65 gal irregular octagon build

Nobody077 · Dec 12, 2019

So finally getting moving on my first salt build. I had a major setback with my original tank, during setup and plumbing check the tank started leaking from the bottom seam. This is after drilling the tank, making custom overflow and leak testing outside without finding the leak. So i set that tank aside and got a acrylic 65 gallon octagon for cheap, it had some drilled holes that i needed to patch but i only payed $40 so no issue.

Nobody077 · Dec 12, 2019

I covered the holes with acrylic and bonded with weldon 16, after it cured I back filled the holes with epoxy. I then drilled for my drain lines and return, and built a overflow. Im limited to told at my house so I did the return teeth with a skill saw. I clamp the acrylic between wood so i don't cause chips or broken teeth when cutting. I decided to hear and bend the shape so i didn't need to make extra cost and glue.

Nobody077 · Dec 12, 2019

Had to enlarge the hole on top for access to overflow, again used the skill saw. I drilled the ends of the cuts first to give a rounded finish point and to insure the acrylic wouldn't chip or break at the end. Didn't get a pic but I did smooth all corners and edges. Installed bulkheads before I glued in the overflow just to make it easier, then centered the overflow and Weldon 16 into place

Nobody077 · Dec 12, 2019

After a week of letting everything cure I modified my stand for the new tank, old tank had a 30*18 footprint but I made the stand 38*24 so had to change the top to 48*24. I used double 3/4 sheet plywood for new top so the 5 in per side overhang won't be a issue, then had to redo the plumbing i did on old tank, sucks that it was mostly glued hard pipe but was able to reuse most unions and valves.

Nobody077 · Dec 12, 2019

Currently running system on tap water, leak tested went good, power outage test went good. I'm running multiple returns to tank, a 1/2 line up the center in the overflow between my Herbie lines split into 2 short loc-line duckbills, my other return is 3/4 into a 3IQ SCWD feeding loc-line on either end of the tank causing a nice side to side flow.

Nobody077 · Dec 12, 2019

Now I'm working on making everything quiet..... i can adjust the drain flow to make the overflow very quiet but I think it may be a losing battle with my current return pump. I'm running a Jebao Wp-3500 it was cheap and I'm on a budget but I'm getting a hum that i can't get rid of. I placed the sump on a yoga mat, that helped a little, replaced the vinal house from pump to return manifold with silicon and that helped some. Placed the pump direct on foam pad, little better, suction cup feet then foam pad, little better but still the hum noise is to much for living room. So need suggestions for a return pump in the 800-1000 gph at 6ft head range that won't break the bank but is quiet.

Nobody077 · Dec 12, 2019

Tank will be FOWLR for now until I can afford good lighting, next week a will drain start adding rock and sand. I have about 80lbs of used rock that I bleached for few days, acid bathed and bleached again. Drained and have soaking in RODI and half bottle of dechlor. I got the rock second hand with no knowledge of it's past life so i wanted to acid bath to strip outer layer incase copper meds had been used in past

Nobody077 · Dec 12, 2019

Just got my heaters and some Matrix for the sump. Im going to run 2 150w Titanium heaters on a DIY MH1210 temp control. I tested the MH1210 with a old 300w heater that had a bad thermostat that was stuck on all the time in my sons tank as we waited for a replacement for a failed heater for his 10 gal. Yes 300w in a 10 gal but thats what i had lol it work great on the controller. Thinking matrix and any rock rubble will go in fuge section of sump, heaters in skimmer section along with a xport brick or marinepure block and the temp sensor for heater in return chamber...

Nobody077 · Feb 11, 2020

Just a update, heater controller is setup and working. Found out matrix floats, sucked chunk into return pump and destroyed impeller so replaced return pump with a Jebao DCP-10000 currently running around 50%. Have led grow light setup for when I add chaeto, black out lid on rest of sump to limit grow light to fuge. Got around 60lbs of my bleached and acid washed rock in tank and 40lbs of Hawaiian black live sand, few more small rocks in sump fuge area. I started a fishless cycle with a bottle of Bio-Spira and some frozen shrimp,gave it 2 weeks till I noticed nitrite and nitrate with near 0 ammonia. Last week I added a clown , 2 blue green chromis and about 10 hermit crabs. Currently dosing MicroBacter 7 at new tank dosing levels. Next is to build a hood and work out some better lighting so I can add some coral.