Rainbow Archipelago 1.0 Reef Journal

[naterealbig]

Made some good progress this weekend....

Made some good progress this weekend....

Done with the plumbing - Woo Hoo!!







Decided to go ahead and check for leaks, so filled with tap....

I found a leak at the bulkhead where the external wiper rod handle connects to the wiper rod inside of my UV sterilizer. It started as a quick drip, but has slowed considerably the last couple of hours, to where I'm not even sure if it is leaking any more. I am concerned however, that I can not manipulate the wiper rod any more and I'm not sure what is causing this. It was working fine before I installed it. I'll pop it out and take a look when I drain the tank to seal the HDPE with silicone.





Got antsy and started to install some hardware and electronics.

So.....there are a lot more wires than I was anticipating The electrical compartment is a complete mess, but I decided to give things a rest after several hours of work today. I'm going to trim some wires and organize with zip ties and wire holders over the next couple of weeks.







That's all for now. Look for an update on Wednesday or Thursday when I get my RTV in!

 

[sahin]

Nice progress. That urchin you picked up is awesome. I saw one at my LFS a couple of years ago; those metallic dots look like little lights! Looks crazy awesome.

 

[naterealbig]

Nice progress. That urchin you picked up is awesome. I saw one at my LFS a couple of years ago; those metallic dots look like little lights! Looks crazy awesome.

Thanks for checking in Sahin. I saw one in a LFS's reef tank several years ago, and I have been in love with them since. Of course it was not for sale, and I haven't seen one for sale in any fish store since. I saw it pop up on Divers Den the other day, so I had to have it! I know there are hot pink ones too.... if I see one I might have to scoop it up.

UV Leak Update

I checked under the stand today, and it looked like the small leak coming from the UV sterilizer has completely stopped. I still would like to know why the wiper isn't moving any more.

 

[reefmutt]

Wow! That sump compartment is so neat, I would eat off of those pipes!
The electrical compartment.. Well you know the saying 'if you don't have anything nice to say...'
Great to see the system wet!!
So far so good.

 

[dantdodge]

Looking good I will come by to take a look at this beauty some time this week. I need to test that Radion out clean the lens and get it over there on that mount for you.

 

[naterealbig]

Wow! That sump compartment is so neat, I would eat off of those pipes!
The electrical compartment.. Well you know the saying 'if you don't have anything nice to say...'
Great to see the system wet!!
So far so good.

Haha, thanks for not stating the obvious Matt..... I made a trip to home depot today and picked up some additional organizational equipment. I'm going to trim some of the unnecessarily long wiring on several pieces of equipment. Should have it perfect in a couple of days.

Looking good I will come by to take a look at this beauty some time this week. I need to test that Radion out clean the lens and get it over there on that mount for you.

Hey Dan, good to see you're checking up on things. The apex is hooked up, but I haven't installed any software or even looked at the programming. When you come over be prepared to do some port forwarding as well as Radion installation

 

[naterealbig]

All systems go! ........ ok, maybe not ALL systems....

All systems go! ........ ok, maybe not ALL systems....

Installed and caulked the Starboard yesterday. This morning I started filing her up with RODI water. Came home and the tank was full, so I added some salt, turned on the pumps, heater, and skimmer and voila! I probably should have waited until tomorrow, but I couldn't help myself added the live rock while I was at it .







I still have a lot of equipment mounting, wire organization, and apex programming to do, but I'm happy to have finished a few big steps. I have some live rock rubble that I think I'm going to put in a reactor for extra biological media. What are everyone's thoughts on this?

 

[biggles]

Just caught up, looks like everything is coming along really nicely mate. :thumbsup:
I always use rock in my sump that is at least tennis ball size or larger simply because i worry that smaller 'rubble' lacks the anaerobic zones that you rely on for nitrate reduction. I would worry that running rubble through a reactor even at a very slow flow wouldn't be nearly as effective as placing some slightly larger pieces in a plastic mesh bag or basket in the sump.
Sorry for sticking my nose in, i look forward to regular updates and you're my kind of SPS reefer chucking the rock in straight away :beer:

 

[reefmutt]

First, awesome update!! All wet!! Love it.
Second, I think I agree with Andrew. I wouldn't put live rock rubble in a reactor.. Why not put it in a mesh bag and just put in the sump?

 

[plyle02]

Progress, Progress, Progress...
Nice Nate, looks great, clean, and that skimmer going to be a beast on that system! Now the fun begins

 

[naterealbig]

Just caught up, looks like everything is coming along really nicely mate. :thumbsup:
I always use rock in my sump that is at least tennis ball size or larger simply because i worry that smaller 'rubble' lacks the anaerobic zones that you rely on for nitrate reduction. I would worry that running rubble through a reactor even at a very slow flow wouldn't be nearly as effective as placing some slightly larger pieces in a plastic mesh bag or basket in the sump.
Sorry for sticking my nose in, i look forward to regular updates and you're my kind of SPS reefer chucking the rock in straight away :beer:

Biggles, it's great to see you drop in. I have been following your threads (both for the smaller tank and your new bigger one) for a long time, and I have always enjoyed your "take" on reefkeeping, including some of the "outside the box" methods you use for propagating your corals. I also appreciate the banter between you and the other members. What do I need to do to get in the "cool kids" club?

