JapanReef - 450 gallon In-Wall system

[NexDog]

Yea, I would if I had the space. My next tank in 5 years will have one for sure. That is when my whole office becomes the tank room and teh tank is in the tatami/lounge wall.

I'll test the O2 when I get back at the weekend. Taking the family to the coast for a few days.

 

[jnarowe]

I don't really want to hi-jack Laurence's thread so please let me know if posting about this stuff is problem Dog!

captbunzo: Manilla clams, according to my research which is by no means thorough, help with water quality and increase the bio-diversity of the system. There are a couple of threads on RC about them called Steamer Clams for food&filtration??? and Just added some super market clams to my tank with some decent discussion. I tracked down articles but can't find them right now.n Because my RDSB has about 12 sq. ft. of surface area and is 8+" deep, I don't think the clams will do much to disturb the anaerobic conditions within the bed. I will put them in a fairly tight grouping at one end where I can get at them.

I want to have more clams in my system and will add about a dozen "show" clams to the display, but I think adding 25 - 50 manillas to the fuge would be good for the tank and provide some fresh food on occassion. I make my own fish food ala Melev but having some live clams to chop up and toss in would be good for the health fo the fish. (and aptaisia :lol: )

Joao Monteiro: Here are a couple of pics of my RDSB/fuge. Mine is Rubbermaid so I can't show you the macro etc. but I do notice in your picture that your chaeto is doing what mine is right now, and that is acting as filter floss. When it gets full of detritus, that seriously affects its growth rate and the job it can do in cleansing the water. I am trying to figure out how to deal with this as my water column is a bit shallow.

Fuge is in upper right section of photo:

It is supplied water from the manifold and gravity feeds into the display.

Fuge is upper center:

Closeup shot with new lamps:

Laurence: I post this because this RDSB/fuge cost about $200 and adds bio-diversity as well as water filtration/cleaning. And it's FUN!!

 

[Joao Monteiro]

Jonathan (jnarowe),

I haven´t seen any problem as regards the grow rate of the chaeto. Since that photo (taken em July, 1) it has almost double its size.

But I agree that it affects its job in cleansing the water. Perhaps if I double the circulation I have in the fuge, things get better.

To give an idea of my system, the tank is around 200g+75g sump and 25g refugium (quite odd triangular one. The only way to fit in the area it is)
The water is pumped to the refugium by a 315g/hour powerhead and returns to the tank by gravity. The fuge also has a 150g/hour powerhead for circulation. I´m planning on doubling that circulation

Do you think that might work ?

Here´s a picture when this tank was set up last April:

Laurence,
Sorry for the hi-jack...

 

[jnarowe]

Tank room looks great! I really think that should be enough flow for a 25g. Maybe you could float the chaeto in a plastic collander. I have heard of reefers doing that to get it better circulation and I am contemplating doing the same. Light cycle is probably a key factor too. My macro got a lot of detritus when I changed my lights and shortened the photo period to reduce the shock of the change. Hard to tell except by experimenting.

 

[Joao Monteiro]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7907768#post7907768 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jnarowe
. Maybe you could float the chaeto in a plastic collander.

... my English got stuck here...what´s a plastic collander ?

 

[Goldleaf Reef]

A Collander is a strainer, used to seperate water from a food item, it keeps the contents in and allows the water to flow through. IT's bowl shaped with a lot of holes. I hope that explination helps

 

[captbunzo]

Here is one image stolen from the web:

 

[Joao Monteiro]

Tks a lot, guys !

 

[NexDog]

No worries about the hi-jack. You guys are welcome to talk about anything you wish.

FinsReef gave me a link with good info on the H&S Denitrator:

http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=40899

Seriously leaning towards this now. Might get another Vortech at the same time as it's from Scott at Aquarium Specialty and also I might start on the Prodibio bandwagon.

(Was that my wallet I see running off in fear?)

 

[jnarowe]

Your wallet had a melt-down 6 months ago...I am sure you have stepped up to a man-bag by now! :lol:

I actually have thought about using that in my multi-media reactor but I haven't totally figured out what the benefit of the sulphur itself is or why it works. Maybe you can clue me in?

