ChukeeR's 266G Reef Savvy + Synergy Reef Build / Upgrade (1 Viewer)

[benihana]

Looks nice...they only question/concern that comes to mind is the divider between the filter sock and skimmer, and the fact that it runs all the way to the top of the sump. In the even that something(s) ever plug up the slots that are meant for overflow protection, you will have an issue on your hands.

I would reccomend removing 1-2" from the top of that divider (but still leaving the slots) that way you are completely protected in the event something would happen

 

[.Marshall]

Did you ask him if he can fit his hand down to the bottom in the baffles? General rule for me is, "if I can't touch it I can't clean it". And with the beautiful sumps Synergy Reef makes, you'll want to keep that baby spotless!

Not telling you what to do, just trying to help

 

[ChukeeR]

Update: Originally I was supposed to be getting the tank and sump sometime in May / June...BUT since my last update, I've finalized plans to have a house built (which should be completed by the end of August). I asked for Felix to delay my tank build so that I could just have the tank delivered to my new home. Much easier than having it delivered to my current home, then having to deal with moving it again.

With that being said the only update I have is that we've worked with our builder to include into our home plans a room with trusses which will hold the weight of our tank. At least I know 'it shouldn't' fall through the floor, haha.

Otherwise, there may not be a whole lot of updates to this thread until early fall, but I will keep this thread updated!

 

[crumblysculling]

On another note, who wants to help me move this thing when it arrives? Beer and pizza can be provided, haha! Or does anyone know of a moving company that will help move heavy aquariums?

Throw in a few rounds of Call of Duty and this sounds like a good time lol. No but seriously if you find a good moving company let me know how you found them. I have a move coming up in 2 months....(so NOT looking forward to it). I've been looking on yahoo and moving guru but I just don't know who to go with.

 

[ChukeeR]

Throw in a few rounds of Call of Duty and this sounds like a good time lol. No but seriously if you find a good moving company let me know how you found them. I have a move coming up in 2 months....(so NOT looking forward to it). I've been looking on yahoo and moving guru but I just don't know who to go with.

Call of Duty sounds like a deal to me! haha...

I have had zero luck finding a moving company to help move the tank. I saw a video where Mr Saltwater Tank had '2 Guys and a Truck' help him bring a tank in his house...but the ones around here don't want anything to do with moving aquariums.

I've even checked with a couple companies whom build tanks for people located within the Twin Cities, no luck with them either...

 

[BEAV9900]

I would check with some of the local aquarium maintenance companies. Check who they use or what they charge when they do a large install. PM Travis or Jen from new wave aquaria (sponsor). Maybe then can help or at least direct you.

 

[ChukeeR]

I would check with some of the local aquarium maintenance companies. Check who they use or what they charge when they do a large install. PM Travis or Jen from new wave aquaria (sponsor). Maybe then can help or at least direct you.

Already checked with Jen, she said they wouldn't be able to assist me. Maybe I had to buy my tank from them?

 

[BEAV9900]

Maybe? My work has a company that takes care of our tanks. We have a 500 gallon that I'm pretty sure they installed. Next time they are in ill ask if they can help.

 

[ChukeeR]

Sump arrived a few weeks ago, skimmer came yesterday. Did a little test to make sure the skimmer had enough space...

 

[Pumbooris]

Oooohhhhhh equipment porn! NICE skimmer!

 

[Riley]

Call of Duty sounds like a deal to me! haha...

I have had zero luck finding a moving company to help move the tank. I saw a video where Mr Saltwater Tank had '2 Guys and a Truck' help him bring a tank in his house...but the ones around here don't want anything to do with moving aquariums.

I've even checked with a couple companies whom build tanks for people located within the Twin Cities, no luck with them either...

Did you ever figure this out? I used the Beltman Group, part of North American Van lines to move my tank to Chicago, and then back again from Chicago two years later. For the move, they required I have it crated for it to be covered by their insurance, but they were willing to move it.

 

[ChukeeR]

Oooohhhhhh equipment porn! NICE skimmer!

Thanks! I was originally going to go the Vertex Alpha route, but I got too good of a deal on the BK skimmer to say no.

Did you ever figure this out? I used the Beltman Group, part of North American Van lines to move my tank to Chicago, and then back again from Chicago two years later. For the move, they required I have it crated for it to be covered by their insurance, but they were willing to move it.

I just need help with taking it out of the crate and carrying it into the room where I'm setting it up, once my house is done being built. I'm having it delivered to my new house so it doesn't need to be moved from one house to another.

 

[Riley]

They may be able to do that or know a service that can. After we moved, they had a separate company come in and uncrate it and then set it on the stand.

 

[ChukeeR]

Soooo it's been 10 months since I've responded to this thread...Not sure where time has gone. Anyway - Finally got moved into my new house that we had built last summer, and now I'm starting to resume my tank build. I had Reef Savvy delay my tank while we were getting moved and settled, new ETA is sometime in mid-to-late May / June.

In the meantime I've been getting my basement fish room / sump area setup and I'm having some concerns about return pumps.

First let me post a couple pictures of my sump area / purposed plumbing design. Sorry I don't have a fancy CAD drawing (I wish I knew how to use CAD), but I did my best with MS Paint!

My tank will be running the length of the concrete wall (in a room above my sump room). My tank in the room above and the sump in the basement are perpendicular to each other (if they were on the same level).

When I designed my sump I had not planned to have it in the basement, rather it was going to be inside of the stand under the tank. So...here's my concern...The return chamber is located on the right side of the sump (per the first picture). I'm trying to figure out a way to minimize head loss so I'm wondering if I drill and add a bulkhead behind the return chamber, then run a PVC pipe the length of the sump back towards the concrete wall, then have the return pumping basically straight upwards to the tank, would there be any issues here with potentially starving the return?

Otherwise I'm going to have to find a large external pump that can handle a large amount of head loss due to plumbing 5 feet vertically to the ceiling trusses, 90* elbow, ~5 feet horizontal (back towards the concrete foundation wall), 90* elbow, horizontal towards the center of the concrete wall, 90* elbow, then another ~5-6 feet vertically.

I'm trying to avoid rotating the sump around as then my drain bulkheads are right in front versus the back, but worse case I'll have to do that...

My tank will be~270 gallons, minus displaced water from sand and rock and I'm looking to get about 5-10X turnover. Anyone have some suggestions on plumbing this thing and a return pump?

 

[David Grigor]

Why not just the opposite, turn the sump around. It's okay for the overflow line to go longer distance especially since it's gravity. Your return pump would then be right where you want it.

 

[ChukeeR]

Why not just the opposite, turn the sump around. It's okay for the overflow line to go longer distance especially since it's gravity. Your return pump would then be right where you want it.

Probably going to be what I end up doing. Just wasn't wanting the drain plumbing right up front. Was hoping to keep it so the drain lines would be up against the wall so-to-speak.

 

[JDMREEF]

that sump looks super icy man, I'm jealous a little lol

 

[eschulist]

I like the first drawing better. Bulkhead at the end or back of your sump and piping going along the back of the sump towards the concrete wall. Pump on the left side of the sump pulls the water across the back and pushes it straight up. All your plumbing will the grouped together and you can have all your couplings and valves right there for easy access.

 

[David Grigor]

Just be sure to use next size larger diameter pvc than what your pump intake threads are, then reduce at the last moment. This will help account for friction and any necessary turns.

 

[mrbill]

If you are worried about head loss just get a Panworld external pump with the rating you need to plumb it the way you want. They are affordable, powerful, quite (very large ones are a little noisy), don't add any heat to the tank and they last for years.