My Project ★ GENESIS ★ 110G (Miracle) SPS Dream Tank - (II) Build Thread

[Wally.B]

Good to hear!! You don’t want to wait for things to fix themselves when it comes to plumbing and aquarium infections.
I have a contractor friend who was demoing a kitchen. Got a knick on his thumb.. 24 hours later, they were removing half of it due to flesh eating disease.
Many years ago while unpacking a shipment of corals, I ended up with an extraordinarily painful finger.. thought it would go away on its own.. 24 hours later I was rushed to emergency by my GP with lymphangitis- red lines running to my shoulder from my swollen, painful finger..
minor surgery to remove ‘fluids’ and a couple antibiotic horse pills for two weeks..
There is nasty stuff lurking in damp, dark places!!!

Yeah, I got like 50 tiny cuts/scapes over last 3 months of BUILD and nightly polysporin/Badage healed them all.
But I knew things were not good with this finger when I started feeling my hear beat pulses from the pressure.
Yes, I've become a bit more diligent with Rock and Coral handling since I've read some bad stories about PalyToxin from Paly's and Zoa's. (So do use my full length-To-Shoulder gloves) and have a box of surgical Gloves my dentist sell me to even clean the skimmer. It's become a habit.

RED lines is scary stuff. My mom always told me when I was a kid, if you see a red line going up your arm from a cut, you could be in serious trouble if it get's to your heart.

The ole cut and squeeze huh? I've had that. Had a spider bite turn into an MRSA infection... Let me tell you, they sliced that sucker open and milked my leg like a rotten cow.

The worst part is the stinging fiery "pain reliever"

Ouch. Sounds awful.
Mine baby surgery wasn't that bad. Didn't look, but first scapel cut didn't get it out so I had to look.....Then it's wasn't that great. But 2nd cut got something out. Looked like metal slither.
I already feel better. Sensitive but better.
Got a Latex Finger COT at drug store to put over bandage to water proof it....Funny part is doctor said I should rinse the cut with SALT Water, and I told him about tank, I plan to...Eventually.

Ouch ... hope you feel better W

Yes, better now.

Hard to Type on keyboard without Finger next to THumb......Won't put my hand into Live Tank till it heals......

SOOOOO....

Now more reason for ALEXA..... (Since I have a day or two to kill)

I also got a Samsung Internet HUB.

I alrady have a few Lutron Switches/Dimmers around House, A chamberlain Smart Garage door, and the switches I got on Amazon.

But they are all running DUMB,

With Alex/Samsung HUB I can make them all work SMART.

Always wanted a delay in my office, since if I turn off my office light, desk light, I stumble in darkness, to find Hallway Path, Door, and Stairs to First Floor.

This will allow me to setup a LIGHT out Delay....That I've always Wanted.

 

[Wally.B]

Definitely.
If it’s not time consuming..

SUMP ROOM BUILD VIDEO DONE.

Here you go Matt. Just for you. (I owe you for the Great Full Tank video you made for me).


One of the Worst Edit VIDEO HACKs I've ever done. Finger is still sore a bit so energy to hit keyboard/mouse is limited.

Hope Not TOO my public folks on You Tube don't find it since they will laugh at the quality. (I need to learn how to share video's privately)

At least it shows the work in stages (and the FEW KEY MOMENT time lapse camera snaps I pulled out)

Added some cool sound/music I found on YouTube (to help make the video bearable to watch)

I will redo a better video later when COMPLETE tank is done. (A complete-start-to-finish adding more [how-to]..... since I have camera photo's showing more than the web cam captures)


YOU TUBE VIDEO Link HERE

https://youtu.be/Nk-nwY4v0go

 

[reefmutt]

Nice!
Looks fantastic inside and out!
I guess twiddling your thumbs while you recover is out..
I know you’ll find plenty to do!

 

[Wally.B]

Finger works good enough for a light tidy ups (Wearing rubber gloves for Finger protection).
Found my test kits (unpacking boxes/bins).

Time to do water tests on 65Gal Tank with Fish. (wonder what N&P will be after 3 months of neglect).

That will help me decide if I combine the tanks or swap (move fish over into empty tank with a few rocks)

Last two days, I'm bringing up Salinity to 1.025 (SLOWLY) on 65Gal, since it dropped to 1.022.
New tank is Dead on 1.025, so don't want to stress fish if I do a quick transfer.

 

[Wally.B]

Sea Swirl Return Installation TIME (to Get tank Running)

I had 3 Holes Drilled in Euro Trim Top to accommodate my Sea Swirl.

Originally it was 2 (Back-Middle) (Right-Corner)

Matt, you gave me the idea about having Circulation from Front to Back of tank (which is difficult to achieve Flow).
So I drilled the Extra 3rd Hole (Middle-Front) just for your idea. ($free)

It's not a bad option that I'll save for when I need it for SPS circulation. Looks worst since really close to your face, and head looks bigger, more pronounced.

