Dystinction's Display Frag Tank Build

[o00brandon00o]

@Dystinction Quality work! Did you use SW to plan everything ahead of time or pen & paper?

 

[Dystinction]

Hey, @o00brandon00o thanks for checking in.
Yeah, I'm just an old-school pen and paper kinda guy. Measure everything out, draw it out....take my shoes and socks off so I can add better.....

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

This is banging!

 

[Dystinction]

@revhtree thanks for peekin'.
Appreciate the comment, but we're not there yet....
I still have plenty of time to totally mess this up!

 

[Shabalaba]

Hello friend,

The stand looks killer! Nothing good in this hobby happens fast hahah
I've used liquid rubber before...I try not to use it anymore lol..

With things looking this nice already, I can't wait to see the final product.

 

[Dystinction]

Thanks for checking in, @Shabalaba

Thanks for the compliment. I'm trying to check all the boxes, and so far I am really happy with the outcome.

The liquid rubber was a disaster in this application. Cool stuff, just couldn't get it to turn out how I wanted. However, I got the top re-cut, drilled, and underside painted. I'll stain up the top tomorrow, and be back on track. Still hoping to have it setup and wet this weekend.

As a side note, I chickened-out in using the Marine Pure block for my bio-filtration, sent it back, and got a bunch of the reef saver rubble.

 

[Mebeknob]

Stand looks good. Step up from 2x4s!
Where in Colorado? I’m in Aurora

 

[Dystinction]

Hey @Mebeknob , thanks for stopping by!
I'm down in the springs.
I wanted to maximize inside stand space for equipment and electronics, that's why I opted against using 2X4's. Of course it helped only having a 34 gallon tank up top....

 

[Mebeknob]

Hey @Mebeknob , thanks for stopping by!
I'm down in the springs.
I wanted to maximize inside stand space for equipment and electronics, that's why I opted against using 2X4's. Of course it helped only having a 34 gallon tank up top....

I think most people forget many of the stands from manufacturers are basically mdf sheet! If done right you don’t need a ton of wood to make a strong stand. I think most people just beef it up for a sense of peace of mind I guess.

 

[Dystinction]

Totally agree, and 'over-building' isn't necessarily a bad thing, but many times not a necessary thing.
In the end everyone makes their own call, and for me this worked out perfectly, I'm very happy with the outcome, and I have no concerns regarding its' structural integrity......it just took me 2 months to build....;Blackeye

However, I WILL be finished with this stand/cabinet build this weekend.

I really want to have it plumbed and connected, however, I still need to connect up my RODI unit so my goal of actually getting it wet may slip into next week. But it's coming along.....

I'll post updated pics this weekend as the plumbing and connections come about.

 

[Dystinction]

Well.....I was pretty far away from my idea of getting the system plumbed, and even wet....

Yes, the stinkin' top of the stand/cabinet was the culprit yet again....
After scrapping the previous top, re-cutting a new one, drilling it, sanding it, and whispering sweet-nothings to it, I decided on staining the top vice painting it.
Enter the better-half stating that she had got some black stain, but it did not work out for what she wanted it for.....
Cool!....one less trip to Lowes....
So her stain was not the same as the stain I had previously been using, however, it was stain. More precisely, PolyShades: stain and polyacrylic in-one.
Heck...worth a try...I mean it looks like it's what I'm going for....
Well, the stuff is good. I liked it. To me, it laid down like a stain, then dried up more like a paint. You don't rub it off like a stain, you let it dry out. Listen, I'm tellin' you it looked really nice; even, and smooth....like a waxed up Corvette hood in the sunshine.
Then it dried......
Yeah....not so cool anymore. Brush marks all over the place, and uneven-ness. (SIGH) I just can't win with this top!
I let it sit overnight, but I just wasn't feeling it, and I wasn't sure if a second coat would do the trick.
BRING OUT YE SANDERS...
Worked the top over pretty good with some 180 grit, and ended up with something akin to a 'weathered look'. I then applied (proper) ebony stain and called it good. You can get a little bit of an idea here:

The better-half approves, so I'm just calling it my Bob Ross cabinet top (happy little accident, for those of you who are to young to know who Bob Ross is).
Anyway, the cabinet has been moved to its' home, and NOW I can work on the plumbing and connections

Time to press forward and continue on.....

 

[Shabalaba]

That's a pretty slick looking setup! And it doesn't even have water in it yet hah

For all the trouble that happy little cabinet top gave you I think it came out awesome. I really dig it.

Good job mate, the real fun is close!

 

[Dystinction]

Thanks, @Shabalaba , I appreciate the kind words.

And I agree. While I enjoy building, it's great to have a 'phase' completed and be able to move forward!

I'll have some fresh updates at the end of the weekend.

 

[Dystinction]

Sunday night is update night!

Everything is connected and plumbed, set in its' location and ready for some water.

Yes...the red handle is for the Dark Side, and the green handle is for the Light Side.....however, they may not stay. They look awfully disproportionate in size to the cabinet.

I picked up a pump to use for mixing saltwater, and a heater for future water changes.
My mixin' bucket should be here on Wednesday, then it'll be time to mix up the goods and git 'er wet!

.....AND learn more about this Apex thingy...thanks again @DarthSimon for the assist over the weekend.

 

[Dystinction]

Well, the deed is done and the tank is wet!

I had to go back and re-do a few connections, namely the threaded PVC-to-union junctions. I made a boo-boo and used Teflon tape on the threads, and sure enough....I had a drip leak at one of the threads. Drained the tank down a little, and re-did the 6 threaded junctions, this time using some thread seal.

