Bubbleboy’s 8 ft & frag tanks -- Update 4th Sep 2012

[bubbleboy]

My dream tank … .8x2x2 …


To cut a long story short I was given this tank by my cousin about 18 mouth ago, at that stage I was in two minds as to wether to take it or not … .
I couldn’t pass on such a great opportunity to own a tank this size . my dream tank... so I took the tank off his hands.
I had plan to keep it in storage until we move into our new house which was rented out at the time, but due to change of circumstance we moved into the new house earlier then we expected, so the dream tank venture was born .

The tank originally had two 400mm brace in the middle of the tank. and one corner weir.
As I’ll be running MH that would mean the brace would be in the way of the MH. Something had to gave… so I remove the 400mm bracing and cut one of them in half to make tow 200mm bracing.
I glue the bracing back then euro brace the whole tank in 10 and 12mm strips all around the tank.
I also enclosed a section of at the right hand side and made into a full over flow weir to replace the small corner weir.

The stand which i made out of 75x50mm RHS 4mm, it sits at a height of 1 meter, I like my stand high.

The plan would be to cover the stand and hood in MDF and paint over inside out, inside would be white enamel and outside would be painted in the same color as the adjoining walls.

As i don’t have any equipment or sump in the stand, I feel at easy about using MDF.

Lighting would consist of 3 luminarc bright and 2 X 2ft T5

Sump would be house in the ‘SUMP’ room downstairs so no issue with noise.. jus the way the missis wanted

Although its at a early stage and will take a good few more weekends work to get the tank wet .

Ok, enough talk lets get on with progress photos.


And to those who have bombarded me about starting up the 8ft TJ (U know who you are!!!) Happy now!!!!!!!! ……. although its at an early stage and would be a good few more weekends work to get the tank wet .

Excuse the poor Chinglish!!!....LOL


System Objectives: To have my own ocean in my living room.

System Type: Mixed Reef

Strike up Date: Humm ….. Dono

Display Tank: 8 X 2 X 2 Euro brace and cross brace

Display Lighting: 3 X 250W Lumenark reflector + 2 x 2’ft R/O HO T5 units

Stand: DIY steel frame made from 75x50mm 4mm RHS

Hood: DIY frame enclose with MDF

Sump: 5x1.8x8 DIY sump

Refugium: Refugium with Micro algae and DSB

Refugium Lighting: DIY Lumanarc reflector with energy saving bulb.


Support systems:

System Water: Natural salt water

Display Water circulation: 2 X Tunze 6080 and hoping Santa can bring me two MP40s :-P

Return Pump: Laguna 11000LPH

Skimmer: DIY Becket driven via a Lag 7000LPH

Evaporation Top Up: Auto top up -Gravity feed.


Calcium Addition: DIY calcium reactor


The Beast!! ---The tank , not whats in it!


The euro brace

The weir wich i made on one end of the tank.


Inlet/outlet and back-up


Now the 'SUMP' Room
The black hole you can see would be where the sump room is.

As u can see... i had to move a hell of a lot of dirt.. .


All hands on deck!! me!!!

Dug out all the clay and replace with blue metal and drainage pipe, then brick paving over and build retaining wall .
Also manage to house the IBC tank in the corner


Walla... the sump its in



So far thats where i am...Slow i know but i do have other priorities in life like fishing , snowboarding, two frag tanks .. ... oh and the family

Any advice or criticism always welcome...

[/b]

[blags]

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeet as!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[GTS-t VSPEC]

Wow, can't wait to see this tank as it develops.

Very jealous of your sump room

[Mielo]

Looking forward to seeing this TJ unfold!

Is the tank directly above the sump room?

[Lofty]

Wow, i'll be watching this one!

[ryanrid]

how are you going to fill the IBC once empty? is there easy access to pump the water in?

do you plan on covering the wier at the front as may be a pain if you get algae in there to clean?

looking really nice, i like how the sump is down stairs, a lot of diggen down there, that would have sucked.

[bubbleboy]

Thanks Guys.... ....stilll a Looooooong way to go yet b4 i'll have water in it

:withyou: Looking forward to seeing this TJ unfold!

