Col's 7x2.5

[colg]

Introduction:
This tank is in the planning phase only at this stage.
Plan is to use most/all the equipment that is on my 6x2. I didn't keep the old journal updated regularly (apparently not for a few years... ). This time round i am going to try and keep a better log, if for no other reason than documenting changes. I have only been in the Marine game for a relatively short time, but the benefit of searching through tank journals to see what other people do and more importantly what has worked and what has not is all quality information imo.
Part of the reason for the upgrade is; i have to move my existing tank from outside back to the main living area. Tank was moved outside while i carried out some renovations and never made its way back in. That was over 12months ago!
I plan a final update, if only a photo, of the current setup, prior to pulling it down. Anyway onto the future...

System Objectives: To create a living piece of reef that is a pleasure to look at and allows me to keep developing more knowledge of marine aquariums

System Type: Mixed Reef. Due at this stage to amount of soft livestock already on hand. Will eventually bias stocking towards SPS

Display System:

Strike up Date: TBA. Hopefully get things started in next few weeks, possibly wet in Jan

Display Tank: 2100x750x550 Eurobraced. 'Opt-iclear' front and sides, 12mm all round

Display Lighting: PacSun Pandora 4x80W T5 + 4x 75W

Stand: Steel

Hood: Open top

Sump: Probably convert a 4ft tank, i have a few spare


Support systems:

System Water: Natural salt water

Display Water circulation: 2x 6105's and 2x 6095's

Return Pump:peedy R3 8,000l

Skimmer: r: 170 cone Vertex

Evaporation Top Up:tunze auto


Chemical Support:

Calcium Addition: randy's

Alkilinity Addition: randy's

Other Chemical Maintenance: randy's

Current Water Chemistry: N/A
Nitrates:
Phosphates:
Alkalinity:
Calcium:
Salinity / Specific Gravity:
Magnesuim:


Images:

Coming..

[colg]

There are a few details that i have been researching and have yet to make a decision on:

Stand - I am going to make a steel stand and clad it with polycarbonate sheeting. I was thinking of using 50x50x3 but this might be overkill and 40x40x3 or 2.5 would suffice? I have drawn up the stand and will post it up when i go back to work next week.

Overflow/Weir - I will be building the tank myself and am tossing up between several ideas;
- Corner or central weir. This would not be full tank height, only around 5" high,
- Internal C2C on back wall (tank is view-able on both sides)
- External C2C. is This is my preferred option but it has some difficulties. Not sure if the eurobracing will offer enough support to the rear pane if there are notches cut out (Was thinking two notches 500 long). The other way would be to drill some holes through and have a thin weir on the inside as well as the external box. The problem this would present revolves around the 80mm euro brace and how i would be able to clean it and/or rescue livestock that enter it.

Anyone have any advice on my options above?

Regards,
Col

[Synodontis]

Sounds like you have a good plan to start off with Col.

Stand- I'd stick with the 50x50x3, yes the other sizes may suffice, but overkill on a stand is nit a bad thing. Long term (years) your stand will still have no problems supporting the weight with out buckling.

Weir- If the tank will be viewable from both sides, have you thought about a central weir? You could incorporate the scape into this also.

Keep posting updates, sounds like a good build, good luck with it all.

[colg]

Thanks Ken, agree with your thinking on the section size. Will continue with 50x3.

I have pretty much decided that I want an external overflow on this tank. The external overflow box will provide support for the rear pane in place of the eurobrace. I have been recommended to run 100mm brace rather than 80mm. I am sure the 80 would have been adequate, but an increased safety factor is probably a good thing..
Notches will more than likely be water cut and be 750mm long and about 25mm deep. This will leave around 13mm clearance under the bracing.
Below are a few images of what it might look like:



Got bored and developed the concept a bit further..

[swazzle]

How many viewing panes? Will the rear be against a wall?


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[colg]

Yes, rear will be against a wall. Obviously set out from the wall to allow clearance for overflow and pipes etc.

[colg]

Looks like this is happening.
Spent a few hours today cutting all the steel for the stand. Gonna be heavy! Went through two 8m lengths of 50 and have 1m left from a length of 40. Go the top frame tacked up, will probably need a day or two to finish assembly and weld out. Hopefully next week

[colg]

Got to spend a couple of hours today getting it together. Pretty hot in the workshop this time of year to say the least!
Anyway, couple of progress pics:

Top frame finished


Half way there


I decided on using adjust afoot feet on each leg. Got some 60mm ones with m16 thread. Tapped some plate, cut to fit inside the RHS and welded in.


Col

[saltymike]

Awesome mate, really keen to see this develope.

Mike

[colg]

Got the stand back from powder coasters today. Finish (as was expected) turned out awesome. Pic is upside down but only one I took for reasons below..


Unfortunately there was a bit of a bend in the top frame from weld pulling on the middle leg. This resulted in a 'hump' in the middle that was 5mm higher than each end
It took 4tonnes of weight placed on top in the center to straighten it back out. There is now less than 1mm of 'unflatness' on the top face of the stand luckily non of the powder coat was destroyed in the process!

