OldSchool 225 build with some new twists.

[OldSchool Reefer]

The maintenance on the 15 year old 150 (well delayed maintenance) has become monumental. l needed to replace the return pump the skimmer pump all bulkheads and re plumb the entire system. Not excited about what was ahead for me, I put it off for months (several {eyeroll} too many).

The tank was running on autopilot for many years and I had slipped away from the reefing community and the trends. I was way behind the technology curve, so I called an old reefing buddy for some advice on new DC pumps. He reminded me that that tank was 20 years old and why wasn't I starting over? I wanted to shoot myself..... he was right!

At first i made excuses that have you seen the prices and no one has the deep dimension I'm looking for. He laughs and says our old friend Kubi has a custom 5 x 3 x 2 acrylic tank with a ghost overflow FS that he never got around to installing. Well I call Kubi and here we are ( eyeroll and ***)

 

[OldSchool Reefer]

So I'm committed now, time for the first gulp of the Technology fire hose I have been Ignoring for the last 7+ years! First thoughts are Low heat and low noise, the sump skimmer will be under the tank not on the lanai as before. DC pumps and smaller skimmer with a filter roller and upgrade the Aqua Controller to APEX along the line. Its time to start designing the stand and layout of this Peninsula (the first of many tanks). The old 150 will be rebuilt as the new sump and placed under the display, electronics will go off to the side of the cabinet but where will the 40 gal fuge go? What filter roller can handle 3000 gph? Once these questions are answered we can start narrowing some design things down. building the stand base had better happen soon the tank will be here in a few days!

 

[mehaffydr]

Nice tank dimensions that's what I am upgrading from. I loved that size had it for about 15 years.
My first questions would be Why would you need a filter roller that can handle 3000 gph. That's Old School thinking. As long as you have plenty of water movement in the tank you sure don't need to circulate the entire tank 13 times an hour through the skimmer. Us good power heads in the tank to move water and circulate through the skimmer maybe 1000 gph.

 

[OldSchool Reefer]

The tank arrives unscathed, Kubi also brought a pair of MP 40s he didn’t use, those 15 YO Tunze 6200s can’t last forever. ‍ Things are progressing nicely, the plans are falling into place wish list is growing daily and orders are being made. Can’t decide on a pump fleece roller or what to do with the fuge yet but the stand build must go on!

Nice tank dimensions that's what I am upgrading from. I loved that size had it for about 15 years.
My first questions would be Why would you need a filter roller that can handle 3000 gph. That's Old School thinking. As long as you have plenty of water movement in the tank you sure don't need to circulate the entire tank 13 times an hour through the skimmer. Us good power heads in the tank to move water and circulate through the skimmer maybe 1000 gph.

yes it is Old School thinking

Nice tank dimensions that's what I am upgrading from. I loved that size had it for about 15 years.
My first questions would be Why would you need a filter roller that can handle 3000 gph. That's Old School thinking. As long as you have plenty of water movement in the tank you sure don't need to circulate the entire tank 13 times an hour through the skimmer. Us good power heads in the tank to move water and circulate through the skimmer maybe 1000 gph.

Nice tank dimensions that's what I am upgrading from. I loved that size had it for about 15 years.
My first questions would be Why would you need a filter roller that can handle 3000 gph. That's Old School thinking. As long as you have plenty of water movement in the tank you sure don't need to circulate the entire tank 13 times an hour through the skimmer. Us good power heads in the tank to move water and circulate through the skimmer maybe 1000 gph.

Yes it is Old School thinking but it still works! Do you understand the new math? It started with pump selection replacing a Hammerhead (3500 GPH) that supplied a 180 a 150 and an Orca 250. I was considering a Dream box but the Red Dragon controller issues were a concern. DC pump controllability will allow for flow optimization. In the end I went with the a Vectra L2 (3100) and Klir 7 (1800 gph) the fuge and reactors will be tapped off the return so flow through the fleece roller will be much lower.

 

[OldSchool Reefer]

Half the furniture in the house is moved the 225 is resting in the fish room and stand building begins. The stand will have to be built in 3 sections (base sides and top) moved into place and reassembled. Big tanks are fun!

 

[OldSchool Reefer]

Time to prepare for the tear down of the 150! It’s going to take a massive effort to get this thing empty cleaned and contents stored while I build the he 225. When the 180 on the Lanai sprung a leak all of its contents went into the 150 and the 125 sump so there is no room there. Brute cans and totes it is!

 

[OldSchool Reefer]

The 40 gal fuge was over the tank in the cabinet on the side and gravity flowed into the display. I siphoned out all the water the Layer of Miracle Mud and a few inches of the Deep Sand Bed. It was still a lot heavier than I expected and I almost broke my arm getting it out, but it’s up and running, I added a few choice pieces of live rock a few fish and a large clean up crew! Time to tear down the old stand and take it to the curb!

 

[OldSchool Reefer]

I salvaged the doors and a few other components of the Old stand cut up the remainder and left it at the curb. I Started cleaning and servicing the electrical components that will be used, these Ice Cap 2 speed fans have been running for over 15 years after a thorough cleaning they should go another 15.

