New 70 Gallon Custom Starphire Reef...

[Letsdiscus]

Stand build also done. nailed it through the 2x4 joists in the wall.

 

[Nonuser]

This might be the perfect tank dimensions. Kind of a shame the starphire sides will be hidden. So you won't be blacking out the sides.

 

[Letsdiscus]

This might be the perfect tank dimensions. Kind of a shame the starphire sides will be hidden. So you won't be blacking out the sides.

A great question. In fact i was planning to post this as a question to the folks on this forum for suggestions. it would b a waste to not see the sides unfortunately as placing the tank in the basement was not the original plan during the order.

So need some options. Would painting the sides "black" be a better option or placing the black paper which "Big Als" sells would be better. Just want to keep options open for later if the paint can be removed in future?

Appreciate any inputs as that would be my next step prior plumbing...Thanks

 

[noobwithatank]

Had a thought ... could you push the tank forward like 6 inchs. . So not all of the sides are hidden in the wall ?

 

[noobwithatank]

So need some options. Would painting the sides "black" be a better option or placing the black paper which "Big Als" sells would be better. Just want to keep options open for later if the paint can be removed.

Use car limo window tint.

 

[jeffopentax]

Dollar store acrylic paint. Looks good, and super easy to peel off if you want to.


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[Letsdiscus]

Had a thought ... could you push the tank forward like 6 inchs. . So not all of the sides are hidden in the wall ?

Cant do that as the stand height is kept few cms lower than the cut out to factor sand height.


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[Letsdiscus]

Dollar store acrylic paint. Looks good, and super easy to peel off if you want to.


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Mostly deciding between paint or tint paper


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[EricTMah]

Paint it!
That will prevent any water spots dripping down between any background "paper"
Imo it looks terrible when you see water spots in places you can't clean.
But if you decide to you the background paper on the sides. Make sure the glass is spotless before installing and also make sure it's completely sealed at the top sides and bottom. This will also prevent water dripping between the glass and background.


Sony Xperia Z3

 

[Letsdiscus]

Paint it!
That will prevent any water spots dripping down between any background "paper"
Imo it looks terrible when you see water spots in places you can't clean.
But if you decide to you the background paper on the sides. Make sure the glass is spotless before installing and also make sure it's completely sealed at the top sides and bottom. This will also prevent water dripping between the glass and background.


Sony Xperia Z3

Thanks Eric. i think that's a well explained point on water drips. in this hobby how so ever we will be cautious there would be some spills over during cleaning etc..
i had a close look on the tank last evening and there is a small area few inches from the back glass to the black acrylic overflow which has been covered with the black film by Miracles.

I am hoping that stays the way it is so only the other section starting from the acrylic overflow wall to the front glass can be paint though i do have the euro brace at all edges.

 

[Letsdiscus]

my babies currently housed in between my sump and brute container.. cant wait to give them more space and freedom..

Equipment List run down so far.. most of them existing from earlier 90 gallon and some new toys purchased...

from Old Setup-
- GHL Mitras LED
-Ecotech MP10 (driver side has stopped working just at 2 years of purchase). This is kinda disappointment for an Ecotech product. Their CS mentioned they cant do anything since its over warranty period.. sucks. Did not expect it to go down just within 2 years.
-Apex Lite controller)
-Apex DOS (Cal and Alk dossing. From old setup.. Awesome equipment. I like to keep my Alk between 11.5 -12 and have seen most of my LPS kick back like there's no tomorrow.
-Super Reef Octopus SR 3000 Internal Protein skimmer (from old setup)
-Tunzee Auto top off
-Finnex 500W heater
-Tonga rocks
-Reef Octopus Water Blaster 10000 (Return Pump). This might sound an overkill as i was using it for just 6 months in the old setup pumping return from basement all the way to main level Display tank.
-Carbon /GFO reactors (mix between Phosban 150 and RLSS FR4 cone ). Plan to replace both and buy Dual by Spectrapure



New Setup-
-Ecotech MP40 quiet drive (This is a brand new toy waiting to be installed on the new setup). Hoping it lasts longer than 2 years
-Tunzee Nanostream 6095 with controller. (for new setup) I love this guy.. its been running currently in the Brute container and is an amazing piece
- KESSIL A360N-E Tuna Blue Narrow angle LED
- Kessil LED controller
-Bubble Magus Dosing stand alone- Plan this for Red Sea PO4/NO3 auto dosing

Not sure if i missed out anything ..

