The Hawaiian inspired over-build ( 300g system)

[TellyFish]

....and FINALLY... water in the display tank.

<a href="http://s1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/?action=view&current=WATER-2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/WATER-2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

The Ranco temperature controller is holding her at a rock solid 78-79deg. It is controlling one of the 3 Eheim heaters:
<a href="http://s1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/?action=view&current=ranco.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/ranco.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Mmmmmm, 4300gph
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[redneckgearhead]

Looking good!

 

[d3hree]

very nice build!, I love your valves , they look very good quality and very robust.
Can I ask why you have a slip grate inside your overflow?...do you not have a weir or gutter guard?

 

[TellyFish]

very nice build!, I love your valves , they look very good quality and very robust.
Can I ask why you have a slip grate inside your overflow?...do you not have a weir or gutter guard?

Thanks d3hree! Most of the valves are manufactured by Hayward and Georg Fischer. I have found the +GF+ valves to be especially high in quality and ease of use.

I do have a weir guard on the display tank. The grate on the siphon drain is just another layer of protection from clogging. All of the pipes have snail guards of some sort. I figure there is no way a snail or algae can ever clog that giant screen

<a href="http://s1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/?action=view&current=overflow.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/overflow.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[TellyFish]

Once the system was full of fresh RO/DI water it was time to add the salt. I wanted to try out the B-ionic DSV 'Seawater System', so I ordered two of the 200 gallon kits with the extra 100 gallons worth being saved for water changes. The boxes were large:

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From the reviews I had read online I was expecting a very clean mixing salt with excellent clarity and I was not disappointed. However, all of this does come with a trade-off... you have to mix the 4 separate material components. They do provide everything you need to do this with the kit.

<a href="http://s1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/?action=view&current=IMAG0823.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/IMAG0823.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

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I figured the easiest way to accomplish the 'measuring and mixing' part was using a scale. At first I was planning to use a gram scale but after realizing I would need to weigh out 30lbs of Sodium Chloride and sizable quantities of the other chemicals I decided to make good use of the bathroom scale.

<a href="http://s1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/?action=view&current=IMAG0828.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/IMAG0828.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Once I had measured out the correct ratios by weight, the solid mixture was added to the tank followed by the liquid trace elements. I ended up pretty close to my target specific gravity of 1.026.

<a href="http://s1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/?action=view&current=IMAG0829.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/IMAG0829.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

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The remainder of the solid materials were easily bagged and marked for storage.

<a href="http://s1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/?action=view&current=IMAG0831.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/IMAG0831.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

I began testing the water for Temp, PH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, Calcium, Alkalinity, Magnesium, and Phosphate. I should mention that some of my live rock is coming from my old tank which was laden with phosphates and bubble algae. Not a situation I wanted to be in with this tank, but since I did not cook the rocks I knew I would need to fight the phosphates for a while in the new tank as is is leached from the old rocks. I am planning aggressive GFO and skimmer use for as long as it takes.

<a href="http://s1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/?action=view&current=IMAG0837.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/IMAG0837.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Initial Test Results:
Temp- 75
PH- 8.2
NH- 0
N02- 0
N03- 0
Cal- 450
Alk- 9
Mg- 1450
P04- .47

 

[prop-frags]

....and FINALLY... water in the display tank.

Mmmmmm, 4300gph
<a href="http://s1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/?action=view&current=4300gph.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/4300gph.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

The thickness of the wave coming over is fascinating. Easy to see why weirs can impede flow!

Nice job on this build. Great attention to the "back office" that's for sure :thumbsup:

 

[HiImSean]

any updates? i was really looking forward to seeing this tank up and running

 

[TellyFish]

any updates? i was really looking forward to seeing this tank up and running

My apologies, I did not mean to leave mid-sentence. Unfortunately fate, as she so often does, impolitely intervened somewhere between mixing the salt and attempting to enjoy the new tank. :uhoh2:

The short answer is that yes, I do have an update. The system is up and running well. Shortly after mixing the salt I experienced a variety of algae blooms and remissions as I began to slowly introduce small inverts, coral, and fish.

