Initial planning stages for tank and fish room
- Thread starter Bilk
- Start date
Bilk
New member
LOL well ........ :crazy1:
Actually they're all brass. Some are from Right of Way. Some are older Weaver brass. Some are 3rd Rail brass. A few Atlas pieces. That is just a small portion of it. Most are stored in boxes and aren't being enjoyed.
Big Pennsy fan so most of the stuff is Pennsy badged, but there's some other roads represented. It was probably the most complete industrial operation ever. They made everything the railroad ever used right down to the light bulbs that lit the cars & stations or what ever. They made their own brooms, silverware and china for the dining cars. I mean they made everything. Just a truly amazing operation.
No layout here. Used to have one in my home on Staten Island and an overhead loop in my office. Thinking about doing an overhead loop here. I really miss running them
slief
RC Sponsor
Just a minor update. Want to thank sleif for sharing the neat mounts he used to hang his Kessils over his tank. They are just what I was looking for. They provide easy adjustability to get the light exactly where I want it. I'll post some pics of the mod that was required for the ball attachment to the fixture. I did it a little differently than sleif.
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That looks great! You tank is looking beautiful! I think you will really love that BK skimmer. It's a beast!
Glad the mounting idea helped you out. I've now got those mounts kitted up for both Kessil and Ecotech Radions. I will be making mounts for some other fixtures in the near future too.
Here is the new Radion mount which I setup on my light rack for the photo.
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trueblackpercula
New member
I am sure you will be overjoyed with its performance and its low low noise level. It's probally one of the best skimmers ever made.OK so I picked up a really biggazz skimmer :bigeyes: Going to give it a whirl and see if it can keep up with the ETSS :rolleye1:
It's rated for 300g - 600g. The ETSS is rated for 400g and it still gets a workout on my +200g system. I just have to figure out how to plumb it and not have it be in my way in my compact fish room. There's no way it's going under the tank.
Who knows? It may find it's way on to the sales corner if it's either too much skimmer or can't do what the ETSS is doing. Or I'll keep it for my planned 8' upgrade LOL
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Good luck with it.
kris101
Premium Member
+1 I just got the BK Supermarine 200 and so far its been consistently pulling gunk out of my 300 DD.
It does take a good hour to rebound after feeding rinsed Mysis.
Bilk
New member
It's a rainy day here so a good day for some tank maintenance
I picked up some SS lid stays that are used in marine applications. I first needed to install butt hinges at the top of the door, then install the lid stays. They were perfect for this application. Each is rated for 165lbs , but that lid is maybe 20lbs. Next thing I did was eliminate the center brace which was the bane of my reefing existence LOL Makes access from the front much easier for cleaning and coral placing. The whole front is nice and open when needed.
Over the last three days I took the time to remove all of the coralline algae from the side and rear panels. The tank looks much better. I did it one panel per day as to not shock the tank. I have been monitoring Ca and alk since I'm sure they'll both be impacted to a degree.
The next item up is bringing the BK skimmer online. I needed to purchase a metric to standard union. Man that was a bit pricey LOL But now I can run 2" to the sump. Just need to pick up a few more fittings.
The next installation will be the Geo 618 Ca reactor I've had sitting around for the last six months. I need to get a CO2 canister. There's a beer brewing place a short walk from me, so that will happen next week sometime.
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I picked up some SS lid stays that are used in marine applications. I first needed to install butt hinges at the top of the door, then install the lid stays. They were perfect for this application. Each is rated for 165lbs , but that lid is maybe 20lbs. Next thing I did was eliminate the center brace which was the bane of my reefing existence LOL Makes access from the front much easier for cleaning and coral placing. The whole front is nice and open when needed.
Over the last three days I took the time to remove all of the coralline algae from the side and rear panels. The tank looks much better. I did it one panel per day as to not shock the tank. I have been monitoring Ca and alk since I'm sure they'll both be impacted to a degree.
The next item up is bringing the BK skimmer online. I needed to purchase a metric to standard union. Man that was a bit pricey LOL But now I can run 2" to the sump. Just need to pick up a few more fittings.
The next installation will be the Geo 618 Ca reactor I've had sitting around for the last six months. I need to get a CO2 canister. There's a beer brewing place a short walk from me, so that will happen next week sometime.
