1000 Gallon Build- Here we go- Lots of Pictures
- Thread starter Socaltoaz
- Start date
cprice
New member
If you have any questions about Control4 let me know! I design home automation and AV systems for a living. I'd be interested to know how you were going to be integrating the tank and to what degree. One system I designed had a few accent lights and some fun features for different scenes but nothing too complex. I've been wanting to come up with some unique ways to use C4 with a tank.
I guess I just need to just make a driver that is designed around tank monitoring.
I guess I just need to just make a driver that is designed around tank monitoring.
So right now my entire house is controlled by control 4. The audio, tvs, lighting. At dusk the lights outside all turn on, at dawn they shut off.
I wasn't thinking I could do any monitoring with control 4, I was just going to set it up to remotely shut off my return pumps and power heads. I guess I could add another plug to shut off the skimmer as well if needed.
Because my sump room is about 75 feet away, if I want to feed the fish, I have no way to shut off the retun pumps. So my thinking was to just put in a c4 outlet and plug the return pumps in. Put another outlet above the tank and plug in all the power heads into it and hook em both to a switch on the wall. Then when it's time to feed the fish, shut the power off, feed the fish and flip the switch back on.
It's not sexy and automated like apex but it's simple and makes sense to me. Besides that I don't know how to monitor with c4, just a manual flow shut off.
What are your thoughts? Am I on the right track? I figure I already have c4. It works great. Probably one of the reasons im hesitant to integrate another control system like Apex. Too many cooks in the kitchen.
I wasn't thinking I could do any monitoring with control 4, I was just going to set it up to remotely shut off my return pumps and power heads. I guess I could add another plug to shut off the skimmer as well if needed.
Because my sump room is about 75 feet away, if I want to feed the fish, I have no way to shut off the retun pumps. So my thinking was to just put in a c4 outlet and plug the return pumps in. Put another outlet above the tank and plug in all the power heads into it and hook em both to a switch on the wall. Then when it's time to feed the fish, shut the power off, feed the fish and flip the switch back on.
It's not sexy and automated like apex but it's simple and makes sense to me. Besides that I don't know how to monitor with c4, just a manual flow shut off.
What are your thoughts? Am I on the right track? I figure I already have c4. It works great. Probably one of the reasons im hesitant to integrate another control system like Apex. Too many cooks in the kitchen.
o2manyfish
o2manyfish
If the C4 can't be programmed to turn the pumps back off after a set - off time then don't do it.
There are tons of tank failures do to people shutting off the pumps to feed and then 'life happens' - A phone call, a sitcom, a puppy that needs a scratch.... and the switch isn't turned back on.
Don't do this
Dave B
There are tons of tank failures do to people shutting off the pumps to feed and then 'life happens' - A phone call, a sitcom, a puppy that needs a scratch.... and the switch isn't turned back on.
Don't do this
Dave B
So update for today's project. Here is my overflow right in the center of the tank is plumbed with 3 1.5 in drains and 2 1.5 inch returns. When my plumber plumbed the drains he put the drains about 7 inches below the teeth. This led to what I considered a bit too much noise as the water would fall down and go down the drains. There is also a clear cover over the over flow and because it's not such an easy place to get access to, I had a bit of algae starting to grow. See attached photo.
So I redid the plumbing. I left the main drain at its current water level. This is a complete siphon so is essentially dead silent. I raised the second drain and by angling the drain, I can control the water level to my desire. In this second drain the excess after that is not in the full siphon tickles down. Its not noisy at all as there is no gurgling or anything like that. The third drain is my emergency overflow. It's about 1/4 inch above the water level.
The final item of the day was to paint the cover on the overflow black. Just a bit of black spray paint and this will keep the algae from growing in that area.
The first photo was before the lights went on. Last two are with lights so he bluish hue. Glad I finally got around to this. Tank is so much more quiet. Not sure if this is considered a bean animal but it's based on the principles I learned from his thread.
So I redid the plumbing. I left the main drain at its current water level. This is a complete siphon so is essentially dead silent. I raised the second drain and by angling the drain, I can control the water level to my desire. In this second drain the excess after that is not in the full siphon tickles down. Its not noisy at all as there is no gurgling or anything like that. The third drain is my emergency overflow. It's about 1/4 inch above the water level.
