250gal Island tank project
- Thread starter dragoneggs
- Start date
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dragoneggs
Well-known member
Thank you MCS and Marinegeek! I appreciate the kind words after a laborious effort to date.
Ha Ha... MCS, I think I might have you on power outage hours! I am at about 130hrs but I haven't done the calc's yet. Do you have a GenTrac or something for your auto backup? How does your generator auto start?
Ha Ha... MCS, I think I might have you on power outage hours! I am at about 130hrs but I haven't done the calc's yet. Do you have a GenTrac or something for your auto backup? How does your generator auto start?
JPG@CFI
Precision Fabricator
Mark,
Looking good, man! Thank you for the kind words, you have been great to work with too. Get some live rock in that bad dog!
Jason Gregory
Looking good, man! Thank you for the kind words, you have been great to work with too. Get some live rock in that bad dog!
Jason Gregory
MCSInc
Reef Enthusiast
For technical questions I would have to get answers from the hubby (Jud) but the generator is a Guardian Auto start and it has a panel the same size as the house panel and the two are side by side in the wall. Basically you put the switch on auto and if the power is interupted it kicks on. I think he has everything in the house wired into it now with a couple of exceptions (the hot water heater is not yet wired in). Here is the down side - it consumes propane at the rate of up to 2.5 gal per hour. Yep, you read it right. But, the corals and fish are safe and warm.
Candy
Candy
class clown
Well-known member
wow - I just finished your other post on this.. you have put in a lot of work to this and it shows -Fantastic!
The cabinet is absolutely beautiful -nicest one I've seen in a while. I've got the tools (router, table saw, compound miter, etc), but I just don't have the skills yet to do somethign ike that. hat's off to you my friend. And I can't wait to see what it looks like when you get it all flled up and aquascaped and with fish.
Question: did you decide to go with a different size than the 60 * 24 and remaking the stand, or did you decide to keep it? I couldn't tell from the post.
The cabinet is absolutely beautiful -nicest one I've seen in a while. I've got the tools (router, table saw, compound miter, etc), but I just don't have the skills yet to do somethign ike that. hat's off to you my friend. And I can't wait to see what it looks like when you get it all flled up and aquascaped and with fish.
Question: did you decide to go with a different size than the 60 * 24 and remaking the stand, or did you decide to keep it? I couldn't tell from the post.
dragoneggs
Well-known member
Thank you Class Clown. Stay tuned... I will post some more pictures in a bit.
Yeah, I actually changed dimensions of the tank mid stream after building a stand for a 60in by 24in tank. I realized that 24in was not wide enough for a island (center overflow) and I cut back the length to make a little easier access between the kitchen and living room. It would have been a bit tight... especially for furniture if I had to move it in or out. Unfortunately I got a little ahead of myself in building the stand before I had all the details figured out. The good news is it looks like the 'old' stand has found a home.
Yeah, I actually changed dimensions of the tank mid stream after building a stand for a 60in by 24in tank. I realized that 24in was not wide enough for a island (center overflow) and I cut back the length to make a little easier access between the kitchen and living room. It would have been a bit tight... especially for furniture if I had to move it in or out. Unfortunately I got a little ahead of myself in building the stand before I had all the details figured out. The good news is it looks like the 'old' stand has found a home.
dragoneggs
Well-known member
Here is a shot from the kitchen showing how it is located in the room. It is now basically a divider between the kitchen and our living/family room. Perfect for 4 sided viewing. It is positioned in the middle of the large opening at the bottom of the two steps leading into the room. Sorry it it a little dark.
dragoneggs
Well-known member
Here is a shot of the underside plumbing not finished yet. I still have to hook up the closed loops.
dragoneggs
Well-known member
I have the main pump temporarily plumbed so I could start circulating the water. Notice the 1.5in holes in the floor of the stand. There are four holes near each of the center supports and a hole in each corner for a total of twelve holes through the floor. I will route the plumbing to the main pump and four CL pumps in the crawlspace to eliminate noise. I will actually route and locate them about 20ft away near the entrance to my crawlspace for maintenance access. That is a whole lot of Canaflex!!!
dragoneggs
Well-known member
There will be 10 hoses going to/from the 5 remote located pumps. The other two holes will be for wiring.
