Fin's Reef Savvy 125

[Fin]

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

Thank you. Just an old guy building another tank. You can look for the fittings on HomeDepot.com. Look for furniture grade PVC pipe & fittings. I have never seen the colored stuff in the store, but it is readily available online.

 

[Fin]

Back up drain finished. Actually making progress for once.

Plumbing tip: I tape and number all of my glue joints after dry fitting. Then I can remove the whole assembly and glue it up outside to cut down a little on the fumes. Just put the ends of the tape together when cementing and they will come out perfectly and fit when you mount the assembly.

Second drain assembly installed. Quitting for the day. Taking the wife out for some Mexican food and a big cold margarita for me.

 

[tsav87]

Oh snap, it’s almost water time! Looking like a pro, Gary.

 

[Fin]

Oh snap, it’s almost water time! Looking like a pro, Gary.

It is definitely getting closer. I would like to get water in it soon and let it start cycling. I have some time off coming up next month and if possible, I would like to get water in it then. Fingers crossed. I have been sidetracked lots of times on this build. I know people are tired of the 17 page build and no water, but judging from my past tanks, that seems to be the way I roll. Getting older only slows down the process even more.

 

[Flippers4pups]

It took me a year to build my current system before it got wet.

 

[Fin]

It took me a year to build my current system before it got wet.

It took longer than that to just get my tank built. Some of the equipment is already starting to get obsolete. For instance, had I waited, I could have gotten the WiFi Powermodule.

 

[Janci]

It took longer than that to just get my tank built. Some of the equipment is already starting to get obsolete. For instance, had I waited, I could have gotten the WiFi Powermodule.

It is amazing how fast the hobby is evolving nowadays.
Still, a lot of equipment serves for years to come.

 

[Fin]

It is amazing how fast the hobby is evolving nowadays.
Still, a lot of equipment serves for years to come.

Yeah, I am not worried about the ATI. T5 bulbs a proven light source, with the addition of LED. If I don't have success, it won't be because of the light fixture.

 

[Fin]

And we finally have a matched set of drains - finally...

 

[samnaz]

Wow! Looks great. Worth the wait I’d say. Although, I only started following and reading through this build early this morning. Now I’m hungry for more! I’m loving this build, seeing the set up progress, all the well thought out customizations and your attention to detail. It’s inspired me and given me great ideas that if I can pull off, you’ll get the cred. My current build has been in the works for 1.5 years so I can relate. Can’t imagine how great it must be to have all the plumbing glued up successfully. Finally! It’s worth the wait

 

[Fin]

Wow! Looks great. Worth the wait I’d say. Although, I only started following and reading through this build early this morning. Now I’m hungry for more! I’m loving this build, seeing the set up progress, all the well thought out customizations and your attention to detail. It’s inspired me and given me great ideas that if I can pull off, you’ll get the cred. My current build has been in the works for 1.5 years so I can relate. Can’t imagine how great it must be to have all the plumbing glued up successfully. Finally! It’s worth the wait

Thanks! Looks like you spent a while here this morning. I appreciate the comments and glad to have you following along.

 

[Mark Gray]

Looks good Following along, mine is in the cycle process

 

[Fin]

Looks good Following along, mine is in the cycle process

Thanks - and so is yours! Got caught up on your build today. Looking awesome!

We have a double pumper! Now I just have to figure out how to get the plumbing up to the Sea Swirls. That's going to be a trick.

 

[Mark Gray]

Thanks - and so is yours! Got caught up on your build today. Looking awesome!

We have a double pumper! Now I just have to figure out how to get the plumbing up to the Sea Swirls. That's going to be a trick.

Looks good I had the same trouble trying to run the 2 pumps up lol, but I think I am glad I did I leave my tank from time to time, and I don't have anyone I would trust on a pump replacement, I am sure yours will run with just one pump also

 

[tsav87]

Plumb that return, add water.

 

[Mark Gray]

Well any water yet?

 

[Fin]

Well any water yet?

Technically, I did spill some water in it yesterday.

 

[Mark Gray]

Technically, I did spill some water in it yesterday.

LOL I do that everyday and the older I get the harder it is to clean up

 

[Fin]

I did spend some time yesterday trying to figure out how I would accessorize the Sea Swirls. I will have a flow meter, gate valve and reverse check valve on each one. I think I have settled on this. All dry fitted at the moment. And yes, I know it is gathering a little dust!

 

[Fin]

Well, I was scrolling through Facebook today and saw a picture of my sump on the R2R page. It linked back to a thread entitled - Fix My Return Pump Problem. Not really sure why they used my sump as an example, except that there are two Vectra M-1s visible in the picture. Anyway, glad they did, because it saved me from redoing some plumbing. (See my last post above).

So anyway, I went to the thread and it involved a problem with an Vectra return pump, or plumbing. During the conversation it was noted that you shouldn't use a valve on the return line with the Vectra, use the controller to adjust the speed of the pump. This is something that I know, but because this build is taking so long, I totally didn't think about that while I was trying to plumb the return into the SeaSwirls to include a gate valve. So, back to the drawing board there. Glad I didn't permanently glue it up. Almost another mistake. ;Wideyed