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Mike's Dream Build

trivan

trivan

So as mentioned before, I'm starting to plan on my dream build. Of course, just when my 45 cube is stable and looking good. This is going to be a very slow build as we are having our kitchen and living room gutted and redone and that at best will not be done till the summer. Along with that I plan on incorporating a Elos 120 or possibliy a 120XL if space and designers allow. I'm committed to a QT for Fish and Coral. When I was starting out, I had a 10 gallon running which I used the waste from my auto water changer to the QT, it worked great and I plan to do the same only larger. I'll continue to have almost full automation for almost all aspects except for making salt, it's the only way I can possible stay in this hobby as I have no time other then to do some testing and relax in front for a bit each day.

So my rough plan is as follows:
  • Clean basement wall where the sump bench will go
  • Order sump, I've decide I do not want to build this nor go with the Elos stock. I had my cube sump custom made and it's been great. I've seen some pretty nice one's lately with a lot of good features.
  • Order other Sump room items (pumps, PVC, wiring,etc) needed to break down my 45 DT
  • Obtain QT tank, I'm currently thinking a 30 gallon breeder will be enough for a 1 month QT. I'm trying to see if I can get separate tanks but I'm limited in space. I think if I don't use copper I should be good, I think everything else can be washed out.
  • Build sump stand w/lighting
  • Run new electric outlets to sump area, I will be getting a new electrical breaker box as part of the home remodel, so I have to factor in running the tank from a generator.
  • Do all plumbing runs in the basement
  • Cycle temporary holding tank for Fish/Live Rock and Coral
  • Move DT to basement
This all will have to be completed by June.

So I've initial mapped out some flows to help me figure out how much plumbing stuff I'm going to need. Given that you can't run to home depot for most of this stuff, I have to be as accurate as possible:


Water Change :


I will try to use all true union ball valves, ultra flex PVC where possible and gated valves as well.

I'm also planning to use camlocs as quick disconnects for reactors and some other quick connection items. I've seen them used in the Santa Barbara aquarium and looks very convenient, anyone use them?
https://www.savko.com/partlist.asp?pgid=3&ptid=16

So with some fear of having this tale de-railed. I welcome peoples picture of their Sump Room, comments on what works, what doesn't.
 
Empire

Empire

Awesome! Wouldn't you want the qt tank to be it's own system? I may be wrong, but it looks like your qt drains into the shared sump. Don't see the purpose for a qt as everything will go right into the dt.
 
Cdiggy

Cdiggy

Empire said:
Awesome! Wouldn't you want the qt tank to be it's own system? I may be wrong, but it looks like your qt drains into the shared sump. Don't see the purpose for a qt as everything will go right into the dt.
Click to expand...

I agree. I would want my QT to be completely seep rate system from my main system. Any water born illness would be cycled through the entire tank. Plus if there a a problem and medication is required the medication would go system wide.
 
trivan

trivan

Empire said:
Wouldn't you want the qt tank to be it's own system? .
Click to expand...


You are correct, the red line will be the "normal" operation for QT, water goes from the DT to the drain. I currently do about 1/2 to 1 gallon water change a day, so I'll get a auto water changer in the QT during the QT time. I will have the option to close that if I choose to medicate and need to keep meds in the water. The return to the sump (black line), will be for 1. my move to have the sump taking care of the temporary reef tank and 2. when the QT period is over and there has been no medication use, I can acclimate the new family member to the DT water parameter for a few days.

I guess the risk is accidentally opening the line to the sump with medication in the water.
 
M

mnat

Officer Emeritus
Staff member
Moderator
If you have the room, get the XL. Having 31.5 inches front to back is awesome. 22 inches is not a ton of space to do aquascaping and would be less than your cube right now.
 
NikkiT

NikkiT

trivan said:
Ah good point, we will just have to make the room.
Click to expand...

Good answer!
I really like the footprint of the 160xl, and I think you will feel the same way with the 120xl footprint.
I have been very satisfied with our ELOS aquarium.
 
trivan

trivan

a8ema2yj.jpg

So met with a potential kitchen designer whom I challenged to incorporate a 120 gallon tank. He put it as a divider between the kitchen and dining room with 4 sides exposed (the box on the right). This is not in anyway finalized, but I'm sure there are some down sides to a 4 side exposed tank. One is where are the wires for the internal flow pumps going to go and get run.

The fun is beginning.

I did pick up 2 Kessil a360we during the last group buy. I built a stand for the fish/sump room this past weekend, and have to decide if I try to drill the 40b tank I picked up at petsmart.

I'm off to Hong Kong for a business trip, and plan on checking out "fish street". I'll see what goodie I can find.
 
mrehfeld

mrehfeld

Officer Emeritus
Do you think you could do a photo journal of Fish Street and post them,in a thread? I think it might be interesting for us to see.

BTW your room divider plan sounds awesome
 
trivan

trivan

mrehfeld said:
Do you think you could do a photo journal of Fish Street and post them,in a thread? I think it might be interesting for us to see.

