Steve's 220XH with 120g sump build

[thirty6]

I like the look, and the ability to work on one side of tank thats open will be a nice feature

 

[lnevo]

You could drill them both and connect together side by side...it would become one big tank.

 

[jamesonwhiskey]

You could drill them both and connect together side by side...it would become one big tank.

thanks a good idea.... a bulkhead with a short pipe goes between the two then?

 

[jamesonwhiskey]

I threw in a piece of raw shrimp to help kick off the cycling but I haven't had an ammonia spike yet. I'm going to get a piece of LIVE rock today to help out. Also take out that shrimp and add in 2 or 3 this time since it's such a large volume of water.

 

[jadakiss]

Nice setup lookin forward when u fill that baby up with corals

 

[lnevo]

thanks a good idea.... a bulkhead with a short pipe goes between the two then?

Yeah you could do two for some structure and as a backup as well.

You could also do u tubes and create a siphon between both tanks of you didn't want to drill. You would just need to adjust the height so that the tops were even to prevent a potential overflow.

The siphon should be power outage safe. The only thing that would screw it up would be if one tank drained low enough to break the siphon...

 

[jamesonwhiskey]

Yeah you could do two for some structure and as a backup as well.

You could also do u tubes and create a siphon between both tanks of you didn't want to drill. You would just need to adjust the height so that the tops were even to prevent a potential overflow.

The siphon should be power outage safe. The only thing that would screw it up would be if one tank drained low enough to break the siphon...

I'm leaning towards giving the drilled tank a try... i don't need the refugium just yet so i have some time. My tank is still cycling as of now. I added some more dry rock as well. Hoping for the cycle to finish today or tomorrow and get the clean-up crew in on Weds. Will update with pics soon...

 

[jamesonwhiskey]

Long over due update.... in the past month or so i've got the lights up, cycled the tank and got my first inhabitants. Will get some pics of the sump in the basement up tomorrow. Still need to drill the fuge and plumb that.

 

[jamesonwhiskey]

more....

 

[jamesonwhiskey]

I'm hating the wiring for my lights... I'm going to try to paint them or put them in conduit I think.

And my first puffer after years of doing this! So far he's picked at some snails, but since I started feeding him mussels in the shell he's backed off on them. He hasn't touched my zoas at all either.

 

[samksy]

Nice progress James! I might do something similar down the road. How much did the iron stand run you around?

 

[chris koci]

great job all around congrats

 

[jamesonwhiskey]

Nice progress James! I might do something similar down the road. How much did the iron stand run you around?

Thanks! I think the stand was around $150 but I don't remember for sure as I bought it as a package deal with the tank and delivery from Tom (cody0709). I think I got my skimmer from you? The SRO that Fortunado passed on

 

[samksy]

Thanks! I think the stand was around $150 but I don't remember for sure as I bought it as a package deal with the tank and delivery from Tom (cody0709). I think I got my skimmer from you? The SRO that Fortunado passed on

Thanks for the info, i know who to go to when i'm ready .
Yes, it's a awasome skimmer but i would try not to turn it off, as it's a pitta to kick start it. Good luck on your built, i'll be following your thread.

 

[jamesonwhiskey]

Yes, it's a awasome skimmer but i would try not to turn it off, as it's a pitta to kick start it. Good luck on your built, i'll be following your thread.

lol yeah it is!! i have to take it out and let it drain then plug it in and put it back in the water. i'm not sure if replacing the pump would fix it, or if it's the seal or something else??

 

[samksy]

lol yeah it is!! i have to take it out and let it drain then plug it in and put it back in the water. i'm not sure if replacing the pump would fix it, or if it's the seal or something else??

These pump will always have the kick start issue. A new pump will be easier to kick start, but over time, they'll have the same issue. What you also can do is use your finger or something else to spin the impeller to help it kick start, i find it easier, like i show you when you pick up the pump. Or replace with the DC pump, there is one that fits this model exactly i believe. I have played with many top end skimmer, this is one of the best.

 

[jamesonwhiskey]

These pump will always have the kick start issue. A new pump will be easier to kick start, but over time, they'll have the same issue. What you also can do is use your finger or something else to spin the impeller to help it kick start, i find it easier, like i show you when you pick up the pump. Or replace with the DC pump, there is one that fits this model exactly i believe. I have played with many top end skimmer, this is one of the best.

I'm good with it running non-stop... i was doing water changes out of my sump but think I have a better way to do them doing forward now where i don't have to empty the sump out...

 

[SIReefer]

Any updates, new additions?

 

[jamesonwhiskey]

Any updates, new additions?

Yes! Between the tank, building a deck in my backyard and work I've been slacking on MR!! Here's a quick couple of pics showing my 2 latest additions (the 3rd LED light from Wingo and my Magnificent Foxface).

 

[jamesonwhiskey]

Tonight I'm working on a make-shift water change station and I'll get more pics of my 55g sump and 120g refugium up.