 

[OldSchool Reefer]

As you know it as soon as you start changing stuff more stuff will fail. As I was disconnecting components of the classic Apex it started glitching as it was looking for them.... no problem I’ll just do it manually with my DJ switch.... pop there goes the fuse! There is 2 more things on the shop for list. Well at least the Ice Cap VHO and MH are still running smoothly and only need a wipe down

 

[OldSchool Reefer]

So a old buddy comes over to get some Live Rock from the sump and bring some slightly used Lighting and Carbon / GFO reactors. He helped me with the original build and he asked where I was putting the Fuge? I said it won’t fit in my design and I tried to include it. He said just make the stand 10 inches longer and have it drain directly into the sump. Everyone agreed even the wife. The Fuge was made by a mutual friend of ours, Excellent Reefer and professional Acrylic fabricator who passed away unexpectedly a few years ago. This tank has sentimental value and should be used and viewed for as long as possible! R.I.P Chris you are missed!

 

[OldSchool Reefer]

Old tank is gone and so it’s time to address the real estate the new build will occupy. Lots of work to be done here! Cleaning the tile top of the list then remove old plumbing determine locations of new plumbing for the water change station, RO DI and ATO which will remain on the Lanai and fix some plaster. This will take some serious thought and force me to design the sump layout if I’m getting the plumbing right.

 

[OldSchool Reefer]

Stand in place and working on the sump layout. I’ll cut down the 150 to about 20 inches partition it and make a new top. Not only will I be doing drywall repair for the plumbing but the wall where the granite beer ledge will join up to isn’t square I didn’t ever notice it before because the old tank backed up to it and I never installed baseboards in that section since the tank was there. One thing leads to another.

 

[OldSchool Reefer]

The great thing about this old house is they don’t build them like that anymore the bad part is, they don’t build them like that anymore for a reason. Sold poured block walls with real plaster that you can’t drive a nail into without pre drilling are problematic but some corner bead, plastic anchors a hammer drill drywall screws and 5 minute mud should do the trick!

 

[OldSchool Reefer]

Sump layout on the drawing board. The requirements are as follows in order of flow; Sock tray to accommodate Klir 7, Skimmer compartment 12 x 12 approx, live rock, Miracle Mud fuge, frag compartment, reactor compartment, and finally return pump. Seems straight forward doesn't it? well it has to do all that in a 48 x 30 footprint and the drain and return have to be on the same end and i hadn't decided on what skimmer I'm going to be running yet. I finally decided on the Tunze 9430 DC Skimmer based on recomindation of a trusted LFS owner and I have always been partial to German engineering. My Tunze 6200 pumps are big and ugly but they have been running for almost 15 years.

 

[OldSchool Reefer]

Once I decide on a skimmer no one has one so I special order one from an old faithful LFS. Skimmer came in so I drove to Tampa to pick it up from FIOS which is the closest Tunze dealer to me! Fired it up in a tote of LR to break it in! Straight forward controls of air mixture patented anti overflow cup design so no need for a float to shut down the pump and Ozone ready for those times you want to brighten up the clarity a bit

 

[OldSchool Reefer]

While waiting on sump parts from the plastic fabricators looks like It’s time for some cabinet work! I’ll be using the old shutter doors on this build which are 1 1/8 thick so I’m not going to the big box stores for much material! I really like these as doors with their working louvers to let out as much heat and humidity as possible when needed! There is a local mill that has plenty of 5 1/4 boards and closer than the box stores and they will mill whatever I need with a phone call! First order of business is a new blade, tuneup, clean and lube of the old table saw then start making cabinet faces cut down doors and make panels!

 

[OldSchool Reefer]

One side 90% done time to move to the short side! Biscuits will hold all the heavy joints in place! If I had thought this through I could have saved time and money with the bones of the stand but overkill is the Old School way!

 

[OldSchool Reefer]

So here we are we are it’s been raining all day and we are caught up on the build! Tomorrow I’ll be checking on the acrylic progress and working on the long side of the stand base. Maybe I’ll get some stain on the sides I have finished.

 

[OldSchool Reefer]

It seems like a kinda slow of a day but I feel good about the progress. Made 30 gallons of water to do a water change on the rock that was cooking used that old change out water to clean some live sand and got 2 sides of the stand cabinet faces sanded and stained. Not a lot of work but it looks like progress!

 

[OldSchool Reefer]

Nothing dramatic happened this week did a water change on the Live Rock, got more cabinet faces sanded and stained made a few panels and the support for the granite beer ledge. I mostly made lots of measurements for the end fuge and electronics cabinet, which lead to sketches and CAD drawings and a few adult beverages. It should be pretty straight forward but pocket doors and pivot hinges aren’t normal components of a tank cabinet! I hope to have all the base cabinet work finished by Monday I pick up the granite beer ledge on Tuesday. We Should be milling the sump on Wednesday, he said my CAD files were good to go and would clear out some time for my job.