RocketEngineer's 75g/125g Setup
- Thread starter RocketEngineer
- Start date
RocketEngineer
Space is big.
zmckenzie, I hope to compliment the stand with the hood. All the pieces are cut and if all goes well, I should be well on my way to finishing it by the end of the weekend.
Datalog:
I thought summer was over when we had 80 degree weather. With the AC off, the temperature in the tank climbed to match. Just shows how much the air temperature in the house affects the tank temp.
RocketEngineer
Datalog:
I thought summer was over when we had 80 degree weather. With the AC off, the temperature in the tank climbed to match. Just shows how much the air temperature in the house affects the tank temp.
RocketEngineer
mudskipper1
Trust Me I'm an Engineer
That is an excellent graph. How are the critters responding? I had to move my 40B to the basement to avoid going over 84 in the summer, since we don't use our AC much.
RocketEngineer
Space is big.
Went up to Dr. Mac's today and picked up some Salifert test kits. Infinately better than the color graph ones.
Magnesium: 1140 ppm
Calcium: 330 ppm
Alkalinity: 7.4 dKH
Now that I can test, I should be able to start dosing limewater over the weekend. I'm thinking for the thanksgiving weekend I may just do straight RO/DI water as it wouldn't be the first time the ATO bucket ran dry. Any other ideas for a long weekend?
RocketEngineer
Magnesium: 1140 ppm
Calcium: 330 ppm
Alkalinity: 7.4 dKH
Now that I can test, I should be able to start dosing limewater over the weekend. I'm thinking for the thanksgiving weekend I may just do straight RO/DI water as it wouldn't be the first time the ATO bucket ran dry. Any other ideas for a long weekend?
RocketEngineer
RocketEngineer
Space is big.
This past week, my ATO decided to go on the fritz. From what I can determine, the primary float switch got submerged and shorted out. I bought the extension to prevent that but never installed it. Luckily I had a backup switch and with some silicone, I'm back in buisness.
Other than the ATO issue, the tank has been ticking along although it appears I have lost the yellow wrasse. Down to two firefish and four snails. Time for a rethink of the life in the tank.
My hood is well on its way with the back section painted and all the oak pieces polyurethaned. I need to paint one last piece that i missed the first time around and then it will be ready for assembly.
The front panel is removable for feeding and accessing the tank. Still not sure how to mount it though.
In the back panel are a pair of 120mm fans. I'm thinking they will come on when the lights do and off maybe 15 minutes after they go off.
And some critters in the fuge:
Other than the ATO issue, the tank has been ticking along although it appears I have lost the yellow wrasse. Down to two firefish and four snails. Time for a rethink of the life in the tank.
My hood is well on its way with the back section painted and all the oak pieces polyurethaned. I need to paint one last piece that i missed the first time around and then it will be ready for assembly.
The front panel is removable for feeding and accessing the tank. Still not sure how to mount it though.
In the back panel are a pair of 120mm fans. I'm thinking they will come on when the lights do and off maybe 15 minutes after they go off.
And some critters in the fuge:
RocketEngineer
Space is big.
The Hood Is Assmbled (Well mostly)
The Hood Is Assmbled (Well mostly)
This morning I finished assembling all of the pieces of the hood. Being that I live alone, I figured out how to hold all the pieces in place.
As the hood sits 3/4" down over the top of the tank trim, I used a spacer block to position the sides.
The sides were held tight to the frame with a pair of pipe clamps. I got the clamps for $10 a piece at Harbor Freight and two 5' pieces of pipe at a local plumbing supply company. Worked really well.
As I was installing the pocket screws, I did run into two places where the pipe clamp got in the way but once the other screws were in I went back and finished getting everything snug.
The last piece of the puzzle is a piece of plexiglass that directs the air from the fans under the light rack. Mounting this took a little thinking as it was warped and prone to falling over.
Once everything was mounted it was time to snap a few more pictures of the whole setup.
