DIY Concrete Aquarium 5,000 gallon - Anderson Family Reef

[Sean Clark]

Well done sir. How are you controlling this?

 

[dca22anderson]

Added the second Hammerhead Gold to the mix and fired it up!! Plumed in the third drain to get more water back to the sump faster. It’s rocking now!! Soo much turnover!! Love it even though it’s a temporary set up!!

Also added more salt today, up to 10 - 200gal bags of salt in the tank. Current temp is 66 degrees. Need to bring that up to 77!!

 

[dca22anderson]

Well done sir. How are you controlling this?

Bought the Ranco controller to plug in the circulation pump to. When the temp drops the circulation starts and the loop warms up.

(check out AlexG’s set up for the heat exchanger loop) Thanks AlexG!!

Also have 2 apex on the holding system that I’ll eventually switch over as well.

 

[dca22anderson]

Sump is rocking made that snake intake so the second pump doesn’t suck in all the bubbles from the drain.

Sophisticated salt bag record keeping LOL!!

 

[AlexG]

Bought the Ranco controller to plug in the circulation pump to. When the temp drops the circulation starts and the loop warms up.

(check out AlexG’s set up for the heat exchanger loop) Thanks AlexG!!

Also have 2 apex on the holding system that I’ll eventually switch over as well.

I am sure you will be happy with the results of the heating coil. I am always happy to share DIY projects like this one to spread the knowledge

 

[dca22anderson]

I am sure you will be happy with the results of the heating coil. I am always happy to share DIY projects like this one to spread the knowledge

It’s awesome!! Hope to get it online tomorrow!!

 

[dca22anderson]

So I added 10 bags of salt yesterday and… guess who was trying to swim upstream this morning… LOL!!

This is the last koi we thought was dead… nope he’s now safe in my daughters tank for now…

 

[dca22anderson]

21 - 200 gallon Red Sea blue bags in and rocking!! Tank salt at 1.025 now.

Building a temporary pex heat coil till I get the real one.

Current water temp is 68 degrees in the big dog.

 

[Theo_0]

Yet another week passed and still no equipment….

 

[dca22anderson]

Yet another week passed and still no equipment….

Yes, just doing double work over here, temp set up for the cycle, then hopefully all the big gear for the duration… fingers crossed

 

[ScottB]

Adding that next 10 degrees is going to raise your measured salinity. I'll take the over on 1.028
No big deal of course; just don't go adding in more salt for 1.026.

You are tempting me to go with a temporary sump set up instead of waiting for my new 9 foot sump to get built.

 

[dca22anderson]

Adding that next 10 degrees is going to raise your measured salinity. I'll take the over on 1.028
No big deal of course; just don't go adding in more salt for 1.026.

You are tempting me to go with a temporary sump set up instead of waiting for my new 9 foot sump to get built.

Thanks, good call!

Planning on adjusting the salinity once up to temp!

That’s a big sump!! 9’ nice!!

 

[dca22anderson]

Hot water feed and check valve

100’ of coiled pex in sump

Circulation pump

Completing the loop at the hot water heater drain

That loop is working perfectly!

Ranco temperature controller screen isn’t turning on. Double checked my contacts and connections. I’ll have to dig in a little more.

 

[dca22anderson]

Watched two wiring videos on how to connect it and if I’m missing something I don’t see it.

 

[Sean Clark]

Hot water feed and check valve

100’ of coiled pex in sump

Circulation pump

Completing the loop at the hot water heater drain

That loop is working perfectly!

Ranco temperature controller screen isn’t turning on. Double checked my contacts and connections. I’ll have to dig in a little more.

You are using a bronze body pump for this on a potable water system?

 

[dca22anderson]

You are using a bronze body pump for this on a potable water system?

Yes:

 

[Sean Clark]

Yes:

I only ask because it is not allowed in my area due to the lead.

 

[dca22anderson]

I only ask because it is not allowed in my area due to the lead.

I ordered lead free fittings and the bronze pump. Hopefully that works well for the Heat loop…

 

[dca22anderson]

Few hours in and we are at:

 

[dca22anderson]

Salted and almost up to temp in less than 24 hours!!