My initial thought was to put it in a chamber after the Ca media to absorb nitrate as well as CO2 prior to the effluent leaving the reactor. However one of the attached articles explains it as the reverse, in that it actually creates CO2 and it should be run before the Ca media. Two oposite explanations makes me nervous!

 

[grallster]

I actually have thought about using that in my multi-media reactor but I haven't totally figured out what the benefit of the sulphur itself is or why it works. Maybe you can clue me in?

This sort of thing is why I've always prefered the simplistic form of reefkeeping--plenum, skimmer, kalk, homemade additives, water changes, carbon, and live rock--no problem!
If it ain't broke--don't fix it!

 

[jnarowe]

true. I am building the multi-media reactor to handle carbon, Ca, and RowaPhos, but also have a couple extra chambers that can be used for any additional media or floss if needed. My system is as simple as it gets, particularly for one its size.

 

[NexDog]

Greetings from my hotel bar.

Well, can't say I understand how the nitrate reactors work but that they work is an incontrovertable fact. Works the same as an rDSB - providing a place where denitrifying bacteria can colonise is huge number. Yea, costs $500 but the footprint is small. In order to serve a 450g system an rDSB would need to be in a 50g tub and as I said before, just ain't got the room. So looking forward to posting before and after pics of the nitrate test. Hopefully from bright pink to transparent.

 

[jnarowe]

I can't wait to see how it goes. I have tried to study these sulphur chambers but I can't figure out how they off-gas...one description says it comes out in the drip, so I guess that means it couldn't be plumbed to inject. So far I have only found the beads at Marine Depot. It seems like the reactors are really simple though and I should be able to use one of my chambers for it should the need arise.

 

[Reefologist]

After reading alot of this and your other threads and posting...Nexdog I must commend you on a stellar attitude and demeanor in this journey (reefkeeping) like life itself with countless variables.... You are one of the few people who takes criticiszm in stride and truly are a benefit to this reefing community...hat's off to NEXDOGGGGG...????DO I FORSEE TOTM?????

 

[NexDog]

Thanks Reefologist. TOTM....hmmm, in about 7 years if business continues to do well and I can splash out 100k on a mammoth tank, convert my office into the tank room and build an extension for my new office.

I love my current tank but it's a huge learning process for me. Hopefully in a few years I can consider myself with enough experience to go super large. I reckon I could build a super sweet system which would make reefkeeping a pure joy. Space is teh main issue. If you have space you're 90% there I reckon.

 

[mhummel]

Beautiful system nexdog, I must say, just as I was ready to build the stand for my 180 inwall in the basement I saw your design set behind the wall rather than flush with the front panel. Decided I like the look of your tank so it'll be set the same as yours. Really have to compliment you. Well thought out system.
Mark

 

[NexDog]

Thanks Mark. Have to admit though that my set back look is borne of practicality. That is the width of the wall and with the stand flush next to the wall on the other side - that's how it turns out. To make it flush you'd need to build the stand into the wall or build the wall around the stand and with the concrete footer there as teh base of the wall between the rooms it would be tough. But I like teh set back look. Looks like a window sill - a window on your part of the ocean.

If you're about to start a project I urge to have a large a tank room as possible. As well as being able to fit more stuff in (a la rDSB we've discussed here recently) but it also makes husbandry smoother. For example my two reactors holding carbon are under the tank on a shelf above the sump. With all the plumbing under there I can hardly get to them which makes me lazy and I haven't changed it out for almost 3 months. Also be nice to have a water change system - not enough space though. Space is the key IMO.

 

[mhummel]

Supprisingly my wife agreed to a 12 x 16 room to be used as a tank room. I already had a wall built where the tank is going but will be building another and destroying the one that is there to allow for more room for equipment and such.
Plans were already drawn for flush with the wall but that isn't hard to change. Do you have your room well insulated for noise? I'm trying to keep the new living space as quiet as possible as a place to relax when coming home from work.

 

[NexDog]

My tank is in the wall of my office and with the access doors closed I'd say that 90% of the noise is cut out. I insulated the walls with some soundproof/waterproof matting and it does a good job. I can hear some noise through the door of the room but that is because the skimmer is just inside the door on the left. Can't really hear it from my office.