Trex's new 210

revhtree · Sep 24, 2014

Oh yea! New tank time!

Scubafrog · Sep 24, 2014

Nice looking tanks. Can't wait to see it all together.

luxauterna · Sep 24, 2014

Can't wait to see this beast!

skinz78 · Sep 24, 2014

Looking good so far!

Trex · Sep 24, 2014

Thanks guys.

Just ordered some cable organizer channels for all the wires.

And to add to the things to get done in the next 2 days (( before the tank comes ))...

First, we (( the girlfriend and I )) live in a townhouse,

It has an "English basement", main floor ( up half a flight of stairs ), and a top floor. There is a main staircase

(( the best pic I have of it, this was before we painted and put in bamboo floors ))

that we never painted (( the highest point is at least 20' from floor to ceiling )), we finally have decided to get that painted. In the process of picking out a color for it,
we figured out that we like the staircase color for the main walls of the family/dinning room. So, have to at least get the tank wall painted before the tank comes, but will try to get
all the walls that needed to be painted done. Gonna be fun.

Trex · Sep 28, 2014

Well, the tank came on Friday, and was brought into the place without an issue --- though I am glad that I didn't have to do it, didn't look like fun.

There was one minor issue (( and mainly it was my fault for not checking this first )), both holes in each overflow are 1", and not one 1" and one 3/4" like on my other RR tanks. The problem is that I bought plumbing for two 1" and two 3/4" holes. Placed a new order for 1" parts, hopefully they will be here on Tuesday and I can move onto getting this thing plumbed.

I am not sure that I will be able to get everything I want under the tank (( at least as neat as I want it to be )), so I am thinking that I will have the ATO container next to the tank. (( in the pictures below it would be to the right of the tank, near the ladder )). Might even get the stand builder to make some sort of cabinet to hold the container (( and perhaps the Vortec battery back up )), that would match the stand.

Right now the tank/stand are on those sliding moving pads, which will make working on the plumbing and what not a lot easier. Once all that is done, will remove them and add water/sand/rocks.

Now some pics;
While waiting for it to be delivered I decided to make a "stand" to raise my skimmer up a bit over 1".

So much easier to cut PVC with power...

Egg crate and zip ties finished it off,

Placed in the sump (( might a piece of acrylic )) to help support the skimmer better. (( should add, the outlet cover is off because we put up the second coat of paint in the morning ))

Tank in the house!! (( the dinning room table was out of the way, made it easier for the movers ))

Trex · Sep 28, 2014

Con't...

Some covers for the overflows --- keep algae to a minimum.

Rough placement of where the tank (( might move it a bit left/right, but overall this is the place. The ATO container will be near the ladder, but right next to the stand ))

Some pics from under the stand (( not shown is the controller ))

Left side -- doser & dosing containers and one of the two reactors --- I had forgotten about those 2, part of the reason I have to move the ATO container.

Inflow and skimmer sections of the sump,

Fuge and return section

ATO container and battery backup.

Lastly, put a pond liner in the base of the stand, and up the sides a few inches, to catch the spills that will happen.

Djtonton · Sep 30, 2014

I really like that sump i was thining about getting the RS40 for my 265 might have to pull the trigger!! Cant wait to see the tank up and running!!

914joe · Sep 30, 2014

Love seeing well thought builds... I'm taking notes. Thanks for sharing!

Trex · Oct 1, 2014

Djtonton said:
I really like that sump i was thining about getting the RS40 for my 265 might have to pull the trigger!! Cant wait to see the tank up and running!!

I don't have it running, but I am very happy with it. The shipping was great, very will packed, and happy with the overall construction of it. The built in probe holder is a nice touch. Though, would have liked a dosing holder too, but not that big of a deal. Ordered an APEX probe holder to hold the lines for the BRS reactors, pretty fit for the 1/2 hose.

914joe said:
Love seeing well thought builds... I'm taking notes. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks a lot for looking, and your comments.

The final (( I hope )) plumbing pieces should be delivered today --- though not sure how much (( if any )) I will do tonight. Might have to wait until Sunday to do most of the plumbing. Saturday I have a Northern Ill football game to go to. So, Sunday will be the day (( and the old 40 breeder set up is being picked up that day too )), want to get the plumbing dry fit, and figure out what size boards I need to attach the APEX system too --- thinking a couple 1*4s attached to the back of the stand, one for the controllers and one for the wire duct. At least that is how I have it planned in my head, will see what really happens.

Trex · Nov 17, 2014

Been a while since I have updated this. Was out of town for a bit, bad back, and a few other things. But mainly the delay was because I HATE threaded bulkheads.

