Starting ~800 Gallon Custom Reef Tank Build

[ravi197699]

I am big fan of white portland cement, it takes time to dry but when it is dry it is part of stone structure..

 

[ravi197699]

Sure buddy..

 

[Reef lover24]

Ravi I have about 50lbs more mixed rock if you need. Just sitting in buckets have some nice pieces, let me know

 

[ravi197699]

How much for 50 lbs

 

[Reef lover24]

Pm'd you bud

 

[ravi197699]

I was looking for material that I can use in my sump to keep my rocks elevated so that I can install power heads to shake up the detritus that will be getting accumulated over the time without me moving the rocks. FRP materials is something that I had in my mind and I wanted to make sure that I can something strong, made out of FRP and 1 size for stability and of course at the right price, so past week I bought these grates which are sold by zoro on jet.com for 36 bucks each with free shipping if I bought 2 pcs. So I bought it and I was afraid that they will be flimsy and weak, I got the delivery today and I am pretty impressed about the material, size and how well it is built. I might buy more of these to make cat walk to mount corals, we will see but these are what I am going to use in my sump and I am using 1.5 " street tee that will go under this and rock will sit on these grates, pumps will move water on the rock and under these grates to keep everything suspended. more pictures will be loaded when I add rock to the sump later this week..

 

[3450500]

are you going to add feet or legs to keep it off the bottom?

 

[pecan2phat]

I would slot 1" PVC cut piping spread along the bottom to elevate as 3450500 stated.

 

[3450500]

maybe just go to home depot and get PVC caps make them your feet

 

[ravi197699]

I will use the 1 inch pvc pipes and cut slots and slide them on where supports cross, to raise them high around 5 or 6 inches so that pumps can sweet under the grates

 

[3450500]

sounds perfect

 

[pecan2phat]

Use a table saw if you have, makes slotting the pipe easier.

 

[ravi197699]

actually I just noticed that corners and middle of the grates have flat surface which I can use to slide the pvc pipes and have flat surface of the grate sit on the pvc and it will work better and pvc will be held in place by the wall of the grate and It will sit better I will have to use 6 pvc pipes for each ...I will post pictures when I am done..

 

[ravi197699]

ok so I was debating if I should bring my returns from over the tank from overflow side and I knew that it will not look professional and they will be flimsy and move left to right due to pressure of water and such. So I decided to buy piece of glass from glass place and drill holes in the glass and install bulkheads and have my returns connect to bulkhead. So I had piece of glass cut which is the inner side length of the overflow side pane and it is 1/2" thick and 6" wide which will be held in place with silicone on three sides and it will add little structural support as well (IMO). I have ordered low profile bulkheads which will be installed, I am going with 1.5" bulkhead and it will be reduced from the bottom of the bulkhead to 1" or 3/4" (not decided yet) so that I don't loose pressure from return pump. here are some of the pics while I was drilling glass in my shop this afternoon...

 

[vio]

Nice "toy" , NO need to clamp the glass , to avoid vibration ?
How easy was ?

 

[ravi197699]

there is suction cup on the tool, bought it from amazon for 13 bucks, once it is in place it does not move, it made drilling as easy as 1 2 3

 

[ravi197699]

so I cleaned up my Jebao RW20 pumps from last tank, they have been in storage for more than year and I was trying to mount these pumps in the sump that I can agitate the water under the rock rack so that detritus won't build up, but i am questioning my idea - how will i be able to clean these pump if required which it will be at some point in near future.. So i have second plan to add jebao 10000 dc pump on each side of the sump and connect 2 pumps together via 1.5 inch pvc pipe and union for easy disconnect for servicing, these pumps will come on 2 - 3 times during day time to shake things up in the sump and under rocks.. here is my plan drawn. Please let me know if this looks good or anything needs to be changed...

 

[ravi197699]

I took some pictures of aquascape from top, here are some of the pictures...

 

[rich]

wow amazing. good luck

 

[Reef Trends]

so I cleaned up my Jebao RW20 pumps from last tank, they have been in storage for more than year and I was trying to mount these pumps in the sump that I can agitate the water under the rock rack so that detritus won't build up, but i am questioning my idea - how will i be able to clean these pump if required which it will be at some point in near future.. So i have second plan to add jebao 10000 dc pump on each side of the sump and connect 2 pumps together via 1.5 inch pvc pipe and union for easy disconnect for servicing, these pumps will come on 2 - 3 times during day time to shake things up in the sump and under rocks.. here is my plan drawn. Please let me know if this looks good or anything needs to be changed...

There is a new model that can do "wav" modes Id have to check the name.