getting closer to water

blastprimo

blastprimo

New Member
Just wanted to post a pic of the setup as it stands now. I need to do a bunch of work but every day I get closer to getting water in the tank.



Work to be done:
Add the baffles to the sump (i have the glass and the silicon)
Add the black overflow to cover the durso (i have the acrylic)
Finish drilling the spray bar for the return
Drill the little hole in top of Durso
Paint the back black (planning on using Black latex
Finish all of the plumbing
move the MH ballast to the cealing so the wire doesn't go behind the tank.
Add handles to the door (I got those guys)
Add quarter round around the tank base.
Check for leaks

Some info:
20 G AGA with custom drilled bottom
10 G AGA sump/fuge
250 W MH PHO pendant running off of a SGS ballast
26 W PC retro fit from AH supply for 10 G fuge lighting
150W titanium heater (Won)
and right now a RIO 1700 but that may get replaced. We will need to see how the flow works out.
 
I

incysor

New Member
Looks very good. Nice setup. Is the light going to be turned so it's facing the same direction as the tank?

B
 
blastprimo

blastprimo

New Member
Actually PFO has designed this pendant so:

"The pendent should be mounted with the bulb perpendicular to the front of the tank"

It actually works out really nice because at that height, the light hits both of the upper sides and doesn't waste too much light on the floor in front of the tank. I have the center of the bulb right about over the center of the tank.

I can't wait to get this stuff done. If I could just get out of doing the home stuff like installing a dishwasher today and water heater last weekend, I'd be further ahead. Oh well.
 
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incysor

New Member
Interesting...I've just never seen one hung that direction before. What height do you have to hang it at?

B
 
blastprimo

blastprimo

New Member
Right now the bottom of the Pendant is 10 inches off of the top of the tank. I will need to see what type of evaporation I am getting once I get the water running.

Here is a quick pic with the room lights off and no flash. You can see the high intensity light looks like it is hitting just above the top of the sides.

 
C

cich1

New Member
sweet set-up, did you drill the bottom yourself? i've always been leary of bottom drilling because some tanks have a tempered bottom although i have seen an AGA 29g drilled
 
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incysor

New Member
That is one sweet pic....Very clearly shows the light dispersion.

It sounds like a couple hours work and you'll be able to put sand/lr/water in it. Are you gonna do it this weekend?

B
 
blastprimo

blastprimo

New Member
Cich1...I actually ordered the tank through a LFS and All Glass had it drilled before assembly.

I didn't get a chance to do the baffles today (damn dishwasher) so I will do them tomorrow morning and some time this weekend I should have at least some freshwater in there for the leak testing and plumbing testing.
Can't wait.
 
blastprimo

blastprimo

New Member
Update

One more update. I got the baffles in the sump (last one drying today) and I got the overflow in the main tank (also drying today). Now I have the first coat of Black Latex paint on the back of the tank. Looks nice. I will probably just need one more coat to make sure it is even with the light on it.





Mam, I can almost taste the salt water...wait, thats the lovely smell of silicon and paint that I am inhaling. oh well. :lol:
 
blastprimo

blastprimo

New Member
Allright...now i just have to wait until the silicon is cured enough to test the plumbing for leaks. I have about 14 more hours to go. Bummer. Oh well. Here is the latest picture with the bottom section door on and off. I suppose i should put the door handles on...more work and still no water.

 
blastprimo

blastprimo

New Member
Freshwater test

Well, the bulkheads held fine, the sump baffles held fine, but in the bottom corner of the overflow, there was a decent sized leak. Oh well. I just got done adding a nice fat bead of silicon all the way around and now I learned my leason to inspect the silicon after curing and before wet testing. Could have saved me a bunch of time. Oh well.
 
skipm

skipm

Moderator
Staff member
Your doing a good job, remain patient. There is a saying that the only thing that happens fast in a reeftank is disaster. There is also the old saying that good things come to those that wait. From the looks of your set-up so far I would say a very nice tank is in your future.
 
blastprimo

blastprimo

New Member
Thank you for the words of encouragement. I know something worth doing is something worth waiting for as well. I'm just excited to be this close. I would like to see some Live rock and sand settling in to that tank soon.
 
blastprimo

blastprimo

New Member
WEHEEEE

I just filled the overflow and I had no leaks to the main tank. Now i just need to make up enough water to fill the rest of the tank and check the plumbing. I am using RO/DI water because after this runs for a night or so, I am figuring on just adding salt to get about the right salinity and then removing water after if settles for a night to fit in the sand and rocks. I am excited now.
 
blastprimo

blastprimo

New Member
Allright, here are a couple pics of the spraybar while I was filling and the overflow working like a champ.

Love the way this is coming out. Tomorrow will be salt and sand day.





Let me know what you guys think.
 
D

dragon79

New Member
that's pretty sweet setup, i like how visual everything is, and it's coming along very well. Good luck ! :smile:
 
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