In-wall 380gal tank - cut out options

[karimwassef]

A little new learning on the surge.

The outlets need to be horizontal. If they're pointing slightly upward, you risk splashing. If slightly downward, you have sandstorms. It sounds trivial, but with 35gallons moving over a few seconds, small angles have big effects.

Having a ledge or rock immediately under the outlet also acts as a guide.

 

[karimwassef]

My macroalgae scrubber is up and running with a new platform, new lights and new macro:

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/F7C6FBBF-BD4F-4532-882B-C983E871B846_zpsxnme1yo6.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/F7C6FBBF-BD4F-4532-882B-C983E871B846_zpsxnme1yo6.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo F7C6FBBF-BD4F-4532-882B-C983E871B846_zpsxnme1yo6.jpg"/></a>

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<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/9B001498-CEF8-4A72-9EF9-697406F98C7D_zpsbcnqside.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/9B001498-CEF8-4A72-9EF9-697406F98C7D_zpsbcnqside.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 9B001498-CEF8-4A72-9EF9-697406F98C7D_zpsbcnqside.jpg"/></a>

 

[karimwassef]

Also updated my kalkwasser reactor with a stirrer

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/C8E9CCFB-E26D-43E8-B0C2-9999F397818A_zpst62euz8z.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/C8E9CCFB-E26D-43E8-B0C2-9999F397818A_zpst62euz8z.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo C8E9CCFB-E26D-43E8-B0C2-9999F397818A_zpst62euz8z.jpg"/></a>

 

[karimwassef]

- Kalkwasser ATO (done)
- Macroalgae/algae scrubber (done)

- CO2 reduction plastic sheet on aux containers (starting next)
- Nighttime vinegar / batch bacteria (close to starting)
- Mylar curtains for increased lighting
- Concrete fish housing under overflow
- Calcium reactor
- Exhaust fan for humidity control
- DT to Sump forced flow (bubble reduction)
- Outside mangrove greenhouse

I'm going to upgrade a few things - better light on the scrubber, doser on the kalkwasser reactor instead of ATO.

Corals doing well. Got a few more corals too

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/FF8075C2-95F1-4396-96ED-17B4E3EED081_zps0qhs5kcg.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/FF8075C2-95F1-4396-96ED-17B4E3EED081_zps0qhs5kcg.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo FF8075C2-95F1-4396-96ED-17B4E3EED081_zps0qhs5kcg.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/074FA50A-BE65-4879-8DEC-6E7D110DE7CE_zpstla9fusi.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/074FA50A-BE65-4879-8DEC-6E7D110DE7CE_zpstla9fusi.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 074FA50A-BE65-4879-8DEC-6E7D110DE7CE_zpstla9fusi.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/4CCDABE9-5123-4F12-9640-A3AC3189BE1E_zpsetnecfjt.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/4CCDABE9-5123-4F12-9640-A3AC3189BE1E_zpsetnecfjt.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 4CCDABE9-5123-4F12-9640-A3AC3189BE1E_zpsetnecfjt.jpg"/></a>

 

[karimwassef]

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/77BC0DF8-6069-48A7-9A86-C51B48E2A002_zpsyin55ytv.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/77BC0DF8-6069-48A7-9A86-C51B48E2A002_zpsyin55ytv.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 77BC0DF8-6069-48A7-9A86-C51B48E2A002_zpsyin55ytv.jpg"/></a>

 

[karimwassef]

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/AA1D18AE-E289-4015-B721-81440BD51E6D_zpsmijb05ou.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/AA1D18AE-E289-4015-B721-81440BD51E6D_zpsmijb05ou.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo AA1D18AE-E289-4015-B721-81440BD51E6D_zpsmijb05ou.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/95C94AA3-E2E9-4E51-935C-BB8AADED4178_zpsdzxnktig.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/95C94AA3-E2E9-4E51-935C-BB8AADED4178_zpsdzxnktig.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 95C94AA3-E2E9-4E51-935C-BB8AADED4178_zpsdzxnktig.jpg"/></a>

 

[karimwassef]

So since adding the macroalgae scrubber, the hair algae in the tank has been getting thinner and more "fluffy" except where there is very strong flow.

