My Old 4ft Reef Attempt Upgrade

Mario ArchTech

Mario ArchTech

Joined
15 Sep 2014
Posts
355
Reaction score
38
Location
Port Elizabeth
Ok, So its time to improve on my tank setup. My first attempt was good but there is allot of room for improvement and better decisions to be made.

The main reason for redoing my tank is that Me and my girlfriend decided its time to move into a bigger place since we are both finished with our studies and can now actually afford to do so.

Our current place is a loft unit and noise was always a problem since there are no door or a divide between the bedroom and the tank. And all of you who has a wife or girlfriend can understand what I mean when I say that the girls do not like the noise of the tank, the water spills on the living room floor, tools lying around coz a LED unit does not get built in one day!!!

Anyway enough complaining. The new place will have 2 bedrooms, one specifically for my tank and equipment, also for my other hobbies, and there will be a garage which means I can DIY late into the early mornings.

So lets get cracking, although I must say this is not going to be a very fast build.

Display Tank: 1200 x 600 x 620 (Ill be using the same tank)
Sump: 1000 x 450 x 450 (3 Chamber sump)

Stand: 1210 x 610 x 900 (38mm x 38mm x 2mm square tubing newly built and powder coated white. Did opt for galv. but I'm to afraid that the stand might warp or pull skew.)
Any feedback will be appreciated.

Lights: DIY LED Unit x 2. 24 x 3watt: 17 x Blue, 3 x Green, 4 x UV
3 x 10watt: 2 x 15000K, 1 x Multichip(White and Blue Mix)
LEDS will run on a dc 5 channel dimming controller.

Light Rack: Custom 38 x 38 Square tube rack which will mount on the back of the tank stand. Lights will be suspended over the tank from the rack. (No more drilling into walls)

Equipment:
Skimmer: Bubble Magus Curve 5
Flow Pump: 2 x Jebao RW-8
Return Pump: Jebao DCT 4000
Heater: Jager 300watt
Will run a ATS again but it will be redesigned.

The house move will begin during the remainder of this month. My current setup needs to be shut down and I will need to get temporary containers from plastic warehouse that will be able to keep all my current live stock alive.

Will try to update as often as I can.
 
Good luck first on the move.

Then enjoy the tank build.

On the galvanizing. I found that it warps when they remove it from the line. Still hot they just bliksem the stand down. Had a small stand, for a 60cm sump, on 10cm high feet, that they managed to warped. The frame was 50 by 20 mm tubing. How they managed to stuff up such a small stand is beyond me. Hopefully the shops down at the coast is better at their job than the guys in Pretoria.

Mario ArchTech said:
Light Rack: Custom 38 x 38 Square tube rack which will mount on the back of the tank stand
Click to expand...
Will this bolt on? or have thicker square tubing and the rack part slides in?
 
RiaanP said:
Good luck first on the move.

Then enjoy the tank build.

Thanks.

On the galvanizing. I found that it warps when they remove it from the line. Still hot they just bliksem the stand down. Had a small stand, for a 60cm sump, on 10cm high feet, that they managed to warped. The frame was 50 by 20 mm tubing. How they managed to stuff up such a small stand is beyond me. Hopefully the shops down at the coast is better at their job than the guys in Pretoria.

I think Im going to paint it first with some form of a Mild Steel primer and then send it for powder coating.


Will this bolt on? or have thicker square tubing and the rack part slides in?
Click to expand...

Yes Im going to use bolts. I am going to use flat bar which I will weld on to the stand which will be used as cleats. These will be pre drilled. The light rack will then bolt onto these cleats.
 
Kewl build. Also busy with my build of a similar size. Was just wondering how is the Jeboa/ jecod dc 4000 on this tank size. I was advised that dc pumps have poor head height. So wondering how this has worked for you. My stand is 750 and tank 550 high so any advice will be appreciated before i gt a pump.
 
Hammerhead said:
Kewl build. Also busy with my build of a similar size. Was just wondering how is the Jeboa/ jecod dc 4000 on this tank size. I was advised that dc pumps have poor head height. So wondering how this has worked for you. My stand is 750 and tank 550 high so any advice will be appreciated before i gt a pump.
Click to expand...

That is unfortunately still on my to buy list. At the moment I am running a 2500 l/h lifetech pump on my tank and it seems to be doing a good job. I guess if I take that into consideration, a 4000 l/h pump should be good enough. My stand is currently 900mm high.
 
Ok kewl, Im in the same boat, also have a lifetech about the same size. Id just double check on the box when making the choice, good thing they can be throttled down.
 
Ok So small update.

Our application on our new place got approved yesterday and the deposit was payed today. So the plan can start moving ahead. The stand is being built as we speak. My brother is quite a good welder so he is doing the job. Will post pics shortly.
 
Update time, the stand is being made, not finished yet but making good progress. My brother is welding the stand. Cutting the edges at 45 degrees so we will have no open ends in the steel sections.

IMG-20160210-WA0000.jpg


IMG-20160214-WA0035.jpg


IMG-20160215-WA0006.jpg


IMG-20160215-WA0007.jpg


IMG-20160214-WA0034.jpg


Will post progress when the stand is finished.
 
will you paint the stand, or galvanize it?
 
As far as I know, they sand blast the items clean before they powder coat it. No need to add a layer of Hamerite as they will only remove it.
 
RiaanP said:
As far as I know, they sand blast the items clean before they powder coat it. No need to add a layer of Hamerite as they will only remove it.
Click to expand...

Thats true, but I know you can galv. a stand and then powder coat it. would they then sandblast the galv. off. Not sure about this, but Ill give the place in PE a call and find out. Maybe they can sandblast it and then Ill paint it with hammerite and then send it for powder coating.
 
Last edited:
The steel is new and clean so send it straight to powder coaters they going to put it trough a chemical bath to remove oil and silica from the stand and coat it. This is what they do with our turnstiles and it stays on for ever.
 
Harry s said:
The steel is new and clean so send it straight to powder coaters they going to put it trough a chemical bath to remove oil and silica from the stand and coat it. This is what they do with our turnstiles and it stays on for ever.
Click to expand...

Ok, that sounds good. Thanks for the input.
 
Small Update.

The stand is really starting to take shape. I like the 38mm x 38mm thicker steel look to the 25mm square tubing which my old stand was made out of. Pretty sure this thing will be able to carry a couple of Tons.

IMG-20160218-WA0016.jpg

IMG-20160218-WA0017.jpg
 
Looking good so far :thumbup:. Just a thought, when you going to have the frame chemical dipped it will be exposed to heat. Remember to drill holes in the tubing to prevent distortion when being dipped.
 
Went and got some tank fittings today. 25mm bulkheads for my temporary system and 20mm fittings for the return pumps. Will use clear plastic containers as a reef setup while the tank is cycling.

Also got M20 Nuts for the stand. These will be welded to the bottom of the stand to make it easier for adjusting the level.

View attachment 32725
 
Small Update.

The stand is going slow due to my brother working till 12 every night the last week. He did manage to weld the legs on.
IMG-20160222-WA0008.jpg


I also set up my temporary plastic bucket setup at my parents place. Will take photos of it tomorrow. I will start moving the live rock over to the buckets tomorrow morning, and then Ill add the fish. Hopefully all goes well and I dont lose any fish.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom