A Reefaholic's 1000+ Gallon Mixed Reef System Build

Great Thread/Build Dustin, just caught up on the last few years!
I was the guy who pointed you to Bill's equipment...glad it is working out for you! Would love to see the skimmer in action...maybe even a video of it and your tank. :-)

Go Hoosiers!
 
I also have Bill's skimmer on my 500 and would love to see your skimmer setup and pointer on how to best dial it in... Looking forward to your updates and great setup
 
I'm looking to bring some re-reinforcement in to kill off my bubble algae and bring down the population. Current plan of attack is to get to manually remove as much as possible, obtain some crabs, and possibly some other fish.

Not sure on the number of fish/crabs so want everyone's thoughts....

- 60 emerald crabs (50 in 600, 10 in frag tank)
- 3 Magnificent Foxface (in 600 DT)
- 1 Foxface Lo (In 140)

What's everyone's thoughts on the amounts, I'm concerned about the 3 magnificents but with a 600 gallon, it's hard to follow the standard rules. Also, any other fish/CUCs you've had luck with or read about?
 
The foxfaces probably won't have too much disagreement with each other in that size tank but you may have some unhappy tangs depending on how many you already have. They will surely object to the competition. Be sure to QT the foxes.

Don't be in such a rush to get rid of the valonia. Plan on it taking months, not weeks.

Also, I would say 40 crabs max. Once the valonia is gone what do you expect them to eat? Is there that much of other types of algae for them? You don't want them to become a nuisance looking for sustenance.

Dave.M
 
Osama said:
I also have Bill's skimmer on my 500 and would love to see your skimmer setup and pointer on how to best dial it in... Looking forward to your updates and great setup
Click to expand...


Osama, I dialed in first few weeks and then it's just been idle since. I have valve controlling input, would guess it's around 2,000 gph. I then use gate valve going out to adjust water level perfectly. I'm about due for a skimmer cleanup, could take pics if you want of water levels. In addition, skimmer has wiper that cleans it every 6 hours.
 
dave.m said:
The foxfaces probably won't have too much disagreement with each other in that size tank but you may have some unhappy tangs depending on how many you already have. They will surely object to the competition. Be sure to QT the foxes.

Don't be in such a rush to get rid of the valonia. Plan on it taking months, not weeks.

Also, I would say 40 crabs max. Once the valonia is gone what do you expect them to eat? Is there that much of other types of algae for them? You don't want them to become a nuisance looking for sustenance.

Dave.M
Click to expand...


Completely understand on patience, don't expect a miracle in few weeks. Nothing rushed works well in this hobby, just looking to place order and trying to figure out numbers.

On the fox faces, glad to hear the reinforcement.

Tangs:
2 x yellow tangs
3 x blue hippos
1 x blonde naso
1 x lemon peel
1 x yello eye kole
1 x scopas
1 x sailfin

With these fox faces was looking to add 3-5 tangs too so they'd get the hazing spread out to the newbs😁
 
Dustin1300 said:
Osama, I dialed in first few weeks and then it's just been idle since. I have valve controlling input, would guess it's around 2,000 gph. I then use gate valve going out to adjust water level perfectly. I'm about due for a skimmer cleanup, could take pics if you want of water levels. In addition, skimmer has wiper that cleans it every 6 hours.
Click to expand...

Thanks Dustin... Appreciate any pictures No rush Thanks
 
I've not forgotten about you Osama, my skimmer is just still dirty!

Anyone else have any other opinion about adding the three fox faces?
 
Here's some an older shot and some shots with phone last night.

This was earlier this year, 6+months ago.


Some shots with my phone yesterday, left:


Middle:


Right:
 
Thanks, I've not forgotten about you!

I've slacked, this weekend have more free time and will take a picture of the nasty when it's all apart. That being said I did take picture of skimmer.

I'd say I'm running between 2,500-3,000 GPH through skimmer. Water level is about 1/2 inch below where the neck is acrylic. You can see that you don't see water line, just bubbles.
20141106_191155-X3.jpg


Whole shot:
20141106_191147-X2.jpg


About 4 days of skimmate, filled about 4 inches of 5 gallon bucket.
20141106_191232-X2.jpg
 
Skimmer

Skimmer

Thanks Dustin
I can ran the same flow into my skimmer
Quite amazed at how low U are starting with your bubbles . I am starting them about an inch below the next interface ie the start of the vertical section/end of conical section. So I usually will not get skimmate on the conical section itself.
Very helpful info
Do U adjust the drain valve between cleaning?? I am doing much much better with my skimmer but I keep closing it a notch everyday as it accumulate skimmate. Will stop that in the future and see what happens, if I lower the water/bubble interface line a bit more as I am running it with about 1800 gph now..
Do U have a head cleaning gadget and if so how do u like it??..
IYO is that amount of skimmate in the bucket reasonable or are u running it too dry/ too wet?
Thanks...
 
Responses inline:

Do U adjust the drain valve between cleaning??

I don't touch them. When cleaning I typically just throw caps over my overflow and turn off one of my two return pumps.

I am doing much much better with my skimmer but I keep closing it a notch everyday as it accumulate skimmate. Will stop that in the future and see what happens, if I lower the water/bubble interface line a bit more as I am running it with about 1800 gph now..

I did the same while dialing in. Remember if you don't have a high bioload it'll take a bit before it's processing a lot of skimmate. Once I really started adding fish it became VERY dirty.

Do U have a head cleaning gadget and if so how do u like it??..

I have the head cleaner from Avast, I don't especially love it. With the single mount they have on the wiper it does not stay square against the collection cup. Need to draw up design and have friend CNC a wiper that more securely mounts. Avast makes some nice equipment, just not happy with this design of wiper. Octopus has a good wiper blade and would design similar to it.

IYO is that amount of skimmate in the bucket reasonable or are u running it too dry/ too wet?

I don't have nutrient problems so it's just right for me. I recently starting having nitrate creep up a bit and will be adding a Triton BioPellet reactor on the tank. (Should be here Monday!)


Thanks...

No problem, sorry for the delay in response!
 
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