View Full Version : New Tank Build
After seeing everyone else's efforts on here, I have decided to post my own new tank build on here.
I have been keeping fish for the last 16 years (since the age of 10) and having started on tropical fish, had my first (fish only) marine tank (5x2x2) at the age of 19. I have been running my present reef tank for the last 2 years with good success and have now decided it's time for an upgrade.
At the same time I also plan to try to recreate a natural system as possible and therefore will not be using any form or mechanical filtration what so ever.
My main tank will be 54"x24"x24" running a 36"x12"x18" sump based on the Ecosystem principle (minus skimmer) and will consist of the following equipment.
Sequence 10,000 Marinised pump
2x Tunze 6100 Streams with 7094 Controller + photocell
IKS computer with 2x ph probes, 1x temp probe, 1x water level probe
IKS Plug bar
Koralin C1501 Calcium Reactor
Arcadia 250w MH (2x250)
300w Heater
I will use the 80lbs of STM live rock that I have intially (I will add more if I feel the tank would look better with more) and my current livestock and corals.
So far I have...
1) built the stand from scratch using a culmination of 4"x2" sawn timber, 18mm MDF and lots of very large 6mm x 100mm round wire nails (amongst others)
2) Drilled 3x 54mm holes for the over flow and return pipes in the base of the tank
3) Drilled a 61mm hole in the sump for the 2" connector to the Sequence 10,000 marine pump
Touch wood, everything so far has gone to plan. I am planning to put the tank on the stand on Saturday and will post some pics soon, showing the progress made to date.
I look forward to following your progress and pics. Leng Sy is giving a talk near us soon, so once I understand his principles better I will be even more interested in how you get on.
Tony
Originally posted by ~Tony~@Oct 13 2005, 15:30
I look forward to following your progress and pics. Leng Sy is giving a talk near us soon, so once I understand his principles better I will be even more interested in how you get on.
Tony
Hi Tony,
I am also in Hampshire (Southampton) where abouts is he giving this talk?
Andy
At Tropical Paradise, Eastleigh on the 25th. see Si's post (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=50969&view=findpost&p=410143).
See you there then?
Tony
5061litres
13-10-05, 18:25
can i ask where u got ur sequence pump from? and price..
tony.
I got the pump from a place called Koikit, it was £150 inc of P+P which worked out £11 cheaper than S-T-M - See link below:
www.koikit.biz
In terms of fittings I found a shop called petsparade that are able to provide the connectors needed for much cheaper than anywhere else- See link below:
http://www.petsparade.com/product.asp?prod=3578
Been completly caught up with building the tank and havent posted anything for a while now.
I have now built the stand using a combination of 4x2 and 18mm MDF.
For the top and the bottom of the cabinet I have built a Ladder frame and sandwiched this with 18mm MDF. I then cut a series of uprights and using a combination of crossing pining and driving some very large 100mm x 8mm round wire nails through the top and bottom of the frame into the uprights brought the cabinet together.
Around the outside of the cabinet, I have used tongue and grove which I bought from B&Q for just under £3 per packet. All of the wood was then treated with a special wood preserver which is especially effective agaisnt wet\damp and humid conditions.
Tank stand with top and bottom on and some cladding
In the top of the cabinet, I have drilled 2 x 75mm and 1 x 90mm hole to enable the piping to go from the tank into the stand and vice versa.
(note sump with equipment in!!! :D )
Along the top of the cabinet, I have laid a 3/4" polysterene base - Pic shows holes for piping
looks good be waching this one :bow:
:D Finally got the tank in having drilled the three holes required in the bottom of the tank - all 54mm to take a 40mm VDL tank connector. Two of these are for the return and one is for the overflow.
Getting the tank up the stairs was interesting to say the least! - just hope all my weight calculations were right as I dont think our neighbours would appreciate the tank coming through the floor!! (it's a solid concrete floor so no worries :wacko: - I hope!! - all joking aside have had checked bya structural engineer!)
To make it easier for myself, I siliconed the tank connectors in whilst the tank was in the garage.
The overflow is 4mm glass from my local glass merchant and the durso weir is straight out of my previous tank.
Next to do are the returns :D
Returns are 40mm VDL and besides a little difficulty ensuring the outlet wouldnt send the water straight over the front of the tank went in very easily.
Although its not possible to see from pics, each outlet has a 2x 2mm holes in it to ensure that in the event of a power cut, they dont drain the entire main tank water into the sump!
