MrSkumfrog's 105g Build

[MrSkumFrog]

Alright!
I've been planning a large build for a while. I installed my RODI system in the garage with 2 44g brute containers. I also installed a 44g brute with ~100 lbs of BRS reef saver rock that has been brewing for 3 months; this is where I dump skimmer contents from my Nanocube

i wanted to go 120 gallon; however, the company doesn't make those anymore and I would need to go "custom". I wasn't prepared to spend that amount of money for 3" of height.
So here it is...

[ramsey]

Very nice tank! Why put skimmate in the brute holding your rock? Is it to cycle? Never thought of that but that's not a bad idea.

[MrSkumFrog]

Very nice tank! Why put skimmate in the brute holding your rock? Is it to cycle? Never thought of that but that's not a bad idea.

Yes thats right. I dumped the skimmate and rinsed out the skimmer cup into the rock barrel. I had a maxi jet 1200 in the bottom of the barrel; a maxi jet 1220 in the middle and a Jebao 25 at the top. No phosphates in there. The Nitrates are ~10.

[MrSkumFrog]

I decided to place anti fatigue mat under the sump to cushion the sump and possibly decrease noise. Purchased at Lowes ~$25.

[gcantu]

Have you considered going the 'bean animal' overflow route? I have that same tank and configured it that way. It's super quiet. Just a suggestion.

[Big_Pun]

Have you considered going the 'bean animal' overflow route? I have that same tank and configured it that way. It's super quiet. Just a suggestion.

i dont understand why people configure these over flows with a bean animal, just use durso stand pipes high enough so the water level is right under the teeth, add some ball valves and you can fine tune the flow to each.

you would get better bacteria by tossing some sand and even a rock from your other tank in the brute. looks your off to a great start good luck with build


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[MrSkumFrog]

I attached 2 inline ball valves from 2 little fishies to the braided vinyl hose. This caused some slight kinking to the lines; so, I decided to take them out. This is what I ended up with. I filled the tank up with fresh water to do a leak test. I need to quiet things down. There's about a 3" waterfall effect up top. If I go with the durso drains, I should raise them. I can hear the water through the pipes. I added the ball valves originally because I intended to do a Herbie drain, I'm not sure if I can without a ball valve.

[Big_Pun]

you can also plumb PVC ball valves to the sump itself, that's what I did

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/11/ezutahys.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/11/synatyra.jpg

[gcantu]

i dont understand why people configure these over flows with a bean animal, just use durso stand pipes high enough so the water level is right under the teeth, add some ball valves and you can fine tune the flow to each.


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Because it's quiet and fail safe, and like I said just a suggestion... :D

[Big_Pun]

Because it's quiet and fail safe, and like I said just a suggestion... :D

sorry should if elaborated, original it was designed for the coast to coast boxes that are very short and you can put a durso in them.

if you go durso make sure you put guards in them buddy of mine in Jersey didn't and snail got in and the water overflowed and ruined a metal halide ballast.

[MrSkumFrog]

I attached 2 inline ball valves from 2 little fishies to the braided vinyl hose. This caused some slight kinking to the lines; so, I decided to take them out. This is what I ended up with. I filled the tank up with fresh water to do a leak test. I need to quiet things down. There's about a 3" waterfall effect up top. If I go with the durso drains, I should raise them. I can hear the water through the pipes. I added the ball valves originally because I intended to do a Herbie drain, I'm not sure if I can without a ball valve.


Yeah...
I've been leak testing the tank with this plumbing for 2-3 days. No leaks. It sounds like it's gently raining in my living room. The thing that bothers me is that every minute or so there will be a burping sound. I'm going to call some places and look for a gate valve, so I can Go Herbie drain.

My question...
I'll probably replumb the right drain. I could attach a gate valve to that 90 and attach a
street 90 to the gate valve and barb it into the vinyl tubing. Or maybe 2 45s with a gate valve?
Can I have a Herbie drain with all those turns? How would I manage to remove the cemented barb & 90 from the black coupling pipe?

[Big_Pun]

Elegant reef had some nice stuff for overflows, couple diff types including maggi mufflers and this other similar but smaller. you can use bulkheads on the sump also but not sure what size you will need.

[MrSkumFrog]

I replumbed everything. It's a Herbie drain. I was able to use a ball valve. the BV is a Two Little Fishies variety; not much resistance to manipulate. 2395123952It's very silent. The overflow has about a 2" waterfall. Perhaps if I raise my emergency drain and slightly turn down the flow of my main drain; then I'll be able to raise the water level of my overflow.

[MrSkumFrog]

That's not a picture of my overflow? Well... Here's a pic of my rear surge suppressor, AI rails and hooks for cable management.

[MrSkumFrog]

Really...?! Really!

[MrSkumFrog]

I mounted dosing pumps from BRS. I purchased a 1/2" x 4" piece of wood from the hobby section of Lowes. I then screwed the brackets to mount the pumps onto this wood. I then added 3M lock tape (I think it's called) to fasten the unit up high. The 3M tape is like Velcro without the fuzzy side. The 3M tape makes a real tight connection. I think I overkilled it with the tape.

[MrSkumFrog]

I pulled out all the rock that was brewing from my 44 Brute. Added the rock work to the tank. I then added Tropic Eden Reef Flakes. I had purchased a sand sampler pack from tropic Eden. Im glad I went with the Reef Flakes. Reef DVMs did a good YouTube review of the product. I'll probably rearrange and open up the rock-work.

[koa25]

Everything is looking awesome. Great build.

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[MrSkumFrog]

Everything is looking awesome. Great build.

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Thanks! The stress levels have decreased, since I finished my plumbing. I have 2 days off starting at 0700. I'm going to work on cord management, the controller and ATO.

[MrSkumFrog]

A look at the skimmer!

[MrSkumFrog]

A look at the skimmer...

[MrSkumFrog]

Now the tank is silent! I previously place a coupling on my emergency drain; therefore, I would only have to pull off the end of pipe to make adjustments. I did just that! I raised the emergency drain about an inch. Now the emergency drain doesn't constantly suck water in. I was then able to slow the flow to my sump; which in turn raises the overflow.

[MrSkumFrog]

I wanted something that I could clamp my refugium light to. I used a ceiling fan brace. I removed the metal junction box though. I have the option to mount a single or double floodlight socket to the ceiling fan junction box.

[MrSkumFrog]

A shout-out to 350gt for hooking me up with some Chaeto!

[zerreissen]

Looking great!

[MrSkumFrog]

It's the 2 week mark. My nitrates and phosphates measure out as zero so far. The Chaeto that I received 1 week ago has probably almost doubled in size. I purchased some caluerpa and that is growing like a weed! I placed 5 emerald crab; 12 red hermits and 12 turbo snails. I should receive my shipment of copa/ampopods tonight. I also transferred a large watchman Gobie into the tank. Corals... I added a couple of softies from my other tank here. I need to tweak my Apex a little more; organize the cables; hookup my carbon or GFO reactor and mix my 2 part solution.

[350gt]

Nice!

[koa25]

Always a warm fuzzy feeling when everything starts coming together. Looks good man.

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[ST3PH3N]

Looks really good.


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[MrSkumFrog]

I mounted my apex equipment and managed my wires for the meantime. The back of the tank is a different story. I started up my phosban 150 reactor with carbon. I like the reactor and I might purchase another for phosfate control. My parameters are fine for now, so I'll wait. I also mixed up my 2 part solutions. It was a little difficult to prime the lines. I believe the output tubing was too long; so I trimmed down the output lines. I guess I won't be using my Seaside aquatics tube holder... Does anyone know where I can pick up suction cups to hold airline tubing?