118g Tank Project

[Ginzo]

Good news
Received my Salifest test kits and here's the results:

pH: 8.0
Calcium: 380
Salinity: 35 ppm or 1.026
Phosphates: 0
Nitrates: 0.1 - 0.2
Alk: 11.2

I'm happy about those results.

Bad news
Got my replacement bulbs for my Giesemann Nova II metal halide lamps. Seems like one of my electronic ballast is dead, because it shutdowns after 10 minutes. Talked with Phil Gilbert of Giesemann and say he thinks it's dead and he would have to replace it with a Icecap electronic ballast. He's in Italy and will be back in 1 week.


Other then that, my Bubble King mini 160 didn't arrive yesterday, should arrive at the latest friday. So hoping to get that running + my chiller before the weekend.

 

[Ginzo]

Here's my BK Mini 160:

Picture quality isn't that great, my camera sucks, but just wanted to say that the quality of construction of this skimmer is amazing !

 

[Ginzo]

Mothership has landed in the sump (around 6.75" - 7" of water depth)

2 minutes after starting

5 minutes..already some earl grey tea

 

[Ginzo]

Emptying of the collection cup after 4h of skimming

 

[cdentii1]

WOW!!!! that's impressive, the skimate looks a little watery is that how Bubble-Kings skim or does it just need some tuning? Post some more pics after the break-in period thanks.

 

[Ginzo]

Thanks !

It's a little watery because the water level in the skimmer was too high. Now I set it a little lower, I'm getting dryer skimmate, but it's still a little wet. Might lower it a little more in the next couple of days. For sure I'll post more pics

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10722567#post10722567 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cdentii1
WOW!!!! that's impressive, the skimate looks a little watery is that how Bubble-Kings skim or does it just need some tuning? Post some more pics after the break-in period thanks.

 

[Ginzo]

Got around to installing my chiller on the weekend. Seems to be working fine. Does make some noise when all the fans are ON. Hoping thing will be more calm once the temperature is right.

Report later.

 

[Darkstar04]

I am subscribing to this thread, and I will be watching your amazing build. Maybe you can teach ME some patience!

 

[Ginzo]

Thanks DarkStar !

I knew that if I was patient, it would pay off in the end !

 

[Ginzo]

Here's some pics with 1 set of Actinics on:

I should be getting more LR soon !

 

[Ginzo]

Time for an update !

Today, I did my first water change (around 25g). Hope this well help fight my hair algae problem. The tank was completly invaded with hair algae..I added aroud 40 Astrea snails and they did a really good job of cleaning the front part of my tank. They have slowly started to work on the back part of the tank. Hopefully they will get to my rocks soon enough. I think it's the fact that I hadn't done any water changes and I don't have enough LR that it's causing the hair algae. With luck, it will dissapear soon.

On another note, I'm planning on selling my tank soon..since I'm moving next spring/summer in a house. I know I won't get a good price on most of what I payed, but I'm hoping to make an honest sell. With luck, it would be great if someone was interrested in the whole setup..but I figure that's almost impossible. So I'm going to try and sell the tank + stand and sump with plumbing first and then sell most of the goodies that go with it.

With a new house, this means a bigger tank. Not much bigger, because I don't want to go too big..but maybe a 180g 60x30x24. I really like the Elos system, but Proline is still working out the process for importing them here in Canada. That sucks, because it's a really nice system. I'm also interrested by the Blue series from AO (Aquarium Obsessed), since this way I can build a complete (super looking) wood frame to go around it. I like the Elos stands, but they are pretty basic stands if you get down to the details. One thing's for sure, I'm going with a rimless tank, since I want it to have very easy access for maintenance. The Euro-bracing is great..for plumbing..but not for access to the tank. My next tank, will also have very minimal plumbing.

 

[Ginzo]

 

[Ginzo]

One thing, I looove my Geotronix Chiller..it's the best thing ever ! It's pretty much set and forget chiller/heather. Requires no maintenance ! It's pretty much silent, with the exception of the fans...that are not silent, but it's nothing too bothering. But it does a great job keeping my temp at the set point. I close it during the night, so that the fans don't bother my sleep

The BubbleKing Mini 160 is my next best buddie..skims great..need to empty it every 2-3 days. It's virtually silent. Only downside, is it's not maintenance free. You need to get it alot of attention in order to obtain the max performance. For sure you can leave it on for a week without touching it, but then you won't obtain it's max performance. This skimmer requires a daily maintenance (5 minutes max).

My next skimmer, will be an external skimmer..since it will require less maintenance

 

[Ginzo]

One thing I love about my tank + setup, is that it's dead silent !! Except when the chiller is on, then it's like having a PC on (you know ..the PC fans make a little noise). But at night, when the chiller is off..it's dead silent. My bed is situated 4-5 feet from my tank and I have no problem sleeping and I'm a very light sleeper..wake up at the smallest noice. That was one of my main concerns when building this tank and I'm very happy to finally say it's better then I expected !

 

[Ginzo]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10972089#post10972089 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ginzo
I'm a very light sleeper..wake up at the smallest noice.

It's my ninja skillz

 

[Ginzo]

Since it's now 2008, it's time for an update !

Actually, it might be my last in this thread. I'm moving into my new house towards the end of February 2008, so basically, I have been running my tank for the past couple of months in minimal state (not adding anything). Since I have much more space in my new house, I tried to sell my tank and stand in order to upgrade to a bigger tank ! But to my surprise, after 2-3 months on the market, nobody was taking and my price was really low..really !

Anyways, since I didn't have any success, I've decided to keep my tank and do a couple of upgrades:

1) Redo all my plumbing in Sch 80 and include True Union ball valves (my plumbing should arrive this friday).

2) Remove my closed-loop (in order to reduce the required plumbing). Also, since I have 2 x 6101 Tunzes, I don't feel the need of the closed-loop. I might add a 3rd tunze to my tank at some point if I find the flow insufficient.

3) Remove the canopy from my setup. I'm doing this, because I love the look of the rimless tanks. I love the look of an open top tank and it's ease of access (for maintenance, etc). I like having a euro-brace around my tank, because I can then avoid water splashes, etc.

4) With the canopy gone, this means I need new lights. I've been debating several lights now, for the past months and my final choice is the ATI 8x54w Powermodule fixture from ReefGeek. I love it's Apple-ish look and the great output it provides. Also, I like the price tag.

5) Adding Zeovit to the equation. I'm getting a GroTech Zeovit reactor and will be starting the Zeovit method once my tank is moved.

That's pretty much it, for all of my upgrades !

Hope everything goes well during the move !

 

[Ginzo]

Oh...forgot a small upgrade:

6) Will be adding a sandbed to my reef. I couldn't take it anymore, having a barebottom tank is great and all..but not having any sand in my tank was driving me crazy