Had installed the bulkheads, and got them to hold water perfectly (( had issues with my first batch of them )), but couldn't get the threaded parts to hold tight -- even used the proper "paste" instead of tape. I (( stupidly )) tried to use plumbers putty to make them hold, but that didn't work, but did make removing them very difficult. Had to use a hack saw blade to remove them (( yes, just the blade, space was too tight )).

But, over the last week I installed new slip bulkheads (( which passed their leak test )) and "glued" in the rest of the plumbing --- not a single leak!!!

Now, onto some pictures of the plumbing.

First, what has made working on the plumbing easier (( along with my Dual Bevel Compound Miter Saw )), able to slide the tank off the wall;

Underside of the right overflow,

Left is the emergency drain, right is the full siphon

From the top

The left overflow (( right emergency, left full )), plus a bit of the return. Also, part of the APEX controller --- won't sit there, was checking spacing.

Bit more -- also shown is the left overflows emergency's drain. In addition a holder for the dosing tubes. The APEX probe holder is going to be used to hold the in/out lines of the BRS reactors, a perfect fit. (( the sump has a built in probe holder ))

From the top,

The back side of the return,

Inside the tank,

Lastly, extra pieces that were used to leak test the return lines --- the sump is still dry, so I had to figure something out.

Trex · Nov 17, 2014

I have started to mount the APEX controller to 1*6 pine boards, which I intend to screw into the sides (( up high )) of the stand. In addition I plan on making a box to hold the doser, hide the Vortech battery in, and attach the reactors to.

Plus the skimmer pump's controller,

In addition, I installed some under cabinet LED lights to the front inside of the stand, to give me working light. Laying on my back and looking up to install the brackets wasn't all the fun, but worth it;

In this picture I hadn't mounted the ballast yet, so you can see the cord hanging,

Didn't get the first 2 perfectly lined up, so I had to used the jumpers (( up to 4 strips can be run on one ballast ))

The jumper connecting 1/2 to 3/4 -- also can see that 3/4 matched up, so the connect to each other.

Ended up putting 5 coats of exterior latex paint (( blue )) on the back of the tank too --- just need to get a picture of it. This week I plan on finishing up the electrical, mounting both the lights and moonlights. Still need to rinse the sand, but waiting for it to be warmer than 20*, since I want to do it outside --- don't want to make a mess of the spare bathroom.

Trex · Nov 25, 2014

Over the weekend I was able to rinse all the sand --- takes a lot of time to rinse 200 pounds of sand, back is killing me. I wasn't ready to put all the sand in the tank (( still on the sliders )), so it is sitting in rubbermaid bins. It was in the 40's over the weekend (( albeit rain on Sunday )), so it was warm enough to rinse it out outside.

Most of the wiring is done --- ended up having to get a 3rd EB8 -- was a couple outlets short. I thought about just getting the EB4, but figured that the extra outlets will come in handy in the future.

This is roughly how I have them set up (( as I am finishing up, have a feeling I will move things around ))

Note --- EB8-1 Right side of stand
EB8-2 Left side of stand
EB8-3 Middle back of stand

Note #2 --- Have 2 20 amp circuits for this tank -- nothing else on them.

EB8-1
1 --- Main pump
2 --- bank 1 of T5s
3 --- bank 2 of T5s
4 --- fan for T5
5 --- Right MP40
6 --- Future MP40/10*? Right back
7 --- ATO power
8 ---

EB8-2
1 --- LED stand lights
2 --- Left MP40
3 --- Vortech battery back up
4 --- Dosing pump
5 --- Future MP40/10*? Left back
6 --- Skimmer
7 ---
8 ---

EB8-3
1 --- Reactor #1 pump
2 --- Reactor #2 pump
3 --- Clip on fan
4 --- Heater #1
5 --- Heater #2
6 --- fuge light
7 ---
8 ---

That should leave me with 4 outlets (( The 8th one on EB8-2 would be too far away )) for the QT --- which I plan on having on a little stand next to the tank (( right side )) will be placed sideways and hold a 20 H. (( biggest that will fit and look halfway decent )). Under that stand will be the ATO container.

* When I take down my 75, I will see if the MP10s will actually work with 1/2 glass. Some say yes, some say no, others say yes, but the wet side will spin and be loud.... Other wise I will just go with the 40s and have them at the lowest setting, since they would be on the back wall.

All that I need to do now is to mount the T5 fixture and moonlights (( need to make something to hold them )) to the canopy. Have an idea of how I want to mount the moonlights, will just have to see how that works out. Had to move the Lunar Simulation Module to the back of the stand from the side, the cord to the moonlights isn't long enough. In addition, I moved the PM2 from the left to the right side --- cleaner cord management.

