We're Back

[spk]

Hi folks,

Yes it is that time again. After completing several moves I am now putting the 5x2x2 back together again.

My Old Setup (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=128713)

The Sale (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=140225)

The sale of the old livestock happened in April/May timeframe last year. Thanks to all of you that purchased the livestock.

Well this is going to be a diary of the new setup taking shape. I am using the same base as before.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/spk-base-301204.jpg

I have has the size of the weir drain increased from about 25mm to 38mm. To enable a greater turnover of water.

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/spk-Copy%20of%20CornerWeirHole-301204.jpg

For those who might not alread know, I am a typical DIY-Phobe. DIY=Don't Involve Yourself. I never drilled the tank had a LFS in Reading do it for me.

Well that is about it for now. Today the weir glass is going to be replaced and the back of the tank will be painted again. I will be using the Pool Blue from B&Q.

Steve

[elliot]

Hey ... looking good... glad to see you back...

How come 38mm? I would personally had gone for a 50mm hole... just for greater throughput.

elliot

[spk]

Elliot,

Sadly the re-drill did no crack that tank. However much I would have wished it. So we were limited to the area of the weir and the previous drilled hole.

Any way things are underway. Yipeeeeeeee.......


Steve

[jasc]

Good luck with your new/old set up.I spent a bit of time in your part of the world Army apprentice at PMC.

[spk]

Elliot,

re-read your reply. THe hole is drilled bigger than 38mm but that is the usable diameter once the pipe fitting has been put in place.

More pics soon.

Steve

[spk]

Today the glass weir got put back in along with the plumbing for the return.

From the side.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/spk-cornerweirinplace-301204.jpg

From the bottom.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/spk-outletend301204.jpg

From the top.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/spk-topend301204.jpg

Tank will be allowed to set till tomorrow morning about 24hrs and then the back glass will be painted again.

See you all soon.

PS: JASC when were you here?

[jasc]

93/94 went out with girl called sam fox

[Marc Foord]

steve

good to see you're getting set back up again :)

hope to see you at a west london meet soon ?

best wishes

marc

[spk]

Thanks for the comments folks. Marc hope to see you there soon to. Perhaps even get you all to come out to me sometime.

Well it is now the second day in 2005 and time for some updates.

Here is the start of the painting. That Pool Blue looks very light.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/spk-beginning-020105.jpg

First coat applied and the tank looks as if it is bowed. Hmm...optical illusion... :D
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/spk-firstcoat-020105.jpg

Final image, the last coat is applied. Now it can go onto the stand and wait for the plumbing.

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/spk-completed-010105.jpg

Well that all for now. Will keep you all updated as the progress goes.


Steve

[elliot]

Isn't this getting a little hands on for you? :P

nice colour though.. I like it

e

[spk]

Yeah Yeah :rolleyes:
I know DIY and all but I managed this without making a mess.

Although I must say i got one of those small rollers from the same people that make the paint and it fell apart right in the middle of the second coat....

[mooch]

mmmm, like the idea of painting the back of the tank, do you mind me asking, is it just normal household paint, ie gloss, emulsion ect, looks very impressive. did you just brush it on or is it airbrushed, as the finish looks smooth as a babys bum from her, :thumbsup:

[spk]

mooch,

The paint that I used is the B&Q gloss Pool Blue. It was applied using the B&Q small roller which fell apart so I had to use the sponge roller that came in the same package.
Unfortunately it is not that smooth.With the sponge roller it created air bubbles in the paint if the paint was not applied thickly.

See Elliot I told you that DIY is not for me. I cannot even paint gloss on a flat surface with out bubbles. :lol: :lol: :blush:

Thanks for the commetns.

[spk]

Another update:

Well the tank has now been placed on the stand.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/spk-tankinpos-030105.jpg

This is the tank next to the base before being lifted on.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/spk-tankreadyforlift-030105.jpg
It also give you an idea of the height of the base. Remember that my tank is 5' long.

and finally the thivkness of the polystyrene that I am using.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/spk-polystyrenebase-030105.jpg

Thats all for now. Originally this was not to take place till tomorrow but decided that if I do it tonight I can clean the tank tomorrow ready for the arrival of the sump and pipework.

Yipee! :dance: :thumbsup: Finally closer to a filled tank.

[spk]

It has been several weeks since I last updated this post so thought I should update.

