My 500 + gallon system. Last 13 years to now. Build, Aquascaping & more. Lots of pics

[slief]

I started treating with the Medic. I also lowered my salinity over the weekend as it was too high. Sadly, there have been a handful of casualties. I'm too depressed to get into the casualties but it could have been worse. Ive been doing this salt water stuff for a loooong time and never had this happen. Not at least that I can remember. Things are looking better though.

Filter is doing well. RODI will be here towards the end of the week. I have two 55G plastic drums set up in an old rubbermaid shed outside next to the tank wall. I am going to set up an auto water change using a litermeter as well as an ATO in the next week or so. I will also have an SCH for my skimmer tomorrow. I am looking forward to that. Love the gadgets and I have been selling off old stuff to fund the new stuff as well as some personal expenses. Way too much aquarium stuff that I no longer need.

New video is up..
http://www.youtube.com/user/lafishguy#p/a/u/0/6jGbk03ixvU

Will update more soon. Probably be an SCH update tomorrow.

 

[Marc]

Great episode Scott, hows everything coming along??? The refugium looks great! But just to let you know that if you do decide to dose copper to the system, the copper will destroy your refugium as well. The only way to go about it is to just wait it out and keep the fish well fed with vitamins. The only way to keep this disease at bay is to keep the fishes immune systems up so they are able to fight off the disease themselves. It is possible that they will come out of this alright. I know Jim wants to badly dose copper but I advise against it due to the amount of liverock you have as well the new refugium. Copper bonds to everything from liverock to sand and the acrylic walls which will leach out on you when the pH falls overtime. And after copper medication treatments it is not as simple to remove the copper from the water as some may think. It could take weeks before you can put coral back in. And even after that it is still a huge risk. Also the copper only effects free floating ick in the water column itself, not from the fish. Ick encapulates itself in a slime coat when attached to the host so copper would be ineffective to use to treat the fish themselves. PM me again Scott if you have any questions...

Marc

 

[slief]

Great episode Scott, hows everything coming along??? The refugium looks great! But just to let you know that if you do decide to dose copper to the system, the copper will destroy your refugium as well. The only way to go about it is to just wait it out and keep the fish well fed with vitamins. The only way to keep this disease at bay is to keep the fishes immune systems up so they are able to fight off the disease themselves. It is possible that they will come out of this alright. I know Jim wants to badly dose copper but I advise against it due to the amount of liverock you have as well the new refugium. Copper bonds to everything from liverock to sand and the acrylic walls which will leach out on you when the pH falls overtime. And after copper medication treatments it is not as simple to remove the copper from the water as some may think. It could take weeks before you can put coral back in. And even after that it is still a huge risk. Also the copper only effects free floating ick in the water column itself, not from the fish. Ick encapulates itself in a slime coat when attached to the host so copper would be ineffective to use to treat the fish themselves. PM me again Scott if you have any questions...

Marc

Thanks for your advice! Copper isnt an option at this point. It would be great if I could catch all the fish and osolate them, but that would kill them. I am going to have to ride this out. I am taking it one day at a time. I'm treating with the medic and will give it a few days.

You got me thinking with your previous info. I decided to add an air stone near my circulation pump and koralia. At first I turned my Koralias up to the surface and they did give me better aeration but the air stone made me feel better. Now there is plenty of good aeration.

I mixed up a batch of food this weekend and that might help the fish help themselves. They seem to like it. It included scallops, tuna, shrimp, muscles, oysters, baby octopus, squid, cuttlefish, silversides, mysis, cryll, bloodworms, formula 1flake and pellets, formula 2 flake and pellets, brine shrimp flake plus, crushed garlic, garlic capsule extract, sprionella powder, brocolli, nori, selcon and I think thats most of it. Its the first time my cuisanart got action in years! I mixed it up, lined a couple cookie sheets with wax paper, cut up some egg crate to fit the coockie sheets, packed the squares with my concoction and froze em. It made hundreds of very concentrate squares.

I plan on making up a batch of more meaty meals tomorrow and Jim was talking about coming by to video that for another episode..


I need to get a new 18 volt AC adapter for my ozone and plumb my uv in. That will happen in the next week or so. I have everything I need to set my UV up in a pinch with a power head in the top of the tank should I need to.