Is the tank directly above the sump room?

Not quiet. The display tank sets about 2 meters to the right...

[mnemonix]

Jealous as!
I'm scared to think how much time/cash I'd devote to this hobby if I had the opportunity to set up a "sump room".
That stand is the identical big brother of the one I just welded up for my 4footer.

[bubbleboy]

how are you going to fill the IBC once empty? is there easy access to pump the water in??.

Ryan, The IBC is fill via the opening like any IBC, I do still have about 80mm clearance on top.

do you plan on covering the wier at the front as may be a pain if you get algae in there to clean?.

Should had mention i do have a piece of black Perspex covering the front of the wier

looking really nice, i like how the sump is down stairs, a lot of diggen down there, that would have sucked.

u should have seeing the dirt hill i made at the front from what i dug out

[ryanrid]

Ryan, The IBC is fill via the opening like any IBC, I do still have about 80mm clearance on top.

what i meant is it going to be easy getting the truck in there to fill it, but after having a better look of the location of the sump room i gathered it is in the garage and can be easily filled.

have you considered a closed loop for your flow? that would like nice not havin PH in there.

good idea with the perspex.

[bubbleboy]

Ryan, The IBC is fill via the opening like any IBC, I do still have about 80mm clearance on top.

what i meant is it going to be easy getting the truck in there to fill it, but after having a better look of the location of the sump room i gathered it is in the garage and can be easily filled.

have you considered a closed loop for your flow? that would like nice not havin PH in there.

good idea with the perspex.

No truck mate.... I collect my own water using a trailer and water pump and two IBC tank.

Yeah the sump room just as you enter the garage so I can just run about 5 M of hose in to it.

A this stage I’m tossing up as to what pump to run… PM 18000 would prob be the choice at this stage..

I did consider CL... but the distance from where the sump is and the hight from the sump to the disply..... 2 M + = 25000-30000 LPH pump ......

[sydneydrewid]

Wow,Wow and WOW!!!
I Love it

[Rod the Reefer]

Looks great!!

Closed loops would be in your cabinet, wouldn't need to go all the way to the sump. Would look very neat.

Rod.

[tomorrows_angel]

That's a cute fish. It even has another pet with it.

This should be yet another great monster tank... I don't know where you guys get the money or the time, but I am very jealous!!

[-Phil-]

looking good

have you though about waterproofing and/or drainage for the fish room?

I looks to me like you have a nice long room you could make in there to fill with frag tanks

Cheers,
Phil

[Zeason99]

looking good

have you though about waterproofing and/or drainage for the fish room?

I looks to me like you have a nice long room you could make in there to fill with frag tanks

Cheers,
Phil

He does already have 2 x 4ft frag tanks currently filled with nice frags .. just not showing in his pic!!

Dave..... want more pics please!!!!

[RedLineR]

Finally its happening Dave. I'll be keeping my eyes on this for sure

[Freds]

Wow! bubbleboy great work

[sydneydrewid]

looking good

have you though about waterproofing and/or drainage for the fish room?

I looks to me like you have a nice long room you could make in there to fill with frag tanks

Cheers,
Phil

He does already have 2 x 4ft frag tanks currently filled with nice frags .. just not showing in his pic!!

Dave..... want more pics please!!!!

and whats this about 2x4 foot frag tanks?? pics please!!!

[KirTracid]

This is going to be GREAT, definitely watching this thread =)

[-Phil-]

looking good

have you though about waterproofing and/or drainage for the fish room?

I looks to me like you have a nice long room you could make in there to fill with frag tanks

Cheers,
Phil

He does already have 2 x 4ft frag tanks currently filled with nice frags .. just not showing in his pic!!

Dave..... want more pics please!!!!

i know ive seen them

but there seem like enough room for 2-3 times that.

Or at least i couldnt see how they would fit into the room. im sure more pics will explain all

Cheers,
Phil

[Chafule]

Dave!
Whats taking so long lol.
Finally have a new TJ, its looking good. Do I get to see it when i come down?
I have some stuff to send you, will put it on the truck next week!

