427 Gal Sunroom reef restart. One year old.

[reefkeeper2]

I just did a whole new system re-do in the basement with a new sump and a new Royal Exclusive RD3 Speedy pump for my main return. It is still a DIY sump but I got rid of the Rubbermaid stock tank and replaced it with a Hagen 100 gal pond. It's much easier to access my equipment and it looks a lot better too. I took all of the controllers for all of the equipment and organized them in a single control area. I even labeled all the cords and plugs so I don't have to wonder what is plugged in where. I still have one more connection to make between the fuge and the sump but I'm waiting for a bulkhead. Here are some pics.

 

[dave.m]

Maye you could walk us through this. What is the reactor (?) beside the skimmer in the sump? Thx.

Dave.M

 

[reefkeeper2]

Directly in front of the skimmer is the biopellet reactor. To the left is the filter box I made that I can put filter socks into. I don't use filter socks all the time, just when I'm doing a cleaning in the display or if I want to drip some lanthanum for excess phosphates. To the left of that which you can't see very well is a de-gassing tower I made from pvc to help drive off CO2 from the calcium reactor effluent. It sits above the water and is filled with crushed coral. The effluent drips through it into a bucket below. If the pH of the tank water gets too low, the apex switches on a pond air pump outside that blows thru a huge air stone in the bucket further driving up the pH of the reactor effluent. That rarely comes on, but it's a nice just in case feature.

 

[reefkeeper2]

Here is a pic of the de-gassing tower. To the left of it you can see the splash shield I put up to protect the wiring and controllers that are on the other side. Maybe overkill but better safe than sorry.

 

[dave.m]

Thx for the excellent description. That makes it a lot clearer for me.

Dave.M

 

[tmc1313]

Great update! Your old reef is one of the few that I revisit and watch over and over again on youtube. I was wondering what had happened, now I know. I'm glad you kept the the same setting for the new setup. The sunroom, tank placement and stand are awesome. Are you using the same lighting as the old reef? Was your old tank an Envisions? If so, did they cover anything on the new tank, being that there were seam issues? I'll be following along on this one for sure.

 

[reefkeeper2]

I upgraded the lighting from AI Vegas to Hydra 52 shortly after the new tank went up. James at Envisions was great and came through with a deal that was more than acceptable to me. The new tank has the center brace the old one should have had and there have been no issues.
I came to the conclusion today that I should re-plumb the return line that goes through the stand. There is an elbow under there that reduces the line from one and a half inch to one inch for about a foot before it reaches the bulkhead. I need to cut that out and have it one and a half all the way. It's not an easy fix and the whole line will have to be replaced. I have to be a contortionist to get under there.

 

[reefkeeper2]

I finally finished my sump upgrade. Here is the vid I made explaining it all.
https://youtu.be/qvKTg663RTo

 

[dave.m]

Excellent vid! Thx so much for sharing.

Dave.M

 

[nuxx]

Great video

Should be really helpful to lots of people!

 

[mr9iron]

Very nice, what type of calcium reactor are you using?

 

[reefkeeper2]

It's a Schuran. It's about 10 years old now.

 

[mr9iron]

It's a Schuran. It's about 10 years old now.

:dance:

 

[reefluv]

Thanks Paul for the update. Enjoyed the new sump/fish room remodel. Is the Avast Marine recirculating bio pellet reactor taking care of your phosphates and nitrates that you no longer need the ATS you were using? I too am using the same bio pellet reactor and an ATS but still have high nitrates and phosphates. Thinking of trying a nitrate reactor. I too have a large tank but have too many large fish.
Thanks for keeping us posted on your killer aquarium!

 

[reefkeeper2]

The reactor takes care of my nitrates but I occasionally use lanthanum to bring down the phosphates. I just pop a 1 micron filter sock into the filter box, make a mix of 20 mls of lanthanum per one quart or so of RO water and drip it over the course of a day or two .
I had to take down the ATS a year ago because I needed to make room for the large frag/ refugium to hold all my corals before the big tank switch . It worked well but the drawbacks were the electrical costs to run it and the cleaning which was a PITA. I may make another for this setup but not until I see nutrient levels become an issue. So far so good.

 

[Sinekal]

I love the idea for the fish qt using the uv. Please keep us updated on the viability of the idea. Seems to me with slow enough flow and high enough wattage that it should be 100% effective. I am not a fan of managing multiple systems so I think I may work on incorporating my fish qt like this. I already use my auto water change to maintain my coral qt for me, so this would get me to the single system and create much greater stability for the fish. Only other tank would need to be a hospital for treatment.

 

[reefkeeper2]

It's an 80 watt sterilizer. The correct flow should be around 600 gal an hour. It's my best guess that the actual flow is around 400-500 . Presently there is nothing in QT so it's turned off.

 

[Reefstarter2]

every time I see that Tank I am inspired paul . would love to come by again sometime soon and see the new sump in person and maybe talk reef for a while over some coffee or something . " makes me want to buy new toys "

 

[reefkeeper2]

That would be great. I never tire of talking tank. It's been a while since anyone's been over and so much has changed. I have to have some minor surgery next month and will be housebound for a week or two so maybe then. The company would be welcome.