The tank is IN THE HOUSE!

Beau is hosting the January Meeting this coming Saturday the 14th at 6PM.  It will be BYOB as well as a snack to share and raffle items are always welcome.  It has been requested that there be “NO SHOES” on the carpet due to it being a whitish color.

He doesn’t have a tank to view but we will have plenty to discuss in hopes that it will get the NEW YEAR off to a good start.  The annual membership fees are due, so now would be a good time to get them in to our Treasurer Stacey Hahn.   Fees are $20 per individual or $25 per family

Attendance was low at the election meeting in November and no votes were taken at December’s meeting so we have decided to take votes for anyone that didn’t get the opportunity in November and will be attending this meeting.  
We will add the votes to November’s ballots and the announcement will be made during the meeting so we can go forward.
NOMINATIONS:
President:  Jim & Nacho
V. President: Ed, Bo & Daniel Leigey
Treasurer: Stacey
Secretary: Carmen & Angie

Let’s hope the New Year brings new members, returning members and new ideas.  The club is always willing to take suggestions to get the most out of the hobby we all enjoy.

Please PM Nate C. by clicking here for directions if you are not a club member.  

Club members can click here to go to the club member only forum to get directions.

Hope to see you all there!

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[VickiG]

Well, Darrel has been on "vacation" for two weeks and spending every waking moment working on our system.  He has the plumbing all done.  After the tear-down, we moved the tank and base cabinet into the house over the week-end.  (by the way, we glued over 60 4" Easy Sliders to the bottom of the cabinet and that thing slides like butter!) Everything is re-assembled now and we actually have it half-full of water, testing for leaks.  See picture.  So far, so good!  Darrel has done an awesome job on the plumbing and Ron Smith did a beautiful job on the cabinet and canopy.  Next step is to paint the inside of the canopy, then we will finish the lighting and we should be about ready to mix up some saltwater and order live rock!  This is very exciting!  Just think how happy I'll be when we actually have some fish in it!

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[angelscrx]

Wow that looks like a monster filtration system under there.  Looks like Darrel did a heck of a job on the plumbing too.  Congrats on the move, everything is looking good.  Can't wait to see SW moving through it.

[VickiG]

Thanks Angel.   I think Darrel's 20 years of working at a nuke plant have paid off on the plumbing - he said it is nukified for sure!  After a leak-free night (with Darrel up at 5 a.m. to check - he couldn't sleep!) we fired off the closed loop pump this morning.  The motorized-ball valve works great and we have excellent water flow with the closed loop through both top and bottom manifolds.  The pump is noisier than we thought it would be (Dolphin Ampmaster 4700) but we are taking some steps to reduce the noise (pump is already isolated on rubber pad).  Again, so far so good - nothing is leaking!   Next:  we start up the drain/return system through the sump....keeping our fingers and toes crossed!

[angelscrx]

Sounds like all is going well.  Very well thought out and planned.  Great job.

[Ed]

That looks fantastic Vicki!    I can't wait to see this in person

[tyler5g]

Vicki,

Looks great.  Someday my new tank will look like that.  Some day.......

John

[VickiG]

Thanks for the nice comments, everyone.  Minute-by-minute update: we put water in the sump and discovered a small leak around the return bulkhead.    Luckily we had only filled the return section of the sump to the top of that bulkhead - specifically to check that for leaks.  We were then able to quickly turn on the refugium pump and pump that water from the leaking sump into the 'fuge and avoid really soaking the floor of the cabinet (we got a hang-on refugium and have it at the back of the sump).  Makes me glad we took the time to paint the inside of the cabinet with marine-grade paint now!  

Darrel is scratching his chin even as I write this - trying to decide how to best approach the repair. ... stand by!

[luvnsalt]

Vicki!
I am so excited for you guys-this has been a long time a coming! Congrats-it looks great! It will all work out fabulously, I am sure. :shock:

[angelscrx]

unscrew the bulkhead, fill it with silicone, screw it back on tight, let it set over night, test again the next day!  I done been there. :lol:

[Les]

Unscew the bulkhead and put some plumbers putty around it. That makes it easier to take off later if needed.

[VickiG]

Thanks Dashia - we are pretty excited too.  Les & Angel - Thanks for the suggestions.  Darrel ended up putting gaskets on both sides and re-tightening and that worked.  (We can't 'glue' it in because then we wouldn't be able to pull the sump out if we needed too - things are pretty darn tight in there!)  I did mention the plumber's putty too, Les, but by then he had fixed the leak.  

Now....we do have a new problem.  The blue flex hose that you can see in the pictures is leaking - where it was clamped to the barbed fitting.  So, it has come out and Darrel is searching for some 1 1/2" very flexible tubing....spaflex is too stiff and 1 1/2" tygon tubing won't work either - it crimps.  It has to be able to flex, fit a barbed  fitting and be clamped down (Darrel used radiator hose clamp).  He is even thinking of trying to find some 1 1/2" radiator hose, but wanted me to check with those of you DIYers first.  It doesn't have to hold pressure - just being used for drain lines into the sump.  Anyone have any suggestions and/or tubing that will work?  We only need about 3' total and would be willing to buy it if we can find what we need.  Looking for suggestions!  Feel free to call us at 628-2154 if you can help!!  Thanks

[Zulreef]

Hi Vicki,

Your tank is nice. I hope you get the leak fixed.

Thanks,
Zul

[angelscrx]

Doe sit have to be flex hose?  Why not PVC?

[VickiG]

Doe sit have to be flex hose?  Why not PVC?

Because it has to make a bend and be able to come out of the sump if we need to move it.   I don't build it, I just ask the questions!

[angelscrx]

Ok have you thought about washer hoses at Lowes?That's what I use for my chiller and works great with clamps.