GDominy's Ever Growing Robotank build(s)

[GDominy]

I've been building this tank up over the last few years from many recycled components from older tanks, including some Profilux gear that used to run my old 105 gallon planted aquarium. Now that I have been fortunate enough to be working with GHL equipment directly I've been starting to really expand on the setup and make it.. well.. kinda ridiculous. But, I figure if I am playing around with this kind stuff I'm sure someone else probably is too.

To begin this thread I'm just showing some of the setup, but not too many tank "glamour" shots.. I have a crappy digital camera currently so my livestock pictures will be coming soon, just need to get some decent shots!

Here is the tank when viewed from my living room....

From the left side you can see into the computer room just off the living room...

Here is my "Geek Station" I spend a lot of time in this room so I'm pretty well equipped. My PC is the Media server for the entire network and acts as a PVR. One of my Xboxes is set up in here to so I can take a break from the computer periodically and use my center monitor for gaming while keeping an eye on the other two (The small monitor is a touchscreen that I launch my shortcuts from or control media player or media center with).

Directly behind this setup is the Sump Closet. You can just see the end of the 135 Gallon tank behind the wall..

Here is the sump closet itself, its a bit of a mess at the moment as I am in the middle of some major tank renovations and adding some extra stuff.

The sump closet is the central nervous sytem for the entire tank collection. The entire system is run by a Profilux II (soon to be converted into a Profilux 3 Ex) and it controls lighting for all of the aquariums, Auto Topoff, Heating, Cooling, Calcium Reactor control, Wavemaking via Korallia Pumps through a PumpControl1, Moonphase and Cloud Simulation through a DIY Dimmable LED light bar (72 x 3/4 watt LED's) grafted to a PropellorControl Module (more on this later), Thunderstorm Simu (including a DIY Surge Bucket soon to be mounted in the main display) and much more.

Some immediate plans for the future of the Profilux Rig:

• Profilux 3 Upgrade
• Profilux Ex Upgrade
• Adding 4 more L Ports
• Adding PLM-ADIN module
• Adding 4 Simu Spots
• Dimmable T5 Ballasts (*drool*)

The Vertex RO Unit has a mind of its own as well. This unit has a very handy embedded microcomputer that controls the RO Unit, Automatically backflushes, monitors TDS, monitors backpressure to turn itself off automatically, monitors incoming water in case it needs to power off, has a booster pump (essential as I am on a well here), and a few other bells and whistles that I have yet to discover.

The RO unit automatically fills a 30 Gallon resevoir by means of a Kent Float valve I drilled into the side of the aquarium. It also keeps 2 x 50 Gallon drums full of water as well in 2 spots of the house so there is always fresh or salt water available (these two drums also have floats, and manual shutoff valves when we need to mix salt).

 

[GDominy]

The refugium itself is nothing too fancy. This is not a show tank. This is a tank I like to play with for the most part. I house a few different anemones in here with a whole armada of small inverts to host in them, and I grow several species of Macro Algae for Nutrient export.

Here are a couple of the random critters...

 

[GDominy]

Here are a few of the Finishing details I had fun putting together with this tank..

Profilux Fans! These suckers move a TON of air and helped solve a tragic overheating problem I was having running 18 x 39 watt T5 Bulbs. Even T5's can throw enough heat to burn themselves out prematurely when not adequately cooled. I had a 40% reduction in PAR from right to left recently as my former fans were simply not adequate to keep them cool.

Profilux View 2 mounted to the canopy...

Window in top electronics compartment of the canopy, lit with cold cathode tubes for extra geek points (Also Profilux controlled).

Inside of the canopy showing the DIY wire mess and the snazzy trunk lifters that hold the lid open...

 

[cr500_af]

Very nice setup. Your fuge is nicer than a lot of displays.

 

[GDominy]

Thanks This tank has been my baby for a while now.. I built everything as I could never find the right furniture or whatnot to fit everything!

I am currently having some new doors manufactured for the stand locally. I have a bunch of decorative metal pieces being made for some things I am building that will be introduced over the next couple months.

 

[GDominy]

This is the next stage of development for this system. I am adding a new 80 Gallon Bowfront tank to the system so I can rehome some of the fish I no longer want in the main display, and add an extra 80 gallons of water to teh system for increased stability.

I built this stand tonight, its not finished by any means, but it wasnt a bad nights work. Lots of finishing to do, and I need to cut the curve onto the bottom piece of wood still.

This tank will return water through the wall behind into the 75 Gallon sump in the closet... It was a perfect spot to have this tank as I could integrate it into the common system.