Your insight on using rubble is interesting, and it makes complete sense. I had about 60 lbs of LR to pick from when I 'scaped this tank, so I have a ton left over, including some medium and large pieces. I only was thinking rubble, because I planned on using an external reactor, as I have very little room in the sump.

Please, I hope you continue to "stick your nose in" - based on your success with keeping fish and corals, and your sense of humor, your comments are very welcome here!

First, awesome update!! All wet!! Love it.
Second, I think I agree with Andrew. I wouldn't put live rock rubble in a reactor.. Why not put it in a mesh bag and just put in the sump?

Hi Matt, nice to see you stopping by to take a look, and thank you for the compliment! Thank you for the feedback on the LR rubble - that makes it 2 against, so a no-go.


LR to Sump

Per your's and Biggle's instructions, I added some larger pieces of LR to the sump. I filled ever inch that I could between the skimmer and the return pumps. I managed to get 5 x 1-2lb pieces in there, which I think will be better as an anaerobic medium and will prevent me from having to set up another piece of equipment.

Is this better?




Minor Adjustment to the 'Scape

I moved the medium rock to the right and forward a little bit, and placed a small rock near the front of the glass, just left of center. I think that this balances it out very well, and give some good lines for the eye to follow. I also think that this will allow for excellent coral growth, and will help maintain some negative space in the display, even after the corals have filled out.

 

[naterealbig]

Progress, Progress, Progress...
Nice Nate, looks great, clean, and that skimmer going to be a beast on that system! Now the fun begins

Hi Perry,

Thank you! And yes, the skimmer will be a beast on this system. I am shooting for a LNS (NO3 < 3, and PO4< .05) with extremely heavy nutrient import and export. This ReefDynamics skimmer will be the heart of the process, along with what I hope to be just the right amount of LR. Enough to process the ammonia from the fish, yet preventing excessive build up of detritus and waste.

Check back Monday for some (or A fish). I have to wait for my girlfriends daughter to get back from vacation. I will catch some serious hell if she doesn't "help" me pick out the first fish.

 

[plyle02]

That is funny Nate, I had a buddy over the other day to pick up a few corals, and she asked him, what else are you getting, he said, "oh just those orange rics" I got a serious look from her, as he was saying "just kidding"... Apparently I will have to figure out how to make my sticks happy, while allowing for the rics to go nuts

 

[biggles]

That rock looks fine the way you have it in the sump Nate, with a good skimmer and the BB you should have enough rock i think. If phos ever becomes an issue a small mesh bag of GFO could be dropped into the overflow or the sump.
I like your minimalist style approach, Ormet's display was very beautiful and i'd like to give it a go one day on a small scale. I'd urge you to give thought to adding a black acrylic panel to the front side of the overflow and making your return line black where it is visible. With the style you're going for i think it's important to make the objects not part of the living reef just as visually pleasing as the actual corals so as not to add a harshness or distracting element to the reef display.
I had a fiddle in PS so you could get an idea of what it would look like, after i make the return line black it now compliments or 'harmonizes' with your Radion hanging bracket both in color and the curving lines, like a smaller version of the bracket coming in and under the overhanging light rig. Your acros will do much the same so it all ties in to be visually pleasing to the eye when the entire display is viewed as a whole. I tried a light color on the overflow to match your display bottom but the pump is then highlighted terribly. Making everything you don't want to be an eye catching distraction the same color is a good idea because you are basically teaching your brain to ignore black things when looking at your display and your brain will group them all as visually unimportant without you even being conscious of it.

I probably didn't explain that too well but i hope it gives you some things to consider - lots of little things done well is what makes a display standout from the crowd and with the style you're going for every little thing that's visible near the display is important i think Nate

Please, I hope you continue to "stick your nose in" - based on your success with keeping fish and corals, and your sense of humor, your comments are very welcome here!

Thank you Nate

 

[naterealbig]

That is funny Nate, I had a buddy over the other day to pick up a few corals, and she asked him, what else are you getting, he said, "oh just those orange rics" I got a serious look from her, as he was saying "just kidding"... Apparently I will have to figure out how to make my sticks happy, while allowing for the rics to go nuts

That's so funny! I can picture it in my mind. I have had significant others in my life who did not like my tanks (or the attention I paid to them perhaps?). While to some it might be annoying, I welcome any enthusiasm or ownership related to my hobby from those that are close - even if it is inconveniencing or not exactly what I like.