<a href="http://s1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/?action=view&current=IMAG1020.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/IMAG1020.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

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<a href="http://s1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/?action=view&current=IMAG1035-Copy.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/IMAG1035-Copy.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

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<a href="http://s1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/?action=view&current=IMAG1055.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/IMAG1055.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

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Water mixing station:
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[TellyFish]

On the other hand, the LONG story is... EPIC DISASTER :furious:

<a href="http://s1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/?action=view&current=2012-06-06_18-27-00_315.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/2012-06-06_18-27-00_315.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Clearly, this was a devastating blow. The result of a failed light fixture dropping a 4ft sheet of glass, something like this smiley icon beating the horse ---> :deadhorse: (my aquarium is the horse).
I will never forgive myself for hanging that rickety old crap-box over this gorgeous tank. This one deserved so much better Luckily, or unluckily depending on how you look at it, I was doing some serious maintenance at the time and I had the tank mostly drained. Despite this, there were unfortunately some losses.

I was immediately thrown into denial, the first stage of the Kübler-Ross model. "We can fix it, right? Surely this day in age... they make some sort of glue right?" Once the initial shock wore-off and I began to regain my senses, I was thrown into deep fits of anger. Awful, spiteful anger that only this statue of an angry fisherman can properly convey:

<a href="http://s1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/?action=view&current=angryFisherman.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/angryFisherman.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

He almost looks as if he is bargaining with God; which is exactly what I did for several weeks before falling into a deep reef-depression and hobby burn-out, the likes of which I had never experienced.

Now let me stop there and say that I hold nothing against anyone who sells their equipment and moves on out of frustration. I get it. It is a time-consuming, expensive, and at times a trying hobby. That being said, there are so many things about this amazing hobby that make me a better person I almost consider it a test for life. Any person who has the dedication, discipline, knowledge, and understanding--not to mention the skills--to maintain a full blown reef tank are OK in my book. I love this hobby. I believe to really be prepared as a reefer, you have to be ready to roll with any little problem or major disaster. Could be losing all your SPS, could be a 4ft sheet of glass falling from the sky. All that really matters is that you get back up--in my case eventually. Death and rebirth are just as much a part of the reefing lesson as calcium + magnesium relationships.

I am happy to say that I finally reached acceptance, sometime earlier this year. I am finalizing plans to replace the main display tank with some minor changes, and in the meantime I have been focusing on maintaining the chemistry of the remaining 180gallons, building a new light fixture, and continuing work on the controller using Arduino (Click for video link but be forewarned that it is sideways). As I prepare to rebuild with fresh eyes and begin updating this thread again, I am looking forward to jumping back in on the conversation with you guys!

Cheers,
tF

 

[tonistark338]

Amazing build great job

 

[TellyFish]

cant wait for the 1yr update when all is grown in

Oh man, if only... lol. Next year maybe?

 

[ryancw01]

Well crap...I just went through this entire thread and was really sorry to see it end this way. Sorry for your loss and good luck with the rebuild...

 

[TellyFish]

Well crap...I just went through this entire thread and was really sorry to see it end this way. Sorry for your loss and good luck with the rebuild...

Yup. :headwallblue:

"End" is such a strong word. I have a quote from Miracles to build a similar tank, just with an external overflow box. Same stand and supporting equipment. Plan to order sometime this summer-ish. I will see the Hawaiian project through to glorious fruition if it is the last thing I do.

Of course, the frag tank is still up keeping everything alive, so thankfully the system is flexible in that regard.

On a related note, anyone know of someone looking to pick up some REALLY cheap plate glass? They all come glued together for, er... easy transport. :strangeTotally serious though, I need this old tank out so the new tank can move in :headwalls: again...)