The Journey - 300+ Gallon System Build - Picture Heavy

[bpcardona]

Reviving a dead forum?

Reviving a dead forum?

So it has been a long time since I posted to this forum, and I want to gauge the interest in me updating it. I have been VERY busy with.....Life. As a result I need to prioritize my time. Unfortunately Reef Central took a back seat.

I have a TON of update and would love to carry on this forum, but I also understand the lose of interest. So let me know.....

 

[sirreal63]

Brian, people only lose interest when you stop posting updates. I have followed from the beginning and will always enjoy updates.

 

[salty72]

Agree with sirreal63. Would LOVE to see uupdates!

 

[worm5406]

Hey... I for one really want to see the updates.

Glad that life has been keeping you busy.

I have done so many updates on mine too. (I will be at 300 DT water volume by this weekend, compared to the 180 it was)

Come on man.. Start slow and lets see those updates.

 

[Gools]

Sorry if I missed it but what did you use to hold the rockwork together like that?

 

[nadinemccarthy]

Looks like a great setup.

 

[bpcardona]

Brian, people only lose interest when you stop posting updates. I have followed from the beginning and will always enjoy updates.

Agree with sirreal63. Would LOVE to see uupdates!

Thanks for sticking around...... I will start thing off tonight.

Hey... I for one really want to see the updates.

Glad that life has been keeping you busy.

I have done so many updates on mine too. (I will be at 300 DT water volume by this weekend, compared to the 180 it was)

Come on man.. Start slow and lets see those updates.

I have ALOT of reading to do in your thread! I will start my update with a catch up, then explain my journey.

Looks like a great setup.

Thanks

 

[bpcardona]

Sorry if I missed it but what did you use to hold the rockwork together like that?

Thanks for the complement. I wanted to create something that made people ask, how did he get that to stay like that. So thanks for doing just that. The support system is acrylic rods drilled into the rock, and a lot ( and I mean A LOT) of two part epoxy. As you can see below, at times I was impressed it stayed!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/90102096@N03/8569638051/" title="Untitled by elitecoral, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8108/8569638051_66cc524219_z.jpg" width="478" height="640" alt="Untitled"></a>​

 

[bpcardona]

The Tank:

I want to continue where I left off in the forum, and walk through my build as if I were still doing it. However I have the tank up and running. So the purpose of this post is for full disclosure. I have had the tank running for May of 2013. There for the tank has been occupied by fish and coral for 8 months. So far all is well!
I have added many coral, but only two fish. I have some redesign issues (and time issues) with the QT system, which is why I only have added two fish.

Personal:

My personal life has changed as much (if not more) then my tank since my last post. During my last post I was studying to take the MCAT to gain entrance into Med school. I was also finishing my degree in Biochemistry/Biophysics at USF. I have graduated USF as of Dec 2013!!

The most exciting part, my wife and I have also announced her pregnancy! We will bring our child into this world late March or early April. The wife is pulling for March.

The Current Picture of Display:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/90102096@N03/12197931603/" title="Wedding-4.jpg by elitecoral, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7426/12197931603_80221f1eef_b.jpg" width="1024" height="427" alt="Wedding-4.jpg"></a>​

 

[sirreal63]

Congrats on the grad and the upcoming family frag! The tank looks happy too.

 

[worm5406]

Now that is what I call an update.

I have a few boys at home... so I know the pressure before during and after... You will do fine. Remember bottle to the baby and cubes to the tank.

I will say that my 19yo and 12yo really like to come down and just sit and watch the tank. Espc when the blues are on or at feeding time.

I like how the rock turned out. From going to you and the rock in the tank to seeing it wet and things living on it is a big change.

What is up with the QT?

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

Glad to see you back and major major congrats on graduation and bringing a new life into the world. Tank looks good. What is going on with your QT system?

 

[worm5406]

So... updates this week?

