My new 140 custom GLA tank build

Thanks everyone,
It seems like it's taken forever to get to this point, but it's nice to finally get my hands wet.

I was able to quiet down the drain. I was actually looking at the wrong end. The durso wasn't making the noise as is often the case, it was the water coming out of the drain. I've never had a problem at that end, only in the standpipe. Just goes to show that this hobby always keeps you on your feet.
 
It's been about 6 weeks since my last update. I have some new inhabitants in the DT now, straight out of QT. 1 very happy heniochus, a royal gramma, a tiny cardinal, a small midas blenny and a purple fire fish. Everyone survived my first "SUCCESSFUL" attempt at a QT and is doing great.

Here are some pictures of the display tank. I couldn't resist and have put in a few zoas, LPS's and one sour apple monti cap. I'm trying to be patient, but oh, well! I also got a CUC from reef cleaners. I only ordered the 75 gallon package, and there are still SO MANY FREAKING SNAILS!!! The diatoms were gone in a day. I have no idea what they will eat from now on, but I'm sure the little scavengers will find enough.

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Right now I have these two guys in QT. (picture below) A bonded pair of flame hawkfish from DD. The rock is only in there while a new sponge filter is gaining some bacterial goodies in the DT. They are getting a couple weeks of prazipro, and then I'll take out the rock and add the sponge filter and go through a course of cupramine.
Aren't they pretty!!!

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I do have one concern about my water changes. Everything is set up through my apex. I have new saltwater that is being pumped up from my basement to my sump upstairs. My worry is that if for some reason my apex isn't responding when I try to turn off that pump, my house will be flooded by the time my old body gets down to the basement to pull the plug, which is actually in my crawl space. As I sit in my family room and watch the water rising in the sump, I'm actually feeling panic starting as I wait to see if the pump turns off. Any thoughts on a back up for this would be GREATLY appreciated, and add back 10 years to my life.
 
What about a float valve to turn off the pump? I love the heniochus and flame hawk pair! Congrats on your successful 1st qt :)
 
What about adding a afloat sensor to your sump. Gets above a certain level and trips the sensor shutting the pump off
 
Joe Lydon said:
Add an overflow to your sump and run the drain to a drain in your basement.
Click to expand...
This sounds clever. I can't picture how to do it, though. I would need a way for it to drain faster than the pump is pumping, approximately 500 GPH. The tubing is 3/4". Do I just drill maybe a hole for a 1 1/2" bulkhead in the top of the sump? Would that allow the water to drain by gravity fast enough?

EricTheRed said:
What about a float valve to turn off the pump? I love the heniochus and flame hawk pair! Congrats on your successful 1st qt :)
Click to expand...

This was my first thought, because it would be so easy, but my water is going into the sump through a 3/4" hose. Are there float valves that can take that large of a hose and restrict that kind of force?
 
Joe5688 said:
What about adding a afloat sensor to your sump. Gets above a certain level and trips the sensor shutting the pump off
Click to expand...
Sounds like my tunze osmolator sensor. Sounds promising, but complicated. Would it have to then be wired into my system somehow to turn off?
 
edsbeaker said:
This sounds clever. I can't picture how to do it, though. I would need a way for it to drain faster than the pump is pumping, approximately 500 GPH. The tubing is 3/4". Do I just drill maybe a hole for a 1 1/2" bulkhead in the top of the sump? Would that allow the water to drain by gravity fast enough?
Click to expand...

You could use a surge type drain. Basically a 90 pointed downward inside the sump. Use an extension and run it down to the point at which you would want to break drain siphon. When the water level reaches the exit point, it will run at full siphon. I believe 1.5" flows around 2200gph, 1" would suffice. Switches and sensors are Ok, but can fail. Physics can always be depended on. If you route it to a house drain, you will never have to worry about an overflow problem again.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions everyone, but I think I'm overthinking this. I think the simplest idea is to just put an extension cord on the pump that is plugged in the basement, and feed it to the upstairs into one of my apex outlets under the tank. That pump is never on except during water changes while I'm watching, so I'll just chance that I won't get distracted during the five minutes that it takes to refill the sump. If it doesn't turn off by way of my apex, which was my original concern, I can just pull the plug since it's now upstairs near me.
 
Bingo! Sometimes the simplest way is the best way.
edsbeaker said:
Thanks for all the suggestions everyone, but I think I'm overthinking this. I think the simplest idea is to just put an extension cord on the pump that is plugged in the basement, and feed it to the upstairs into one of my apex outlets under the tank. That pump is never on except during water changes while I'm watching, so I'll just chance that I won't get distracted during the five minutes that it takes to refill the sump. If it doesn't turn off by way of my apex, which was my original concern, I can just pull the plug since it's now upstairs near me.
Click to expand...
 
Hi Mark,
Yes, actually a few new things. I'm going to try to take a few pictures tomorrow. I just made a frame to support my new LED's. It really came out pretty good, but I still need to mount it. I've also added a lot of livestock over the last month. I've been really busy, but I'll try to update the thread tomorrow or Thursday.

I've been keeping my eye on your build, and it looks beautiful. I really love the rock work.
 
I thought I would do an update even though I'm kicking myself about dropping one of my new Evergrow LED unit's into my tank. :frusty:

I made what I thought was a great frame to support both units. It was attached by quick links and chains to 3 points in my canopy. I guess I didn't anticipate that the units sit unattached on top of the frame, and any shift can cause the framework to tip and dump the fixture into the tank. Luckily they weren't plugged in.

I'm in contact with Evergrow, and will be either having them ship me a new power source for my fried blue lights channel, or if I'm not feeling very capable, I might send the fixture to the US repair center. I'm just so bummed that it will probably be a couple of weeks until it is fixed!

Here is a picture of the frame. Once the fixture is fixed, I have decided to hang each corner and the two quick links in the center straight up into the canopy at 6 points instead of 3. This way there is no way it could tip. I think this will work great... now that the kinks have been worked out.


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My grandson demonstrating how the fixtures sit on top.
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Now for some pictures of my 3 month old tank. Excuse my poor photographs, but you get the idea. This will be a softy, LPS and Zoa and mushroom tank.
Hope you enjoy.

Inhabitants include
2 onyx clownfish
1 royal gramma
1 purple firefish
1 midas blenny
1 flame hawkfish
1 multicolor angel
1 flame angel
1 banggai cardinal fish
1 hiding rainbow anemone

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Tank looks great, I see some new additions. Really like your rock work too. I am sorry to hear about your fixture taking a swim in your tank, but you'll get it fixed. Now the fun part begins with stocking it with more corals and fish :)
 
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