A Reef in the Sky

[jbanks]

After I had one of the ghl float level sensors hang up on me, leaving the dosing pump on and almost overflowing my sump I would not trust that setup.
I would use only one level sensor to turn on/off dosing pump, and the other level sensor as a safety guard, and also adjust the max. time for the dosing pump to be on.

Amazing build by the way :bigeyes:

+1 on vpower's suggestion.. I am loving this build!

 

[Walter Costa]

I don't know what would be your evaporation rate, but I think the the profilux pump will be working around the clock to supply your tank. I would use a small independent pump or even an aqualifter. IMHO

 

[platax88]

After I had one of the ghl float level sensors hang up on me, leaving the dosing pump on and almost overflowing my sump I would not trust that setup.
I would use only one level sensor to turn on/off dosing pump, and the other level sensor as a safety guard, and also adjust the max. time for the dosing pump to be on.

Amazing build by the way :bigeyes:

+1 Would hate to see your beautiful setup get bitten in the *** by Murphy. I use gravity/float valve myself.

 

[mcliffy2]

Wondering why you need a chiller? My open-top, T5 lit tank stays at 74-77 (depending on season, in the winter I use a heater to keep it at 76-77) without relying on anything other than evap. Have you seen whether your tank will get hot enough to need one yet?

 

[fishypets]

Red Dragon pumps run very hot, or at least mine does. I keep my house temp 69 and tank temp gets upwards 81 at night with the lights off. I'm in the process of looking for a new return pump.

 

[jbanks]

Wondering why you need a chiller? My open-top, T5 lit tank stays at 74-77 (depending on season, in the winter I use a heater to keep it at 76-77) without relying on anything other than evap. Have you seen whether your tank will get hot enough to need one yet?

That's awesome... In New York, My temperatures climb to the low 80's and I'm running two vortechs with an external return pump and two less bulbs than your fixture.. I had to adjust the on temp for my chiller last summer to compensate a bit, but 74-77 is ideal!

 

[DBarsotti]

the rock work looks amazing! the islands and the open space is perfect. The planning and detail of this build is something to be proud of. keep up the good work.

 

[ToolmanRR]

Tagging along. VERY impressive work.

 

[v1...rotate]

Thanks for all the replies guys...

After I had one of the ghl float level sensors hang up on me, leaving the dosing pump on and almost overflowing my sump I would not trust that setup.
I would use only one level sensor to turn on/off dosing pump, and the other level sensor as a safety guard, and also adjust the max. time for the dosing pump to be on.

Amazing build by the way :bigeyes:

Thanks and yes I have heard the same things you mentioned.
Using one sensor for the on/off function is a good idea... would it operate most of the time keeping sump level exactly level? The other one to prevent overflows is a good idea.

+1 on vpower's suggestion.. I am loving this build!

Thanks... sorry for the delay in updates

I don't know what would be your evaporation rate, but I think the the profilux pump will be working around the clock to supply your tank. I would use a small independent pump or even an aqualifter. IMHO

I agree, approx 6 liters is being topped up daily. This will become higher as it warms up here.

+1 Would hate to see your beautiful setup get bitten in the *** by Murphy. I use gravity/float valve myself.

Thank you

Wondering why you need a chiller? My open-top, T5 lit tank stays at 74-77 (depending on season, in the winter I use a heater to keep it at 76-77) without relying on anything other than evap. Have you seen whether your tank will get hot enough to need one yet?

It gets very hot and humid here. Air-conditioning is required during most of the spring, summer and autumn months. Although it is cool here at the moment the first couple of days after the tank was setup the tank temp climbed to 28.3C during the day.

Red Dragon pumps run very hot, or at least mine does. I keep my house temp 69 and tank temp gets upwards 81 at night with the lights off. I'm in the process of looking for a new return pump.

Clint, are RD pumps renowned to run hot? That's the first I've heard of this. If so... having two in my setup definitely doesn't help my cause.

That's awesome... In New York, My temperatures climb to the low 80's and I'm running two vortechs with an external return pump and two less bulbs than your fixture.. I had to adjust the on temp for my chiller last summer to compensate a bit, but 74-77 is ideal!

My tunzes certainly wouldn't help the cause.

the rock work looks amazing! the islands and the open space is perfect. The planning and detail of this build is something to be proud of. keep up the good work.

Thank you sir

Tagging along. VERY impressive work.

Welcome... thanks

 

[v1...rotate]

Day 14 of the KZ Cycle Today


Everything was fine with the tank when I returned last week.

Some pictures from Day 9

The skimmer appeared to be working well and didn't cause any problems while I was away.

Preparing the carbon before its placement on Day 10. Rinse in RODI water until clear, place in near boiling water for 10mins then soak in RODI water for at least 1 day

Picked up these goodies

Some pictures of the sand bed

Day 10 pictures
Carbon placement.. allows easy daily kneading

The introduction of two fish. Good to see they went straight to work. Also appear to be best of friends

Water Parameters on Day 9
NH3 0 API
No2 0 API
No3 0 Salifert
No3 0 API
No3 <0.25 La Motte
Po4 0.04 Hanna
Mg 1230 Salifert
Alk 120ppm La Motte

Haven't done any more tests since but will do more today

Summary:
x2 Fish
x4 Snails (from previous tank)
Dosing as per the instructions
No corals yet but will transfer some of Acans and Scolys first.

Basically keeping my hands out of the tank and letting the tank take it's course!!!

 

[scaryperson27]

Looks very nice! I am surprised that you don't have a media reactor for the carbon. I don't know if you stated anything about that yet.

 

[platax88]

Looks very nice! I am surprised that you don't have a media reactor for the carbon. I don't know if you stated anything about that yet.

+1 ... why do you boil the carbon?

 

[mcliffy2]

It gets very hot and humid here. Air-conditioning is required during most of the spring, summer and autumn months. Although it is cool here at the moment the first couple of days after the tank was setup the tank temp climbed to 28.3C during the day.

I would gladly buy a chiller if I could import that kind of weather to Chicago

 

[gofor100]

+2 on the carbon/media reactor... relatively cheap and would probably be more effective then hanging the carbon in the sump. Looking GREAT though!!!

 

[mrvicz]

wow, its finally done cycling! +1 on the question as to why you dont have a media reactor for your carbon nonetheless, tank's looking great!

congrats andrew

vic

 

[swimman]

hi andrew this is warm regard, if you mainly to keeping sps attention more about Kh, that good rang round 8~~10Kh. accroding to about words ,known you used zeovit system, the zeovit article said that it able to down of Kh quickly, so cautious handled
wish you all of successful for your RT!!

 

[wtfisthisfob]

Wow, very clean set up.

 

[Dudester]

Looks very nice! I am surprised that you don't have a media reactor for the carbon. I don't know if you stated anything about that yet.

I'll answer for Andrew since he's probably busy taking care of his tank! According to the Zeovit method, they recommend running carbon passively (NOT in a reactor) and kneading the carbon daily. Zeovites (people who use Zeovit, I guess) feel that too much carbon activity is detrimental so that is why they recommend passive carbon usage. When I was running Zeovit I put the carbon in a bag at the top of my Zeovit reactor, since the reactor only ran 50% of the time, and I just used less carbon than recommended. I seemed to have good results.

 

[Mossrope]

brilliant effort!
10/10

 

[gofor100]

Okay, well that explains it. I'm old-school I guess and don't know too much about the Zeovit method (other than the basics). What about carbon is detrimental using the Zeovit method?