Copingsaw's 80 Gal Rimless (1 Viewer)

[Copingsaw]

I've decided to upgrade from my 15-gallon nano. The new tank is an 80-gallon rimless made by Glasscages. The stand is made by Justin Henry who did a fantastic job.

Equipment list:
4' x 2' x 16" rimless tank
Tek Elite 6 x 48" T5 light
30" x 14" x 16" tall PM sump
Eheim 1262 return pump
Durso style overflow
BRS dual GFO/Carbon reactor
2 x MP40w
PM RL100 Skimmer

The tank and plumbing underwent a water test last weekend. The tank passed but the plumbing did not. Fortunately, I only had a couple of drip leaks in the threaded connections. Thanks to some timely advice from this forum and a little Rectoseal T Plus 2, the plumbing held with a second test this weekend. I am shooting for saltwater in the tank probably in two weeks.

Here is a link to the thread for my nano, whose contents will probably move over to the new tank:

http://www.marshreef.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=45599

A few pictures:

 

[cliner]

Nice tank, you got all the right makings.

 

[steveb]

sweet, do you have a valve in the line feeding the BRS media reactor?

 

[DonnieKim]

Very clean setup!
Nice!

 

[flexrac]

very nice!

 

[d2mini]

sweet, do you have a valve in the line feeding the BRS media reactor?

That little BRS ball valve should be on the feed line as well, not the exit line.
You use that valve to adjust the flow into the first container which holds your HCGFO, which needs to tumble slightly on the surface. Too much tumble and it will break up, not enough tumble and it will get hard/solid.

Great looking setup so far. 8)

 

[steveb]

duh I didn't even see it there - yeah what dennis said

 

[Copingsaw]

sweet, do you have a valve in the line feeding the BRS media reactor?

That little BRS ball valve should be on the feed line as well, not the exit line.
You use that valve to adjust the flow into the first container which holds your HCGFO, which needs to tumble slightly on the surface. Too much tumble and it will break up, not enough tumble and it will get hard/solid.

Great looking setup so far. 8)

Thanks for all the positive comments.

Yah, I thought about that but the directions from BRS said it could go on either side and since it was more convenient to place it on the discharge side, that's what I did. The only reason I can think of to put it on the feed side is that I could close the valve and open the reactors while the pump is still running. Having it on the discharge side I need to turn off the pump but that doesn't seem like such a big deal to me. Am I missing something?

 

[TexanReef]

If you go that route, you'll need to ensure your overflow is completely drained into your sump after you shut off the pump or you'll end up with a mess on the floor.

I agree the flow valve will work on either side but I'd probably opt for the inlet side so I wouldn't need to shut down the tank to change the media.

Looks very nice, by the way.

 

[flexrac]

Like d2mini stated, having it on the input side will control the flow and tumble of your media, if they tumble too much they grind u and end up in your display.

 

[inigomontoya]

Great idea feeding it off the return-going to steal that for mine. +1 on putting the ball valve on the inlet side. It's not just for on/off but to tweak the amount of flow to the reactor. Depending on your return pump you could have a lot of flow going through there. It also allows you to just use what you need and have a stronger flow through the tank if you only need half flow to the reactor.
I have that reactor on a maxi 900 for current tank and have it dialed down halfway.

 

[flexrac]

now that i think about it, you will get the same outcome with it on either end. but another one on the input would not be a bad idea, this will allow you to shut it down without turning off the main pump. but like you stated, it's not a big deal to you. so move on people, let's get this thing filled and stocked.

what's your stocking list?

 

[d2mini]

durrrr... ya these guys are right, it would work on either side as far as controlling flow. Brain fart on my part. But as pointed out, the other advantage is not shutting down the main pump just to change the media.

This reminds me... i REALLY need to go change my media.

 

[RR-MAN]

Great dims on the new tank.


Watch out for the metal wire holders that you are using, it gets rusty in a short time. I'm using the same ones made out of gray plastic.

 

[Copingsaw]

what's your stocking list?

So far only my two percs and all the corals from the nano. I am pretty sure I am going to order live rock from Tampa Bay Saltwater again. I may also order some dry rock from BRS or Marco and try to do some aquascaping. Once the cycle is over, I'll start thinking more about new corals and fish to add. Would like to add a few wrasses but I'll need to work up a cover if I am going to do that.

Watch out for the metal wire holders that you are using, it gets rusty in a short time. I'm using the same ones made out of gray plastic.

Yah, I thought of this only after I had installed the metal holders. STUPID! I'm sure I'll be going back and replacing it with the plastic ones after a few months. If this is my biggest mistake, I'll take it.

 

[tang]

Question on having the reactors attached to the return pump, wouldn't that kick up loose refugium and what nots into the reactors? I ask this because I had a plan to tee off from the overflow return instead and not sure if that would work either.

 

[Copingsaw]

Question on having the reactors attached to the return pump, wouldn't that kick up loose refugium and what nots into the reactors? I ask this because I had a plan to tee off from the overflow return instead and not sure if that would work either.

It shouldn't. The sump is set up such that detritus should not be flowing into the chamber where the pump is located. The pump also has a pre-filter.

I don't know but I would question the choice to put a reactor on the overflow return for two reasons:

First, your overflow is skimming the surface of the tank and there should be more junk in the overflow than in the pump return. If that's not the case your tank has failed because it is returning dirtier water than it is taking.

Second, the overflow return is not really pressurized and your counting on gravity to move the water. As a result, your probably not going to get much flow through the reactor.

 

[tang]

Yeah your way would be a lot better. I just get a bunch of junk in the DT when I stir things up in the refugium.

 

[Copingsaw]

The tank is up and running. I had an electrician out to install the GFCI last week. Picked up some sand from FJW on Friday and made water to fill the tank all weekend. On Monday, I took a trip to Hobby to pick up 75 lbs of live rock shipped from Tampa Bay Saltwater. Got it in the tank and things are cycling.

Question: I've got a mantis shrimp in one of the rocks. I took the rock out of the tank and have it in a bucket of saltwater. I tried squirting carbonated water and then hot water down his hole but he won't budge. Not sure what to do other than just stick the whole rock in fresh water until he dies or something?

 

[steveb]

ice pick, bamboo skewer - if you want to kill it. Have you been able to tell if it is the clubbing type or is it the spearing type?