300g Mixed Reef Journey

[Chebby]

Got my skimmer neck cleaner and skimmate locker.

I decided to go with ozone. This air dryer is huge.

I built a little shelf to raise up the reactors and reclaim some floor space taken up by the return pump input. Ozone reactor and carbon reactor shown.

I still have to find a GFO reactor I like. More goodies are on the way.

 

[Chebby]

I do not really know what water depth my skimmer will want to run at (instructions state 6-10 inches) so I made an adjustable weir.

I found a little sink that will work perfectly in my space.

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

Everything is looking good. Now I dont feel so bad with my build about to be more than 2 years old.

 

[Chebby]

Built a mechanical filter tray. Incoming water goes into deep chamber at end of sump and overflows into the tray at the far end. It will run across some type of filter pad. Some of the water that passes over the padding will drip through the small holes down onto a scoop and drop along the side wall into a bubble trap (not seen here). The extra water will travel to the filter sock. I am not a fan of socks so hopefully this way it will not get clogged with the largest of particles and I will not have to clean it so often.

 

[purebullet417]

great work. loving the bar sink in the stand that will be so useful.

 

[Lilmatty5dimes]

awesome build. can't wait for this one to be all done and wet.

 

[fixmgood]

Where did you get the solenoids from?

 

[Chebby]

Where did you get the solenoids from?

There is a company called EHCOTECH that makes all kinds of them and sells them on eBay.


I have finished lowering my RO/DI to make room for the sink. In the process I decided I should throw on another solenoid for the flush valve. I also have my faucet water source (white tube) prepared. I also have the sink drain plumbed. The black box in the top right is an energy bar 4 that has the mechanical relays to drive these low current valves.

 

[Chebby]

Created this little contraption to route all the effluent of the media reactors to the inlet of the skimmer.

 

[Chebby]

Lots of items ordered and en route. Meanwhile, I have labelled all my electrical cords. I have also connected up the top-off and bypass. The top-off pump feeds the black tube from the right. The blue solenoid is normally closed so pumped RO water will flow up and pass through a flow restrictor and into the kalk mixer and then into the sump. If the PH is too high or I am filling the kalk, the solenoid energizes and water takes the path of least resistance and goes straight to sump.

 

[Chebby]

Decided to try and automate things a little more. This is a flow switch that I will connect to the input of the ozone reactor. When I shut off the water supply, it will signal the controller to turn off the ozone generator and air pump.

 

[Chebby]

Dosing system is now connected.

 

[isawill]

Im looking at the same size tank for my upgrade.Would you share who is building your display tank? I also do not have space for a fish room so I am following your progress with great interest...
Thanks

 

[Kroamium]

Great build so far. But looks like you have stuffed that stand to the max. Some equipment looks like it would be difficult to get to and service once you put the tank on and wont be able to reach it from above.

 

[Chebby]

Im looking at the same size tank for my upgrade.Would you share who is building your display tank?

Well, I had 3 leads long time back when I started (2 through my LFS and 1 independent guy). So I have to revisit all this once I get my solid surface installed and save up some $$$.

Some equipment looks like it would be difficult to get to and service once you put the tank on and wont be able to reach it from above.

Fair concern, but I have found that 95% of the work I have been doing was from crawling inside and I do test things like clearances for removing skimmer cup for instance. So I will probably bump my head more and have less visibility (LED strips are coming) but I do think it is all workable.

 

[jlafou1]

I am currently running Radions and I like the controllability. I have not turned up the intensity beyond 70 and I am seeing decent growth on my acros. I already have 2 over my 90 so will add to that collection. Thinking about 6 total. Probably depends on my aquascaping.

Any reason preventing you from gradually moving it up closer to 100? Too much light for the softies?

 

[Chebby]

Any reason preventing you from gradually moving it up closer to 100? Too much light for the softies?

I never saw anything that looked like it was struggling for more light. So keeping it turned down saves power, heat, and hopefully helps keep some algae away.



Apex controller and most modules are now connected and most electrical is routed. Nothing is programmed yet but I have lots of working code from my other system that will easily apply here too. The black box is my UPS. Network is alive. I use powerline networking as it is always more stable than wireless. Still some cord cleanup and float switch wiring left. Then I will finish up the reactor plumping.

 

[Rotknee]

Nice job on the build.:thumbsup: I'll be following along as I am curious about using Ozone. I have one quick question for you. I noticed the pic below and just ordered a Skimmate Locker myself. Are they now shipping with the barb elbow union or did you add that?

 

[Chebby]

Are they now shipping with the barb elbow union or did you add that?

It shipped with it. You can also order those barb unions separately (they are the only place I have found those). I added one to a media reactor to make removal much easier.

 

[Rotknee]

Thanks for the help Chebby. You have a lot of good things goin' on in this thread. I totally forgot about power line networking and I've been looking for an excuse to ditch my wireless setup to my controller.

How much time before you add water?