The 6 Million Dollar Tank (man)

jefathome · 04/22/2010, 01:50 PM

We can rebuild him... We have the technology, we have the capability... We can build it better than before. Better! Stronger! More flow!!

Many of you have read about the disaster that happened to my tank. For those that haven't read, I can sum it up as:

"Busted seam, 100g on my floor, Ich outbreak, and a cracked MH spilling out UV light... 100% loss on fish, 70% loss of corals.

Here is the original thread: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...light=disaster
That one was about tank LOSS, this one is about the new REBUILD. It is gonna be a (Lee) Majors pain in the butt, but I think it will work out for the best. The guy who built the tank for me is going to repair it and add some additional braces so the tank itself will remain the same. Everything else will be different.

This was my tank:

This is my tank right now:

Lets see what the future holds...

Since I'm pretty much starting over from scratch, there are a few specific goals I have for this tank.

1) Wife doesn't want a tank inside anymore in case of future disasters, so I'm moving it "outside". It will be an in-wall display with the tank located in a closet I'll build on the outside of the house.
2) Have more room for equipment than I have with just a stand
3) Make it more energy efficient
4) Avoid the Produce Isle/stack of rocks look (ie, make it more natural looking)

jefathome · 04/22/2010, 01:56 PM

Well Step #1 was this week... I found a guy that will cut the hole in my wall and install a header.

While we are at it, we are going to install a new window on the opposite side of the fire place. There are NO windows in this room so it gets kinda dark. We also need a window for summer heat since we can't get a cross breeze.

All told, the window and hole should work out to about $550 installed. The rest I'll do myself (save the $$ for livestock and equipment).

jefathome · 04/22/2010, 02:00 PM

Step #2 was today... Since it is EARTH day after all, I decided to go with some solar-tubes. And bc it is earth day the Home Depot had a 20% off sale. Add onto that the 30% Energy Star tax credit and these things are pretty cheap (about $350 total for BOTH of them).

I'm going with two of the Velux 14in Energy Star rated models. I'll also probably put in my existing T5 actinics for supplementation and evening viewing.

nano mania · 04/22/2010, 02:55 PM

Great start, can't wait to see this rebuild.

Paulairduck · 04/22/2010, 02:56 PM

That stinks, that is a bad dream for me on my 300

solitude127 · 04/22/2010, 03:50 PM

Good luck with the new build.

GREEFMAN · 04/22/2010, 03:53 PM

Nice can't wait to see the progress.

savethereef · 04/22/2010, 04:05 PM

wow cant wait to see this.

gonzo4reef · 04/22/2010, 04:57 PM

hate to tell you this but you might need a permit to add on that closet outside. If you dont get the permit the fine when you sell the house could be pretty fat; and if the house was built prior to 1978 you may need to call in an asbestos inspector. Sorry but maybe this will save you the heartache of a huge *** fine when you sell the house.

GREEFMAN · 04/22/2010, 05:03 PM

Could you set the tank on the other wall and build into the garage?

fshRfrendsNTfod · 04/22/2010, 06:16 PM

great start. sounds like its gonna be nice when said and done. good luck

sharkE · 04/23/2010, 02:23 AM

soOOoOooo a cracked MH bulb will spill UV and kill fish!?

glad i just learned this before i started stocking my tank!!!
i have a bulb that cracked when the water hit it and now there is a HOLE in the bulb...
will NOT be using that bulb!

savethereef · 04/23/2010, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sharkE

soOOoOooo a cracked MH bulb will spill UV and kill fish!?

glad i just learned this before i started stocking my tank!!!
i have a bulb that cracked when the water hit it and now there is a HOLE in the bulb...
will NOT be using that bulb!

It gives ur fish cancer

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

jefathome · 04/23/2010, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gonzo4reef

hate to tell you this but you might need a permit to add on that closet outside. If you dont get the permit the fine when you sell the house could be pretty fat; and if the house was built prior to 1978 you may need to call in an asbestos inspector. Sorry but maybe this will save you the heartache of a huge *** fine when you sell the house.

