Chronicle of my 180g Aquarium
- Thread starter Psyire
- Start date
Psyire
Premium Member
After doing some research and reading I decided to setup a phosban reactor running Seachem Seagel. The purpose for this is to stay ahead of the game on removing phosphate and also run carbon to help with water quality. Here's a picture of the setup I purchased:
I'm going to try and get some pictures of how I have it setup but it's hard due to the fact it's in the return portion of my sump which is 'behind' everything and in a tight spot. I'll see what I can do...
I'm going to try and get some pictures of how I have it setup but it's hard due to the fact it's in the return portion of my sump which is 'behind' everything and in a tight spot. I'll see what I can do...
Psyire
Premium Member
More expensive toys...
I will get pictures of their installation within the next couple days. (if you look close you can see some of it in one of the above pictures) These bad boys are impressive, I can't believe the amount of dynamic flow they add to the tank. I'm super happy I decided to go with them, and I don't think they are that distracting.
I've also converted to 3x 250w 14k bulbs across the tank. I like the look but now find it hard to get a good camera shot as my camera dosen't register the blue quite right. I'm going to play with this some more on the weekend and try and post a decent picture of the tank.
I will get pictures of their installation within the next couple days. (if you look close you can see some of it in one of the above pictures) These bad boys are impressive, I can't believe the amount of dynamic flow they add to the tank. I'm super happy I decided to go with them, and I don't think they are that distracting.
I've also converted to 3x 250w 14k bulbs across the tank. I like the look but now find it hard to get a good camera shot as my camera dosen't register the blue quite right. I'm going to play with this some more on the weekend and try and post a decent picture of the tank.
Psyire said:
I use a very similar setup. I recently encountered a fatal flaw however. Two solenoids froze in the on position one weekend while nobody was in the office. Monday AM the office was flooded and 95% of the tank was dead.
Now I use a timer on each solenoid so that they can only be activated a total of 2 hours per day and I replaced all solenoids and float switches. Both float switches must read low water for the power to the timers to be activated. There are multiple solenoids and I check them from time to time by manually turing them on and off by turning the timers on and off. Water is added slowly of course, but nearly 72 hours of unchecked flow is a disaster.
blstravler
Member
Very nice set up.
One question, did you have your stand made custom? Or di you find a place that produces them? I am in the process of purchasing a new 180 b/c I want to go with a tall stand and I really like the height of your stand and how nice it looks after you boxed it all in.
TIA
Keith
One question, did you have your stand made custom? Or di you find a place that produces them? I am in the process of purchasing a new 180 b/c I want to go with a tall stand and I really like the height of your stand and how nice it looks after you boxed it all in.
TIA
Keith
Psyire
Premium Member
drjrose said:
That sucks, I hope that dosen't happen to me. I suppose anything is possible but I do have 1 of the solenoids on a timer and the other on float control, so both conditions have to be met. I suppose both could stick in the 'on' position but I can't see anything except checking them regularly solving this problem. I'm not likely to add a third solenoid for extreme redundancy.. hehe.
Thanks for the heads up though, I'll be looking at them more often now.
Psyire
Premium Member
blstravler said:
Thanks!
I had the stand build buy a custom Aquarium shop, but if I did it again I'd probably just take the plans to a fabrication shop that does welding. It would have probably been cheaper. I would just check your local yellow pages as there has to be some sort of industrial fabrication businesses in your area. It's very simple work for any decent welder.
tigerarmy40
New member
how about some new updated pics of the tank head on!? I have been wanting to see how the black sand worked out gor you? I have heard that it shows all the detritus and gunk more then white! is that the case and would you use it again? I am thinking about using it in my 150!
Psyire
Premium Member
Sure, but remember my camera dosen't do it justice. The colors are off quite abit as the 14K lights play havoc with my camera. I'm also in the Green Algae stage and haven't added my huge cleanup crew.
Also due to the fact I just got my skimmer running, I have abundant growth but it should slow down.
As for the black sand... I wouldn't use it again. I looks alright still in my 180g, but in the 50g downstairs it definately dosen't look too cool as all the detritus does show very well. Also any 'rock dust' shows up bright white too. If I did it over I would go Black starboard or white sand. It's still looking alright for the time being, the tunze's might help keep the detritus suspended so maybe it won't end up like the tank downstairs.
Also due to the fact I just got my skimmer running, I have abundant growth but it should slow down.
As for the black sand... I wouldn't use it again. I looks alright still in my 180g, but in the 50g downstairs it definately dosen't look too cool as all the detritus does show very well. Also any 'rock dust' shows up bright white too. If I did it over I would go Black starboard or white sand. It's still looking alright for the time being, the tunze's might help keep the detritus suspended so maybe it won't end up like the tank downstairs.
tigerarmy40
New member
I think with a few cukes and maybe a sand sifter you should be able to keep the top ayer turned over and cleen looking!
Bebo77
Premium Nonpaying Member
Psyire thanks for the link int theAquatronica thread.. nice set up man. I am going to copy you with the blue electrical tape that really looks clean! Awsome job.
I too want to go with the black sand. what sugestiosn do you have for using it? i know it shows all white but can it be shifted easily to stay black?
I too want to go with the black sand. what sugestiosn do you have for using it? i know it shows all white but can it be shifted easily to stay black?
Psyire
Premium Member
I'll hopefully have some time to post some more pictures this weekend. I want to post my complete Tunze setup pics and my phosban reactor pics. I never got to painting my shroud this week like I had hoped but I should have time soon.
As for the black sand I'm really not sure what my opinion on it is yet. I'll know better if I'm able to keep it clean as time goes on. There is another RC user with a 180g (I think) that is running black sand and he might be able to help out. His RC name is 'billpa'. There's a thread here: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=583833&highlight=black
It has some pictures of his setup but you might want to contact him about how it's working out.
As for the black sand I'm really not sure what my opinion on it is yet. I'll know better if I'm able to keep it clean as time goes on. There is another RC user with a 180g (I think) that is running black sand and he might be able to help out. His RC name is 'billpa'. There's a thread here: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=583833&highlight=black
It has some pictures of his setup but you might want to contact him about how it's working out.
