Shutdown 25/04/14 Thommo's cube tank.

[Thommo01]

Introduction:
Well after playing around with FW tanks for a while and going in and out of fish shop all the time and seeing the beautiful selection of colours and shapes in the marine sections I always knew I wanted to give it a go eventually. So here is my eventually starting to happen

Current FTS before shutdown(already took the light off)



System Objectives: To create a visually stunning display while learning the marine tank ropes. Hopefully get good at it one day (if all goes well) look at expanding.

System Type: Mixed Reef, with plenty of softies as the wife likes them the best

Display System:

Strike up Date: Start of August 2010

Display Tank: Existing (previously a planted tank) 70 x 70 x 60cm cube made of optiwhite glass, with overflow.

Display Lighting: 150W MH with 14000k solarmax globe, 2 x 24W HO T5 Actinic globes. Lights will be lowered to 20mm above tank to avoid jumpers.

Stand: Existing stand. Steel frame.

Hood: Open design, Really just a shroud to hide the lighting

Sump: 60 x 40cm sump. Existing baffles need to be modified and new ones added to suit marine sump.

Refugium: In sump. Size will depend on space left after new baffles are put in.
Refugium Lighting: 90W LED panel that I had for my planted set-up(hopefully this isn’t too much overkill)


Support systems:

System Water: Artificial salt water ( will look into Natural once I get set-up)

Display Water circulation: Hydor Koralia's K Copy 5000L/H Power head

Return Pump:Eheim universal pump 38l/min

Skimmer: Bubble Magus BM-NAC180-CS Cone Protein Skimmer

Evaporation Top Up:Auto topup with RO/DI from 50L top up container.


Chemical Support:

Calcium Addition: Calc support via Bubble magus auto doser

Alkilinity Addition: Alk support via Bubble magus auto doser

Other Chemical Maintenance: ??? If needed via doser

Current Water Chemistry: If applicable
Nitrates:
Phosphates:
Alkalinity:
Calcium:
Salinity / Specific Gravity:
Magnesuim:


Images:

From this



Back to a clean slate with lots of work to progress


My sump modification plans. Any thoughts or advice?
First time I used Sketchup, pretty cool

Any advice on how to go about removing the old baffles. I tried tonight for a short time and 3 broken razor blades and no success later I am here asking

I'm Getting excited

[nUm]

Looking good Thommo,

Judging by the look of your planted FW you should slip into the marine scene pretty easy. Just remember to take it slow and do a bit of research before you jump into any impulse buys, especially when it comes time to start stocking the tank. If you don’t already I would also recommend picking up a couple of books on marine aquariums and corals, they come in handy quite often.

As for the baffles, some people have had luck with using really fine guitar string; you might even be able to do it with some strong fishing line attached to some little bits of timber so you can pull on it without cutting your fingers.

Hope that helps,

Cheers

Jason

[fishguy23]

fishing braid works well 6 or 10 lb is good. but dont wrap it around your fingers as it will cut and a-lot worse than normal line.

[Thommo01]

Thanks for the tips guys. Will get out the fishing line and give it a go.

[Thommo01]

I sump baffle down and 1 to go. The fishing line trick worked a treat. Off to work tommorow for 2 weeks so no more work on the tank for now.

[Thommo01]

FINALLY!! I'm back home and starting to get some things happening. All be it slowly. Hard to make noise with a little one when sleeping and trying to spend time with him as well. Fine balance as they say.

I managed to get my baffle out and all cleaned up and ready to install in the right position. Just need to get 1 more piece of glass for the sump to set the height for the skimmer which is optimum at 9-11.5 inches so I plan on having it at 250mm (10inches approx).

Below is a pick of the final design. Comments and advice on this one are welcome especially before I start siliconing Not sure if just 1 baffle as is before the pump is enough. Advice would be appreciated on this one as well. Would hate to have bubbles everywhere. It is 400mm deep by the way.


