Don't call it a come back!!!

[don-n-sa]

Ive been here for years :bigsmile:

Thanks Shagman for bringing me back in!!!!!:cry_smile:

I thought I would share my latest project. This time I promised my wife that I would not be drilling holes in walls and taking over closets and laundry rooms for 6ft tall skimmers with 3 refugiums and a clam tank. :bigsmile:

I purchased Terry's 150gal with stand, canopy and light that was part of a super nice built in system. BEFORE PIC below. I must say that it was very nice and Terry's wife did an amazing job with the finish...but we did have to make some changes...more pics to follow.

http://don-n-sa.smugmug.com/Aquariums/New-Tank-150gal/i-Twkm9TJ/0/O/Aquariumnew-before.jpg

[CoryDude]

The man that started me on sulphur nitrate reactors is back! Great to see you back in the fold!

[Big_Pun]

welcome back, I was wondering when you would start a build thread. glad it's out of the back of the shop lol

[don-n-sa]

After picking up everything from Terry's house , the first order of business was to drop the tank off at Elegant reef to have it drilled and to install a calflo...the stand and canopy went into the garage for a makeover. Louis and his team have done a great job with their store and the service in awesome...they helped me unload the tank and got it reef ready in a flash! Also Louis mentioned that their was a newer kind of standpipe system that he said was "dead silent" that used 3 holes instead of the standard 2, it's called the "bean animal". I decided to give it a try, this will be great if it is dead silent because alll equipment will have to be under the stand...remember, no holes in walls :shades:.

Here are some pics of about midway through refinishing the stand/canopy and with the calflo installed and before painting the back of the tank.

http://don-n-sa.smugmug.com/Aquariums/New-Tank-150gal/i-XQ6XBRv/0/L/P1000735-L.jpg

http://don-n-sa.smugmug.com/Aquariums/New-Tank-150gal/i-fvHjk9b/0/L/P1000734-L.jpg

[SinisterLou]

I love the thread title. Nice pick up on the tank from Terry.

[don-n-sa]

I love the thread title. Nice pick up on the tank from Terry.

Thanks...you have to be old like me to get it.

Yes, great deal on a nice set up.

[don-n-sa]

Big shout out to ACE for making and incredible sump...I should of taken pics before installing...oops. Anyway he made a fuge/sump for me that is top notch as always! Also I had him make two wood boxes that matched the trim on the stand that go to the left and right of the stand for topoff equipment and supplies...remember, no holes in walls. Ace did those boxes in one day and without even coming over to look at the stand.


http://don-n-sa.smugmug.com/Aquariums/New-Tank-150gal/i-2RbKHpw/0/XL/P1000758-XL.jpg

[hobogato]

looking good donny, here is a pic of the sump for your thread

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/projects/DSC09371.jpg

[rrasco]

Bean drains are awesome. Silent and safe. Just make sure you go with a gate valve on the siphon channel or it will be a challenge to get dead silent.

[Bill S]

Welcome back Don!

[ShAgMaN]

A big thanks back at you for purchasing, and what appears to be taking this tank to a higher level. Before my crash this tank was awesome, and I'm really looking foward to following your build!

But man, you stole my come back title...JK. I don't know how I'm going to one up that.

Oh how bout this:

Title - I'm going back to coral, coral, coral

First Post-I'm going back to coral, Yea I think so!

:what_smile:

[don-n-sa]

looking good donny

Thanks ACE!

[don-n-sa]

But man, you stole my come back title...JK. I don't know how I'm going to one up that.

Oh how bout this:

Title - I'm going back to coral, coral, coral

First Post-I'm going back to coral, Yea I think so!

:what_smile:


I like it!

[don-n-sa]

The stand/canopy has been refinished, you really have to see it to appreciate it. I cannot take the credit though because all I did was prep the surface...my wife did the refinishing. It was a ton of work...thanks babe!
http://don-n-sa.smugmug.com/Aquariums/New-Tank-150gal/i-4Hxqr4G/0/L/P1000753-L.jpg

http://don-n-sa.smugmug.com/Aquariums/New-Tank-150gal/i-GNkRGXT/0/L/P1000752-L.jpg

http://don-n-sa.smugmug.com/Aquariums/New-Tank-150gal/i-HwDK4pF/0/L/P1000757-L.jpg

[don-n-sa]

Welcome back Don!


You still here old man??? :Timeout:

JK good to see you still on maast Bill!

[don-n-sa]

Also, as you can see I painted the back of the tank. I used rustoleun glossy black...it took 3 coats with a roller.

