Coral Tank from Canada (1350gal Display Tank)

[mr.wilson]

Believe it or not there is a real range of quality in turkey basters. Some are better than others. Mr. Wilson, perhaps we can get a group buy together.......yes, perhaps an anomonous group buy.

If ChingChai wants a quality turkey baster, ChingChai will get a quality turkey baster.............

Peter

After expediting the epoxy to us so quickly, Chingchai deserves a trip to the toy store.

http://www.escience.ca/genSci/RENDER/1012/2030/3087/13373.html
http://www.eScience.ca/genSci/RENDER/2/1013/1023/12977.html
http://www.etool.ca/RENDER/1/2018/3047/12560.html

... and of course something for you Peter. Combine your love of submarine movies and reef tanks... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=US5xzZCWr0s&feature=related
or at least this one http://www.rc-sub.com/underwatercamera.html

 

[danielcherian]

Yes, Hydor Koralia seems to be the best pic considering how many we need. I also like the low voltage. This isn't about spending all of Peter's money. The Koralia fits the job description. The only other selling point we would look for is a better controller that will do 8 of them. The Mars system these are going into is directly beside our aquarium controller location. Maybe we can cheat and use the main display controller to run some of the Mars devices such as calcium reactor (Co2 solenoid), lighting, and pumps.

Would it be possible (space and practicality may not permit) to do some sort of surge tank? I'm not sure how the individual tanks are separated, but it could be more cost effective. For example: http://bmcacrylics.com/Coral_Frag_Wave_Tanks.html

 

[Elliott]

After expediting the epoxy to us so quickly, Chingchai deserves a trip to the toy store.

http://www.escience.ca/genSci/RENDER/1012/2030/3087/13373.html
http://www.eScience.ca/genSci/RENDER/2/1013/1023/12977.html
http://www.etool.ca/RENDER/1/2018/3047/12560.html

... and of course something for you Peter. Combine your love of submarine movies and reef tanks... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=US5xzZCWr0s&feature=related
or at least this one http://www.rc-sub.com/underwatercamera.html

wow, this thread is really becoming diverse!

I actually really like those toys :thumbsup:

 

[mr.wilson]

Would it be possible (space and practicality may not permit) to do some sort of surge tank? I'm not sure how the individual tanks are separated, but it could be more cost effective. For example: http://bmcacrylics.com/Coral_Frag_Wave_Tanks.html

The Mars system we are using is three rows high. We have the option of using the top row as a Carlson surge device and allow a siphon drain into the bottom tank. They are noisy as the siphon breaks and the drains are a little small to take the extra water as it surges in, but it's possible. If the sump was bigger we could use a stronger return pump, plug the vent in the drain lines, and extend an elbow down a few inches in each tank's drain. This would create a faster siphon drain. We could use a float valve to turn the return pump on and off in an ebb & flow pattern as the tanks drain and raise the sump water level. That's a lot of ifs though.

We have considered cutting out the two dividers in the tanks in the middle and upper rows to create a 48" long tank. There are no dividers inthe bottom row so a Vortech is still viable. Buying a Vortech for each subdivided tank isn't cost effective and is nonconducive to efficient wave making. In other words overkill.

We are still measuring the options. Cheap prop pumps are a quick fix. Cutting out dividers is labour intensive and still expensive for three Vortechs. A surge device can be noisy, may splash, and changes the water level in our 12" deep tanks too dramatically. Surges are however effective and cheap when used in shallow tanks. In general surge devices on deep tanks have little impact on much more than the surface.

 

[Elliott]

The Mars system we are using is three rows high. We have the option of using the top row as a Carlson surge device and allow a siphon drain into the bottom tank. They are noisy as the siphon breaks and the drains are a little small to take the extra water as it surges in, but it's possible. If the sump was bigger we could use a stronger return pump, plug the vent in the drain lines, and extend an elbow down a few inches in each tank's drain. This would create a faster siphon drain. We could use a float valve to turn the return pump on and off in an ebb & flow pattern as the tanks drain and raise the sump water level. That's a lot of ifs though.

We have considered cutting out the two dividers in the tanks in the middle and upper rows to create a 48" long tank. There are no dividers inthe bottom row so a Vortech is still viable. Buying a Vortech for each subdivided tank isn't cost effective and is nonconducive to efficient wave making. In other words overkill.