BTW your room divider plan sounds awesome
Click to expand...

yeah, I can play tourist for a bit. I'll do my best. If I scout out anything good I'll be sure to report. Maybe I'll have to bring an empty suitcase. Wait, I'm already doing that for some custom shirts and other things.
 
trivan

trivan

Well it's been awhile since posting on this upgrade thread, but things have been moving slowly, but hope to pick up some speed soon. Sorry for the brain dump posting....

First- on my trip to Hong Kong and Fish Street. Sorry nothing earth shattering to report. Places were very much against picture taking in the stores, and outside nothing really to get excited about. I was expecting to see lots of the knock offs, but there really wasn't that much. The thing which was shocking was prices. Fist size SPS were selling for about $30, nothing I saw was in the 3 digit category, but I only really saw the more common things. Fish was priced really low as well. Some really nice ones, which I've seen for $40-$60 where about $10. I guess the cost to fly to HK from the Pacific is cheaper and reflective of the cost. Not to mention, I saw workers opening boxes and putting the fish right into buckets, drop a air stone in and people would go at it. No need for fancy displays.... It was a interesting experience to have a collection of stores all within a 2 block area.

On my upgrade, I spent the last few weekends building the table I will be using in the basement for the sump and other equipment (pictures will be posted soon). I got a 20"x20" AIO frag tank from ebay to be used for QT and the 40 breeder I picked up during a $ sale was drilled and a Glassholes overflow installed. The 40b will be used to house my live rock and fish while construction is taking place in the kitchen/living area. I just order a sump from Elite-Aquatic's...the M2. I realize that people make there sumps at a fraction of the cost, but I think this sump has some really good design points and if this is my one and only chance to do an upgrade, I want to go as best I can.

I'm also pending quotes from Reef Savvy and Coast 2 Coast on a custom build, as the Elos sizes are going to be tough to work with. The 120 is to shallow at 19" and the 120xl is just to deep (33") to fit in the space I have for the tank. So I'm looking at a 48x24x22 (or there abouts). The structural engineer was at the house last week for the expansion as well as to calculate the load for the tank, so already got that covered.

Things which I'm working on and would be grateful for comments/suggestions:
- If I go custom, what type of overflow? BeanAnimal style seems to be popular for the lack of noise, will then have to ask for 3 holes to be cut, or with a slower flow rate (3-5x's) will a single 1.5" drain be quite enough?
- Calcium Reactor : Probably GEO, but up for grabs. Definitely the Aquarium Plants regulator as this is the best there is for a vital piece of equipment. Comments on experiences with different ones would be helpful.

I'll be fragging everything I have in the existing 45, and will be giving many piece away in the near future. This is my insurance in case I crash everything with the move. I'll get pictures up shortly
 
Empire

Empire

that is sweet! i have a friend who lives in summit. he's also a reefer. he has an insane setup, his name is zoa_king on mr.
 
trivan

trivan

I did the next big step in this upgrade. I ordered and put a deposit on a custom tank from Coast to Coast. After much consideration and planning with our Architect, Kitchen designer, Wife and Mnat's wisdom (thanks again). I had to decide against the Elos 120 XL, I just didn't have the room in my home for it. While I really did want to get the Elos, Mike's opinion was I wouldn't be happy going from the width of my current 45 gallon cube to a Elos 120, which is only 22" deep. I had a lot of discussions with Chris from CTC and after much debating with myself, I pulled the trigger today. It's going to be a 48x24x24 Euro Brace Starphire on 3 sides for a Peninsula arrangement (inspired by dnov99's bullet). It will have a internal overflow set up for a herbie style drain.

Now, I have to get the kitchen completed before I can accept the tank into the house. This will probably be in Sept at the rate we're going.

Over the last 2 weeks, I received my sump from Elite Aquatic, and I can't be more pleases. I have it temporary connected to my 40 breeder and I have begun moving coral frags and smaller pieces of rock from the DT down. As mentioned, I will be giving away a lot of piece of the coral I have as insurance against a crash. I currently have the 2 Kessil's I purchase from the last group buy, and I can confirm these are really nice lights. The coral have really seem to taken to them and I have great PE with everything I put into the tank. I would highly recommended them.
 
trivan

trivan

Slow build update:
Architect plans - Completed. Contractors walk throughs will start next week.
I have my temporary tank holding area up and running and been migrating items. Will have to find a free weekend to move the entire content of the DT.

CTC has ordered the material and started the build. They will hold the tank until I'm ready for delivery.


There is no turning back now.

I'm search for a DC pump which can handle high head pressure. The only one which I have found is the Red Dragon, but I'm not ready at this time to drop over $600 for a pump.
 
M

mnat

Officer Emeritus
Staff member
Moderator
trivan said:
I'm search for a DC pump which can handle high head pressure. The only one which I have found is the Red Dragon, but I'm not ready at this time to drop over $600 for a pump.
Click to expand...

That is the problem with DC pumps, at this point they can't handle high head pressure.

Sounds like things are moving.
 
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