Barely made the club but time for my 180 upgrade (Warning: Progress may be slow)
- Thread starter nightOwl
- Start date
nightOwl
Premium Member
Spotter,
I will try to get a full tank shot tonight. The glass is a little dirty so I will make an effort to clean that off. I really wish the video would upload without the noise. I want to share that panning shot I sent you. I know I will not be able to catch the shimmer in the photo, but the ripples in the water make for some lovely shimmer lines.
Francis,
I need a new icon for my excitement. :spin2: This one is just not cutting it! Thanks in advance! It's been so long since I started a tank from scratch I forgot how long this whole process takes. I will start the weekly testing of the levels to see where things are. The shrimp is has been in there a few days so it should be generating some ammonia by now.
General Updates - ReeFlo Pump
I ordered a new Reeflo Snapper Hybrid 
. So in the next week or so my new quiet pump will be here. The switch should go fairly smoothly the way I did the plumbing. Sitting here thinking I may modify the stand my current pump sits on. I will see if the new model has the same drain plug as my current version. If it does I will add a small hole where I can drain the pump into a tray sorta like when you go get your oil change done.
. So in the next week or so my new quiet pump will be here. The switch should go fairly smoothly the way I did the plumbing. Sitting here thinking I may modify the stand my current pump sits on. I will see if the new model has the same drain plug as my current version. If it does I will add a small hole where I can drain the pump into a tray sorta like when you go get your oil change done.General Updates - Left over pieces of acrylic
Filer Sock Holders - Completed
I still have some acrylic pieces from my sump construction laying around and wanted to use them up. The two drains into the sump are creating a lot of splashing so I needed a way to alleviate the problem. Rather than spend $18 dollars or more I decided to create my own. They are not pretty but get the job done. I probably could have done a better job if I had planned it out more. I took a 6-1/2" piece of acrylic and drilled 3" hold in it and added some support arms for it to hang. I then slide the filter sock into that hole and walla filter sock holder complete. I will post pictures tonight.
VHO Stand-offs - Not Started
The next project with the left over pieces will be mounting stand-offs for my VHO's. Little rectangles with 3 holes in them
. Then I do not have to spend $6 for them. Tray for draining pump - Not Started
This will tie in with my pump "oil change station" I may be able to just buy a Tupperware container depending on how big I make the hole in the pump stand.
SaltwaterAdict
New member
Love the coral list, some beauties you got there.
nightOwl
Premium Member
SaltwaterAdict,
Thanks! I am looking to add a few more that I have seen locally as well.
nightOwl
Premium Member
I have been away on vacation, but now I am back to make a few updates.
General Updates - ReeFlo Pump
Filter Sock Holders - Pictures
Upside Down 1
Upside Down 2
Right Side Up
In Action
VHO Stand-offs - Completed
I finished the stand offs tonight so I can start to tinker with my VHO lights. I have four bulbs to install.
General Updates - Critter Added
I wanted to get an idea of how much ammonia I have in the tank so I added one of my mini brittle starfish Sunday. So far it is doing well. I am going to get the ammonia levels tested later this week when my test kit arrives.
Mini Brittle Starfish
General Updates - Top Off Reservoir Plumbed
General Updates - ReeFlo Pump
My new Hybrid pump is scheduled to arrive on Wednesday so I am looking forward to having a near silent pump operating in the back room. I have been running the current pump the last few days and things are looking alright.
Filter Sock Holders - Pictures
Upside Down 1
Upside Down 2
Right Side Up
In Action
VHO Stand-offs - Completed
I finished the stand offs tonight so I can start to tinker with my VHO lights. I have four bulbs to install.
General Updates - Critter Added
I wanted to get an idea of how much ammonia I have in the tank so I added one of my mini brittle starfish Sunday. So far it is doing well. I am going to get the ammonia levels tested later this week when my test kit arrives.
Mini Brittle Starfish
General Updates - Top Off Reservoir Plumbed
I decided to plumb the top off reservoir tonight as well. I am using a Maxi-jet 900 as my pump. I have things temporarily in place right now. I will do the final gluing once I have everything where I want them. The JBJ ATO unit will control the pump. It only has one sensor but came with the tank when I purchased it.
Top Off Reservoir - Front
Top Off Reservoir - Top
Top Off Reservoir - Plumbing
JBJ ATO Unit
Top Off Reservoir - Front
Top Off Reservoir - Top
Top Off Reservoir - Plumbing
JBJ ATO Unit
nightOwl
Premium Member
General Updates - Tank Shots
I took a few shots of the tank tonight things look like they are coming along nicely. I am starting to see some fuzz on the rocks. I added 20 lbs of live sand last Saturday before leaving town and may add some more this week.
