A New Dawn
- Build Thread
- Thread starter madweazl
- Start date
- Tagged users None
OP
OP
madweazl
2500 Club Member
Was bored this afternoon so I tossed four A360WEs over the 150g and took some measurements with a Seneye. The Kessils are mounted 9" off the water and 12" on center; the tank is a standard 150g measuring 60x24x24. Kessils were set (manually) to 50% color and 100% intensity. The sand is bed sits an average of 18" below the water surface (water level is approximately 2" lower than if it were running normally). I'd expect a 100 PAR increase across the board if the lights were hung 5" off the water. Pumps were turned off while the measurements were being taken. The water was still fairly cloudy (was filled approx 24 hours ago).
OP
OP
madweazl
2500 Club Member
Not a real productive day but I did get some fans installed in the canopy today. They can be powered via USB or a wall-wart and have three speed settings; I'm currently running them on medium speed and they are audible but not annoying in our living room and they're moving quite a bit of air. I'll take some temperature comparisons in the canopy after an hour or two (Kessils are currently at 100% to generate as much heat as possible). Installation was super simple; they come with a template so you just have to lay it out, grab a jib saw, cut the hole, and screw them in (four screws each).
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
OP
OP
madweazl
2500 Club Member
In about 24 hours, I should have a pair of "you build" Avast MR-5 Reactors ready to go. I ditched the black PVC and subbed some red to match the sump (should it ever arrive...).
OP
OP
madweazl
2500 Club Member
Well, Elite Aquatics failed to come through; they'd estimated 4-5 weeks for completion and another week for delivery but after 10 weeks, nothing had happened. Ended up disputing the charge through PayPal and got the refund notice today. A shame that so much time has been wasted but I ordered a Synergy Reef TS-44; here's hoping it arrives soon!
truetricia
Active Member
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2014
- Messages
- 402
- Reaction score
- 426
That is a beautiful sump!!!!!We finally have a sump! Too bad I'm on the other side of the country
OP
OP
madweazl
2500 Club Member
Filled the tank with tap water almost three months ago now and it still hasnt had an "ugly" phase.
I'm hoping to have the sump plumbed in this week so I can fill the tank the rest of the way and get the reactors online to clean up the water and get the phosphates at a level more desirable (over 200ppm at the moment). This rock had the base of two acroporas that I broke off before transferring to the tank. One took a digger within days but the other has started to encrust the original plug. Makes you wonder just how "bad" phosphates really are.
I'm hoping to have the sump plumbed in this week so I can fill the tank the rest of the way and get the reactors online to clean up the water and get the phosphates at a level more desirable (over 200ppm at the moment). This rock had the base of two acroporas that I broke off before transferring to the tank. One took a digger within days but the other has started to encrust the original plug. Makes you wonder just how "bad" phosphates really are.
OP
OP
madweazl
2500 Club Member
Gonna look pretty nice once I hang the peg board and get to finishing up the stand (applying Red Guard, running a small piece of trim around the perimeter so it will hold some water, and then painting the top white). Also need to drill the hole in the table top for the drain and run the plumbing for that. I'll get it done one of these centuries...
truetricia
Active Member
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2014
- Messages
- 402
- Reaction score
- 426
I just finished plumbing my sump too! I'll be filling her up tomorrow! Can't wait to see how yours does once that sleek sump is installed!
OP
OP
madweazl
2500 Club Member
I got a little work done in the fish room. I was hoping to get the trim mounted on the bench but forgot to pick up finishing nails at the hardware store so that will have to wait until tomorrow.
OP
OP
madweazl
2500 Club Member
Got the trim on the bench. After displacement of the sump and mixing station, it will hold about 6.4 gallons of water. I'm hoping to mock up all the plumbing tomorrow including the drain in the top of the bench (2" shower drain). After that, I'll apply the Red Guard and paint it white. If the moons align, I may have it up and running next weekend but I'm also waiting on the PanWorld 100px to arrive for the mixing station.
OP
OP
madweazl
2500 Club Member
Productive day!
First, I drilled the sump and installed the bulkheads (sure hope it holds water, I didn't test it before drilling...).
Once I had that finished, I started working on the plenum that will drain the first three chambers (closest to furthest) along with the main return to the Snapper/Dart hybrid that will pump water up to the display (furthest bulkhead). All the bulkheads are threaded and the plumbing can be completely removed for maintenance without cutting anything.
The valve and union were a little tricky to get lined up nice but I measured twice and cut once (it actually saved my butt twice tonight).
I ran out of red PVC (and energy) so the rest is on hold for a few days until more supplies arrive but this illustrates what I'll be working on next. The mixing station sits to the right of this and everything will share that common drain along with the rest of the plumbing so I can transfer water back to the sump for a water change.
First, I drilled the sump and installed the bulkheads (sure hope it holds water, I didn't test it before drilling...).
Once I had that finished, I started working on the plenum that will drain the first three chambers (closest to furthest) along with the main return to the Snapper/Dart hybrid that will pump water up to the display (furthest bulkhead). All the bulkheads are threaded and the plumbing can be completely removed for maintenance without cutting anything.
The valve and union were a little tricky to get lined up nice but I measured twice and cut once (it actually saved my butt twice tonight).
I ran out of red PVC (and energy) so the rest is on hold for a few days until more supplies arrive but this illustrates what I'll be working on next. The mixing station sits to the right of this and everything will share that common drain along with the rest of the plumbing so I can transfer water back to the sump for a water change.
