180 build from scratch!
- Thread starter michika
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michika
red headed step child
Its starting to feel that way. At least I would have some good reading courtesy of the new issue of RK! Thanks for that by the way.
The security guys cracked up laughing when I told them what had happened. I was glad to amuse them!
I found a generator that I think will work out for our current and future needs. Its a Honda made machine, but it requires a special order, and that takes 12-14 weeks to do. I am also still vigilant about keeping our battery back up ready to go, but you never know. The city got snow for the first time last night, so its starting to feel like a good time to have something like this on hand.
The security guys cracked up laughing when I told them what had happened. I was glad to amuse them!
I found a generator that I think will work out for our current and future needs. Its a Honda made machine, but it requires a special order, and that takes 12-14 weeks to do. I am also still vigilant about keeping our battery back up ready to go, but you never know. The city got snow for the first time last night, so its starting to feel like a good time to have something like this on hand.
maroun.c
New member
well think of it this way now it can't go any worse so thnigs got to start going the right way.
All this is giving me the freaks, I travel 2-3 weeks every month and sometimes the wife and kids would go for days to my parents house or hers so far I never had any problems with the tank during my absecence, at least tnothing serious but one really doubts when his luck takes the wrong turn.
Will you be setting up the same tank in the new house or are you upgrading directly?
All this is giving me the freaks, I travel 2-3 weeks every month and sometimes the wife and kids would go for days to my parents house or hers so far I never had any problems with the tank during my absecence, at least tnothing serious but one really doubts when his luck takes the wrong turn.
Will you be setting up the same tank in the new house or are you upgrading directly?
michika
red headed step child
OMG I am getting about a phone call an hour today from STRANGERS calling me to find out if I have any free stuff to give away from our crash. Kevin told me I should have kept all the dead clams, put them in a bucket and sealed it. Then the next time some called fishing for free stuff, they would get a bucket o surprise.
I ended up having to ask the mods to remove my phone number from the emergency request post now. They really do come out of the wood work....
I ended up having to ask the mods to remove my phone number from the emergency request post now. They really do come out of the wood work....
maroun.c
New member
Not having a tank is not an option I'm so hooked. I even kept the tank running in my parents house when I relocated to Dubai for 3 years. at that time my sister could take care of it with the help of my dad and that worked well I must say.
I'm actually in the training process for my wife but it is very slow. the worst part of it was to have her agree on cleaning the "fish poo pot" ie the skimmer. I can always have access to webcamera if something looks wrong which had so far never been the case luckily. The step by step manual is alwaays there and I have the feedings prepared and labelled as well as any thing that should be dosed gets prepared in a syring with date of dosing and where to dose it in the tank.... luckily I'm always at home on week ends or at least for 1-2 days in between flights.
The controller with SMS/email alert, remote access would be a great option however They don't exist around here and also it would be very risky to buy such an expensive item while on travel somewhere and not have local support for it in case something is wrong with it as most seeem to have software bugs in them.
Catherine,
I'm really shocked things went that bad so quick, that is really ugly. as to those people calling you, this just tope it off. Instead of getting support and offers to host your stuff or maybe reseed your tank with few frags... people just want ot make the best of it. Why on earth would you give things for free especially when you will have a tank in the near future...
michika
red headed step child
I've settled on the explanation that people are "special" and want free stuff. It definitely doesn't out weigh the huge outpouring of offers to help in anyway they could. I wish I could send out thank you cards to every person who called, PMed, IMed, and wrote me. We need more people like that everywhere.
Mr. Brooks
MASVC Member
My heart sank when I read this post. I've been following your build in admiration for a long time now. I'm so sorry things haven't been going well for you. Hang in there!
michika
red headed step child
Thank you.
We sent a total of 9 clams, 6 fish, and a handfull of SPS colonies to a friend to stay. I am getting awesome daily updates via PM. There is one clam that can't decide what it wants to do, live, or kick the bucket. The other 9, one of which was completely out of the water, and we thought was a goner, are all doing really well. The lovely little green crocea made it, and everyone seems to be recovering well.
The fish are being themselves, piggies, eating everything they can get their mouths around. They're all hard at work cleaning off any macro algae in their new temporary home. Some of the SPS is doing better then others, and so far they all just seem to be "hanging on".
