Tony Vargas 300-Gallon Build
- Large Build
- Thread starter Tony Vargas
- Start date
- Tagged users None
Genesis Corals
Genesis 1:21
Looking forward to this build.
OP
OP
The door panels on this stand will not use hinges. I have found through the years that doors attached to a stand with hinges always get in the way. I remedied this situation by making these door panels removable. They attach to the stand with neodymium magnets. Liquid Nails attached steel squire tubes to the stand and the door panels were notched. The magnets were then glued to the in-side of the notch.
cdness
2006 - Present
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2009
- Messages
- 3,988
- Reaction score
- 165
- Location
- West Fargo, ND
- What state or country do you live in
- North Dakota
Nice build Tony! This will surely be an interesting one to follow.
I do have a couple questions though:
1. I see the outlet is not a GFCI. Are you swapping it out or have upstream protection from another GFCI outlet in the outlet chain?
2. What kind of glue did you use to hold the magnets to the wood? I have used all sorts of epoxy, super glue, wood glue, etc with little luck on getting those magnets to hold long term. They do however make some with screw holes in the middle of the magnet to allow you to permanently attach them to your door panel. I plan on doing this for my next build, but if your glue will hold well I would try that route instead.
I do have a couple questions though:
1. I see the outlet is not a GFCI. Are you swapping it out or have upstream protection from another GFCI outlet in the outlet chain?
2. What kind of glue did you use to hold the magnets to the wood? I have used all sorts of epoxy, super glue, wood glue, etc with little luck on getting those magnets to hold long term. They do however make some with screw holes in the middle of the magnet to allow you to permanently attach them to your door panel. I plan on doing this for my next build, but if your glue will hold well I would try that route instead.
OP
OP
My house is fairly new and when it was built the circuit breaker panel was designed with GFCI circuit breakers. In other words the whole house is GFCI'ed.
As for attching the neodymium magnets to the wood, I tried Liquid Nails and that did not work. I tried several different types of glues with no success. What did work very well is Two Little Fishies gray epoxy, the pink one is too soft. The gray one becomes solid, as sold as a rock.
Genesis Corals
Genesis 1:21
Awesome idea with the magnets, I added it to my long list of ideas for my next build. Thanks.
OP
OP
Waiting as long as I did to find the perfect tank that would meet my needs as well as the families came with an added bonus. Technology has changed so much! Within the last several years the advancement of aquarium equipment has helped us keep our energy cost down. With this kind of information now available to me it made it easier to convince the wife (Spouse Factor) that the upgraded from 90 gallons to 300 gallons would not cost any addition energy cost.
90-Gallon
Return pump, Eheim 1262, 80 watts
Skimmer pump, Eheim 1262, 80 watts
Reactor pump, D-D FL5000, 78 watts
Circulation pumps, Hydor Koralia 4, 8.5 watts x 2 = 17 watts
Dosing pump Aqua Medic SP 3000, 4.5 watts
Return, 1” Sea Swirl, 5 watts
Controller, APEX, 6 watts
Illumination, 48” Giesemann Infiniti, (250-watt DE x 2 = 500 watts) (54-watt T5 x 4 = 216 watts) total 716 watts
Swapped out for two 400-watt DE = 800 watts and 54-watt T5 x 4 = 216 watts for a total 1016 watts
Sump fan, Honeywell Super Turbo 3-Speed Fan, 50 watts
No Heater(s)
90-Gallon
Return pump, Eheim 1262, 80 watts
Skimmer pump, Eheim 1262, 80 watts
Reactor pump, D-D FL5000, 78 watts
Circulation pumps, Hydor Koralia 4, 8.5 watts x 2 = 17 watts
Dosing pump Aqua Medic SP 3000, 4.5 watts
Return, 1” Sea Swirl, 5 watts
Controller, APEX, 6 watts
Illumination, 48” Giesemann Infiniti, (250-watt DE x 2 = 500 watts) (54-watt T5 x 4 = 216 watts) total 716 watts
Swapped out for two 400-watt DE = 800 watts and 54-watt T5 x 4 = 216 watts for a total 1016 watts
Sump fan, Honeywell Super Turbo 3-Speed Fan, 50 watts
No Heater(s)
OP
OP
165-Gallon Sump
The sump that will be used on this system was designed to be used with the 500-gallon system but will be a great fit for the 300. I have been using this design since the mid 90s and find it still very effective today. This sump will use micron filter pads with a drip plate instead of filter socks, which I find difficult to clean and not as effective as filter pads.
The sump that will be used on this system was designed to be used with the 500-gallon system but will be a great fit for the 300. I have been using this design since the mid 90s and find it still very effective today. This sump will use micron filter pads with a drip plate instead of filter socks, which I find difficult to clean and not as effective as filter pads.
OP
OP
Time to start plumbing! But, before we can get started we had to cut opening in the stand for the drains from the overflow boxes. Thanks to the help of Eddie Soler, we were able to accomplish this part of the project (drains for the system) in seven hours – there were a few trips to the local home improvement store. One very important factor, all part were thoroughly cleaned.
OP
OP
I do, let me look in the archives and see if I can find them.
Genesis Corals
Genesis 1:21
Great progress. I forgot to cut a whole in my stand when making it, thanks to a jigsaw and a drill it all worked out.
OP
OP
RO system – I had an RO system that was more than 10 years old. So, I felt that it was time for a change and ordered a new system from SpectraPure (SP). SP will test their membranes to determine rejection ratios – not all membranes perform the same even from the same manufacture. RO systems can be purchased from SP with 98% rejection ratio membranes. There are many inferior membranes out there and I’m not willing to take that chance.
I also placed an order on all new filter cartridges from The Filter Guys (TFG). In South Florida our tap water has chloramine levels that are through the roof and TFG’s have a three stage kit that help in eradicating those high levels.
Started filling the tank.
I also placed an order on all new filter cartridges from The Filter Guys (TFG). In South Florida our tap water has chloramine levels that are through the roof and TFG’s have a three stage kit that help in eradicating those high levels.
Started filling the tank.
OP
OP
Nearly 24 hours of water making.
Vw reef
Community Member
Tony,
This is my dream upgrade tank. Can't wait to see what you do with it. Subscribing for sure. While we wait for the tank to fill I was wondering if you could share with us your plans on equipment and stocking.
This is my dream upgrade tank. Can't wait to see what you do with it. Subscribing for sure. While we wait for the tank to fill I was wondering if you could share with us your plans on equipment and stocking.
Saltwatercoral
Active Member
Beautifull Setup! I only have the Marineland 120g and after looking at yours I wish I would have whent a differetn route... Lookin nice!
joshporksandwich
Zoa addict
Just read every page! It's awesome to see how an old reefer thinks of so many more things than a noob like myself. Really looking forward to this zoa dominated reef tank lol. Taging along and thanks for all the info you're awesome!
