300 Gallon upgrade

[ricwilli]

Oh man, what a long weekend. I spent all weekend doing the move and finishing the light rack in the canopy. I'm still exhausted. Few problems that I ran into after the move.

- Found one of my clowns behind the LPS tank dead. (not a problem but sad. I was and still am pissed.)
- There is a leak on one of the 45 degree angle elbow, on the return side. There is a drop every 30-40 seconds. I tried to fix it but it still leaks. Looks like I will have to cut it off and add a new one.
- After the tank being filled with water for two days, I'm having a problem removing and putting on the front panel of the tank. I will have to trim it.
- AND FOR THE BIGGEST PROBLEM OF THEM ALL....... The tank is not level. I thought I took care of this correctly, but I guess not. I have to raise one side of the tank. There is more water draining on one side of the tank than the other. Very Very noticeable.

 

[TanksNStuff]

It's hard to believe this Rich but if the front panel doesn't fit with water in the tank then the stand is bowing slightly. Hate to say this but you should probably drain it and then add some more braces inside the stand. The weight of 300 g can really cause a problem over time if it's not evenly supported.

I'd agree with replacing the 45 now too.

PS sorry about the clown.

 

[ricwilli]

OK, so I've been slacking now that the tank is running. Not to its full patential, but running. I've been cleaning and organizing the basement a little. Trying to make the wife happy again.
So about the stand. The stand is not bowing. The reason why the front panel is giving me a hard time closing, is cause I shimmed the stand incorrectly. When I shimmed the front of the stand, I shimmed the front of the bottom trim. By me doing this, the trimmed moved upward when I filled the tank. I should have placed the shim in the center of the bottom 1x4 trim. I will just have to trim the bottom of the front panel and it will fit nicely again. This is no biggie.
The bigger problem is that the right side of the tank is off by 3/16th-1/8th. This is preventing the water to flow evenly in both overflow. My plan is the bring up the 300 gallon tub from the basement and empty the 300 gallon tank. Jack the tank a little and re-shim it. Maybe at this point, I can fix the front shims as well.
Anyway, below are pics of what I have done so far.

This is the filling of the tank.

Canopy with the rack. I also painted it black.

Canopy mounted on the tank with 5 led's

The splash guard that I made for all the led's. I can also slide the leds easily left and right.

I put some stick-on bumpers thingies on the bottom of the led's so that they are raised a little from the splash guard.

And here is the tank all filled up. The water is cloudy, but I'm running carbon and its getting better.

As of right now, I have most of the rocks in the garage, drying all up. Some of it had aiptasia and I and speaking with Steve (Spotter) decided that I should just dry it out and get rid of the aiptasia.
While surfing on RC, I ran into a thread about curing rock with a product called SeaKlear and PhosFree containing Lanthanum Chloride that can be found in pool stores. Steve (Spotter) has done this in the past and I believe he is currently doing it now with success. Here is the link if you would like to read about it. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2049855

 

[Baxreefs]

Looking good Rick!

 

[Tazmaniancowboy]

Very Nice....Do the splashguards get hot?

 

[9supratt4]

Looking incredible!! Keep up the good work!!

Are you worried at all about the thermostat on the wall next to the tank being effected by the heat coming from the tank?

 

[ricwilli]

Looking good Rick!

Thanks

Very Nice....Do the splashguards get hot?

Thanks. Not at all. The stick-on bumpers raises the leds from the splash guard. So no heat issues.

Looking incredible!! Keep up the good work!!

Are you worried at all about the thermostat on the wall next to the tank being effected by the heat coming from the tank?

Not at all. I was running an ATI 8x80w bulb fixture on my 215 and the only difference in temp from the second floor temp, was 2 degrees. The led's barely give off any heat compare to the ATI fixture.

I also purchased three small Tunze pumps to add them to the back bottom glass of the tank. One of the issues I had in the 215, was all the detrius settling in the back, behind the rocks. I wish this tank was drilled in the back for a close-loop.

 

[spotter]

Looks great Rich!!!

 

[downbeach]

I also purchased three small Tunze pumps to add them to the back bottom glass of the tank. One of the issues I had in the 215, was all the detrius settling in the back, behind the rocks. I wish this tank was drilled in the back for a close-loop.

I used a couple of Tunze pumps, along with some 3" PVC fittings and pipe to facilitate water movement around the overflow chambers in the bottom of my tank, and behind/through the rock.

 

[TanksNStuff]

Yea, Jim's PVC tunnel works great for keeping water circulating behind his rocks. I'd highly recommend running a little PVC network on the back/bottom of your tank before starting your rockscape Rich. It will also help keep your rock off the bottom for the most part, which is an added bonus to the awesome flow the tunnel creates.

