Phuzzykins' 300 gallon AGE Build Extravaganza
- Thread starter phuzzykins
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phuzzykins
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No major developments... the rabbitfish and trigger are still extremely shy, but both are eating well. The goby could care less about my presence, and the chromis that's been in QT for 3 weeks swims right up to me.
One of the nice aspects of having a webcam in the fish room is that I can pan it over to the quarantine tank and observe how the fish behave when I'm not in the room. I'm considering repositioning the camera to get a more head-on view of the QT tank, at the expense of being able to see the skimmer and sump.
I'm about to go mix up some fresh salt water and dose PraziPro into the quarantine tank, but so far, so good. I'm getting more nuisance algae growth in the main tank, which should be helped out by the order I have coming from Keys Critters later in the week.
One of the nice aspects of having a webcam in the fish room is that I can pan it over to the quarantine tank and observe how the fish behave when I'm not in the room. I'm considering repositioning the camera to get a more head-on view of the QT tank, at the expense of being able to see the skimmer and sump.
I'm about to go mix up some fresh salt water and dose PraziPro into the quarantine tank, but so far, so good. I'm getting more nuisance algae growth in the main tank, which should be helped out by the order I have coming from Keys Critters later in the week.
phuzzykins
New member
Just did an ~ 10% water change on the main reef, and used the old water for 50% water changes on the QT tank and my Solana. I have been feeding pretty heavily in QT, and was starting to get some detectable ammonia. I have the HOB power filter turned off so that the carbon doesn't remove the PraziPro, so I'm being extra cautious about water quality.
The newbies in QT are continuing to do well. The rabbit is displaying fright coloration a lot less when I'm in front of the tank, and sometimes swims out in the open around me. The trigger is still shy, but getting better.
Tomorrow, I should have a couple of large boxes delivered...
The newbies in QT are continuing to do well. The rabbit is displaying fright coloration a lot less when I'm in front of the tank, and sometimes swims out in the open around me. The trigger is still shy, but getting better.
Tomorrow, I should have a couple of large boxes delivered...
phuzzykins
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36 (72x36x27)
jollyballs
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bump
phuzzykins
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The two large boxes arrived. 
Textured panels (and corner and ledger pieces) to skin the stand and canopy. I went with Coral Block panels from Texture Plus. They're a lightweight urethane foam panel, and I intend to make them removable for continued easy access to the stand and canopy.
I'm also seriously considering redoing my actinic lights as 4x5' bulbs instead of 8x3' bulbs. The 3' bulbs are a VERY tight squeeze, and limit my options for placing fans. It also means about 2x the cost for bulb replacements.
Textured panels (and corner and ledger pieces) to skin the stand and canopy. I went with Coral Block panels from Texture Plus. They're a lightweight urethane foam panel, and I intend to make them removable for continued easy access to the stand and canopy.
I'm also seriously considering redoing my actinic lights as 4x5' bulbs instead of 8x3' bulbs. The 3' bulbs are a VERY tight squeeze, and limit my options for placing fans. It also means about 2x the cost for bulb replacements.
meredith1985
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is that stuff meant to use as flooring? I'm just wondering what kind of durrability it has. It looks really cool, I can't wait to see it on the stand!
phuzzykins
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It's definitely not meant to stand up to foot traffic. The panel faces are pretty sturdy, but the panels themselves do flex. They're made from essentially a higher density, stiffer version of the Great Stuff foam.
They're intended to be glued to a backer board with construction adhesive. I had hoped to be able to just put 1/4" plywood behind the seams, but after getting the panels unpacked, I think it's probably wise to put 1/4" plywood or FRP behind the whole panel.
The disadvantage to having to put a backer on the whole thing is that it will probably end up too heavy to be held up by magnets or velcro. :/
phuzzykins
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These panels definitely need a backer... I just held one up to the light rack, and the thin spots of the panel are translucent enough that they transmit some light.
Kind of shatters the illusion of natural stone to see light shining through.
Kind of shatters the illusion of natural stone to see light shining through.
meredith1985
New member
lastlight (or whatever his name is) did his stand with plywood and tiles. It's super heavy... you may wanna ask him what he used for his doors if your concerned about the weight of them. I think it will look great once you got it put together!
phuzzykins
New member
These panels, even with a plywood backer, won't be heavy. Just heavier than I might be able to support with magnets alone. It's a solvable problem.
On the stand, the panels can rest on the floor and be held flush to the stand with magnets.
On the light rack, I'll probably need mechanical fasteners of some sort.
phuzzykins
New member
I have greater calcium and alkalinity demands than I expected at this point, which are resulting in having to dose two-part to keep up... so I bit the bullet and ordered a calcium reactor package. I went with a GEO 6x24 model which should be more than enough for my system.
While I was loading up the cart, I also got enough bits and pieces to redo my T5 setup as 4x80 watt (5') lamps instead of 6x39 watt (3' lamps). The 3' bulbs turned out to be a fairly expensive mistake; the wiring made it harder to troubleshoot bad bulbs, the replacement cost for the bulbs was almost double, and there was just no clearance to get cooling fans in place with the canopy skins on. Lesson learned.
While I was loading up the cart, I also got enough bits and pieces to redo my T5 setup as 4x80 watt (5') lamps instead of 6x39 watt (3' lamps). The 3' bulbs turned out to be a fairly expensive mistake; the wiring made it harder to troubleshoot bad bulbs, the replacement cost for the bulbs was almost double, and there was just no clearance to get cooling fans in place with the canopy skins on. Lesson learned.
phuzzykins
New member
The 6-18 is rated for a 350 gallon system... by extrapolation, the 6-24 is rated for 460 gallons. That's over 50% larger than my system.
If this reactor can't keep up, I'll trade it in or add a second one... but I expect that would be quite a way into the future.
phuzzykins
New member
Geo's reactors are sized about twice as conservatively as everyone else's, based on media volume per rated gallon.
If this ends up not being enough, I'll look into other options. I'd imagine that would most likely happen if my tank ends up SPS dominated, which isn't currently the plan.
If this ends up not being enough, I'll look into other options. I'd imagine that would most likely happen if my tank ends up SPS dominated, which isn't currently the plan.
phuzzykins
New member
There is no information to suggest that it has any effect on the PVC.
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