Todd's ~ 320 Gallon System- A New Biginning?

Nice to see it coming along.

 

Them there panels are looking good my friend!

And of course, the obligatory beer bottle in the photo!

Nice!

 

Ya can't have enough holes in your Family Room floor, can you?

Had to drill some more in preparation for my new overflows on the soon to be placed 180 where the 125 is!



I'm also getting a 25' roll of 1.5inch PVC hose from a local reefer for $38!- Score!

 

Well,
I'm working more, and when I have time off my wife says 'Oh, you're not working?.... I need you to ......'

I thought about how I think I want my canopy to come out, and started on some frame work for it:



The support frame is all 2x2's, and is sitting upside down in the pic.
The 4 supports going front to back will sit on the sides and the 2 cross braces to distribute the load of the 3 x 120W LED's.

The frame on the floor in the clamps is the frame for the front, I plan to have it pivot/swing up and back to allow access to the front half of the top, while still leaving the canopy on the tank.

And, the height of the outer panel and the trim is 10 & 3/4 inches., minus 2 inches behind the black trim- It'll be 8 & 3/4inches off the top of the tank itself- didn't want one of those really tall, top-hat looking canopys.
And the top and back will be open also. The top will be about 6 feet high. So unless you are really tall, or wearing some tall boots, you won't be able to see over the top while standing right beside it.

Plans are in my head, so I'm kinda winging this part of the build, but I think I'll get it to turn out all right.

Here is my Stand frame, DT and overflow- sitting idle while things are being prepped:



* Edit- that tank looks small to me in that pic!

OOhhh, OOohhh,
And my new return pump just came in to the lfs!

I'm going with the Jaebo DC12000! It's submersible, has it's own controller- DC powered, and should give me the extra flow I'm looking for! He's giving me a good deal too!
I'm getting a bit more anxious Mindy!

So, For flow, I plan to have my C2C overflow draining to my sump, and the DC12000 getting it back up in style.
IN the DT, I taking out 2 x maxijet's and a KOralia,
and going with
2 x WP40! I'm already using on WP40 and those smaller pumps,
But thanks to Reefer on 3Reef, I now have a 2nd one- just for my 180!

I have most all the outer panels already cut - Maple 3/4 Ply.
Next week it's supposed to warm up in the 50's! That will enable me to get some more painting and staining done.

I think I'll have another beer now in celebration.

 

Nicey nice! I would put a pillow and blanket in there so I can say I slept with the fishies

 

Today I:

Ordered my 3rd 120W LED Ebay
Evergrow Dimmable Full Spectrum D120 120W LED Light for Reef Saltwater Aquarium | eBay

Also bought a LOT of sch 40 PVC- 1.5inch ID- did you know that a 10ft section is only about $3.50? Got 3 of them.
And, a bunch of 60degree and 45 degree elbows, for my plumbing theu the floor, to my sump.

When I start getting all I need, I'll start working on a date for the transfer!

It's getting closer!

 

Got 1 of the above lights in, and since I now have it on the 125g for a while- I"m starting a new thread on it.

 

Looking real good Todd! Coming along nicely. The craftsmanship is outstanding and everything is very well laid out and thought out as well. I too am getting anxious to see water in this beast. Keep up the good work. Before you know it it will be complete.

 

First snow yesterday here.

I'm still getting things in order.

Thanks for the encouragement all.

My 125 is still doing quite well, which doesn't make it a MUST to motivate me to do the final steps as quickly. It'll happen though. ;-)

 

Well,
After much deep thought, and having several, suitalble containers to be used a a sump,

I decided to go with my current 125g DT, eventually as my sump for my 180!

After much contemplation- and a few beers, I modified a wall in my basement, which essentially willl modify my current sump room/compartment.

The advantages are:
- Straight shot from my DT on my ground floor to my basement/sump; and straight course back up to the display.
No horizontal piping/little if any angles needed.

Here's what happened while I was drinking a few beers this morning:

While my current 125g did well:


After much forethought/etc., I decided to make room in my sump area for my 125g after the transfer to function as my sump. Otherwise, I have planty of large, suitable containers that would have fit in my current area.

So, I took the current area:

With the vented door open:


And, as Wreck it Ralph would say, I'm goona wreck it! I began removing an end wall to modify it so my 125 would fit that area directly under my DT.


The Nailbat/Prybar was my friend on this mod:

A little more 'moding'

Modifying the drywall covering the ductwork so that I could easily run my returns straight down to the sump:

And the durrent 'corner/triangle that I'll be walling off to make room for a 6ft. sump.
I also plan to do a 'In-Wall' 40b frag tank in that angled wall as well.