ReeferRoo's Custom 125 (My First Tank)

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Looking great! Let's get this party started!!

 

[ReeferRoo]

Have not done much the past week or so. Some products are still trickling in. Got my plumbing parts for my sump so hopefully I will be motivated and I will leak test this weekend.

I also think I am going to find something other than wood shims for leveling as I am concerned about the wood compressing where the shims are thickest. Honestly would like to leak test with the shims, see if there is any additional settling, if not then I will use some non shrink grout to fill the voids under the stand.

 

[ReeferRoo]

Holidays have crushed my timeline but not my dreams...

I was finally was able to spend some time on the tank this past weekend. Setup my reeflink, Ecotech G4 XR30 Pros, and my Apex. Connected it to my network and setup user accounts and apps, not sure if I will be able to do much else before Christmas.

hopefully between Christmas and new years I can get this puppy leak tested...I want to install shut off valves on the drain and returns just in case before I do that.

 

[ReeferRoo]

Okay, after surviving the holidays, fighting bronchitis for 6 weeks, going on vacation for a week, I am finally starting to make some progress again....this tank will be leak tested and wet by March 25th!!!

Last week I began working on my rock...BRS Pukani

I did the Muratic Acid Bath and a 24 hour soak in Bleach, followed by 4 hours with prime. Still have a chlorine smell and rock is still drying, I will probably run RO with a really heavy dose of Prime later this week after one last pressure wash then layout in the garage with a fan to dry out.

Leak test this weekend as I finally finished plumbing enough where I can runt he system and test everything.

Question....Can I use Tap for this? or do I need to use RO? I will drain and dry completely before adding in RODI water, I plan to mix salt in tank for the first run, while I get my mixing station up and running.

I will post some photos and vids of the muriatic acid bath and bleaching shortly.

 

[ReeferRoo]

Here is the bin pre Muriatic Acid Bath with Tonga Shelf and BRS Pukani

Here with fresh water

After acid was added...(videos will be better, it was windy so froth was flying)

Here is draining acid bath, and when completely drained.

Now used the hose to wash a bunch of crud off

Added freshwater and added 1.5 gallons of bleach

After the 24 hour soak

I then soaked in freshwater and prime for 4 hours.

Did this last Thursday and Friday, drained the tub and brought it home. Waiting for a warm day to power wash then i will soak in RO with prime and let dry and aquascape.

 

[ReeferRoo]

Lessons learned -

Good decisions...

1. Uniseals are friggin awesome!!! If your going to do this, buy a 3/4" uniseal, use a 3/4" pvc scrap of pipe, and a cheap home depot 3/4" ball valve and the system wont leak and its wicked easy to drain.
I think i drilled a 1-1/8" hole for the uniseal. If anyone wants to know for sure i can check the drill bit.

2. Did it on a windy day so smell was nearly nonexistent

Bad ideas...

1. Did it on a windy day, foam was flying everywhere for a good 45 min to an hour

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Lessons learned -

Good decisions...

1. Uniseals are friggin awesome!!! If your going to do this, buy a 3/4" uniseal, use a 3/4" pvc scrap of pipe, and a cheap home depot 3/4" ball valve and the system wont leak and its wicked easy to drain.
I think i drilled a 1-1/8" hole for the uniseal. If anyone wants to know for sure i can check the drill bit.

2. Did it on a windy day so smell was nearly nonexistent

Bad ideas...

1. Did it on a windy day, foam was flying everywhere for a good 45 min to an hour

The uniseal is a great idea! I'm gonna add one to my rubbermaid for cleaning and soaking equipment.

 

[__Jreef__]

Looking good!
I been debating to order a new tank from CTC, I got few quotes from them but I just can't decide in the size as wellI don't like the Trapezoid overflow-box they recommend - What overflow you got?

 

[ReeferRoo]

@JLV8222

Internal Corner Overflow, with 1 each 1.5" drain and it has 2 each, 3/4" returns. This is my first tank so wanted to keep is simple. I will try to get more pics later tonight. They gave me some white sch 40 pvc pipe and fittings with black LocLine and the bulkheads that had a slip connection. I replaced that with Black Sch 40 Pipe, Grey Sch 8- fittings, and double threaded bulkeads. It turned into a project when i decided I didn't like seeing the white at the top of the overflow. It will be hard to get pics in the overflow area as the ceiling gets pretty close, I can get in there for maintenance if I need to for some reason but its pretty tight.

I personally am very happy with CTC, I will say that you should be sure they finish all of your edges to your liking, I think in some cases they could have done better with mine especially on the glass top hatches as the tank has a full glass canopy, and there is some spider lines in the caulking in the top bracing, again for me not an issue but I have heard others complain about it.