[don-n-sa]

And here are some pics of the beananimal drain system. It took many trips to Lowes/HD and about 1 day of plumbing...I forgot that the glue/primer gives me headaches for 2 days...that can't be good.:sick:

I admit that I am messy..my main concern is no leaks.

http://don-n-sa.smugmug.com/Aquariums/New-Tank-150gal/i-8jV2fSq/0/M/P1000749-M.jpg

http://don-n-sa.smugmug.com/Aquariums/New-Tank-150gal/i-MmtGdJ2/0/M/P1000750-M.jpg

http://don-n-sa.smugmug.com/Aquariums/New-Tank-150gal/i-Vgxx79m/0/M/P1000751-M.jpg

http://don-n-sa.smugmug.com/Aquariums/New-Tank-150gal/i-W8gk4mN/0/M/P1000741-M.jpg

http://don-n-sa.smugmug.com/Aquariums/New-Tank-150gal/i-tqCQf7K/0/M/P1000746-M.jpg

http://don-n-sa.smugmug.com/Aquariums/New-Tank-150gal/i-QzCkqzp/0/M/P1000738-M.jpg

http://don-n-sa.smugmug.com/Aquariums/New-Tank-150gal/i-LRs3Dph/0/M/P1000742-M.jpg

[350gt]

Looking good.....

What are your plans for lighting? Livestock?

[don-n-sa]

I got the light with the set up, an ATI T-5 fixture. I will be doing another aggressive reef. Soft corals, zooanthids...etc. As for the fish, a few still up in the air but a porc puffer and an austrailian harlequin tusk are for sure.

[don-n-sa]

Did a little more work this week...added return pumps and the tunze osmolator which is a must IMO. I went with 2 sicce 2.0, hopefully they are as quiet as reported. I am using check valves on the returns to limit drainage into the sump during a power loss. for redundancy I am also going to have 2 of the 4 return loclines at the water surface and if those fail, the back up to will be an APC that can run the pumps for a few hours. I love the new magnetic mounting system on the osmolator by the way!!!

http://don-n-sa.smugmug.com/Aquariums/New-Tank-150gal/i-xkxGxMj/0/L/P1000764-L.jpg

http://don-n-sa.smugmug.com/Aquariums/New-Tank-150gal/i-Wm7Fpgf/0/L/P1000769-L.jpg

http://don-n-sa.smugmug.com/Aquariums/New-Tank-150gal/i-rGKT6zX/0/L/P1000766-L.jpg

http://don-n-sa.smugmug.com/Aquariums/New-Tank-150gal/i-QBDHM8N/0/L/P1000767-L.jpg
http://don-n-sa.smugmug.com/Aquariums/New-Tank-150gal/i-hxRQWd3/0/L/P1000763-L.jpg

http://don-n-sa.smugmug.com/Aquariums/New-Tank-150gal/i-Vbjth9v/0/L/P1000768-L.jpg

[Mr Cob]

wow, looks great!

[TexasTodd]

Hey Don, great looking setup. It's about time!

[don-n-sa]

Update:

I had a setback but it has been overcome! I filled the tank up with water to test the beananimal drain system and to check for plumbing leaks...well both of those passed but I did not trust the stand. Creaking sounds coming from wood that is holding well over 1000lbs is not good. I decided to have Ace build a new stand which was a good decision but it required much more work...and many apologies to my wife...since she is the one who stained the last one and would be doing the new one as well.

The new stand has much better access and it a much better design anyway. Ace made the coolest doors that come completely off...which is awesome enough, but when they are on you can't even tell that they are doors!!! great job ACE!

http://don-n-sa.smugmug.com/Aquariums/New-Tank-150gal/i-KW48QNm/0/L/P1000801-L.jpg

http://don-n-sa.smugmug.com/Aquariums/New-Tank-150gal/i-7tndm6v/0/L/P1000799-L.jpg

[don-n-sa]

Now on the drain system...WOW. It was most definitley worth the extra plumbing and the time to get it adjusted. The beananimal drain system is awesome. I have almost 1000gph going through my sump and there is no sound...combine that with the sicce return pumps and you have a dead silent system. It was tricky to start and I questioned it at first but now after a week, it works!!! I had to re-do some of the plumbing because the tank sits 2 inches lower on the new stand but it was worth it and I also improved the drains by going with spa flex after the unions...I am so glad I did go with unions!

Here are a few pics of the new drains...and yes the sytem is running in the pics!

http://don-n-sa.smugmug.com/Aquariums/New-Tank-150gal/i-4S2VSNK/0/L/P1000791-L.jpg

http://don-n-sa.smugmug.com/Aquariums/New-Tank-150gal/i-Rg8xZXQ/0/L/P1000790-L.jpg

http://don-n-sa.smugmug.com/Aquariums/New-Tank-150gal/i-Bjx7hMQ/0/L/P1000789-L.jpg

[don-n-sa]

And here is a short video of the water flowing though the drains.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMaDh_AMdeU&list=ULKMaDh_AMdeU&feature=pla yer_detailpage

[don-n-sa]

wow, looks great!

