Starting a new 90 Progress will be updated

[vader88]

Dano, here's the pics of it together ..... took me about 6 hours to put it together and 2 of that was unclogging the applicator tomorrow. I'll be leak testing tomorrow. All the pieces went together fairly easy and the directions say to use masking tape to keep it together during drying, but I recommend using clamps.

I included a picture of the tank I'm putting it in to which is 48" across to give you a idea of how large it is, plus on the floor since it's hard to see against the verticals.

You can put the baffles wherever you like.

 

[vader88]

FYI... I have a large skimmer area since I'll be going with a submersible Octopus Skimmer plus I'll add my heaters and whatever else goodies in there. Thanks to the poster who provided with the dimensions of the ocean runner 3500. So left to right Pump Return, Refugium, Skimmer

 

[vader88]

So far so good with the leak test, amazing how that acrylic cement can actually hold together with so much pressure

 

[Dano999]

It looks real good. What type of clamps did you use to keep it together during drying?

 

[vader88]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10716369#post10716369 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dano999
It looks real good. What type of clamps did you use to keep it together during drying?

Just some some regular spiral clamps or you can use the IRWINS, but their expensive, here's the one I used. You may want to go larger though..

 

[Mavrk]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10711698#post10711698 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by barngeatbayman
FEDEX blows, UPS I find to be much better these days

My UPS guy almost never knocks or rings the bell. I will be waiting for packages all day in the front room and still not know it has been sitting for hours. My FedEx guy always rings. I think it just depends on the driver.

 

[Dano999]

Day 33

I covered the tank for the last two days and kept the lights off to try to control the green hair algae. It's died in a few areas and reduced a lot in the others.

I also replumbed the drain into the fuge to try to reduce the amount of bubbles which were creating a lot of salt creep. I think I tried every mod posted on this site and nothing removed the massive amount of bubbles coming from the drain line. I was able to reduce it some and the next step is a sock filter which I did not want to do but if the salt creep is still bad I may have no choice.

When turning the lights back on I noticed two things growing that I need to ID.

This one is about 1" wide and is only on one rock.

I have several of these starting to grow on several rocks. They are 1/8" to 1/4".

I also found an empty shell. It looks like one of the hermit shells which could mean he killed a snail and took his shell.

 

[vader88]

Dano,

How are the AGA overflow kits working for you ? Are you getting enough turnover and are they loud or quiet ? I'm looking at some different options .... 1.5" drain and 1" return. I believe the AGA is 3/4" return.

 

[Dano999]

The overflow seems to be OK but with all the work I have done the only place the air is getting in is from the overflow. I expect a few bubbles but mine seems excessive. I don't have anything to compare to. As for the overflow itself it's pretty quite.

The drain is 1 1/2" and the return is 3/4" although the megaflow kit has two 3/4" bulkheads. I had to cut back on the return with the problem I'm having. This is probably more a problem with the fuge drain line set up as it's fixed and about an 1" above the water level. I put a 90 on the flex drain tube to avoid having dips in the flex tube and added two inches to the entrance to allow the drain water to enter blow the fuge water level. This caused some restriction which is why I had to cut back on the return. If I run it too high I get the rising and falling effect in the over flow.

 

[zibba]

Hey Dano999,

Check this link out for another plumbing method: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=344892

I did this on my 90 and it drastically reduced the noise and completely eliminated the bubbles coming from the overflow.

If you have any questions and want some help - let me know.

 

[Dano999]

Day 35/36

Well after leaving my lights off for two days (and covering with a sheet) and reducing the time I have them on by half, the green hair algae is still pretty bad.

I ordered additional clean up inverts this evening to see if I can get this under control. All the levels still look good.

In addition I ordered a Tunze Osmolator Universal 3155 for the top off. I decided it wasn't worth the risk to use a gravity fed top off. That and I had a little flood the other evening. The 1/4" tubing somehow pulled loose from the quick fitting shut off valve and created a slow drip. The slow drip put two gallons of water on the floor. This got me concerned as I have two much invested in this hobby and I am not home enough to keep a constant eye on the tank. The Tuzne has a maximum amount of time it allows the pump to put water into the tank in addition to two level indicators. I will also hook this up to the AC jr. and can limit the time per day it will pump for addition failsafe measures.

I also purchased a Eheim Automatic Feeder. Not quite ready to use yet but I had free shipping on the top off order so I added this on too. I also included a back up heater.