After that is done (( should be able to get that all done tonight, if things work out )) I need to actually set up the APEX for the first time. When that task is accomplished I will move the tank to its final resting spot, remove the sliders and add the sand. After that I figure it will take a couple of weeks to get it all full of water.

Mike&Terry · Nov 26, 2014

Looks like you are on the home stretch - love the attention to detail!

Tagging along...

Trex · Nov 30, 2014

Thanks, even with the holiday weekend I was able to get a decent of work done on the tank.

All the wiring is done.
The tank is back against the wall.
The "moving man" sliders are removed --- and wow did that one hurt the back.
Sand is in the tank!!!.

Some pictures,

Extra pond liner, help protect the baseboards and floor from any spills

Sorry about the focus -- on the overflow not the underside. Left side of the stand,

Middle part,

Right side

Underside, left --- can tell that there be sand in the tank.

Dosing containers --- still need to set up the dosing pump.

Dosing pump and what not.

Right side

Middle

SAND

Trex · Dec 2, 2014

There is now 30 whole gallons of salt water in there -- going to be a slow process.

A picture from Monday morning with 15 gallons in there, and about 100 pounds of rock,

Trex · Dec 15, 2014

Have made a lot of progress over the last two weeks, at least as far as putting water in goes.

The tank itself is not fully full, but still need a bit more for the sump. Been doing this 5 gallons at a time --- Would mix up the RO/DI water with salt, let it mix for 2 hours (( the time to "make" 5 more gallons )), or overnight and add it to the tank.

Before making the big push to fill it up, I changed all the filters/membranes/resins on the RO/DI, really helped speed things up, and give me water with an TDS of 0 (( tap's TDS is around 130 )).

In addition, I added 40lbs of flat Marco rock and about 40lbs of the normal stuff --- with an extra 2 rocks going into the sump and 2 additional ones going to be placed into the sump of my 65 at a later date.

Some pics, (( still need to recycle some boxes, but with all the stuff I have had delivered and Xmas, the recycling bin is full ))

Bit closer. Plan on moving a few rocks over from the 75 when I take it down, and perhaps one or two from an LFS.

From the sides,

Used some hangers for hanging the lights,

Looks fine on the inside of the canopy, but not so much on the outside. Not every one can see them, but at 6' 1", and having a bit of OCD, I can. Plan on making some wood blocks, staining them, and cutting the front of the blocks at an angle (( to match up with the top when the canopy is open )).

I had thought about just cutting them off, but figured the blocks would be best in the long run,

This part really bothers me, for 2 reasons; they aren't lined up, which just looks bad, and will make making the blocks a bit harder. Should have taken my time when I was lining up the holes.

SeahorseKeeper · Jan 10, 2015

Any updates??

Trex · Jan 15, 2015

Haven't updated in a while.

First, I need to get the camera out and take some new pictures.

So far, so good. I moved my clown pair (( B&W Ocellaris, and an Solomon Island Perc )), and a Kenya tree coral over. The clowns are doing great, even have been cleaning off a spot on the overflow --- they have been spawning for the last 6 months or so.
Still have to move over a couple of pieces of live rock that I want to keep, and a few more fish.

Did my first 10 gallon water change, it wasn't too bad, but had to use a step ladder to be able to "gravel vac" the sandbed --- need a longer hose.

I am evaporating more water than I planned for -- not a huge deal, but my 10 gallon ATO reservoir is only giving me 4.5 days. Until last night I had the Smart ATO pumping into my sump, but that limited my ATO reservoir size, since the water level couldn't be higher than the point were the water dumps into my sump.

An older pic (( and before I had the APEX fully mounted )), but at the back corner of the sump, you can see a little white holder for the water line --- that was the old home for the ATO inflow

So, I ended up move that holder to the rim of the tank --- actually one of the cross braces, since the rim was too wide for the holder. As of this morning the ATO pump was working great with the increased head. This will allow me to get a bigger ATO reservoir --- around 20 gallons or so. There is one side effect of dumping into the tank, and not the sump --- there is a delay in the water raising up in the sump to tell the sensor to shut off the pump. When it is done, the water level is about half an inch higher than it would be if I dumped directly into the sump. But, given the volume of water, the salinity won't change that much, and my sump is more than large enough to handle the extra water if the power would shut off right after the ATO runs.

Next, I have to redo one of my mesh screen tops to account for the ATO holder -- need to shorten it by about 1/2 inch. There will be an open gap at the back of the tank -- will either cover it will egg crate or acrylic.