Thanks!


Hey Don, great looking setup. It's about time!

Thanks Todd...you better not be getting out as I am getting back in!

[BBQHILLBILLY]

very nice setup and great pics. A lot of good ideas here.

[don-n-sa]

PLEASE LOOK INTO THE FOR SALE FORUM, MY TANK JUST CRACKED...everything is up for sale.

[rrasco]

Ouch. I'm sorry. I know EXACTLY how you feel. My 210 cracked at the end of March, on a Wednesday as well. Are you getting out completely? I couldn't let that kind of a sucker punch keep me down for the count.

[don-n-sa]

Ouch. I'm sorry. I know EXACTLY how you feel. My 210 cracked at the end of March, on a Wednesday as well. Are you getting out completely? I couldn't let that kind of a sucker punch keep me down for the count.

Thanks, unless I win the lottery...im out.

[rrasco]

Yeah, I just saw that in your FS thread. I'm sorry, good luck man.

[don-n-sa]

Kaboom!

Back in and ready to add some fish!

I just wanted to take a quick moment to thank Louis at Elegant reef and his whole team in helping me get up and running again! I also wanted to thank Jason at Aquarium Designs for helping me level my new tank.

Come to find out that even though the tank and new stand were level, there was a significant enough slope (1/2in) in in my kitchen nook area to cause my last tank to crack. Lesson Learned! I still to this day consider myself lucky since It happened when I was home and with a quick reaction I only lost about 5 gal...could of been alot worse!!!.

[don-n-sa]

http://don-n-sa.smugmug.com/Aquariums/New-Tank-150gal/i-TNpJDjJ/0/L/P1000832-L.jpghttp://don-n-sa.smugmug.com/Aquariums/New-Tank-150gal/i-WbLN9k2/0/L/P1000833-L.jpghttp://don-n-sa.smugmug.com/Aquariums/New-Tank-150gal/i-C3PtPNJ/0/L/P1000830-L.jpghttp://don-n-sa.smugmug.com/Aquariums/New-Tank-150gal/i-KmLF9Pz/0/L/P1000834-L.jpghttp://don-n-sa.smugmug.com/Aquariums/New-Tank-150gal/i-fNFLZRg/0/L/P1000835-L.jpghttp://don-n-sa.smugmug.com/Aquariums/New-Tank-150gal/i-ZNC6dqN/0/L/P1000836-L.jpghttp://don-n-sa.smugmug.com/Aquariums/New-Tank-150gal/i-VX76ffb/0/L/P1000837-L.jpg

[don-n-sa]

My rock came from Todd's office breakdown and some rock from Elegant and 25lbs of Totoka from Ebay. Thanks Todd!!!

[Mr Cob]

beautiful setup. Love everything about it. Great looking stand!

[Kristy]

Wow, this is going to be sweet! You win the perseverance award for this one!

[don-n-sa]

Update:

Tank is running smoothly for several months now, had a few breakouts of algae but its just about gone. I took a few pics tonight, I really need a new camera!
http://don-n-sa.smugmug.com/Aquariums/New-Tank-150gal/i-m3RDV5K/0/L/P1000942-L.jpg
http://don-n-sa.smugmug.com/Aquariums/New-Tank-150gal/i-4t6zgr6/0/L/P1000943-L.jpg
http://don-n-sa.smugmug.com/Aquariums/New-Tank-150gal/i-5HrPL46/0/L/P1000945-L.jpg
http://don-n-sa.smugmug.com/Aquariums/New-Tank-150gal/i-CPPqrTX/0/L/P1000946-L.jpg
http://don-n-sa.smugmug.com/Aquariums/New-Tank-150gal/i-WKFT5MT/0/L/P1000950-L.jpg
http://don-n-sa.smugmug.com/Aquariums/New-Tank-150gal/i-rTRCMFD/0/XL/P1000953-XL.jpg
http://don-n-sa.smugmug.com/Aquariums/New-Tank-150gal/i-RRVfT4h/0/L/P1000954-L.jpg
http://don-n-sa.smugmug.com/Aquariums/New-Tank-150gal/i-zjDzQsd/0/S/P1000959-S.jpg
http://don-n-sa.smugmug.com/Aquariums/New-Tank-150gal/i-bLCcN6z/0/L/P1000961-L.jpg
http://don-n-sa.smugmug.com/Aquariums/New-Tank-150gal/i-bH8NchL/0/X2/P1000960-X2.jpg

[hobogato]

looks great donny

[RayAllen]

Awesome, I was wondering about this tank. All looks Healthy.