 

[bullitr]

no tuna and use a fresh cloves garlic!

 

[dahenley]

have you ever tried artificial salt mixes. by artificial, i mean mixing RoDi and a bucket of salt?

how often do you do water changes?

i read somewhere, where a guy with a large system was using sea water as you are, and it was fine for a while, but then it was causing havoc to his system it took him a while to narrow it down to the water, but he switched over to mixed salt water. it also took a little while to get everything straightened out, but his corals started looking better and things started to turn around. im just throwing this out there.

if i can find it, i will post a link to the guys build and that way you can ask him questions. (i only know what is posted)

they say that natural is ok, but it is limited on things that are in the water and it gets consumed very fast.

what is your opinion on that?

 

[dahenley]

also, what are you using for top off water right now?

 

[slief]

have you ever tried artificial salt mixes. by artificial, i mean mixing RoDi and a bucket of salt?

how often do you do water changes?

i read somewhere, where a guy with a large system was using sea water as you are, and it was fine for a while, but then it was causing havoc to his system it took him a while to narrow it down to the water, but he switched over to mixed salt water. it also took a little while to get everything straightened out, but his corals started looking better and things started to turn around. im just throwing this out there.

if i can find it, i will post a link to the guys build and that way you can ask him questions. (i only know what is posted)

they say that natural is ok, but it is limited on things that are in the water and it gets consumed very fast.

what is your opinion on that?

My RO/DI is arriving this week. From that point on I will be mixing my own saltwater. I used to do it years back as well, but that was a long time ago.

also, what are you using for top off water right now?

Topping off with RO/DI. My refractormeter was no good and as a result of getting false numbers, my salinity was way off. It wasnt until I got my Apex conductivity probe setup and a mechanical hydrometer that I realized it. This just a few days ago.

 

[Marc]

Yeah, I think Ocean Water is a bad idea as well, you have no idea of what type of contimanants are in that ocean water, such as gasoline, oil, you know the trash people throw in our oceans!!!! I live in colorado so I have no choice in making my own synthetic water batches!

Marc

 

[Marc]

Thanks for your advice! Copper isnt an option at this point. It would be great if I could catch all the fish and osolate them, but that would kill them. I am going to have to ride this out. I am taking it one day at a time. I'm treating with the medic and will give it a few days.

You got me thinking with your previous info. I decided to add an air stone near my circulation pump and koralia. At first I turned my Koralias up to the surface and they did give me better aeration but the air stone made me feel better. Now there is plenty of good aeration.

I mixed up a batch of food this weekend and that might help the fish help themselves. They seem to like it. It included scallops, tuna, shrimp, muscles, oysters, baby octopus, squid, cuttlefish, silversides, mysis, cryll, bloodworms, formula 1flake and pellets, formula 2 flake and pellets, brine shrimp flake plus, crushed garlic, garlic capsule extract, sprionella powder, brocolli, nori, selcon and I think thats most of it. Its the first time my cuisanart got action in years! I mixed it up, lined a couple cookie sheets with wax paper, cut up some egg crate to fit the coockie sheets, packed the squares with my concoction and froze em. It made hundreds of very concentrate squares.

I plan on making up a batch of more meaty meals tomorrow and Jim was talking about coming by to video that for another episode..


I need to get a new 18 volt AC adapter for my ozone and plumb my uv in. That will happen in the next week or so. I have everything I need to set my UV up in a pinch with a power head in the top of the tank should I need to.

Thats awesome on making your own fish food, I need to start doing that so I can save some money!!! I like that idea. As for the UV and Ozone, don't run them until you are completely done dosing any medication. The Ozone and UV will oxydate the medication rendering it useless. Also make sure your pH is stable at 8.2 - 8.3. Ozone will also boost your oxygen levels through your protein skimmer making it more efficient at oxydation as well as fish will benefit from higher oxygen levels.

Marc

 

[slief]

Thats awesome on making your own fish food, I need to start doing that so I can save some money!!! I like that idea. As for the UV and Ozone, don't run them until you are completely done dosing any medication. The Ozone and UV will oxydate the medication rendering it useless. Also make sure your pH is stable at 8.2 - 8.3. Ozone will also boost your oxygen levels through your protein skimmer making it more efficient at oxydation as well as fish will benefit from higher oxygen levels.

