Tank Journal - 125 Reef

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Tank size in the title - 125. It's got 2 Koralia 2's and one Koralia 3. Nitrates are 0 Phosphates 0.1 and on the way down (that's been a battle all along).

I'm hoping the Tail Spot Blenny and Green Goby are hiding, they're both really small, like 1" to 1-1/4". Yes 2 Brittle stars, each about 6" in diameter.

The algae is Green Hair, but it grows yellow and traps air when there isn't enough flow, which is my current dilemma. It was a miscalculation on my part but it's still working fine, and I'm working on a fix for the flow issue.

ATS is an Algal Turf Scrubber, this one is based on a design by a user names Santa Monica and his site is www.algaescrubbers.net. If you search for "mega nitrate phosphate remover" you'll find about 30 very heated threads he started about 2 years ago, many of which got closed within months and banned him 'cause he's a jerk but the idea is great. Check the one out on Reef Sanctuary and try to look past his attitude and the naysayers, then look at all the examples. From 8/08 until about mid summer last year he got torn apart all over the place...pretty sad if you ask me, on both sides of the issue. The true test will be the other 2 tanks I put this system on.

 

Thanks!  Here's a more current set of pics:














Here's the screen at the end of each week (before cleaning)


11/22




11/30




And the re-designed box, this one has a separate box housing the screen that is removable. This will allow the box to fill up with water to two different levels, allowing 3-D growth of submerged algae. You'll see what I mean when it gets set up, I'll post more pics

 

Screen cleaning today, here's how it looks (this is typical of the last 3 weeks' worth of harvests)


Before cleaning:




Some different algae growth between the screen (I can't remember what it's called)




Second half




Lunch?



Clean screen



All in all, that took just about 20 minutes. I did it over the lunch hour (in the dentist's office) and there was no significant smell or complaints from anyone. I did it in the break room and made sure to ask anyone that stepped in if they smelled anything, the best comment was "I've smelled worse from the microwave meals!!" I thought that was pretty humorous.


I have to say that this system totally hands-down crushes having to clean filter socks, pads, skimmer cups, etc. And no water changes totally kicks butt.


I am experiencing a significant uptake in Alk and Cal, and Mag has really dropped off, to the point where adding the Seachem Reef Advantage Calcium is not bumping the Mag up at all, since Cal has not dropped off fast until recently. Also I have never had more than the minimum Strontium or Iodide/Iodate (both Salifert). I'm thinking now is the time for the 2-part BRS or another solution to dosing. Before adding the ATS the N was zero and P was higher than I wanted it, Alk was dropping off (not as fast) and Cal and Mg stayed relatively stable. Coral growth is hard to see when you look at the tank a couple times a week, but it must be really ramping up.

 

Been a while since I posted here - been too busy!! I swapped out the ATS box on the reef tank I maintain and have done a couple cleanings. I made a video series of the first cleaning for those of you interested.


This cleaning was done after 9 days of growth. Yesterday I did the 2nd one after 7 days, and the growth was a lot more, unbelievably.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9q6exxX2Hs


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbwAyVu87fk


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hb_kSnS8Tcc


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJOx1KsQHIE


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FOFZMBQI0k


And a video tour of the tank...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdH2I8RWNFs

 

Some pics from today.  I was messing around in the tank and cleaned the front, so not everything is open.

 

The new tank is finally coming together. In the last week (mainly today (Friday)) I finished most of the cabinetry, all of the drain plumbing (from bulkheads down) is fit and solvent welded, and I have all the parts for the return & plenum. The plenum will run along the back and right side of the tank, with 12 valved outlets, 6 of them into 3/4" loc-line, 6 into splitters and dual 1/2" loc-line for a total of 18 jets. But enough about that, pictures!!!
The tank was made by Miracles in Glass, it's 66 L x 21 W x 24 H, Starphire front, 144 gallons (dimensional) 125 (actual capacity), notched end weir overflow and external box.

Door on the left allows access to external overflow box, pump, and plumbing

BeanAnimal 3-pipe system (not final plumbed yet).  System will run at full siphon, probably around 3000 GPH




Reefflo Dart, 2" intake, 1.5" return

Upper hinge system (retrofitted from the old cabinet system)

The plenum will run above the tank along the back wall. The only thing you will see when the doors are closed is the loc-line.  No powerheads is the plan!!

As for what's behind the tank, I'm thinking some kind of shadow artwork illuminated by those submersible LED lights from the MACNA dinner...

 

Ok, here's the plenum return, the straight run is solvent bonded, the rest I will do after mocking up all the plumbing in place



Here's an example of what the jet assembly will look like



Here is the plethora of Loc-Line I have to do the job

 

Finished up the plumbing on this today. This is going to be one kick-^%%^ system...

Here's the plenum assembly



This is the hangar system



This isn't a great shot, but it's the return plumbing.



I forgot to take a picture of the rest of the return, you can see at the top of the above pic is a rubber gasket, that's part of a pipe joiner (can't remember the technical term for it) it has one of those on each end so I didn't have to rely on perfect solvent joints - been through that before, and it never works out just right.

Anyways, the plumbing is all done, all joints welded!

Next, I have to do the PTFE paste on all the threaded fittings, including all the plenum valves, and get the loc-line in place. I also have to put the light hanging system in (just a 2x4 with eye hooks) and get the electrical taken care of, but I'm getting really close to doing the fill - got most of the RO/DI made up, gotta rinse 3 bags of Special Grade Reef Sand, and oh yeah. Move the livestock. Ugh.

 

I'm going to terminate this thread and start a new one. This thread has a lot of pictures from the old system... /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default//emoticons/smile.gif

New thread:

http://www.greateriowareefsociety.org/Community/DiscussionForums/tabid/78/aft/25277/Default.aspx