ojonas JBJ 28g build thread

Got a new salt bucket this weekend with salt for reefs and not just for fish only tanks. Did a bigger water change yesterday so hopefully my parameters will start to be more normal from now on. The only other thing that has been added to the tank the last week or so is the skimmer and my PhosBan reactor. Don't think any of those would increase the Ca and Mg values.

Did also re-plumb my reactor this weekend as well as sorting up the cable mess I had in my cabinet. Looks a little cleaner now and is easier to follow. Was just a big spiderweb of cords before. Will add pictures soon.
 
I finally uploaded the pictures of my skimmer and PhosBan reactor setup. The fit is very tight for the skimmer, but it works. I do have to shorten the intake and return pips to the skimmer because right now I cannot open the lid to the first notch which I would like to do. The skimmer however is working like a charm, pulling out a whole bunch of nasty stuff from the water. Think I finally got the collection cup adjusted as well. Was redoing the plumbing for the PhosBan reactor a few times but think I finally got something that will work fine. One of the stock returns is going to a Y-splitter. One part of the Y is going to the reactor, the other one is going to a second Y. The return from the reactor is also connecting to the second Y and that is in turn connected directly to the return nozzle in the tank. Seems like it is working fine. The phosphate levels have gone down, although not to 0 just yet. Below are two pictures of the setup.





I also stopped by one of my LFS after work today to ask about a potential RBTA purchase down the road. I ended up leaving with one Emerald crab (to hopefully eat some of my bubble algae) and a nice Australian Acro.



It is one of the biggest pieces in my tank. Unfortunately it came on a big rock piece. I would like to get it off the rock and glue it directly onto my LR. Any suggestions on how to do that without doing too much damage to the coral?

I also think I have found the issue with my dying shrimps. The salinity was way high because of incorrectly calibrated refractometer. High salinity made the Ca and Mg to be high. Around the same time I also added the PhosBan reactor and I added too much GFO which brought down alkalinity and PH. Adding all that together equals a very hostile environment for shrimps. I will monitor the values carefully the next couple of weeks but it looks like they have stabilized now. The new salt should also help. The Emerald will be my "test bunny" to see if my theory is correct.
 
Nice work with the reactor.

By adding the reactor to the existing pump have you noticed any loss in flow and did it lower the water level in that chamber ?
 
Looking good ojonas! That acro was a sweet add!

Jack, both pump chambers are connected, so you cant drop one only. Just FYI :)
 
Jackooze: ange is correct. Since the two pump chambers are connected the water level will drop equally in both. I always makes sure the level in the pump champers are the same as the level in the heater/skimmer chamber. The flow did decrease after adding the reactor but that is not a big problem for me. Slower flow actually helps because my inTank MediaBasket was overflowing before and now it is not. I also have a MP10 in my tank that takes care of the flow.

ange: Thanks. I could not resist the purchase. Was a nice $50 for that big "frag". Just need to figure out how to get it off the rock without too much damage. The rock it came on is too big for me to place where I want it.
 
Those maricultured colonies can be really difficult to get off the base!! After removing one colony by trying to "snap it off" I decided I would never try that again, it was a disaster. The only good way to do it is to use a bandsaw to cut through the rock and make it a manageable size. Or, you could always just move some rocks around to make it work the way it is.
 
I was hoping that would not be the case. Will see if I can somehow chisel it off. Have a perfect spot for it but that big rock won't fit. How long could I have it outside the water while working on the stone or so I have to try to make it all under water?
 
Since it's a smooth skinned acro, it'll dry out much quicker then something fuzzy like a stylo or mille, I wouldn't keep it out of the water for more then a minute or two...
 
ange062 said:
Since it's a smooth skinned acro, it'll dry out much quicker then something fuzzy like a stylo or mille, I wouldn't keep it out of the water for more then a minute or two...
Click to expand...

I agree with ange the smooth skinned acros do not like to be out of the water long. On my Hawkins that I had to get off an ORA plug I used a dremmel but kept putting water on it by dipping into a cup to both keep it happy and also to keep the heat down as you cut through it. I have had corals die from the heat of the cutting before as well so be careful. it can be done but just take your time.
 
I might have to look into getting myself a Dremel tool I think. Need it anyway in order to shorten the intake and return pipes for my skimmer.
 
ojonas81 said:
I might have to look into getting myself a Dremel tool I think. Need it anyway in order to shorten the intake and return pipes for my skimmer.
Click to expand...

