Gilroy 425g Build Thread (All Apex, all the time)

[Terence]

Here is a not-so-great FTS and a couple of other angles now with 95% of the rock work complete. It is finally feeling like it is coming together.

 

[BigDaddyD]

Rock work is awesome!

 

[mrbee2828]

Everything is looking awesome. I love the rock work. I tried to get through all the previous pages but I was wondering about the steel. I guess there weren't too many concerns with shearing support etc? I don't see any angles on the stand at all. Just curious. Looking good!

 

[Terence]

The tank is bolted to the wall now. I have three more supports going in today just for added load carrying. Everything was assured to me by Randy at Oceans Edge (who had the stand built for me - and he has done hundreds of these for 20 years) that it was more than strong enough. Even so, I wanted to add three more supports (1.5"x2.5" retangular tube in .188" thick steel) - two in the back and one in the front right (the front left I want open for aesthetics). For some extra shear support I can put in some corner crosses up top and bottom, but I don't believe it needs it. We will see - it comes down more to me and how I feel more than what it necessarily needs. I also will not have any water underneath like a sump, so weakening from corrosion will be almost non existent.

 

[Terence]

Rock work is awesome!

Thanks! I spent a lot of time trying to get it just right. For it to feel as natural as possible, give tons of swimming room, room for corals to grow, and interesting views from all sides. I also decided to do the shelf type rock on the right bommie with no branch, and the opposite on the left side. I tried to use rule of thirds to get the feel right as well.

 

[mrbee2828]

Hey, you knew and discussed it and have a plan so I'm good with that!

 

[FireEMT]

Hey Terence, since your the Neptune guy and will be running the WAV's do you have an idea of the UPS for power outages you will be running? Do you know how many watts two WAV's will draw at low output. I've been looking online for the answer but haven't found a consistent source so I figured I would go straight to you. I'm personally looking at a 900W smart UPS. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[Terence]

To relate it to this build, I will likely be running four WAV on two 1LINK. At this point I will simply put a large UPS of some sort on the 1LINK power supplies. I will be experimenting with some things on this tank and who knows what may make it into the office and into the R&D pipeline

As far as power consumption, If I remember correctly I think at their lowest settings the WAV use about 12W each.

 

[jl283467]

We need a dedicated Neptune power backup [emoji1] especially with the cor coming next year.... Just saying lol and I love the rock work. Do you have to worry about earth quakes is that way your bolting to the wall??

 

[skydancer]

Congrats Terence. Great job on this build. I'm looking forward to all the Apex gadget updates. Are you installing the flow meters on the return pump to measure actual water movement?

 

[Terence]

We need a dedicated Neptune power backup [emoji1] especially with the cor coming next year.... Just saying lol and I love the rock work. Do you have to worry about earth quakes is that way your bolting to the wall??

Yes, a power backup option for 1LINK would certainly be nice.

We have earthquakes here. Big ones. I think the tank will be fine for anything up to about a 5.5 - although it might have to be taken down after such an event due to movement on the stand, stand deformation, etc. I lived one mile from the Northridge quake in 1994. First hand experience in your own home and witnessing that of others tells me with anything over 6.0 all bets are off - and likely so will the tank be. Just the way it is. 5000 fluid pounds suspended 42-74" off the ground just is what it is.

Congrats Terence. Great job on this build. I'm looking forward to all the Apex gadget updates. Are you installing the flow meters on the return pump to measure actual water movement?

It is almost time for the first wave of Apex gear to start going on the build. I just need to get saltwater flowing first and all the major pieces fitting together and working. I will likely outfit a beta version of our upcoming FMM with a 2" flow sensor on it - on the drain side. I will probably mount it in a horizontal section of pipe with a bypass of sorts teed on the top of the pipe. This way, if there are ever any blockages, the water will still bypass out. I also have an emergency overflow line coming from the external overflows as well.

 

[FireEMT]

To relate it to this build, I will likely be running four WAV on two 1LINK. At this point I will simply put a large UPS of some sort on the 1LINK power supplies. I will be experimenting with some things on this tank and who knows what may make it into the office and into the R&D pipeline

As far as power consumption, If I remember correctly I think at their lowest settings the WAV use about 12W each.

Thanks for the info, love watching the progression of your tank and can't wait to see all the secret stuff you might be using. I will probably ask on here if anyone has any experience with run time with UPS for the WAV's.