For the Tank Startup I'm going Back-Right-Corner for few reasons:

-> Looks best from Front-viewing side (hidden).. Not too bad from Side view since at back.
-> 2nd best Choice for running hose on Top Tank (Sump Room Side).... (Still out of way)
-> Return Water Flow across Tank toward Overflow Drain.

Middle-Back is not bad for viewing, but terrible for access into Tank.

I'll leave enough Hose Slack to be able to change things later.

I also dug around my parts bins, and found the Various Lock-Line fitting I tried over the years.

So plenty of options for Flow adjustments.

 

[Rakie]

Flow coming from front to back of the tank is awesome, that's why the HUGE tanks typically have sea swirls in the front corners.

If you want to up your flow get VCA return nozzles, they are magical. No joke, they actually are all they're cracked up to be -- no BS.

 

[Wally.B]

Flow coming from front to back of the tank is awesome, that's why the HUGE tanks typically have sea swirls in the front corners.

If you want to up your flow get VCA return nozzles, they are magical. No joke, they actually are all they're cracked up to be -- no BS.

I googled VCA Nozzle and found nothing. Can you point to me to the right place. For someday down the road when I have 2 foot SPS colonies

I have only one choice for Front to Back. (Middle). I went with Smaller holes in the Front Corners. (Not sure the reasoning).

However there is another option for Front Corners. Just hard PVC pipe, pointing static.

ALL for the future.

Right now I have zero Fish, zero Corals. Zero Rocks.
Must solve those 3 first.

 

[Fredfish]

What are we going to do when you're all done your build Wally?

We'll all go through Wally.B withdrawal.

 

[Rakie]

I googled VCA Nozzle and found nothing. Can you point to me to the right place. For someday down the road when I have 2 foot SPS colonies

I have only one choice for Front to Back. (Middle). I went with Smaller holes in the Front Corners. (Not sure the reasoning).

However there is another option for Front Corners. Just hard PVC pipe, pointing static.

ALL for the future.

Right now I have zero Fish, zero Corals. Zero Rocks.
Must solve those 3 first.

Yep, in the corners pointing towards their prospective 2/3 of the tank I would use VCA nozzles. VCA is "Vivid Creative Aquatics" and their nozzles are RFG "Random Flow Generator"

With zero moving parts, they use 3D printed plastics to make a return jet have 100% randomized flow. The texture of the return jet allows the water to randomly take 1 of 6 flow directions, giving you a completely randomized alternating flow.

VCA website

Here is a video showing their 3/4" RFG with 300gph of flow, and they introduce air bubbles so you can see the flow pattern (Video link didn't post...)

Here's their 1" with 900gph. The more flow you shove through their product the better and more randomized their flow will be.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAQhw-FqFyw



EDIT: Video link didn't post. I can tell you at RAP in so cal our 150g display tank had ZERO flow other than the return pump, we attached two 3/4" VCA to our tanks return and had proper flow for the whole tank after that.

They are all they're cracked up to be.

 

[Wally.B]

Sea Swirl Installed (Ready for Return Pump) Raised and Siphon Break

I can hook up tank to sump in 1 minute (when ready)


Here is how I ran the Return Pump hose to The Swirl

I'm not sure how much will drain into Sump on (power off), so I did two things to minimize.
Not sure how much Sump will handle. (less drain is better anyway).

Mounting Bracket not need with the Euro Trim

Couple of Extra Koralia Magnetic Suction Pads, and some Black Egg Crate for a bit more height.

Also added a Small Siphon break hole.

Finally I have motivation to do Water tests.

BTW. I have fish plans since these are now available. (Black Cap Basslet, Melanarus Wrasse, ...??)

 

[Wally.B]

What are we going to do when you're all done your build Wally?

We'll all go through Wally.B withdrawal.

It will be ages before I'm done.
I'll be killing SPS and try to find solutions, . Probably get back into my Additive Additives. Start Algae Bloom... Build a algae machine
You won't be bored for years.

 

[Wally.B]

Yep, in the corners pointing towards their prospective 2/3 of the tank I would use VCA nozzles. VCA is "Vivid Creative Aquatics" and their nozzles are RFG "Random Flow Generator"

With zero moving parts, they use 3D printed plastics to make a return jet have 100% randomized flow. The texture of the return jet allows the water to randomly take 1 of 6 flow directions, giving you a completely randomized alternating flow.

VCA website

Here is a video showing their 3/4" RFG with 300gph of flow, and they introduce air bubbles so you can see the flow pattern (Video link didn't post...)