 

[bpcardona]

Water Exchange Station:

One thing that I hated about my old system was the water exchange process. I only had a ATO system, and that only held 5 gallons. This meant that I was always making RO water and mixing salt water. I always ended up forgetting the water was on, and flood my garage floor. In designing this new setup I made it a priority to automate this process. I looked into the Genesis RENEWâ„¢ Automatic Water Change System, and love it. I thought this would be the best route, unfortunately the price point was beyond my reach. Therefor I need to find an alternative.

I decide to install a MasterFlex dual head dosing pump. I picked this up used from a local reefer that was getting out. The setup is simple enough, two hoses that pump water at the same rate. The first hose would pull "dirty" water from the tank and expel it in a runoff. The second would pump "clean" water from a SW barrel to the tank. Because the MasterFlex drives both heads at the same time, the ratio of dirty water to clean water is the same. I have the it connected to a timer which turns on in the early morning. It replaces about 3 gallons a day.

Next I need to find barrels to suit my needs. My requirements were that they held 40+ gallons and fit into a corner of my garage, not preventing my car from getting in. Also the needed to be easy to open and close, so I could add salt without trouble. I found a perfect match from a local guy selling food grade barrels. They had easy to open lids, and held 55g. I built a rack so they could stack. The Top barrel is for RO and the bottom SW. The RO container is connected to the RO/DI filter and auto fills based on a float switch. I installed a ball valve on the bottom of the RO container, allowing me to fill the SW barrel when mixing was required. I also put in a series of connection at the side of the barrel. One is a hose bib to allow for large amount of RO water to be filled into containers. The second is a small ball valve to allow me to fill small container, such as my lab wash bottles. The last is a connection to my ATO.

The bottom barrel was placed on a drum cart that I order from Amazon. The cart was a little costly, but well worth it. Once full the drum weighs quite a bit, and impossible to move. With the cart, it's as easy pushing a wagon. I hooked up a pump to the SW barrel as well. This aids in the mixing of the SW, and also pumps SW to various contains if needed. This is possible because of the design in plumbing. (Note the ball valve near the top of the drum).

I am in love with this setup! Automating this process has made this hobby so much more enjoyable, and my tank LOVES it as well. There has been zero swing in salinity or nitrate. I would higgling recommend anyone setting up something similar.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/90102096@N03/12369159403/" title="Reef Tank Build-3.jpg by elitecoral, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3701/12369159403_d6aaf08fd0_c.jpg" width="450" height="800" alt="Reef Tank Build-3.jpg"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/90102096@N03/12369162963/" title="Reef Tank Build-4.jpg by elitecoral, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3768/12369162963_60089bb577_c.jpg" width="534" height="800" alt="Reef Tank Build-4.jpg"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/90102096@N03/12369006695/" title="Reef Tank Build-5.jpg by elitecoral, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7433/12369006695_42a88281f5_c.jpg" width="800" height="534" alt="Reef Tank Build-5.jpg"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/90102096@N03/12369468084/" title="Reef Tank Build-6.jpg by elitecoral, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3685/12369468084_4a2d4809d2_c.jpg" width="534" height="800" alt="Reef Tank Build-6.jpg"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/90102096@N03/12369019215/" title="Reef Tank Build-7.jpg by elitecoral, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2827/12369019215_5109913183_c.jpg" width="800" height="534" alt="Reef Tank Build-7.jpg"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/90102096@N03/12369022565/" title="Reef Tank Build-8.jpg by elitecoral, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3731/12369022565_ca3b34659b_c.jpg" width="534" height="800" alt="Reef Tank Build-8.jpg"></a>
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[worm5406]

Very nice. I wont have that luxary. I will have 2x 200g containers, can you imagine those moving. LOL

What is the 1/4" line with 1/4 turn off used for on top tank?

 

[bpcardona]

Very nice. I wont have that luxary. I will have 2x 200g containers, can you imagine those moving. LOL

What is the 1/4" line with 1/4 turn off used for on top tank?