Col

[colg]

Quick update on progress so far.
Got all the glass delivered. Unfortunately, when I confirmed the order I got float glass end panels instead of opti-clear fortunately? The front opti-clear panel had a scratch from transit and will be replaced by the vendor. This means I now have enough opti-clear for front and both ends cut the two ends out of the damaged panel today and all good.
Glued up the external overflow box. Glued up the bottom euro brace. Coming along nicely so far. Seem to have gone through more silicon than I estimated but plenty of time to get more while I wait for the replacement front plane. Have to wait a few days before I start assembling the sides in any case.





Braces for side and end assembly


Col

[colg]

Finishing bits and pieces on the tank completed last week. Nervous water test carried out yesterday...

All good so far.
Filling tank,


Tank full and water spilling over weir,


Very happy with how it has turned out so far. Was only a garden hose on full but water sheeted evenly, and silently, across length of weir
Did a phosphate test on the Calgrit substrate I am going to use and came out 0.00. Base line test on my RO was 0.14, been a while since I changed cartridges ordered new set from psi. Will sort plumbing prior to shifting set-up inside. Not long now

[colg]

Did the big tank swap last weekend. Went pretty well.

Found one niggle with the plumbing that i overlooked. Return is tee'd into two. one goes straight back to the tank, the other through the wall an into the chiller. I didn't take into account the losses and forgot to put a valve to throttle the open return. lucky i had enough room!
Calgrit substrate took ages to wash but eventually ran clear. First tank fill with NSW and you couldn't tell there was water in it
Lost a lipstick tang that got stuck in the corner behind a Tunze = lesson learned, room left for fish to not get stuck between powerheads and corners now provided.
Haven't tidied up wiring as yet but will get to it in due course, hopefully get a couple of PDU's soon.
Livestock settling in well, Damsels laid eggs on second day (on perspex rod right of centre).
More when i have time and things mature.
Col.

[smooth09]

Looks good man

[wayne2.0]

Very nice

[swazzle]

Looking awesome great work


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[colg]

Thanks guys

[Roy]

That looks great.

[colg]

Water change this arvo had mixed results.. Have system plumbed to an ibc so only have to open and close a few valves in order to carry out changes. Drained around 250l before I realised that level in ibc had increased forgot to shut valve at ibc outlet which resulted in around 150l of tank water going back into ibc
Was around 700l in it so should dilute and not cause too many headaches.
Param's are a bit wack ATM so won't be a major drama.
Cal 395
Alk 10.5
Mag 1280
Po4 0.3
No3 0
Have started a reactor with some Rowa to start bringing p down. The high levels are a legacy from the old rock I had brought over from previous tank I believe.
Frags are getting some nice base cover now and starting to kick.

[ReefPix]

Well done Col, looking nice!

[swazzle]

How are you liking the size of the tank man? My upcoming built is same size.


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[colg]

I think it is a great size. Upgraded from 6x2x2 and it feels like it is twice the size.

[colg]

Made a start on tidying up the wiring and cabinet items.
Replaced the 'bucket ato' with a glass tank I made and fitted a float valve so that I can top up the reservoir automatically.
PDU's turned up from K&J. Very slick units!
Still a way to go but a lot better than it was. Before and after pics below:

[colg]

About to leave for work and noticed something out of place in my sump. At first i thought it was a cluster of morphs, but then noticed they seemed to be stuck to the side of the glass.
Further investigation revealed that it was in fact my carpet nem, that had somehow done a houdini and traveled down the partial syphon or emergency drain! Thank god for back up drains!
Lucky i found him before he got to the skimmer pump, or even worse, the return pump...
Might need to look into a strainer inlet for the drains i think

[swazzle]

Just a thought i was thinking about this same situation I dunno if anyone does it but though about just using some fly screen and zip tying it into the drains instead of having an overflow comb (so as not to lessen surface skim of the overflow)

Also and you'll get a lot of questions from me as I said my build is pretty similar. How big is your return section of your sump
And are you happy with it? Is your top up going to infrequently or draining too easily


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[colg]

I think you will find fly screen will block far to quickly. Better off using gutter guard or something like that.
No problem on the questions Return is around 400x380. this size works well with the way I have the tank setup. Ato comes on once an hour or so.
Col

[swazzle]

Oh yeah of course fly screen would be, ha!

Excellent not to different to my plan aswell! Good to hear
Excellent, man


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[colg]

Small update 3 months on.
Phos is slowly dropping, down to 0.06 atm. Had an issue with Mag dropping out but seem to be on top of it now. Still a bit of diatoms and a few little patches of cyano but seem to be receding.
Been tidying up some niggles i had with the plumbing and water change equip outside.

Added some browned frags from a mate which has certainly filled in the voids on the rock. Will be interesting to see how they turn out when/if i can get some colour back into them.
Anyway, here are some iphone pics
Col.

LHS


RHS


End


Front

[colg]

Tank is 6mths old. Took a random picture under sunset led light with a samsung (didn't explode..)



Will put together an update when I get time to take some proper photos.
Cheers,
Col

[ReefPix]

Tank is looking nice Col!