Slow 40B build with 20L sump (1 Viewer)

[Not_Cycled]

My name is Daryl. How is everyone? I am a new member, although I have been lurking about for about a year now. So how about a little history. I started a 10 gallon freshwater tank and shortly realized that such a small tank needed constant attention. So I went out and found me a used 45 gallon. I have been running the 45 gallon for about 6 months now and have become more comfortable with the idea of having a fish tank. My wife is constantly like “I want that fish” and I have to respond with “That is a saltwater fish”. So I finally got the go ahead to build a saltwater tank. I will be doing what so many others have done, but here it goes anyways.

40 gallon breeder (display) (already have)
20 gallon long (sump) (already have)
Bean animal overflow
SWC 120 (protein skimmer)
Mag drive 9.5 (return pump)
Custom stand and canopy
DIY LED fixture (24 rb, 24 cw, 4-8 moon) (2x 8.5” X 12” heatsinks)
VorTech MP10 ES (power head)
40 lbs. of dry sand (Aragonite Special Grade Reef Sand) (already have)
60 lbs. of rock (dry and live mixed 50/50)
150W Jager heater (already have)
Buckeye Field Supply 100gpd RO/DI (already have)
Reefkeeper Lite with ALC module

I will make this my build thread. Just so everyone knows up front. I work long hours and don’t have a lot of spare time, so this will be slow. Since I don’t have a lot of spare time (or necessary tools), I need to find someone to build me a stand. I have something already laid out but I am at work currently and it won't let me upload the pictures. I will have to do that later. If someone would please help me with this, I would appreciate it. BTW, the stand is 3’ x 2’ x 5’-7.

Here are a couple of questions I still have.
1) If I don’t want to do an adruino build for the LED’s could I just use a Reefkeeper Lite with ALC module? Drivers will be PWM. I am thinking of going this route to keep everything simplified, since I will use other features of the RKL (ATO, temp, etc.).
2) How much substrate to use in display if I will be getting sifters, I am also using eggcrate on the bottom to help secure the rock?
3) Where is a good place to buy dry/live rock? (experiences)
4) What type of substrate to use in sump for a deep sand bed?
5) What are the benefits of chateo over mangrove or vice versa?
6) Where did you get the glass cut for your sump/overflow?
7) How does this sound for bean animal overflow? 1” stand pipes down to sump. For return, ¾” from pump split off between fuge and display. Display will be ¾” to tee reduced to (2) ½” lines to ½” bulkheads and then to ½” locline in tank.

Sorry for the lengthy start, just excited.

 

[Not_Cycled]

Not sure if this will work.

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[Not_Cycled]

Didn't work. I will post pics when I get home.

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[trb]

Welcome! First off, put your location in your profile, then we can recommend places close by you or people that live close by can offer help. Makes a big difference if you live in the Woodlands or Clear Lake or Richmond!

My initial observations, that mag pump will be overkill, you will need to valve it down a good bit. You really don't need more than say 7 or 8 times your volume of water running through your tank, especially if you have a Vortech. That would be about 350-400 GPH. That mag pump puts out about 950, minus head height pumping loss and you are around 600 or more.

I would run about 2"-3" of sand in the display. You won't have a lot of free sand space if you have a lot of rocks though in that size tank. As for live rock, check on here for people selling it, or one of our sponsors, FJW Aquarium, almost always has rock for a good price.

As for mangroves & chaeto, they are used for nutrient removal from the water. Mangroves are very slow at it though. Chaeto is much faster growing and uses up nitrates faster.

Ther are several glass shops around that will cut the overflow glass. Again, post your location and we can point you to one close by. And your plumbing sounds ok to me. But if you use the mag pump, you will also want a ball valve on the return to either restrict the flow or to divert some of the water back to the sump.

 

[Not_Cycled]

Thanks trb. I updated my profile. I live between Tomball and Willowbrook close to the Silverado Theater on 249, and I work off of 529 and Eldridge (290/BW8). I tried getting some quotes from some places but they are high. I might have to just use acrylic. I need 4 baffles for the sump and 4 pieces for the overflow. Not going coast to coast, but same skimming surface. The overflow will be 28" lg x 4" deep x 5" tall. This should give me 36" of skimming same as CTC and I will still have room on the sides for the returns. By the way, I received one quote for $220 and one for $416. Both of which are out of the question.

 

[trb]

Are they crazy? Several guys have used these two places for glass:

Glass for overflows:
Jacks Glass
16103 Kuykendahl Rd # A
Houston, TX 77068-3341
(281) 440-5712

MI Glass
8563 Breen
Houston TX 77064
Phone: 713.849.4141
http://www.miglassinc.com/



MI Glass was the best price for a table top for our kitchen table years ago. And they are pretty close by, right off Fairbanks North Houston. I want to say some guys got their glass for like $50-60 or so for the overflow. The baffles don't really need all 4 sides totally polished since they will be siliconed inside the tank. Maybe just the top piece. I had a piece of glass cut for a baffle in a 29 gal at a place by my work downtown, and it was about $10.