Thanks for the tip. We don't plan on moving from this house for at least another 15-20 years. If anything, we will build a 2nd story before we move, and that will probably necessitate that I remove the closet anyway.

We live in a great area at the very top of a large hill, so we have an awesome view (I can almost see the ocean and it is over 7 miles away)... Also there is a trail-head about a block away that leads into a county park and that county park backs up to a national forest. Im a Mtnbiker before I'm a reefer, so that pretty much seals the deal.

jefathome · 04/23/2010, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sharkE

soOOoOooo a cracked MH bulb will spill UV and kill fish!?

glad i just learned this before i started stocking my tank!!!
i have a bulb that cracked when the water hit it and now there is a HOLE in the bulb...
will NOT be using that bulb!

Maybe... I took all the fish out of the frag tank becasue they had Ich. In the process I splashed the water on the bulb, so the next day it cracked and killed the corals.

All the fish (except two chromis) were already out of the tank when the bulb cracked. One of the chromis died about a week later, but I don't know if it was the ich or the light. Could have been the light though since I did notice some sort of absess on his head.

I've started my re-stock already with these guys... Picked them up at MAX for $50 (for the pair, not each):

jefathome · 04/23/2010, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GREEFMAN

Could you set the tank on the other wall and build into the garage?

I could, but then I would not be able to do teh Solar Tubes as easily. Also, my garage is already packed to the gills with "crud", a beer fridge, deep freezer etc. I think you have seen my garage.

Plus we have a TV cabinet over there already.

If I put it in the wall where it is currently located I can drain water directly into the dirt area between our house the street. Nothing is growing there, and once I start putting salt water into the area nothing will ever grow there again. Talk about weed control!!

Lewis21403 · 04/23/2010, 09:16 AM

Makes me re-think a large tank...nah..still going for it...Good Luck

sharkE · 04/23/2010, 12:05 PM

^^
thats the spirit! haha
i have my 300 gallon and wouldnt change it for anything! (Except a LARGER TANK

)

jefathome · 04/23/2010, 12:08 PM

LOL... If I'm keeping the tank that already leaked on me, you can certaily got for it.

GREEFMAN · 04/23/2010, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jefathome

I could, but then I would not be able to do teh Solar Tubes as easily. Also, my garage is already packed to the gills with "crud", a beer fridge, deep freezer etc. I think you have seen my garage.

Plus we have a TV cabinet over there already.

If I put it in the wall where it is currently located I can drain water directly into the dirt area between our house the street. Nothing is growing there, and once I start putting salt water into the area nothing will ever grow there again. Talk about weed control!!

Yea I remember your place... I like the heck out of your neighborhood can't blame you for wanting to stay. If you want some help with the build or just a fellow reefer to stare at your setup and drink beer let me know, I'm up for it.

laverda · 04/23/2010, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by savethereef

It gives ur fish cancer

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

UV will kill the fish way faster, then if it gave them cancer.

jefathome · 04/30/2010, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GREEFMAN

Yea I remember your place... I like the heck out of your neighborhood can't blame you for wanting to stay. If you want some help with the build or just a fellow reefer to stare at your setup and drink beer let me know, I'm up for it.

LOL... I may take you up on that.

So my Solar Tubes (sorry, my "tubular Skylights") showed up today.
Unfortunately last weekend I screwed up my back again (bulging disk) and I've been out of commission ever since. I did start to play around with some of the rock/aquascape. I'm planning on doing a large foam/rock wall type of setup with multiple platforms/tiers so that it isn't the "stack of fruit" look I'm trying to avoid.

jefathome · 04/30/2010, 10:02 AM

Oh, the guy may come this weekend to cut the hole in my wall.

jefathome · 05/03/2010, 09:48 AM

Update:

Well it was a pretty significant weekend as far as the tank re-build.

First of all, these puppys came into Home Depot and I had to go pick them up.
2 14in Velux tubes with the rigid pipe and Energy Star rated.

jefathome · 05/03/2010, 09:50 AM

Then our guy came and began work on installing a new window and to cut the hole and install the header for the tank move.

