scolley's Big Little Nano – yet another build thread

[scolley]

Hats off to low tech nanos

Hats off to low tech nanos

My tank's going to be pretty automated - at least for a small tank. And thats for a few reasons:

First - I'm an automation geek. I enjoy it.

Second - I loathe regular maintenance, and really appreciate anything that frees me up from it. Granted, equipment has to be maintained. But you have a lot of control over when you do it vs. regular maintenance, which has to be done on a somewhat inflexible schedule.

Third and most important - I automate because I don't think I've got the reefing skills to have a healthy tank without it.

So my hats off to people that can keep nanos with limited automation. It always amazes and inspires me to see beautiful, healthy low-tech nanos.

Someday, maybe, I'll understand how to do that myself. But until then... I'm indulging the automation geek in me.

 

[IndexKey]

Bah, you got me all excited, I thought I was gonna get to see more pictures this time My tank keeps getting pushed back. I now have EVERYTHING sitting in boxes in my room, just waiting on putting in hardwood flooring. The tank mocks me in my sleep.

John

 

[scolley]

LOL! Sorry, but it'll take me a good couple days to complete that electrical diagram. But pics? I'll be lucky if the build is finished in 45 days. I mean I can post interim, boring stuff... like stand reinforcing, or my wacky rock work trials.

Do you want to see that? 'Cuz it's gonna be a few weeks before the good stuff starts. Right now it's mostly planning.

 

[ange062]

I'm totally down for interim shots! You may even get good ideas or advice along the way! Its not a build thread if you don't show the build anyway...

 

[scolley]

OK. Interim it is. But I don't want to hear any crapola about posting boring stuff. LOL

 

[ange062]

OK. Interim it is. But I don't want to hear any crapola about posting boring stuff. LOL

If you dont post it people will complain about updates. Me personally, I want to see updates. I think the only resolution it to post them, and I wont complain

 

[tpallas]

I'm with you....too much work for me, and too much to go wrong. Maybe OK for softies/LPS, but not so much for SPS and clams. Speaking of which, what are your stocking plans?

My tank's going to be pretty automated - at least for a small tank. And thats for a few reasons:

First - I'm an automation geek. I enjoy it.

Second - I loathe regular maintenance, and really appreciate anything that frees me up from it. Granted, equipment has to be maintained. But you have a lot of control over when you do it vs. regular maintenance, which has to be done on a somewhat inflexible schedule.

Third and most important - I automate because I don't think I've got the reefing skills to have a healthy tank without it.

So my hats off to people that can keep nanos with limited automation. It always amazes and inspires me to see beautiful, healthy low-tech nanos.

Someday, maybe, I'll understand how to do that myself. But until then... I'm indulging the automation geek in me.

 

[scolley]

I think the only resolution it to post them, and I wont complain

LOL! Good advice.

Speaking of which, what are your stocking plans?

I can only speak of that generally, so far. The short answer is SPS dominant, few fish, lots of inverts.

More specifically, I have a lot to learn about SPS so I'm not in a position to say which, yet. But I have set a firm rule that I'll stock nothing that I have not seen with my own eyes, or WYSIWYG frags from vendors that I know it really is WYSIWYG. Not all are.

But I will be tossing in some LPS, primarily acans.

As for fish, that's easy.... the two clowns I have now. I'd like something else small. But options seem pretty limited. There's the size problem, then it's open top - which eliminates more. And finally, I've got three anemones that would happily gobble a goby. So I'll keep my eyes open for possibilities. But in an SPS tank, I'm not too quick to add more fish.

And then there's the inverts. I love seeing a tank crawling with life, and inverts are a good way to do that due to their CUC function. As mentioned, I've got three nems; two mini-maxi's and a rock/flower. And I'll be moving over quite a few shrimp: a cleaner pair, a blood red, several peppermints, and 5-6 sexys. Plus I've to a modest snail and hermit crap population. Then I've got a few commensal crabs. And finally my favorites... my sea stars. I've got a healthy population of micro serpent stars - has to be a couple hundred. And I've got two regular sized serpents. One the regular brown (not green), and a spectacular red one.

Sorry I can't say more about the SPS I want to stock. That's going to take a LOT of detail contemplation.

 

[scolley]

So here's that electrical diagram, with a list of MOST equipment down the right hand side. But this is not a comprehensive equipment list because it excludes my RO/DI gear, and my semi-elaborate water mixing and storage setup. But it covers most of the bases.