Glad the issue was just a shimmed trim piece that caused the panel to not fit. That makes sense if you didn't shim the stand frame... which sounds like you will change once you empty and jack the tank up. Hope that works out and gets everything level for you. This build is looking too good to have minor issues like that holding it back, lol.

Now that I see your canopy complete, I'm starting to like your design with the two angle brackets making a rail to sit the LEDs on. That looks much easier than installing a T-Slot bracket and having to "hang" my fixtures from them... when I can just make a nice track to sit them on at the proper height. I think I'm going to borrow that idea and use it on my canopy (which I'm hoping to get done this weekend.)

I did have one question though Rich. It doesn't look like you have any doors to swing up on your canopy. How to you access your tank? Do you just slide over your leds and reach in... or do you have to remove the canopy entirely (like when you add your rock and stuff)?

I think if I used your same basic plan, except made it taller, I could still have a full-length door along the front and back sides (I need it on both because my tank is between two rooms.)

 

[ricwilli]

I used a couple of Tunze pumps, along with some 3" PVC fittings and pipe to facilitate water movement around the overflow chambers in the bottom of my tank, and behind/through the rock.

Thats a pretty good idea.

Yea, Jim's PVC tunnel works great for keeping water circulating behind his rocks. I'd highly recommend running a little PVC network on the back/bottom of your tank before starting your rockscape Rich. It will also help keep your rock off the bottom for the most part, which is an added bonus to the awesome flow the tunnel creates.

Glad the issue was just a shimmed trim piece that caused the panel to not fit. That makes sense if you didn't shim the stand frame... which sounds like you will change once you empty and jack the tank up. Hope that works out and gets everything level for you. This build is looking too good to have minor issues like that holding it back, lol.

Now that I see your canopy complete, I'm starting to like your design with the two angle brackets making a rail to sit the LEDs on. That looks much easier than installing a T-Slot bracket and having to "hang" my fixtures from them... when I can just make a nice track to sit them on at the proper height. I think I'm going to borrow that idea and use it on my canopy (which I'm hoping to get done this weekend.)

I did have one question though Rich. It doesn't look like you have any doors to swing up on your canopy. How to you access your tank? Do you just slide over your leds and reach in... or do you have to remove the canopy entirely (like when you add your rock and stuff)?

I think if I used your same basic plan, except made it taller, I could still have a full-length door along the front and back sides (I need it on both because my tank is between two rooms.)

Glad you like the canopy. Yeah, all I do is slide the led's over when I want add anything in the tank. The rocks that I have are huge. So in this case, I have to remove the canopy. This will only happen once, unless you make a stupid mistake and shim the tank wrong, where you would have to remove all the rocks out of the tank again. LOL. I love my canopy. Its not to high. Its low profile. The only problem that I have is that I cannot raise my led's any higher as I don't want them to be seen. Something you will have to think about when you install your led's.

 

[ricwilli]

Haven't done anything to the tank. My schedule is getting out of hand. Kids are getting bigger and now I have all these activities I have to take them too. Karate classes, Gymnastics, Baseball. Soon cheerleading for my daughter. Its getting out of control. I can see why some people need to get out of the hobby. Hopefully, I have time to level out the tank this weekend. My plan is to place the 300 gallon tub next to the tank, empty it half way and jack it up about 3/16th of an inch. I don't want to remove all the water cause than I will have remove all the fish and corals. I don't want to stress them out.

 

[TanksNStuff]

What are you going to jack it up with?

 

[downbeach]

What are you going to jack it up with?

EZ mover

https://www.asseenontv.com/ez-moves/detail.php?p=299741

 

[asonitez]

Haven't done anything to the tank. My schedule is getting out of hand. Kids are getting bigger and now I have all these activities I have to take them too. Karate classes, Gymnastics, Baseball. Soon cheerleading for my daughter. Its getting out of control. I can see why some people need to get out of the hobby. Hopefully, I have time to level out the tank this weekend. My plan is to place the 300 gallon tub next to the tank, empty it half way and jack it up about 3/16th of an inch. I don't want to remove all the water cause than I will have remove all the fish and corals. I don't want to stress them out.

This post hits closer to home Rich. The wife and I are trying for a sibling for my son and hes just getting older. He has a lot of activities too and for a split second I started remembering what it was like with Chris @ 7mo old and the work involved. I actually contemplated getting out at that point selling everything off or maybe downgrading to a Nano (my 34g Solana) or going Fish Only.

My Wife actually VETO'ed that idea and her logic is what kept me going. Basically other than My tank and video games I have nothing else that brings me peace. My tank brings me a zen like peace that I've never had with any other hobby. From maintenance to fixing problems to water changes to just sitting there for a hour or two and staring at my fish going out their life that peace is what keeps me sane. Sure the tank stresses me but its a different kind of stress. The kind that comes with any hobby or activity that you want to perfect. Even as a child my son liked to just stay near the tank to hear the running water and watch the fish.

