In wall 6x2x2 - Info & Pics

[Adjool]

Hi everyone, after many months of waiting and planning my new reef is starting to take shape. It all began back in September last year when my better half wanted to do some reno's on our 2yo home! Anyway after some negotiations I managed to convince her that a reef tank would be a good addition , so it began.
The tank will be a 6' x 2' x 2' SPS reef with the addition of some LPS and softies to give that "complete reef" look. Fish list is still undecided so I'll get to that at a later date. Equipment list is as follows:
Return Pump - Laguna 7000 fed back through a manifold
Closed Loop - Laguna 7000 feeding two SCWDs
Skimmer - Aquatica Australia BS-1200 with a Laguna 5000
Heating - 2 x 300w
Calcium Reactor - Korallin C3001
Sump - 36" x 14" x 18"
Refugium - 36" x 14" x 18"
Main Lighting - 1 x 250w 20K radium and 2 x 250w 10K Radiums
Refugium Lighting - 130w 6400k PC

Here are some pics on the progress so far. Please excuse the poor quality on some as our Digital camera is OS with my fiance and I've been forced to use the Digital Video for snap shots.

The construction begins




The base takes shape


Ready for the tank


The tank arrives


The toys start to arrive



The sump and fuge


The manifold


The plumbing begins



Thanks to all the MASOV members for their help so far and also a big thanks to Reefonline for their great service

I'll keep you all posted.

Cheers
Adam

[Trademarknick®]

Very nice setup you have there!
Looks like this will be a great thread.

Does that float vavle just attach to the top edge of the glass?


Brad

[Adjool]

Very nice setup you have there!
Looks like this will be a great thread.

Does that float vavle just attach to the top edge of the glass?


Brad

Thanks Brad, I hope it all works out as planned. And the float valve is actually drilled through the side of the sump.

Adam

[qualos]

Good work, looks like it is coming along nicely.

Keep the pics coming.

[djgjp]

looks excellent!
the sump and fuge look very good! did you DIY anything or everything??? lol
have you got a plumbing diagram? it looks very interesting!
keep up the good work!

[Adjool]

looks excellent!
the sump and fuge look very good! did you DIY anything or everything??? lol

So far it's all been DIY, except for the main tank which I had built by a LFS (but that's another story ). The sump and fuge were just standard 3' tanks that I bought off RTAW and modified to suit. I must be honest and say that all of the ideas have either come from other people on this forum or RC, so I'm certainly not innovative, just decipher everything I hear and read and make my decisions from that. This forum is the No.1 place for hints & tips

Sorry but I don't actually have a diagram that I can post ( not really sure how to go about it) but basically the weir has 2 x 40mm tank fittings in it ( with durso standpipes), one which supplies the sump and one which goes to a 40mm spray bar in the fuge. The fuge then has 2 x 32mm tank fittings to return to the sump (one is the standard drain and the 2nd is at a higher level in case of an "oh [censored]". The return pump is then fed from the sump and supplies the manifold over the top of the tank (via 32mm Flexible PVC), which has 8 outlet nozzles all plumbed in 20mm rigid with 20mm clear extensions out of each of the 8 outlets. The closed loop draws water from the 2 x 40mm tank fittings in the opposite corner to the weir (these will be covered with a black/tinted acrylic slotted cover) and tees off to feed 2 SCWDs. The 2 SCWD will then return to the main tank via 2 x 25mm tank fittings. Each of the 25mm tank fittings will then split up in black flexible poly tube and run to various locations in the rock work or under the sand.
There you go...clear as mud!

Adam

[djgjp]

Sounds excellent!
I just love plumbing :D....maybe i should be a plumber lol

your flow is going to be exceptional! with closed loops using SCWD's!
That is a great idea to run the output to "various locations in the rock work or under the sand" Sounds a bit like Steave Weasts tank off RC (my idol).

Good thing you did your homework, you are one of the luckey ones that have their dream tanks come true :D

keep us posted on any new developments, yours will be a spectacular tank!!!

[Adjool]

That is a great idea to run the output to "various locations in the rock work or und the sand" Sounds a bit like Steave Weasts tank off RC (my idol).

Not sure about Steve Weasts tank...but it's certainly a good idea I got off a fellow reefer. Thanks Graeme

[ch0p]

very very cool!!

[fishobob]

Looking very good so far Adam

So far it's all been DIY, except for the main tank which I had built by a LFS (but that's another story ).

Yes that was quite a story wasnt it...
Looks like you will have to give me some tips on how you put that manifold together as I am not sure how I am going to put myn together. Have you just got it sitting on the bracing and are the outlets beneath the surface of the water?

(these will be covered with a black/tinted acrylic slotted cover)

Is this just like a DIY strainer or does it serve some other purpose?
Oh how did u go with the flexible PVC? I'm still not sure what is happening with my tank and I am also unsure what I am doing with the plumbing...
Anyway all the best with it mate and keep us updated

[Bandit]

Adam,

Looking fantastic.

Maybe if you stopped playing games and got some work done (2nd pic) it woud have happened quicker

[Comrade]

Looking really good

Keep us posted, everyone loves these progress threads

[Adjool]

Looks like you will have to give me some tips on how you put that manifold together as I am not sure how I am going to put myn together. Have you just got it sitting on the bracing and are the outlets beneath the surface of the water?

Yes Robert it's just sitting on the bracings, however I'm going to put a couple of PVC saddles on it to hold it in position and possibly to stop any vibration/noise if there's any. I plan on using clear rigid extensions on the outlets to get them below water level, but depending on what it looks like and what sort of siphon effect it has I might do away with the extensions...still not sure.

Is this just like a DIY strainer or does it serve some other purpose?

Yep exactly...just a strainer.

Oh how did u go with the flexible PVC?