Some more goodies arrived, such as plummbing and glass hole saw. Fingers crossed I get to this while I am home. Started setting up my RO/ATO/storage area for the tank which is situated under the bar area. I fitted up the RO supply to the water piping and MAN!!! what a pain in the butt. You'd thing a fitter(me) could make a leak free seal Got there in the end though Just with a bit of water all over the place. I must say after finally managing to get a look at the PSI RO/DI unit I am thoroughly impressed with the quality. Plus the service was great too.

I am also planning on removing the existing overflow (as I cant fit anything down there) and installing a larger black acrylic one to accomodate some more holes.

Currently the overflow has a 25mm and 20mm bulkhead. I will make both 25mm and drill another for back-up. Also planning on drilling one at the height of about 15% for water changes. Just open a valve to the drain and refill. All sounds good in theory.

When I get my act together I'll take some pics of the goings on. As we all love pics!

[Thommo01]

Getting there piece by piece.

Started painting as original colour was a grey of sorts and I want to go black to match the rest of the tanks in the house

Got my glass for the extra baffle today and should get it siliconed in place tommorow. Any recommendations on which brand of silicone to use?

Pics of the current mess!! Which the wife is slowly getting short in patience with

First coat of the stuff that would fit in the garage. Still need another coat and to do the main of the stand.
P.S. Turps based paint is a PITA to clean-up


Bit more of the mess


After soldering up the wires for the additional T5's for the hood. Will get a pic up of completed hood when finished.

[fishguy23]

is the halide also going to be 20mm off the water surface as well? could lead to heat issues

[Thommo01]

Fishguy23: I should clarify that they hood will have a gap of 20mm from the rim of the tank. This would put the halide about 100mm from the surface. Not ideal either but I will deffinintly be using a chiller and currently not hoping to have to bulid another hood.

Do you think that the Halide is still too close?

Update pics. Finished painting the hood last night and installed all of the lights and fired up



Halide warming up. Too bright when warm for a pic

Top of the hood.

Hoping to get the sump baffle fitted tommorow as the silicone needs 7 days to cure apparently.
Cant find any silicone in black readily available for when I install the new overflow. Any ideas of where I can find some?

[Thommo01]

Painted the last piece of wood door for the stand last night.

Preped up the sump as well for some silicone when the daylight comes.



I knew the old CD covers I kept would come in handy

[dorz]

thommo, milton at marine plus would sell you black silicon. its dow corning 999-A... thats where i got mine from

[fishguy23]

ah thats about how far i have the rim of my reflector from the surface of the water. i couldnt see there being any issue

[Thommo01]

thommo, milton at marine plus would sell you black silicon. its dow corning 999-A... thats where i got mine from

Thanks Dorz. Will have to pop in there on Monday Just for some silicone of course. LOL

ah thats about how far i have the rim of my reflector from the surface of the water. i couldnt see there being any issue

Cool that is good to know. Thanks fishguy23. Hopefully I will not have any issues having it closer.

[Thommo01]

Did the silicone tonight for the sump baffles. Stinking the house out, so once again wife is the best

Also picked up a quaratine tank off gumtree yesterday for a bargain. 2fter with Light and heater etc for $125. Needs a bit of love but for a light and heater was good value.

[Thommo01]

Bit more progress today/tonight.

Fitted the hood mounts and the hood. Re-attached the doors, planned the fit-up of the 3rd door. Placed the sump underneath now that the silicone can handle a move. All up I am pretty happy with the results so far.

Unfortunantly for me I will be going to work for 3 weeks, the waiting go get stuck into it some more will eat me alive

The black perspex that I ordered for the modified wier got lost in the mail and I was hoping to take it to work to do some work on it as I was going to mill the comb and bend it etc etc. Will have to wait until the next time. Just means that I will not be able to get it wet next time I am home

Pretty pleased with the light spread too. Was a bit worried give that I lowered the hood and a few others obviously thought the same too. Happy to report that the lighting looks awsome

Tank set-up.

