Mindflux Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 My calcium was on par but I wanted to give it a little boost and was told this shouldn't hurt since it's in the ATO and small amount From what I learned from mcallahans Kalk ATO video as long as your PH doesn't swing by more than .02 and you aren't pumping the actual slurry into the tank it seems like an effective way to manage alkalinity, I've been considering it myself. I'm just too chicken! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+KimP Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 My calcium was on par but I wanted to give it a little boost and was told this shouldn't hurt since it's in the ATO and small amount Oh, i think it's a good idea, not talking you out of it at all, I was just curios what your tank usually runs. What do you consider on par? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+brian.srock Posted July 6, 2011 Author Share Posted July 6, 2011 Just a few updated shots of my now secured aquascaping and corals. I used a 1/2 inch mason bit and drilled into the LR then put pvc pipes through them and used gorilla glue which expands to secure them together. It was a bit of a puzzle tetris game but I am very happy with the end results especially my mini ledge. All corals were secured using EcoTech Coral Glue. This was was awesome and very easy to work with although I don't suggest putting it directly in the water or some of the glue will harden in the cap I am still dosing a teaspoon of kalk in my ATO and everything looks great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesL Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 Looking great! I have never seen duncans branch like that. Mine are staying very compact. I am going to move this thread to the Tank Build section. Seems more fitting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+KimP Posted July 13, 2011 Share Posted July 13, 2011 Great job on the rock tower. I like the way it turned out better than before, especially with the ledge. Your duncans sure look like they're taking off! Where did you get the rods from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devin Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 What Petsmart sells SW livestock?!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+brian.srock Posted January 23, 2012 Author Share Posted January 23, 2012 Time for some updating. Here is a current pic of my tank after picking up a purple hammer coral, ORA blue mandarin, and a RBTA from Frags and More http://www.fragsandmore.com. I also picked up some reefsaver rocks from bulkreefsupply and epoxy coated magnets and made my own aqua mags. Still waiting on them to purple up but I am very satisfied with how they came out. You can see them on the back walls with some monti caps I got in a trade. It was about time I added a sump to my tank and It was go big or go home so I got a 40g at the Petco $1 a gallon sale and a 10g for my ATO. I picked up a couple pieces of 2x4 and with with some measurements I started cutting away. Here is where I am so far. Still need to pick up 2 more 2x4s and figure out how I'm going to make it accessible and pretty. It'll have enough room to throw both tanks, refugium lighting, skimmer, filter, heater, test kits and more. This is Phase 1. Phase 2 will be to get another 47 tall and have 2 side by side with a mini room divider in between. What do you think so far? Test fitting Tanks Tonight will be finalizing the framing and then it's time to work on the dividers for the sump. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+KimP Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 That's such a cool idea. Any ideas what you might do with the other 47 gal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+brian.srock Posted January 23, 2012 Author Share Posted January 23, 2012 Absolutely no clue yet. I will make sure that all my rock is drilled and secured. Was thinking black sand but I'm on the fence still. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cMidd Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 Brian, wow you've come a long way. Just caught myself up with your tank! Looking great. Just an idea...you could somehow plumb them together and make the other 47g a planted/shrimp tank or some such;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+brian.srock Posted January 23, 2012 Author Share Posted January 23, 2012 Thanks HorseRUs. I do plan on having them all plumbed together which is why I just picked up a 1000gph return pump. I still can't decide what I want in there but I'll think about it another day. For now I need to focus on the ideas I have for my sump and stand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+brian.srock Posted January 24, 2012 Author Share Posted January 24, 2012 I finalized my official plans for my sump. It'll contain the usual drain and return sections but this will have a mini frag tank w/ LR section and refugium. I will be using a Evo Spot 14K LED bulb for the frag portion and a 120v xenon light for the refugium. I cut all my acrylic last night using my dremel trio with the exception of the teeth for the refugium section. Here's the final draft of my upcoming set up and a quick vid of acrylic cutting. I plan on using eggcrate that will sit on piping so it can be removable if I need to get to the LR. Acrylic Cutting http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkasT2OTIP0&feature=youtube_gdata_player Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerrickH Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 (edited) One more thing of interest, you may want to drill some small "bleeder" holes in your returns at the top just above the water line in the tank. In the event of a power outtage, not sure if your sump would have the capacity of two tanks siphoning back from the return lines till the siphon was breached. The bleeder hole would break the suction. Of course you would drill it in the underside of the return fitting going into the tank so it doesnt spray somewhere you dont want it to lol! Edited January 24, 2012 by DerrickH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+brian.srock Posted January 25, 2012 Author Share Posted January 25, 2012 Working with silicone is a bit more difficult than I thought. 