220g Tank - At Last!!!

[Boostable]

I know... just a stupid amature mistake... Wait.. I am an amature.. LOL

Normally I would of droped the sump in before filling, but was behind on the build, so I didn't.

I agree the 55 is a great size for this tank, and everything setup and ready to go...

O Well.. I will get it figured out, just means im suppose to be doing some other setup maybe.

Just goes hand in hand with my 518.8 mile road trip I made this weekend and nothing to show for it... but thats another story!

[BubbaWPB]

NO WAY!!! REALLY? You got water in yours yet, or you just gotta move the tank?

I got lucky and picked up some from a guy here locally who had some. I might have a line on some more if your looking. Let me know.

I used 5 bags.. Something to keep in mind.. had to remove 5G of water for every 2 bags I put in..

No water in the tank yet... tank isn't even on the stand yet, but the stand has too many braces and a solid top. I've decided to use the scratched up old 75 gallon acrylic that I was going to use for a sump as a quarantine tank... maybe. Or a tank to cure my live rock... or... or... or... (one can never have enough spare tanks in the garage.)

If you can get more Southdown, let me know... I'll be up your way for a meeting in early March.

[Boostable]

She's Clear!!!!

Well, here is the latest on my sump saga.

The 55 I had is now in the big fish bowl in the sky! I reconfigured an acrylic 30 that I pick up from a local reefer a couple of months ago to get some filtration on the tank and hold me over until the new sump arrives.

Im going to have a custom sump built by Marc. His site is www.melevsreef.com. Here is a pick of a similar unit.



The 30G im using now will atleast allow me to get things setup and rolling. I know it will not sustain me for a long period of time, but its gonna take 4 weeks to get the sump, so I think I will be ok till then.

Sump will be 54 x 16 x 16 and will have a center return with a 2" bulkhead. Fug on the left and entry/skimmer on the right. I have a few questions about plumbing it but have time to figure that out. Should be pretty nice.

The tank looks really good. I have about 3" of sand in it and its settled out pretty good now. I will try and post a pic later tonight/tomorrow.

Working on my water conditions now, so once im happy with those I will start my migration from my 75G to the 220G... That should be fun!!!!

I swear the fish in the 75 keep looking over at the 220!!!.. LOL

Anyway.. thats its for now...

Jack

[Boostable]

One thing was I as considering was running 2" baffles instead of 1" on the summp. My thinking is it may allow me to run the pump a little less restricted and get more flow. I know there is some concern with microbubbles doing this.

Has anyone run 2" instead of 1"?

Thanks,

Jack

[dougc]

I think that Jack is taking the right approach. I had a sump that I had to lower through the top of the stand before putting the tank on top. Although it never happened, I feared what would happen if I had to replace the sump because of a crack or a leak. I would have had to either tear the whole tank down or break up the sump and remove the remains through the door. Either would have been a major pain.

[Boostable]

Im trying to keep this thread positive, but this needs to be included..

Crash and THEN SOME!!!

[Boostable]

Well now that I have the tank back on track and it is doing its thing I have some time on my hands so I decided to build my own sump. Figured what the hell!! right?

Here goes nothing.

Things got a little messy. I used the table saw, skill, and router to make all my cuts. I bought a 4 x 8 sheet locally and had it ripped down to 3 - 16" 8' pieces. I wanted a 16 x 16 sump so all I had to do was work on the lengths, etc.




I built a little jig and figured I should practice a little cutting the groves for the fug overflow. Looking pretty good so far. Think im ready for the real deal.




This took me by far the longest for obvious reasons. Came out nice though if i say so myself.




Here is everything all cut and layed out. On to the assembly process.




A quick mock up to make sure everything fits the way expected.




Well on its way...




This is as far as I got Saturday night, so I continued this morning.

JW

[Boostable]

This morning I got started on my baffle assembly.

My baffle assembly







Left side going on..



Right side going on..



Bottom going on....




Now we wait!!!!

JW

[zhenya]

Hey Jack,

That looks great! Now you need to come over my house and build me one of this...

[Boostable]

Thanks Gene!!!

Would be glad to build ya one, but the gas might kill yea.. LOL

JW

[Boostable]

Well I got it finished up today... Here are some pics and info.

Set the bottom up for 24hrs..




Decided now was a good time to do a partial water test. Only filled it up half way as I have yet to put the top braces on it and didn't want to add the strees.




Top braces installed and intake chamber installed.




Close up of the intake chamber.




Close up of the baffle section.




Close up for the fug section..




Here she sits in all her beauty!!!!




Gonna fill it tomorrow and let it sit for 2 days full. Didn't have any leaks today, but want to be sure. Should put me online for a weekend install.

[Reefland]

That looks great!

[charlie]

A true work of art. Nice job.

[BubbaWPB]

I'm impressed! Nice work Jack!

[Boostable]

Thanks guys... appreciate it!!! I still need to route the edges, but im pretty happy with it. Hope it works as good as it looks.. ;)

Jack

[fordman460]

I gotta find me someone to build me a masterpiece like that. I have neither the time nor the patience to do that. That looks great!

[Boostable]

fordman.. It was not so bad, alot easier then I thought actually.

[Boostable]

Well I finally got it all finished up.

I routed the edges and filled it with water to test it for a few days.

Here are a few pictures before she gets installed.

Skimmer section.


Baffles.


Return chamber.



Refugium champer.


Full shot, all full..


I have it set on a couple rows of paper towels so even the smallest leak would be detected. So far so good...


JW

[Reefland]

Boy that really looks nice! Any leaks detected?

[Poseidon]

Great job Jack! Maybe I will try and build one... MAYBE NOT! ;) If I do I will certainly post pictures.