Building Big Bertha: 800G

[bbrantley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10367994#post10367994 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jnarowe
ok. got it. I just like to have more control over the salinity of my SW and I would guess that you are just accustomed to that method.

Yeah, the amount of salinity change that might occur as a result of immediate attempts to re-fill the container as the change is occurring is probably 1/10th the amount of daily fluctuation the sump sees before the sump's float valve triggers top-off. So we're talking negligible amounts of fluctuation.

Ben

 

[H20ENG]

My setup will always fill the topoff reservoir first, then fill the saltmix tank when I'm ready, simply by overflowing. The "stop fill" switch gets taken out of the loop so it can overflow into the next barrel.
From this thread
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showt...1099763&perpage=25&highlight=plc&pagenumber=1


"Mine will use my PLC and some float switches, only because I already have it and like to tinker:

The DI reservoir will have 2 floats and an overflow standpipe that flows to my salt mixing tank.

The normal operation will turn on the DI system when the lower float switch makes, and turn it off when the upper switch makes.

When I want to make salt, I'll push one button and this will override the upper float and turn on the DI. The DI tank will overflow and thus fill the mixing tank.

When the mixing tank upper float switch makes, it will turn off the DI, and turn on the mixing pump and heater. Then I add the salt.

When ready to transfer the mix, I open the valve to the sump. Once the lower float switch opens in the mix tank, the pump and heater shut off."

 

[jnarowe]

both interesting methods. I like to drop the RO/DI into my SW mixing tank all at once and pour the slat in the high velocity stream. I end up with less settled out at the bottom.

On a side note, my booster pump just went TU fo no apparent reason. Anyone have any advice about that? Should I take it apart or round-file it? WIthout it I am in trouble as I need to make about 100g per day.

 

[bbrantley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10372754#post10372754 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jnarowe
both interesting methods. I like to drop the RO/DI into my SW mixing tank all at once and pour the slat in the high velocity stream. I end up with less settled out at the bottom.

On a side note, my booster pump just went TU fo no apparent reason. Anyone have any advice about that? Should I take it apart or round-file it? WIthout it I am in trouble as I need to make about 100g per day.

Hmm, intriguing. First, I've never had problems with my salt not dissolving. I've only used IO and IO RC, though. It seems to dissolve even if I don't actively mix it, as long as it's not piled up inches deep or whatever. Are you using IO stuff?

Second, the disadvantage of all of these approaches is that they don't allow the second reservoir to be on-hand as emergency replacement water if needed. I have the unfortunate problem of only having room/structure to support two 65g reservoirs. I really want to have BOTH of them always full (or filling) so I have 90-120g of water ready rather than 30-60g. My mechanism ensures that both vessels are always full. And then I have to add salt and turn on mix if I am ready to do an actual change.

As for boosters... couldn't help ya there, but that sucks! I have a well, so my house pressure is controlled by a bladder. I just turned up the pressure to 75psi and now my RO/DI is fast and my showers get me really, really clean.

Ben

 

[cbui2]

SW 180gal and 200gal RO at all times for me, how all the chromis doing in the display Ben? are you ready for any new addition yet

 

[bbrantley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10373493#post10373493 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cbui2
SW 180gal and 200gal RO at all times for me, how all the chromis doing in the display Ben? are you ready for any new addition yet

I am down to 12 chromis. I am feeding them 3x daily in hopes that they stop aggressing as much as possible, but I think I am destined to asymptotically approach zero.

Tabby is eating algae like a madwoman now, so I'm not worried about her too much. I have noticed that the algae growth rate on the acrylic is much higher now than it was a week ago. I feel the need to use the magnet every couple days now instead of once a week.

I really need to do a couple consecutive water changes (I can't test phosphates yet but I bet they're there) and get my sand vacuum set up. Otherwise I think it's ready for more livestock, but I've got a slew of travel queued up in the next few weeks, so I'll probably take it easy until things settle a little bit and I can be home for a whole week at a time. (Summer is busy season at work since it's the end of our fiscal year.)

Ben

 

[cbui2]

i used magnavore 10 and cleaning is done every 2 days which takes me 15 min. rather then waiting at the end of the week making it harder for me to push the magnets around. pads are change out weekly, and sorry to hear about the chromis.

 

[miwoodar]

Looks like things are coming along well! Glad to see the progress.

 

[erics3000]

Thats good news Ben. I want to see how you are setting up a vacume system for your sand. I wanted to post a post on how everyone cleans there and. I look forward to seeing you setup..

 

[bbrantley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10374315#post10374315 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by erics3000
Thats good news Ben. I want to see how you are setting up a vacume system for your sand. I wanted to post a post on how everyone cleans there and. I look forward to seeing you setup..

I am just using a big acrylic tube I bought from Mighty Magnets. It is like a Python but much wider and longer and designed to work in a bigger tank. I just happen to be out of 1" vinyl tubing to connect it to a siphon, so I can't use it yet. And my Home Depot isn't stocking 1" vinyl anymore, so I've got to order it online or search for it. (???)