The good news is that I have salt now in the tank and awaiting the arrival of the liverock.

All plumbed. The return pipe from the OR6500 including a non-return valve and tap. Although the tap has now since moved to a horizontal setting and not vertical.

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/sk-ReturnTapNRV.jpg

This is the top return pipework, including a tap for the trusty pod hatchery that I built for the last setup.

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/sk-TopReturnwithpodtap.jpg

This is a picture of the sump showing both the left and right hand sides. On the left you have the straight drain pipe, big mistake, and on the right the OR6500 return.
I have since changed the design of the drain once I had the tank full of water.

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/sk-fullsump.jpg

Whilst filling up the tank, I started with the sump so that I could see what the volume of water being returned to the tank was like. Here in this picture you can see. This OR6500 is a nice pump.

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/sk-ReturnFlow.jpg

Started filling the sump first and then moved onto the tank.

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/sk-fillingsump.jpg

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/sk-fillingtank.jpg

And finally thank fill. Leak test successfull and the pipework all safe and sound. Not bad for a DIY-phobe.

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/sk-tankfill.jpg

To all those who have helped in getting me so far and great big thankyou.

Steve

[andrewb818]

Hi Steve,
I was looking through the owners tanks section and noticed your's was the same size as mine (cough....tank I'm refering too! :blush: ).
I also notice that you're using an OR6500 as am I and pretty much same pipework system.

I'm still setting mine up and as you mentioned you had to change a couple of things can you cover what you did please and hopefully I'll get it right first time.
Issues with the pipework into the sump and ball valve changing position etc. :wacko:


My holes are slightly larger than your's at 51mm and double 27mm holes for return - weir is into the sump (as per your picture) - over a dsb and return via the or pump through the two return holes.

Any advice would be greatly received mate.

Cheers

Andrew :thumbsup:

[spk]

Andrew,

I will take some more pictures tomorrow evening for you and then post them up.
One thing that I recommend is that you do not have a vertical drain into the sump. This is one of the biggest mistakes that I made.

HTH

Steve

[spk]

I have finally taken the pictures of the changes and updates to the rest of process.

I have moved the tap from a vertical position to a horizontal poistion for two reasons.
1) Ran short of the smaller 90deg elobos, so used a larger elbow and then placed the tap.
2) Doing it this way reduced the height from the pump slightly.

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/sk-newreturnpipework.jpg

The next shot is of the sand bed that I am going to use to grow Calerpa and other nutrient exports as well as a healthy number of critters. (No Zeo for me Elliot :P )

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/sk-sumpsandbed.jpg

The final shots are for the drain from the weir to the sump. This used to be a straight vertical drop but I added a 45deg elbow that leads to some flexi pipe.

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/sk-drainelbow.jpg

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/sk-drainflexipipe.jpg

I also added a piece of flexi pipe that runs up the inside of the drain and into the weir.I can use this to regulate the level of the water in the weir,so that I can prevent the sucking in of the air into the drain.

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/sk-drainregulator.jpg

Hope this helps with some ideas.

Thanks

Steve

[andrewb818]

Hi Steve,
Thanks for the pics and the heads up for my pipework - I'll make sure i do the same ;)

I also added a piece of flexi pipe that runs up the inside of the drain and into the weir.I can use this to regulate the level of the water in the weir,so that I can prevent the sucking in of the air into the drain.

Can you explain this bit though - where exactly does this pipe go and what does it do? :wacko:

Cheers mate

Andrew :thumbsup:

[spk]

Andrew,

The flexi pipe basically blocks decreases the size of the drain outlet, which increases the level of the water in the wier, preventing noise.

I went to a club meet last night and Steve our host, had a tank that was astonishlingy quiet. It was amazing. What he has done is used airline down into the weir which I am going to try and do.

Hope this helps.

Steve

[andrewb818]

Hi Steve,
Thanks for the help mate - I'll give the pipework a go and hopefully it won't sound like an old sink now!! :D

Cheers mate

Andrew :thumbsup:

[spk]

Well, finally I have started to add some LR to the system, and in the process managed to get a hitchiker too.

This is the first rock added to the tank.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/1strock.JPG

and along with this was a hitchiker. Meet Brian :wave:
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/hitchiker.JPG

Since I have added these, I have now collected some other rocks.
Thanks Elliot......
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/fulltank.JPG

Some landscaping will occur in the next couple of days so keep watching this space.


Steve