With just the blue T5's

T5's with the MH as well

The sump close up. Skimmer JUST!!! fit.

[Depths of blue]

Looking good,like the cabinet

[Thommo01]

Well I'm back

What an eventfull afternoon.

I was removing the overflow from the tank as I am drilling extra drainage and installing a larger overflow. Anyway luck for me the fishing wire was starting to hurt the pinkies so I went and put some leather gloves to stop the pain .

The fishing line kept breaking on the last piece with about 4" to go so I thought that I could give it a little nudge to help release the silicone. Final result below. Lucky I was soft and put the gloves on otherwise I think it would have been much worse.

Good news is that the old overflow is out, have leak tested my baffles in the sump with flying colours, the auto top off works a treat. Still filling and sorting my little tank supply area where the RO and auto -top off is etc( need to take a pic) Hopefully in a day or 2 the holes will be drilled. Unfortunantly tommorow will be gardening day as the last 3 weeks the weeds wend gang busters.


After the wife fixed me up and had lots of fun pouring Detol all over the wounds(Masacist)

[c.jarratt]

DAMN!

its not always bad to glove up after all!!

the tank is looking great mate but make sure you take it easy!

that injury will be annoying as hell!

[Thommo01]

Yeh stings a little. But still managed to get the rest of the glass removed and silicone gone things we can do through the pain LOL

[Thommo01]

Got lucky with Gumtree today. Picked up 30kgs of liverock for $70 today Have set-up the QT and now checking the cure of the rock. Fingers crossed not too much curing is needed. There were a lot of dead worms in the rock so I think that there will be a period of cycling for sure.

Wound is healing well. Still bleeding but only have 3 large bandaids instead of a bandage now.

Will remember to take some pick tommorrow of the LR and my top-up hidey hole.

[dorz]

nice work with the lighting! wish mine was that easy... :P
cut looks nasty, lucky the gloves were on! what are the plans for the overflow box?

[Thommo01]

Just to make it bigger. The original only had a full syphon with overflow but had no room to raise the water level in it to reduce to noise of the waterfall. You couldnt even screw an elbow into the bulkhead as it was too narrow.

Soooo I am now making it so there is room for elbows and drilling another hole for emergency, making the overflow bulkhead to 25mm instead of 20mm.

Have the black persfex but need to wait until I go back to work to mill the slots in the top and bend it.

VERY, lucky I had gloves on. Wouldnt have happened if I was a bit more patient though :P

[dorz]

you work at a milling shop? could come in handy for me sometime...

my current weir only has a full siphon and an backup, its dead silent. you add a valve to the full siphon, and close it until the water level reaches near the comb. also have your emergency as high as the comb.. stops the noise completely i only have to play with the tap (turn it maybe 1/10th turn) to adjust it every fortnight? easy.

[Thommo01]

No, I'm a fitter and turner and our workshop has a mill.

Good to hear about the full syphon being quiet. Will have to be otherwise the wife will smash it

All holes drilled successfully even an extra one which I stuffed up the positioning

Now have Full syphon/full syphon drain/Emergency. Also put one in for water changes, just open the valve and the water will drain to the correct level

Will put some pics up tonight. Heading off to Bunnings to get some of the fittings that I am missing.

[Thommo01]

Well all the holes have been drilled and bulkheads fitted. Fingers crossed that they dont leak come d-day.
I used a small bead of silicone between the inside rubber gasket and the glass. Also screwed all relevant fittings to the bulkheads to avoid disturbing seals once the silicone is dry.
Also painted to back again as it was getting a bit tatty and I had to clear areas for the bulkheads to seal.
I was supprised how easy it was to drill the holes to. Just slowy slowy and let the drill do all the work. On average each hole took about 10 minutes. Even the one that I shouldnt have drilled

I used a piece of wood as a guide for the first hole as it was originally a 20mm bulkhead and changed it to 25mm. As a guide it worked a treat. I used bluetack to seal between the wood and glass and made a good reservior for the water. The wood swelled a bit which made an even better guided fit. The other holes I just drilled on an angle until enough of a groove was created to hold the bit steady.

