So it begins, part two (120G)

[carb850]

Thanks Matt. Even with I finished the first go around, I knew it wasn't going to remain. I just needed to take a break from it and come up with a different concept. I'm pretty satisfied with this one so far. I just wondered about the flow from the Tunze. Your right they are hitting the rocks almost directly but once the coral is on top I didn't think having them pointed straight at the coral either.

drouner, I appreciate the compliment! Feel free to base yours off my stand. The wood is Baltic Birch and it just a bit over 1/2" (9 ply). I was originally wanting to go with Maple but the woodworker I found had access to some of this Baltic Birch for a reasonable price. After reading up a bit I think it might even work better because the European wood uses much thinner ply's and is stronger (hopefully resist warping and moisture better too). I couldn't be any happier with the way it turned out. Oh, no stain either. Just 3 coats of Satin Polyurethane.

As for the noise of the Glass-Holes kit, it will be several weeks before I report back (I work dreadfully slow ). I need to complete this stand and get my return pump (Eheim 1250) before I start plumbing it.

 

[LtPiper]

Wow that looks way on the blue end of the light spectrum. I'd redirect the tunze not at the rock or at where coral would be placed but off to a side or up or somewhere that it would contribute the max flow to the tank.

 

[carb850]

I guess it will take some adjusting to find the sweet spot for the Tunze. The tank isn't quite as blue as it looks in the picture, but still blue none the less. It has 2 actinic T5's (not sure which) and Pheniox Mh's. When it comes time to replace bulbs I might go with a different 14K that is a bit more whiter.

 

[E.intheC]

looks great! good, detailed thread, and i like your slow progress! This will be an exciting build thread, for sure :thumbsup:

 

[drouner]

Hey Carb can I get a picture of the side of the stand? I'm trying to figure out if the side is one piece of wood cut out to fit or several pieces.

 

[carb850]

I hope this helps.

 

[drouner]

You da man! Thanks much!!!!

 

[carb850]

Not a problem! The builder used a iron on banding around the edges but not sure what wood it was. It wasn't baltic Birch but it does match exactly.

Not much else to report. The past few days have been crazy. We are expecting a little one and got some news yesterday that isn't terrible but not ideal either. Then today I was busy with the lawn after work but had a flat on the way to the gym. So, rather than doing anything with the tank I'm enjoying a glass of Bourbon and taking it easy this evening.

This weekend I hope to get a few of my rock pieces glued into place and get my skimmer online. I friend is keeping a Chromis and Cardinal fish I have owned for a couple years, I hope to get those guys into the tank maybe by Sunday.

 

[drouner]

Congrats on the little one! Hope it all turns out okay. It usually does.

Still interested in feedback on the Glass Holes overflow.

 

[carb850]

Thanks.

Well, the frame has yet to be delivered to the woodworker so it is going to be awhile. I have seen numerous threads on them before I purchased and most every report said they are very quiet.

 

[carb850]

The 30 cube stand has been delivered to the builder. Looks like I will get it back 2-3 weeks from now.

I started the skimmer for the first time tonight. It is being feed with a Maxi-Jet 900. The Aquabee isn't horribly loud, but louder than I expected. I'm hoping it will quiet down as it breaks in.

The biggest hurtle I'm facing is the noise/bubble from my drain lines into the sump. I have tried almost every possible combination that was recommended to me and spent too much on misc PVC fittings. I was beginning to think I was getting a wierd vortex from the Durso (yes I put in the airline tubing in the top) so this evening I made yet another trip to Lowes so I can build a Hofer Gurgle Buster. I only spent a few hours trying to dial it in, but still getting massive amount of bubbles in the sump. I think eventually I could have made it a bit quieter on the top side but I wasn't getting much noise from the Durso's on the top side to begin with.

I really don't know were to go from here but until I get this volume down and bubbles out of the display I will not take the tank any further. Maybe I will trade everything for a sumpless nano (kidding)............... or am I?

 

[carb850]

Modified night light.

 

[carb850]

This week with the help of a friend I worked a little bit more on my plumbing. I'm not satisfied with it yet but his suggestions did seem to help. I think I might end up having to get a couple more panes of glass cut and install a bubble trap into my refugium section. This will mean having to pull out the sump but I'm hoping that I can do that rather quickly. How long does it take for silicon to setup? Oh yeah, if I do end up pulling the sump out that will be a good time for me to paint the bottom of my tank. It isn't something I want to do but the glow from the bottom kills any moonlight ideas.