The Hood Is Assmbled (Well mostly)
This morning I finished assembling all of the pieces of the hood. Being that I live alone, I figured out how to hold all the pieces in place.
As the hood sits 3/4" down over the top of the tank trim, I used a spacer block to position the sides.
The sides were held tight to the frame with a pair of pipe clamps. I got the clamps for $10 a piece at Harbor Freight and two 5' pieces of pipe at a local plumbing supply company. Worked really well.
As I was installing the pocket screws, I did run into two places where the pipe clamp got in the way but once the other screws were in I went back and finished getting everything snug.
The last piece of the puzzle is a piece of plexiglass that directs the air from the fans under the light rack. Mounting this took a little thinking as it was warped and prone to falling over.
Once everything was mounted it was time to snap a few more pictures of the whole setup.
RocketEngineer
Space is big.
The Hood
The Hood
This is what it will look like when it goes onto the tank.
The front panel lifts away for access.
When I started thinking about the design of the hood, I wanted to be able to access the tank without too much effort. With this in mind, I designed the light rack to be able to slide back out of the way.
Should I need to have more room for access or need to work on the lights, the light rack is removable.
There are a few things left to do on the hood. The first is to finalize how I'm going to mount the front panel as I haven't decided on magnets, a spring catch, or something else. I also need to trim out the hood to better match the stand; not quite sure on the specifics of that yet. And I need to work out some handles for lifting off the front panel.
RocketEngineer
The Hood
This is what it will look like when it goes onto the tank.
The front panel lifts away for access.
When I started thinking about the design of the hood, I wanted to be able to access the tank without too much effort. With this in mind, I designed the light rack to be able to slide back out of the way.
Should I need to have more room for access or need to work on the lights, the light rack is removable.
There are a few things left to do on the hood. The first is to finalize how I'm going to mount the front panel as I haven't decided on magnets, a spring catch, or something else. I also need to trim out the hood to better match the stand; not quite sure on the specifics of that yet. And I need to work out some handles for lifting off the front panel.
RocketEngineer
RocketEngineer
Space is big.
Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving, I know I ate more than I should have but things are too hard to resist.
When I came home and saw the hood on the kitchen table, I couldn't wait any longer and decided to put it onto the tank.
Hood in place:
Hood in place with front panel removed:
I have the fans set to run for 15 minutes than the lights. My hope is that this will allow the lights to cool off properly but I wonder if shutting them off at the same may be the way the designers intended the lamps to be cooled.
Looking at things under the new lighting, I spotted a yellow nudibranch crawling around one of my snails.
Not sure if its good or bad.
With the light turning off all at once, the tank definately goes from light to dark in a blink. I hope this doesn't upset the fish too badly. May have to rethink that part.
RocketEngineer
When I came home and saw the hood on the kitchen table, I couldn't wait any longer and decided to put it onto the tank.
Hood in place:
Hood in place with front panel removed:
I have the fans set to run for 15 minutes than the lights. My hope is that this will allow the lights to cool off properly but I wonder if shutting them off at the same may be the way the designers intended the lamps to be cooled.
Looking at things under the new lighting, I spotted a yellow nudibranch crawling around one of my snails.
Not sure if its good or bad.
With the light turning off all at once, the tank definately goes from light to dark in a blink. I hope this doesn't upset the fish too badly. May have to rethink that part.
RocketEngineer
RocketEngineer
Space is big.
crvz,
During the winter, the only ambient light will be from the TV or the one reading light so it goes to pitch black. Since the lights go off about 8pm, I may invest in a moon light to try to simulate dawn/dusk.
zmckenzie,
It was crawling on the shell of the snail so I hope it doesn't bother them. Those are about the best pictures I can get with my current camera. The nudibranch was only about 1/4" long and my camera was almost on the glass to get those pics. For now, its on its own. Finding it again may be very problematic.
razataz5,
I went into Woodcraft this weekend and found these:
http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2001034/10102/Adjustable-Ball-Catch.aspx
One on each upper corner hold the panel both in and up. I know that brass is bad around a SW tank but its the only kind I have been able to find. I will have to search for another one thats stainless. But for now, these work quite well and allow me to pull off and replace the front panel relatively easily.