That rock looks fine the way you have it in the sump Nate, with a good skimmer and the BB you should have enough rock i think. If phos ever becomes an issue a small mesh bag of GFO could be dropped into the overflow or the sump.
I like your minimalist style approach, Ormet's display was very beautiful and i'd like to give it a go one day on a small scale. I'd urge you to give thought to adding a black acrylic panel to the front side of the overflow and making your return line black where it is visible. With the style you're going for i think it's important to make the objects not part of the living reef just as visually pleasing as the actual corals so as not to add a harshness or distracting element to the reef display.
I had a fiddle in PS so you could get an idea of what it would look like, after i make the return line black it now compliments or 'harmonizes' with your Radion hanging bracket both in color and the curving lines, like a smaller version of the bracket coming in and under the overhanging light rig. Your acros will do much the same so it all ties in to be visually pleasing to the eye when the entire display is viewed as a whole. I tried a light color on the overflow to match your display bottom but the pump is then highlighted terribly. Making everything you don't want to be an eye catching distraction the same color is a good idea because you are basically teaching your brain to ignore black things when looking at your display and your brain will group them all as visually unimportant without you even being conscious of it.

I probably didn't explain that too well but i hope it gives you some things to consider - lots of little things done well is what makes a display standout from the crowd and with the style you're going for every little thing that's visible near the display is important i think Nate

Thank you Nate

Check on the rock in the sump. I have run systems similar to this, and never had issues with algae, PO4, or NO3, but I will continue test with Salifert religiously for these molecules. If phosphate becomes an issue, I will keep your recommendation in mind.

As far as the over flow goes, I see what you are saying. I contemplated covering the overflow, but when I put it on, it just seemed more contrasting to the tank than the overflow plumbing would be (which is why I color coordinated the piping :xlbirthday. Although I will admit, I may just be too proud of the tank to notice it right now . I will take your advice, and contemplate it for a while - or better yet, I will just plop the cover on it, and snap off some pics.

Keep the good advice coming Andrew, and you're welcome!

Oh - found a pic of the tank with the cover. This was the same day that I picked it up. Don't mind the wee one. He is currently in quarantine, and will be one of the tanks first inhabitants.

 

[markalot]

Watch those wee ones. Let them out of QT too fast and the whole house gets sick!

 

[tank master]

Can't wait to see this system running!

 

[biggles]

Hey Nate, i just throw ideas out there but you do whatever personally appeals to you mate.
Is that your little bloke, i have a feeling he's going to like the tank a whole lot once the fish start appearing. A friend came by a week ago with her six year old niece. 'Look sweety it's like Finding Nemo'.......... now the little girl walks up to my display which is chock full of colorful acros and fish and asks ' where's the starfish ? '................. :facepalm:
Obviously i added her to the biggles tank visitor black list, i don't care if she grows up to be a world famous ocean biologist - she's banned for life. :hammer:

Everything going to plan so far i hope, have you put a light over the tank yet mate. Are you going to scrape the bottom to keep it pristine white or let coralline cover it.
More pics, prospective BFC stocking list........

 

[naterealbig]

Watch those wee ones. Let them out of QT too fast and the whole house gets sick!

Let's not even get started with that - I think he's had a little bit of everything, from ear aches to a light case of Ebola As long as he doesn't pass it onto the fish, I'll keep him!

Can't wait to see this system running!

Thank you Hung! I haven't had much time the last couple of days, as work and my home to-do list have kept me completely busy. Once I load your schedule, I will post. For now, I'm using a simple modified schedule that tops out at a couple hours at 40% intensity around mid-day. Thank you again for taking the time to chat with me, and for sending me your graph. I only hope one day my corals are as absolutely stunning as yours.

Hey Nate, i just throw ideas out there but you do whatever personally appeals to you mate.
Is that your little bloke, i have a feeling he's going to like the tank a whole lot once the fish start appearing. A friend came by a week ago with her six year old niece. 'Look sweety it's like Finding Nemo'.......... now the little girl walks up to my display which is chock full of colorful acros and fish and asks ' where's the starfish ? '................. :facepalm:
Obviously i added her to the biggles tank visitor black list, i don't care if she grows up to be a world famous ocean biologist - she's banned for life. :hammer:

Everything going to plan so far i hope, have you put a light over the tank yet mate. Are you going to scrape the bottom to keep it pristine white or let coralline cover it.
More pics, prospective BFC stocking list........

I might black list both of them, with the "finding nemo" comment and what-not. I remember back to the days of old, to the first time I really saw a reef tank. I remember seeing a frogspawn, and saying something like "look at this cool anemone" :headwally: We have to be patient, as the subtle beauties of SPS that we have trained our eyes to see is acquired.

I had to take a dose of my own advice on Monday when we went to the fish store to get the first fish, and my girlfriends daughter swiftly decided that the Purple Firefish's name was going to be Sprinkes :hmm3: I have since come up with a list of banned fish's names, to include muffin, cupcake, dumpling, princess, and fifi.

I put the light on it a few days ago, but I don't have my Apex on the web yet, so my programming has been done through EcoSmart Live. The bottom will be kept pristine, as this is the way I maintain the bright white look of sand while staying true to the bare bottom methodology.

So far the BFC is a measly .154 . Once fully stocked I hope to be somewhere around 3.0. I have had the best results with heavily stocked bb tanks; they allow me to feed any time and amount I want, and keeps a steady supply of food for the corals.

Couple updated pics
Sprinkles is evidently camera shy......

 

[tank master]

No Problem Nate.
What do you plan to keep in this tank?