Returning to Reefing, and building the building around the tank...

[wjdw]

Hi guys, missed you all, have not been a member for about 9-11yrs (i know right), been chasing money for the past decade, and well, now its time to return knowing i can afford both the time and the funds to pursue my hobby of old.

Which brings me to the main point, this post will document from A-Z the entire process, the ups, the downs, and the hurdles and fun I shall have along the way.

Reverting back, previously had a 6ft Cichlid tank, converted that to Marine, then binned it, had a company in the UK (ND Aquatics) make me a stunning tank, was a success, divorce occurred, sold everything pennies on the dime, downsized home to apartment, had a reef, (corner reef) was crap handling it as it was really a fish tank not set up for sumps etc. Binned that, moved 6000 miles, missed the reef, live on a reef... Put a reef in and then electricity issues, everything was thrown in the sea as the power outage was due to a severe weather storm, and power was not expected to return for some time.

Bought a new home, set about renovating it bottom to top, then building a hybrid solar set up, with redundancies (lith batteries, generator, and bare bones acid batteries).

Got to spend another 10k on more batteries but waiting for the local currency to collapse.

Meanwhile, wife finally caved in, the new bedroom at the end of the pool (salt water also) will have a in-wall reef tank.

And that's where we are, currently planning (with the architect), and i am currently maxing out the cards buying stuff before she changes her mind.

 

[wjdw]

Following on, to give an idea of the project.

 

[wjdw]

Hardware.

Skimmer: Boyu DB-120 DB-150 DB-200 DB-250 DB-250 Needlewheel Protein Skimmer

I am admittedly cheaping out on the skimmer for the short-term, for a number of reasons, mainly because if i were to purchase the skimmer i want, the import taxes would double the price, with Covid, i can't leave and return without spending upwards of 15k due to the requirements of return, costs of flights etc, so in preparation, in the event this goes on for another year (i suspect it will), I've bought the above from China, which should in theory last at least a year based on the reviews, and the main complaints being that the plastic breaks easily over the lifetime of the use.

Cost 150$

Water Quality Monitor : RCYAGO 6 in 1 water quality monitor PH/ EC/ CF/ TDS/ TEMP/ HUMIDITY

I've opted again for Chinese (as there's no import duties), and I couldn't seem to source any western variation within the region, I intend to also figure out how to hook this up to a system, and eventually lead to an automated process to rectifier changes that need to be reverted in the system.

Cost 80.00$

Electronical Power Supply for Tempature/Chiller: Inkbird Wired Digital Temperature Controller Heat Thermostat Hydroponics ITC-306T EU PLUG

I see this on a DIY build in Asia and thought, ah that's clever, as I will be utilising a chiller, and will need a header to counteract any drastic changes or general changes in the evening, this little solution is quite clever.

Cost: 40$

 

[wjdw]

UV System: ATMAN UV 36W

Again, I'd have preferred to have gone with a Western Brand, and even have one in the UK (forget name), but likewise, a 200$ UV system will cost around 450$ due to Covid (inability to fly in and out with it in luggage) and the import costs due to the requirement to use a courier (tnt or similar).

I've heard good reviews, and this will surely work for now.

Cost: 73$

Chiller: HAILEA CHILLER HS28A (Chinese Version)

Like most, i guess, Hailea is kinda like a house hold name when it comes to pond/marine/aquatic equipment, or rather i am familiar with the name, I've steadily been watching the price of this Chiller depreciate from 400$ locally, to the price i have purchased at, which I'd put down to the 'mom-and-pop' stores that sell domestically, trying to alleviate their financial crunch by selling at just above cost price, I've read good reviews, and fortunately I am in a country, where repairing issues with compressors or the like is a case of calling someone locally opposed to shipping off or binning, and I am rather happy with the price, its slightly smaller than the tank requirements, but having said that, the room for the tank will be well aired, further, is thick concrete walls, and the adjacent room will likely be continuously on aircon, so I believe it should be sufficient for the task ahead.

I've added Chinese version, because I've seen this in brackets on some adverts, and guessing this is made in China specific to the domestic market (or S/SW/SE Asia).

Cost: 236$

 

[wjdw]

On Order.

The following are pending order, but should be mentioned in the event my computer dies and i fail to load up what i painstakenly researched for months, and end up ordering something inferior later.

Wave Makers:
Ecotech Marine Vortech MP40W QD Quiet Drive Wavemaker

I've decided to go with this one, as the tank will custom built, and will be about 120g's (up to 140g's if i increase the non-visable height/length later) and sump 30+g's, after research this one appears to hit the sweet-spot, weirdly I'd usually have 2/3 wave-makers (boyu or similar) so its weird to only require 'one' but having done the research they're powerful machines and fortunately no cables! Which is golden.

Cost: 355$ + 50% import + courier + bribe when courier delivers (amazon)

Lighting:
Current USA Orbit Marine Aquarium LED Light, 36 to 48-Inch

In theory I could have a plain glass sheet over the roof, where the tank would sit, and the reef tank would get all the light it requires, and its something I am deciding on currently (reefs are here all around me), but as a backup, and likely to be on a conveyor rack (move back and forth) alongside two sets of leds i already have, I feel two of these should do, I have looked at others, but after much thinking i see the value cost wise opposed to the ones i was looking at (4x the price), also seen the reviews and colour affects, and that should be good enough for us, two will be needed.

Price: 360$ + 50% import + courier + bribe when courier delivers (amazon)

 

[wjdw]

Should add on : http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=25695459&postcount=5

I am awaiting the public holiday (local) to end before ordering (Tuesday).

