Austin goes Rimless - Dudester's 203g mixed reef
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Dudester
Premium Member
cbui - The rock is currently sitting at Kingfish, and is nearly fully cured. The aquascaping will hopefully be done this Sunday. That should give the tank time to fill and salt time to mix. I estimate I'll be ready to add salt tomorrow when I get home from work. Naturally I'll keep you posted.
Marcus - Thanks, I love it too! As I understand it our sumps should be ready at about the same time, so I expect to see your thread updated with some clean and leak-free pics soon as well.
Gabriel - Thanks for the compliment, and you have an open invitation to come over and check it out whenever you want. I'd wait for a little more action if I were you, but I'm really enjoying this stage of the game myself.
Marc - I didn't claim that it was full, but I'll surely provide a photo of a nice, full, wet tank once it is. I hope my sump is baffled by this Sunday, that way I can get the skimmer ready and running when the LR is added. I'm also anxious to hear how the CJ standpipes sound in the overflow. It's recommended that the standpipe openings sit around 1" below the lowest portion of the overflow teeth for optimal (quietest) operation, but I had to set them about 2 1/2" below so that the top of the CJ's wouldn't be seen above the overflow box. I'm hoping that extra inch and a half of waterfall won't make a big difference. If it does, I can always install an acrylic lid over the OF box, which I might end up doing anyway.
GSMguy - You always seem to ask the hard-hitting questions, don't you
? That IS the big question as of now. I don't think I've mentioned it before, but the entire system was actually built around that light fixture. I chose a 60 x 30 tank so that it would be well-lit by a single fixture, and without excess light spill over the front or sides. Sounds crazy to build a tank around a light, in retrospect, but there you have it. I'm 2nd or 3rd in line on ReefGeek's wait list for the 10-bulb units (I put myself on the list way back in February when I was planning this system), and he's not expecting any to arrive with the current shipment from ATI. I can only hope that ATI sends 3 units with their next shipment, which may be anywhere from 1-3 months from now. If I miss that shipment it could be another couple of months. If nothing else this will force me to move slowly on stocking the tank, but I'd sure like to get this light hung ASAP. If need be I could always look for a temporary lighting solution if I become too inpatient.
Jonathan - :eek2: OMG, you better get off the web and go check your tank. For all you know there could be 1000 gallons of saltwater on your floor right now!
JackJack7 - Hope JackJack 1-6 are all doing well, are there more? Glad you like it so far, stay tuned.
And for any carpenters out there whom I do not wish to offend, I need to correct a statement I made before. The bolts used for the pump mounts are actually carriage bolts, not lag bolts like I had mentioned.
Marcus - Thanks, I love it too! As I understand it our sumps should be ready at about the same time, so I expect to see your thread updated with some clean and leak-free pics soon as well.
Gabriel - Thanks for the compliment, and you have an open invitation to come over and check it out whenever you want. I'd wait for a little more action if I were you, but I'm really enjoying this stage of the game myself.
Marc - I didn't claim that it was full, but I'll surely provide a photo of a nice, full, wet tank once it is. I hope my sump is baffled by this Sunday, that way I can get the skimmer ready and running when the LR is added. I'm also anxious to hear how the CJ standpipes sound in the overflow. It's recommended that the standpipe openings sit around 1" below the lowest portion of the overflow teeth for optimal (quietest) operation, but I had to set them about 2 1/2" below so that the top of the CJ's wouldn't be seen above the overflow box. I'm hoping that extra inch and a half of waterfall won't make a big difference. If it does, I can always install an acrylic lid over the OF box, which I might end up doing anyway.
GSMguy - You always seem to ask the hard-hitting questions, don't you
? That IS the big question as of now. I don't think I've mentioned it before, but the entire system was actually built around that light fixture. I chose a 60 x 30 tank so that it would be well-lit by a single fixture, and without excess light spill over the front or sides. Sounds crazy to build a tank around a light, in retrospect, but there you have it. I'm 2nd or 3rd in line on ReefGeek's wait list for the 10-bulb units (I put myself on the list way back in February when I was planning this system), and he's not expecting any to arrive with the current shipment from ATI. I can only hope that ATI sends 3 units with their next shipment, which may be anywhere from 1-3 months from now. If I miss that shipment it could be another couple of months. If nothing else this will force me to move slowly on stocking the tank, but I'd sure like to get this light hung ASAP. If need be I could always look for a temporary lighting solution if I become too inpatient.Jonathan - :eek2: OMG, you better get off the web and go check your tank. For all you know there could be 1000 gallons of saltwater on your floor right now!
