuously? I have been looking for a peristaltic pump for my calcium reactor and the Masterflex units are huge and very expensive, so an alternative is intriguing!

Keep up the great work, I have pump envy, I have seen those Abyzz pumps in action, quite impressive.

[yifan917]

Hey that is very nice of you! Thanks inn advance! Yes if you don't mind please pm me when you are coming to Taiwan next time. I am in Taipei and travel to Taichung all the time for work as well.

Yes that peri pump comes with the reactor and it's designed to run continuously. I can probably hook you up with a Mitsubishi peri pump which is quite popular amount the hobbyists here in Taiwan, pm me if you want to find out more.

Originally Posted by NeverlosT

looks awesome! Where in Taiwan are you? I fly into Taipei pretty often and then head to Taichung for business, I could bring you some plumbing bits! haha, It looks like you are in good shape already though.

Have you used that CA reactor before with the Peristaltic pump? Is it designed to run continuously? I have been looking for a peristaltic pump for my calcium reactor and the Masterflex units are huge and very expensive, so an alternative is intriguing!

Keep up the great work, I have pump envy, I have seen those Abyzz pumps in action, quite impressive.

[yifan917]

Hmmm need to move the Cerebra power bars somewhere else, otherwise this panel won't fit at all (still got two more RD 3 controllers, one Calcfeeder controller, and probably a SOS skimmer overflow stopper controller)

Don't know if I mentioned earlier but I got this set of Cerebra for a deal I couldn't refuse, that's why I decided to give it a try. Finger crossed!

[Ricardo18]

I'm sorry to say but those valves will not last more than one year. They will seize up. You should be buying better quality valves even though they are more expensive

[yifan917]

Yes thanks for the comments, I am going to change them to true union ball valves soon. We figured out a new layout for the plumbing that will allow me to use union ball valves and also save some space. Will post pictures soon.

Originally Posted by Ricardo18

I'm sorry to say but those valves will not last more than one year. They will seize up. You should be buying better quality valves even though they are more expensive

[bigzman]

Originally Posted by yifan917

Yes thanks for the comments, I am going to change them to true union ball valves soon. We figured out a new layout for the plumbing that will allow me to use union ball valves and also save some space. Will post pictures soon.

Happy to hear you reconsider true union ball valves. I am using 8 2". You won't regret it.

[yifan917]

Yes I am sure I won't. Thank you!

Originally Posted by bigzman

Happy to hear you reconsider true union ball valves. I am using 8 2". You won't regret it.

[yifan917]

Much better

[NeverlosT]

looks good! I will let you know when I am headed to Taiwan next! I send engineers over there very often, so bringing things there is not a big deal.

That cerebra system will be very cool. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on it.

[FishyFishy69]

Amazing build and amazing looking house! Love the mess of plumbing. That's got to be my favorite part of building systems, is intricate plumbing layouts.

[mesee2]

Where did u find the Inline screens for your closed look. Once u mentioned what those were it made sense to me as well but I can't seem to find something like that

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

[yifan917]

Originally Posted by NeverlosT

looks good! I will let you know when I am headed to Taiwan next! I send engineers over there very often, so bringing things there is not a big deal.

That cerebra system will be very cool. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on it.

Thanks in advance then! I look forward to meeting you in Taiwan! I really hope Cerebra will perform well in the future. I'll keep you updated.

Originally Posted by FishyFishy69

Amazing build and amazing looking house! Love the mess of plumbing. That's got to be my favorite part of building systems, is intricate plumbing layouts.

Thank you! Yes, plumbing can be frustrating and fun at the same time haha

Originally Posted by mesee2

Where did u find the Inline screens for your closed look. Once u mentioned what those were it made sense to me as well but I can't seem to find something like that

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

They are made by Schuran for Abyzz, I ordered mine from Abyzz America. Jeff will help you out when you reach their company.

[yifan917]

Here comes the old good VHO super actinics

[bigzman]

They are proven!!!!

Originally Posted by yifan917

Here comes the old good VHO super actinics

[yifan917]

In order to maximize the space in the fish room, I have to eliminate as many adaptors (imperial to metric) as possible if I want to use the high quality US true union ball valves. Therefore I have to modify the fittings on the true union valves into half metric and half imperial. Here is a short video just for fun:



Fits like a glove!







This is a lot more work but I think it will definitely pay off in the long run. Thanks Y'all for the suggestions!

[yifan917]

Originally Posted by bigzman

They are proven!!!!

For sure they are!

[bigzman]

yifan917, Happy to see you are adding the extra effort to adding the ball valves. You will not regret it. On the 850 we are building we will have 24 true union valves

[Ridgeway Swiss]

Hi Kevin, great to see the build coming a long nicely and sorry I've only just caught up. Promise to visit you at some point this year, just need to find a new customer in TW.

Best regards from Switzerland


Nigel

[yifan917]

Originally Posted by bigzman

yifan917, Happy to see you are adding the extra effort to adding the ball valves. You will not regret it. On the 850 we are building we will have 24 true union valves

24!!?? Wow!!! That's gonna be awesome, I wish I had the real estate to do that.
Yes, I think I made the right decision, thank you!

Originally Posted by Ridgeway Swiss

Hi Kevin, great to see the build coming a long nicely and sorry I've only just caught up. Promise to visit you at some point this year, just need to find a new customer in TW.

Best regards from Switzerland



Nigel

Hey Nigel, thanks for helping me since the beginning, really appreciate that. We should definitely meet in Taiwan! Just let me know when.

[yifan917]

So here is the new plumbing layout and the awesome union valves from The US of A:









Sorting out the wires:

[bigzman]

Originally Posted by yifan917

24!!?? Wow!!! That's gonna be awesome, I wish I had the real estate to do that.
Yes, I think I made the right decision, thank you!

I have to admit I think your way is better considering the cost of the oceans motion and extra plumbing. Its a trade off. We saved in Red Dragon pumps but spent a bunch extra on Plumbing and oceans motion.

[ReefKeeper64]

All I can say is AMAZING !!! Your home renovation and dream tank are both amazing.

Like you, I also run a closed loop and I didn't want to see all the returns pointing forward. The solution turned out to be very simple and is what is used in the big display tanks at Disney Orlando. It's called Polygem 307 lite and I used it to disguise the returns as little cave openings coming out of the rock work. It worked perfectly! It's also by far the best product to epoxy rocks together so you can easily create 'rule of thirds' aquascapes with shapes that inspire and stay secure. It's very strong and natural looking, like live rock, if you don't use any coloring additives. Rub a little sand over the epoxy while it cures and it will blend in with your rock work and add to your already amazing system (and home). You won't regret having this epoxy on hand.

Polygem #307 Lite - 2 Gallon Kit - Sculpting Epoxy Putty

_http://www.polygem.com/products/zoopoxy/sculpting/307-lite-2-gallon-kit-sculpting-epoxy-putty