 

[skydancer]

It is almost time for the first wave of Apex gear to start going on the build. I just need to get saltwater flowing first and all the major pieces fitting together and working. I will likely outfit a beta version of our upcoming FMM with a 2" flow sensor on it - on the drain side. I will probably mount it in a horizontal section of pipe with a bypass of sorts teed on the top of the pipe. This way, if there are ever any blockages, the water will still bypass out. I also have an emergency overflow line coming from the external overflows as well.

I really like the bypass idea. Thanks!!!
I have a 3ft stand pipe drain in my overflow. I'd install my 1.5inch flow sensor there with a bypass and another 1inch flow sensor on the return side. If the flow decreases on the drain side, I'll have the apex turn the dart off.
Question: can the flow sensor wiring be submerged in saltwater? Since it will be installed inside the overflow box?

 

[jl283467]

Yes, a power backup option for 1LINK would certainly be nice.

We have earthquakes here. Big ones. I think the tank will be fine for anything up to about a 5.5 - although it might have to be taken down after such an event due to movement on the stand, stand deformation, etc. I lived one mile from the Northridge quake in 1994. First hand experience in your own home and witnessing that of others tells me with anything over 6.0 all bets are off - and likely so will the tank be. Just the way it is. 5000 fluid pounds suspended 42-74" off the ground just is what it

That would suck. I live in New Hampshire so I deal with snow and power outages. I would hate to have all the time and effort and not to mention money in a tank to have it fall apart in a quake

 

[SchnitzelReef]

This is an awesome build. I love the fish room setup. I live in Southern California, and I would kill to have a basement or a room to hide all of my equipment. I'm stuck with a sump beneath my tank and a shed filled with my water change setup.

Glad I read through the whole thread. Somehow I missed the new water movement module coming from Neptune. I have been battling with ATO setups on my current 250g tank for some time. I currently have the Tunze setup, but I hate how it has its own controller. I would love to add an ATO controlled through my apex. (I know it can be done with float switches, but I just don't trust them)

Excited to see this thing finished!!

 

[Turbonut]

Yes, a power backup option for 1LINK would certainly be nice.

We have earthquakes here. Big ones. I think the tank will be fine for anything up to about a 5.5 - although it might have to be taken down after such an event due to movement on the stand, stand deformation, etc. I lived one mile from the Northridge quake in 1994. First hand experience in your own home and witnessing that of others tells me with anything over 6.0 all bets are off - and likely so will the tank be. Just the way it is. 5000 fluid pounds suspended 42-74" off the ground just is what it is.



It is almost time for the first wave of Apex gear to start going on the build. I just need to get saltwater flowing first and all the major pieces fitting together and working. I will likely outfit a beta version of our upcoming FMM with a 2" flow sensor on it - on the drain side. I will probably mount it in a horizontal section of pipe with a bypass of sorts teed on the top of the pipe. This way, if there are ever any blockages, the water will still bypass out. I also have an emergency overflow line coming from the external overflows as well.

Fmm?

 

[Terence]

Yes, the FMM is the Fluid Monitoring Module announced at MACNA as a product we are on the verge of releasing. You can find out more about it on this video:

 

[Terence]

So, rock work is done.

I just finished cleaning 350 pounds of sand. That was a chore. I think I showed the sand in an earlier post - I got it from the Real Reef guys and it is a really nice mix from fines of aragonite all the way up to 1cm shells. While this is not the preferred type of sand for many, I like the wide variety and the natural appearance of a real reef. It was quite dirty though and needed about five or six passes with the hose (full rinse, stir, agitate, and pour off waste) for each batch of 25 pounds. 25 pounds dry is about 40 pounds wet so each load was quite a pain to carry in and take up to the tank and dump in.

I am so glad I built in a structural beer ledge for me to stand on all around the tank. It makes access into this tank super easy.

Later today I will connect the Sea Swirls. I have to go get a couple of 1" unions from HD. Then, I will fill again with the water from the sump and the 200 gallons of RODI already standing by, and by tomorrow I will have 100g more and my salt arrives. I will slowly add it to the sump and bring the saltwater up to 35ppt.

Here are the left and right side top down shots.

 

[FoD]

Looks amazing! It is always great to take your time and get it right before you start. I think of new things each build and utilize them on the next one.

Your comment on the '94 quake...I lived in Porter Ranch during that one, just a few football fields from the epicenter. The hill I lived on moved 18 feet closer to downtown. I don't miss those one bit.

 

[Turbonut]

Yes, the FMM is the Fluid Monitoring Module announced at MACNA as a product we are on the verge of releasing. You can find out more about it on this video:

Interesting I can surly use those. Can't wait for the release