I will be home late the 24th so sometime after that

I am thinking the last Saturday of the month giving most a chance to make it down that want to. 

It would make more sense from a "oh man I need this part or that" to do it during the week but I want to share with any many pals as are interested in making the drive down

Picked up a sump this morning (thanks to one of our Michigan pals) I can't decide if I should go with one 1.5 bulkhead drain or two 1"

It will feed a baracuda but the current 1.5 from the rubermaid seems to feed it fine. 

thoughts?

Briney Dave said :

I will be home late the 24th so sometime after that

I am thinking the last Saturday of the month giving most a chance to make it down that want to. 

The 24th falls on Thursday which makes the last Saturday of the month, June 26th.  Sadly, that's the weekend I'll be out of town.     

Will have to count the Saturdays, I work every other one so I'll need to see when it falls. 

I don't have a build date set in stone,  and will be trying my best to work with everyone who wants to.  I love the idea of a build party!!

Briney Dave said :

I don't have a build date set in stone,  and will be trying my best to work with everyone who wants to.  I love the idea of a build party!!

RJS8540 said :

Briney Dave said :

I don't have a build date set in stone,  and will be trying my best to work with everyone who wants to.  I love the idea of a build party!!

I won't be in town June 4, 5, 6, 24, 25, 26, 27 and unavailable June 12th.  Just remember... it was MY idea to have a BUILD PARTY!!!!  Just kidding... well... only partly.  Let us know when you get the date set and I'll keep my fingers crossed.  I'm really, really excited about this build.  If all else fails, my stand in will have to be RJ. 

Kimbers

just got a note from Miracles: they should be shipping in two weeks.  the box is ten feet long so I have to find longer forks for the lift or I am in a bit of trouble eeeeee

I'm off on the 19th.   although I don't have any longer forks for the lift truck.

I leave for Abaco first thing Thursday 6/17 so I am getting pretty nervous about what day is supposed to be here.  My hope is to be able to reach into the building with the forklift and set the tank directy on the stand which will have a place for two hydrolic rolling floor jacks to be able to move the tank from the outside door area into my room.  If I can get it on the stand correctly, it will be smooth sailing but that "get on the stand" part has me very nervous

With a bit of luck on my side, I am going to do the last water change on the 240 as a reef tank of Friday.  Its teacher work day and that is certainly work so there you go

I have settled on a sump.  I bought one created by bannana boat.  I will get a drill bit when I order the bulkhead fittings next week.  I need to get enough glass to partition off a section to use as a refugium.  

The water from the mangrove tank and the skimmer will both pass around that section 

Not filling either the 240 or the sump all the way up (allowing for the display tank to drain down in a power outage) I think I will still have around 300 gal of water outside the tank at anyone time.  This should give me a ballpark total volume of around 700 gal give or take a few

I am starting to get pretty nervous as I know they have built the jigs for the tank and have started drilling on the bottom sheet for the closed loop and overflow drains.  They have to drill five holes for 1.5 " bulkheads and 6 holes for 1" bulkheads.  That piece has to look like swiss cheese LOL

I sure am glad not to be drilling those holes in that expensive of a piece of glass 

Briney Dave said :

That piece has to look like swiss cheese LOL

I sure am glad not to be drilling those holes in that expensive of a piece of glass 

I've had the same level of anxiety as I think about the tank I haven't ordered yet.  Swiss Cheese.  Great analogy.  I'm concerned about the integrity and strength of swiss cheese.  I agree... glad I'm not going to do any drilling on my end either. 

clearly a lot of holes but the floor is 36" wide and 3/4" thick so that gives me faith  it will be fine.  Better be anyway  

still going to worry though.  

I wrote up the purchase orders for all the parts and pieces:  using sch 80 bulkheads as per the maker's specs.  Bulk reef supply sells them along with the drill bit I need for the sump

getting the ocean motion four way device for the closed loop.  

I have to upgrade the r/o system: currently we have a 35 per day kent 3 stage.  It flows too slow and can not cope with our incoming water quality very well.   With the large amount of rust in the water system at Bellevue I am going to a 75 gal/ day with the extra stages of pre-filtering and di  out.   Plus a decent monitoring system to keep ahead of filter changes to prevent the r/o membrane damage.

five boxes of instant ocean mix for the transition.  I will be reusing as much water as I can from the old system but will have to have a bunch of fresh.  I will not be ready to put the mangrove tank on line right away so I will not need that 150 gal or so of water made up in advance.

