Starting ~800 Gallon Custom Reef Tank Build

Matt Carden · Dec 20, 2018

ravi197699 said:
I have same ideal in my mind as well, I will fill in 4 steps and give it time before i go to next step.. this will get chance for everything to settle in place and give me the opportunity check things out,,

This is where a simple 50 gpd RODI would be useful. Might take a while but it wouldn't fill too quickly for your test.

Matt Carden · Dec 20, 2018

ravi197699 said:
I am not tech savvy what is ETM power backup?

I think he was talking about this

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/vortech-battery-back-up.html

Matt Carden · Dec 20, 2018

I am new to reefing but I am a pipefitter by trade. I don't design the industrial systems I install but I understand the basic functions, flow directions, need for check valves, etc. I don't think that deadheading two pumps toward each other is a good idea. In the center where it looks like you have a union, use 2 caps. Maybe someone with some reefing knowledge knows better than I.

This is an awesome build!

ravi197699 · Dec 21, 2018

Matt Carden said:
I think he was talking about this

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/vortech-battery-back-up.html

Oh ok ETM meaning Eco Tech Marine, I think they are over rated and will not do what UPS is going to offer, I am going to get 10 outlets, 5 surge protectors and 5 will be supported by battery back up, so if there is power outage this will make it seamless transaction between power outage and my generator starting to feed house..

ravi197699 · Dec 21, 2018

Matt Carden said:
I am new to reefing but I am a pipefitter by trade. I don't design the industrial systems I install but I understand the basic functions, flow directions, need for check valves, etc. I don't think that deadheading two pumps toward each other is a good idea. In the center where it looks like you have a union, use 2 caps. Maybe someone with some reefing knowledge knows better than I.

This is an awesome build!

Thank you Matt Carden, I have changed the design a bit, I will have 1 dc pump (5000 gph) sit outside the sump and feed 3 sea swirls which will be connected with pvc " T " to 1.5 inch pvc pipe, this pump will come on multiple times during day and move water in sump under the rock work vigorously to keep detritus from building up under the rock...

Matt Carden · Dec 21, 2018

ravi197699 said:
Oh ok ETM meaning Eco Tech Marine, I think they are over rated and will not do what UPS is going to offer, I am going to get 10 outlets, 5 surge protectors and 5 will be supported by battery back up, so if there is power outage this will make it seamless transaction between power outage and my generator starting to feed house..

I thought the same about them. Your UPS is the same cost and should cover the whole tank.

ravi197699 · Dec 21, 2018

I have placed an order for 1 unit, I will upload pictures when I get the delivery...

ravi197699 · Dec 24, 2018

Hello reefers, I got my APC power backup and surge protector, this unit is 1000VAC and 700w max 8.3 amps, I will be plugging in all my dc pumps in this unit, it has advance control on the front, I will be going to the manual to see what settings I should be using, I was able to add aluminum angles on my light rack, these angles are 2"x 2" x 1/8" thick which is pretty solid for what I am going to use it for, Light rack is wider than the fixtures, I was planning to install my lights staggered, this way I can cover front and back of the tank and won't have dead spots ( in theory). I installed the rack on the ceiling and light will be hanging on the rack with bearing rollers, i will be able to slide the light away from the tank completely, Amazon sent me 2nd rack wrong ( :-( , so waiting for replacements and I will be able to test the rack and i will post some pictures of that as well...

here are the specs from APC - APC has a tower form factor and delivers intelligent and efficient network power protection from entry level to scalable runtime. It can provide 105 minutes of use at 50W, 64 minutes of use at 100W, 34.7 minutes of use at 200W, 22.5 minutes of use at 300W, 16 minutes of use at 400W, 11.9 minutes of use at 500W, and 9.2 minutes of use at 600W.

maroun.c · Dec 24, 2018

amazing build looking forward to see the completed tank.