Marc

My PH seems to hover around 8.1. Do I need to address that?

 

[Untamed12]

My PH seems to hover around 8.1. Do I need to address that?

No, 8.1 is pretty good. If you have a controller, you might check to see how low that pH is actually getting overnight.

Changing the pH of your tank is no easy task. You can throw junk in there that causes a temporary spike (not good), but the system will return to the same pH again shortly after.

I managed to minimize the overnight drop by running Kalk only at night. This reduced the overnight low, but hasn't done much to the daily high. It's good, because the pH is more stable over the 24 hr cycle. I know my Kalk is used up when the overnight pH dips below 8.0. At the end of a daylight cycle, my pH might climb to 8.25.

 

[Marc]

My PH seems to hover around 8.1. Do I need to address that?

As long as you keep it steady at 8.1 to 8.4 it should be fine. I know it's difficult to keep it stable in a captive enviroment. But stable water quality is the key right now to help keep the fishes immunity up and stress down. So how do you like your new skimmer? How does the needlewheel perform versus the beckett you had on it previously?

Marc

 

[slief]

No, 8.1 is pretty good. If you have a controller, you might check to see how low that pH is actually getting overnight.

Changing the pH of your tank is no easy task. You can throw junk in there that causes a temporary spike (not good), but the system will return to the same pH again shortly after.

I managed to minimize the overnight drop by running Kalk only at night. This reduced the overnight low, but hasn't done much to the daily high. It's good, because the pH is more stable over the 24 hr cycle. I know my Kalk is used up when the overnight pH dips below 8.0. At the end of a daylight cycle, my pH might climb to 8.25.

I am running my fuge lights opposite of my DT lights. At night it drops to around 8.08 and during the day it gets as high as 8.16. I am a bit surprised that the fuge lights to keep it more stable at night.

As long as you keep it steady at 8.1 to 8.4 it should be fine. I know it's difficult to keep it stable in a captive enviroment. But stable water quality is the key right now to help keep the fishes immunity up and stress down. So how do you like your new skimmer? How does the needlewheel perform versus the beckett you had on it previously?

Marc

So far I love the skimmer. I am very impressed with it. It keeps a great foam head and produces some very stinky skimmate and about as much as the beckett skimmer produced. Its easier to produce more skimmate with this one but that has a lot to do with the way I had the exit line plumbed out of my Beckett skimmer which I could have changed. The beckett skimmer was great too though.

 

[Marc]

I am running my fuge lights opposite of my DT lights. At night it drops to around 8.08 and during the day it gets as high as 8.16. I am a bit surprised that the fuge lights to keep it more stable at night.



So far I love the skimmer. I am very impressed with it. It keeps a great foam head and produces some very stinky skimmate and about as much as the beckett skimmer produced. Its easier to produce more skimmate with this one but that has a lot to do with the way I had the exit line plumbed out of my Beckett skimmer which I could have changed. The beckett skimmer was great too though.

I know this may be off topic a little bit but I want to build a large needlewheel skimmer using an reeflo hammerhead pump. I already ordered the needlwheel impeller from Chris at Reeflo pumps and have all the plumbing and acrylic ready. I just need to find some good prices on some 12" cast acrylic tube!

Marc

 

[slief]

I know this may be off topic a little bit but I want to build a large needlewheel skimmer using an reeflo hammerhead pump. I already ordered the needlwheel impeller from Chris at Reeflo pumps and have all the plumbing and acrylic ready. I just need to find some good prices on some 12" cast acrylic tube!

Marc

I would consider the reeflo dart needle wheel. That one is all ready to go and can be used to make a kick *** skimmer. Its also much more efficient and not far off on flow. As far as the tubing. There was a thread here a while back on the subject. 9" or 10" would work well too and it will be much less expensive. At 12" diameter, you might be better off buying a new skimmer from a cost standpoind. If it were me, I would perfect my design using PVC tubing before I ponied up on the 12" acrylic. Here is a link to the 12" tube thread.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=16485177

 

[slief]

I figured I would post on update. I added my SCH to my skimmer. Its controlled by my Apex and runs once a day for 15 seconds. Its made by Aquadriver and the quality of this unit is pretty impressive. They have 2 versions of this SCH. One with a washdown and one without. I got the one without the washdown. This unit does however have a little sprayer that squirts water on the wiper when it cleaning. I will probably build my own cup wash down for it in the future.