 

[Gobie74]

I like the cold cathode lighting, ha, great idea

 

[dipan]

I remember your Robo tank from PT ... Looking forward to seeing some of your posts on the P3. Honestly, your planted tank automation is kinda what got me into the whole automated aquarium thing (and a P3). Didn't you have two Profiluxes on that system?

 

[GDominy]

I did have a pair of Profilux II Plus's running that system. To be honest, I really, really miss that tank, but given the obsession I have for Salt now it wasnt practical to run 2 large setups that required that much attention!

I will be upgrading to a PIII soon, but I need to do my Ex upgrade first (I want salinity monitoring, and an extra 2 L ports), then after that I am adding some new lighting effects (a minimum of 2 x Simu spots).

Stay tuned, I'll be going into much greater detail on the Profilux set up of this system, I just haven't had much "down time" recently and been doing a lot of house calls

 

[dipan]

G, I've been meaning to ask you ... How did you get the thunder sounds to play under Profilux control in your old tank? I was hoping to get some thunder soundtracks, but not sure how to get it to play triggered by the P3 at the same time as a lightning storm. I looked into a USB midi player that can be triggered by a photosensor, but seemed like a bit too much trouble to mess with.

 

[GDominy]

G, I've been meaning to ask you ... How did you get the thunder sounds to play under Profilux control in your old tank? I was hoping to get some thunder soundtracks, but not sure how to get it to play triggered by the P3 at the same time as a lightning storm. I looked into a USB midi player that can be triggered by a photosensor, but seemed like a bit too much trouble to mess with.

I havent got it working yet... currently I just have my computer start an mp3 of a thunderstorm at a predetermined time that coincides with the storm event. if I can work out a way to automate the sound i will share it for sure!

 

[GDominy]

I just had a thought about the thunderstorm audio.

This will require the use of an mp3 player (either a standalone one, or software on a PC), computer speakers (or some other powered speakers) and a free outlet on the Profilux.

The Profilux allows you to define a socket as "Thunder" which can be used for lightning (as I have it set currently) but could also be used to simply control the power to a set of speakers connected to an mp3 player.

When "Lightning" occurs power is provided to the socket defined as "Thunder" (its a random powering like lightning, but on for a second or two). If the speakers were powered on this outlet while playing a looped sound of rolling thunder (from an mp3 of a thunderstorm, or a custom made thunder sound) this would roughly approximate audible thunder that coicides with a lightning event.

I'll have to experiement with this over this week and see what I can put together. I don't think this will be that difficult to test really, I can sacrifice some older computer speakers and an old shoebox PC to test it out.

 

[skibum9884]

I thought about trying to do something similar too. Now the only thing I need is a Profilux Controller!

Let us know how it goes.

 

[GDominy]

Having some fun with the camera and lighting tonight.... I really need to get a new camera.. this one is getting frustrating! Here is the tank with just the cosmetic LED lighting on. This is 72 x 3/4 watt Royal blue LED's and 3 x Profilux Simu Spots. Red's are running at 50% and Moonlights set to Blue/White Moonlights.

 

[GDominy]

This is one of my favorite pieces at the moment. I know I don't have a crazy stony display but I try to collect interesting LPS and Softies that are a bit more forgiving with my high fish load.

 

[GDominy]

Here is another one of my fav's... pretty neutral base colour but hte metallic spots just pop.

 

[GDominy]

Greener then average Duncan...

Giant Rhodactid?, not sure which subspecies.

 

[GDominy]

Today was a good "Profilux" day. I finally upgraded my own Profilux to a 3 and all I can say is wow.... I am so glad I did.

Now the 2 was doing everything I needed it to, and I don't have any fancy expansion boxes or Pab bus wiring (yet!) but there are a few features that I now have that have made my life significantly easier.

For instance:
- 32 Programmable Logic Spots instead of 8 (This is huge for those who like to tinker)
- 32 Illumination Channels (I already use 8 and plan on several more for cosmetic lighting, and for the 80 Gallon Bow)
- 32 Timers, now I dunno what I'm going to do with them all, but damn is that an impressive array of options. Time to start planning my Dosing pumps!
- Ability to use Digital Powerbars on Both S1-4 and S5-8 (this is handy if you have to run lines in opposite directions and dont want to have to daisy chain your digital devices)

 

[boboxx]

the S ports have 4 channels so it's S1-4 and S5-8

 

[GDominy]

Doh! Totally right... brain has turned to mush.. lol

You know you've been looking at too many numbers when.....