QuarterTang
Member
It is snug and I think I get the idea. I will also need to close off the hole in the top of the collection cup. I will give it a try later this week.
180 Gallon Frankenstein
- Thread starter QuarterTang
- Start date
QuarterTang
Member
I will need to take some pictures and post them up, but I now have a pair of VHO actinics over the tank. I have had the ballast and bulbs for quite some time now, but I hadn't put them on the tank yet. I had some free time yesterday and I went ahead and pulled off the open hood that I had so far and added the VHO's. I have one in the back and one up front. They are really in the way if i need to do anything down in the tank, but for now it works.
QuarterTang
Member
Other than that there really isn't much new. I have since most of the build added a faxface and a yellow tang. I wanted some more color in there.
For the most part I am going to be saving for a while. Next on the "things needed" list is a new skimmer. So I am going to have to work for a while to get it.
For the most part I am going to be saving for a while. Next on the "things needed" list is a new skimmer. So I am going to have to work for a while to get it.
MrineLfRlz
Active member
what kind of skimmer are you looking at getting?
QuarterTang
Member
I have been eyeballing the vertex skimmers. For the cost, I think they are pretty darn good. I have seen a few run and was happy with what I saw. Definatley getting tired of this one overfilling and draining out 30+ gallons on the floor.
Speaking of color, I bought some VHO's a while back. Several months ago actually. I finally put them on the tank. I like where they are positioned, but it will be difficult to do anything in the tank. Though, for right now, I am pretty much leaving it as is with coral until I get new ballasts and bulbs for the MH's along with the skimmer. I did add the Tunze Calcium Automat, and I have seen a bit of difference starting to develope, but my lack of water testing leaves me with no conclusive way to say how it is really doing.
The only thing I have to go on is that I have seen an increase in feathers which I suppose is a decent indicator. They require calcium for structure. But I have run out of CO2 already and I don't think the calcium automat is very efficient with the CO2. The book has me set it for 2-3 bubbles/ second. That seems a bit much. I seem to recall that most calcium reactors require much less than that. Maybe I am missing something.
Speaking of color, I bought some VHO's a while back. Several months ago actually. I finally put them on the tank. I like where they are positioned, but it will be difficult to do anything in the tank. Though, for right now, I am pretty much leaving it as is with coral until I get new ballasts and bulbs for the MH's along with the skimmer. I did add the Tunze Calcium Automat, and I have seen a bit of difference starting to develope, but my lack of water testing leaves me with no conclusive way to say how it is really doing.
The only thing I have to go on is that I have seen an increase in feathers which I suppose is a decent indicator. They require calcium for structure. But I have run out of CO2 already and I don't think the calcium automat is very efficient with the CO2. The book has me set it for 2-3 bubbles/ second. That seems a bit much. I seem to recall that most calcium reactors require much less than that. Maybe I am missing something.
QuarterTang
Member
I've been slacking on the tank here for a while. Spending much more time with the wife than the tank, but there have been a few small additions. I've added a Foxface, Yellow Tang, and a CopperBand butterfly. That's about it.
Since adding the Calcium automat, Calcium levels are good, but now I am starting to focus on the Mag levels. Anyone got suggestions on testing Mag and supplementing it?
I need a bigger CUC. I still have not added any more since I upgraded to the bigger tank, and there really isn't enough in there. But funds are tight and I need a new car more than I need more stuff for the tank. So after tax season is over and I have a new car I will get back into more upgrades. There will be some sort of Magnesium supplementation, new ballasts and bulbs, and skimmer. After that comes the really pricy stuff like some vortechs. I would like to end up with 4 of them on this tank, but of course, they will have to come one at a time.
There is still planty of work to do to make the stand and hood look better as well, but I am definatly more concerned with getting the rest of the desireable equipment first.
Once I have the rest of the needed equipment finished and I get closer to NSW levels, then I will begin stocking the tank with some of the corals and fish that I have been wanting since I started. Definatly no point in adding them now though as I would hate to lose any of them.
Since adding the Calcium automat, Calcium levels are good, but now I am starting to focus on the Mag levels. Anyone got suggestions on testing Mag and supplementing it?
