Dotcommer's Reef - 300 Gallon 10' x 2' x 2' Mixed Reef Build, Scottsdale AZ
- Thread starter dotcommer
- Start date
muttley000
MTS Sufferer!
Nice scores! Makes for an expensive vacation! What was your procedure for care from store to your door if you don't mind?
Benson0219
Member
dotcommer, just read through your thread. Excellent work. Very nice tank.
dotcommer
Active member
I purchased them earlier in my vacation, then made arrangements when I was driving back to Arizona. They bagged them just before I arrived around 2pm and they were in my tank by 10pm.
dotcommer
Active member
Thanks, its been a lot of fun and long hours.
This is almost a duplicate of Elliots orginal design (Elliot's build ) we tried adding some different solutions, but had some issues. It was working great, but I had issues with what we believe was too powerful of a blow dryer. I was getting warping in the top dispensing plate and we think the powerful blow dryer was heating the acrylic then when it cooled was causing the acrylic plate to warp. I just order a 900 Watt blow dryer which matches what Elliot is using. I was using a 1875 watt blow dryer which is pretty much the standard wattage. Hopefully this will solve the problem.
Elliot designed his one afternoon, purchased the parts and had it up and running with the intention of making it better. His worked so well that he never changed it. It is a great solution has worked incredibly well on his tank.
tdb320reef
Active member
Love the Auto Feeder that is amazing. Thank is looking great. Time for a FTS!
dotcommer
Active member
Thanks, its a great design and the blow dryer was causing a lot of the problems I had. I switched the blow dryer out to a 900 Watt and everything is working out great.
I really need to update my build thread since so much as been going on. For now, here is a FTS I took to use for my current PAR readings. The bulb to water height is 19.5". I will follow up with more pics and videos.
Newbie Aquarist
Reefing is my middle name
Great update with the par readings. Helps giving me a better perspective on my tank. Thanks DC.
dotcommer
Active member
With my coast to coast overflow and two Panworld 250 pumps on the closed loop system, I have a lot of water agitation on the top of the tank. It was hard to get some decent par readings since they were bouncing all of the place. I just had to try it several times and just go with the averages. Things are really starting to kick in growth and color wise.
dotcommer
Active member
I use Adobe Photoshop and every time I type a new par number in, it creates a new layer on the page. Any program that supports layers can do this very easily.
dotcommer
Active member
Thanks for the compliment. Its coming along.
dotcommer
Active member
Here is a pic of my new dosing containers.
They measure 10" wide, x 16" Tall and 23" deep. They fit perfectly in my water changing closet.
I purchased a double to single small extension cord for each unit. So each hour the APEX turns the dosing system on, the pumps kick on to stir up the solution.
They measure 10" wide, x 16" Tall and 23" deep. They fit perfectly in my water changing closet.
I purchased a double to single small extension cord for each unit. So each hour the APEX turns the dosing system on, the pumps kick on to stir up the solution.
SPotter
Active member
Here is a pic of my new dosing containers.
They measure 10" wide, x 16" Tall and 23" deep. They fit perfectly in my water changing closet.
I purchased a double to single small extension cord for each unit. So each hour the APEX turns the dosing system on, the pumps kick on to stir up the solution.
Those look great! Curious as to why you dose rather than using a ca reactor?
dotcommer
Active member
I was looking into CA Reator's, but I talked with a few owners of some 500+ Gallon tanks and they got rid of there reactors and went with dosing. They said they had more control that way. I am thinking about putting one on my smaller tank to try it out and see how I like it.
tdb320reef
Active member
Thanks, its a great design and the blow dryer was causing a lot of the problems I had. I switched the blow dryer out to a 900 Watt and everything is working out great.
I really need to update my build thread since so much as been going on. For now, here is a FTS I took to use for my current PAR readings. The bulb to water height is 19.5". I will follow up with more pics and videos.
Very nice, similar to how I did my rock work. Keep in mind that your SPS will take over the skyline. I wish I was about 8" lower on the rock as I am clearly out of space. Looking great!