We are still measuring the options. Cheap prop pumps are a quick fix. Cutting out dividers is labour intensive and still expensive for three Vortechs. A surge device can be noisy, may splash, and changes the water level in our 12" deep tanks too dramatically. Surges are however effective and cheap when used in shallow tanks. In general surge devices on deep tanks have little impact on much more than the surface.

Loose the Mars system
Replace it with an acrylic tank made to order

 

[crazzy]

In ancient history, when I had saltwater in Canada, while I was away, when a plastic genius from Bill Lear's outfit was told to build a fish room for me { his "egg" shaped 450 gallon tanks were masterpieces}
The Fish room had 9 tanks @ 100 gallons. { my fault, I did not leave explicit instructions!}
I had no problems keeping saltwater fish { not overly crowded } by utilizing a standard undergravel filter. {1" coral sand } with tubes in the back corners and putting a water pump onto the tubes { can't rememeber what you call them - bottom of pump fits directly into the airlift tube - they are cheap{ $15.oo ?} and are still sold for freshwater aquariums.
And do whatver else you might want to do as well.
Only thing I did was do water changes often, but I kept saltwater fish for years, which was not common back in the late 70's
My large tanks had complete Lifegard systems and large 1/2 h.p. water circulation pumps

 

[msr224]

BTW big news. The kind folks from Aqua-Digital (Profilux, Fauna Marin, Prodibio, Bubble-magus) have offered Peter & I a home base at the MACNA show. Please come by the and say hey! Our funny Canadian accents may scare you at first but once you get past it we're really not that strange

I smell sponsorship!!! HAHAHAHA If you spend anytime with those guys from AquaticLife, tell them Scott still wants a 30 fixture with MH lights......

I've talked to them a couple of times and they just can't seem to get their quality equipment into anything smaller than a 36".

I want MH, T5 and LED Moonlights all in one unit and with the timer system they have. Just have them mail it overnight to my house.....LOL!!!!!

Seriously though this is going to be a good thing as a lot of RCers will now be able to hook up with you at a central location. Good Deal.

-Scott

 

[mr.wilson]

I smell sponsorship!!! HAHAHAHA If you spend anytime with those guys from AquaticLife, tell them Scott still wants a 30 fixture with MH lights......

I've talked to them a couple of times and they just can't seem to get their quality equipment into anything smaller than a 36".

I want MH, T5 and LED Moonlights all in one unit and with the timer system they have. Just have them mail it overnight to my house.....LOL!!!!!

Seriously though this is going to be a good thing as a lot of RCers will now be able to hook up with you at a central location. Good Deal.

-Scott

I wish! Unfortunately this isn't NASCAR. Some of the vendors have been more helpful than others, but no special discounts yet.

Aquatic Life has a coupon promotion where you get points for everything you buy. So far we have six light fixtures, two RO units, and a refugium light, but Peter hasn't won the free T-shirt yet So far the Aquatic Life fixture is winning round one of the lighting test. It beat out a 250 watt double ended (HQI) MHL from Aqualine Buschke in the LUX test. Let's see how it does when our quantum/par meter comes in.

 

[nineball]

I smell sponsorship!!! HAHAHAHA If you spend anytime with those guys from AquaticLife, tell them Scott still wants a 30 fixture with MH lights......

I've talked to them a couple of times and they just can't seem to get their quality equipment into anything smaller than a 36".

I want MH, T5 and LED Moonlights all in one unit and with the timer system they have. Just have them mail it overnight to my house.....LOL!!!!!

Seriously though this is going to be a good thing as a lot of RCers will now be able to hook up with you at a central location. Good Deal.

-Scott

Actually this is an excellent time to clarify a central point to this build and I would appreciate it if anyone could pass this on when the subject comes up again which I am sure it will.

Any discussion of technology, brand or working behaviour is and will always be based on a best practices basis. Clearly I am not out hunting for deals (this does not mean that I am stupid either). I would NEVER buy or use a product because I got a good deal......period, ever. Likewise, I would NEVER buy or use a product simply because it was expensive and assumed to be the best because this would truly be stupid. I am using a product because one of you folks recommended it as a best practice and my research or experience confirmed it.

If you ever hear me endorse a product its because it is a best practice NOT because I am receiving any kind of compensation. This build has been from the beginning about best practices and sound reefing principles. As we move forward this entire community should feel comfortable relying on our experience, sincerity and transparency when evaluating technologies or reefing practices. We might not always have 100% consensus on every issue but we will have a sense of positive integrity when it comes to trust.

