[Cela Vie]

Okay. Here is my build so far. As you can see by my sig. block, I consider it to be 33% complete only). I'll start with a picture of one of the most important things in aquarium keeping that most people ignore (I used to):

An RO/DI unit. This one is from www.airwaterice.com Products and answers for your water treatment needs. (thanks glampka):


Next the tank. Like I said, a 90 gallon Perfecto with the corner-flo. BTW, Perfecto Manufacturing is now owed my Marineland:


The stand (I got the "better one" out of pure fear):


The skimmer and pumps:


Sump/Refugium as it arrived :


More to follow:

[jvharding]

Please do step by step on your fuge. This should be interesting. Doin it Right the first time. Right On!

[Cela Vie]

Sump/Refugium ready for cement:


Sump/Refugium at its first water test (Holy Bow Batman!):

No water leaks. I have not fished it though as I ran out of cement (first day with the new glue). I just need to finish the baffles and reinforcement. I've order more and it should be here in a few days.

Here is the SCWD setup which will mostly be behind the live rock:


Here is the plumbing.
Before (the spaces in between are for PVC or tubing):


After:

[e_baer]

looks good

[Cela Vie]

Here are some updated sump/refugium pics. The baffles are in but the final step is reinforcement and full water test (24 hours full to the rim).







That's probably as close to step-by-step as I have. Going through this process for the first time was awesome an educational. There are a lot of things nobody's website, instructions or forums tell you.

[jvharding]

Plumbing Ahhhh Yeah Take notes guys the grey Piece is a check valve. This has been known to be faulty in some systems and if not careful with twisting or turning pump around it may leak. I am not sure if it is calcium deposit thing or not but, this is an alternative solution.

Cela Please check out WYE Check Valve:

Champion Lighting & Supply :: Plumbing :: Check Valves

I have used these 7 years running and still no failure!

[Cela Vie]

Some more pics:

The switch upon arrival then installed (the view is from the back of the tank). One you open the right cabinet door, the switches will at the top.



The plumbing (testing to make sure everything fits properly):



Finally, the tank in its final location (notice the SCWD in place as well):


Still needed:
1) finish sump and finalize plumbing (then perform a water test/fill tank)
2) finish the spray bars (need to get in touch with jvharding)
3) purchase live rock (any ideas? I'm thinking marine depot live due to best price)
4) purchase light fixture (I'm leaning towards T5s 6x54w)

[e_baer]

liveaquaria has some good deals as well....and things go on sale a lot.

[jvharding]

Thanks Cela Very Awesome Stuff. Did you have everything cut to your specifications? I know there is a drawing for this. How long did it take for you to build it?

[Cela Vie]

I like those WYEs! I did want to have a true union as well to make it easy to work on/change the pump. Becuase it is a true union check valve, it is easy toi remove for cleaning.

[blind1993]

yep looks like u wont have any major mistakes so far.

[Cela Vie]

The sump/refugium I ordered online with my dimensions. I ordered it with their design but modified everything except for the four walls and bottom. The plumbing I did myself (many trips to Lowe's in the planning/purchasing piece and ended up returning half of what I bought due to design changes originating from restrictions in space under the tank (it looks like a lot of space until you put a large sump in there...). The whole thing has taken 21 days from time of tank purchase (and I'm only 33% done), but much longer from original thought about upgrading (I went to the Georgia Aquarium when I was in Atlanta for the Final Four in April so that got me thinking...). The sump part of the process has taken two weeks due to being a virgin with working acrylics (running out of cement). I could have been done in three to four days. You live and you learn or as they say...C'est la vie... but I'd rather take my time and do it right. One of the things this hobby teaches you is that mistakes are constly in more ways than cash.

[jvharding]

Originally Posted by Cela Vie

I could have been done in three to four days. You live and you learn or as they say...C'est la vie... but I'd rather take my time and do it right. One of the things this hobby teaches you is that mistakes are constly in more ways than cash.

Truer words have never been spoken! Thanks for taking the time to post all the pictures Looking great! I used that valve and after time it seems to leak I had to get rid of it. Unions are and should be used in any hard PVC Plumbing. Tubing sometimes works as well. Sometimes there just is not enough room for the union so in with the small piece of tubing! Plumbing has got to be one of the most challenging parts of the reef installation.