 

[Letsdiscus]

More updates done over past few days including weekend.
-Had to get the dry wall and the opening for the tank plumbing done through the stand..
-Connection for N/w cable for Apex
-made opening under sand for each 5 bulkhead holes

 

[Letsdiscus]

-painted Stucco Ceiling with oil based paint. looked pretty old prior.had to paint it off to keep things looking new

 

[Letsdiscus]

Past few days had been crazy busy with work and family. Managed to get some time in night to catch up on the build..
-Dry wall prep for painting
-painting of the whole room
-Painting of the Stand with Zenzer white
-Treatment of concrete floor with Epoxy paint and Clear protect
-Testing of Network connection

 

[Letsdiscus]

Casing of the inside frame...I prefer keeping both sides of the tank looking great and in order and not just the Display side
Also painted the wooden frame from outside..and added few details to the stand from the fish room facing end.

 

[Letsdiscus]

And - Lights added for the sump section below the stand..

 

[Letsdiscus]

Next stage plumbing finally.. cant wait.. Planning on Bean animal. Current overflow is end to end 5 ft with 5 1" holes-

2 Holes- Main Overflow- Bean Animal
1- Emergency
2- One each for returns

Any of you currently using Bean animal for overflow with 1" Bulkheads. have read Bean's thread on Reef Central and looks like he is using 1" bulkhead but with an 1.5" adaptor for main 2 overflows.
So iam not sure if i need to plan the main 2 drains to be 1.5" or just 1" would be enough.
appreciate any thoughts from folks using either or . Thanks

 

[Dr. Zoos]

Mine was 1" but I used 2" elbows inside the tank. The second cap with vent was changed after pic was taken. I think you need the larger intake to get the full force of the siphon without it being constricted right from the start the third elbow was already attached to its respective bulkhead. I only valved the main siphon and left the trickle drain to flow as it needed. Obv no valve should be on an emergency drain. Yes the second bent is still on the main in the pic and the valve is closed but I was taking a photo opt while I remembered.

 

[Letsdiscus]

View attachment 12954 View attachment 12953 Mine was 1" but I used 2" elbows inside the tank. The second cap with vent was changed after pic was taken. I think you need the larger intake to get the full force of the siphon without it being constricted right from the start the third elbow was already attached to its respective bulkhead. View attachment 12953

Thanks for sharing the pics.- SO is it ok to keep the elbows in the overflow to 1.5" with 1" while the rest of the pipe to be 1" which goes in sump OR
Keep both Main Overflows to be 1.5" by plumbing a 1"- 1.5" adaptor on the bulkheads both inside the overflow and on the outer end of the bulkhead leading the drain to Sump.

Also the 1/4" flexi hose connected to the main drain- Do we need to terminate the other end below the water line of the overflow or just above it?

Trying to get my thoughts clear before i start purchasing plumbing parts.. many thanks

 

[Dr. Zoos]

Ok soooo I'll try my best here......
Yes keep the intake side of the elbow larger then the actuall pipe so 1 1/2" elbow reduced to 1" will work fine.
-the top of the main siphon needs NO flex line. I was redoing someone else's overflow on a used tank so I took that line out and plugged the hole. It should just be another elbow. The air line goes on the top of the trickle drain and yes it needs to be just above the regular operating level in the overflow......being as such water will trickle down that drain constantly but when the water raises for some issue(only time it should ever happen) that line will seal with water creating a second siphon and quickly suck out the excess water.
Does that help explain it?