I have had the tank since August, but haven't put water in it yet...so assuming it holds water, I will be very satisfied and would absolutely consider buying from them again. Also, they warranty the tank for 10 years if they build the stand.

 

[ReeferRoo]

@revtree

I was surprised at how efficient and reliable it was, before I drained the water from one of the rinses from the bleach bath, I tried to yank the whole thing out at once, and it wouldn't go, I had to get the pipe out first, otherwise it wouldn't budge.

Ordered another to use instead of a bulkhead for my top inlet for my mixing station on the SW side, I am confident if the water fills beyond that point it wont leak.

 

[__Jreef__]

@JLV8222

Internal Corner Overflow, with 1 each 1.5" drain and it has 2 each, 3/4" returns. This is my first tank so wanted to keep is simple. I will try to get more pics later tonight. They gave me some white sch 40 pvc pipe and fittings with black LocLine and the bulkheads that had a slip connection. I replaced that with Black Sch 40 Pipe, Grey Sch 8- fittings, and double threaded bulkeads. It turned into a project when i decided I didn't like seeing the white at the top of the overflow. It will be hard to get pics in the overflow area as the ceiling gets pretty close, I can get in there for maintenance if I need to for some reason but its pretty tight.

I personally am very happy with CTC, I will say that you should be sure they finish all of your edges to your liking, I think in some cases they could have done better with mine especially on the glass top hatches as the tank has a full glass canopy, and there is some spider lines in the caulking in the top bracing, again for me not an issue but I have heard others complain about it.

I have had the tank since August, but haven't put water in it yet...so assuming it holds water, I will be very satisfied and would absolutely consider buying from them again. Also, they warranty the tank for 10 years if they build the stand.

Thanks for the information and details, I agree with you the white pipe I'm not a fan of those.
I'm glad to hear you was able to think outside the box and make it look better.

I'll ask them about the corner overflow options.

Thanks again and I hope you can add some water soon

 

[ReeferRoo]

One thing i am concerned about now after plumbing the tank is that i reduced the 1.5" drain to 1" due to some tight spots. But i was having a tough time with all of the 1.5" plumbing parts and getting everything fit in neatly. If it was a mistake to reduce the 1.5" i can rework it in the future, i am thinking the 1" will get me about 600 gph with gravity...

DT will probably hold around 110 gal when you account for displacement.

Sump...maybe 20g...(trigger 39 sump)

130 x 3 = 390
130 x 4 = 520
130 x 5 = 650

Probably have a turn over of 520 gph in the system, plan to hook in the new apex FMK in the drain line to make sure flow is consistent and the apex and tell me the wattage my return pump is drawing so if the flow drops, and the usage on the return is constant then i can turn off the return pump before i overfill the tank...

I am using a vetra M1 pump, which should be over powered for my operation and i plan to add in a bulkhead to run reactors when the time comes. So with the FMK on the return size i can ensure i am getting the same turn over when i have the kick the M1 up a bit to feed the reactors...

Is this sound thinking?

 

[ReeferRoo]

@JLV8882

Here are overflow pics

Right corner overflow with returns.

 

[ReeferRoo]

Some plumbing pics...

I will have a light installed this weekend which should help illuminate things.

Will continue on cable management and apex fmk setup this weekend.

 

[ReeferRoo]

Fuge light - Tunze Full Spectrum Light

Awesome little thing

 

[ReeferRoo]

The uniseal is a great idea! I'm gonna add one to my rubbermaid for cleaning and soaking equipment.

Here is a pic of the assembly

Set the uniseal then push the pipe in

 

[ReeferRoo]

Woot...just in time for leak and plumbing testing this weekend.

 

[__Jreef__]

@ReeferRoo

Thanks the detail pictures of your overflow, I like this design better very similar like the old Elos.

I don't think you will have any problems reducing the return to 1" from 1 1/2" and I have to agree is very hard to get 1 1/2" return in tight spots, I have to modify my return and sump to make it work for my tank and eliminate the flow valve but I got everything working just fine.
Also great job on your plumbing maybe on my next build I'll put more effort and do something similar.

Again thanks for sharing!

Here is mine not as good as yours but does the work for now.

 

[ReeferRoo]

Thanks for the support and i like your setup. Plumbing may not be as fancy but it still looks very clean and easy to maintain. Great job!

Part of my wishes i didn't go all in the way i have but hey...to late now...

 

[ReeferRoo]

Rock was pressure washed last night.

Just need to do a RODI rinse.