4' x 4' tank build

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saltycrab

Guest
I just finished insulating the bottom of the tank. I used R-13 Fiber Glass between the 2X4s and used a vapor barrier over it. It was a pain because I had to move one column of cinder blocks at a time.

I need to build the baffles for the sump tomorrow. I can then fill it with sand and salt water.
 
S

saltycrab

Guest
I coated the PVC rack in epoxy because I was not positive how the spray paint would hold up long term and I don't want anything to leach into the water. I spread some frag disks from the middle to the outside so that you can see the light spread and intensity.

I just need to build the baffles for my sump out of acrylic and I will be done. The only problem is I dont have any of the tools to work acrylic. If anyone local wants to help out I will appreciate it.
 
S

saltycrab

Guest
Check out some mediums I will use to grow on.

Some Mangroves I will use in my fug
 
mie

mie

Active Member
Very very cool thread, I am very happy to see your progress, you have done an amazing job.
 
S

saltycrab

Guest
Originally Posted by privatejoker
http:///forum/post/2790154
Any updates?
Ya
. The tank is finished enough were I can fill it and stock it. There are a few extra things that I need to do such as install a Ranco single stage on the lights set to turn them off at 84 degrees, and a ground probe to the sump and main tank, wire up the exhaust fan I just installed in the garage, etc but I am going to start stocking the tank very soon (probably Wednesday or Thursday). I am going to transfer my current frag tank to this one and my 46 gallon DT which has excess nutrient problems. I am going to reinvent the 46 bow (probably Ric and Zoo dominate tank) but leave it down for now. I am also going to start designing a 4' x 8' frag tank
. I have learned alot during the construction of this one and I think I can make the next one MUCH better. Anyways expect some pics coming soon.
 
greenreefer

greenreefer

Active Member
I like the bone frag plugs and the skull might like pretty cool once completely covered in zoas or an encrusting monti.
Where did you get the mangroves? They seem to being doing very well. Do you float all of them bare root or are some planted in a sand bed? If you have both what seems to work better?
 
S

saltycrab

Guest
Thats actually ancient dead acro. I am going to grow some superman monti on the skull. The rooted mangroves I have had in there for a few weeks, all the others I just put in. They were all washed up on the beach.
 
greenreefer

greenreefer

Active Member
is there any trick to getting them to root? Ibrought several home from the beach last time I was in Boca, but none survived.
 
S

saltycrab

Guest
I don't know yet. The ones that have rooted for me were the first I collected and they were healthy green propagules. They were all floated and 7/8 rooted, the smallest did not. The new ones I just collected were mixed in with seaweed on the beach. Some looked better than others. I will post an update on how they fair.
 
S

saltycrab

Guest
The tank is up and running. It is running just as well as I imagined which is
. The temp is totally stable between 79 and 81 degrees. The chiller barely kicks on also. The corals are all looking very happy in their new home. The fish, not so much. I lost two of my five fish so far. My Long Nose Hawk Jumped and my chromis did the following day. The Hawk was my favorite fish so I am kind of
. The Clown, Six line, and Coral Beauty seem to be doing alright. My Reeflo Dart with the Fasco motor seems to run hot but after checking everything out I am thinking they just do that. I might order a Dart gold in not to long and keep the Fasco Dart as a back up. Right now I am thinking my return pump is the weak point in the system. with the return flow, a Koralia 3 and 4, and a Maxijet Mod my flow isn't bad but its not near enough for my taste. I am thinking that I will need at least 4 more Koralia 4s. The frag disks I made are also working out very well. I need to make a lot more now. Here are some pics


I made my IO bucket into a sock holder/ bubble tower. Zero bubbles make it to the return pump intake.

The 4 fans do an excellent job of cooling the sump area and seem to help with evaporation cooling but just how much is to be determined. I have a 78 watt T5 fixture with 2 10ks but Im gonig to swap them out for some 6500. The multiple mangroves are planted in about 6" deep sand bed. I have a maxijet blowing water over it to keep detritus from settling. I have the mangroves in a circle to keep the chaeto in place.

FTS...

81 degrees the fans are on. If it stays at 81 for too long the chiller kicks in a drops the tank to 79 FAST. It takes forever to get back to 81 and some days stays at 80 all day even with lights.

4.8 amps minus a few powerheads.
 
S

saltycrab

Guest

1/2 Horse PCI (beast)

The 7" filter sock can barely hand the flow that goes through it . I have the Dart output throttled back also.

Some zoo frags that are recovering from the dismal conditions of my last frag tank. I lost tons of frags to it
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Fl Ricordia

I run the sump and main tank on opposite cycles (Main 10am-6pm, sump 5pm - 3am)

a few SPS

This thing took over my 46 gallon bow front
 
n8ball2013

n8ball2013

Member
I have a suggestion for you. dont know if it would help at all or not but I use fiberglass resin a lot in car audio builds. a trick ive picked up over time is to use the resin to coat the corners so there really isnt any corners. stand it on an edge and then pour the resin in it will fill the V and eliminate corners. It helps with air flow since all the sharp edges are rounded off and I would imagine it would help hold detritus out of the corners and increase water flow. of course you cant use it now but on the big boy frag tank you could.

nice tank though its pretty awesome
 
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