A Reefaholic's 1000+ Gallon Mixed Reef System Build

[worm5406]

Just recently got a descent HD camera for the newborn and could do this. Once I have everything getting squared away I'll try to do this. Don't think I'm a good narrator but we'll see what can be done.

OK...

AND??

All the video's I put up I think I only say one word in any of them.

I teach classes at work and have no problem speaking... I just never talk on here.

SO... Lets see it, even if you have to put labels and play some corny music like I do.. LOL

 

[Dustin1300]

The aquarium is looking great! I love your tanks size in general and I think the aqua scape fits it perfectly. Just out of curiosity I think I read that you switched who you will be getting fish from and I was wondering if it was someone local?

Jacob

Appreciate it and hope that things work out well. Working on coral placement now and I've went with Premium Aquatics for the fish. I've bought most of my equipment from them and their prices are about half that or more of what I was going to be charged. I've got a 125 I'll be getting in the next week or so and setting up a 200+ gallon QT system.

Been a while since I checked out your build and WOW. Everything looks awesome, I can never get over how much attention to detail you have as you've build this monster.

Congrats on the kid also.

Aaron

Been a while since I've seen you around. Thanks for the compliments and hope to see you around the club sometime.

Yeah that is a good idea man!!
I think George has some new ones that might be easier to change, not sure. I'm headed over to see him 2morro and drool on some stuff

Corey

Yeah, the site still has the ones I sold unless he has something else at the shop. I just find them a PITA to change media and think there are better alternatives.

OK...

AND??

All the video's I put up I think I only say one word in any of them.

I teach classes at work and have no problem speaking... I just never talk on here.

SO... Lets see it, even if you have to put labels and play some corny music like I do.. LOL

Have we not already talked about patience in this thread grasshopper? Best tool in a reefer's tool box and you're failing. :lmao:

 

[worm5406]

Ohh I am just talking about video's....

I know the positives of waiting.

LOL

Heck I even put up pics of my boys graduating in the lounge... LOL... I do not have any babies at home, other wise I would put one of those up too.

Just wait until I go on vacation in the OBX, (Outer Banks NC) at the end of July.

LOL... You had me cracking up, with your reply!!!

 

[Dustin1300]

CR and some more FLOW!

CR and some more FLOW!

For 6 days now I've been running CR. I'm running a Bill Wann (Aquarium Engineering) 50lb Calcium Reactor, 25# Co2 Tank, CarbonDoser Regulator, Milwaukee PH Controller, and all seems to be going well thus far. Calcium media is TLF Coarse Media and Brightwell Neo Zeo Magnesium Media. Currently running 70%/30% Calcium/Magnesium Media.

CR and all it's gadgets.


Currently running at about 6.6.


Goodbye doser (At least for 2 part, will likely find another use for it!)


Flow is fed by the sump and it's two ReeFlo pumps ran in parallel. Should one fail, it's got the other to keep the water turning over. I got two multi-sized Sea Swirls and am running 1" outlets on them and they are putting out about 3000 GPH together.

 

[dave.m]

Nice calc reactor set-up, but shouldn't there be a second pH controller and probe in the sump just in case? And I would also run the output through a second reactor of media, again, just in case.

But then, I'm a tad OCD.

Dave.M

 

[Dustin1300]

Nice calc reactor set-up, but shouldn't there be a second pH controller and probe in the sump just in case? And I would also run the output through a second reactor of media, again, just in case.

But then, I'm a trifle OCD.

Dave.M

As it stands right now, I've got Apex with PH in sump where this drains off to. I could put in some safe stops for the media and have some redundancy so should the PH in main tank get out of whack, it kicks off power to Calcium Reactor Pump/Co2 Regulator.

PH is staying right where I want it to currently and should it start to drive it down, I'll look at adding a second media chamber and have already spoke to Bill Wann about building one this week should I start to have that issue.

 

[dave.m]

Well, I wasn't thinking of things shifting so much as things breaking down when you're miles away and aren't around to fix stuff.

Dave.M

 

[Dustin1300]

Well, I wasn't thinking of things shifting so much as things breaking down when you're miles away and aren't around to fix stuff.

Dave.M

Understood. I'd rather have an alk/calcium drop rather than a huge uncontrollable spike. Also know how reliable equipment can be and seems to break down when you're furthest away from home!

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

Everything is coming along well. The behind the scenes are awesome.

 

[Dustin1300]

Coral Placement time this weekend! Picked up a bit of glue and epoxy this morning...

 

[kegogut]

Thats not going to be enough! lolz

 

[acesq]

Great build! I'm looking at using the sea swirls for my next build. How much noise do the motors make? Also, what size it that flex tubing you are using on them?

Thanks,
Art

 

[Dustin1300]

Thats not going to be enough! lolz

Hope so! Watching the kiddo today so progress is not exactly moving well yet! :sad2: I'll try to post some pictures tomorrow once things are in place.

Great build! I'm looking at using the sea swirls for my next build. How much noise do the motors make? Also, what size it that flex tubing you are using on them?

Thanks,
Art

Thanks Art. The Multi-Sized Sea Swirls inlet is 1" so just used barbs and 1" ID flex tubing. I need to get some black as the clear will encourage growth but this is what I had handy at the time since they were sold out of black vinyl tubing. As far as the noise, I don't really hear them at all. I'd not be concerned with them in a canopy by any means, much quieter than something like a Vortech. They are not high speed motors by any means, built/geered for torque and not speed! They also come with 1/2" and 3/4" outlets so you can downsize to get more pressure. 1" seems to be more than enough pressure and might add penductor if I want more flow later. Currently have the return pumps dialed up so likely won't need that...

 

[SPotter]

Wow dustin....everything looks amazing!!!! Im sure to you felt like it took forever but it seems like it was just the other day that you and I were emailing back and forth about different water storage tanks and that was nearly 15 months ago. Im so excited to see the tank develop!

 

[Dustin1300]

Wow dustin....everything looks amazing!!!! Im sure to you felt like it took forever but it seems like it was just the other day that you and I were emailing back and forth about different water storage tanks and that was nearly 15 months ago. Im so excited to see the tank develop!

Thanks Steve. Time has flown and cannot wait to see it to start to mature. I've got a long and enjoyable road ahead of me...:dance:

 

[Dustin1300]

Just came across a piece last night that I've been looking for, a showpiece LPS for the tank with some size. Still working on picking this beautiful piece up and likely would not pick up until mid-August. That being said, let me know what you think about this 13" diameter brain I've got my eyes on?!

 

[worm5406]

That mug is very nice.

With all that super glue and epoxy... I hope you do not put your wee one on the wall beside the tank... LOL

 

[sfsuphysics]

Can't wait for a report on those black axil chromis, I had to google them, and saw the LiveAquaria picture and the first thing that went through my mind was "are they trying to pull a fast one on us... the $3.99 fish went up by a factor of 4 in cost?"

I'm a LONG way before water so much as touches my next system, so I have plenty of time for you to be a guinea pi... er test subjec... er fish enthusiast

 

[prop-frags]

Killer build, Dustin. Really appreciate all the work you've put into the thread too; so many good ideas!

On the chromis, we prefer the black-axil species as well; mainly because of their coloration. We never noticed a difference in behavior from the verdis, they all will tend over time to kill each other off or dwindle. Currently, we're down to just one runt that's survived for about five years.

 

[sfsuphysics]

Hmm, ok there goes that idea for schooling chromis. Although in nature they school for protection, and if you have a predator free tank there'd be no need for it... toss a barracuda into the tank