+mcallahan Posted July 20, 2010 Share Posted July 20, 2010 You've seen the TOTQ, but I went behind the scenes to get the whole scoop on Mike's tank. Nothing like a reef junkie's tank to knock your socks off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robb in Austin Posted July 20, 2010 Share Posted July 20, 2010 Very nice. Question for Mike. Why is all of your equipment outside vs in the garage? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisfowler99 Posted July 20, 2010 Share Posted July 20, 2010 Loving the idea of the separate electrical cabinet. Gonna have to consider that one. I'm curious how he deals with the outside temperature of his mixed saltwater from his mixing station. I'm assuming he doesn't pump directly from the mixing station into the tank. I have enough of an issue with that during the summer with my mixing station in the garage... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted July 20, 2010 Share Posted July 20, 2010 very nice tank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+mcallahan Posted July 20, 2010 Author Share Posted July 20, 2010 Very nice. Question for Mike. Why is all of your equipment outside vs in the garage? the garage is on the other side of the house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted July 20, 2010 Share Posted July 20, 2010 this is giving me ideas..... cant wait till im out of med school with an actual job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+mcallahan Posted July 20, 2010 Author Share Posted July 20, 2010 this is giving me ideas..... cant wait till im out of med school with an actual job Well...Mike is a dentist! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted July 20, 2010 Share Posted July 20, 2010 hmmm..... explains alot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robb in Austin Posted July 20, 2010 Share Posted July 20, 2010 Wonder if Mike takes my insurance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+mcallahan Posted July 20, 2010 Author Share Posted July 20, 2010 Wonder if Mike takes my insurance. forget it...bring frags or top of the line equipment! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
innate1 Posted July 20, 2010 Share Posted July 20, 2010 nice job Mark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike M. Posted July 20, 2010 Share Posted July 20, 2010 Hey folks, Just found this thread. Nice job Mark! Everyone should check out his MrSaltwater channel on YouTube. His dog, Bart, is an entertaining co-star. Saltwater outside...Yep, its hot during the, summer. If I did huge water changes, it would be a big problem; however, I am only changing 5-10 gallons a week. Barely makes a blip on the temperature graph and the chiller knocks it back down in a hurry. It would be what you might call an Acute Mild temperature spike weekly. The SPS don't mind. Now, if I did a 50 gallon change, you know what would happen. Call Shrek for Reef Stew! My stuff is not in my garage because I got tired of dragging the hose in and out of the garage 70 feet to fill the tank. That is where it used to be and my RO unit was in a closet adjacent to the living area. Another hose coming out twice a week to fill topoff containers. The solution was my outdoor reef room where it all could get conveniently plumbed to the tank. No more hoses. Automated RO unit that replenishes daily, Calcium Reactor inline with chiller plumbing, and mixed saltwater all right there. Just turn a few valves and make the magic happen for weekly water changes. The chiller is rated to run in environments up to 104 degrees F. I have my photoperiod set to operate the heat generating halides during the morning hours when our worst temps are still in the 90's. T5's run through the afternoon and evening when the chiller might be operating at a temp that would make it ineffective. Best of all is that servicing the calc reactor, mixing tank, chiller etc is a no worry deal as far as mess is concerned. I can dump saltwater and waste anywhere and just wash down with the hose. Of all the permutations I have run in the last eight years, I am most happy with this current setup. The indoor/outdoor rig has made keeping a labor intensive SPS tank as convenient as possible and I am to date, not having any issues with heat. I did notice during the winter that I needed a fairly respectable heater to keep up with the cooling effect of the plumbing outside. No problem...just added a 1000W Won and that problem was put to bed. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike M. Posted July 20, 2010 Share Posted July 20, 2010 Rob, I'd be happy to have you in my patient family and we probably do process your insurance. Let's not talk shop here though. Just know that you all are welcome to come and visit me at the office. Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisfowler99 Posted July 20, 2010 Share Posted July 20, 2010 Saltwater outside...Yep, its hot during the, summer. If I did huge water changes, it would be a big problem; however, I am only changing 5-10 gallons a week. Barely makes a blip on the temperature graph and the chiller knocks it back down in a hurry. It would be what you might call an Acute Mild temperature spike weekly. The SPS don't mind. Now, if I did a 50 gallon change, you know what would happen. Call Shrek for Reef Stew! a 10 gallon water change on my 75 can bring my temp up pretty quick. I have to be careful. I had been mixing my salt for several days a few weeks back and took the temperature of the water that was mixing late in the afternoon...the water came in at 101 degrees!! I figured out I have to mix, then leave the mixing pump off overnight and then turn it back on for a bit in the morning to make sure everything is stirred up before doing the change. Even then I will drop in about 4 liter bottles of ice to cool it down a bit. Makes the water in the upper 80s. No chiller for me though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
offroadodge Posted July 20, 2010 Share Posted July 20, 2010 cool video Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike M. Posted July 21, 2010 Share Posted July 21, 2010 My chiller is definitely the safety back stop for the summer water changes. Wouldn't recommend the practice to anyone without a chiller. Now, you could turn your return pump off, pump to the sump in the house, and let it sit a couple of hours and come to room temp or near room temp before pumping to the display. That would accommodate the summer water temps from outside storage. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisfowler99 Posted July 21, 2010 Share Posted July 21, 2010 Now, you could turn your return pump off, pump to the sump in the house, and let it sit a couple of hours and come to room temp or near room temp before pumping to the display. That would accommodate the summer water temps from outside storage. Mike That actually enhances the reasoning for what I've been considering for my next setup. I'd like to be able to easily pump the number of gallons I would like to change out of my sump and then refill there. The ability to then let the temperature lower before restarting the return would be a great reason to do it. Thanks for the idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike M. Posted July 21, 2010 Share Posted July 21, 2010 A couple of ball valves on the overflow lines into the sump and a ball valve which I assume you have on your return pump and you can isolate the sump. I have a ball valve after a Wye on my return so I can prevent siphon or backflow from the tank and use the return to pump to a plumbed waste line in a closet across the living room. Just run a garden hose over and pump it out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisfowler99 Posted July 21, 2010 Share Posted July 21, 2010 A couple of ball valves on the overflow lines into the sump and a ball valve which I assume you have on your return pump and you can isolate the sump. I have a ball valve after a Wye on my return so I can prevent siphon or backflow from the tank and use the return to pump to a plumbed waste line in a closet across the living room. Just run a garden hose over and pump it out! Yeah, the plumbing is easy (though I would like to pump it directly out to a drain), but the volume is the greater trick. I need to have the return section have the full volume that I'd like to remove for water changes. Gotta get that part designed right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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