Jason Rhoads

Interesting point. I was thinking that the load would be mainly borne by the 2x6 beam. I can add some more vertical legs to the outer frame and run 2x4's under the 2x6 beam right at where the sides of the tank would be situated.

LOL @ DC. I did think that diagonal braces at the corners would be a good idea. Honestly, I ran out of 2x4's long enough to make that brace. I am going to head to home depot this evening and buy a few more. Just so I ma clear, you mean putting a board running diagonally from bottom to top on each short side, correct? I didn't add any bracing to the short horizontal joists, because I couldn't think of how to do so without sacrificing storage space under the tank, and I figured that they were mainly there to help tie the center beam in with the 2x4's making the same span. The plywood will help tie the top together as well.

I have an interesting project for which I need some input. I want to build a storage area of sorts to fill in a space where my tank currently resides. The tank will sit on top of the storage area under which I will move my 55g refugium and my 30g sump. My question is about the strength of the frame I have built to support the tank. The span I need to cover is right at 9 feet in length and 3 feet in width but my tank is only 5 feet in length and 2 feet deep. Thus, the tank, being centered on top of the box, will not sit directly on the outside supports of the frame. At this point, I have a top frame (on which the tank will rest) constructed out of 2x4s with two 2x6s joined together running down the center of the box (the 2x6 beam only has vertical supports at either end, while the 2x4 spans have vertical support at the ends and in the center). The 2x6s span the entire length (9ft) and the 2x4s span 4ft sections (having vertical supports at their center). I have the top frame resting on a total of 8 groups of (2) 2x4s joined together to form my vertical supports. Additionally, I plan to skin the top of the frame with 1/2" plywood which will help distribute the load between the 2x6 beam and the 2x4 spans on the outside of the frame. Here are some pictures to help: My question is: Do I need to add a center vertical support to the 2x6 beam, or will this design hold a 100g tank as is without too much deflection? Thanks!

OP, your fuge looks awesome! Sent from my LG-LS720 using Tapatalk

Thanks for the props! Yep, the slow-flow fuge is amazing for growing pods and mysis. I recently added LEDs over it, and the algae growth is starting to take off (a good thing in this case), which i think will support even more life in the refugium. You are also correct in that it is a remote DSB as well. Something is working, because i have more polyp extension with the fuge online than before, and that is the only change (well, I did change my haircut, but the fish don't seem to notice so I doubt the corals do). Sent from my LG-LS720 using Tapatalk

Very pretty! GLWS

I have been running a DC6000 for around a year now with no issues. Nothing novel to note, but I would buy another one.

agree 100% Sent from my LG-LS720 using Tapatalk

+1 to Ocean Nutrition Formula One. My fish love this stuff.

Thank you for starting this! I am eager to see how it is done as well.

Maybe forgo the prazipro?

+1 to this.

My office is on the same floor as the NOAA guys (at the Dept. of Commerce) and I serve on a board with one of their attorneys (not sure what section he is with). I can bring this up with him and see if there are good contacts that I can share with the forum.

Dude, you take a mean picture! Your coral shots are outstanding. I am looking forward to tracking the 180 Sent from my LG-LS720 using Tapatalk

Although you are going to see pressure loss due to the many lines running from the return, and the many 90 degree bends, I think this will work just fine. Do you have valves on all the return lines going to the various tanks? I see valves on the two going into the 120, but what about the fuge and the 46? These would be needed to dial in the amount of flow going into any one tank. For what its worth, I run multiple tanks off one pump as well, but I have mine set up reverse of what you do. I have one return line that feeds the display, and the drain lines from the display gravity feed the remaining tanks (I only need low flow to them because they are refugiums).

Tank/corals are looking great! Nice work rehabbing that chalice, i know that is a rewarding feeling Regarding not buying any more stuff, start trading with people. It might take a bit longer to get what you want, but that gives your current stock time to grow. Let me know if you want some sps. I am almost ready to start trimming Sent from my LG-LS720 using Tapatalk

+1

Remove by hand if they are not too numerous.

treesprite brings up the best reason why you would want to run two separate systems. I would run them to the same sump as others mention. For me, the larger water volume and stability that brings is reason enough.

Very cool! I love the macro in there!

Looking good! Is the losing some of its color? Between the 11/2013 shot and now, it looks less purple.

Wow! You went through Fish Street for this? I need to shoot them an email. Did you just ask for new "motor blocks?" Thanks Tom, I was dreading another $70+ on a replacement pump.

I too rinse my carbon with discard water after water changes (I am all about saving the extra water and few cents it would cost to use RO). Since we are steering back to the flow discussion I will expound a bit on my reasoning behind a low flow fuge: Less power consumption. This is enough of a reason for me, I try to save on electricity where I can, and use only my main pump to drive all the turnover through my tanks. From personal observation, pods tend to like the low flow areas better. I have seen a huge increase in pod life since I set up my refugium remote from my sump. There are a number of reasons I am seeing more pods, but one of them is the low flow environment I have created. My philosophy with a refugium is to create an environment that is distinct from a reef to, hopefully, closer replicate more of the biological system that helps drive life on the reef. Detritus settling area. A low flow refugium helps with maintenance in that you will have an easy place from which to siphon out gunk.

^^ agree with the above. Isaac's tank has plenty of sand still.

You could, or you could toss a bag into the return section of your sump. I have read that a reactor is more efficient, but it all comes down to economics. To me, shelling out $100+ on a reactor and having to hook up another pump just isn't worth the, possible, marginal benefit of having the carbon tumble.