I will be installing a 114 watt Aqua UV unit this weekend. Also on the list of to do's for this weekend will be to ring up my 2 55G plastic drums with bulkheads, float sensors and a mixing pump. My RO/DI will get installed Tuesday after the plumber runs some copper for me. I also have a Litermeter 3 with a second pump so I will be rigging up an auto water changer as well as an ATO. All of which will be plumbed into the 2 drums.

I will also be installing my Redseas Aquazone 200 plus ozone unit as soon as I get a new AC adapter for it. I had this for years but took it offline when it died.

 

[slief]

I got my UV installed. It was a breeze. Just had to cut a chunk out of the recirc return pipe and glue in the Aqua UV unions. The way I have it set up will make maintenance a easy. The wipers are right in front when the underside door is open.

The rest of the morning was spent drilling holes and installing bulkheads in my 55G drums. One more run to lowes for some odds and ends and I will finish plumbing my water change and RO/DI reservoirs (55G drums) and installing the float switches in them for the RO/DI. Pics to come of that later today or tomorrow.

Here is the UV. I mounted the UV ballasts on pipe hangers. I am pretty happy with the way it turned out.

 

[Marc]

I got my UV installed. It was a breeze. Just had to cut a chunk out of the recirc return pipe and glue in the Aqua UV unions. The way I have it set up will make maintenance a easy. The wipers are right in front when the underside door is open.

The rest of the morning was spent drilling holes and installing bulkheads in my 55G drums. One more run to lowes for some odds and ends and I will finish plumbing my water change and RO/DI reservoirs (55G drums) and installing the float switches in them for the RO/DI. Pics to come of that later today or tomorrow.

Here is the UV. I mounted the UV ballasts on pipe hangers. I am pretty happy with the way it turned out.

Wicked, I am glad you went the Aqua UV's... What are the black Aqua UV hooked up to? Also hows the Ick situation coming along? Did the meds you were talking about work? When is Jim doing another vid?

Great Job on all your work, I hope you share everything with us on Jim's next video...

Marc

 

[Marc]

Wicked, I am glad you went the Aqua UV's... What are the black Aqua UV hooked up to? Also hows the Ick situation coming along? Did the meds you were talking about work? When is Jim doing another vid?

Great Job on all your work, I hope you share everything with us on Jim's next video...

Marc

My bad, I didn't realize until now that those are the Aqua ultraviolet ballasts... :spin2: Pretty funny... I need to read before I post!!! :spin2:

Marc

 

[slief]

Wicked, I am glad you went the Aqua UV's... What are the black Aqua UV hooked up to? Also hows the Ick situation coming along? Did the meds you were talking about work? When is Jim doing another vid?

Great Job on all your work, I hope you share everything with us on Jim's next video...

Marc

The ich seems to be under control now. I am not sure what to attribute it to though. Medic, drop in salinity, temp or the combination. The drop in salinity cost me several fish as did the ich. Cow got caught up in the recirc intlet strainer. I'm down to one vlamigi, lost a clown and some others. I'm pretty bummed but there loss wont be in vein. Between the new filtration, RO/DI water here and not delivered, UV, Ozone as needed, etc. I will have much more control over things. I have a litermeter 3 with a second pump that will get set up for auto water changes as well. That should be ready for action in the next day or 2.

The plumber is here now adding a spicket to my tank closet where the RO/DI will go. He also gets the job of fixing a leaking copper pipe at my water heater. Truth is that the leaking pipe was the real insentive for the plumber but the spicket is the first job. Go figure.

Tomorrow I'll install the RO setup and finish up my fresh water and salter mixing tanks as well as the litermeter install. Only thing left after that will be to throw a pump in the sump for the ATO and program my Apex.

I'm still trying to figure out how the auto water change and ATO are going to coexist. I guess I will have to program something in that adds a delay to the top off so that it doesnt fill when the litermeter is taking water out for a water change. That or use a litermeter ATO and use the Apex only as a failsafe.