Notable things in the diagram (to my mind anyway):

1. Emergency power. The system will sense a power loss and kick into low power consumption mode. And if that dies, the Vortechs will still run for days. And since my home is connected to our ISP by cable, and since my network equipment has it's own UPS, the Apex should be able to get a text and email out to me when it happens. Not later, but when it occurs.
2. Auto water change. I've got that hooked up now. You can read about it here. That's why the Osmolater looks like it's got extra stuff hooked up to it. It does.
3. ATS light. Yes, I've got one. It's allowed me to do decent feedings of my SPS even though I've got a little wimpy skimmer. Works great. After running one for 4 or 5 months, the benefits are so clear, I have a hard time imagining going without one. Did I mention unmeasurable nitrates or phosphates? I mean, they have to be there or my SPS would be dead. Instead they are pretty much doing wicked polyp extension just to tell me how happy they are.
4. There's a lot there that supports my DIY LED. I'm really, really proud of the build. Need to start it's own thread on that. But after building it I was stunned at how crappy the light that it cast looked. So I started this thread. But that thread generated enough good information that led to my swapping out quite a few for different/better colors, and I'm quite happy with it now.

I'm glad I went to the trouble of knocking this up. In the process I found I had some mistakes in my plans. Which means I'll have to amend my electrical shelf diagram. Which is why I've got a schedule showing I have to be finished with all planning before I start drilling holes in the stand. And since I did not load the image up to RC, but linked to it from my webserver, I can just swap out the old diagram with a corrected one.

And that's likely to happen to this diagram too. There's not a WHOLE lot going on. But here's enough that I'll be surprised if I did not make some mistake, somewhere.

Please let me know if it does not make sense. Happy to answer questions.

 

[rjinct]

[*] Emergency power. The system will sense a power loss and kick into low power consumption mode.

Hi Steve -- could you explain this a bit more? Not sure I follow how this is accomplished based on your diagram.

I see your UPS hooked up to your power strip (that your EB8 and DC4 are plugged in to). So if your power goes out, assuming the UPS will supply enough juice to keep your wireless adaptor running but not enough to allow the EB8 and DC4 thus triggering the power outage alert? Is my understanding correct? Also, doesn't the Apex need to be plugged into the power strip connected to the UPS?

BTW, great diagram!

 

[tpallas]

Given the way you've thought through anything here, you're not going to have a problem with SPS. After your cycle watch the Alk-calc-mag and phosphates, as long as you're around 9 - 450 - 1400 and 0 phosphates, I'm sure you'll be fine with a most types of Montipora. Frankly the biggest thing I worry about in tanks this small is ph and temperature swings (temp less of a problem with LEDs).

In either case you're off to about the best start I've seen and have high hopes for your tank!

 

[scolley]

Good eye RJ! It's not immediately evident...

The Apex gets its primary power from its connection to the EB8. And the EB8 does not lose power, so the Apex never loses it either. But you can got to Radio Shack and pick up a 12v power supply with the correct tip, plug it into an Apex, and you have a secondary power source for it. And that's why mine is plugged into a power source that will lose power when the house loses power.

I gather the Apex does not really use its secondary power source, it just monitors it. So when it's lost, all your "I just lost power" routines kick in. To be honest though, I won't crank back things much.

The most important thing is the Vortechs, and they have their own power. After that is temperature control. So keeping the return pump and either the chiller or heater running will last less than 30 minutes. But rarely will either need to be on continuously, so it makes sense to just leave the lights and everything else on too. So we're probably talking 30 minutes or so running full system.

And around here - as you know - losing power for z minute or two happens sometimes. But if it's out more than 30 minutes, you're into a whole different ballgame.

 

[scolley]

Given the way you've thought through anything here, you're not going to have a problem with SPS. After your cycle watch the Alk-calc-mag and phosphates, as long as you're around 9 - 450 - 1400 and 0 phosphates...

At the risk of going OT, I try to keep things 8.8, 425, and 1300 currently. Is that an issue?

the biggest thing I worry about in tanks this small is ph and temperature swings (temp less of a problem with LEDs)

As for temp, that's why I got the chiller. In the last couple of years I learned that a short spike of even 2 degrees make some SPS quite unhappy. So I'm putting an end to that. Thanks.