They are great for getting frags off the plugs especially ORA type and are a great tool to have for the hobby. I still think you may need the bandsaw though on the colony you have. If you can leave it and scape around it that still might be best. Otherwise be ready to frag it in many pieces just in case.

Also forgot to say nice tank last time!
 
I am planning on purchasing a reactor this week so I have a a few question regarding the pipping.

I am trying to understand from your description how the pipping actually works. Did you connect the Y-fitting to the exhaust nozzle or to the exhaust pump pipe? Why couldn't you just have the pipping from the exhaust pipe head to reactor intake followed by the reactor exhaust going to the the return nozzle. What made you decide to go this route rather then how Ange went by adding another pump for the reactor ?

By the way are your pumps both working together or using the wavemaker?
 
Jackooze: I could have done that but then I would have had to restrict the flow quite a bit because you don't want a whole lot of flow through the reactor. By splitting the flow I can control how much that is going to the reactor and how much that is going directly out to the tank minimizing the loss of flow. May not be the best solution but seems to work for me. I did not want to add another pump to the system that would add more heat and potential noise. I don't have a chiller connected which I think Ange062 has. My pumps are on all the time, no wavemaker.
 
Decided tonight to not even try to cut the Acro loose from the rock. It has already encrusted a lot and I would most likely just destroy the coral. Instead I decided to move my Ponape Birdsnest to a different place and squeeze in the Acro rock there instead. Think it will work out good. Will take a few pictures tomorrow when my lights are back on again. Did unfortunately break off one of the branches from the Ponape. Glued it to one of the rocks separately hoping it will grow into a new coral.
 
ojonas81 said:
Jackooze: I could have done that but then I would have had to restrict the flow quite a bit because you don't want a whole lot of flow through the reactor. By splitting the flow I can control how much that is going to the reactor and how much that is going directly out to the tank minimizing the loss of flow. May not be the best solution but seems to work for me. I did not want to add another pump to the system that would add more heat and potential noise. I don't have a chiller connected which I think Ange062 has. My pumps are on all the time, no wavemaker.
Click to expand...

I will try going your route and see how that goes. So you connected the Y fitting to the return pump pipe?

Regarding the mediabasket basically you just let it overflow in order of having both pumps on ? I feel like one of my pumps are failing because they are on a 10 sec interval.

Thanks Ojonas81 appreciate all your input.
 
Jack: I actually replaced the pipe from the return pump because it was too short. Tried first to use it but it became very very tight in the return chamber when I had the Y in these right off the stock pipe (at least with the Y that I used). So I decided to make a longer pipe and keep all connections outside of the return chamber. That will make so you lose some more flow but I liked the idea of an easy installation to maintain.

Right now, after I hooked up the reactor I have no problem with overflowing the Mediabasket. I did just let it overflow before and it seemed fine. Enough water went through it anyway. Are yo sure you don't have the wavemaker set to alternate every 10 seconds?
 
ojonas81 said:
Jack: I actually replaced the pipe from the return pump because it was too short. Tried first to use it but it became very very tight in the return chamber when I had the Y in these right off the stock pipe (at least with the Y that I used). So I decided to make a longer pipe and keep all connections outside of the return chamber. That will make so you lose some more flow but I liked the idea of an easy installation to maintain.

Right now, after I hooked up the reactor I have no problem with overflowing the Mediabasket. I did just let it overflow before and it seemed fine. Enough water went through it anyway. Are yo sure you don't have the wavemaker set to alternate every 10 seconds?
Click to expand...

The way you did it I think is the best approach. Thought about it all day today.Its the best option because by having the pump directly going to the reactor will be to much flow, therefore you would have to mess with the flow. I am thinking of making the pipping longer to go behind the tank so it wouldn't be visible from the top, do you think the pump can handle extra length in pipping ? I have a MJ900 that is laying around, thinking of using it instead of stock.
 
Here are two pictures of the location I found for the Aussie acro and for my Ponape. Sorry for the crappy phone pictures.


Nice and center in the tank. My new center piece. Looks really cool under the blue LEDs.


The new location for my Ponape. One of the branches got broken off so I glued it to a rock. will see if it will grow at all.
 
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