SueT
Well-known member
that is absolutely gorgeous!!! great work and very nice looking!!
dragoneggs
Well-known member
Thank you for your comments, SueT!!! I hope to pick up the live rock today or tomorrow.
SueT
Well-known member
that is going to be an aquascapers dream... I think it would be...what kind of scape are you going for or are you going to let what happens happen..
dragoneggs
Well-known member
Well... aquascaping is actually where I am at now... pictures like I said are lagging just a bit. There is a alot to do!!! Not only aquascaping but the CL and main pump placement under the house. There is not much room to work in the crawlspace and I have to snake myself around HVAC, natgas, and house plumbing.
Not to mention the sudden water issue I now have under the house directly under where the tank is located. It figures...
In twenty years of living in this house I have never had a water problem. Now, because of our record rains, the septic system is saturated and we have to ration showers, toilets, etc. until the ground dries up. The ground is so wet that is coming into the crawlspace in the lowest area. I am installing a sump pump for that too!
Oh well... here is more progress shots. First one of the two rock racks without pegs in yet.
Let there be salt!!!
What a sight... full and cloudy tank. Salting is complete for now. I am measuring sg 1.022. Temperature is up to 77degF now.
Not to mention the sudden water issue I now have under the house directly under where the tank is located. It figures...
In twenty years of living in this house I have never had a water problem. Now, because of our record rains, the septic system is saturated and we have to ration showers, toilets, etc. until the ground dries up. The ground is so wet that is coming into the crawlspace in the lowest area. I am installing a sump pump for that too! Oh well... here is more progress shots. First one of the two rock racks without pegs in yet.
Let there be salt!!!
What a sight... full and cloudy tank. Salting is complete for now. I am measuring sg 1.022. Temperature is up to 77degF now.
dragoneggs
Well-known member
Here are couple more detail shots. This is a top view of the center overflow. Great design by Jason! Alot packed in to a relatively small area and all maintenance accessilbe. Two drains, two main pump returns, and electrical conduit for my canopy.
Attention to detail... this is same shot with overflow cover.
Attention to detail... this is same shot with overflow cover.
dragoneggs
Well-known member
Okay pictures are catching up to almost real time, Dang!
Tonight I put in the live rock. Here is the first one, a 30lb beauty. It is huge, about 20in by 9in by 11in and very porous. I put a little one by the CL returns as I will try to disguise and hide a bit.
This shot is 110lbs worth. I decided just to throw it all in for now and start the real scaping tomorrow.
From the other side...
Tonight I put in the live rock. Here is the first one, a 30lb beauty. It is huge, about 20in by 9in by 11in and very porous. I put a little one by the CL returns as I will try to disguise and hide a bit.
This shot is 110lbs worth. I decided just to throw it all in for now and start the real scaping tomorrow.
From the other side...
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dragoneggs
Well-known member
As far as aquascaping goes, I think I need to sleep on it. I really haven't got a clue what this will look like but I do know I need a bunch of 2 pounders or so to tie up along the overflow.
Another awesome detail is the vertical tie off rails. There are two per side for a total of eight. Notice the holes ready for cable ties anywhere I want them!
Another awesome detail is the vertical tie off rails. There are two per side for a total of eight. Notice the holes ready for cable ties anywhere I want them!
Krish
RF STAFF
Very nice Mark! The attention to detail is great for sure Good luck with the aquascaping! I know for me having a touch of OCD, that is the most mentally frustrating part of the hobby!
Good luck with the aquascaping! I know for me having a touch of OCD, that is the most mentally frustrating part of the hobby!
brady816
Well-known member
I enjoy looking at everyones start up tanks. Looking verry good so far keep the pics coming
shallowreef
Well-known member
Cool Tank i like the way the returns come up through the bottom.