I need a bigger CUC. I still have not added any more since I upgraded to the bigger tank, and there really isn't enough in there. But funds are tight and I need a new car more than I need more stuff for the tank. So after tax season is over and I have a new car I will get back into more upgrades. There will be some sort of Magnesium supplementation, new ballasts and bulbs, and skimmer. After that comes the really pricy stuff like some vortechs. I would like to end up with 4 of them on this tank, but of course, they will have to come one at a time.
There is still planty of work to do to make the stand and hood look better as well, but I am definatly more concerned with getting the rest of the desireable equipment first.
Once I have the rest of the needed equipment finished and I get closer to NSW levels, then I will begin stocking the tank with some of the corals and fish that I have been wanting since I started. Definatly no point in adding them now though as I would hate to lose any of them.
AcroSteve
Make my Funk a P-Funk
hey man.
I mix my own mag supplement using Epsom salt and mag flake, and test for it occasionally with a Salifert kit.
I also mix my own two part additives for touching up my levels of CA and Alk
Here is a good rundown on CA and Alk levels.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm
Mag is linked to stable CA and Alk levels, but not mentioned much in the previous article.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-07/rhf/index.php
Good luck
I mix my own mag supplement using Epsom salt and mag flake, and test for it occasionally with a Salifert kit.
I also mix my own two part additives for touching up my levels of CA and Alk
Here is a good rundown on CA and Alk levels.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm
Mag is linked to stable CA and Alk levels, but not mentioned much in the previous article.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-07/rhf/index.php
Good luck
QuarterTang
Member
I still have much more reading to do, and I will need to get a test kit to check out where I am at now. I am sure that it is not where it needs to be.
Also, I hope to have updated photos posted up today.
Also, I hope to have updated photos posted up today.
QuarterTang
Member
Thank you, it has been a heck of a trip. There is still plenty to do, I guess that is the best part. If I ran out of things to do with the tank I would probably get bored. There are plenty of DIY stuff I want to make for the beast, so I am sure that I will have plenty more to show off.
The rolling sump cart is still on the list too, I have had several requests to get it going.
QuarterTang
Member
I regret to say, Total tank loss. I hit a problem with autotop off. The pump failed. I was back to manual top offs. I could only top up the tank twice a day. Once before I left for work and once before bed. I am blaming the auto top off for this because of the following:
Too much tank
Not enough live rock
Not enough flow
and mostly, way too small a skimmer.
The swings in salinity from the lack of ATO stressed corals and I had one big one start to die off. The skimmer that was barely keeping up only operated efficiently at a consistant water level, so during the ups and downs, it was not pulling all it should have been all the time. With one large coral die off, it was a fast downward spiral. Four days and all coral was pretty well gone. Add two fish to that and some really funky water. I was changing out 20 gallons of water per day to try to keep up, but it didn't help. I have five fish left and no coral. I have ordered a new top off pump, but I will not be adding any new coral until I upgrade much of my current equipment. Make that 6 fish left.
So all that remains is QuarterTang (original sailfin tang)
Yellow Tang
FoxFace
Purple Dotty Back
Six Line Wrasse
Engineer Goby
So Before I do much more I am saving for some Vortechs and Vertex stuff. I have everything stable for now, most of the die off is done and levels are balancing. But when I restart, it will be a total reset. Everything will come out, all rock, sand, and livestock. I didn't have enough rock anyway for the structure that I want, and the sand is about the worst hodgepodge mix and I don't much care for it. So I am going to use it else where and get new.
All rock will be cleaned and cured before it gets reused and hopefully the new set-up will be a fresh start.
Too much tank
Not enough live rock
Not enough flow
and mostly, way too small a skimmer.
The swings in salinity from the lack of ATO stressed corals and I had one big one start to die off. The skimmer that was barely keeping up only operated efficiently at a consistant water level, so during the ups and downs, it was not pulling all it should have been all the time. With one large coral die off, it was a fast downward spiral. Four days and all coral was pretty well gone. Add two fish to that and some really funky water. I was changing out 20 gallons of water per day to try to keep up, but it didn't help. I have five fish left and no coral. I have ordered a new top off pump, but I will not be adding any new coral until I upgrade much of my current equipment. Make that 6 fish left.
