165Gl to 1000Gl system upgrade (Long project)

[dirk_brijs]

Don't know how to ID the seahorses, but this looks like a cool system you have in the works. The only concern I would have had with the liverock would have been to bring some kind of parasite to your existing system. Looking forward to your continued progress.

Thanks
I thought about that possibility but I still thought that the advantages of real life rock out of the Gulf of Thailand would out weigh the chance of a parasite.
anyway I hope future will prove me right.
I also can wait for the entire system to get in place. Current delivery date of the new 118 x 40 x 27 monster will be in 4 months from now.
The tank will b e viewable from 3 sides and viewable from 3 different areas in the house. We will be opening 3 different walls and remove 1 existing window for the monster.
Am currently in the process building the scrubber for the large system which I will try out and connect to the current tank ASAP.
will keep posting pics on the progress until end of Jan after which I will have to get back to work in Australia on top of the largest life aquarium of the world the Great Barrier Reef.

 

[muttley000]

118 x 40...

What a pleasure aquascaping would be with that much room!

 

[Paolo Piccinell]

Nice system!!!

Personally I add live rocks ASAP, as biodiversity is the key to success.

If some parasite comes in... Well, it's part of the game.

 

[krshlln300]

I like the iea of the system BUT i do not approve of harvesting from the gulf. You shouldn't mess with the ecosystem. You should stick with tank raised livestock locally. Less parasite chances, easier to raise (especially seahorses) and you don't cause problems with the local ecosystem.

 

[dirk_brijs]

will be going to pick up my peppermint boys today.
Will add 5 peppermint shrimp to my macr algae compartment as it seems my macros are full of Aptaisia.
Those boys did wonders in my DT as I used to have a Apt problem in the beginning but they cleared it all out.
So will be adding some to my sump areas to get things going. Also later tonight will go to the beach to pick up close to 100 nasarius snails and when lucky some sand dollars for my DSB set up and some extras in the DT.
Will also be picking up some other creatures if I find some.
Will keep you guys posted.

 

[Lavoisier]

Who is making your tank? Did they also make your sump? What type of lighting will you use? Are solar tubes an option? I apologize for all the questions...exciting build! If you do not mind can you give use some idea of costs for your system?

 

[benjc]

Good luck with the upgrade; looking forward to seeing it develop.

 

[dirk_brijs]

Who is making your tank? Did they also make your sump? What type of lighting will you use? Are solar tubes an option? I apologize for all the questions...exciting build! If you do not mind can you give use some idea of costs for your system?

The tank is built by a local tank builder and custom designed by myself.
I am using currently 5 SOL Blue modules with 1 controller but when everything gets completed it will be a total of 12 SOL Blue modules with 3 controllers.
As for cost I think its like buying a Rolls Royce as they say if you ask for the price of one in the shop the shop will most likely tell you you better dont buy one then.
But I think from the start (3 years ago) till now with all failures, restarts re stocks and upgrades the whole thing cost me around 20K and I didnt even pay yet for the new tank ordered.

 

[dirk_brijs]

OK pulled out all the test kits I have out and tested for all parameters I have testers for.
Here the results.
ApI test kits
- Ca 420
- Ph 8
- PO3 0
- NH3/4 0
- NO3 5
Red Sea test Kits
- Ph 8.2
Salifert test Kits
- Kh 6.7
- NO3 0.25
- Si 0
- Mg 1290
Hanna Checkers
- Ca 437
- PO3 0.25
Temperature
internal temp probe 25.5C 77.9F
chiller probe 26C 78.8F
Salinity
Pinpoint 51.9 >> 34.3 >> 1.0253
Refractometer 35 >> 1.025

The ones in red are readings I need to focus on
any advices on how or what to do about them?

 

[dirk_brijs]

Nitrates came from much higher levels I constantly had 25ppm readings before the filtration upgrades so this is obviously decreasing now.

PO3 problem is a newer problem but decreasing since I added a reactor with 500ml RowaPhos a few days ago.
As for the low Mg and Kh readings I am using fresh sea water so might have to start dosing something?
any advice welcome

 

[dirk_brijs]

a picture of the current filtration system

 

[dirk_brijs]

some Pictures of the Seahorse set up inside the Refugium

 

[dirk_brijs]

and if you guys are ready now loads of pictures of the current DT
Some better then others as the old DT is heavily scratched and my photographing skills could be improved upon though hope you enjoy them.

 

[dirk_brijs]

and more

 

[dirk_brijs]

 

[dirk_brijs]

 

[dirk_brijs]

 

[dirk_brijs]

double post

 

[dirk_brijs]

fifth or sixth batch of eggs though never had that many.

 

[muttley000]

Great Pics! Thanks for sharing them.