RocketEngineer
During the winter, the only ambient light will be from the TV or the one reading light so it goes to pitch black. Since the lights go off about 8pm, I may invest in a moon light to try to simulate dawn/dusk.
zmckenzie,
It was crawling on the shell of the snail so I hope it doesn't bother them. Those are about the best pictures I can get with my current camera. The nudibranch was only about 1/4" long and my camera was almost on the glass to get those pics. For now, its on its own. Finding it again may be very problematic.
razataz5,
I went into Woodcraft this weekend and found these:
http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2001034/10102/Adjustable-Ball-Catch.aspx
One on each upper corner hold the panel both in and up. I know that brass is bad around a SW tank but its the only kind I have been able to find. I will have to search for another one thats stainless. But for now, these work quite well and allow me to pull off and replace the front panel relatively easily.
RocketEngineer
j3piloterau
New member
how much water do you find you have to top off each day?
RocketEngineer
Space is big.
Actually, it just changed.
Before I had the T5s and hood, I would evaporate ~ 1 gallon per day.
With the fans in the hood blowing right across the top of the water, It has increased to ~1.5
Before I had the T5s and hood, I would evaporate ~ 1 gallon per day.
With the fans in the hood blowing right across the top of the water, It has increased to ~1.5
RocketEngineer
Space is big.
Another set of water tests:
Mg: 1410ppm
Ca: 350ppm
Alk: 6.4 dH
SO, Time to start dosing.
RocketEngineer.
Mg: 1410ppm
Ca: 350ppm
Alk: 6.4 dH
SO, Time to start dosing.
RocketEngineer.
RocketEngineer
Space is big.
One week later:
Mg: 1200
Ca: 360 ppm
Alk: 8.0 dH
Levels looking better.
Mg: 1200
Ca: 360 ppm
Alk: 8.0 dH
Levels looking better.
iwishtofish
Active member
Did you start dosing 2-part?
RocketEngineer
Space is big.
Yeah. Since the tank has ~90g of actual water and the two part calls for 1ml per 4 gallons, I'm dosing 15ml per day. Still considering limewater but for the time being, I will stick with the two part.
Any suggestions on dosing two part when I'm gone for the holidays? I don't have any corals yet so I think it will be fine for the 4 days I will be gone.
RocketEngineer
Dustin1300
Reefaholic
A doser would be ideal. On my 90 gallon total system volume I'm dosing 140 mL of Alk/Calcium daily as well as 13 mL/Day of Mag.
IMO, your mag is a little on the low side. If it is too low it causes the calcium and alk supplements to merge and cause precipitate. I like to keep mag at a minimum of 1400. With your system not having the dosing for a few days I would not be worried as the only thing consuming it is your coralline algae since you don't have any stony corals (LPS/SPS).
IMO, your mag is a little on the low side. If it is too low it causes the calcium and alk supplements to merge and cause precipitate. I like to keep mag at a minimum of 1400. With your system not having the dosing for a few days I would not be worried as the only thing consuming it is your coralline algae since you don't have any stony corals (LPS/SPS).
Dustin1300
Reefaholic
A doser would be ideal. On my 90 gallon total system volume I'm dosing 140 mL of Alk/Calcium daily as well as 13 mL/Day of Mag.
IMO, your mag is a little on the low side. If it is too low it causes the calcium and alk supplements to merge and cause precipitate. I like to keep mag at a minimum of 1400. With your system not having the dosing for a few days I would not be worried as the only thing consuming it is your coralline algae since you don't have any stony corals (LPS/SPS).
IMO, your mag is a little on the low side. If it is too low it causes the calcium and alk supplements to merge and cause precipitate. I like to keep mag at a minimum of 1400. With your system not having the dosing for a few days I would not be worried as the only thing consuming it is your coralline algae since you don't have any stony corals (LPS/SPS).