I believe we have honoured this principle from the beginning and as we progress I for one do not plan to deviate from it. The only side benefit I hope to see is fair and consistent service when we need it. This is an important business characteristic that should be a priority in the companies that look after customers in this hobby. I hear far too many stories of poor service from some of the suppliers in this industry and I personally take a dim view of that kind of behaviour with important customer relationships. So our obsession with best practices will extend not just to the technologies being selected and used but the companies that support them.

This is what we are about and if anyone needs a refresher through the rather lengthy lifespan of this build I would appreciate it if any member of this community would point them to this post!

Peter

 

[mr.wilson]

Actually this is an excellent time to clarify a central point to this build and I would appreciate it if anyone could pass this on when the subject comes up again which I am sure it will.

Any discussion of technology, brand or working behaviour is and will always be based on a best practices basis. Clearly I am not out hunting for deals (this does not mean that I am stupid either). I would NEVER buy or use a product because I got a good deal......period, ever. Likewise, I would NEVER buy or use a product simply because it was expensive and assumed to be the best because this would truly be stupid. I am using a product because one of you folks recommended it as a best practice and my research or experience confirmed it.

If you ever hear me endorse a product its because it is a best practice NOT because I am receiving any kind of compensation. This build has been from the beginning about best practices and sound reefing principles. As we move forward this entire community should feel comfortable relying on our experience, sincerity and transparency when evaluating technologies or reefing practices. We might not always have 100% consensus on every issue but we will have a sense of positive integrity when it comes to trust.

I believe we have honoured this principle from the beginning and as we progress I for one do not plan to deviate from it. The only side benefit I hope to see is fair and consistent service when we need it. This is an important business characteristic that should be a priority in the companies that look after customers in this hobby. I hear far too many stories of poor service from some of the suppliers in this industry and I personally take a dim view of that kind of behaviour with important customer relationships. So our obsession with best practices will extend not just to the technologies being selected and used but the companies that support them.

This is what we are about and if anyone needs a refresher through the rather lengthy lifespan of this build I would appreciate it if any member of this community would point them to this post!

Peter

Well said sir!

The Epo Putty is a fine example of a best practice and not a best deal. It was our cheapest option as far as epoxies go but I was amazed at what it is capable of. I have bought many tubes of epoxy from several different manufacturers over the years. I have never had success with any of them and I would never recommend their use. I was very skeptical when ChingChai recommended it. When he assured me it was nothing like the D&D stuff I lightened up a little. When I saw the rocks that the Brothers Grimm had stuck together as a test I was very surprised. The finished product looks like a liquid epoxy had been used; very smooth, hard texture, yet thick and even like a putty. You clearly don't need much to get the job done and it sticks & cures well underwater.

I wasn't there when they tried it out so I don't know if it was messy or if there was much waste. Traditionally I use cement products to bond rocks but the labour involved in using the epoxy would be a little less and it has more flexibility.

Due to its smooth texture and ease of use, it would be the kind of product that you could use to fabricate or repair parts. Like I said before, I have purchased many two part epoxy putties and they have always been messy, dissolve in water, poor adhesion, expensive, and end up looking like you used gum. The colour is an off white/light grey but when used properly it will look like a chicken lier sponge. You can use an ice pick to make the little "mouths" before it dries. http://species-identification.org/species.php?species_group=caribbean_diving_guide&id=444

 

[nineball]

Where on earth is the Nine Ball team......

Where on earth is the Nine Ball team......

I know they went out here somewhere........

Ahhhhh seek and ye shall find..........

This is actually the second batch of coarse aragonite sand. We used a cement mixer to clean the first batch and put the sand in the vats with the live rock. It took the team two days to clean the sand for the tank but it hopefully will be worth it.

 

[Hal]

Actually this is an excellent time to clarify a central point to this build and I would appreciate it if anyone could pass this on when the subject comes up again which I am sure it will.

Any discussion of technology, brand or working behaviour is and will always be based on a best practices basis. Clearly I am not out hunting for deals (this does not mean that I am stupid either). I would NEVER buy or use a product because I got a good deal......period, ever. Likewise, I would NEVER buy or use a product simply because it was expensive and assumed to be the best because this would truly be stupid. I am using a product because one of you folks recommended it as a best practice and my research or experience confirmed it.