On the pH side, what do consider a bad swing? Currently I swing about 0.1 daily, with center range being 8.3.

in either case you're off to about the best start I've seen and have high hopes for your tank!

than you very much! The thing that scares me is that with such preparation, such planning, and such equipment thrown at the tank, I've removed any excuse for not having a beautiful tank. And I might need one.

Thanks though!

 

[ange062]

Chiller is definitely a good investment IMO! I think you target parms look on point, you should be able to grow anything like that.

Have you thought about a Radion instead of a DIY though? I am super-glad I went with the RGB Radion instead of a DIY or AI Sol because of the configurability of it (I am also a tech junky lacking the artistic side). Seems like you are not on a budget build so the added features of the Radion may be up your alley.

 

[scolley]

Chiller is definitely a good investment IMO! I think you target parms look on point, you should be able to grow anything like that.

Have you thought about a Radion instead of a DIY though? I am super-glad I went with the RGB Radion instead of a DIY or AI Sol because of the configurability of it (I am also a tech junky lacking the artistic side). Seems like you are not on a budget build so the added features of the Radion may be up your alley.

It's funny about that chiller... If it turns on 10 times in a year, it'll be a surprise. But I've already learned that even one of those 10 could be critically important.

As for the Radions, I lust for one. Search for scolley in the Echotech forum and you'll find I went on the record early (maybe the first) to say these would be the first product that would be the beginning of the end of MH. But alas, the budget does exist. I can afford essentials that I don't have, but can't afford to replace things I do, just 'cuz this year's model gets better mileage.

That said, now that true reds are available in LEDs, I'm sure I'll add a couple to my DIY fixture. But you've not seen my DIY. This was a cost-is-no-obstacle, no-labor-too-intensive prototype I made when I thought it was a dry run for the 180 I thought I was going to be kitting out. So as DIY's go... I've seen none better. But alas, Radions are better still.

Your suggestion is right on target. Thanks. Just not in the cards.

 

[scolley]

So keeping the return pump and either the chiller or heater running will last less than 30 minutes. But rarely will either need to be on continuously, so it makes sense to just leave the lights and everything else on too. So we're probably talking 30 minutes or so running full system.

Correction for my space out... Please divide those times by 7. When I was doing that math I was confusing the UPS capacity of that of my marine batteries. Sorry.

The point is that the UPS is for transient events. But not reflected in that diagram are a couple marine batteries that can carry the system - fully loaded - for an hour, or a day if chiller or heaters are not needed.

After that, Vortech batteries are the last defense against total loss.

 

[ange062]

I gotcha, thought this was a scratch build and missed that you had most of the equipment already. For a later time!!

FYI, I picked up my Radion from my LFS for WAY cheaper then you can currently find them online, something to look at anyway...

 

[tpallas]

At the risk of going OT, I try to keep things 8.8, 425, and 1300 currently. Is that an issue?


As for temp, that's why I got the chiller. In the last couple of years I learned that a short spike of even 2 degrees make some SPS quite unhappy. So I'm putting an end to that. Thanks.

On the pH side, what do consider a bad swing? Currently I swing about 0.1 daily, with center range being 8.3.

than you very much! The thing that scares me is that with such preparation, such planning, and such equipment thrown at the tank, I've removed any excuse for not having a beautiful tank. And I might need one.

Thanks though!

Those parameters are fine. With the chiller, you'll have no problem with temp, and that ph variance should not be an issue at all.

Cheers

 

[nattarbox]

scolley, I always recognize your name and avatar from years ago on the Planted Tank, and the incredible aquariums you've shared. Look forward to following along on this one.

I had an incident with my own 29 gallon recently, and identify with a lot of the sentiment here (things learned, things to improve)! I'm kicking off the reboot this weekend.

 

[scolley]

FYI, I picked up my Radion from my LFS for WAY cheaper then you can currently find them online, something to look at anyway...

I AM very happy for you! (where's that little jealousy icon when you need it?)

Those parameters are fine. With the chiller, you'll have no problem with temp, and that ph variance should not be an issue at all.

Thanks. Thought those numbers were ok, but there's a pretty wide set of opinions in this hobby, and I'm always ready to learn.

scolley, I always recognize your name and avatar from years ago on the Planted Tank, and the incredible aquariums you've shared. Look forward to following along on this one.

I had an incident with my own 29 gallon recently, and identify with a lot of the sentiment here (things learned, things to improve)! I'm kicking off the reboot this weekend.

natterbox! That's a familiar moniker. ALWAYS nice to find friends from other forums! Thanks for saying hi. And good luck with that reboot!