Update to Chris' 125 Build
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=13079989#post13079989

Ok so here goes the painting process. :D Here it is all taped and covered. Here's the paint. Here's the first coat Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and an empty can: Here it is with the light on (glare on front reflected from nearby bicycle) but it is dusty on the bottom.

Here are the series of 3/4" bulkheads I had to go through before finally finding the right ones: MarineDepot (Heavy Duty Sch 80) & YourReef - both too large of a diameter for the mfgr. 3/4" megaflow hole, and finally the correct ones from Reef Connections). Notice the height difference too. Funny thing is the 1" MD Heavy Duty Sch. 80 worked for the 1" hole but they didn't for the 3/4" hole. With the moderate cost of plumbing and its importance overall in the build process and for insurance for the long run, I tried to go with the better materials i.e. heavy duty bulkheads but it simply didn't work for these guys. Top view - Maybe you can see the thickness on the left four compared to the right most ones. I'd tell you the difference but my digital calipers' battery died.

If you want to sell the odd ball bulkheads, i could use them for ry's 29 that i need to get setup. Paintjob looks sweet!

Here's the right Durso (when facing front) Here's the left Durso (when facing front) I think I am going to shorten the height of these Durso's as I do not want them extending up that far. Here's the link I used to make these: http://www.dursostandpipes.com/BuildYourOwn/tabid/54/Default.aspx I couldn't find 1.25" street El's so I simply hacksawed off about 3/8" off a Tee and a 90. Sanded and presto - DIY street El. Since these are not under pressure or vacuum... As long as the portion that remained cemented - the joint will be fine. I plan to obtain some loc-line and extend that from the megaflow wall to direct the return. I'm on the fence if I want to split the 3/4" line to two 3/4" 6" lengths with the wide nozzles returning the flow or just keep it at one per side. I'm going to be putting in my koralias on each side and considering when I make the big bucks, the controlled koralias. :D I plan to use a ReefFlo Dart rated for about 2800 gal at 6' head. I plan to split a manifold off the Dart Return: 1" Recirc, 3/4" chiller to have independent tank return near the center of the back (over wall), 3/4" option to suppy the skimmer, another 3/4" option to provide for other auxilliaries like PO4 & Carbon rx, and possibly a CaRx and/or nitrate rx in the future as well as a port to open for water changes. :D :D :D Based upon my calcs of about 700 gph for the chiller and about 500gph for the skimmer (if I don't tap it off one of the tank overflows) and say another 200-300 gph for the rx's that leaves about 1300-2100gph going to the tank off the return. Since the 1" diameter and the megaflows are rated for about 600 gph each for 1200gph, I am thinking I'll be pushing around 1800-2000gph through the tank with the chiller return included... I might be running them in siphon mode instead of gravity feed. Further, there's a megaflow mod here I'm considering: http://www.dursostandpipes.com/PopularModifications/MegaFlowModification/tabid/70/Default.aspx To save you the link hassle, basically one drills or dremels out the top teeth of the overflow and then adhears some critter barrier like gutter guard over the opening which greatly increases the available surface return flow. I do not know however, how this will effect the lower and middle draw ports on the mega flow. Though I question their worth anyway. I simply do not see hydraulically how it effectively works. Since the top of the inside megaflow barrier is actually a bit higher than the bottom of the top teeth, I can see a small draw about maybe 10-20% from bottom and middle but 80-90% will be coming from the top. Anyway I did email the guy who submitted this mod a while back now but no response yet. Once I have the stand built I plan to plumb everything and run it with water to see if the overflows will work with the recirc open simulating the other flows. At that point I'll decide if I want to go ahead and drill out the top teeth and glue in some gutter guard. I suppose at that point I can see if I need an additional loc-line return as well.

consider them sold. do you want cash or frags? i still have that hydnophora, some browned out staghorn,and a yellow toadstool leather. probably some more purple rics too.

branching,it grows pretty quickly too. the frag is already healed and growing. since i have plenty of stag, i'll give you some of that too. i'll call you next week, i've got plans for the next few days and wont have any time to run down there.

No problem. See you then!

OK so much time has passed again... After hearing what happened to Brian's tank and simply being tired of two tank maintenance when I have my upgrade single tank sitting in my garage.... I've got a new plan. See in order to completely upgrade, I'd have to run an additional 20A dedicated line to my tank outlet and note: I still rent. Further, I believe my landlord appeared to have a questioning concern about replacing two with one larger. I still have to build my stand and eventually a sump. Since I've hit a stagnant point about my design- enjoying the design phase too much... I've decided to take the stand from the alternate stand/tank/canopy I've been trying to sell and use it with my current sump/return pump situation. That way I can get motivated to finally build a better stand and eventually the sump. But I can use the tank and consolidate my tanks into one making my life simpler. We're posting our daughters pre-school art all over the walls via tape since we are on the fence of our ability to stay here month to month. So that being said... I think I'll go ahead. So far I've been thinking about trying to use only one of the pump returns and just place a higher stand pipe in the other. Further I think I'll throttle the tank return to the sump from one of them into my small, existing sump (DelRay 125) pump return area and have the other full flow to the exisitng sump inlet. This will keep me from needing the additional dedicated line. I'll just have to ensure the chiller (~500-700W) and new light (700W), etc are not on at the same time. Shouldn't be a problem with the ACII! 8) Now I just need to clean out my garage again. :roll: get the old tank off the stand and try to sell just that and it's canopy. :D

OK, is that AC(Roman numeral two) or AC(two "I"s)? And whichever one it is, what does it mean? I will probably feel stupid when you tell me but I have read and reread your post and I can't figure it out.

Sorry Dan... Yup II Roman Numeral 2. for AquaController II by Neptune Systems. Love this thing!!! By far the one piece of equipment for my aquarium that I think is the best I've bought for it. Probably the most expensive one (combined kit) purchase too. Sorry for using acronyms not easily found on the internet but I've used it quite often on Reef Central (RC). ;)

Ok sorry no pics. Moved the not used 125 tank down. took all the screws out of the stand. Other than the strongbacks and screws, the stand wasn't really assembled that well. *eek* So I also finished notching out 4x4's with a circular saw and a chisel for the 2x4 side beams to nestle in for a stronger build. I visited Meeks to get some kiln dried 2x4's (minimized warping) to find they stopped carrying them. Bummer.

From 11/07/08: Stand is coming along nicely. Bought a router table for my Harbor Freight Router... Only it is too big to fit into the table opening I got. Making the table bigger would have been bad since the mounting plate wouldn't fit. So after reviewing lots of routers I made an impulse decision to buy a craftsman router $119. Turns out online the local store said they had one but after searching for nearly 30 min turns out they didn't so I purused the Craftsman club paper and found the next one down was only $90 and next week will be on sale for $70. So I picked that one up and it's very similar to the Porter-Cable routers going for $150 more. So I'm looking to make some of my own trim and panel doors. .... So much for making this a quick and simple stand. But I hope to have it completed by Thanksgiving. Stained and coated and dry. I love DIY costs. Sure I'll end up relatively saving lots of money but if you add in all the trips to the stores and add in tool costs... I wonder. But this way I get more tools, the experience, and fun!!! Now I have a plunge router and a dedicated table router. Also the two smaller CL tanks were sold a while back and just yesterday I sold the old 125 in the original pics. Now I can't complain about not having enough room. Maybe while I'm staining and sealing the doors to the stand I can say I don't have enough room. :D