My advice is when all those activities make you think of quitting, just remember very few hobbies will keep a good man home, with his family, and involved enough to stay out of trouble. So take your sweet time (which you have been doing) and remember that ROME wasn't built in a day and no TOTM will either.

 

[spotter]

This post hits closer to home Rich. The wife and I are trying for a sibling for my son and hes just getting older. He has a lot of activities too and for a split second I started remembering what it was like with Chris @ 7mo old and the work involved. I actually contemplated getting out at that point selling everything off or maybe downgrading to a Nano (my 34g Solana) or going Fish Only.

My Wife actually VETO'ed that idea and her logic is what kept me going. Basically other than My tank and video games I have nothing else that brings me peace. My tank brings me a zen like peace that I've never had with any other hobby. From maintenance to fixing problems to water changes to just sitting there for a hour or two and staring at my fish going out their life that peace is what keeps me sane. Sure the tank stresses me but its a different kind of stress. The kind that comes with any hobby or activity that you want to perfect. Even as a child my son liked to just stay near the tank to hear the running water and watch the fish.

My advice is when all those activities make you think of quitting, just remember very few hobbies will keep a good man home, with his family, and involved enough to stay out of trouble. So take your sweet time (which you have been doing) and remember that ROME wasn't built in a day and no TOTM will either.

+++1 on this! My wife was complaining to some family members one time about how much time and money I spend (if she only knew how much money I really spend) on this hobby and now that I have a fish room she's afraid she wont see me at all. She was given the same advice......be happy he's home and not running around doing god knows what. I really dont have any vice's other than a good brownie . I dont drink, gamble, belong to a bowling league or anything else. I usually try to do all of weekly maintenance activities on Friday nights after everyone has gone up to bed. This way I am not rushing to get things done and I can really take my time to things the right way. Its all about finding a balance.

 

[ricwilli]

What are you going to jack it up with?

cinder blocks, 4x4's and car jack. All this for 3/16 of an inch.

EZ mover

https://www.asseenontv.com/ez-moves/detail.php?p=299741

Was going to go out and purchase it after seeing that link, but than I found this http://www2.wspa.com/news/2012/feb/13/5/does-it-work-ez-moves-ar-3222613/

This post hits closer to home Rich. The wife and I are trying for a sibling for my son and hes just getting older. He has a lot of activities too and for a split second I started remembering what it was like with Chris @ 7mo old and the work involved. I actually contemplated getting out at that point selling everything off or maybe downgrading to a Nano (my 34g Solana) or going Fish Only.

My Wife actually VETO'ed that idea and her logic is what kept me going. Basically other than My tank and video games I have nothing else that brings me peace. My tank brings me a zen like peace that I've never had with any other hobby. From maintenance to fixing problems to water changes to just sitting there for a hour or two and staring at my fish going out their life that peace is what keeps me sane. Sure the tank stresses me but its a different kind of stress. The kind that comes with any hobby or activity that you want to perfect. Even as a child my son liked to just stay near the tank to hear the running water and watch the fish.

My advice is when all those activities make you think of quitting, just remember very few hobbies will keep a good man home, with his family, and involved enough to stay out of trouble. So take your sweet time (which you have been doing) and remember that ROME wasn't built in a day and no TOTM will either.

Thanks bud, I really needed to read something like this. My wife also refuses to let me give it up. She's afraid of what other hobby I might pick up. LOL.

+++1 on this! My wife was complaining to some family members one time about how much time and money I spend (if she only knew how much money I really spend) on this hobby and now that I have a fish room she's afraid she wont see me at all. She was given the same advice......be happy he's home and not running around doing god knows what. I really dont have any vice's other than a good brownie . I dont drink, gamble, belong to a bowling league or anything else. I usually try to do all of weekly maintenance activities on Friday nights after everyone has gone up to bed. This way I am not rushing to get things done and I can really take my time to things the right way. Its all about finding a balance.

My wife's friends tell her the same thing all the time. "Be happy that he's home all the time".

 

[ricwilli]

Well, this pass weekend I was able to level the tank. Had to drain the tank twice for it to come out right. Wasn't to bad.

I used concrete blocks that I had in the backyard, a piece of 4x4 and a car scissor jack.

Draining the tank.

JACKED!!!

Now, I will direct my attention in curing the rocks.

 

[Brando457]

I got to see this beauty in person, all I have to say is wow

Sent from my mind.

 

[Baxreefs]

I can picture my wifes face if I dragged a 300g tub thru the livingroom!