Still no good so far, I'm waiting to hear back from Dallas to see if he can pull some strings. I rang all the PPS stores, all the Plumbing supplies places and every Spa/Pool place in Melbourne and they had either never heard of it or the ones that had would only sell it in 15m rolls.

I'm still not sure what is happening with my tank and I am also unsure what I am doing with the plumbing...
Anyway all the best with it mate and keep us updated

Thanks mate and let me know how yours goes.


Adam

[Adjool]

Adam,

Looking fantastic.

Maybe if you stopped playing games and got some work done (2nd pic) it woud have happened quicker

Thanks Jamie....and that was actually the TV in the background. It was Bathurst weekend last year, my other passion...Go the BLUE OVAL

Adam

[Jim_D]

What a great thread and great pictures

[qualos]

Still no good so far, I'm waiting to hear back from Dallas to see if he can pull some strings. I rang all the PPS stores, all the Plumbing supplies places and every Spa/Pool place in Melbourne and they had either never heard of it or the ones that had would only sell it in 15m rolls.

Adam I think you will find that it is only available in 15m rolls. I could only purchase 15m rolls when I searched about 12 or so months back. I have been using 25mm and 40mm, great stuff. You would be suprised how far only 15m goes and it is great to have spare if needed.

[Dr DBW]

Will be down there to get some supplies this week now, so will let you know Adam.

[lionfishkev]

Hi

3 things,

1. Your setup is looking great - pays to plan!
2. I believe Bunnings Warehouse has the white flexible PVC the guys in the U.S. are using by the metre.
3. Did you drill the tank(s) yourself, and if so can you give some idea on how best to go about it?

Cheers and good work,
Kev.

[damienbuckley]

Sorry for the basic questions but I've never used an undertank sump/plumbing like that;

1) Is that a standard float valve - toilet fitting? and does it just work from a gravity fed top-up tank?
2) What's a 'Durso' standpipe.

Excellent in-wall job btw. Looks great, can't wait to see it set up.

[matireland]

is the clear rigid tube you using on the manifold just going to be acrylic or something different?

thanks
Matt

[Adjool]

Hi

3 things,

1. Your setup is looking great - pays to plan!

Cheers

2. I believe Bunnings Warehouse has the white flexible PVC the guys in the U.S. are using by the metre.

I must admit, I never thought Bunning's would stock it so I never looked. Will check it out tonight.

3. Did you drill the tank(s) yourself, and if so can you give some idea on how best to go about it?

No, I left the drilling to the experts. The main tank was drilled by the bulider and the sump and fuge I had done by my LFS. Although I noticed that Jim_D had some success drilling a hole over the weekend with a dremel. here

Adam

[Adjool]

Sorry for the basic questions but I've never used an undertank sump/plumbing like that;

1) Is that a standard float valve - toilet fitting? and does it just work from a gravity fed top-up tank?
2) What's a 'Durso' standpipe.

Excellent in-wall job btw. Looks great, can't wait to see it set up.

The float valve is an agricultural float valve designed for animal drinking troughs, but I imagine it is similar to the toilet cistern ones, just as long as it is entirely plastic with no metallic parts.

The standpipe I'm using is actually a Stockman Standpipe and not a Durso as I first mentioned. I keep getting confused between the two . Any way here's the link to his page. here

Adam

[Adjool]

is the clear rigid tube you using on the manifold just going to be acrylic or something different?

thanks
Matt

No it's not acrylic. It's a clear PVC pressure pipe that's generally used in the food industry for plumbing. Comes in standard PVC sizes.

Adam

[qualos]

Adam this stuff I have is not clear, but more of a creame colour. I would interested to hear about the clear stuff if you find any.

[Adjool]

Adam this stuff I have is not clear, but more of a creame colour. I would interested to hear about the clear stuff if you find any.

Craig, the clear stuff I was referring to was clear rigid pipe for the extension tubes on the manifold around the top of the tank. The Flexible PVC that I'm chasing is the same as what you've got and cream in color.

Cheers
Adam

[lionfishkev]

Thanks for that info, I have just followed the links on the dremel stuff and am motivated to drill the holes I want myself. As I am moving soon I will wait and do it with the tank empty though....

Someone asked about toilet / cistern floats- You can use them, but make sure you get one that is made for low pressure use, as many require mains pressure to operate correctly.

The tube stuff at Bunnings looks like the stuff in that picture as best as I can tell.

Cheers,
Kev.

[qualos]

Craig, the clear stuff I was referring to was clear rigid pipe for the extension tubes on the manifold around the top of the tank. The Flexible PVC that I'm chasing is the same as what you've got and cream in color

Sorry I understand now, it is going to be a long day today.

[Joculator]

Quite a nice setup so far Adam.
One thing I noticed is that your float valve sits up very high on your sump, therefore running it very full, I hope there's enough room for overflow on power outages.

Craig,
Clear flex PVC is avail, but is very hexy and is in very few sizes. I have used it in the past (20mm), however, I found that where it was used in bright areas, a lot of algae built up in it over time reducing volume. Opaque is much better imo.

[Joculator]

Adam,
You will probably need to extend the manifold outlets into the tank further unless you don't mind bubbles in the tank.
Bear in mind that if you do go for clear PVC it wont stay clear for very long.

[Adjool]

Adam,
You will probably need to extend the manifold outlets into the tank further unless you don't mind bubbles in the tank.
Bear in mind that if you do go for clear PVC it wont stay clear for very long.

Yeah I plan on extending the outlets, but will wait for the water level test before I do.

One thing I noticed is that your float valve sits up very high on your sump, therefore running it very full, I hope there's enough room for overflow on power outages.

I hope so too , but I'm pretty certain that it will be ok. Again I'll check all that out when I freshwater test it, but thanks for the heads up!


Adam