A Splash of Color - My SPS Peninsula Reef

[mhucasey]

Yes, update please! This is gonna be sweet

 

[tmantaylor18]

+1 let's see this!

 

[rodneyri]

Yeah we all waiting

 

[sahin]

 

[biggles]

Sorry for disappearing but i had a dose of gastro for a few days so i was sulking on the couch. Need to go to work but here's a quick pic showing the two tanks linked and sharing the same water throughout the systems for 24 hrs now.
I'll get on tonight and answer the PM's and posts i have banked up lol.

 

[reefmutt]

Nice!! Can't wait to see this transfer.
Gastro is just plain evil. Hope you're better.

 

[mhucasey]

That is a really clever way to perform the switch with minimal issues, looking forward to seeing your responses later

 

[Volcano1]

More Vegemite ,it'll cure ya.

 

[biggles]

That thing is going to look sooooooo incredible when it has you stunning collection of Acro's in it:thumbsup:. What is the total water volume of the new tank?

Hey Rory, thanks for the kind words mate

The display holds 550 litres or 145 gal. The current display holds 230 litres or 60 gal (not 65 as i thought) so it's about 2.5 times the volume give or take. Lots of room to fiddle.........

That other pic played a trick on my eyes. I see you haven't transferred over everything yet. Good luck! All my corals are in holding bins at the moment. I'm hopefully moving everything into my new setup today or tomorrow. I'm definitely nervous

I hope everything went well mate, i've moved a 4x2x2 fully SPS stocked house to house twice in the past with no major problems so moving tank to tank next to each other is about as easy as it gets. The first time i moved a tank full of acros i was definitely nervous too lol.

Good luck with the transfer mate, I hope all goes well and there are no loses:beer:

Thanks Rory, it shouldn't be too traumatic i hope.

Wow it's going to be amazing.

That's the plan Michael

Biggles how is it all going? Transfer complete yet?

Yes, update please! This is gonna be sweet

+1 let's see this!

Yeah we all waiting

Tomorrow is the last day the little tank will see a radium sunrise guys - it won't be seeing a radium sunset..........

 

[biggles]

:worriedid you leave that running while you went out to dinner?

It took almost 72 hours to fill the peninsula so it wasn't going to do a lot if the hose came out while i was out lol. My RO unit can only do 50gal a day.

Biggles,
I just read the last 3 pages.
For your interest, try taking some aquarium water and add iodine to reach the desired concentration (or even 10 times higher than what You would like to have) and test that water with salifert kit.
Then let me know what's the result.

When I tried it, water sample remained crystal clear as if test was yet to be done, even with a ten times fold higher iodine.

Luca

Hey Luca, i'll double check and let you know what happens mate.

Mr Biggles,

Are you still happy with your Deltec 1455? Has it been produced consistent skimmate and foam header your considering it is way oversized for your now old tank?

I am not happy with my BM NAC 6a and blame it for my persistent cyano trouble. It has been suggested to me that it it is either slightly oversized or the design is not optimal (air volume v neck size). I can get a foam head but it does not consistently overflow into the collection cup. I want to replace it. I considered your skimmer, but fear that I may experience similar problems.

Do you think Deltec 1350 would be a better proposition? My other alternative is the new Tunze 9012 surface skimmer.

Thanks mate.

I'm sorry i missed your post and the two above mate, i'm not normally a rude bastard like Sahin but he's starting to rub off on me i think.........

My skimmer is rated for a heavily stocked 800L tank and i have about 300L in the system. I wouldn't want to run it in any less water volume as the manufacturers rating is pretty close to correct i think, 500-600L heavily stocked. It is way over sized for 300L but it might struggle with the new system when it's loaded up with fish and acros - i'm happy to upgrade if i see the need in the next twelve months.
I wouldn't hesitate to purchase the smaller 1350 model of the same design if i was staying with the current system of 300L as i think it would be great for heavy SPS 200-400L going off the performance compared to rating of the 1455.
The design is simple and very efficient without the need for bubble plates, nozzles and other silliness. It's supposed to look like a skimmer not a bloody rocket ship for petes sake.

Nice!! Can't wait to see this transfer.
Gastro is just plain evil. Hope you're better.