I can, only with a fork lift. The 1/4 line runs to my ATO. It runs to a solenoid which is turn open by a float switch. I questioned setting it up this way because if it gets stuck open, then I get 55g of RO water in my tank. As you can see I took the risk. In the future I may setup a seperate reservoir, limiting the amount of water.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/90102096@N03/12374272893/" title="Tank Build-3.jpg by elitecoral, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2831/12374272893_d0563ce812_c.jpg" width="800" height="534" alt="Tank Build-3.jpg"></a>​

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

Elaborate setup. Automation is a reefers best friend.

 

[dave.m]

Rather than run the solenoid off a float switch which will -guaranteed- fail on you eventually, you would do better to put the solenoid on a timer. That way you can control how long the solenoid can stay open, limiting the possibility of dumping the whole ATO supply into your system at once.

Dave.M

 

[bpcardona]

Rather than run the solenoid off a float switch which will -guaranteed- fail on you eventually, you would do better to put the solenoid on a timer. That way you can control how long the solenoid can stay open, limiting the possibility of dumping the whole ATO supply into your system at once.

Dave.M

Great point! I forgot to mention that point. I have my connected to my reefer keeper and it only come on for a hour in the evening. There is still a risk of the valve getting stuck open, but it is limited. The valve could get stuck open and remain open regardless of the power being provided to the solenoid. Hopefully this won't happen to me, but I have taken this step to limit trouble.

 

[bpcardona]

Lighting:


I wanted to provide a good environment for my corals and allow maximum growth, but on a budget. The lighting choice that has a long record in this hobby, and meets those needs is T5s. I found someone local selling the components of a retro fit T5 and we made a deal. I purchases two icecap 660 ballast and 16 T5 ends. This would prove me with 4 bulb for my blues and 4 bulb for my whites.

The next step was to build some sort of hood to contain all these lights. The requirements of this hood was simple. Contain all the lights, keep the weight off the tank, and evacuate the produced heat. To keep the weight off the tank, I placed 2x2 braces around the top of the tank, screwed into the studs of the wall. The hood was to rest on the braces just above the tank.

In order to control the heat produced, several CPU fans were to be place in the hood. Two fans were placed in the top to pull hot air off the lights. Four fans (two on each side) were place on the sides of the hood. These fans pulled in cool wire and blew it across the bulbs. The fans are controlled by a temperature probe and turn on when the heat builds up. They are super quite and very effective.

Let me here your thoughts. Any suggestion on improvements?

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/90102096@N03/12390892234/" title="Tank Build-5.jpg by elitecoral, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3826/12390892234_a70fcbb21b_c.jpg" width="688" height="800" alt="Tank Build-5.jpg"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/90102096@N03/12390897134/" title="Tank Build-7.jpg by elitecoral, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5506/12390897134_28feaea054_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="Tank Build-7.jpg"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/90102096@N03/12390459305/" title="Tank Build-10.jpg by elitecoral, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7384/12390459305_38dff11dd2_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="Tank Build-10.jpg"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/90102096@N03/12390466815/" title="Tank Build-13.jpg by elitecoral, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2815/12390466815_fc0789d14c_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="Tank Build-13.jpg"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/90102096@N03/12390623633/" title="Tank Build-15.jpg by elitecoral, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5539/12390623633_c737022b89_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="Tank Build-15.jpg"></a>


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/90102096@N03/12390636013/" title="Tank Build-20.jpg by elitecoral, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2845/12390636013_b99894e20c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="Tank Build-20.jpg"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/90102096@N03/12390479255/" title="Tank Build-18.jpg by elitecoral, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5471/12390479255_09dfcb0be5_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="Tank Build-18.jpg"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/90102096@N03/12390628613/" title="Tank Build-17.jpg by elitecoral, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7360/12390628613_e504b5c99b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="Tank Build-17.jpg"></a>
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