280G+ Starphire In-Wall Build by ReefArtist

[ReefArtist]

rogergolf66 - emergency overflow is when you put a bulkhead very high in your tank. You plump this to either a drain, outside etc. So, if my tank starts filling above it's "Normal" level and is about to spill over onto the floor - it instead flows into the "emergency overflow" and down the drain/outside etc. It's a lot more work, but worth it IMO. I've added this to my Sump, Refugium, and my Grasses tank. Any tank that receives water from other tanks - got it added. I have a lot of tanks and a lot of water flowing, I don't want 500 - 600 gallons of water on my floor!

On a side note - doing this made my plumbing for my water change easier. I just plumbed all the tanks for water change into my emergency overflow plumbing. I'll be filling my sump with water and that will be my main water change area. This is tee'd off one of my pumps so changing 50g of water will take seconds. Also I added my QT into the "Change water" plumbing. I just drilled a hole a few inches from the bottom and plumbed it into my emergency overflow plumbing. This way I can change the water in the QT just by turning a ball valve. This will also come in handy when I need to clean the QT - that is the reason I put the hole so low in the tank.

I hope this helps - I'll be making one of my drawings a little later once things settle down. BTW - you need to make sure your flow is correct, otherwise you my be changing your water into another tank, or your emergency overflow is more of an emergency. For the first time in my life I'm glad I had to take fluid mechanics as part of my engineering studies .

 

[ReefArtist]

samson78945 - welcome aboard! If you have any questions or ideas please speak up. I'm always open it new ideas and I need to know if I'm doing something wrong, so speak up!

 

[poknsnok]

I cant wait to get back over there to see this baby!

 

[mflamb]

I've been following Maycye's build as well. I am going to buy some of the same pods that she recommends. Glad to hear that you have a detailed cycling plan. I would hate to see any losses. I didn't turn on my skimmer, other than for testing, for two weeks. I used some live bacteria that I bought from Aquatic Eco Systems to initially cycle mine, and that's what they recommended.

 

[ReefArtist]

Joe - yeah we just have to wait for your wife to settle down - kidding - I hope - LOL.

Mike - Thanks for the info and the "Gold" star - LOL. I like getting the OK from seasoned reefers like yourself. I'm in NO hurry and like I said my goal is no losses.

I'll most likely turn the skimmer off today and please if you find a good source for the pods let me know - I'll check with John to see if he has any, if not I might have to order.

 

[poknsnok]

Im bringing the wife next time..

 

[mflamb]

There is an ebay store that's located in Palm Bay, FL that sells copepods. When you go to ebay, search "Reef Scavengers Inverts and Corals" and it will come up.

 

[ReefArtist]

Joe - yeah you go ahead and she'll be so bored then you'll be in big trouble - LOL. I have a feeling she hears enough reefer talk, oh but then again it could be lots of fun, we could gang up on you.

Mike - I checked out the place you were talking about - NICE. The best part is $15 shipment if you live in FL. Might have to place my order with them. Thanks for the information!

 

[ReefArtist]

BTW Joe - She is always welcome and you know that .

 

[mflamb]

I ordered 600. I'll let you know what I think when they arrive.

 

[bryangraham05]

Must say absolutely amazing tank build, its been an absolute joy to spend the morning here in the UK looking through this thread. I can't wait for some updated pics!

Keep up the amazing work..

Also, just as a sidenote... That clay bust was amazingly beautiful, your obviously very talented!

 

[RayAllen]

Amazing Job! 2 thumbs up for a great thought out build.

 

[ReefArtist]

Hey nice to see some new faces posting and enjoying the build. We locals get talking and I forget we're on "National RC" - LOL.

bryangraham05 - Thank you very much for the compliment on my art piece. I wasn't sure how, shall I say "non-art" people would take it. I see that is an interest of yours and might be a reason you noticed. I wanted to do something special for my living room but not really "fish" as a sculpture. I have some glass pieces I'll be working on so more art is on it's way (few months down the road). I hope you continue to follow along as I still have some interesting reefing, woodworking, art and of course livestock to come.

RayAllen - Thank you and I hope you continue to follow along. I see you have a 210g in the works, good luck with it and please post your build link here so we all can check in on you.

 

[ReefArtist]

mflamb - Please do and just to let you know - you took all they had!

OK - I have two problems, well one is a question and the other is more of the problem.

First, I'm making my 75g (refuge) into a RDSB (Remote Deep Sand Bed) and my question is how deep should I make it. I have it 5 inches right now and I believe for a normal DSB it's between 4 and 6 inches. So, please if anyone has done this let me know.

This is the 75g Refuge/RDSB. I have to say this sand is great and at a great price!

My problem is that my Dart is leaking! The Dart is on my ReefLo skimmer when I turn it off - it leaks. Turn it back on and the leak stops.

This is a suction leak - so at this time I can't turn the skimmer off like I wanted to so my tank can cycle. Anyone have/had this problem? I guess I'll have to drain the skimmer and remove that connection - put it back together and see if that fixes it.

 

[rogergolf66]

well I would go to 6- 8 inches

 

[huge1day]

Here is a link to Anthony Calfo's thread. He suggest going as deep as possible 10-12 inches...

Bart

http://forum.marinedepot.com/Topic20039-13-1.aspx

 

[poknsnok]

8"

 

[ReefArtist]

huge1day - Excellent thread and I've only had the time to go through half so far. Thank you so much for the link, also I might add another link here on RC about RDSB:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=595109

I'll need to read both to have a good understanding of the benefits and some of the pitfalls. It appears most of the "cons" are from poor maintenance of water parameters or not setting up the flow in the RDSB properly. After reading both I'll report back.

 

[huge1day]

There is the orginal thread that was started here on RC before Calfo left. But I never can seem to get the search button to work for me. In fact though, but the same info is in the link posted. I am picking up a 72x24x14 tank next weekend that I had a glass divider put into the middle so I will have "2" 72x12x14 tanks. One is going to be a rdsb and the other a refugium. I believe that it is going to reduce my nitrates greatly.

Bart

 

[Doc_B]

I hope it works out for you. If i found a small leak i used a little medical grade wax to stop the leak. It acts as a caulk.