[bradw6860]

You mentioned this ages ago, i totally forgot about this, so that's why there was that big pile or gravel/dirt out the front.

Should be a sweet tank!

[ryanrid]

Closed loops would be in your cabinet, wouldn't need to go all the way to the sump. Would look very neat

i was thinking along the same lines as rod, it would be cheaper than vortechs probably aswell, bu you will need to put another tank underneathe for the pump i am guessing?

[bubbleboy]

Appreciate the feed back guys

Looks great!!

Closed loops would be in your cabinet, wouldn't need to go all the way to the sump. Would look very neat.

Rod.

That’s True, But Rod… I got a major obstacle!! ’THE WIFE” …. The condition was that so I could have the tank situated where it is in the first place was I can’t have any equipment under the tank and she wants to be able to hear the her self breath….

Nah serially I don’t wana hear a 20,000 LPH pump hamming away while I’m enjoying the movies in my living room …
How‘s much noise do your CL pump produce??? Could you hear it while the door is close?? But them I don’t think I’m capable of such a master piece as what you did with your CL system Rod

That's a cute fish. It even has another pet with it.

Kathryn, she’s one rare species...lol… and she’s all mine

This should be yet another great monster tank... I don't know where you guys get the money or the time, but I am very jealous!!

Kathryn, trust me, is not easy to keep 2 frag tanks and the up coming 8ft … and my other hobbies … all I can say I have a very understanding wife

looking good
Have you though about waterproofing and/or drainage for the fish room?

Cheers Phil .

Yeah I have lay a drainage pipe under the paving imbedded in blue metal gravel that leads to the down water drain so any water spill/ leak would drain under the paving’s and in to the draining pipe .

I looks to me like you have a nice long room you could make in there to fill with frag tanks

Cheers,
Phil

Phil, U know I all ready have 2 x frag tanks…..

[bubbleboy]

looking good

have you though about waterproofing and/or drainage for the fish room?

I looks to me like you have a nice long room you could make in there to fill with frag tanks

Cheers,
Phil

He does already have 2 x 4ft frag tanks currently filled with nice frags .. just not showing in his pic!!

Dave..... want more pics please!!!!

Just for you Zeason
Dennis . .you welcome to drop over frags any time

[bubbleboy]

Finally its happening Dave. I'll be keeping my eyes on this for sure

Yeah Edi, I keep getting Pm and email asking when i was going to get a TJ happening....
I'll be taking a break for a while now i got them of me back.... Going FISHING

Wow! bubbleboy great work

Thanks Fred

This is going to be GREAT, definitely watching this thread =)

Cheers Kirsty , i still go a long way to go yet

Dave!
Whats taking so long lol.
Finally have a new TJ, its looking good. Do I get to see it when i come down?
I have some stuff to send you, will put it on the truck next week!

Its call Family Boy!!! .. not that you know Boy
Sure u can see it when your down here... just make sure you don;t come empty handed....
Cheers For that Nugget

You mentioned this ages ago, i totally forgot about this, so that's why there was that big pile or gravel/dirt out the front.

Should be a sweet tank!

Thats it Brad

[bubbleboy]

Closed loops would be in your cabinet, wouldn't need to go all the way to the sump. Would look very neat

i was thinking along the same lines as rod, it would be cheaper than vortechs probably aswell, bu you will need to put another tank underneathe for the pump i am guessing?

Boy now you got me thinking
i could house the pump right under the floor board
Ok, back to the drawing board

[bj0075]

Dave

About time mate!!! (NO NEED TO COMMENT ON MY TANK EITHER MR)

Take a breathe and evaluate if you want to go CL or the vortechs, remember our conversation on running costs??? CL cost more to run when you compare it to say 2x MP40s or a couple of tunze 6205s

BJ

PS Ill bring over my fragging tools....

[Rod the Reefer]

Nah serially I don’t wana hear a 20,000 LPH pump hamming away while I’m enjoying the movies in my living room …
How‘s much noise do your CL pump produce??? Could you hear it while the door is close??

My closed loops are surprisingly quiet. I guess it would depend on your pump selection.

I was planning to line my cabinet with sound proofing foam, but in the end didn't need to.

Rod.