One other prevention item I am going to pick up are two Penn Plax Silent Air B-11 Battery Air Pumps. These air pumps will automatically turn on in case of a power failure and keep the tank from being depleted of oxygen. The batteries last about 72 hours which should be enough for a even small hurricane. I live near the Gulf coast.

 

[jackfrost]

Excellent Thread !

I am getting ready to begin setting my 90 gallon tank, and the work on your lights has been excellent !

Love the pictures and the text !

Keep it going !

 

[Dano999]

Day 39

Here's an update.

I added the following additional inverts to help with the algae issue.

4 Mexican Turbos
12 Dwarf Blue Leg Hermits
6 Scarlet Hermits
5 Cerith Snails
8 Nassarius Snails
4 Astraea Turbo Snails

These are in addition to the inverts I added over a week ago.

I also physically removed some of the algae by hand and the lights have been cut back.

NH4 - 0.0
NO2 - 0.0
NO3 - 0.0
PH - 8.03
Ca - 560
PO4 - 0.0
dKH - 12.5
SG - 1.025
Temp - 81.3

 

[demonsp]

Conch snails also great for this. Seems to me you need more water flow ,less amount of time with lights . Included some omnivores like coral beuty , tang , ect..
But with a new setup you can expect some algea untill cleanup crew goes to work.
I would only add the algea eating snails like the turbos and mb a few hermits. But i dont think theres enough of a food source for all of them.
All add a good hand full off empty shells of differant shapes and sizes to prevent shell stealing. But if he likes what he sees then they just take.

 

[Dano999]

Thanks for your input.

The two Hydor Koralia #4s have a flow rating of 1250 gph each plus the pump flow of 600 gph (limited by the maximum overflow rate) is a total of around 3100 gph of flow. So I don't think a lack of water flow is the issue.

It's a new tank so the nutrients feeding the algae should be depleted shortly. I just waited (per the recommendation of my LFS) too long to add a cleaning crew. Since I did not have a cycle, due to the cured LR added at the beginning, he wanted me to wait. So far most of the recommendations from the LFS, who claims 20 years of experience, have not been the best. The overinflated pricing (50% to 70% on some items) and poor initial equipment selections have cost me an extra $800 so far. He does not take returns and only gives credit. For example I am having to upgrade the skimmer because the Aquafuge Pro he talked me into does not skim well. These initial mistakes led me to trust this and other forums for recommendations over the LFS. I researched before I purchased my initial equipment but I ended up listening to the LFS because he came recommended by my local forum.

I chose not to use Conch snails due to the size they will eventually get. I really didn't want Mexican Turbos either because they knock stuff over. Nor did I want the dwarf blue legged hermits because they kill snails for the shells. Unfortunately I needed something to eat the algae and all the real good algae eaters have some issues they bring with them.

I have purchased a few dozen shells for the hermits anticipating the shell stealing issue.

The lights have been cut back from 12 hours to 7 hours per day. I covered the tank for nearly three days with no light what so ever and although this killed some of the algae it didn't get most of it. I pulled out a lot by hand and may do so again. I used a cup filled with R/O water to rinse off the algae each time I pulled some out but the tank water still got a lot floating around so I stopped.

I don't want to introduce any fish just yet as it has been less than four weeks since water was first put in the tank. I may look into the first fish here shortly but it will first go into a quarantine tank for at least three weeks. I guess I should get the quarantine tank set up.

 

[Dano999]

Day 40

I posted this on the AquaC Club thread in the Equipment forum but I will include it here also. I have yet to get a response from the initial post.

I have ordered the AquaC EV-180 skimmer but haven't received it yet. I also purchased the Eheim 1262 Pump and have the Mag 9.5 currently as my return pump. The Eheim was intended to be used as the return and the Mag as the skimmer pump but after reading some threads recommending the Eheim for the skimmer pump I may use it for the skimmer.

I could use some advise from those of you who have some experience with the AquaC EV models.

Below is a picture that will help with my questions.

I have an Aquafuge Pro which has a built in skimmer that really has not done anything for four weeks even after I have plumbed and made dozens of adjustments. It puts out some skimate just not much and it's light green. The tank is a month old so not much bio load (except some inverts) but there is 150 lbs of LR that had some die off. It is also real noisy. The skimmer plus the drain bubbles noise level is around 65 dbs

I decided to purchase the AquaC EV-180 mainly due to the small footprint and the best candidate for hooking it up externally to this fuge.

