Blog Comments

just curious, did you have marineland drill for Sch80 bulkheads? its not as big of a deal with the external overflow and ease of access to change one if needed. just a curiosity that has been bothering me. also, do you have any opinions on the Sch 80 bulkheads?

I feel ya on wasting time... I came home at 3:30 and was a little tired since I went in early... so I laid down... 8:30 I had finally woke back up.

Looks like it's coming along nicely though.... I fixed my bulkhead leak in mine tonight so have water running through it all including my 'ghetto sump' for the time being (it's just a rubbermaid container)

I'm reading all of your thoughts as there are times they may spark some ideas with me.

Sink: I really like Sink #2. I would drill it for whatever faucet I ended up buying - and I'd really like one that looks like a restaurant sink sprayer with the giant spring. I didn't see one at Home Depot but I have seen them at Ikea. Installing that sink into some type of framework or counter top is required, and I do like the idea of shelving underneath. The hot and cold water pipes are in the corner where I want to put the sink.

265g Poly: The reason that container doesn't go in the garage is because of our very hot summers here in Texas. I want the saltwater to have the same ambient temperature as the fishroom & tank. I have a feeling I'll need a heater for the winter months, but in the summer I hope to not need it. If I use a Liter Meter to do a water change, the slower rate of water entering / exiting the system would be negligible I think. I do prefer it in the far corner. The RO/DI system will stay in the utility room behind my washer/dryer and 25' of tubing will run from it to the fishroom to feed the poly and top off barrel.

Windex: That's to remove the suction cup marks left on the glass. The tank will need to be seriously cleaned inside and out prior to setting up. I tried some weaker stuff and the rings were surprisingly stubborn.

Timing: Things are moving along now, but I don't have a deadline. As I stated in this blog entry, I want to take my time and think things through so I don't have to redo anything.

Frag Tank: I think the frag tank will go to the left of the sink. Or perhaps it will go in the corner with the sink to its right. It could fit on the counter top, if I get one.

Lighting: I've been in contact with EZ-tube regarding making a light rack, but haven't ordered the components yet. I'm planning to use my Lumenbright pendants and VHO lighting like I did over the 280g. I would like the light rack to move, either over the tank perpendicularly, or perhaps length-wise toward the entry door. I'm not married to either direction yet and am trying to visualize it. Might have to make a prototype of out pink foam. hehe

Walkboard: It will be used as needed, inserted either in front or behind the tank. I don't want it in there full time because then I'll end up being lazy about doing something in the sump. I did install it now to get a good look and feel for how it will benefit my efforts.

Tonight all the sheetrock on the ceiling was completed. That was a pain because of the necessary cut outs and the ceilings joists that seem to be randomly placed. I hoped to have that done earlier but today I had a massive headache and burned up lots of usable hours. Oh well. Now I can get the walls covered, perhaps tonight.

just a question..
could you put the 55gal ATO container where the 265 is, then put the sink next to it between the door and top off container.
this would allow you to put your RO unit above the sink or the ATO container. (you can run the RO drain to the vent pipe of the sink, or saddle it to the sink drain.

on the sink, i like the 2nd. but you might look into building a vanity or something without doors but just shelving under. this will give you a place to put towels and misc cleaning tools. (scrapers and tongs ect.....)
this puts the 265 back in the original spot, which looks like you could put a small frag tank between it and the door as well...
just my opinions.

this gives you more room between the stand and any obstacle. (i dont know how often you get in your sump, but when i kneel down, my legs stick out quiet far, and you will enjoy not being cramped. (plus, i can tell you will be leaving the walking board and just ducking underneith it. (facts of life)


lastly, what are you going to be doing for lights.? are you keeping your current light fixtures?
you might look into getting the "easy tube" and making a rack and hooking it to garage door sliders. (the ones used for barn doors) this will allow you to slide your rack out of the way for maintenance. )
Glassreef.com has a nice build thread on his light rack. (with a vent fan above the tank, you wont need the PC fans that are used on that build)
(with the 265 out of the way, this is possible.)
also, you might put 2 pot lights above the light rack. so when you move the rack out of the way, you have lights to see in your tank without the MH lights burning your neck.

as i said, just my opinions and thoughts.

The last tank took 14 days from start to finish. How long has this one taken? I figured it would have been done faster since you know what you are doing this time.

I was so proud of the 2 gallon saltwater bucket I bought last night, but then you show up with your 265 gallon monster.

How much longer til you start filling the tank? The suspense is killing me!

Looking good! But, um, a bottle of Windex sitting in the overflow???

awsome so far. Nice planning as well.

Looking good Marc! It would be nice if the 265g tank could go in the garage area though, or make the fish room a bit wider. ;-)

Marc, one thing to think about with the sink. You may want to drill a third hole or get one with three. that sprayer comes in real handy as well. All in all it looks absolutely great Marc. Don't remember, is the new sump design all made up?

are you having fun yet? wow!

how is the livestock doing?

Holy cow Marc! there's too much there to comment on! suffice to say it looks like you're making great progress. I still love the work platform idea.

Edit: I have the first of those two sinks you looked at in my hangar. You get what you pay for, it's a flimsy POS.

You didn't even bother to shave or brush your hair? :P

Lookin good so far!! Love how alot of what you will be needing/using will be close to the tank

Interesting little toy. I do remember seeing something like this before with like a florecent transformer is this a refined version of the same thing?

I understand about being busy and having to get things done. Had a working weekend away from home plus a couple days before. Also had to help a friend get started with their website project I am hosting. Rabbits chinchillas and ferrets. Its fun but takes time away from other things too.

Hope things start taking shape for you soon can't wait to see the tank going.

Btw posted from my blackberry so please excuse any bad spelling and all.

Just messing with you! You know we will wait patiently but will bug you, like when you need to complete the woodwork trim. We know it will be amazing work. You are one of the reasons I get can not get flood insurance for my house! Now I am Waiting.......

Thanks for the suggestions. I may make some changes in the future, perhaps. However, at this point I'd like to just move forward and get the tank up and running. Changing out some outlets later is easy, as is the breaker.

You guys need to realize the new tank is finally here, but the room around it has to be completed before anything can be done for the reef.

I've been trying to keep up with my customers' orders, club needs, and quite a bit of travel, but all of that is finally behind me - or nearly behind me. I get to work on the fishroom and then the tank will get some serious love. More tank entries to come, I promise.

Marc
I would recommend using non-GFI arc-fault breakers for everything. The arc fault breakers will trip if there are an loose or shorted connections generating tiny arcs. And they're required for all residential outlets anyway.

For Outlets I'd recommend going with a good industrial grade weather resistant GFI for everything in the equipment room. the Weather resistant rating is a new one, and means they're designed to stand up to temperature extremes and humid conditions better. P&S even makes one with rubber seals around the plug slots to help keep moisture out. You may have to go to an electrical supply warehouse instead of Home Depot or Lowes to get them. Expect to pay about $12 each, but that's still much less than a GFI breaker and will give better protection. GFI Breakers are usually rated for equipment protection and trip at 15mA of current leakage, outlets are rated for personel protection and trip at 5mA.

Its been a week, is there still no water......