The final item of the day was to paint the cover on the overflow black. Just a bit of black spray paint and this will keep the algae from growing in that area.
The first photo was before the lights went on. Last two are with lights so he bluish hue. Glad I finally got around to this. Tank is so much more quiet. Not sure if this is considered a bean animal but it's based on the principles I learned from his thread.
Thank you kind sir- it was desperately needed. On another unrelated note- what is everyone's thoughts on the marinepure ceramic blocks? Right now I've got the rocks in my display as seen in the photos. In my sump I have another 125 pounds or so of live rock. Would the ceramic blocks add any advantages? Next project for me is to get my pod population up. Would the blocks help or is it redundant/overkill to what I already have? Here is a picture of my dump from the morning:
South City
New member
I use the Marinepure blocks in my system. Not only do they provide a great home for the regular bacteria that break down ammonia into nitrate, but the bigger blocks are thick enough to offer an anaerobic environment in their center for the bacteria that break down nitrates into nitrogen gas. That last part is what makes the Marinepure an important part of my system. You are basically getting the anaerobic benefits of a deep sand bed without the effort or associated risks.
There have been some threads to suggest that the blocks may leach aluminum, but there doesn't appear to be any consensus on that topic. I haven't noticed any detrimental effects to using the Marinepure blocks and have noticed more than a few benefits.
I'd also think that putting some of the Marinepure blocks/balls in your sump would help with the pod population since they'd provide a great habitat.
There have been some threads to suggest that the blocks may leach aluminum, but there doesn't appear to be any consensus on that topic. I haven't noticed any detrimental effects to using the Marinepure blocks and have noticed more than a few benefits.
I'd also think that putting some of the Marinepure blocks/balls in your sump would help with the pod population since they'd provide a great habitat.
Thats essentially what I was wanting to do- get them to increase my pod population. I heard about the aluminum leach but like you have not been able to find a consensus.
Would you replace the live rock with them or just add and supplement the live rock? I have a 1000 gallon total system- how many blocks to add?
Ill need to reaquascape the sump to make room for them but that should not be an issue.
Would you replace the live rock with them or just add and supplement the live rock? I have a 1000 gallon total system- how many blocks to add?
Ill need to reaquascape the sump to make room for them but that should not be an issue.
dave.m
Active member
Neither blocks nor rocks will affect your pod population on their own. For that you need food for them to eat. Rocks are more likely to provide this if they haven't been bleached. IIRC you are running socks so you aren't as likely to get pods further down stream without supplemental feeding. Any kind of cover would do after that.
Dave.M
Dave.M
dave.m
Active member
I don't see the need for the blocks unless you are going minimal rocks and no sand in the display tank. The bacteria grow on just about every surface: rocks, sand, glass panes, interiors of pipes, etc. As South City noted above, if you are looking for bacterial denitrification filtering to occur at any useful rate then you will need an anaerobic environment such as the interior of live rock or a sand bed that is more than 2" thick, or the blocks if you haven't anything else.
Dave.M
Dave.M
Was it made to exact specs, or did you buy one of their regular products? How were they to work with? Did you buy their skimmer as well? im also thinking of buying a dreambox as it seems like a real solid product.
Corbosman- i bought the largest Dreambox they make and made some modifications- mainly the drains that bring water to the sump are on the side instead of on top because my skimmer is not under the tank- it's in a separate room. I think my dimensions are about 9 feet long, 3 feet deep and about 3 feet tall. I can get you exact measurements when I get home tonight. I can't say enough good things about the sump- it's built like a tank, it is extremely functional, gorgeous to look at and it just plain works. Here are a few photos:
Everything is housed in its own climate controlled room in the garage:
Everything is housed in its own climate controlled room in the garage:
BTW- the red stand I had fabricated on my own. And I put the glass panes into the doors in the fish room so when I drive home, I can check water levels and make sure everything is functioning ok with a quick glance. The sump is also lit up with LED lighting so that if my daughter comes home and feeds the fish, she changes the color of the sump from red to green, meaning the fish have been fed.
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