Due to the small areas D and E an internal installation is not possible. The main question is whether to install externally at either side A or B. Side B would be my preferred side since the sump already has a larger area for either the return or skimmer pump depending on how this is plumbed. Bulkhead output C would be the alternate either for skimmer or return pumps.

I am concerned about two issues with side B.

1. Microbubbles being introduced back into the tank since the return pump is also next to the skimmer output. Does the skimmer output produce bubbles?

2. Reskimming the same water since the skimmer output is also next to the skimmer input pump.

Should I be concerned with either issue?

The next question would be in regards whether to use the Eheim connected to sump output C and feed the skimmer or use the Mag 9.5 already in the sump D to feed the skimmer and use the Eheim at C for the return line to the tank. I am also getting some warm temperatures so the cooler pump in the sump area would help with the temperature.

Any suggestions?

The main reason I don't want to use side A is because I want to replumb the drain line to reduce the massive amount of bubbles coming from the overflow. Also this area has acrylic support pieces for the existing skimmer. Although the Mag 9.5 would fit it would make this area real crowded. With the existing skimmer removed I can replumb this area and hopefully reduce the bubbles and noise.

Here is a picture of the skimmer. This is two days worth with no skimmate in the drain container.

Thanks for any advise and or suggestions.

 

[barngeatbayman]

Dano,

I would return the Aqua-C EV180. Its footprint is not that small. Its an energy hog and does not outskimm smaller footprint skimmers. In order to get it to skim better it needs to be modified. Why dont you think about a Tunze 9010. I have one in a 90 gal. also its great quiet, skims like a champ. I am about a week behind you and I am getting about 100ml of skimmate a day with just my live rock. Also its cheaper than the Aqua C given that the pump is included and much quieter. Just my .02 cents

 

[Dano999]

Since the subject of fish stocking came up I thought I would list some potential selections. The fish were chosen based on the contribution to the health of the tank and their mostly nonaggressive tendencies.

These are not listed in any particular order.

Primary

Pyramid Butterfly - Hemitauricthys polylepis
Two Ocellaris Clownfish TANK RAISED - Amphiprion ocellaris
Clown Fairy Wrasse - Cirrhilabrus solorensis
Golden Pygmy Angelfish - Centropyge aurantia, Centropyge aurantius
African yellow belly regal blue tang - Paracanthurus hepatus var.
Evansi Anthias - Microlabrichthys evansi


Alternates

Purple Tang RED SEA - Zebrasoma xanthurus
Atlantic Blue Tang - Acanthurus coeruleus
Masked Swallowtail Angel Female - Genicanthus semifasciatus
Blue Hippo Tang - Paracanthurus hepatus
Powder Blue Tang - Acanthurus leucosternon
Zebra Lyretail Angel - Genichantus caudovittatus
Watanabe's Angel - Genicanthus watanabei
Flame Angel - Centropyge loriculus
Australian Copperband Butterfly - Chelmon rostratus
Coral Beauty Angel - Centropyge bispinosus

If you have any recommendations please feel free to list them.

 

[Dano999]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10777351#post10777351 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by barngeatbayman
Dano,

I would return the Aqua-C EV180. Its footprint is not that small. Its an energy hog and does not outskimm smaller footprint skimmers. In order to get it to skim better it needs to be modified. Why dont you think about a Tunze 9010. I have one in a 90 gal. also its great quiet, skims like a champ. I am about a week behind you and I am getting about 100ml of skimmate a day with just my live rock. Also its cheaper than the Aqua C given that the pump is included and much quieter. Just my .02 cents

According to the specs it has to go either in the sump or in the tank or I guess HOB. I only have an area of 6" X 11" in the sump area. Does this need a pump as well? If it's internal then this would fit in the sump area.

Does the collection cup have a drain? I can't be available everyday to drain the cup which is limited to a little over two cups. I could go with the 9015 which has twice the size of a collection cup.

How much noise does it produce? The Tunze site states to run 8 hours a day if noise would be a problem.

I do like the lower power consumption.

Do you have a picture of your setup?

 

[barngeatbayman]

I'll try and take one. I have a friend with the Aqua C EV180 and he saw my skimmer and bought a Tunze and sold his Aqua C and said man that is nice!!! Much quieter than his. The drain makes more noise than the skimmer. The is no overflow on the skimmer and the pump is internal. 6"x11" is plenty of room for it. The wattage it needs to run is minute comapred to the Aqua C and Rodger at Tunze has the world's best customer service!!!