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Wave Maker continued: Cross-Flow Wave Pump Jebao CP 55

I've never used a Cross-Flow before, and its something i think would work well, as the detris build up around the centre of the rocks would in theory be adverted, with the use off, I am considering the following if anyone has any alternative recommendations.

 

[wjdw]

Top-Up Unit: TUNZE Osmolator / Top Up Unit 3155

Referencing the Topup-unit, we actually take our water from the ground (100m well shaft, for the first time, during the hot season last year we had water brought in for the last two months, mainly due to the fact that down the road from us, some homeowner got permission to build a water lake, and dug down to well below the ground level, and well sucked all the water out for selling to water wholesalers, who then sold to people like us....

Anyway, this year he's done extensive work and dug twice as deep, any deeper and he will be sitting on level with the ocean a few hundred meters away, we on the other hand, have built a water storage concrete tank holding around 10 tonne of water, under the solar room (hand-built by me) adjacent to the pool room (and underwater storage for the pool room).

The pool is salt-water based so we have a on-site processing plant for that, and for the home we export water from the well, into the concrete underground storage tank, and a localised up-right tank for immediate use, from there we're plumbed all over the property, inside and out, my intention is to have the water processing for the tank in the room with the tank (hidden away), but at worst case use relay pumps and move water to the pool room where there's space for the processing for it, separate from the pool plant.

Which brings me to a couple of questions, the wife threw out a RO Unit without consulting with me which was in the old kitchen, can any RO Unit work for this (i can't remember, and always had ones from the aquarium stores previously) or does it need to be specific to the Aquarium iterations?

For the topup as we may be back and forth (post covid) i want something solid and am set on the above mentioned version, which cost wise is irrelevant as the entire thing could fail without something decent.

Cost 205$ + 50% import + courier + bribe when courier delivers
https://marineaquatics.co.uk/shop/top-up-systems/tunze-osmolator-top-up-unit-3155/

 

[wjdw]

Ref: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=25695458&postcount=4 Tropical Marine UV is what i usually have as had a wholesale supply price in the UK previously.

 

[wjdw]

Following on from http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=25695459&postcount=5

Alongside the lights that i should be able to order in the coming days (currently its a public holiday, and i'd rather know when specifically they will be delivered to ensure i am available).

I found the following lights from an old set up from a few years ago.

Deebow Dee 80 (72 leds per frame) 36w, I have two of these, tested all is ok, think they will suffice for evening viewing, or complimentary to the ones discussed in #5.

 

[wjdw]

Following on from #3 and #4

The skimmer arrived this morning (branded boyu, opposed to the information above, but the same), and the chiller also arrived.

Aside from plastic quality i feel these should be fine.

 

[wjdw]

I really hope i am posting in the correct forum feed. (silence is deafening, used to be active in all feeds back in the day).

Anway, architect designs have come through enough to send off for governmental approval, some of which i will share here.

Verbratum copy from elsewhere, you can see the idea on the fish room (small) and the tank in the wall.

Cosmetic side, the concrete - steel reinforced beams/columns will be under a render so you won't see (just there for designs).

Internally, the area behind the bed will be a walk-in closet, the separation doors won't be aluminium (black) with glass but wood with glass sliding doors between bathroom and bedroom.

The roof will eventually have a shingle peak roof (cost a few bob) so we will do that separately - later.

 

[wjdw]

Due to a 10 image restriction, final (not checked what the images are).

 

[wjdw]

With a length of just under 4ft, and a height of just under 4ft, and a width of just under 1.7ft, the tank works out to be roughly 200g's note, the talk will be bigger than the hole, but the water will only rise to a max area of 3.8/9-4ft.

I've never had a tank taller than the width to this degree, but with the idea sits fine with me, incase others wish to add thoughts, they are welcome.

 

[wjdw]

I mentioned previously about being surrounded by reefs.

I thought i'd share some images of the neighbourhood.

 

[moondoggy4]

I am sorry for your trials and tribulations but it seems that you found your way back and had some fun along the way.

 

[wjdw]

I am sorry for your trials and tribulations but it seems that you found your way back and had some fun along the way.

Much appreciated Moondoggy4, yes, has been a longtime in my mind (returning).

Its good to be back, though these communities seem to be much quieter these days.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

This sounds like a great project! I look forward to following along.

 

[wjdw]

This sounds like a great project! I look forward to following along.

Thanks, items slowly trickling in through the mail.

 

[vsiege]

Read through the thread just today.. looks like you are flying along. I might have missed it... did you finally end up getting an ATO?

As for the skimmer, I'm in the market for one and am vacilating over a few. Saw that you had an ideal model in mind in a year. Seems like reef octopus models are popular (and pricy). What did you land on to replace the $150 model?

 

[wjdw]

Read through the thread just today.. looks like you are flying along. I might have missed it... did you finally end up getting an ATO?

As for the skimmer, I'm in the market for one and am vacilating over a few. Saw that you had an ideal model in mind in a year. Seems like reef octopus models are popular (and pricy). What did you land on to replace the $150 model?

ATO I've got to re-adjust my thought process, realised the one i wanted is for 60 gallon tanks, whereas I'll be something like 200 gallons.

So not certain there *(just yet)*

On the skimmer i ended up going with a Boyu, i wouldn't mind spending the money on the skimmer itself (import) i have issues with paying all the transport costs and import tax which doubles the price, so gone for the Boyu mentioned above, and will buy a skimmer when back in the west bringing back in my suitcase, to replace it, the Boyu cost about 180$.