1 of 4 baffles done. Anyone know of any tricks to getting it in there since the silicone tube is so big I can only get one side done. Last night my clown finally hosted my RBTA. Should be getting my HOB overflow and return pump in the mail today. Guess I need to get to making saltwater... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+brian.srock Posted January 27, 2012 Author Share Posted January 27, 2012 Sump is now finished! My seams may not be absolutely perfect since this was my first round with silicone but I'm satisfied with it. Leak tested it and no leaks from any of the sections so thats really all that matters. Dual HOB overflow and pump also came in the other day. As you can see in the pic the pump is nice and snug in the return chamber. Tomorrow I plan on picking up all the pvc pieces I will need, extension cords to do some major wire management, and lighting. Going to use a Lowes work clamp light with 6500k CFL bulb for refugium which is recommended by melev's reefs tests. For the frag tank section I will also use a work clamp fixture but with a 14k LED bulb. I plan on having a 2" sand bed and getting some cheato for pod population for my mandarin. If anyone has any cheato they would like to donate for a frag I'd appreciate it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juiceman Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 You may deal with some vibration noise with the pump being that snug, maybe adding some shower matting or similar would help? I know when my return line/pump touches any part of my sump, I can hear it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+brian.srock Posted January 27, 2012 Author Share Posted January 27, 2012 Thanks for the info Juiceman. I do need to pick up some foam so the tank isn't vibrating off the wood but I didn't think about sound from the pump. I'll have to see how it goes since the pump doesn't touch any of the tank it's just the suction cups were not taken into consideration when making it so their bent a bit to fit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juiceman Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Yeah, it may not make enough noise to worry about, but I've heard of using shower matting to give it a soft surface to take the rattling out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+brian.srock Posted February 2, 2012 Author Share Posted February 2, 2012 Here's some update of the sump set up. If I had to do it again I would get someone to do the plumbing for me as well as the silicone for the sump dividers but thats part of diy and it's a lesson learned. My 14k Spotlight from evolutionledlight.com (reefkoi) and timer were just ordered today so I'll have my little fragging station set up fully by next week. Next will be the top for my stand. I've decided on a stained concrete slab to match the floor in my house so stay tuned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+brian.srock Posted February 3, 2012 Author Share Posted February 3, 2012 Bought a bottle of copepods from Livecopepods.com http://livecopepods.com/order/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=3&zenid=3d5d5f1e8b565b6ff9bee6a432ed9acd This bottle has 3 different species of pods and will help seed my refugium. Should I throw some copepods in my frag area as well since there will be plenty of LR underneath? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerrickH Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 Thats where I would put them to start with Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+brian.srock Posted February 6, 2012 Author Share Posted February 6, 2012 Got my 14k Spotlight bulb in and this thing is awesome. My frag station is held up by magnets on the side so it's easily movable. I also modded my skimmer to include a longer pipe so it would sit comfortably in the refugium area. Lights are held up by an L bracket and their on an opposite schedule as the tank lights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerrickH Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 Dang, thats a long bulb! I just used a 6,500k daylight bulb in mine. Think I seen something on here from subsea about them being fine for macro. Your frag rack looks pretty handy too. Are you going to put more rock rubble under the egg crate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+brian.srock Posted February 6, 2012 Author Share Posted February 6, 2012 The refugium area on the left has a 6,500k bulb for my macro. The 14k is specifially for frags. As you can see theirs a huge difference in the lighting. I do plan on getting more reefsaver rocks in a group buy on the 15th. Tonight I plan to put at least 3-4 frag pieces on the rack and I'll make sure I do before and after pics of their growth but this bulb looks to be the perfect solution to growing frags since my tank is so deep and I worry that they get enough light to live but not enough light to grow. The LR area will be for some pods but mainly it'll be my rubble rock area for frags since I'm not a fan of plugs. I have the skimmer and filter outputting in the frag area for the flow. Now I just need to figure out how I want to enclose the stand. I originally wanted it enclosed but now I kinda want to see whats in there so I may put little windows for viewing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+brian.srock Posted February 10, 2012 Author Share Posted February 10, 2012 My frag station is set up. Had an issue with the LED Bulb but got it fixed and now I'm good to go. Threw a frag of my brown digitata first since he got burned by my RBTA. Cut up some zoas and Monti Caps last night. I'm using rubble rock rather than plugs because plugs never really hide from sight. Next update should be next week when I start work on the concrete top for the stand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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