JackJack7 - Hope JackJack 1-6 are all doing well, are there more? Glad you like it so far, stay tuned.
And for any carpenters out there whom I do not wish to offend, I need to correct a statement I made before. The bolts used for the pump mounts are actually carriage bolts, not lag bolts like I had mentioned.
GSMguy
New member
i knew you must have built the tank around the ati because you seemed confident that you could actually get one, at the time i thought he must have a hookup but now i know you ordered it many months before ordering the tank. 
that light is PIMP from what i have seen.
i would love a 36 inch version.
i also wondered when a big texas rimless would go all t5.
that light is PIMP from what i have seen.i would love a 36 inch version.
i also wondered when a big texas rimless would go all t5.
Dudester
Premium Member
Wacha doing on Sunday ........ (nudge nudge)
GSMguy - Glad you noticed! As you know by now, I love the rimless tanks, and while I've learned a lot from invincible and naka and their tanks are absolutely inspirations for my system, I certainly didn't want to simply copy what they have achieved. There are several details distinguishing factors that set our systems apart, and one huge factor is the lighting. I really hope to be able to get the results I want with all T5's, plus I don't mind the energy savings.
melev - Sure, a pink foam template would look smokin' hot, but I can't seem to find what kind of PAR it puts out
Dudester
Premium Member
Here's another real post for ya.
Hey Marc, is this more like what you were looking for?
I'm about a day ahead of schedule from where I thought I'd be. The RO/DI maker was on since 6:30 this morning, and above is the result. I'm using a Mako 6-stage RO/DI unit, and I replaced both DI resins, as well as all of the other filters, just prior to filling this tank. The DI's have color-changing indicators so I'll know when they're exhausted, and the 1st chamber is about 3/4 spent. Here's the unit.
Here's the salt I'll be using, at least to start.
I fired up the 'cuda and added the salt. Here's the salt storm.
I'm amazed at how quickly the salt dissolved and the water has cleared. I'll let it circulate and aerate for several days, and I'm not adding any more water since the sump isn't plumbed into the tank yet. That's it for now, hope you still like!
Hey Marc, is this more like what you were looking for?
I'm about a day ahead of schedule from where I thought I'd be. The RO/DI maker was on since 6:30 this morning, and above is the result. I'm using a Mako 6-stage RO/DI unit, and I replaced both DI resins, as well as all of the other filters, just prior to filling this tank. The DI's have color-changing indicators so I'll know when they're exhausted, and the 1st chamber is about 3/4 spent. Here's the unit.
Here's the salt I'll be using, at least to start.
I fired up the 'cuda and added the salt. Here's the salt storm.
I'm amazed at how quickly the salt dissolved and the water has cleared. I'll let it circulate and aerate for several days, and I'm not adding any more water since the sump isn't plumbed into the tank yet. That's it for now, hope you still like!
Dudester
Premium Member
I hope this works - I'm replying with my Treo.
GSMguy - No way bro, the sand is going in shortly after we finish the aquascape. Nice try, though!
Jonathan - I'm sorry to hear you're not a TM Pro fan. My office tank is thriving with this salt, and most of what I've read about it has been positive. What specifically tested poorly for you?
Gabriel - Not sure what time we're getting started, but probably mid-afternoon.
GSMguy - No way bro, the sand is going in shortly after we finish the aquascape. Nice try, though!
Jonathan - I'm sorry to hear you're not a TM Pro fan. My office tank is thriving with this salt, and most of what I've read about it has been positive. What specifically tested poorly for you?
Gabriel - Not sure what time we're getting started, but probably mid-afternoon.
KingfishJohn
New member
Correction... your first DI stage is toast, not 3/4 toast. Bring it back on in and I'll refill it.
For anyone in Texas experiencing the crazy amount of rain we've had... our water is CRAPPY. The surface runoff plus extra chlorine aren't helping our aquariums and I've run into about 10 situations now where people have needed a filter change WAY faster than usual.
For anyone in Texas experiencing the crazy amount of rain we've had... our water is CRAPPY. The surface runoff plus extra chlorine aren't helping our aquariums and I've run into about 10 situations now where people have needed a filter change WAY faster than usual.
KingfishJohn
New member
Gabe I'm involved and it's going to be Sunday. I'll be way too hungover to work early :bum:
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