Maroun.c 390 G build thread

[maroun.c]

Aquafred Amazing clams you got there.
Did you take the top down shots underwater?
That is a lot of plumbing, are you redoing the plumbing of your house or is it just for the aquarium?
Keep the updates coming.

Clams are my wifes favourite so theres no limit on those and i'm always on look for mor colour variety and some nice patterns.
Top down shots taken from out of the water using a clear acrylic box under the camera to get better visibility and less light reflections.
As for plumbing i have a load of plumbing to do:
-Tank plumbing to basement: around 36 feet of plumbing for each pipe and i intend to run 2x1.5 inch drains and 2 1 inch returns
- Connect the drains of both frag tanks together and also connect the drain of the cube tank in the basement to them, and take all drains back to the new sump. Also plumb the returns of all 3 tanks from a single pump.
- water change tank getting supply from DT drain and draining back to the sump.
-RODI collection container and water mixing tank plumbed together and supply from there to water change tank for water changes and to ATO reservoire.
-Water circulation to 2 chillers
-External skimmer plumbing.

I hope to be able to finish all this in few weeks from now, the tough part is planning all the plumbing in and out of the sump without creating a plumbing mess.

Newbie Aquarist I wouldve been shocked to. He was probably like, man thats all my inventory.

Well at least i got whole sale price discount for once

 

[dave.m]

You may want to consider that you can have too many clams in one tank. When a tank is well run and well maintained (as yours appears to be headed for) it is not uncommon for the clams to start spawning. When one clam starts they all start and can quickly overwhelm a tank with their gametes. Just something to consider.

Dave.M

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

You may want to consider that you can have too many clams in one tank. When a tank is well run and well maintained (as yours appears to be headed for) it is not uncommon for the clams to start spawning. When one clam starts they all start and can quickly overwhelm a tank with their gametes. Just something to consider.

Dave.M

So how is that bad? Will it drive nutrients up?

 

[maroun.c]

Never considered this Dave, thanks for pointing it out.
Believe my final system volume would be around 1000 gallons. I currently have the 6 clams pictured above (4medium and 2 small ones) in a ddition to a larger one still in quarantine and a tiny one in my cube. Do you think this is already a risk and should i take out a few? Or am i still able to add few more?
Would a decent skimmer be able to handle the gametes released or would it shut or overflow in the even of a spawning event? Believe fish would eat the gametes?

 

[dave.m]

So how is that bad? Will it drive nutrients up?

It can kill your tank if it is too much. I am trying to find a DVD I got years ago of a guy's tank where the clams would all start to spawn together and the tank water would literally turn white with sperm and eggs. At first your fish go nuts with this sudden feast. But then the skimmer starts to go berserk and finally can't keep up with it all and then the O2 levels start to drop.

Not a serious problem with only a few clams in a 300 gallon tank. But double that to six or eight clams and you can see how you might be setting yourself up for a disaster. The only way to recover would be to a). constantly be monitoring O2 levels with a controller and b). always maintain a large amount of saltwater ready to go at any time for if/when a massive water change is called for in an emergency.

Dave.M

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

It can kill your tank if it is too much. I am trying to find a DVD I got years ago of a guy's tank where the clams would all start to spawn together and the tank water would literally turn white with sperm and eggs. At first your fish go nuts with this sudden feast. But then the skimmer starts to go berserk and finally can't keep up with it all and then the O2 levels start to drop.

Not a serious problem with only a few clams in a 300 gallon tank. But double that to six or eight clams and you can see how you might be setting yourself up for a disaster. The only way to recover would be to a). constantly be monitoring O2 levels with a controller and b). always maintain a large amount of saltwater ready to go at any time for if/when a massive water change is called for in an emergency.

Dave.M

Thanks for the information. So what would you suggest? What would be a max count on clams in his system. ?

 

[dave.m]

What would be a max count on clams in his system?