In my excitment I drilled the next hole and then ............. realised that, THAT is where the light upright goes. Doh. And the wife let me know how stupid I was as well so lay off LOL

I then made a make shift spray booth and painted to the back. No matter what you do there is always overspray Discovered this when my 3 year old had pitch black feet

I also remembered to take a pic of the live rock ... exciting and also of the top-up hidey hole.

Pictures say a thousand words so blah,blah,blah below.




The wood guide I used for enlarging the whole


Chubby himself taken drilling the hole I shouldnt have drilled by my 3 year old daughter(photographer in the making )


My makeshift spraybooth prior to painting


Top-up hidey hole which lives below the bar sink. This also is the area where I will have the doser and relevant reserviors of chems to dose.


The solenoid which I will have running on a timer to fill up the reservior for extended periods of time, It is run of a switch in the reservior that when it is full wont turn on the solenoid


Finally the live rock


Playdoh animal made with daughter after stuffing up the hole and needing to relax

[S1L3NT]

Hahaha love that alligator, absolutely gold :P Howd she react after you messed the hole up and then came to her to play? :P

Soon she may learn ur using her for relaxing purposes mate :P

PS - Hope your hand heals up quick smart! :D

[dorz]

just one thought, when the solenoid turns on, and it turns on the RODI, the water coming through from the RO membrane initially has quite a high TDS, until it cleans itself out. this could shorten the life of the DI resin or something... when i bought mine, pete said for me to run the water to waste for the first couple of minutes, and not to use the DI until the tds is down low.

[Thommo01]

Hahaha love that alligator, absolutely gold :P Howd she react after you messed the hole up and then came to her to play? :P

Soon she may learn ur using her for relaxing purposes mate :P

PS - Hope your hand heals up quick smart! :D

Who said it was an aligator. Crocs are much better

Not very often it is said that when playing with your children would be classed as relaxing!!!!!!!!!!

Cuts are healing well thanks. Just some nasty scabs now.

By the way I have started the plumbing mock up now. Both the main returns have been cut and sitting in place. Just need to do all the 25mm stuff.

I bought a PVC pipe deburing tool the other day............ GOD send.

Thanks for that Dorz. I did consider that but in the end ease wins over longevity. I work away and would much rather have a near automated top-up system and pay for replacment filter media and resin than having to manually bypass. I actually ordered spare filters and DI resin in prep for this reason
That is also one of the reasons that I will have this on a timer to ensure that large volumes are filtered at a time instead of small dribbles to avoid excess TDS exposure due to running multiple times and shorter periods.

[Thommo01]

It's Wet

Yesterday and a bit of today saw a lot of pipe cutting and glueing and house stinking out going on.

I have now finished all parts required and have leak tested the tank for a least 4 hours now, that it stays leak free.

Have set the full syphon up, a bit fiddly with a ball valve (i knew it would be) but finally got it set and is dead silent as far as the water is concerned. My only issue now is the humm of the pumps and skimmer. Only early days and have no doors on there at the moment so hopefully should be reasonably quiet.

I have tested all of the drains i.e. if main blocked, if seconday blocked. Works a treat!! The whole flow can be handled by the emergency which is noisy as hell so at least I will know that somehting is wrong.

Have not done a power off as yet as I still need to install the wier which I will have done in a couple of weeks. Over all I am happy.

Things still to do:
Modify one of the stands for the light hood to accomodate my drilling stuff up Install hood again
Move tank back to wall.
Make and install wier
Manufacture covers for the sides to hide the plumbing
Install live rock
Start scaping and get a couple of fish
Pics below
Picture of all the plumbing at the back

Sump and plumbing underneath

Filling it up with everything crossed

Its full and no leaks, ye HA

[Gwithian]

Thanks for all the photos, Looking really nice, is the PVC pipe going into the back of the kitchen cupboards for waterchanges? or is it for RO/DI top up?