Much better now thanks Matt, not long to wait now mate

That is a really clever way to perform the switch with minimal issues, looking forward to seeing your responses later

The acros will hardly know something has changed as they'll be going into the exact same water under exactly the same lighting - i can't really think of any way with a better chance of success so that's the way i decided to do it. I tipped 3 days worth of skimmate into the peninsula the day before i turned the pump on as i was worried all that pristine new water would drastically reduce the filth concentration in the system water. I have also been feeding another mysis block a day since turning on the pump to get the water richer.

I tested phos with the Elos high res kit - way better than the Hanna rigmarole.........

0.005 - in between zero and the second dots. I put the colored tube over the colored dots at the start because i don't read instructions properly and was swearing at Matt and Sahin for recommending it until i realised the clored tube went over the white dots - Neither of you guys pointed out this obvious trap so thanks for not bothering to let your mate biggles know about that....... you still deserve what i called the pair of you under my breath........

Nitrates are 0.2-0.5

More Vegemite ,it'll cure ya.

I ate vegemite on toast with lemonade to drink for two days to battle the bug - that's what mom gave me when i was 10 and sick so i figure it must be good for me

 

[biggles]

The little cheapo return pump i had rattles so badly i had to use some cable tied to the skimmer adjust knob to hold it at the quietest angle. The 1 inch return pump connection under the new tank is being used in reverse as the drain line which i clamped to the stand. The water coming from the peninsula flows past the little pump which would slow the mixing rate of the water - this suited me fine as i wanted the water mixing to be as slow as possible. I saw no visible reaction to the joining of new water - not the usual red sea blue btw but an entire bucket of my new continuum salt. It gets the biggles acro salt tick of approval because it mixes close to NSW parameters where i keep my water. I trust it and red sea blue now and that's it.
I'm a tad hurt that no one gave me a pat on the back for getting the chair out of the wire bramble bush.......
I drained the skimmer cup so you can see how i like to run my skimmer. I think they are most efficient when at least a week of filth has built up on the tubes, that's when they hit the sweet spot in potent production and cleaning every 3-4 weeks is what i normally do with the cup. The skimmer was cleaned last two weeks ago.

The return line is secured to the peninsula with a wheat bag my mom sent me out of the blue ages ago when i mentioned my knee was playing up, a heavy 1" in line tap and two union joints. I am quite the cunning stunt reefer when it comes to designing bullet proof plumbing setups. I can ask mom where she got the wheat bag return line weight device if you like so you guys can copy me..........

A union joint also prevents the heater from being blown all over the place by the RW-15. All the pipe has been sprayed black with fusion paint. I also need to black out the top 4" of the back glass in the weir section as it can be seen at certain angles.
The far pipe is the height of the overflow and is the emergency pipe. The middle pipe is the 1" return plumbing which i need to attach a 1" black locline type outlet to - came in the post today. It will actually be located closest to the bottom of the picture once i have the sump relocated and attach the return pump to it. Because i'm using the 1" plumbing underneath for a temp drain i put the actual siphon pipe on that tank fitting for now. So the bottom two pipes in the pic will be switched around once the tank is running alone if that all makes sense.

I always use silicon on my tank fittings and rubber gaskets and i always use union connections above and below the tank bottom to make things easy peasy to work on or adjust if needed. You can see why it will be easy for me to simple swap the two pipes in the weir in this pic. They remain easy to turn even after years in the overflow btw.

 

[sahin]

I'm sorry i missed your post and the two above mate, i'm not normally a rude bastard like Sahin but he's starting to rub off on me i think.........

:mad2:

Remember you promised to outline your filtration many moons ago...:deadhorse1: Its all deliberate Bulent. Biggles don't like giving out his reefing secrets. He rather :fun2: than give out the details.

The acros will hardly know something has changed as they'll be going into the exact same water under exactly the same lighting - i can't really think of any way with a better chance of success so that's the way i decided to do it. I tipped 3 days worth of skimmate into the peninsula the day before i turned the pump on as i was worried all that pristine new water would drastically reduce the filth concentration in the system water. I have also been feeding another mysis block a day since turning on the pump to get the water richer.