Here's their 1" with 900gph. The more flow you shove through their product the better and more randomized their flow will be.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAQhw-FqFyw



EDIT: Video link didn't post. I can tell you at RAP in so cal our 150g display tank had ZERO flow other than the return pump, we attached two 3/4" VCA to our tanks return and had proper flow for the whole tank after that.

They are all they're cracked up to be.

Price is not bad. Maybe I'll get one. Not yet. Later.

 

[Rakie]

Price is not bad. Maybe I'll get one. Not yet. Later.

Oh yeah, at $20 (they are now on Bulk Reef Supply too) prices don't get much better. Hell, if I could afford it I'd be running a sea swirl in all 4 corners of my cube.

Oh yeah -- All the guys in my club that run sea swirls attached the RFG's to them, makes 'em double awesome.

 

[Wally.B]

REALLY UPSET (Neptune APex VDM * DOA Failure Brand New * )

So I purchased another Apex VDM Module last week. To control my LED Strip, My Variable Speed Pumps, and have one Port spare.

It was brand new. I just mounted it an didn't hook up.

Now I tried it. It works, in the sense that Controller picks up the Module. It's leds blink on an Off when COntrolled. But the Votage doesn't go from (0-10V) like it should. It just stays 14Volts on all ports.

I read on forum that this problem is common on VDM's. Cheap Parts and some fail.

So I call my Supplier, and he tell me I cannot get a replacement for a BRAND new unit that is DOA.

I need to call Apex for Warranty.
THat is BS.

Now I may be waiting for weeks to fix something that was sold to me and arrived in not working condition.

Neptune Support closed on Weekends.

I opened a ticket, and we'll see how they do.

Really upset, since after all this work, it ends in IN-COMPLETE due to a new Part.

When I go to a computer store and buy a keyboard or mouse, and it doesn't work. I can exchange it for a replacement.
But Supplier say's Neptune doesn't allow that. (That they fix many problems over phone, email)....But this is HW 100%

 

[Rakie]

Sorry to hear that Wally! That sucks, and it happens more often than it should.

 

[Wally.B]

Sorry to hear that Wally! That sucks, and it happens more often than it should.

Yeah, it SUCKS big time. But I am cheered up a big with a small distraction (FOUND A FISH).....

I dropped by local Fish store 5 mins away.
Found out they are having a Midnight Madness sale.
15% off from 6-8pm, 25% off from 9-11, and 35% off from 11-midnight.

They have all kinds of wrasses, (Fairy Wrasses: Yellow Flanked, Lubbock Fairy, Carpenter Flasher Wrasse)

and this one caught my attention (Not sure of name)...

It caught my attention. The Blue Colors, Orange Face, and more Crisper Color Pattern, than more blurry Wrasse.

At 35% off, I'll throw it into my 10 Gallon QT while I look for other fish, and finish up tank.

Any thoughts? Can someone ID it?

I won't be putty any Sand into my Tank...So small concern.

 

[Rakie]

Read Head Solon Fairy Wrasse -- (Cirrhilabrus solorensis)

They're supposedly decent temperament wise, so could be a good addition. Sadly, i don't know anybody who has first hand experience.

 

[Wally.B]

Fish QT SETUP (New Fish) Tonight

Thanks Rakie. I looked it up (SOLON WRASSE). Looks not bad, compare to terrible (Six Lines, or Lunars)

Hopefully tonight, I'll get a fish or two at the sale.

I setup PERFECT 10Gal QT. With Lid if a Jumper.

I called the store and got their Fish Tank Section Salinity (1.019).
So I made the QT match.

Will make acclimatization faster, less stress to fish.

When time is right, I'll raise Salnity to match DT slowly.

I have 2nd 10 Gallon on standby for Hospital Tank if treatment is needed.

 

[Rakie]

Sounds good! Some places might call that wrasse a Tricolor wrasse by the way.

 

[Wally.B]

Got 4 new Fish + One Fish for Other Tank (At the Midnight Sale)

The Extra Fish is a Copper Band Butterfy, to take care of the Aptasia bloom in Upstair Kitchen tank. Less $ than the two peppermints I got (see them nowhere).

Rakie, 100% I was thinking about your Advice when selecting fish in the store. About getting tank with different swimming zones.

-> Got the Black Capped Basset (Couldn't belive the had one). Will cancel my other Wait List order.

-> Got the Tri-Color Wrasse

-> and got a Pair of Anthias. Even the store didn't have the right tag on them, so I'll have to find out their species. Pinkish. Yellow tail. Stripes on back. (Look kind of like a Red Saddled Anthias)
I decided on a pair instead of just one....., since there were 3, and these two were inseparable.

DID REALLY PROPER ACCLIMATIZE....Water same as store, and slow dripped before going in.
May setup the 2nd QT, for now they are in QT-01. Low lighting.

This is getting Fun and Exciting.