Building My 375gal Glass Reef

[GlassReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14597448#post14597448 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nivenethan
What are you doing for humidity & temperature control? I'm setting up a 600 gallon system in a room sealed off from the rest of house in basement. Really struggling with this.

Any advice would be awesome?

Sorry for being so late in answering. I installed a FanTech inline fan attached to a humidistat. Air from the fishroom is evacuted to the outside. The model, specs, etc. are all a few pages back in the thread. Seems to handle my system easily. In addition, I agree with bbehring, take a look at the thread he referenced. Well worth it.

 

[nivenethan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14603876#post14603876 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GlassReef
Sorry for being so late in answering. I installed a FanTech inline fan attached to a humidistat. Air from the fishroom is evacuted to the outside. The model, specs, etc. are all a few pages back in the thread. Seems to handle my system easily. In addition, agree with bbehring, take a look at the thread he referenced. Well worth it.

Excellent...thanks guys!

 

[bbehring]

Tom, wasn't trying to hi jack your thread! I think it's the best one on here! Cato's runs a close second though!

 

[GlassReef]

Always glad to see that you have posted on my thread! You always add something of value. Thanks!

 

[GlassReef]

Gonna start gluing up the refugium today. I figured I can't put it off any longer. I'll take a lot of pics during the process. I know it's been done, many times, before - but I thought I'd do a little "how to" series on gluing up an acrylic tank. Might help someone out there with the itch to put together a sump, fuge, or frag tank.

Also, there is some life in the display now. I'll be taking some pics later on, today. Probably post them tomorrow.

 

[uncleof6]

I smell a thread split comming real soon......I refer others to your build thread.

Jim

 

[GlassReef]

Thanks, Jim. I can use every referral I can get!

 

[Jhardain]

Too bad I don't live down there any more, I could just drop by and see your tank. I used to live in Springhill. About 12 yrs ago, I lived in FL for around 14-15 yrs. When I first got into fish I could buy Neon's 4 for $1.00 LOL now they are $2+ a piece. I guess that shows my age..... but still one of the best hobbies around!!

 

[GlassReef]

Yeah, I know what you mean. I had most of my saltwater tanks while I lived in Europe. I can remember when I could get really beautiful large Acropora colonies for the equivalent of $25. Of course, those days are long gone.

 

[GlassReef]

Well, I managed to get a little DIY done over the weekend. I've been trying to decide, for weeks, where to place my AC-III probes. I didn't want them in the sump because I hate bending down all the time to get at them. I thought I might put them in the Fuge, but then thought better of it since the Fuge will be quite a distance from the display. Finally the the light went on - why not put them in the overflow box? I thought that would work out pretty well because I could put the controller itself, on the back of the display tank - directly below the box.

So I put together a little probe holder out of spare 3/8" black acrylic. It holds 3 probes: temp, pH, and ORP.

I placed it in the left end of the overflow box:

This pic shows it from outside the box, but not very well, due to all the reflections:

I used Velcro to attach the AC-III and the LinkSys controller (connects the AC-III to my wireless network) to the back of the display tank, just under the OF box:

Works out real well there because the OF box protects the controller from being bumped, etc.

Please excuse all the extra wires laying around - I haven't yet sorted them out.

BTW: should anyone have a good reason not to leave the probes on the overflow, please let me know - but break it to me gently.

 

[erics3000]

that looks really nice. I have been contemplating the same thing. I was thinking of making a mini sump right by my display but your idea sounds a heck of a lot easier. i really didn't want my first experiment with acrylic to be a tank or reactor so this is a great little learning project too. Thanks

 

[GlassReef]

BTW: I was trying to calibrate my Neptune (AC-III) pH probe over the weekend. Had no end of trouble. When you co into the AC's setup, the pH calibration dialog asks if you want automated temp calibration (ATC). So, in my innocence, I checked "Yes". I couldn't get the darn thing to agree with either my PinPoint or my hand-held Hanna (which agreed with each other). I went through 5 or 6 sets of 7pH and 10pH calibration solutions. No luck! So I jumped on RC and started doing some searches. Finally found the problem - if you choose ATC, you have to insert the temp probe AND the pH probe into the calibration solution!!! I'm sure a lot of you knew that - I didn't. The AC-IIIs user manual doesn't mention it, of course.

So all you unskilled lab nuts out there, like me!! Take note ....

 

[mflamb]

Tom, my only concern with the pH probe in the overflow box is the additional aeration of the water going into the overflow box might affect the pH reading. You can easily check that by putting the probe in the overflow for a period of time and then moving it into the tank and see if there is any difference.
Just a thought.

 

[GlassReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14621869#post14621869 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mflamb
Tom, my only concern with the pH probe in the overflow box is the additional aeration of the water going into the overflow box might affect the pH reading. You can easily check that by putting the probe in the overflow for a period of time and then moving it into the tank and see if there is any difference.
Just a thought.

Thanks Mike - good idea. I'll check it out.

 

[prostaff]

Great idea on using the overflow box Tom. I will be borrowing that idea. Only concern is I think the manual calls for at least 6in between the PH probe and ORP probe so you may need to build a seperate holder for one of them

 

[EnglishRebel]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14623089#post14623089 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by prostaff
Great idea on using the overflow box Tom. I will be borrowing that idea. Only concern is I think the manual calls for at least 6in between the PH probe and ORP probe so you may need to build a seperate holder for one of them

Why is that? I can separate mine but at the moment they are about 2"apart.

 

[GlassReef]

I just posted the following on the Neptune forum:

The manual say something about the fact that the temp probe has to be no more than 6" away from the ORP (I think) probe. My question is about the opposite situation: I set up a probe station where the temp, pH, and ORP probes are placed together approx. 1-1/2" apart. Is that too close? Will I have problems?

We'll see what the experts have to say ...

 

[prostaff]

I just rechecked the manual to make sure. It's right there on page 23 under PH probe installation. Might have something to do with interference but let's see what the experts say

 

[GlassReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14626967#post14626967 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by prostaff
I just rechecked the manual to make sure. It's right there on page 23 under PH probe installation. Might have something to do with interference but let's see what the experts say

I checked my manual again (the one for the AC-III Pro). Maybe I'm misreading what's there. In the Temperature Probe Installation section it says: "The temperature probe is the ground reference for the pH, ORP, and dissolved oxygen probes. It should be placed within 6" of these probes." It goes on to say the same thing in the separate sections for the pH, ORP, and DO probes. I read that to mean that the temp probe must be no more than 6" from the other probes, but not that the other probes must more than 6" apart. Is your controller the AC-III Pro? Maybe it's model specific.

 

[Jhardain]

I understand that same thing, that to operate properly they must be 'within' 6" of each other. Not 6" apart.