A Reefaholic's 1000+ Gallon Mixed Reef System Build

[Dustin1300]

Originally Posted by david00061

Watch it you might leave your window open sometime. She might thump you on the head

Guess you're right. I know she'll not read my thread as she knows enough about the project

[Dustin1300]

I think I've nailed down the sump design and hope to get with the acrylic company tomorrow to get it ordered so I can start building this sump. I did the calculations and this will hold ~82.5 gallons and have room for about another 30+ gallons at 115 gallons for flooding...(Actually now I'm going to add drain at top so overflow water would go to house drain before flooding basement! I'd rather replace a pump than my finished basement!

I know I promised drawings with plumbing but I've at least got drawings of sump. Working on plumbing drawings next but about to call it quits for today as my brain needs a break before work week.

Overall pic of sump (51"X26"X20"):



Drains/probe mountings shown as well as top off level. I'll fill the drain towers with rock rubble to reduce the amount of bubbles forming in main sump area.



Picture of low\high water alerts. Both will e-mail me but the low level will begin shutting off pumps.



Drains that will have valve on them.

[MSHUR]

Now we are talking!!!))

looks good man.. are you going to use filter socks at all? i am planning to use 2 x 7" once.
are you running ext. skimmer?

[Dustin1300]

Right now it will be an Octopus SRO 3000 while I'm running the frag tank and fuges. Once they are a little more established and I've got some funds recovered in my pocket I'll move to the DT and will have to determine skimmer. If I go external route I may build a table the same height as frag tank and pull from its overflow and return it back to it's overflow which then drains right off to the sump anyways (So theoretically its cleaning in the same area of system).

This will at least get my addiction some relief. As sad as it is I'm happy to have live rock in the fuge seeding the sand bed so I can admire all the life that exists in our hobby.

[MSHUR]

Sounds like a plan.
I am planning to have extra sump with LR only this way i can use less rock inDT and plan on open aquasscape similar to bansai tree.. just not sure yet how i am going to plumb..

[david00061]

Thats going to be a nice sump

[Dustin1300]

Originally Posted by MSHUR

Sounds like a plan.
I am planning to have extra sump with LR only this way i can use less rock inDT and plan on open aquasscape similar to bansai tree.. just not sure yet how i am going to plumb..

That's my plan too. That's why I'm trying to have another 150-200 gallons of fuges that I get up and running before I tackle the DT.

[Dustin1300]

Originally Posted by david00061

Thats going to be a nice sump

Thanks David! I'm ready to get this thing moving. Hoping not too much lead time on the acrylic as it will likely take me 1+ week to do the acrylic sump then I'll have to build mangrove/chaeto tanks. Once I get quote for the acrylic sump materials I'll determine whether I use thanks that fit in the area under the frag tank or build another acrylic tank myself!

[Dustin1300]

MSHUR,

To your earlier comment regarding filter socks, I've thought about using filter socks instead of the drain towers in each back corner. Only modification I'd have to make is to bring out the top flange and have a hole to drop the sock into...I'm just not sure if I want to hassle with them or not...I've never used socks but know you have to replace regularly if you don't want to run into nitrate issues.

If you use socks do you typically just run them through washer without detergent and do you hand clean?

[Dustin1300]

Got with the acrylic guy today and going to getting cuts sent to him tonight with a quote tomorrow! Found source for weld on #4 and #16 since they only carry weld on #3. Also seem to have a multitude of sources for Schedule 80 piping online and local and going to figure out more of the plumbing tonight. I think I'm ditching the idea of drawing the plumbing up in Sketchup as it is proving to be too time consuming!

[david00061]

Originally Posted by Dustin1300

MSHUR,

To your earlier comment regarding filter socks, I've thought about using filter socks instead of the drain towers in each back corner. Only modification I'd have to make is to bring out the top flange and have a hole to drop the sock into...I'm just not sure if I want to hassle with them or not...I've never used socks but know you have to replace regularly if you don't want to run into nitrate issues.