So all that remains is QuarterTang (original sailfin tang)
Yellow Tang
FoxFace
Purple Dotty Back
Six Line Wrasse
Engineer Goby
So Before I do much more I am saving for some Vortechs and Vertex stuff. I have everything stable for now, most of the die off is done and levels are balancing. But when I restart, it will be a total reset. Everything will come out, all rock, sand, and livestock. I didn't have enough rock anyway for the structure that I want, and the sand is about the worst hodgepodge mix and I don't much care for it. So I am going to use it else where and get new.
All rock will be cleaned and cured before it gets reused and hopefully the new set-up will be a fresh start.
QuarterTang
Member
This just means a future rebuild thread will be coming. It does blow to put it bluntly, but as always some failures make for great advances.
QuarterTang
Member
Thanks for the support. I plan on some good equipment on this next build. I am a technology fiend as well as a salt junky, I have the house full of scattered electronics to prove it. So there may end up being some of those fancy controllers that let you check and control things from anywhere. I like the idea of that. Maybe eventually a web cam on the tank, but who knows. It's only money right?
Seriously though, I would love to be able to check on the tank during the day, why not be able to look at it or turn lights and pumps on and off.
I get limited time to view the tank so a web cam would be nice to check it out when I am away from home. I am sure everyone would love that as well. That is far down the road though, much more important stuff has to come first. like a skimmer big enough to handle this tank plus another. My wife wants me to build a species tank. She has a thing for a bunch of the fish that can't go in with the corals. Like the Harlequin Tusk, she really has a thing for it and several butterflys and wrasses. I don't mind doing whatever keeps her interested in it with me.
So keep an eye out, I will probably start a new thread for the rebuild.
Seriously though, I would love to be able to check on the tank during the day, why not be able to look at it or turn lights and pumps on and off.
I get limited time to view the tank so a web cam would be nice to check it out when I am away from home. I am sure everyone would love that as well. That is far down the road though, much more important stuff has to come first. like a skimmer big enough to handle this tank plus another. My wife wants me to build a species tank. She has a thing for a bunch of the fish that can't go in with the corals. Like the Harlequin Tusk, she really has a thing for it and several butterflys and wrasses. I don't mind doing whatever keeps her interested in it with me.
So keep an eye out, I will probably start a new thread for the rebuild.
NanoReefWanabe
Active member
you tank is looking pretty good so far...i dont see a DI attached anywhere to your RO though...unless it is a remote DI unit you are only using RO water...which is far better then tap water but not as good as RO/DI...you reflectors look pretty good too...i would be skinning that stand though those little tiny braces you have in there, with what i can only imagine is two screws per end of brace is no match what-so-ever to the 2000+ pounds sitting on top of it...i would be very afraid of the stand racking to either side or the front...aside from what seems like a negative post i like your build and pictures very much...
hunnicuttz
New member
sorry to hear the bad news but you have come a long way over that past year and a half so feel good about that 
QuarterTang
Member
The DI chamber is on top of the RO Chambers, it is there. It is not a very big unit, but for all I need it for it works great. As for the Legs, It is VERY solid. It is two screws straight down through each leg and two L brackets on each as well. Then, They are set at an angle to provide stability also. With it full, I tried to push it over in the garage, I even got a wave going back and forth in there, There is no movement in the stand. 2x12's work just fine. You have to remeber while it is over 2000 lbs it is all being distributed straight down. Skinning it, nah. At least not for now. I have not had water come up in the basement since I put it together, butit happened three times last year. No point in skinning it until the basement is water proofed.
The hood will get reworked when the new stand comes together, I have sourced the aluminum I am going to use on the permanent reflectors (local source) and I am still waiting on pricing on the new MH ballasts.
I will however skin the hood when it gets remade.
QuarterTang
Member
sorry to hear the bad news but you have come a long way over that past year and a half so feel good about that
Thank you, I feel bad about the loss, but I realize that I have evolved quite a bit since I first started. I hate to say it, but maybe a "crash" course.
All puns aside, once I get enough saved up for the desired equipment, more rock and sand and a new CUC (not much left) then I will begin the rebuild. But now that I have at least had it running it takes the hurry out of it. I don't mind to wait now.