Speaking of that, I have one vendor who long ago sent me some super-flexible vinyl tubing. Much more malleable and easy to work with than the standard stuff you find in the store. He sells it directly at lifereef.com, but I am wondering if anybody knows the source for it. I would be interested in placing a bulk order with them if I can find them.

Ben

 

[bbrantley]

Hey all,

I've been gone all last week, but the tank seems to be doing great. Still zero water changes and everything critical for fish life is at 0. Tabitha seems fine and the chromis are finally holding steady at 12.

I'm disappointed with my sand vacuuming plans. I bought a Super Syphon from Mighty Magnets but it's almost too big or something. It's unwieldly in the tank and it keeps breaking it's siphon when I move it around the tank. Very weird.

I am wondering how you guys do sand management. I realize the people with a DSB don't have to bother... ?

Ben

 

[LNell]

Ever thought about getting a sand sifting goby? I've never had one myself, but I hear they can be pretty good at keeping the sand nice and clean.

 

[asmodeus]

what size sand do you have in the tank. I have a BB and I can't see the life of me adding sand only to add 2 leopard wrasses that I'm thinking of adding. I thought about adding a container of sand to have there for the wrasses to dive into at night.... still thought about addign .20mm sand for the bottom... any thoughts

 

[bbrantley]

I have about an inch of medium-grained sand. Not the DSB-friendly Southdown stuff; it's much heavier and doesn't blow around quite as much.

Ben

 

[ruby1sam]

2 or 3 diamond watchman goby's will do the trick no problem in that tank. Assuming it's sugar sized. I had one in my 180 and the sand was crystal clean.

 

[dsieber]

sand sifter

sand sifter

A sand sifter is a great addition , the Diamond one is a great looking fish however to cautions:

1. The are flyers!!!!! I lost two of them the first one due to ingnorance... on not having netting on the back of my canopy.
The second one by incompentance due to leaving a 1.5" gap of un screened by my light cables.


2. Since your tank is still new there might not be enough food in the sand.


Great looking tank....

 

[cbui2]

be careful with some gobies as they will take some sand in and releasing it half way swimming up in the display creating some sand storms.

 

[H20ENG]

Ben,
I used to make all the siphon cleaners for the aquarists out of clear pvc with couplers and reducers for the hose fittings. 1" for tiny tanks up to 6" for the divers in the big tanks. Easy to make them how you want them. You can cut the end at 45 or so to ease getting into corners, etc.
Chris

 

[dsandfort]

Hi Ben- I'm just up the road from you and have been following the build since you began. Very nicely done.

You might try and find Tygon tubing. It is very flexible and malleable. I get it from the chemistry stock room here but I think US plastics has it.

Chances are we will hook up one day, perhaps at a meeting or LFS.

Keep up the good work.

Del

 

[bbrantley]

Hi all,

Well, slow and small but steady progress this week. I finally got some time today to dig in and do some work on Bertha, which was much needed. I plan to do a bunch more tomorrow before I again leave town for a whole week. It is hard to "put a little effort in each day" when I'm gone for five days at a time, so I end up having these marathon sessions.

While I've been sitting on airplanes, though, I've been thinking. (Always dangerous.) Here are some of my latest issues/challenges/thoughts:

1. I'm unhappy with the Tunze magnet mounts. They're not designed anything thicker than 0.75"; I have 1" panels. I guess I should be glad the magnets even work at all, but the fact is that they're very picky at that weakness and I can't mount the pumps at angles like I need to. I've already posted a bunch of threads to Tunze, DIY, and Large Tanks asking about how in the world people manage this. No one has really shown me "the light" with magnetic mounting, so either (a) everyone with big tanks uses closed loops, (b) everyone with big tanks uses thinner panels, (c) the rare soul who has this solved doesn't read the forums.

I know Tunze has a big monster pump coming out (the 9300) that is designed for really big tanks. I hear rumors that they're using a double magnet mount setup on that sucker, and I bet they'll have to increase the strength to handle thicker panels. I've put a note to Roger on that forum inquiring about it.

I know Mighty Magnets has a custom magnet build request form. I've sent a note to them to ask if they would want to build 5 or 6 pairs of strong magnets for me.

I know I can order huge neodymium magnets from K&J or Gauss Boys. They don't sell them epoxy-coated, so I'm going to experiment with dipping some smaller versions in Liquid Rubber. I still have to have a way to mount the Tunzes to the plain, rectangular magnets though. I need to see if superglue will bond to Liquid Rubber ... or just create noxious fumes that kill brain cells.

Another option is to roll my own plastic mounting frame and secure it to the wall. I'm trying to keep all the powerheads on the black, end corner of the tank. Today I took out all four for cleaning and put two back in pointed down the back, long length of the tank. Wow! Without them fighting each other, the tank turns into a giant vortex of flow really quickly. (Duh, I guess.) I'm not seeing random flow, but I'm getting a lot more on the far end of the tank. Maybe this is the way to go.

My post is going to get chopped if I keep typing, so I'll hit Submit and then put another message on in a moment.