As you can tell it was pretty messy. I kinda "helped" out a bit so that I could see what was involved.

04/22/2010, 02:00 PM	#3
jefathome Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Mission Viejo, CA Posts: 2,915	Step #2 was today... Since it is EARTH day after all, I decided to go with some solar-tubes. And bc it is earth day the Home Depot had a 20% off sale. Add onto that the 30% Energy Star tax credit and these things are pretty cheap (about $350 total for BOTH of them). I'm going with two of the Velux 14in Energy Star rated models. I'll also probably put in my existing T5 actinics for supplementation and evening viewing. __________________ Without Geometry, life is pointless Current Tank Info: NEW 150g in-wall Solartube display; 60g 4x2ft frag tank; 3g work Pico.... all Reef tanks

04/22/2010, 03:50 PM	#6
solitude127 Proud user of IO Salt! Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 9,136	Good luck with the new build. __________________ Mike <)))>{ <)))>{ <)))>{ <)))>{ ReefKeeping.com TOTM Nov 2012 Socalireefs Featured Reef Oct 2011 Current Tank Info: 603020, 8x54 ATI Powermodule, ReefBrite XHO, ATB Elegance 200, Aquamaxx CTech CaRx, Ecotech Vortechs, Apex Controls, WM Ecobak powered. RedSea Reefer 170, MP10, Apex Jr, Ecotech Radion XR15, Aquamaxx WS-1

04/22/2010, 04:05 PM	#8
savethereef SCRK Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Bellflower 90706 CA (So Cal) Posts: 7,720	wow cant wait to see this. __________________ Instead of building a reef in my home i would rather build my home in the reef. Rob aka STR SCRK & SCMAS MEMBER Current Tank Info: Leemar 450g 96L x36W x 30T 3/4 inch Starfire With 70g Sump Vertex 250 Royal Exclusive protein Skimmer Laguna 2900 Return pump 5 Aquaillumination Hydra's LED Modules. 4 Tunze Stream Bubble Magus Doser. Reef Keeper Elite

04/22/2010, 04:57 PM	#9
gonzo4reef Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 277	hate to tell you this but you might need a permit to add on that closet outside. If you dont get the permit the fine when you sell the house could be pretty fat; and if the house was built prior to 1978 you may need to call in an asbestos inspector. Sorry but maybe this will save you the heartache of a huge *** fine when you sell the house. __________________ Southern California Reef Keepers Member

04/22/2010, 06:16 PM	#11
fshRfrendsNTfod I closed "the window" Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Huntington beach Posts: 748	great start. sounds like its gonna be nice when said and done. good luck __________________ SCRK member 210 gallon mixed reef with magdrive 2400 return pump on 4 returns and 2 koralia #4, DIY LED setup, 60 gallon sump with vectron 600 UV light, reef octopus skimmer, 2 phosban reactors, 10 gallon ATO and 20 gallon fuge

04/22/2010, 01:50 PM	#1
jefathome Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Mission Viejo, CA Posts: 2,915	The 6 Million Dollar Tank (man) We can rebuild him... We have the technology, we have the capability... We can build it better than before. Better! Stronger! More flow!! Many of you have read about the disaster that happened to my tank. For those that haven't read, I can sum it up as: "Busted seam, 100g on my floor, Ich outbreak, and a cracked MH spilling out UV light... 100% loss on fish, 70% loss of corals. Here is the original thread: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...light=disaster That one was about tank LOSS, this one is about the new REBUILD. It is gonna be a (Lee) Majors pain in the butt, but I think it will work out for the best. The guy who built the tank for me is going to repair it and add some additional braces so the tank itself will remain the same. Everything else will be different. This was my tank: This is my tank right now: Lets see what the future holds... Since I'm pretty much starting over from scratch, there are a few specific goals I have for this tank. 1) Wife doesn't want a tank inside anymore in case of future disasters, so I'm moving it "outside". It will be an in-wall display with the tank located in a closet I'll build on the outside of the house. 2) Have more room for equipment than I have with just a stand 3) Make it more energy efficient 4) Avoid the Produce Isle/stack of rocks look (ie, make it more natural looking) __________________ Without Geometry, life is pointless Current Tank Info: NEW 150g in-wall Solartube display; 60g 4x2ft frag tank; 3g work Pico.... all Reef tanks