Full Tank
Left
Center
Right
Close Up - Right
Close Up - Left
Full Tank
Left
Center
Right
Close Up - Right
Close Up - Left
SaltwaterAdict
New member
Great looking tank! I love the minimal aquascape helps open things up. :fish1:
Check out my build thread if you get a chance.
Check out my build thread if you get a chance.
nightOwl
Premium Member
SaltwaterAdict,
Thanks for the complements on the aquascaping. I tried to go with a less is more approach this time around. My last few tanks have been packed with rock and it left no room for the corals to grow or the fish to swim. In my current set up the rock does not touch any of the sides so that the fish have lots of swimming room and I can hide equipment in the tank if need be. I already have started thinking about how the different corals will grow and where I will have my caps located so they do not shade my corals. Hopefully as things start to grow in I can hide the Tunze pumps better. The one on the right side of the tank is hardly visible when viewing the tank straight on. The one on the left I need some corals to grow once things are safe...lol.
I checked out your thread and I see you are coming along nicely. Your pictures of Hawaii were amazing. Makes me want another trip to the Caribbean before the end of the year.
nightOwl
Premium Member
General Updates - Apex Display Dead!!!!!!
I forgot to mention this last night/early this morning. While I was away on vacation the power went out and when I checked everything over the Apex Display was dark and non responsive 
. I checked the Neptune forum and there seems to be a reoccurring problem. Kinda sucks that something that cost so much to dies after a power outage. My old AquaController Jr was perfectly fine when I came back. Luckily I do not have it controlling anything since I have not set up any of the timers or anything. At any rate I contacted Curt over at Neptune Systems and I will wait to hear what the next steps are.
. I checked the Neptune forum and there seems to be a reoccurring problem. Kinda sucks that something that cost so much to dies after a power outage. My old AquaController Jr was perfectly fine when I came back. Luckily I do not have it controlling anything since I have not set up any of the timers or anything. At any rate I contacted Curt over at Neptune Systems and I will wait to hear what the next steps are.
nightOwl
Premium Member
General -Updates
Apex
I heard back from Curt yesterday about 30 minutes after I emailed him. These guys are very responsive! I was informed that I needed to update my Apex to the latest firmware and that should resolve the issue. Since I have been dragging my feet on getting my second router installed I spent about an hour last night configuring DD-WRT so that I could bring the Apex on line to update the firmware. I set it up downstairs in the living room and now Apex will have and internet connection. I checked the cable length and plugged it in and I could see the Apex homepage as expected. Tonight I will spend some time and configure some basic timers and update the firmware to see if my display unit issue is resolved.
New Kids
I have new kids arriving today so there will pictures later tonight. I will be testing my water also. It is day 21 of salt so things should be starting to get stable or at least getting close.
Apex
I heard back from Curt yesterday about 30 minutes after I emailed him. These guys are very responsive! I was informed that I needed to update my Apex to the latest firmware and that should resolve the issue. Since I have been dragging my feet on getting my second router installed I spent about an hour last night configuring DD-WRT so that I could bring the Apex on line to update the firmware. I set it up downstairs in the living room and now Apex will have and internet connection. I checked the cable length and plugged it in and I could see the Apex homepage as expected. Tonight I will spend some time and configure some basic timers and update the firmware to see if my display unit issue is resolved.
New Kids
I have new kids arriving today so there will pictures later tonight
. I will be testing my water also. It is day 21 of salt so things should be starting to get stable or at least getting close.
nightOwl
Premium Member
General -Updates
Apex
The display is still dead after updating the firmware for the unit and the webpages. A frustrating experience as it does not work over a wireless bridge. I had to go downstairs and remove one of the EB8s, the Apex unit, and Display and carry it back upstairs only to find out it did not fix my issue. I emailed Curt this morning for next steps. I think the unit is dead so hopefully they will replace it soon.
Reeflo
My Reeflo pump came as yesterday as expected but the delivery guy left it outside without being covered. We had some rain so the box was wet by the time I arrived home but the box was still in good shape. I ordered directly from Reeflo and the packing was excellent. The new hybrid comes ready to function as a dart so after about 10 mins I converted it to a snapper like my existing pump. I hope to get it plugged up and running this weekend. While writing I realized I did not upload the box picture.
FOTB - Fresh Out The Box
Fully Unwrapped
VHO Installation - In Progress
I modified my end caps I had created by gluing them side by side to create a consistent spacing for my VHO lights. I mounted them side-by-side and installed the ballast and turned the lights on. With the glass being cleaned from the other day the tank is really looking nice. I can not wait to start adding corals and :fish1: !