I also brought my skimmer online this week. This thing instantly made a foam head. Actually day one it was spilling water into the collection cup. I now have the air line almost closed off completely and the foam is still almost even with the break over point. However, it isn't filling the cup with water any longer. I'm looking forward to what it can do once broke in and dailed in.

Last week I picked up a frag of Orange Cap and a couple days ago I added my Chromis and Cardinal to the 120 which a friend was keeping for me. That Chromis is the very first SW fish I purchased, that will be 2 years ago come August.

Here is the fish stocking list that I'm kicking around.

30G
Purple Firefish
Yellow Watchman Goby w/Pistol Shrimp
Tail Spot Blenny
Pecula Clown Pair

120G
Bangai Cardinal (already have)
Bluegreen Chromis (already have)
Blue Stripe Neon Goby
Midas Blenny
Mandarin
Cinammon Clown Pair
Bartlett Anthias Herim
Two Spot Bristle Tooth Tang

 

[carb850]

I'm still playing with the plumbing but I think this evening I made big gains in the reduction of bubbles. The system is still not as quiet as I hoped but I have reduced 80% of the bubbles entering the sump. I think the final product is a cross between the ideas of several on here that has helped me. (thanks guys and gals). If I do go forward with putting a bubble trap on the refugium side I feel it should eliminate 100% of the bubbles in the display.

On a side note, I keep thinking the Aquabee pump on my skimmer had something loose in it. Keep hearing this strange rattle. I finally figured out that it is coming from the air line to it. Once I get the silencer for it that will eliminate one more noise.

I put the TLF media reactor online this weekend running Lignite Carbon from BulkReefSupply. My water has a slight color to it then combine that with all the micro bubbles the display wasn't exactly crystal clear. Hopefully as I get the bubbles under control and with the addition of carbon the display will become much more clear.

 

[carb850]

Update:



The Good:
The 2 corals (Orange Cap & Afrian Blue Zoo) as well as my 2 fish (Blue Green Chromis and Kaudern's Cardinal) are all doing great. The Chromis, aka Amigo, is the first SW fish I purchased. He has survived almost 2 years in my care!


Needs Improvement:
I'm still getting some microbubbles into my display. I have a small change in mind with my plumbing but if that doesn't eliminate most of them I will need to take more drastic steps. I fear those include using a filter sock or removing the sump to install a bubble trap on my fuge side. I'm not fond of either but the bubble trap is going to be the more painless solution long term.

Also, I'm getting some debris collecting on the bottom of the tank. Most came from the rock when it was curing but just settled on it over time. I rinsed it off before adding it to the display but I didn't get all of it off apparently. I'm thinking about some airline to create a siphon to vacuum it up. On the drain side of my airline I think I will use a filter sock or mesh bag to use as a collection point down in my sump. Hopefully this will export some waste while not removing any water.


Up Next:
My stand for the 30G is not completed. I hope to get it back in the next 2 weeks. Once completed I will only need to get the Eheim 1250 return pump and Live Sand.

Other purchased in the near future include the Tunze 7096 multicontroller for my 6101's and new MH bulbs for the Maristar fixture.

I also need to bring my ATO and Kalk Reactor online. I was planning to wait for my 30G stand but rather than wait for those I might bring those online sooner.

 

[carb850]

Holy crap, I just added the Flame Angel to the tank and I cannot believe how much color this guy added. My tank is all white or blue. White from the rock and HDPE bottom, blue from the Chromis and blue bulbs giving everything a blue hint. This new fish is like a beacon or something in the tank! I purchased him from someone tearing down there tank and I have never seen a Dwarf Angel so fat. I got a Midas Blenny at the same time but I'm waiting to get my mesh tops installed before transfering him. I didn't leave room for my Tunze cords so I'm forced to do some mods.

Coral update
The Orange cap is looking fantastic. Actually it is looking a bit more pink but appears to be growing only after a few weeks. I have another small unknown SPS frag which seems to be very happy as well. The two lonely zoo's I have are not fairing so well.

Still waiting for my stand. I will probably wait for my stand to put the ATO and Kalk reactor online.

 

[solareclisped]

Lets get a pic of the fish.

 

[carb850]

I would but I need a good camera and someone with a steady hand.

 

[solareclisped]

Tripod

 

[carb850]

I have a tripod for my camcorder. I could use is as a rest for my camera but I wonder if the shutter speed is quick enough to catch a still image of the guy as he is swimming. He stays in the rocks a lot but when he does come out he is constantly moving.