A Golden Reef Tank

[halmus]

I am building overflow boxes for the frag tanks. They will go around the standpipes shown above. I originally hadn't planned on it, obviously, but I didn't like how the flow was working out with the original standpipes and draining.

[worm5406]

Below the skimmer is a drip tray. Does it drain into anything?

I love to see Sch80 in work like that.

[yifan917]

This system really makes me drooooool!


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[halmus]

Originally Posted by worm5406

Below the skimmer is a drip tray. Does it drain into anything?

I love to see Sch80 in work like that.

For right now, it doesn't drain into anything. That's something that can be re-worked in the future if needed.

The idea behind the drip tray is that I wouldn't expect to have any water accumulation outside of the skimmer when things are running properly. If I develop even a small leak, I want to capture that and alert me through whatever controller I end up using and the water leak sensor I'll put inside of the drip tray.

I am glad I went with the sch80. I'm sure there will be some things I change over time as water starts flowing. I already have one area I want to redo but I'm holding off for now.

[halmus]

Originally Posted by yifan917

This system really makes me drooooool!


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Thanks yifan. I'll have to go read through your build soon. It looks like you're doing some awesome work yourself!

[yifan917]

Originally Posted by halmus

Thanks yifan. I'll have to go read through your build soon. It looks like you're doing some awesome work yourself!

Thanks, but not nearly as awesome as yours!
Love your plumbing layout! When are you planning to run a leak test? the frag tank looks awesome, very nicely done!! Are you planning on dosing or calcium reactor?


Yifan

[yifan917]

Sorry, missed it. You'll run MRC CA reactor


Yifan

[halmus]

I ran a leak test on the frag system last week. That was the motivation to redo the stand pipes and create the overflow boxes.

I still need to make and install those boxes. I need to hook up three more major drain lines for the fuge and reactors in the main system.

I also am putting in a type of closed loop on the fuge. That's something I will have to describe and show once complete. It won't make sense without pictures.

That's about it for the main tank. Then, it's on the the QT systems.

Then, water mixing station.

Then, FWTO system.

I probably should do a leak test before cleaning up too much in case I need to make more PVC shavings.

Once I'm relatively convinced I'm done plumbing, I need to do a major cleaning of the room.

Then, build the light rack and hood for the main display. That's a big project because of space (and wife) requirements. Then, once I'm done crawling around inside of the display to build the light rack, I can finally run some saltwater through.

Oh, and lights, and electronics, and all of the other things I'm forgetting.

[halmus]

The pool table was installed yesterday. I hung the light this morning before I start working on plumbing again.

[Rybren]

Very nice. I love the woodwork and the ceiling detail. Did you do it all yourself? If so, give yourself a big pat on the back.

[halmus]

Originally Posted by Rybren

Very nice. I love the woodwork and the ceiling detail. Did you do it all yourself? If so, give yourself a big pat on the back.

Thanks. I am proud to say that in did all of the finish work. It was a lot of raw wood to process. We finished a few other rooms in the basement not shown here.

The aquarium is a labor of love but I'm really ready to sit back and enjoy the space. I can't wait to go coral shopping! I've missed a few good coral shows here because I have no place to put them.

[tkeracer619]

Awesome! Looks great!

[BigBlueTang]

Yeah! This is awesome!! I'd love to come swing by when it's ready!


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[halmus]

Originally Posted by BigBlueTang

Yeah! This is awesome!! I'd love to come swing by when it's ready!

Originally Posted by tkeracer619

Awesome! Looks great!

Thanks to both of you! I'll definitely have the local folks over to check it out.

It was another weekend plumbing. Baby steps. I'm almost at the point where I had hoped to be weeks ago. Still, its progress.

[stonecold]

AMAZING setup thus far. So clean and professional. Looking forward to the finish product.

[halmus]

The plumbing on the main system, refugium, frag racks is 95% done. I have one alteration I'm going to make to the reactor plumbing. I'm going to rip out just a little bit of the feed lines to those and re-plumb them with a section of soft line. I don't feel comfortable with everything hard plumbed (the way they turned out). I'm afraid there's stress on some of joints. I'm trying to get this as bullet-proof as possible.

I built supports for quite a bit of the plumbing now. I still need to make a few that will attach to the walls and support the vertical lines. I've been holding off until I'm relatively certain all of that is complete and that I'm done making any changes. I also need to add the pipe clamps for the unistrut supports for the lines running across the floor.

This is the result





I built a wooden framework that spans over everything. Painted it black. Then added aluminum angle iron around the perimeter. There are four removable floor grates that will allow me access to get down to the plumbing lines if needed. The floor grating is industrial grade fiberglass floor grating.

​​​​​​​

[halmus]

Originally Posted by stonecold

AMAZING setup thus far. So clean and professional. Looking forward to the finish product.

Thank you.

I'm one step closer. Some acrylic work next weekend and mandatory fun going to a wedding for people I've never met in my life (You can smell my excitement). Keep the wife happy.

Hopefully, the QT system will be started the following weekend.

[newreef15]

This tank is amazing keep up the clean work.

[halmus]

Originally Posted by newreef15

This tank is amazing keep up the clean work.

Thank you.

[Jhardain]

No updates??

[halmus]

Originally Posted by Jhardain

No updates??

I wish I had more to update. I have gotten two of the QT tanks mostly plumbed but it's not worth posting pictures of that yet.

My father passed away recently. It was completely unexpected and pretty devastating to the family. I've been traveling back to the midwest quite a bit to do what I can.

Additionally, work is less than ideal. I had planned on considering my options after the aquarium was complete. However, circumstances are such that I'm considering my options right now instead of making tank progress.

I have almost everything I need to complete the tank except time. I think I might be able to make some progress next weekend assuming I can get "grown up" things taken care of this weekend.

[dave.m]

Sorry for your loss. Please take all the time you need for the things that matter most.

We can wait. It's not like we're going anywhere.

Dave.M

[FernandesReef]

Sorry about your father.

You do great work and have pride in it, for that I take my hat off to you sir.



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[tkeracer619]

Damn, sorry about your dad!

If you need a hand with something let me know.

[iced98lx]

Sorry for your loss, tanks are always here when there is time.