Since there is nothing new to update I thought that I would throw out a few what worked and what didn't post. To break things down, eighteen months was a good amount of time for planning, but I think that 18 months of learning tank parameters and water quality would have been needed. I still get confused on some of these points, as I am not biology major or scientist. Let's just say I got good grades in art, woodshop and auto mechanics. With that said, here is what I found out so far
What worked or what was a good idea:
Auto top off. I've got to say that the "keep it simple stupid" methods worked here flawlessly. I have a simple Kent floatvalve; gravity fed from a 40-gallon rubbermaid trash can that keeps the sump level constant. I then have my RO/DI plumbed into the rubbermaid container with another floatvalve. I also installed a auto shutoff kit to my RO/DI unit and found that this has worked very well. This was one area of the planning that I thought was going to give me fits, but it's working well.
Saltwater mixing: Right under my 40 gallon reservoir for the RO/DI top off is another 40-gallon rubbermaid. It's plumbed into the RO/DI container and by opening two ball valves, water fills the can. Since both containers are the same size, no worry of a flood here. Add salt and keep the power head going and ta-da. I then have a hose leading from the plumbing and can replace 40 gallons in about two minutes, or just fill as needed. No fancy pumps, very little to go wrong here.
Closed loop: The closed loop is working great and seems to be more than adequate flow for the tank. I do get some diatris buildup around the base of the rocks, but have found that the amount of suspension for food etc, seems to be OK.
Sink in the Wetroom: What else needs to be said here. I was going to scrap it due to funds shrinking, but this has been the best thing I did. I surely would have spilled skimmate on the carpet or wood floors by now without it. Life is so much easier!
Lighting: The lights themselves seem to be working well. They are strong enough to grow stuff I don't want on the bottom of the tank
Time will tell on the rest.
Aquacontroller: This has been a great investment. I've had problems with some other timers so far, but the AC Jr. has performed flawlessly. I still have some more programming to do for summer related issues, but so far, so good.
What needs improvement:
Plumbing: Two issues here.
-First the plumbing for the closed loop: It works really well, but interferes with the lightrack. I am still trying to decide whether to modify the plumbing or the lights. So far it has made simple tank maintenance more of a headache than I wanted. The lightrack hits the plumbing for the 4-way and I have to contort myself to fit underneath it. Let me tell you that you only touch your back to MH lighting once! I still have over 14" of space to raise the lights, if only they would clear the plumbing.
-Second is the length of plumbing into the wetroom. It works really well, but the control of microbubbles is a pain. I either need to make a longer, more efficient sump or add some type of bubble defuser for the tank return in the sump. Currently there is just too much flow going through the sump, about 4500gph. And microbubbles are whisked through the sump like no tomorrow. There is also excess noise generated by the plumbing into two rooms of the house. I anticipate that when I re-plumb with spaflex, this should subside.
Lightrack: As mentioned above, it hits the plumbing, just enough that I can't raise it as high was it is designed. Unfortunately any modification to the plumbing or lightrack will have to wait a couple months. At anyrate this is the main problem so far as maintenance is put off until it is absolutely necessary.
Cooling: Although not an issue yet, I am concerned over heat this next summer. The tank is easily kept at 79 degrees right now with temps dipping into the 30s at night and 70s during the day. I'm looking into temp control for the wetroom this summer, which should lick the problem. With all the pumps and lights going in the wetroom, it stays between 70-74, with no supplemental heating right now. I have noted that keeping the wetroom temperate via an exhaust fan, I can regulate the tank temp via flow control. The heater has yet to turn on.
Skimmer: Great skimmer, there's just an idiot controlling it. I'll get this darn thing figured out for optimal performance one of these days! I'm really good at making dry, black sludge and taking salt water out of the tank, adjusting for a good wet skim, is currently beyond my knob turning ability
Quarantine tank: Good idea, stupid to put it above the sump. I'm always in a panic when doing waterchanges and stuff that I'm going to get some of the water from the q-tank into the sump. At week five of the process, it's not a big deal, but at week one I was concerned that I would be introducing some nasties into the water column.
So far that has all that really stands out over the other, smaller tanks I have maintained. Any comments or suggestions at this point would be a real relief to hear!
Thanks again to everyone that has helped along the way!
Oh well Wilie Coyote and I are heading back to the drawing board and will redesign the whole thing with ACME parts utilizing a bike for flow and a set of batwings for baffles.