I always hate spending money on things that don't show like the heavier fittings and bigger water filter but know that it will ensure that the show part stays looking good

Briney Dave said :

I wrote up the purchase orders for all the parts and pieces:  using sch 80 bulkheads as per the maker's specs.  Bulk reef supply sells them along with the drill bit I need for the sump

getting the ocean motion four way device for the closed loop.  

Dave,

How did you know which bulkheads to purchase?  There seem to be a lot of sch 80 to choose from.  I'd like to start buying some "parts and pieces" for my system, but I'm not clear what I actually need.  I'm looking to use the same manufacturer.  Also, which configuration of ocean motion four way are you purchasing and why?  They appear to be 1-2 and 3-4 , 1-3 and 2-4, 1-4 and 2-3.  Does it really matter?  Can't any configuration be plumbed to pulsate however you want?  HELP!

Kimber

the sch 80 bulkhead fittings have a thicker outside dia as compared with abs sch 40, but are the same on the inside.  So the driler needs to make the holes to that size. 

The designer called for the 80 they also maked on the plans for holes that big.

I wanted all drains 1.5 " pipe and all returns 1" pipe. 

I am going with option 3 on the four way so that I get a push /pull effect from the returns on the floor. 

many people who have the wall type closed loops use the same pattern to "roll the water" with outlets on the high side all going at once then the low side

I don't think you can change the setting at home without serious mods.  you  are able to spec any pattern you like and they will build it that way. (within the limits of how the device works anyway)

I think the pattern makes a great deal of difference and should mesh with the other types of water moving devices and your layout.  Just write or call them with what you have in mind and they will suggest a flow pattern.  One of their people spent several e-mails and phone calls with me to settle on what I wanted / needed  

Briney Dave said :

the sch 80 bulkhead fittings have a thicker outside dia as compared with abs sch 40, but are the same on the inside.  So the driler needs to make the holes to that size. 

The designer called for the 80 they also maked on the plans for holes that big.

I wanted all drains 1.5 " pipe and all returns 1" pipe. 

Are you ordering the SCH 80 bulkhead fittings with the "Slip x Thread" or the "Thread x Thread"?  I'll be in the Bellevue area on Friday if you have time to meet?

Kimber

thread to thread.  What time would you like to meet.  I am around part of the day but not sure all of it.  Got to clear it all with the wife LOL

I have a business lunch in Elyria at noon... so either in the am or in the afternoon.  Whichever... doesn't matter to me.  I can arrange my schedule to fit whatever works for you... short of over the lunch hour.  Thanks for checking with "the wife". 

I am a moring guy so the AM sounds good to me.  PM me a time and I will give you directions and my cell

David

PM Sent. 

Kimberly,  I hope I was some help to you.  with your wall build we will have differing needs on flow and the closed loop, but some overlap in the thinking behind it.   

So update on things for the build:  The tank is done but per my request still sittng in Canada.  I leave with Dr. Turner on Thursday and did not want to chance the tank showing up either Wednesday or later and not being around to supervise it going from the truck to our classroom. 

Plus the stand is not done because my father in law is very talented yet works very slow.  Can't complain though as its only costing me the tube steel and welding supplies

The fish and corals continue to suffer from a lack of A/C in my room.  I get only marginal cooling plus the action of a few fans.  I have been promised a very good up grade here to solve this issue long term.  but it will not be done until July

The salt and needed new bulbs were bought from Salty Critter the other day. (love those guys and the very wide range of products they stock

btw they have I/O salt for 42 per box (worth the trip)

The bulk reef order came today with everything promised (very pleased with them)

Still need to order the ocean motion device for the closed loop and draw out the drain and return diagrams to purchase as much of the plumbing in advance as possible.

I will try to get a pic or two of the sump and the new bulk reef r/o filter if I can talk the mrs into helping me wade through her photo editing studio

I am very nervous about our Abaco trip and have dreams about forgetting just about everything from the passport to swim fins.

I will very much happier to wake up on the beach this Friday

David