Got the sump level balanced out, and there's no wet floors on a power loss. However, I still have some tweaking to do with regards to the flow into the overflow box. The sounds is still a little waterfall-esque, and I'm sure it can be quieted down some more.

Just added some Dr Tim's and ammonia to the system, so let the cycle begin.
Maybe I'm an odd bird ;Chicken but I'm looking forward to the cycle time, as I have some acrylic sheet and rod coming in, and I'll need the time to make my frag racks and 'Shroom City (mushroom box).

 

[Dystinction]

Sunday is update night....
Technically on day 8 of the cycle.

I dosed a little more than you're supposed to (Dr Tim's 4 drops per gallon ~2ppm) at the start, however, I don't believe I was over the 'don't go over 5ppm' point. Note to self: just because the tank is 34 gallons, and the sump is 18 gallons, doesn't mean that there is actually 52 gallons of water in the system. ;Blackeye

Nitrites have just started to climb in the past couple of days, and I am registering Nitrates as well. Ammonia is at about 2ppm, maybe a little less, and I think that pretty soon I'll see a larger drop there.

The Ph in the system is staying on the higher-end of the 'acceptable' range (8.3), and is fluctuating very minimally.

Salinity per refractometer is staying very stable, and the Tunze ato seems to be doing its' job nicely.

I have not tested any other parameters, as I'm not concerned with them at this time.

Everything seems to be running nicely. The only piece of equipment left to fire up will be the skimmer when the time is right.
The RFG nozzle from @Vivid Creative Aquatics is putting out a nice, yet turbulent flow. Nothing to 'flow' around in the tank yet, but I'm interested to see the affects with livestock.
The IceCap 1k Gyre is extremely quiet for me. After about a day, it cannot be heard at all. I just have it running a constant flow at this time, but will toy around with some schedules when livestock is present.
I'm excited for the AI Prime integration with Apex, however, they are just decorations during the cycle, and I have not played with them much yet. I did, however, need to add a WiFi extender in the office to get them to make good, consistent connections.

I received my acrylic in the mail yesterday, and look to get the frag racks and 'Shroom City cut up next weekend.

 

[Vivid Creative Aquatics Verified Sponsor]

Sunday is update night....
Technically on day 8 of the cycle.

...The RFG nozzle from @Vivid Creative Aquatics is putting out a nice, yet turbulent flow. Nothing to 'flow' around in the tank yet, but I'm interested to see the affects with livestock...

Your build looks awesome - love the custom stand. Very well done!
Thanks for including the Random Flow Generator Nozzle in your flow solution. What size did you go with: 1/2 or 3/4in? The photo looks like 3/4in in but it 's had to tell. Also, what do you think your estimated GPH is to each nozzle is?

Would love to see a video of this tank once you get it all pulled together, and please be sure to post this tank in our Random Flow Generator Show off thread - link is in our signature below.

 

[Dystinction]

@Vivid Creative Aquatics , thanks for stopping by! (Although, I do realize that I called you over, but it was for good reason).

First of all, thank you for the comments and compliment.

I had been following your product well before I purchased this tank. Being a smaller tank (gallons-wise), however, still encompassing 3ft in length, I was looking for something to maximize, and more efficiently disperse the return flow for the tank.
I only have one return. It is indeed 3/4", powered by a Sicce 3.5 pump. This pump is rated at 660 gph, and I wouldn't be good at guesstimating actual at the tank (maybe 400 ???) About 3 ft between the pump and the tank inlet (height).

Even without any livestock in the tank yet, I can say that I am pretty pleased with the RFG, and I feel confident in saying that it will provide sufficient, randomized flow in my application.
I have my RFG pointed center (front-to-back), and slightly down. I also have an IceCap 1k Gyre on the other end of the tank, set very low in the tank, currently running at 80% constant.
If I turn off the IceCap Gyre, I can see the RFG flow around the tank, shifting, and creating a good amount of surface agitation...even though it's orientated downward.

Again, the 'proof' will be when I have some livestock in the system, and can gauge the impact on them. However, I do not think I will be disappointed!

Thanks for developing a great product, and I'll get some video when I have something to video!

 

[Vivid Creative Aquatics Verified Sponsor]

Sounds like the Nozzle is performing well. We've had a number of users setup similar tanks with a single 3/4in RFG nozzle and have been very please.
It sounds like you already figured out the best position for it too - which is pointed towards the center mass of the tank or area you want to flow. It should interact with the Gyre and add that extra dimension to the flow that a single Gyre by itself just can't create.

Can't wait to see the video - following along

 

[Dystinction]

Sunday update night.....
Officially day 15 of the cycle.

Ammonia finally broke below 2 this week, and as of tonight was sitting at 0.2.
Nitrites are still high....actually higher than my Red Sea kit reads (over 1).
Nitrates have been climbing steadily and sit at around 40.

This is still my first round of Ammonium Chloride dosing. I may do a small water change to get the Nitrites down some, as I do not want to add any more Ammonium Chloride with them being still high.......or I may sit it out some more, there's definitely something going on in there!

I did not cut my acrylic frag racks yet, but I did get around to creating the 'Playground'. The idea here was to provide a little something more for the future fish inhabitants, and well, it is a Display Frag Tank after all.

The back-most structure looks like an angry duck monster, or something.;Wideyed

I placed all the rock on a thin piece of black acrylic, mostly because of someone's ingenious idea at Deep Blue to put serial number stickers inside the bottom center brace....I guess it's not an eye-sore if you're running sand....
If anyone has any other ideas on how to 'hide' the stickers, let me know......I'm not sure if I'm sold on the black acrylic.