Strong algae:
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/6B45E405-2D99-4567-BA54-0EB3459E2FBB_zpstqn9z1bq.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/6B45E405-2D99-4567-BA54-0EB3459E2FBB_zpstqn9z1bq.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 6B45E405-2D99-4567-BA54-0EB3459E2FBB_zpstqn9z1bq.jpg"/></a>

Weakening:
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/26532538-44BB-4D16-B66D-4A7FA4E52623_zpsonywxzyo.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/26532538-44BB-4D16-B66D-4A7FA4E52623_zpsonywxzyo.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 26532538-44BB-4D16-B66D-4A7FA4E52623_zpsonywxzyo.jpg"/></a>

In the shade too:
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/A045131C-9B9F-4DF2-9CF3-21FF40B720B1_zpsirzfxvzh.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/A045131C-9B9F-4DF2-9CF3-21FF40B720B1_zpsirzfxvzh.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo A045131C-9B9F-4DF2-9CF3-21FF40B720B1_zpsirzfxvzh.jpg"/></a>

 

[karimwassef]

So I think it's slowly deteriorating.

 

[Joel_155]

Looks like it. Not sure if you can manually remove it but when it dies it will release all that PO4 back into the system

 

[karimwassef]

I have a GFO reactor and the scrubber. I expect that they're killing of the hair.

I wish I had a micro fork to wind it up like a plate of spaghetti!

 

[karimwassef]

I have to say.. The hair is housing an outrageous number of mini pods. They're jumping around it like fleas in a hairy dog. I first noticed them when my arrow and emerald crabs were eating the hair. They were actually going for the pods and eating the hair incidentally.

 

[madean]

Thank you for providing all of the information you do. It's nice to see people take the time out to share information instead of just bash others. Again thank you.

 

[karimwassef]

Love to share and learn for others. This can be a social hobby, after all.
When I started in the 80s, this kind of sharing was a dream.

A million heads is better than one

 

[karimwassef]

Ok. Getting started on the fish hotel

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/5BA9988B-F5F9-4D00-B7DF-817FEA7371C8_zpsecgrqfuz.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/5BA9988B-F5F9-4D00-B7DF-817FEA7371C8_zpsecgrqfuz.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 5BA9988B-F5F9-4D00-B7DF-817FEA7371C8_zpsecgrqfuz.jpg"/></a>

I'm going to test it as PVC only to see if it's viable before covering it up. Maybe I'll do foam this time.

 

[karimwassef]

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/C97ACC7C-9114-4151-A49E-6C1A1DF7BAC4_zps46gs45eu.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/C97ACC7C-9114-4151-A49E-6C1A1DF7BAC4_zps46gs45eu.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo C97ACC7C-9114-4151-A49E-6C1A1DF7BAC4_zps46gs45eu.jpg"/></a>

I had to cut back some apartments to fit it through the existing rock work openings.

 

[karimwassef]

They hang our together but noone's moving in

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<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/639A3FCD-A512-49C3-9998-3CFCFC3FE471_zps5iyqvado.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/639A3FCD-A512-49C3-9998-3CFCFC3FE471_zps5iyqvado.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 639A3FCD-A512-49C3-9998-3CFCFC3FE471_zps5iyqvado.jpg"/></a>

 

[Lavoisier]

They will need time to trust it and some may be waiting to see if it receives a 5 star or a 4 star rating :hmm2:

It should look good when "covered." I worry the foam would float the structure unless you used some cement or mortar mix as well.

 

[karimwassef]

So the PVC isn't light. The structure probably weighs ~10lbs as it is.

Two nights now and no one is using it. The Naso and Purple are long time tank mates (came from someone's tank) and don't display aggression at each other. They sleep under the rocky ledge, nearly exposed without issue. The small sailfin and rabbit each find a little crack to sleep in.

I don't know if the white side by side rooms are freaking them out or what. I'll give it a week.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Karim, they may not move in. I remember when my old reef tank was set up, when the lights started dimming, all the fish went to their own private spots, away from each other. With all the room they have in your big tank, I doubt they'd want to sleep together. Territories and all that.

My advice then would be to build multiple single-fish dwellings, and spread them throughout the tank. This would also offer you the chance to make any changes to your fake rockwork you may have thought of since the build. If they don't use them, at least you made the tank look better to you.

Personally I'd probably do nothing. The fish will find their own spots-sounds like they already have. Plus your rock wall is cool as is.

 

[karimwassef]

Thanks Michael and welcome to the thread!

I was under the impression that the lack of houses and crevices was increasing fish stress, but my PVC "projects" didn't change any of that.

The 4 fish keep rotating housing spots a little each night...