Pooky's 300

[erics3000]

Looks like things are coming along. keep the pics coming

 

[cbui2]

great updates Kenny, do you have to move the skimmer aside to remove the socks?

 

[pookstreet]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10551241#post10551241 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cbui2
great updates Kenny, do you have to move the skimmer aside to remove the socks?

Nope, there is just enough room to squeeze the socks through. I am planning as many things ahead as possible and try to think of possible pitfalls down the road. Hopefully this system will be simple, easy to take care of, and energy efficient when it's all done. At least that's the plan anyways :lol:

 

[pookstreet]

Did a little bit of aquascaping last night and here is what I got. LMK what you guys think.

Took a pic of the tank before the rocks went in. It really cleared up since the last shot.

This is all the rocks I have so far. Some of the pieces must have weighed 60-70 pounds each. I figured I'll still need about 100-150 pounds more to finish. The basic idea is to have a main rock outcropping against the side with the overflow. A smaller and lower island will be formed to the right. I think that will give all the fish lots of room to swim in, offering them a channel to swim between the two rock mounds.

Here is a closer shot of the main rockwork. I still need to add a couple of larger pieces to build it up just slightly and maybe flatten the right side a bit so it'll have a gentler slope.

 

[kamico]

Wow! great Job Kenny!

 

[cbui2]

those are some large pieces. how much more live rocks will you be getting?

 

[pookstreet]

Thanks Kevin.


Bart - It's hard to say how much more. I am looking for one nice big piece to finish off the main rock mound and some medium/large pieces for the rock island. Could be anywhere from 100-150 pounds.

 

[pookstreet]

Picked up some additional rocks this past weekend and I am almost done. Just need a couple more pieces for the island to finish it off.

The left side against the overflow

The right side island. Should I make the opening between the 2 rock piles wider or does that look ok? Like I said, I just need a couple of flat pieces to cap the island.

 

[TandN]

Hey Kenny tank looks awesome so far. My only concern about the tank though would be the exhaust from the min van.

 

[Kigs]

nice progress Kenny I like the aquascape... can't wait to see that thing packed with livestock

 

[pookstreet]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10603467#post10603467 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tanya72806
Hey Kenny tank looks awesome so far. My only concern about the tank though would be the exhaust from the min van.

Thanks. For a second there I was wondering how you knew we had a mini van. Then I realized it's reflected in the tank :lol: Yeah, I guess it's another thing to worry about but shouldn't be a problem if we kept the garage door opened a few minutes extra to vent out any exhaust.


Thanks kigs. I kinda like the open look more to give the fish more room to swim. There are also lots of space behind and within the main rock pile to hide and such. Once it's ready for livestock, I am almost sure it'll be packed pretty quick

 

[cbui2]

i have one of those honda van too

 

[Cody Ray]

Couldn't you just cut the van like u did the sump?

Awesome tank I hope to have something similar after graduating, moving to iowa, joining the police force, finding a home with a finished basement, and finding a local company to come build the tank in said basement. Thats like what 5-6 years? lol

 

[pookstreet]

Bart - we love that van, especially with kids. At first, we were like "mini van?" NO WAY!!! But with the automatic doors and all the gadgets, it sure helps when your hands are full of kids and groceries :lol:


Thanks Cody. If I touched the van, the tank goes.......LOL.........The time frame is all up to you. Whenever you are ready. Mine took a while b/c I wanted to have kids first before starting a big project like this. A basement project would be awesome.

 

[pookstreet]

Finally some updates. Temps around here have been 105-110+ for over a week now. Amazingly, the tank never ran above 82 even with the garage in the high 90's. Of course, I have 2 fans on 24/7. One blowing across the sump and the other across the tank surface. Also, I don't have my lighting yet, just running 8 4' T5HO's temporarily for the time being. The MH and 5' T5HO's will be coming shortly. In an attempt to lower the tank temp and keep the garage a bit cooler, I bought about $150 worth of insulation materials and insulated the garage door over the holiday weekend. It was sweaty work but well worth it. The tank is running around 78-79 now and the garage is much cooler. Here are a few pix of the insulation going in.

Reflectix insulation to reduce radiant heat (the silver stuff)

1" styrofoam boards cut to fit each panel

And some additional foil tape for the seams to ensure a sealed air gap

 

[pookstreet]

The H&S A200 in action. Nice frothy head of foam. That's with just one Eheim running. Awesome skimmer.

The 1" eductor on the Sea Swirls. Nice water movement over a greater range.

 

[pookstreet]

Couple of shots with the temp lights on. Most of the rock work is done. Just need a couple of nice flat pieces for the island on the right.

I tested the water about a week ago and ammonia was about 5 ppm. Nitrites were undectable. Nitrates was also at around 5 ppm. I have since added a yellow tang to help with any additional cycle needs and added a few pieces of browned out corals for a test run. Things have been doing well for the last 4/5 days. I am getting a little bit of algae bloom as you can see on the tank and rocks. Normal stuff.

 

[danskim]

Nice skimmer. I thought A200 externals used Aquabees?
I guess not?

 

[erics3000]

I love the eductor on the sea swirl. Where did you get your 1 eductor at

 

[pookstreet]

danskim - there are 2 versions of the A200. One with Eheims and one with AquaBees.

Eric - I got mine from a LFS. They also sell them at Premium Aquatics. I already have 2 1" eductors outfitted to both Sea Swirls. Once the WavySea is ready, it'll be fitted with a 3/4" eductor also.