240 Inwall Construction (Image Intense)

[weatherson]

Briankook: Yes, the two closed loop systems are controlled by the Aquacontroller II on a 6-hour rotation. At 6 AM, the left pump comes on and then shuts off at 12:15 PM. The right pump comes on at 12 noon and shuts off at 6:15 PM. The left pump comes on again at 6 PM and shuts off at midnight. Both are off from midnight until 6AM when the cycle starts over again with the left pump coming on at 6 AM. The 15-minute overlaps provide a time of strong, random currents to disturb areas normally not hit by current. The midnight to 6 AM is a "calm" time for the fish. My attempt was to simulate a tidal current.

Marc & jarhed: Agreed!

original-reefland & Derek: It is completely possible that the direction of the flow could have been upward. But, I don't feel this would have been a real concern considering my lights have acrylic shields and the Penductor is located just before the edge of the 2' wide right glass top support. This should, in theory, keep any upward moving water within the tank. Either way, I will not wait to find out as I will be adding guards to prevent the possibility.

Joseph

 

[Stile2]

Hello Joseph,

I don't want to highjack your thread, if that was even possible.
But I really respect your ability and opinion when it comes to tank photos.
Check these out and tell me your honest opinion, what would you have done differently, etc.

Here is my Acropora.

And a Clown Shot.

And last my Zoas.

Thanks, I am trying to get better at this photography thing.

Keith

 

[melev]

Keith, that clown shot is breathtaking!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

You named it appropriately. Now go post it in the Peekaboo thread in the Photography forum.

 

[Versus]

I started on page 1 after a "diy" link for background painting , I would like to comment on your tank but after thinking the thread was 16 pages not 100+ I am tired. ( well more like 70 then i just scrolled for pictures ) snail killer MURDERERRRRRRR

 

[ksarauer]

A couple of an Emerald hanging out in an acropora. He better be Red Bug eating.

And his underside;

I had 5 Emeralds on 1 acro, small colony (~3 x ~4) do they really eat red Bugs? If not what could it be? The acro appears in good health. I rarely see the Emaralds tough a polyp, mostly grabbing from other areas.

 

[weatherson]

Keith: First let me state that by no means am I photographic expert. What-so-ever. Period. Nice photos. The only suggestions or things I would have done is to clean up the few slight imperfections, color corrected a little and sharpened a bit. As Marc mentioned, the peek-a-boo shot is my favorite of the three. Here's your original:

And here's my interpretation after the above mentioned alterations were done. Better? Maybe... maybe not.

Versus: Hey now, I didn't have any part in the snails death. It was deemed a suicide.

ksarauer: I was attempting to be humorous with the emerald/red bug comment. I've not seen the emerald actually picking at any of the acroporas it has climbed on. Mostly, it seems to just be resting there.

Joseph

 

[weatherson]

Speaking of suicidal snails... Not wanting another sand storm caused by another snail incident, I altered my Penductor and created a guard. This to prevent any critters from finding their way into the business end. I simply used monofilament (fishing) line that I threaded through some small holes drill in the Penductor. This should do the trick without altering the flow. Here's the Penductor as it was prior to this change:

And a shot of the guard in place showing the side and front:

Joseph

 

[Briankook]

Joseph, very good idea! I think they should be sold like that for aquarium applications. No snails are getting in there.

 

[AcroSteve]

Very nice solution.

 

[tenshi]

I've been watching your thread for so long without comment, just in aah all this time. But your peducator snail sucide solution is so simple and effective I just had to say something. My thought was to make a little fence of sorts around the base of the peducator of maybe the same material you used on the top edge of your overflow. But now that I see your solution, this is so much simplier and to the point. Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing your ideas with the rest of us.

 

[thewuf]

Man, you never cease to amaze - that is awesome! How'd you drill the holes? Teeny Tiny!?!

 

[GregM779]

Awesome idea, do you notice any difference in the flow from the line in the output?

 

[Typhon]

That is a great idea. I have already had 2 snails commit suicide in the penductors. Luckly I have a BB tank..

I am going to have try this mod..

 

[weatherson]

Briankook: Thank you. At least no snail whose shell size could get stuck and cause issues. Smaller, adventurous snails/crabs that can fit through will play circus snail/crab when the closed loop kicks on.

tenshi: Thanks for the kind words and you are very welcome. I too had considered using some sort of grate material as you mention. But, I then considered the need to clean it regularly and decided this solution would need much less attention. Always a plus in my book.

thewuf: Oh stop! The holes were drilled with the smallest bit I had around. It's a 1/16'th inch. A fairly useless size in general but for this application, very useful indeed.

GregM779: No, no difference at all. I had considered other patterns but the radial lines I thought would alter the flow the least. Seems to have been true. This, and the fact that the monofilament line is completely round and tiny in diameter.

Typhon: BB will prevent the bottom of the tank issues but what about the other, the top?

Joseph

 

[Typhon]

Good point!!! Luckly the flow has only been downward when the snails became lodged in the penductor.

I better get on the ball and make the screen mods on my penductors.

Typhon: BB will prevent the bottom of the tank issues but what about the other, the top?

Joseph [/B]

 

[shutiny]

awesome set up

awesome set up

I am truely impressed!!! Would you ever consider doing some private consulting works?

 

[gone feral]

I've just finished reading this part 2 thread and am so thoroughly impressed....the design, photos. I couldn't not give props.
Now to go and read thru part I and the weatherson.com. So much for work this afternoon...Thanks Joseph

 

[weatherson]

shutiny: Thank you and you have an email.

gone feral: Congrats on reading all of this "half" of the split thread but now you have quite a bit more to read if you want to finish the whole thread. Part one is substantial, to say the least. A tip... my website is a much condensed version if you don't have a couple of days to read the thread. Good luck and sorry in advance to having contributed to your lack of productivity.

Joseph

 

[gone feral]

Joseph, I can't find the flexible PVC pipe that you used on the CL system - stuff that will fint into the slip fittings. Where should I look?
And I wondered about the CL suction holes in the rear glass - is this glass tempered and who drilled it? I have a 175 bfront by Oceanic that I would like to drill but not sure if I have to special order it like that or can drill it myself.
sorry if you have covered this already but I only made it to page 30 in the first thread yesterday.
thanks

 

[armygreen11]

You can get flexible PVC tubing in 1" and 1.5" sizes at Lowes if you have one of them near you. I think aquatic ecosystems sells it too. www.aquaticeco.com

The back glass of your oceanic isn't tempered (95% sure) but the bottom almost certainly is, so you can drill the back if you know how. You'll either need a diamond hole saw of the appropriate size for the bulkheads you want to use and a drill press, or a good dremel, a rotozip tile bit, and nerves of steel. Some LFSs will drill tanks for ~$10-$20/hole.