BigMo · Dec 24, 2018

ravi197699 said:
Hello reefers, I got my APC power backup and surge protector, this unit is 1000VAC and 700w max 8.3 amps, I will be plugging in all my dc pumps in this unit, it has advance control on the front, I will be going to the manual to see what settings I should be using, I was able to add aluminum angles on my light rack, these angles are 2"x 2" x 1/8" thick which is pretty solid for what I am going to use it for, Light rack is wider than the fixtures, I was planning to install my lights staggered, this way I can cover front and back of the tank and won't have dead spots ( in theory). I installed the rack on the ceiling and light will be hanging on the rack with bearing rollers, i will be able to slide the light away from the tank completely, Amazon sent me 2nd rack wrong ( :-( , so waiting for replacements and I will be able to test the rack and i will post some pictures of that as well...

here are the specs from APC - APC has a tower form factor and delivers intelligent and efficient network power protection from entry level to scalable runtime. It can provide 105 minutes of use at 50W, 64 minutes of use at 100W, 34.7 minutes of use at 200W, 22.5 minutes of use at 300W, 16 minutes of use at 400W, 11.9 minutes of use at 500W, and 9.2 minutes of use at 600W.

I like the idea and the execution, it looks that APC has a lot of features under hood, good choice.
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ravi197699 · Dec 24, 2018

thank you BigMo, I am taking my time, It is hard spending money on equipment when I am ready for live stock, so thinking of scenarios that might pop up, I know few things are overkill but I rather have it than not have it when i need it....

BigMo · Dec 24, 2018

ravi197699 said:
thank you BigMo, I am taking my time, It is hard spending money on equipment when I am ready for live stock, so thinking of scenarios that might pop up, I know few things are overkill but I rather have it than not have it when i need it....

I definitely agree ravi, if you have a solid equipment you can add expensive live stock knowing they are in good care, I’m just jealous how easily you can get your equipments. Here we don’t have lots of choice and not easily delivered. Looking forward to see some live stock in your well built tank, good luck.

ravi197699 · Dec 24, 2018

getting close to that moment....

Diamond1 · Dec 24, 2018

Nice to see you making progress. Everything is looking really good!

ravi197699 · Dec 24, 2018

Thank you Diamond1

ravi197699 · Dec 25, 2018

Merry Christmas reefers, Little change in stand, my tank builder suggested that I should add 1 more support under going across, so i did listen to him and added 1 more metal eye beam under going across, this beam is resting on the 4x4 post that was supporting the either side of the stand, It was 400 bucks investment but it;s worth every penny, So i spent some time painting the beam, I could have painted this when it was outside but weather was not on my side so i told the installers to just for it without painting it, I was able to find place to install my titanium heat exchanger, it will be sitting on the right rear corner and it will sit on FRO grates that i bought so i moved couple of rocks and made room for this to sit, it will be under water, this will be connected to my hot water heater and hot water re circulation pump which will be connected to Apex to control the temperature. It should maintain tank temperature and keep it consistent, here are some of the pictures...

ravi197699 · Dec 30, 2018

Hello reefers, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year, with hep of my friend we made great progress today and we have achieved a lot, when it comes to light rack, We finished this project and rack is hung off the track and it is working as we planned it, each 2x4 has 3 rollers and total 6 rollers on each end just to distribute the weight of the rack and light and it glides much better with 3 rollers on each 2 x 4, We used steel braided wire and some hardware bought from Amazon to put together the cables that loops around the 2 wood supports, it will give me option to move the light rack from front to back since it is not screwed into one spot, Light rack has been leveled due to roof that has an angle slope on 1 end so light is 95 - 98% leveled, when i was mounting the rack on the front it was the hardest thing that i have done on this build, I should have done that before we build the tank but it is done and i am happy, this light rack will house 6 reef breeders photons v2+ 50" version and 4 full spectrum 48" light bars that will add additional punch and coloration, I have ordered mounting brackets for power supplies and drivers for pumps, no power supply or cord will be hanging and all the wires will go through proper chanel, here are some of the pictures of the work that we completed today, tomorrow i will work on plumbing the heat exchanger and complete the plumbing for my reverse osmosis system, I will upload pictures for those tomorrow..