We sent a total of 9 clams, 6 fish, and a handfull of SPS colonies to a friend to stay. I am getting awesome daily updates via PM. There is one clam that can't decide what it wants to do, live, or kick the bucket. The other 9, one of which was completely out of the water, and we thought was a goner, are all doing really well. The lovely little green crocea made it, and everyone seems to be recovering well.
The fish are being themselves, piggies, eating everything they can get their mouths around. They're all hard at work cleaning off any macro algae in their new temporary home. Some of the SPS is doing better then others, and so far they all just seem to be "hanging on".
michika
red headed step child
The tank is back up and running, albeit fallow. I'm okay with it though, and FINALLY the smell is diminishing. The basement door still has to remain closed, but things aren't smelling so terrible anymore.
So in the re-build plans what we've done so far;
- the glass sump is running
- return pump is now a Reeflo Dart (the older version)
- additional in tank flow is the koralia 1, and the seio for now.
- I put FOUR! siphon break holes in the plumbing, I know its overkill, but after these past couple of weeks I am paranoid.
Still left to do;
- get the skimmer in just right, I think we have some measurement problems, but Kevin hasn't figured it out yet.
- add on a pair of vortechs onto the tank for a sleeker looking system
- add on a couple more koralias; which are to be hidden behind and in some rockwork
- eventually look at stocking the tank again, probably a month or so down the road
So in the re-build plans what we've done so far;
- the glass sump is running
- return pump is now a Reeflo Dart (the older version)
- additional in tank flow is the koralia 1, and the seio for now.
- I put FOUR! siphon break holes in the plumbing, I know its overkill, but after these past couple of weeks I am paranoid.
Still left to do;
- get the skimmer in just right, I think we have some measurement problems, but Kevin hasn't figured it out yet.
- add on a pair of vortechs onto the tank for a sleeker looking system
- add on a couple more koralias; which are to be hidden behind and in some rockwork
- eventually look at stocking the tank again, probably a month or so down the road
Mr. Brooks
MASVC Member
Nice to see you're back on track!
melev
Well-known member
Every night, I turn off my return pump when I feed the reef. So every night, I hear the siphon break (loud sucking noise), and I also hear the strong sound of jets (water shooting into the surface for 20 seconds) to let me know the anti siphon holes are working.
If you don't do this daily, I would recommend you do it weekly. And one a month, physically clean out all anti siphon holes with a pointy object. Put it on your schedule so you don't forget, if necessary.
I'm glad to hear things are improving. What skimmer do you have?
If you don't do this daily, I would recommend you do it weekly. And one a month, physically clean out all anti siphon holes with a pointy object. Put it on your schedule so you don't forget, if necessary.
I'm glad to hear things are improving. What skimmer do you have?
michika
red headed step child
I make a point to check them every Saturday when we do water changes, so I think I'll step it up and maybe go for everytime I clean the glass (every day or so).
I have an Octopus 250 dual recirc skimmer (http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/Prote...TOPUS-RECIRCULATING-SKIMMER/product_info.html). We were running ozone through it, but the flood looks to have destroyed the ozone unit.
I have an Octopus 250 dual recirc skimmer (http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/Prote...TOPUS-RECIRCULATING-SKIMMER/product_info.html). We were running ozone through it, but the flood looks to have destroyed the ozone unit.
psteeleb
Team RC
If you are still working on the build I'd still recommend you plan for a syphon break hole failure (although 4 seems like it should cover it). Even though I have them, I still want my sump to be able to contain what could drain if they clog. They can slowly fill with calcified gunk and sound and look like they are doing the job, but could be restricted enough that they become ineffective.
Like Marc, I'll shut down while feeding and when the pump turns ack back on it does help to flush the holes out, so it's probably a good thing.
psteeleb
Team RC
I do. Feeding is daily and off for 15 minutes.. And it can and will be off for 2-3 hours a couple times a week if I'm dosing Phyto, feeding corals, killing mojanos etc.
- dual GFI's (At least) with some circulation on both
- make sure you can drain everything in a failure mode (mr murphy)
- double heaters to split the load, in case one gets stuck on so it wont heat the tank too fast or if one fails you get some heat
- and/or a secondary heat control source
- pond liner in the stand but make sure external pumps and electronics are above the level the liner can hold
- I haven't got one yet but want to get one of those flood indicators that call you
other normal considerations like elevated electronics with drip loops, splash guards, away from the edge of tank where you are likely to have spills and drips
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