If you ever hear me endorse a product its because it is a best practice NOT because I am receiving any kind of compensation. This build has been from the beginning about best practices and sound reefing principles. As we move forward this entire community should feel comfortable relying on our experience, sincerity and transparency when evaluating technologies or reefing practices. We might not always have 100% consensus on every issue but we will have a sense of positive integrity when it comes to trust.

I believe we have honoured this principle from the beginning and as we progress I for one do not plan to deviate from it. The only side benefit I hope to see is fair and consistent service when we need it. This is an important business characteristic that should be a priority in the companies that look after customers in this hobby. I hear far too many stories of poor service from some of the suppliers in this industry and I personally take a dim view of that kind of behaviour with important customer relationships. So our obsession with best practices will extend not just to the technologies being selected and used but the companies that support them.

This is what we are about and if anyone needs a refresher through the rather lengthy lifespan of this build I would appreciate it if any member of this community would point them to this post!

Peter

I can appreciate your thougths along this line. Obviously this thread is monitored by lots of hobbyists and you've established a reputation for quality. I'd say it's highly likely that your choices on equipment and practices will influence many other people.

FWIW, if you're worried about the potential for a conflict of interest you can avoid it by disclosing if/when you do receive a discount, and how much. We do this at work when we receive "freebies" from vendors, and the report gets circulated quarterly to everybody. No offense intended, but I'd rather lay all the facts on the table and let the other guy decide how much influence, if any, a "freebie" had.

Cheers.

 

[mr.wilson]

I can appreciate your thougths along this line. Obviously this thread is monitored by lots of hobbyists and you've established a reputation for quality. I'd say it's highly likely that your choices on equipment and practices will influence many other people.

FWIW, if you're worried about the potential for a conflict of interest you can avoid it by disclosing if/when you do receive a discount, and how much. We do this at work when we receive "freebies" from vendors, and the report gets circulated quarterly to everybody. No offense intended, but I'd rather lay all the facts on the table and let the other guy decide how much influence, if any, a "freebie" had.

Cheers.

Sounds good to me... Now let's see those freebies :lol2:

 

[nineball]

I can appreciate your thougths along this line. Obviously this thread is monitored by lots of hobbyists and you've established a reputation for quality. I'd say it's highly likely that your choices on equipment and practices will influence many other people.

FWIW, if you're worried about the potential for a conflict of interest you can avoid it by disclosing if/when you do receive a discount, and how much. We do this at work when we receive "freebies" from vendors, and the report gets circulated quarterly to everybody. No offense intended, but I'd rather lay all the facts on the table and let the other guy decide how much influence, if any, a "freebie" had.

Cheers.

Excellent point. I will incorporate this advice into my 'platform'. Thanks. So far I'm on safe ground. I can't think of anything that I used from the outset where there's been any kind of discount or inducement. My budget would certainly attest to that. :lol2:

Peter

 

[nineball]

Sounds good to me... Now let's see those freebies :lol2:

Right Mr. Wilson. You told me that stuff would STAY in Vegas!

Peter

 

[mr.wilson]

Here's the latest and almost final flow plan. The closed loop plumbing is complete but we are still trying to engineer our surface motion and sump return flow with a lot of help from Paul at OceansMotions.

I never did find out how to reduce the size of the file without making it blurry. My photo bucket and mobile me accounts won't accept PDFs as images even if I can reduce the size.

* Sorry, I spotted a few missed details. BacK up soon

 

[gasbatalla]

Mr. Wilson, I do not if you have been asked this before. But what application do you use to make those designs?

 

[mr.wilson]

Mr. Wilson, I do not if you have been asked this before. But what application do you use to make those designs?

I'm using Adobe Illustrator. It's easy to use and fast but you end up with huge files that aren't web friendly. This is more likely my lack of knowledge than a fault in the software

When I get the time I will learn a CAD program so I can make 3D drawings like ChingChai's.

 

[gasbatalla]

I'm using Adobe Illustrator. It's easy to use and fast but you end up with huge files that aren't web friendly. This is more likely my lack of knowledge than a fault in the software

When I get the time I will learn a CAD program so I can make 3D drawings like ChingChai's.

Thanks, I do have Adobe Illustrator CS5 but still do not know how to use it. I remember ChingChai's they were real nice also. Sent you a PM about file sizes.

 

[Jimbo7]

When you are in illustrator, there is a drop down menu that lets you choose from a couple presets for file size. I can't remember off the top of my head, but they go from like high res, to smallest file size. You can check a box that has "optimize for web viewing." It's been awhile since I have looked.
HTH