Iron's 4x2x2 slow build

[usernam invalid]

That's a serious looking manifold [emoji106]

 

[IronVulture]

Well I decided to go out of town for the weekend instead of working on the plumbing but my starboard came in wile I was out of town. Got it installed and I am supper happy with the way it looks.

You can also see some of the nano magnetic frag holders I ordered to mount on my overflow[emoji4]

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Very cool!

 

[booth2010]

Looks sharp. What thickness Starboard did you get?

 

[IronVulture]

Looks sharp. What thickness Starboard did you get?

Thanks[emoji106]

I got 1/2" and let me tell you I REALLY like the way it looks. It was a hard decision to go bb because I love sand and I want to have a wrasse but since I got that wrasse din I can have my wrasse and the black starboard looks great.

 

[booth2010]

Okay cool. I am gonna go BB when I move and that looks like a good option. Did you silicone it in place or just set it in there? BTW the wrasse den is cool too

 

[IronVulture]

Okay cool. I am gonna go BB when I move and that looks like a good option. Did you silicone it in place or just set it in there? BTW the wrasse den is cool too

I just dropped it in last night I have black silicone but I don't think it is really needed if you have it cut to the right size. That being said since I already have the silicone I am going to use it. It looks so good I'm never going to take it out. I actually couldn't even get it out without drilling a hole in it so I could get leverage to pull it out. I'm really glad I cleaned up all the sharp edges before I test fitted it lol.

 

[IronVulture]

I tried using black vinyl to cover the back but on the test piece it turned out to be more of a pain than I think it is worth. Instead I decided to paint it with the same black I used on the stand. I think it turned out looking good.

As you can see from the above picture the canopy is missing. I took it to a local woodworker to have him build me a taller one that will hide my lights and the wires that go with them. I am also having him build me some small cabinets that will serve as the side doors to house all my apex gear.


While I was waiting for the first coat of paint to dry I mounted the manifold. I can't finish the return plumbing until the back is dry and I can put the bulkheads back in.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Nice plumbing!

 

[IronVulture]

So let's talk skimmer. If you followed from the beginning you know I am upgrading to a much larger tank within 12-18 months after this one is up and running. So I decided to buy a skimmer I will be able to use on a 500-600 gallon tank and use it on this 120. Now please try to keep the hate to a minimum I know many of you out there have strong feelings about "over skimming". I however do not believe you can over-skim. So what I bought was a lifereef VS3-48 yep a 48" skimmer. I will plumb it in a recirculating option and feed it through my manifold in the picture in my last post. Pushing the manifold will be a Vectra L1 and a second L1 powering the skimmer.

 

[bknapp]

Interesting build so far, very outside the box. Where do you plan on putting the skimmer?

 

[IronVulture]

Interesting build so far, very outside the box. Where do you plan on putting the skimmer?

Thanks

I will put the skimmer behind the tank so it will not be visible, unless of course you walk around the back. The tank will be about 18-24 inches away from the wall to give me plenty of access. I'm lucky enough that my wife gave me a whole room to use for my fish tank and a zero g massage chair lol, so no worries about clogging the space with the tank so far from the wall.

 

[bknapp]

Not worried about smell? I can walk in my house and tell I need to empty the skimmer cup without opening my stand.

You may want to reconsider the way your loc-line is currently set, the tank will back siphon to the lowest points. In case of lost power.

 

[IronVulture]

Not worried about smell? I can walk in my house and tell I need to empty the skimmer cup without opening my stand.

You may want to reconsider the way your loc-line is currently set, the tank will back siphon to the lowest points. In case of lost power.

Actually the skimmer has a drain that will be hooked up to something like the avast marine Davy Jones skimmate superlocker so I shouldn't have the smelly problem.

As far as the lock line it is not in its final position yet but there is actually a wye on each side one part will be towards the top to break the siphon when the return pump is off while the other will be down lower. I also have check valves behind the tank for redundancy.

 

[bknapp]

Never seen that type of check valve before. I've used others with mixed results.

I've thought of getting one if those lockers as well, just always seemed to find something else I've wanted more.

 

[IronVulture]

Never seen that type of check valve before. I've used others with mixed results.

I've thought of getting one if those lockers as well, just always seemed to find something else I've wanted more.

I would never totally rely on a check valve but at the very least it should slow the back flow incase one of my returns are bumped by accident, and it is nice that I can periodically take it apart and clean it. Not to mention it's nice to have the union. [emoji3]

 

[IronVulture]

Well got the last of the pvc cut and my reactors mounted so I am totally done dry plumbing. I am still waiting on a few things before I get it wet so no rush to glue everything down just yet.

Still waiting on a tray for the skimmer to sit in along with a leak detector and my skimmate locker from Avast.

Got two of the 4 Neptune WAV pumps installed the other 2 will go on seas weeps from Sea Swirl.

Lol can't really see the power heads from that shot but they are there. I love those magnetic frag shelves from The Alternative Reef.

 

[IronVulture]

Got started glueing the plumbing together but ran out of glue so painted the room. Thinking about taking the carpet out but not sure yet I'm anxious to get water in the tank.

 

[IronVulture]

So it's official sea sweeps are available for the Neptune WAV power heads with limited tank mounting options for the time being. Mine are in the works now Thank you Ed!

 

[Slm222]

tagging along. great start!