Higher Calcium Level for SPS Growth? (vs Health)

[Wally.B]

Algae WARS (Movie Just Released on YouTube)

After a much long wait, the Movie has been Just Released on You Tube and available for viewing.

Here is the

LINK.


https://youtu.be/ycQ9YPuAaVk

This is Chapter 1 of 4.

More to come.

Thanks for your patience and support.

Enjoy.

Wally & Martin B.

 

[biggles]

I thought that was great, thoroughly enjoyed it Wally and Martin

I particularly liked the bit where R2D2 makes Sahin sick in the skimmer cup......

 

[Wally.B]

Thanks.

I do pass on these positive comments onto my son Martin.
He normally doesn't care much about the aquariums, but this got him finally involved a bit.

 

[reefmutt]

Nice Chapter 1 Wally! Loved the intergalactic valve ship!
ok.. catch up time..
I love the gyre mod, although completely over my head, looked really cool.
you will love the rlss. I loved mine until the pump or the controller died... for the second time and now i can't get anywhere with rlss... great skimmers when they are working!
quiet and efficient..
that is going to be one busy sump but hey, if you can fit everything in there, go for it!
the tanks are looking nice and clean!
Like Pife said, you are one busy dude!!

 

[Wally.B]

Final Paper Design for Sump (Glass Ordered)

- Forget cutting glass myself. I tried practice on a small 3-4 inch piece. I destroyed it. (Returning cutting tool).

- Found a Glass Supplier that will cut notches, not just straight cuts. They will cut, polish and round glass with nice top edges and safe corners.
- Price for All 1/2" glass $60 (and I get to keep my fingers and skin ).

Here is the final design (Drawing not to scale). Going to mock it up with Cardboard before I waste money.

Yes, the 3D effect of the drawing plays games on your eyes.
Just think THICK BLACK LETTERS are closer, and Thinner BLACK Letters are farther.

- I spend a couple of hours using the Reef Central Tank Volume calculator
- Figuring out best dimension for Max Running Water Volume, Skimmer fit, and able to handle a Tank Power Failure drain.

- New adjustment is I Designed a Multi-Function Cube in the Front Right Corner (for 2 sided viewing), and LESS GLASS.

---OPTION A---> As a Refuge
------> it has a 1" small notch for drain, and would be fed by a slow flow pump from Skimmer Section

--- OPTION B---> I could also LID the Cube and make it a Quarantine tank by turning off flow pump.

I'm just going to build the main box first and then follow up later with all the add on projects. But it's designed for the future.

Yes is will be a busy sump, but it will be a 50 Gallon Sump for a 65 Gallon tank.
Yet overall I'll save on space since it will be all-in-one. (Sump, Algae Scrubber, Frag Tank, and Quarantine Tank/Refuge)
Sump box is $free since I already have it. It used to run both my tanks, but I learned not to do that.

 

[Wally.B]

Nice Chapter 1 Wally! Loved the intergalactic valve ship!

Thanks.

(Algae Wars Chpt 2-3) If you like the valve satellite in Chpt 1, then much more to come.
I used tons of aquarium tools, parts etc for the remaining 3 chapters. (all top secret surprises)
The first chapter is just an appetizer, and most of the work in it was to build the Galactic Dashboard.

Plus many more characters, and plot really kicks in. Sound coming too!!

 

[Wally.B]

you will love the rlss. I loved mine until the pump or the controller died... for the second time and now i can't get anywhere with rlss... great skimmers when they are working!
quiet and efficient..

I hope the RLSS units don't break down (two times....YIKES!!!). I now have 2 RLSS return pumps, and now the Skimmer.

 

[reefmutt]

Well, i purchased a first gen db10i.. The pumps weren't great... When it died, I got a new, upgraded one for free... After about 9 months..
But then that one died as well, or the controller did this time after about a year.. Getting anywhere toward resolving the issue this time has been..... Well... It's ongoing, let's say...
I think the newer generation of pumps have had the wrinkles smoothed out..

 

[Wally.B]

SUMP Cardboard Mock Up.

For those that can't visualize my 2D/3D diagram, here is a mock up with Cardboard.

All is good (everything fits)... I ordered glass, and pick up tomorrow.

 

[reefmutt]

looking good Wally!
The frag rack right next to the skimmer worries me a bit.. You'll geta lot of algae growing inside that skimmer.
You may want to put a blind between the frag area and the skimmer

 

[Wally.B]

looking good Wally!
The frag rack right next to the skimmer worries me a bit.. You'll geta lot of algae growing inside that skimmer.
You may want to put a blind between the frag area and the skimmer

Good point. I never thought of that. Some kind of blind as you say might work. (Should be easy to add a black acrylic baffle or something)

Of course the Quarentine/Refuge Box area could be the frag rack other option, if skimmer box becomes an issue.

 

[Wally.B]

Matt,

I've been thinking. Algae may not be an issue in the Skimmer section.

If you notice the sump design, first stage will be the filter sock.

And the 2nd stage will be the "Oversized Algae Scrubber (ATS)", so I'm hoping the Algae will grow in it, and thus the skimmer Area and rest of sump should be Algae free (even with Light since they won't be tuned to Red/Blue for Algae growth, like the ATS).

I may be ok to have a Frag Rack and with some focused lights.

We'll see.

 

[Acronic]

It will grow coraline in the chamber though. Not the end of the world

 

[reefmutt]

Anyways, you'll soon find out and it's easy to deal with..
Not a major thing..

 

[Wally.B]

Hey,

I do love my equipment, crystal clean CLEAR, shiny like new.

But reality is all stuff eventually needs cleaning.

This is one of my skimmers right now. (Looks kind of cool, if you appreciate coralline, Which I do.)

 

[Pife]

Hey,

I do love my equipment, crystal clean CLEAR, shiny like new.

But reality is all stuff eventually needs cleaning.

This is one of my skimmers right now. (Looks kind of cool, if you appreciate coralline, Which I do.)

I've always felt it greatly lowers the efficiency of the skimmer letting it get built up wIth any type of crude.

 

[reefmutt]

Efficient or not, it's a nice mosaic!

 

[Pife]

Efficient or not, it's a nice mosaic!

I would agreed it looks very nice, and has great contrast for a skimmer.

 

[Wally.B]

SUMP (Glass Plates) Plates Arrived, ready to start Sump Build

So I picked up the Sump Divider plates.

This wasn't a high end Glass Shop, but I didn't pay high end prices. Yet I am impress with the quality at ($20) a plate, including the 1/4" glass.

Higher end shops wanted double the price.

Where the budget cutting shows, it they didn't have the machine to do true corner cutting (Notches). They drilled a hole and then cut to it. (for my purpose as a flood gate, it will work fine).

But all sides are polished nicely and top sides are rounded.

Hey way better that my attempt at hacking.

*** Oh, Oh, while taking photo I notice one cut is wrong. The first plate (ATS/Sock divider) was to have a 3" drop, not 4" **
** That lowers my ATS side, and not much diffential between Flow out and 2nd drop (might work, but I pay for accuracy) **
*** It may be ok since this does increase my (Flood Reservoir capacity), but reduces my Sump Water volume a bit **
*** I may see if this works, but will be expecting a discount refund, or possibly a new replacement Plate **

 

[reefmutt]

perfect for a sump.
What? You haven't finished putting it all together and gotten it running yet??
Wally, you're slipping..