Fin's Reef Savvy 125

[choss]

Fin - wow - you have been really patient on this build. I just finally got my reef savvy wet and still taking it slow. Good to see this build coming along.

 

[Fin]

Fin - wow - you have been really patient on this build. I just finally got my reef savvy wet and still taking it slow. Good to see this build coming along.

Thanks - me too! I need to check in on yours also. Needless to say, I will taking mine slow as well.

 

[Fin]

Well, I took an extra day off today and did get to work a little on my project. I have been trying to figure out how to mount my Turbo Algae Turf Scrubber on my sump. I wasn't liking what I was coming up with, so I bought some PVC board and built a little tray for the ATS to sit in. Not perfect , since I had never worked with this before, but came out ok. Drilled some large holes in in for the drains and put some rubber feet underneath it. It sits rather steadily across the return section opening now. And of course, it is color coordinated. I am happy with it. Not much progress, but some progress. Some pics...

 

[Flippers4pups]

Well, I took an extra day off today and did get to work a little on my project. I have been trying to figure out how to mount my Turbo Algae Turf Scrubber on my sump. I wasn't liking what I was coming up with, so I bought some PVC board and built a little tray for the ATS to sit in. Not perfect , since I had never worked with this before, but came out ok. Drilled some large holes in in for the drains and put some rubber feet underneath it. It sits rather steadily across the return section opening now. And of course, it is color coordinated. I am happy with it. Not much progress, but some progress. Some pics...

Excellent work!

 

[tsav87]

Gary, The acrylic is gonna dry rot if you don't put water in it.

Looking good Sir.

Our house renovation is still in progress. We start cabinets tomorrow and I am having my cabinet builder build a new stand for my tank to match.

 

[Fin]

Excellent work!

Thanks, Don. Kinda neat material. You can cut it with a utility knife, sorta like plastic cardboard, but sturdier. . Glued it together with PVC cenent.

Gary, The acrylic is gonna dry rot if you don't put water in it.

Looking good Sir.

Our house renovation is still in progress. We start cabinets tomorrow and I am having my cabinet builder build a new stand for my tank to match.

Thanks, Travis. I know, the longest build thread ever.

Good to hear that your remodel is going well. You with a wood stand? What's the world coming to? HA!

 

[tsav87]

I know, I know, but with all the stained cabinets it would look funky to do a metal stand. The tank will be in the living room, but there is no longer a wall dividing the living room and kitchen, we installed a beam, so it will flow better if the stand matches the cabinets

 

[choss]

That tray turned out great. Love the color coordination.

 

[Fin]

That tray turned out great. Love the color coordination.

Thanks. I was actually going to build something like it out of glass. This was quite a bit easier.

 

[larryl]

Coming along nicely.

 

[Fin]

Coming along nicely.

Thank you, but extremely slowly.

 

[Fin]

A “little” more progress. Finished cementing the final (hopefully) version of my manifold. I have posted pics of it dry fitted, but now it is all glued together and installed. This was sort of a PITA, but it is done. Hope it works and doesn’t leak.

It will be fed by a separate pump, a Current e-Flow DC pump.

 

[Fin]

OK, sharing nitwit mistakes along with the good things about this build. After carefully measuring the place where my drains would go through the back wall of my stand - and remeasuring several times - it became evident when I tried to actually hard plumb the sump drains that I goofed. So, my straight sections of pipe that I had already cut would not fit the last two bulkhead locations. Did not line up properly. The first one on the left was fine, but I had to come up with what to do to correct this and have it still look nice. 1" SpaFlex hose, sprayed with Krylon Fusion - which is remarkably the exact same color as the blue plumbing I have. So, disaster averted and doesn't look too bad. So now the sump is connected to the bulkheads. This took me most of the day - in between a nap and fixing a couple of meals.

 

[tsav87]

Yeh I would have freaked out and not thought of using spa tubing.

Gary, aka Reefing Yoda.

 

[reefwiser]

It’s always the little things.

 

[Fin]

Yeh I would have freaked out and not thought of using spa tubing.

Gary, aka Reefing Yoda.

Ha, Yeah, I am almost as old as Yoda. A few less wrinkles though.

It’s always the little things.

I try to make my plumbing look nice, but it is not my favorite part of reefing - especially in cramped quarters. Probably why this part of the build isn't 14 pages ago.

 

[drtrash]

What are you using for primer? Dont see a mess

 

[Fin]

I am not using primer on this build, but even if I was, you wouldn't see it. I only used clear primer in the past. I haven't used that purple stuff for maybe 25 years. On this build, I am using Oatey Fusion Single Step. It has primer and cement combined in one. So far, it is going well.

 

[Fin]

We have a main drain! All the way from the overflow to the sump. This is a major accomplishment on this build. Ha!

 

[siggy]

I am using Oatey Fusion Single Step

I will defiantly look for this!
I was just browsing and stopped in. I must say Wow...A bench mark build. I know Ill have to catch up but where did you get the color fittings