Addiction wins, 450 gallon system begins

[NexDog]

Hmmm, I was hoping to get away with a chiller till next spring. I have a Hammerhead and 2 Darts (CL pumps), a PanWorld (return) and an Iwaki (Skimmer). Plus three 400w 14k MH and 4 PC actinics on 450g system volume.

Is my water going to boil? I can run AC during the day and exhaust fan at night. Hoping to get away with no chiller for a while...

 

[jnarowe]

Interesting discussion. I have never really thought about trying to do my system without chilling of some kind. I will not blow air over the tank, but rather exhuast warm air (suck) it off the tank area and out of the room, while replacement air comes from the cool area under my deck. Blowing air over the tank does work, but increases evaporation significantly.

I would not use a conventional chiller either. They are very inefficient. I am planning on a heat exchanger system using either an in-ground copper grid or a coil in a coffin freezer filled with anti freeze. I wonder though if I should try it without an exchanger first?--J

 

[kimoyo]

I'm not 100% certain that the AC JR is correct though. If I stick my trusty floating theometer that I've had for 10 years in it, it reads about 1-1.5 degrees cooler.

The AC JR temp probe is probably wrong. I have two temp probes for my AC II and they read a 3-4 degree difference out of the box.

 

[jnarowe]

Are you serious? I am getting ready to buy the III Pro and the reason is to maintain a higher level of accuracy! How do you fix that?--J

 

[Hop]

NexDog: I'm learning as I go here, so I can only tell you that I'm certain that the problem is manageable. I'll be doing some tinkering over the next few days and I'm sure the solution will work itself out

kimoyo: Thanks, I've been doing some learking around the Neptune forum and see that even though they are supposed to be calibrated, there are often inconsistencies. I'm planning on doing a little recalibration today after I get everything moved.

jnarowe: I think that once you get it set, the accuracy is pretty reliable. I've heard of people only checking their calibration once a year after that.

 

[melev]

As far as I know, the temperature doesn't wander off track. It may be wrong at first, but that can be adjusted within the menus to match a secondary (or even third) thermometer. What is most important is consistency moreso than it reading accurate to the tenth of a degree.

Double checking it against another thermometer annually sounds like a good idea.

 

[jnarowe]

I hear what you guys are saying...any opinion on regular vs. lab grade probes? Does that seem a bit like a marketing scam?--J

 

[melev]

I honestly don't know.

 

[Hop]

It best not to quote me on this one... The search function is not working right now and I really should become a supporting member but...

I think I read in the Neptune forum that the accuracy between the probes was not the issue, but rather the lab grade probe was of higher construction standards and could be placed in places such as in line somewhere or completely submerged.

 

[Hop]

Ok quick mid-day update. I got all the live stock switched over and things are doing really well. I really didn't like the rock from the 125 so 3/4 of it went into the fuge. The rest wound up in the tank, but some moving around may be in the future. The crabs and fish are doing great... The shrimp and snails are still hiding

Just a quick shot with VHO only. No hallides today

 

[melev]

Chicken.

 

[JayC]

Wow! That is awesome!! I cant wait to see it in a year from now.

 

[jnarowe]

Looks good. Neptune told me that the lab grade were better built, and could be placed inline as well. I think it actually has to do with waterproofing the wire end. Anyway, I don't need them inline.

They also said that the regular grade lasts 12 - 18 months and the lab grade lasts 18 - 24 months. I still haven't figured out how you know when they go bad, but i am sure it's in the literature.--J

 

[kimoyo]

How about they have a longer cord and thats about it :lol:. But like everyone else said you have an offset in the controller that you set. They even tell you in the manual to check the temp and then set the offset.

 

[Hop]

Chicken.

I'm not a chicken... I'm a chickenhawk:lol: Just to prove it I fired up the MH for a short time and snapped some pics. I'll try to post some later, but I'm getting the 125 cleaned out so I can move my FW fish out of the quarantine tank and back into a more spacious home

JayC: Thanks, I can't wait either. Then I will have made it through the next diatom bloom and algae infestations

jnarowe: Thank goodness my head remembered that one right. I didn't want to post bogus info...

So some things did go right today! The temp balanced out at 79 and I never had to turn the fans on! Everyone is doing great in their new home and have already began the nightly begging for food ritual. The skimmer started to actually skim a little instead of make bubbles and the vent fan in the wetroom is now working perfectly.

I really wanted to get a ton done today, but the weather was cool and rainy and for some reason this led me to two naps

After I get the 125 back up and running, hopefully before midnight, I'll have a few more days to devote to the reef.

Plus I go back to the graveyard shift for six months and I have to get used to sleeping during the day again

 

[jnarowe]

Naps??? I remember when I could nap. Those were the good-old-days.--J

PS. Graveyard bites (unless you are making double time)

 

[manike]

Wow, a stunning piece of design and development.

I just signed up to say how impressive it looks and to get updates.

I read the whole thread after I mentioned to a friend that I want to have a 'large tank' and he sent me a link to this thread.

 

[Hop]

manike:
<img src="/images/welcome.gif" width="500" height="62"><br><b><i><big><big>To Reef Central</b></i></big></big>

I wish there was more to show you right now! It's really just taking shape. I'm sure if you prowl around here you will find some incredible build logs that make mine look pretty silly.

 

[manike]

Thanks for the Welcome.

I love project threads like this, I'm a design engineer myself and seeing how people develop things really gives me inspiration.

Look forward to the next installments.

 

[Hop]

manike: If you really want to see an incredible design and engineered tank look here at weatherson's tank


Today i'm trying to button up the doors and insulate the pipe noises. Then I'm going to get the RO/DI moved and hooked up to the auto top off.

Same pic as before... VHOs only

My "I'm not a chicken" HM shot for melev

and then just a side shot.

I think thats it for now