[Cela Vie]

I agree with your comment regarding tubing, that's why I do have a one foot piece between the main plumbing to the tank and the true union (flexibility). Also, in case of failure, I can easily go the rest of the way with tubing while keeping the clean look of the hard plumbing. I think I found a happy medium for myself with that set up. Hopefully it works...

I will post more pictures next weekend. LOL maybe I'll be at 50% by then (of course that assumes ordering the live rock early this week and the state of the live rock when it gets here). I may have the spray bars in place. At least the water should be flowing by then.

[blind1993]

what was fav thing in the ga aquarium mine was the coralreef wall

[Cela Vie]

Originally Posted by blind1993

what was fav thing in the ga aquarium mine was the coralreef wall

I wanted to do a "backstage" tour but never got the chance (I was with friends and family including my two year old).

[blind1993]

oh you would have loved the backstage tour i went with marien hossa the hockey player and they show u the wales, food. protein skimmer, lighting, pumps, sump, qt, breeding room, and the balougas oh yea and the surgery room.

[Cela Vie]

OK. The live rock has been ordered. There should be approximately 90 pounds arriving comprised of 70% Fiji Premium and 30% Tonga Branch (both uncured). That plus the Fiji Premium I have in my 37 gallon tank should be perfect. 90 lbs. Fiji Premium (at least) and 30 lbs. Tonga Branch = 120 total. It will be here on Wednesday morning, but since the sump will not be finished by then (unless the cement gets here tomorrow), I am going to have to do a pre-cure in a plastic trash can for a few days then the full cure in-tank. That may actually work out better for me. I'll keep you posted.

[Cela Vie]

Live rock got here today and it is now "pre-curing" in a 30 gallon container. That tonga branch stuff is very cool looking. Got some nice big pieces of that to use as bases for the fiji and some medium sized ones for decoration/bridges. The rock did not smell (then again I have a major cold so I can't smell anything). I put the rock rubble (small and very very small pieces in a plastic bag in the 30 gallon container). I heard that stuff is like bacteria gold. Anybody have any experience with those pieces? They'll probably end up in the fuge. Should I upgrade the percent-of-completion to 40%?

[jvharding]

Originally Posted by Cela Vie

Live rock got here today and it is now "pre-curing" in a 30 gallon container. That tonga branch stuff is very cool looking. Got some nice big pieces of that to use as bases for the fiji and some medium sized ones for decoration/bridges. The rock did not smell (then again I have a major cold so I can't smell anything). I put the rock rubble (small and very very small pieces in a plastic bag in the 30 gallon container). I heard that stuff is like bacteria gold. Anybody have any experience with those pieces? They'll probably end up in the fuge. Should I upgrade the percent-of-completion to 40%?

I have the Idea that the Tank Is Never Done! Until you take it down then it's done.

[Cela Vie]

Originally Posted by jvharding

I have the Idea that the Tank Is Never Done! Until you take it down then it's done.

That's deep man, real deep...

LOL

[Cela Vie]

Update: The sump has been reinforced. It is drying overnight, then tomorrow morning before work, I will fill it up and let it sit there until I get home and confirm there are no leaks. If theare are no leaks, the plumbing, along with everything in the cabinet, will be finalized tomorrow night and the water will start slowly (at the rate of just over three gallons per hour) going into the tank. Should be rocking and rolling by the time the fireworks start going off. I will post pics tomorrow night.

[jvharding]

Wait till you get a load of how smooth that SCWD is Sanjay is using a RIO 3100 on it and I was amazed how good the transition is

Its for the SCWD!

[Cela Vie]

I'm glad it works well. I had heard mixed reports, but then I saw a video on melevsreef.com and for $35 (or 0.39 galz ) why not! How did you guys hook it up? From the sump? I didn't even know it was part of Sanjay's inventory. I think that thread needs an inventory list and some updated pics.

[jvharding]

I wanted to try and mount them in his overflows and send out both sides but sanjay did not like the idea I think it would have worked well except for the 1/2 inch through put may have choked our return pump. Check the build I posted picture of how its going to be placed.