I tested phos with the Elos high res kit - way better than the Hanna rigmarole.........

Well, I am glad you think the Elos kit is good. I don't ever recommend crap stuff to my fellow reefers.

0.005 - in between zero and the second dots. I put the colored tube over the colored dots at the start because i don't read instructions properly and was swearing at Matt and Sahin for recommending it until i realised the clored tube went over the white dots - Neither of you guys pointed out this obvious trap so thanks for not bothering to let your mate biggles know about that....... you still deserve what i called the pair of you under my breath........

Nitrates are 0.2-0.5

I shall bare in mind that you are a dumbo Biggles and if I were to recommend a new pump for example, I'll be sure to let you know that it needs to be plugged into the socket and the pump needs to go in the water...

Is your phosphate really 0.005ppm or are you quoting the figure for phosphorous like a typical softie tank newbie? :facepalm:

Now rather than wasting our time writing witty replies to being called a dumbo, I hope you will be working throughout the nights to get this reef setup for our pleasure. After all, it's all about us getting to see eye candy sps shots. :crazy1:

 

[markalot]

So what's the difference between skimmate and Vegemite?

Thanks for all the detail Biggles, always great to see how others do things. Even your water looks better than mine.

 

[sahin]

So what's the difference between skimmate and Vegemite?

Biggles has both on toast. So no difference according to Biggles.

 

[Fishy 1]

So what's the difference between skimmate and Vegemite?

Nothing, there both bloody awful. Think of Vegemite as dry skimmate and having that on toast. No wonder Biggles is a little strange if he eats that rubbish:lol::crazy:

 

[jackson6745]

Tomorrow is the last day the little tank will see a radium sunrise guys - it won't be seeing a radium sunset..........

I like this line

 

[martinphillip03]

Biggles, unlike Sahin, you are very modest.Just admit all your black piping is Carbon Fiber from NASA.

Marty


All the pipe has been sprayed black with fusion paint.

 

[Oldude]

Biggles I may have to quit stalking your thread so I don't feel so inferior when I look at my tank & corals afterwards.

 

[ReeferSutherlnd]

Thank you for sharing. The more pics the better! I love the beautiful colors

 

[biggles]

I shall bare in mind that you are a dumbo Biggles and if I were to recommend a new pump for example, I'll be sure to let you know that it needs to be plugged into the socket and the pump needs to go in the water...

Is your phosphate really 0.005ppm or are you quoting the figure for phosphorous like a typical softie tank newbie? :facepalm:

Oh here we go again.......... another bloody piece of info you guys kept secret. So it's the bottom number hey, right well now my phos is 0.012 - this might change if Sahin decides to explain his stupid Elos kit properly. :furious:

So what's the difference between skimmate and Vegemite?

Thanks for all the detail Biggles, always great to see how others do things. Even your water looks better than mine.

Hey Mark, skimmate is less salty than vegemite and looks more palatable mate. The water isn't quite as clear now that i made a start on moving stuff lol.

Biggles has both on toast. So no difference according to Biggles.

I know where i'd like to shove a jar of vegemite...........

Nothing, there both bloody awful. Think of Vegemite as dry skimmate and having that on toast. No wonder Biggles is a little strange if he eats that rubbish:lol::crazy:

I've reported you to immigration Rory so they can deport you to whereever the hell you snuck in from....... actually i'm pretty sure it's illegal in aus to slag vegemite so i'm calling the cops too.......

I like this line

Today's line Richard is now - i love the smell of acro slime in the morning.........

Biggles, unlike Sahin, you are very modest.Just admit all your black piping is Carbon Fiber from NASA.

Marty

I'm not at liberty to discuss the exact nature of the materials i'm trialing for NASA Marty but lets just say the new space shuttle toilet plumbing will be designed around an eheim 5000..........

Biggles I may have to quit stalking your thread so I don't feel so inferior when I look at my tank & corals afterwards.

Strangely enough Greg i feel the same way when i look at your journal mate.......... :beer: The acros are always bluer on the other side........ or browner in Sahin's case

Thank you for sharing. The more pics the better! I love the beautiful colors

Thanks very much mate, i'll do my best