Early stages of plumbing within the cabinet. The two ball valves are for the return pipes with the pipe in the centre being for the overflow.
Before I do anymore plumbing though, I need to build the sump to ensure my measurements are correct - strong stuff that solvent weld!! :wacko:
Decided to do a little bit more plumbing before I start the sump, couldnt help myself got carried away :D
I know there has been a lot of discussion on here about 90 degree bends but having had a look at a lot of other systems I have noticed that they are very common, with some people reporting no problems and achieving more than adequate flow rates and others saying that they seriously restrict flow - which they obviously do in comparison to a series of 45 degree bends
However the reason I have gone for these is partly due to space considerations (within the tank) and also that having done my sums, I will still be aciheving a tank turnover of approximately 14 times, which is more than suifficient for the MM sump.
Main tank circulation will be provided by a Tunze Ts24 kit and so fingers crossed all will be well.
I'll let you know how it goes when it gets switched on :lol:
only joking! I've go a few 90degree bends on my returns too!
I built the sump using more 4mm glass from my local glass merchant.
The design is taken straight from Ecosystem's own MM sump design and the main compartment which will hold the mud is 24"x15"x18".
The balls in the pic were used to make sure that I had the correct gaps set between the glass ;)
Full pic of sump, before I siliconed any compartments in.
Been doing some more drilling, this time for the 50mm tank connector that will connect the sump to the return pump, using a 61mm drill bit. Thankfully thats all the drilling done now and no cracks so I am very happy :lol:
With the sump,built I have been able to get on with the plumbing and finally getting the Sequence pump in!
All the wires in the background are for the Ts24 kit
:( Made my first error in that the pump is too big to sit inside the cabinet!!! :blush:
After pulling my hair out I have decided to try and situate it outside the tank and see if it's okay. I am however realy worried about the noise this will cause and may have to have a rethink!
For now I will just have to wait and see though, as the tank is now ready to start to be filled!
Pic shows pump mounted on block outside of cabinet, ready to be plumbed in!
Pic of Sequence plumbed in and ready to go - minus 400 odd litres of water that are needed to fill tank
Have now finished filling the tank (pics to follow) and fired up the Sequence. The noise from this pump is loud to say the least and depsite having tried a multitude of things, it can be heard in the next room (living room) over the TV.
I don't know how other people have got on with the pump, but even if it fitted within the cabinet, I think I would have needed a huge amount of sound proofing material to make it bearable as it has a very deep humming noise. That said the flow rate is fantastic and I can understand why these pumps are so popular.
Although it's a set back, I have decided that the only alternative is to sell it (already sold) and try an Aqua Medic Ocean Runner 6500, which gives me the option of running it in the sump as well. This means that I will need to alter the pipe work a little by incorporating a 25mm tail hose but fortunately this wont be a problem.
The other big advantage for me, is that as the Sequence was to big to fit in my cabinet, I am now able to keep everything within the cabinet and so keep it neat and tidy. :D which will please the wife :D
the pump was to close to the wall and could have caused a problem with air flow around the fan intake and also if you had soft mounted it on a could of door stops it would have been quieter
Regards Steve.
I did try a couple of other alternatives which differ to that shown in the picture, I actually turned the pump 90 degrees round so that as you look at the pic, the fan is facing you, and I also demounted it off the wood and remounted it on a thick polysterene and foam base. Although this helped with the noise this didnt make enough difference and it could still be heard in the front room over the TV!!!
I think that if I had been able to site the pump in the cabinet this probably would have made quite a noticable difference, but unfortunatley this wasnt possible.
Now that the tank is filled, and the Ocean Runner has arrived and been plumbed in, it's a case of adding the salt and turning it all on!
Thankfully there were no leaks from any of the plumbing! :lol:
The lights in above the sump are 2x 36w Interpet T5's
:thumbsup: coming along nicely,keep them pics coming :thumbsup:
Finally hung the light above the tank (just the one 250w at the moment - as considering lighting options - thinking of going for a 400w 3 series - but havent been able to find much out about these?)
I have also added 20lbs of live sand to help the maturing process, along with a little sand from my current tank at the moment.
Tank is finally up to correct salinity and temp and I have hung the single Arcadia MH (for the moment) from the ceiling -
All the pipework has been checked and despite a couple of small leaks (been sorted) - finally the first of the live stock is able to go in :D
First attempt at aquascaping - only enough rock to fill one side of the tank so desperatley need to get some more!!! - can't believe how sparse it looks, I thought it would fill much more of the tank that it has (there is currently 50kg in there)
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