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Bilk
New member
Had the opportunity yesterday to hook up the Bubble King 300. Have a little tidying of wires and plumbing to perform, but this is how it looked after a half day of operation.
<iframe width="1280" height="720" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/WyoSlDzqY1Y" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
I'm feeding it with a Jebao 6000 which I thought would be fine to run externally as I'm doing with the DC 12000 performing as the return pump for the system. However after the initial hook up it started leaking like a sieve. :angryfire: I've since made a homemade gasket for it and it's no longer leaking. However I'm in the market for two replacements for the Jebao. The DC 12000 has been running a year now and it's performed like a champ, but I still want to see what the alternatives are for DC pumps that can run externally.
<iframe width="1280" height="720" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/WyoSlDzqY1Y" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
I'm feeding it with a Jebao 6000 which I thought would be fine to run externally as I'm doing with the DC 12000 performing as the return pump for the system. However after the initial hook up it started leaking like a sieve. :angryfire: I've since made a homemade gasket for it and it's no longer leaking. However I'm in the market for two replacements for the Jebao. The DC 12000 has been running a year now and it's performed like a champ, but I still want to see what the alternatives are for DC pumps that can run externally.
trueblackpercula
New member
Well are you happy with it? I told you these skimmers are outstanding. Also you may want to look into the self cleaning heads.
Very nice bill your tank is amazing.
Very nice bill your tank is amazing.
Bilk
New member
Nice update, always informative.Such a sharp setup.
Thanks markalot. I see you switched to T5s, but I know you miss the shimmer
Maybe supplementing with BMLeds will get you where you want.Hey Michael. Yes very happy with the skimmer just not happy with the Jebao 6000. I need to a good external DC pump to replace it. Things are coming along, but would like to be able to sit back and watch good things happen now.
Neck cleaner is on the list. I haven't found one big enough to fit. I may have to buy the motor and blade and just use the existing lid. Vertex doesn't make one large enough for the 300.
Thankfully it's not worth wasting the time to watch the Jets on Sundays, so I get some good reefing time in LOL
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trueblackpercula
New member
Well the Jets did pull one out today lol I thought the bubble King came with a red dragon pump? I did see the self cleaning heads on there web site but I don't recall if it was for the 300 series. Well in anycase enjoy the Sps as they look great. I did manage to pick up four more today from Anthony boy he sure gets in some nice stuff and for the price you just can't go wrong.
http://youtu.be/yWUgQDUtPSw
http://youtu.be/yWUgQDUtPSw
Bilk
New member
It does come with a Red Dragon pump but that's the recirculating pump. It needs a feed pump - about 200 - 600gph. Obviously an in sump version doesn't need the feed pump. I'm using a Tunze in sump now as I didn't trust the Jebao to not leak. But I don't want any equipment in the sump. So I'm looking for a reliable DC pump to run externally.
trueblackpercula
New member
Hey Bill
Any updates on the SPS we picked up together? its been 66 days since we got them and most are doing well. I only lost the one pink milli and all the rest are coloring up real nice. When you have some time can you post some updated pics?
I did want to let you know I found out by mistake that the maricultered pieces like lower ALK and dont need blistering light like I was once led to believe. I lowered my intensity to 60% and everything looks amazing.
Also I sent out my triton test this morning did you send yours out yet would really like to see your results.
Michael
Any updates on the SPS we picked up together? its been 66 days since we got them and most are doing well. I only lost the one pink milli and all the rest are coloring up real nice. When you have some time can you post some updated pics?
I did want to let you know I found out by mistake that the maricultered pieces like lower ALK and dont need blistering light like I was once led to believe. I lowered my intensity to 60% and everything looks amazing.
Also I sent out my triton test this morning did you send yours out yet would really like to see your results.
Michael
Bilk
New member
Hey Mike. When I get some time, I'll post up some pics.
Running the new skimmer and changing the carbon source has pushed PO4 way down to near undetectable, I've allowed my alk to drift lower too. Running it at 7.5dkh now and using kalwasser for supplementing. Still have the 2 part for adjustments, but it's running pretty steady without input. Just took about a week to dial it in.
I've noticed that some of the nuisance algae issues I was having are really diminishing. Guess PO4 is becoming limiting for their growth.
Have yet to send out my tests vials. It will be interesting to compare the results to my prior test from a different lab.