I picked up some aluminum from HD and used my rivet gun for the first time. I had originally purchased for some DIY reflectors - that never happened. The picture below shows the heat sink holder I added to each side. I thought I had two 660 laying around, but it appears I only have one. I have two wiring harnesses for 430s but can only find one IceCap 430. Hopefully it will not be too much of a difference between the two. Once I break my other tank down I can switch to using two 660s or two 430s. In the meantime I have them temporary mounted using zip ties. I realize I did not upload that picture as well.
IceCap Heatsink Holder
Apex
The display is still dead after updating the firmware for the unit and the webpages. A frustrating experience as it does not work over a wireless bridge. I had to go downstairs and remove one of the EB8s, the Apex unit, and Display and carry it back upstairs only to find out it did not fix my issue. I emailed Curt this morning for next steps. I think the unit is dead so hopefully they will replace it soon.
Reeflo
My Reeflo pump came as yesterday as expected but the delivery guy left it outside without being covered. We had some rain so the box was wet by the time I arrived home but the box was still in good shape. I ordered directly from Reeflo and the packing was excellent. The new hybrid comes ready to function as a dart so after about 10 mins I converted it to a snapper like my existing pump. I hope to get it plugged up and running this weekend. While writing I realized I did not upload the box picture.
FOTB - Fresh Out The Box
Fully Unwrapped
VHO Installation - In Progress
I modified my end caps I had created by gluing them side by side to create a consistent spacing for my VHO lights. I mounted them side-by-side and installed the ballast and turned the lights on. With the glass being cleaned from the other day the tank is really looking nice. I can not wait to start adding corals and :fish1: !
I picked up some aluminum from HD and used my rivet gun for the first time. I had originally purchased for some DIY reflectors - that never happened. The picture below shows the heat sink holder I added to each side. I thought I had two 660 laying around, but it appears I only have one. I have two wiring harnesses for 430s but can only find one IceCap 430. Hopefully it will not be too much of a difference between the two. Once I break my other tank down I can switch to using two 660s or two 430s. In the meantime I have them temporary mounted using zip ties. I realize I did not upload that picture as well.
IceCap Heatsink Holder
nightOwl
Premium Member
BowieReefer84
New member
It has been 6 months! Add some fish lol.
SPotter
Active member
+1 on that!!!!!!
nightOwl
Premium Member
Today I learned how to use multi quote! This going to make my life so much easier
BowieReefer84 and SPotter,
I would like to point out I have only had salt since 4/6...lol. I am right there with you guys! I want :fish1: too! Each night I envision how the little nooks and crevices will used by particular fish. I spent some time in a LFS today looking at some full sized wrasses in their main display tank and those things were sick looking (in a good way) under the Radiums. I think they make even the plainest fish pop. I knew Midas Blenny was a pretty gold color but man under the Radiums it really popped.
I did a water test and the ammonia read zero but nitrates were off the charts. I dropped some water off today at my LFS to have it tested for pretty much everything. I am surprised the nitrates read so high as the little mini starfish is still alive and kicking. I am awaiting them to send my results via email.
I will have more updates later tonight
BowieReefer84 and SPotter,
I would like to point out I have only had salt since 4/6...lol. I am right there with you guys! I want :fish1: too! Each night I envision how the little nooks and crevices will used by particular fish. I spent some time in a LFS today looking at some full sized wrasses in their main display tank and those things were sick looking (in a good way) under the Radiums. I think they make even the plainest fish pop. I knew Midas Blenny was a pretty gold color but man under the Radiums it really popped.
I did a water test and the ammonia read zero but nitrates were off the charts. I dropped some water off today at my LFS to have it tested for pretty much everything. I am surprised the nitrates read so high as the little mini starfish is still alive and kicking. I am awaiting them to send my results via email.
I will have more updates later tonight
BowieReefer84
New member
Yea, I hear ya. You could get the nitrates down with some prodibio if you want to take the un-natural approach...
How is the skimmer running? You see the deal Avast is running over on wa***? May have to check it out...
How is the skimmer running? You see the deal Avast is running over on wa***? May have to check it out...
nightOwl
Premium Member
BowieReefer84 - I might have to look into the prodibio...its basically a carbon source right? I mixed up 20 gallons of water for a water change for tonight. I want to start getting into a routine with the water changes. The skimmer is still skimming away. I think since nothing is really in the tank it is pulling what it can. Its broken in for sure now and I have it running 24/7. It's funny I have not been on wa*** much I will drop over there today and check out the deal you are talking about...
. I also still need to check out the Baltimore connection 
hopefully he will be at the next meeting.Similar threads
