Cindy and I started this on Monday and finished today. We used an old sump that was drilled on the side for a return pump, but now is the drain. I already had 95% of the pvc fittings, pipe and 2x4's from when I had my garage built a few months ago. This is the end result. I forgot how to post pics in the gallery so I will post them here through photobucket: Plus this adds about 30 more gallons to my system.
Great set up, how did you get the frosted look on the back of the frag tank? It's nice to have the room in the garage for your equipment to be set up right and be able to service it easily. Great job!!!!!
Frosted back glass The frosted look on the back glass is just a plastic light diffuser from Lowes for $5.00. I cut it to size with a utility Knife (very brittle), and attached with super velcro. I was not sure how it was going to look, but I didn't want to be able to look straight through it. I can take it ooff easily to run a magnet across the back glass as needed. I may even take a scrap piece, and see if I can dye it blue. It may look good like that, maybe not. Thanks everyone for the nice comments. I even added a valve in front to pump water out for weekly water changes. Its pictured on the bottom right hand corner of the tank. Its about the same height of the Rubbermaid Brute garbage can I pump it out into. This way I don't have to add another pump to pump water out.
More changes I have made a modification to my drains from my to 215 to my sump. Yo may be able to see in the above pics two larger pipes coming out of the wall to my sump. This was going to two filter socks to remove larger debris prior to skimming. The filters got dirty pretty quick and I have a hard time turning them inside out due to the size of my hands. I guess I could have used a plastic stick or something, but it never seemed to be right there when I needed to use it. The pics below are the changes I have made to get down to one large filter sock. Brackets to hold new 2" pipes securely New filter sock set up in sump Before shot Frag tank a couple fo weeks later. I did add two actinic VHOs since installed. I originally had to actinic/white bulbs.
Sump renovation Well I am going to change my sump set up. I am removing both 100 gallon and 75 gallon sumps for this: I am making it closed loop sort of to remove all power heads from the water for stray voltage. You can see the closed loop ports here (4 of them).   My friend Tfrank is also going to change my chiller coil to a larger one in efforts to reduce my electric bill in the summer time ($500 a month last 3-4 months).  Here is a size comparison:  It is a swimming pool heater/chiller coil. I plan on making the big change tomorrow. Anyone want to help? LOL Â
I am hoping to finally clean up the way the garage equipment looks. I am not pleased with it currently as I have added stuff over the years and have a ton of PVC going everywhere.  I won't get rid of it all, but hope to make it look a little better. I am taking down the frag tank, and will use the 300 gallon sump for frags eventually. My tanks are not doing well for some reason. I cannot figure it out, and it just makes since to make the big change now. If stuff dies off then so be it. I have also bought the new craze Bio-pellets. I am also going to convert my carbon reactor over to a Bio-pellet reactor at the same time. Hope to take pictures of the demolition tomorrow as I go. Wish me luck.
The new chiller work may not get done this weekend, but here is a picture of the smaller chiller coil currently in use:
Ralph thanks for sharing - I always enjoy following along with DIY projects, maybe because I am not to good at them - yours always impress me !  Good luck & best wishes with the changes, hope all goes as planed, look forward to following along. On RS lots of members are going to the Bio-pellets & saying they are having good results - look forward to your review of them too. All the best ! Glenn
Well several hours later and a sore back and feet, the hard stuff is done. No apparent leaks yet. Here are a few pics. I am far from being done with all of the other equipment though. Skimmers are getting a vinegar bath.    Alot of stuff to put away and clean yet!!
You must have worked your ( I ) off you got tons done from what you had while I was there It looks good an am very impressd with the progress!!!! Â I got the new tank in, all cleaned up, back painted, water and livestock moved in tonight. UHG LOLÂ I just threw everything in till water clears up to reefscape all over again.. I ordered two U tubes from ebay. Petco has tanks $1.00 a gallon so I think I am going to go ahead and get a 40 gallon tank and build a sump the 55 was too tight. <<< All thats another post. It all looks good and I hope it works out for you!!!
I feel like Chris when he does a project. Medic!!   I h ad to use a hand saw as the pvc cutters were breaking the pipe. Â
Ralph it looks like you tried to frag yourself. Hope thats all that happens during your system rebuild.
Ralph, that's just another reason why I am good at my 3 jobs ..............supervise............advise..................and....... criticize !!! no trips to the ER or late night clinic... I just pump em full of pizza and drinks and watch the glue fly !!!