04/22/2010, 01:56 PM	#2
jefathome Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Mission Viejo, CA Posts: 2,915	Well Step #1 was this week... I found a guy that will cut the hole in my wall and install a header. While we are at it, we are going to install a new window on the opposite side of the fire place. There are NO windows in this room so it gets kinda dark. We also need a window for summer heat since we can't get a cross breeze. All told, the window and hole should work out to about $550 installed. The rest I'll do myself (save the $$ for livestock and equipment). __________________ Without Geometry, life is pointless Current Tank Info: NEW 150g in-wall Solartube display; 60g 4x2ft frag tank; 3g work Pico.... all Reef tanks

04/22/2010, 02:55 PM	#4
nano mania Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Culver City, CA Posts: 291	Great start, can't wait to see this rebuild.

04/22/2010, 02:56 PM	#5
Paulairduck I LOVE FREE FRAGS!!! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chino Hills Posts: 2,909	That stinks, that is a bad dream for me on my 300

04/22/2010, 03:53 PM	#7
GREEFMAN Rob G Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Costa Mesa, CA Posts: 171	Nice can't wait to see the progress.

04/22/2010, 05:03 PM	#10
GREEFMAN Rob G Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Costa Mesa, CA Posts: 171	Could you set the tank on the other wall and build into the garage?

04/23/2010, 02:23 AM	#12
sharkE Moved On Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Huntington Beach Posts: 2,583	soOOoOooo a cracked MH bulb will spill UV and kill fish!? glad i just learned this before i started stocking my tank!!! i have a bulb that cracked when the water hit it and now there is a HOLE in the bulb... will NOT be using that bulb!

04/23/2010, 09:16 AM	#17
Lewis21403 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: MN Posts: 3	Makes me re-think a large tank...nah..still going for it...Good Luck __________________ "Bad Boys Bad Boys... What ya Gonna Do..What ya Gonna Do When We Come For You?" Current Tank Info: 75g reef. 4th week of cycle. No critters yet.

04/23/2010, 12:05 PM	#18
sharkE Moved On Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Huntington Beach Posts: 2,583	^^ thats the spirit! haha i have my 300 gallon and wouldnt change it for anything! (Except a LARGER TANK )

04/23/2010, 12:08 PM	#19
jefathome Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Mission Viejo, CA Posts: 2,915	LOL... If I'm keeping the tank that already leaked on me, you can certaily got for it. __________________ Without Geometry, life is pointless Current Tank Info: NEW 150g in-wall Solartube display; 60g 4x2ft frag tank; 3g work Pico.... all Reef tanks

04/30/2010, 10:02 AM	#23
jefathome Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Mission Viejo, CA Posts: 2,915	Oh, the guy may come this weekend to cut the hole in my wall. __________________ Without Geometry, life is pointless Current Tank Info: NEW 150g in-wall Solartube display; 60g 4x2ft frag tank; 3g work Pico.... all Reef tanks

05/03/2010, 09:48 AM	#24
jefathome Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Mission Viejo, CA Posts: 2,915	Update: Well it was a pretty significant weekend as far as the tank re-build. First of all, these puppys came into Home Depot and I had to go pick them up. 2 14in Velux tubes with the rigid pipe and Energy Star rated. __________________ Without Geometry, life is pointless Current Tank Info: NEW 150g in-wall Solartube display; 60g 4x2ft frag tank; 3g work Pico.... all Reef tanks

05/03/2010, 09:50 AM	#25
jefathome Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Mission Viejo, CA Posts: 2,915	Then our guy came and began work on installing a new window and to cut the hole and install the header for the tank move. As you can tell it was pretty messy. I kinda "helped" out a bit so that I could see what was involved. __________________ Without Geometry, life is pointless Current Tank Info: NEW 150g in-wall Solartube display; 60g 4x2ft frag tank; 3g work Pico.... all Reef tanks

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