Ruuining a perfectly good tank

Think you could put any garden eels in there with them?

Their feeding requirements are a bit much for me I think, and from what I have read their substrate requirements are a bit different than jawfish. Probably leave these to the professionals.

Dave
 
OK, these are going in a couple of threads tonight. I'm not getting any better with this camera thingy...

This is the bridge from below:

bridge2.jpg


And this is from above (I have the tank's winter hat on right now, which I had to cut through to accomodate the bridge:

top1.jpg


And a couple where the flame angel is going from one tank to the other:

using1.jpg


using2.jpg


Dave

What's that sticking out of the top of the bridge?
 
What's that sticking out of the top of the bridge?

It's a check valve and some tubing. You need to get all of the air out of it (and occasionally deal with any air bubbles that have built up over time), and that was the easiest way I could think of.

Dave
 
Can't figure out if I'm tagging along for the build or your commentary of the build(s). Look forward to seeing/reading more.
 
Can't figure out if I'm tagging along for the build or your commentary of the build(s). Look forward to seeing/reading more.

Well, for better or worse about 9 months ago I began another build with my wife, so progress and updates on this one may be a little sparse.

Delivery of the new build is expected pretty much any time now (and we are talking *any* time now), so we shall see how things progress over the next few days.

As a dedicated reefer, I am currently heavy on equipment but light on any real knowledge or experience. So pretty much normal on that front.

I understand that water changes and mechanical filtration exchange may need to occur several times a day, which honestly seems excessive but people seem to be insisting so I'll give it a go - I have a 3ft long grabby claw that may come in handy.

Noise complaints are common apparently, but I have plenty of plumbing parts on hand for a durso/herbie, so I anticipate being able to deal with those in much the same manner as the current tank.

I've been warned that a standard diurnal cycle might be hard to regulate, but I have a spare Apex just sitting around doing nothing, so I think I have that covered pretty well - surprised more people haven't figured that one out already.

What could go wrong?

Feel free to write your own baby jokes in my absence. I may be a while.

Dave
 
I had a syphon between two fresh water tanks for a few years. Until our exchange student "noticed" that it had failed and it flooded the living room. Idiot...
After that I bought the 120 tank I have currently. I wanted to be creative so what the heck...

Daniel. :headwally:
 
I had a syphon between two fresh water tanks for a few years. Until our exchange student "noticed" that it had failed and it flooded the living room. Idiot...
After that I bought the 120 tank I have currently. I wanted to be creative so what the heck...

Daniel. :headwally:

I have dual returns, and two drains in each tank to prevent any such catastrophe. The siphon breaks, nothing much happens.

Dave
 
Well, I feel like this thread could do with an update - I'm probably a bit overdue. As part of the great circle of life, a la the Lion King (or possible Valar Morghulis if things are taking a darker tone), this particular reef tank is no more. Bereft of life it rests in peace. If I hadn't nailed trim to it, it would be pushing up the daisies. I moved house, and this particular setup is no more.

Hakuna matata though, because my housing situation may have changed but my collection of livestock has not - my dubious plumbing skills have once again been called into action to create what my parents in law have enthusiastically labeled a "dangerous looking mess" and my wife has heartily endorsed with "put a god damn lock on that door I don't want our child anywhere near that".

Yes, I have outdone myself with "Temporary-reef-2016-the-agway-has-no-more-horse-troughs-and-I-wish-this-room-had-more-power-outlets-a-palooza"

20161113_163923.jpg


I have absolutely no idea what shape the final reef will take. The new house is pretty, spacious, and has precisely no flat load-bearing walls that would invite the kind of major reef tank experience that I feel my 11 month old daughter really needs to educate her about the wonders of nature.

On the plus side, we do have a crawl space, or "magic plumbing hiding tunnel" as my wife refuses to let me call it.

Let the games begin.

Dave
 
I don't typically lose anything during a move. in this latest move I actually found a watchman goby that I hadn't seen in almost 2 years so I'm technically up fish.

the trick to a successful move is preparation. I mixed up about 120 gallons of water and added it to the tank circulation (by adding a big Rubbermaid to the system trmporarily) for several days. big water change to make sure parameters are good before the move.

I then moved the water to the temporary system, which has brand new substrate, and get it to the exact temperature of the current tank. Now I have perfectly parameter matched water for the livestock to be moved to, without needing any of the old water or substrate from the existing tanks.

All the livestock and rock is then moved over, with an opportunity to give it a decent clean in the old tank water, which gets thrown out at the end of the process anyway.

it's a pain, but I end up with a healthier system than when I started.

dave
 
You know what they say about crawl spaces?

They make great spots to hide floor jacks ;)

But really, my 150 is about 4 feet away from my foundation wall. I used a couple floor jacks just snugged to the joists *before* adding water to the tank. I just had to adjust one about 1/4" higher to level the tank nicely.
 
Loved reading that. i also think the current setup looks like the best possible interim. good job keeping the important stuff alive during so many life and hardware changes. So many people focus on the expensive equipment the further they move into the hobby. In the end, its all about the animals.
 
You know what they say about crawl spaces?

They make great spots to hide floor jacks ;)

But really, my 150 is about 4 feet away from my foundation wall. I used a couple floor jacks just snugged to the joists *before* adding water to the tank. I just had to adjust one about 1/4" higher to level the tank nicely.

Not to derail, but what floor jacks did you use?
 
Not to derail, but what floor jacks did you use?

I am wondering about this too. I've been eyeing the one eight foot wall where I can put a tank and wondering why an 8 footer would be that bad of an idea, assuming the floor underneath was well braced.

Dave
 
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