If you use socks do you typically just run them through washer without detergent and do you hand clean?

i run them through washer with a little bleach

[MSHUR]

Originally Posted by Dustin1300

MSHUR,

To your earlier comment regarding filter socks, I've thought about using filter socks instead of the drain towers in each back corner. Only modification I'd have to make is to bring out the top flange and have a hole to drop the sock into...I'm just not sure if I want to hassle with them or not...I've never used socks but know you have to replace regularly if you don't want to run into nitrate issues.

If you use socks do you typically just run them through washer without detergent and do you hand clean?

Well, it is hassle but the polish water really well and collect deritus at best.
i have about 10 of them and change them every 3-5days. usually i collectem then wash them with bleach in washer mashin , then soak them in Ro water for 24 hours.. its a hassle but....))

[Dustin1300]

Originally Posted by MSHUR

Well, it is hassle but the polish water really well and collect deritus at best.
i have about 10 of them and change them every 3-5days. usually i collectem then wash them with bleach in washer mashin , then soak them in Ro water for 24 hours.. its a hassle but....))

You have a total of 10 of them in your system or you have ten of them in your system or 5 and 5 for rotation? I'm fine with throwing them in the wash and soaking in RO....That is not that much of a chore I might redesign so I have 4 sock holders then...Two on the sump, one going into the fuge, and another going into the mangrove/macro tank I'll be building. I'll see what options I have and then figure out what sized socks I need. They should minimize the amount of bubbles entering the sump so instead of having the towers I'll just bring out the top flange more so I can set a sock into it.

[Dustin1300]

Last night I went through the plumbing list and made it about 80% through my list of things I need. I'm already at $800+ for all the valves, sch 80 piping, unions, and fittings! That was not considering the quantity discounts I'm getting on some of them so hopefully I can keep the plumbing bill to 1k or less

[MSHUR]

Originally Posted by Dustin1300

You have a total of 10 of them in your system or you have ten of them in your system or 5 and 5 for rotation? I'm fine with throwing them in the wash and soaking in RO....That is not that much of a chore I might redesign so I have 4 sock holders then...Two on the sump, one going into the fuge, and another going into the mangrove/macro tank I'll be building. I'll see what options I have and then figure out what sized socks I need. They should minimize the amount of bubbles entering the sump so instead of having the towers I'll just bring out the top flange more so I can set a sock into it.

Sorry, i should of beeing more clear. I have 1 in the sump , but i rotate them and collect them for cleanning. i usually clean 8 at the time.for my new system ( more water) i will have 2x7" socks..

[Dustin1300]

That makes more sense then I think I'll go with 3 with the way I'm doing the design...The frag tank will overflow into the refugium on one of its drains so I want to catch anything coming from the frag tank to the live rock tank.

[Dustin1300]

Got acrylic, weld on #4/#16, and acupuncture needles ordered today to start work on the sump. Cutting/routing of acrylic should be done Thursday and needles will be at my house Friday. Hopefully I can get started on this one this weekend!

[Newbie Aquarist]

You build is coming along well. I built my sump as well. Good luck and wishing you well.

[Dustin1300]

Originally Posted by Newbie Aquarist

You build is coming along well. I built my sump as well. Good luck and wishing you well.

I've followed along yours too but just stalked I guess What method did you use on the sump? I'm going with the pin method and using .18 mm acupuncture needles to put the panels on with weld on #4. Wife is dropping by the plastic shop to pick them up in the morning! Now I've just got to wait on the needles/weld-on to get here!

[Dustin1300]

Got the acrylic picked up! I'm expecting weld-on be here today...

[david00061]

did you get enough to build 2 of those?

[Dustin1300]

I wish

[david00061]

Me too. I would love a sump like that.

[Dustin1300]

Seems I have not been served with any luck with the weld-on. Went on a mad search last night for the remaining tools to get the sump started and am awaiting the acupuncture needles in the mail and the weld-on got delayed because of computer system failure for shipper so it will not be going out until Monday Guess that gives me time over the next few days to design my plumbing in Sketchup and figure out all the fittings I need and have everyone critique my plumbing designs.

My build area is going to be on my unfinished pool table slate...Basement has not been furnished since we moved in but told the wife I needed to get my tank maturing before we investing in painting/furnishing the basement!

[Dustin1300]

Still awaiting the supplies so I can move forward with the sump. Hopes of getting water in by EOY are dwindling especially with all the holidays around the corner!