*d2mini's new 200g Reeftastic Build*

d2mini said:
Has anyone here tried these cepex ball valves? They're real smooth and seem to have much finer adjustment than the cheap ones at lowes and home depot. Plus I like that they are already integrated with the unions. I'll be leaving the little mini ball valves attached to the jumbo reactors too. Never had a problem with using those for adjustment in the past either.
Click to expand...

To be fair I haven't tried the cepex on a manifold so it might very well do the job for you. But honestly, a course adjustment on the gate valve -- say, 1/8 turn -- is still like 1/50 of a turn on the ball valve!
 
Nice tank 'sir. Knowing the incredible build you did on the cube, this thing is going to be a masterpiece. Do you plan to go with Tampa Bay Liverock again? That stuff was beautiful.
 
rb1685 said:
Nice tank 'sir. Knowing the incredible build you did on the cube, this thing is going to be a masterpiece. Do you plan to go with Tampa Bay Liverock again? That stuff was beautiful.
Click to expand...

Thank you!
You bet! A buddy has my cube and is holding all livestock for me. So i'll be using all the old tampa bay rock and ordering more along with new sand and critters.
Never setting up a tank without TBS again. :)
 
DHyslop said:
I definitely recommend gate valves for the BRS reactors. I have one tank that I set up with ball valves instead and I rue the day.

Also if you're going all in with a jumbo reactor -- six cups at a time -- I'd go ahead and make a regen station by plumbing another reactor to a ten-gallon reservoir with a dedicated pump. Not only will you save a lot of money, but you can go months without ever having to open a cartridge.
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Hey DH, can you explain the regen station for GFO? If it is linked here on RC, please link the page. Sorry to derail.

Great progress so far. I like the water change setup in the garage. I will be setting up one very similar in my closet. I am trying to figure out which container to put above the other, i.e. fresh above salt or salt above fresh. Why did you chose your option?
 
No problem, i'm curious about the regen station myself. :)
What I did find seemed like a ton of work, but interested to know more.

I do fresh RO/DI on top and then use mostly gravity to get the water down to the saltwater container when it's time to mix a new batch. Just seemed to make more sense in my head to do it that way. ;)
 
Regenerating GFO is the kind of thing that's a real pain if you just do it occasionally, but is real easy if you do it enough to set up some plumbing to make it easy. Kind of like there's two ways to do a water change: take RODI out of closet, connect to plumbing, fill each bucket one after another, mix salt in each with a powerhead, carry buckets to tank, drain old water with siphon hose into other buckets and carry to sink, lift up new buckets and pour water in. Compare that to a Litermeter, or a system where you have a pipe directly from a saltwater mixing station to the sump and can fill by just opening the valve for a minute.

Same thing with GFO. I spent about five minutes starting eight cups this morning. I'll spend another fifteen this evening with them, then I'll spend a half hour finishing the batch Sunday night and I'll have $100 of fresh GFO again for about $10 plus my labor.
 
DHyslop said:
Regenerating GFO is the kind of thing that's a real pain if you just do it occasionally, but is real easy if you do it enough to set up some plumbing to make it easy. Kind of like there's two ways to do a water change: take RODI out of closet, connect to plumbing, fill each bucket one after another, mix salt in each with a powerhead, carry buckets to tank, drain old water with siphon hose into other buckets and carry to sink, lift up new buckets and pour water in. Compare that to a Litermeter, or a system where you have a pipe directly from a saltwater mixing station to the sump and can fill by just opening the valve for a minute.

Same thing with GFO. I spent about five minutes starting eight cups this morning. I'll spend another fifteen this evening with them, then I'll spend a half hour finishing the batch Sunday night and I'll have $100 of fresh GFO again for about $10 plus my labor.
Click to expand...

DHyslop said:
Advancaded Aquarist article on regenerating GFO

Regenerating GFO

I posted a picture of my regen setup on the last page of the RC thread.
Click to expand...

d2mini said:
No problem, i'm curious about the regen station myself. :)
What I did find seemed like a ton of work, but interested to know more.

I do fresh RO/DI on top and then use mostly gravity to get the water down to the saltwater container when it's time to mix a new batch. Just seemed to make more sense in my head to do it that way. ;)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the post. I have saved all my old GFO since I figured I could regen it at some point. I'll look over your system.

Good plan on the water change Dennis. I think I'll follow your lead.
 
Also, I just thought of something about the water change setup. I would think you would want the fresh water on top so that you don't have to climb a ladder to add salt to the top tank everytime. How far off the ground is the bottom tank?
 
Chrisrush said:
Also, I just thought of something about the water change setup. I would think you would want the fresh water on top so that you don't have to climb a ladder to add salt to the top tank everytime. How far off the ground is the bottom tank?
Click to expand...

Ya, that was my other reason. Forgot about that.
The opening at the top of the bottom tank is just above eye level for me.
I tested it out last night making my first batch of saltwater. The whole thing worked a treat! :celeb3:
 
Looks like a great plan! ill be tagging along.

I love T&T paul the owner is very helpfull and they have beautiful Display tanks!
 
getting closer...

getting closer...

d2mini said:
Ya, that was my other reason. Forgot about that.
The opening at the top of the bottom tank is just above eye level for me.
I tested it out last night making my first batch of saltwater. The whole thing worked a treat! :celeb3:
Click to expand...


Sounds like you are getting there....don't forget your reservation with southwest, I will pick you up at the airport, and you can hang out here, then we go get your real live rock and real live sand, and you fly home a happy camper!

sea ya
Richard TBS
www.tbsaltwater.com :spin3::spin3::spin3:
 
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