If you want to use acrylic, there are two places off Hempstead Hwy we use. Aeroshield Plastics and Regal Plastics. Usually they have scrap pieces you can get cheap, like a 1'x4' piece for $5-7 or so.

Also look at the DIY Resorces thread stickied at the top of the DIY forum for more info.

I'm right off the beltway & West Rd, not far from you. There are a lot of guys up this way and a few good stores too!

 

[padanky]

Try Binswanger Glass, not sure if there is one near you but I had three pieces about 12"x12"x1/4" cut for my sump for just under $30

 

[Not_Cycled]

Well I tried to post pictures and still nothing. I think it might have to do with me being new to the forum. So if I can find someone interested in building a stand/canopy I can just send them the pics. I also forgot to mention that I did paint the back of the 40B last weekend (Krylon Fusion Black) and went and picked up plumbing supplies.

The $220 quote was from MI Glass, but I am going to give them a call tomorrow to see why they were so high. Maybe I didn't explain it very well or maybe I can get them to just cut them instead of knocking off the corners and polishing the edges. Waiting to hear back from Jacks Glass and Binswanger as well.

I will look into the Mag 7. I was planning on teeing off the return line to supply the refugium, but do you still think that would be too much flow. The sump layout will be skimmer///return/refugium. I am going to go 9" in the skimmer and 10" on the refugium. This will provide room for adjustment on the skimmer and still have enough space for excess water from display during power outage.

 

[padanky]

Forgot to add that I also got a 6'x20"x1/2" sheet for $108 from Binswanger to replace the front of my 135gallon.

I can't figure out how to post pics either, every since the old Marshreef was replaced.

 

[trb]

I will check with the place by my work and see what they would charge. Are you getting just plain glass or is it dark tinted?

 

[Not_Cycled]

That would be great. I am looking for 3x 11-3/4"X9", 1x 11-3/4"X10". All but one will have bottom two corners chamfered. That is for the sump.

The overflow will be smoked glass. They said it is only a few dollars more. So the pieces will be 1x 4-1/4"X28", 1x 5"X28", 2x 4"X5". I hope that is clear. All panels will be 1/4" annealed.

If you pm me your number, I can send you a .bmp of exactly what I sent for clarity.

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[trb]

Prices from Bobbitt Glass
Office 713-523-7369
Fax 713-523-1569
1020 W. Gray (at Montrose)
Houston, Tx 77019


3x 11-3/4"X9", $7.08 each

1x 11-3/4"X10". $7.08

1x 4-1/4"X28", $11.37 smoked

1x 5"X28", $11.37 smoked

2x 4"X5". $1.62 each smoked

total before tax $54.30

I told the lady that calculated it that it was for a friend's fish tank, so if you call, mention that I came to get the quotes for you. Skinny guy in his 40's with glasses. This is all 1/4" thick, all sides polished. She agreed with me on the chamfering, you can just use a little bit more silicone under the glass to seal the baffles. No need to round the edges. I didn't on mine.

And I didn't discuss how smoked the glass was. This is probably pretty light, but you can ask her how much more if you want really dark glass for the overflow.

 

[Not_Cycled]

Thanks so much. The closest I was getting was about $120. I have it on order to pickup tomorrow, before they change their minds. Looks like I have some work to do this weekend!

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[tntdsol]

Let me know which one you go with. I live in the spring area and need some glass for my sump as well.

 

[Not_Cycled]

Went with Bobbit Glass per trb's post. They are located on the corner of W Gray and Montrose. In and out in less than 2 min. I haven't installed them yet, but service was great. And they were half the price of the lowest quote.

Thanks again trb.

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[Not_Cycled]

Like I said SLOOOOWWW!!! After a couple of life happenings here we go.
It all started here.

[/IMG]

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[Not_Cycled]

Now that I know how to post an image here we go.
Another useful tool.

First up, the stand. Cut the panel rail and stiles. And used the Kreg jig for pocket holes. I also made a crosscut sled (pictured) to help out on the table saw.

Here they are screwed together.
Backside of panels.

Front side of panels.

Panels put together, back panel is not screwed to the rest yet.

Bottom panel fit and bottom braces fit.

View from inside looking up at front panel, so you can see the pocket holes. Should also note that everything is glued as well.

Back panel installed.

Time for load test!! Here is what 600 lbs. looks like! This thing didn't budge' not even a creek!

 

[Not_Cycled]

Time to finish out. Add trim.

Here is a bottom view.

Stand painted white.

And now stained!

Here is the closeup of the stain.

Added two coats of polyurethane. The white is not so white anymore. The poly added a yellow tint to it. I also added some vent holes in case any moisture gets below the stand.

 

[Not_Cycled]

40 Breeder taped and ready for paint.

Three coats of black krypton fusion later.

Lookin good!

Overflow layout.

Made it through three holes when all of a sudden the bit caught and split the back panel.

So I got a new one and drilled first.

Here it is on the stand!

Overflow added.

 

[Not_Cycled]

Here is the sump

Here it is plumbed and going through a leak test.

Sump during leak test.

Overflow set during leak test.