I would stop at six in a 390 but that's just a guess. I have not had this happen to me personally, only seen it come up previously in magazine articles. I guess once Maroun goes through it a couple of times HE will be the expert and we will all be coming to him for advice.

Dave.M

 

[maroun.c]

Thanks Dave.
As said total system volume will be around 1000 Gallons when connected to the basement setup so this i guess makes it a bit safer.
The water mixing station when setup will allow me to make a 160 gallon water change at any time which again is an added level of security. Still you are right i might just have to take out a couple of the blue clams if i plan to add different colors or patterns.
This brought to mind the tank of Joseph Weatherson from 6-7 years back, who experimented with air injection and at the time the very new LED moonlights. He got multiple spawning events as result of his success (not sure if its a blessing or a curse) at the time I had asked him if theres a way to trigger an alarm based on water clarity drop but he mentioned the ORP drop in was of his spawning events which would be the best alarm. Apparently his 240 gallons handled the multiple spawning events of his 13 clams. Looks like the coral spawning events he had were much worse than the clams spawning in terms of smell and water conditions yet he doesnt report any related fish loss. That doesn't add a safety feeling with my added water volume when i look at weathersons elaborate setup! Heres a link to weathersons thread when he talked about the spawning events.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1199611&highlight=spawn&page=14
Unfortunately his last post on his thread was years ago so I'm not sure if the tank is still running.

 

[dave.m]

Thx for the link, Maroun. I don't know if you would want to stay up all night as Weatherson did to keep ahead of a spawning event like that.

Also, instead of calling it PE I would have referred to it as GG (gametic gunk).

Dave.M

 

[maroun.c]

Would definitely want to avoid that, Especially when I'm on travel and the tank is under the care of my Wife.
Funny you mention the PE as I was trying to find out what he meant by it. I'm sure it does have a meaning and certainly not Polyp extension.

 

[dave.m]

Weatherson defines PE as "procreation excretions". :lol:

Dave.M

 

[maroun.c]

I just couldn't find it on the thread!!!

 

[dave.m]

It's in this one just under the image of the hand net.

Dave.M

 

[maroun.c]

And Finally a long awaited skimmer upgrade. Went with the Super reef octopus external cone 8000. Rated for up to 5000 Litres it should be able to handle the tank, Frag system in the basement and any upgrade or additions!!!

Next to my current Hurricone Cat 1 skimmer

The usual can shot for size refference Can for size reference

Still have to finish some plumbing and electrical before I can run it but definitly impressed with the build quality so far.

 

[Aquafred]

That's one beast of a skimmer.
Please post some skimmate shots.

 

[maroun.c]

Thanks Fred,
Skimmer not running yet as i still have to finalize plumbing and electrical in the basement.
Will definitely post pics when its installed

 

[maroun.c]

And the project that has been delayed the most: Drilling the floor for plumbing and electrical from tank to the basement filtration!!!
The bigger coring machine that would have gone through Marble, cement, 4 inches of sand and 12 inches of steel reinforced cement didn't fit in the cabinet so they had to manually take off the marble, cement and sand.

In total 3 holes were drilled on the left side (2 1.5 inch crain tubes and an additional for an additional drain if needed or more electrical or ventilation inlet...) and 2 holes on the right for 2x 1.5 inch returns and some more electrical tubes) Each hole took around 40 minutes. wasn't as messy process as I thought due to the initial hole made by taking out the marble which contained all water for cooling and minimized splashing. Still a real test for how far you can stretch your WAF.

 

[Aquafred]

This build keeps getting better.
Is that steel in the cement Cylinders? Would that cause any structural risk?

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

looks like there's some rebar in there but isn't going to cause any problems. rebar isn't for structural strength.

 

[maroun.c]

I prechecked before I drilled as I knew the tank was over a support area.
I was told it is fine to drill through.
It is reassuring though to see the thickness of cement and steel the tank is resting on.