Bilk
New member
Had my first major tank crisis this past weekend. It was a crisis that could have been avoided if I had only not been so derelict in ordering a backup return pump. I have quite a few pumps, but because I hard plumbed the system with a Jebao DC pump which has a 1.5" inlet and 1" outlet, none of the available pumps - (2) Bluelines and a few misc, Tunze and Eheim - would work as a substitute. So I was forced to utilize the Waveline I have powering the skimmer. However that too didn't have the same sized connections to the Jabeo, so I rigged it with flex hose, hopiing it would suffice until today when the replacements were to arrive.
What I didn't realize is that because the skimmer pump was drawing water from near the overflow from the tank to the sump, a few things were to begin to occur. The first was heat buildup as there was no real movement thru the sump and thus very little evaporation. I effectively short-cycled the system. The next was the remaining water in the sump becoming toxic with ammonia because of the lack of circulation. This was all exacerbated by the fact that the skimmer was also off-line, not providing nutrient export or aeration. The tank still had internal flow - two MP40 and two Tunze 6105, but they do nothing for the heat which was created by the Waveline shortcycling the system flow and in fact, being internal, the Tunze were adding to the heat buildup.
So last night I was up until 3am rigging the Waveline pump to work with the flow of the sump and changing out the 30+ gallons of water the sump holds. This all could have been averted were I to have just ordered a backup instead of having kept telling myself - I need to order a backup I knew this was a possibility, yet I was just lazy about ordering it when I was thinking about it.
Fortunately there were no losses even though the tank temps reached 88+. Thankfully a replacement arrived this morning and I will be putting things back the way they were. I'll also be re-plumbing the system. Though I ordered another Jabeo to expedite things since it's the holidays and time is at a premium, the Jebao lasted just a year and then crapped out for no reason. I'll probably purchase a few Askoll pumps and re-plumb everything to work with them. They're rather inexpensive and pretty dependable with good flow. I prefer external and something quiet, which I think these are.
So take a lesson from my mistake and have at least one backup return pump on hand. I always did - that's why I have two Blueline 55 LOL, but for some unknown reason I didn't think to have one to replace the Jabeo.
What I didn't realize is that because the skimmer pump was drawing water from near the overflow from the tank to the sump, a few things were to begin to occur. The first was heat buildup as there was no real movement thru the sump and thus very little evaporation. I effectively short-cycled the system. The next was the remaining water in the sump becoming toxic with ammonia because of the lack of circulation. This was all exacerbated by the fact that the skimmer was also off-line, not providing nutrient export or aeration. The tank still had internal flow - two MP40 and two Tunze 6105, but they do nothing for the heat which was created by the Waveline shortcycling the system flow and in fact, being internal, the Tunze were adding to the heat buildup.
So last night I was up until 3am rigging the Waveline pump to work with the flow of the sump and changing out the 30+ gallons of water the sump holds. This all could have been averted were I to have just ordered a backup instead of having kept telling myself - I need to order a backup
I knew this was a possibility, yet I was just lazy about ordering it when I was thinking about it.Fortunately there were no losses even though the tank temps reached 88+. Thankfully a replacement arrived this morning and I will be putting things back the way they were. I'll also be re-plumbing the system. Though I ordered another Jabeo to expedite things since it's the holidays and time is at a premium, the Jebao lasted just a year and then crapped out for no reason. I'll probably purchase a few Askoll pumps and re-plumb everything to work with them. They're rather inexpensive and pretty dependable with good flow. I prefer external and something quiet, which I think these are.
So take a lesson from my mistake and have at least one backup return pump on hand. I always did - that's why I have two Blueline 55 LOL, but for some unknown reason I didn't think to have one to replace the Jabeo.
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Bilk
New member
Thanks. Guess there was some collateral damage. The refugium/cryptic zone what ever it really was in my system
took a hit. Lost lots of critters, stars and most of the nice sponges that were forming on the rocks in there. Pulled everything when I drained the sump as I saw the devastation to the infauna and had to clean it all out. At this point, nothing else is exhibiting any distress. I'm hoping that there isn't a mini-cycle. So far so good.
jarrett shark
New member
Let's see those new Sps pieces from Sunday meeting that you picked up
trueblackpercula
New member
+1
