tpallas Posted August 4, 2011 Author Share Posted August 4, 2011 Wow this looks great so far! Can't wait to see it progress! Thanks! keep this in mind, it depends on YOUR stock (fish mainly)... i have a smaller tank than you... people say "OH U NEED A SKIMMER FOR SPS"... BALOGNE.... i have just purige, CPE, chaeto, and phosban... my SPS are growing like weeds, frags there for weeks are already grown over plugs onto liverock. i do weekly water changes but the chaeto was the trick... your dosing will be important too... i didnt notice the explosion of coraline until i started checking my magnesium levels. sure, skimmers & reactors wont hurt Yeah, the skimmerless theory works on any size tank provided you can do the right size water changes often enough. But I prefer the redundancy of that a skimmer provides. That's why I was considering the biopellets. I think I may just leave some room in the sump and see how the tank runs in the beginning. I do plan on getting an automatic doser...definitely makes life way easier. Link to comment
SouthFlorida_Tron Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 Right on... I'm just saying lol you don't NEED one to succeed but def helps. Link to comment
SouthFlorida_Tron Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 O he'll, a sump... Do a skimmer then, pshhh. I would've done one if rear chambers were big enough! Link to comment
JoelRHale Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 This tank is going to be sweet! Following along! Link to comment
tpallas Posted August 5, 2011 Author Share Posted August 5, 2011 O he'll, a sump... Do a skimmer then, pshhh. I would've done one if rear chambers were big enough! Yeah man...it's hard for me to do weekly water changes with my work schedule so I'm using the skimmer for that extra redundancy. I'm thinking the bio-pellets might squeeze that extra color from the SPS. This tank is going to be sweet! Following along! Thanks! I'm in waiting mode now for the stand. Should be 1-2 more weeks. After that, I'm ordering the sump from Lifereef. They built a custom sump for my 40g cube that was unbelievable. It's definitely worth the extra dollars. Cheers Tom Link to comment
SouthFlorida_Tron Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 Well, the skimmer and pellets only do so much, color will also come from the led's. But having said all that, nothing is better at nutrient export and replenishing than water changes... Takes 5 minutes!!!! Link to comment
tpallas Posted August 9, 2011 Author Share Posted August 9, 2011 Placing the RO/DI unit in its spot...tight fit, but about perfect: Now....how to plumb it in. I may need to route the waste line back into the sink. Drain pipe is metal and as I am renting I'm not to keen on making a lot of holes...any thoughts? Cheers Link to comment
Wet_Fretboards Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 What happened? Updates? Link to comment
tpallas Posted September 22, 2011 Author Share Posted September 22, 2011 Great question! I've been running three simultaneous threads. I'll update this one ASAP. Link to comment
tpallas Posted September 22, 2011 Author Share Posted September 22, 2011 My goal is to ask Jeff at Lifereef, to build a custom sump. Here's what he did on my 40g: While waiting on the stand, I installed the RO/DI unit. Feed line adapter: Ball valve installed: Leak testing: It works! Set in its place: And lastly, since I was feeling lucky, a successful leak test: Link to comment
tpallas Posted September 22, 2011 Author Share Posted September 22, 2011 Working the aquascaping: Using eMarco cement: First batch applied: Wire ties cut and second batch applied: Link to comment
tpallas Posted September 22, 2011 Author Share Posted September 22, 2011 Yesterday, my stand finally arrived! I'm very happy with it as it was the look I was going for. Unfortunately, the builder wanted to cut the holes for the plumbing at my apartment, so I had to do some vacuuming before setting everything into place. Here it is as delivered. It's made out of walnut, real nice quality wood. A friend had struck upon the idea to make the stand deeper than the tank, and drill the top for the two plumbing lines. This gives the significant advantage - in such a small tank - of adding an extra 5" of depth for the sump, it is unnoticeable from the front. Here are the holes drilled in the top: When you line up the plumbing from the tank, it looks like thus: And the tank on the stand: Moving onto the interior. I requested it be painted white as I much prefer that look, makes it easier to see inside, and looks much cleaner. Here is the top shelf where I plan on placing the Proflux III and Profilux dosing unit. You can see that there are also two holes for the plumbing through the shelf as well. The shelf is adjustable on pegs much like a bookcase. The hole out of the back is to run electrical wires. And finally the sump area, with another electrical wire hole. Ideally, wires will be more or less invisible/out of the way behind the sump back wall. Here is the skimmer for size reference: Return pump and plumbing came today too. The 1/2" black tubing is acceptable, but the 1" is too inflexible. I'll need to order another length of 1" from Lifereef, I've never found more flexible tubing. Cheers Tom Link to comment
castiel Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 Looks great, I like the planning of the cabinet. Rock scape looks cool too, bridges are always fun. Link to comment
tpallas Posted September 22, 2011 Author Share Posted September 22, 2011 Looks great, I like the planning of the cabinet. Rock scape looks cool too, bridges are always fun. Thanks! Next step is the sump..... Link to comment
SouthFlorida_Tron Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 Yay, almost up n running Link to comment
tpallas Posted September 22, 2011 Author Share Posted September 22, 2011 Yay, almost up n running Slowest build ever.... Link to comment
SouthFlorida_Tron Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 Slowest build ever.... Nothing wrong with that.... Link to comment
pismo_reefer Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 Sweet setup! It's so nice.... Link to comment
tpallas Posted September 22, 2011 Author Share Posted September 22, 2011 Sweet setup! It's so nice.... Thanks!! Link to comment
nickjqz Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 Following! Seems like there could be some major updates soon. Link to comment
tpallas Posted September 22, 2011 Author Share Posted September 22, 2011 Following! Seems like there could be some major updates soon. Hopefully! Lifereef is backlogged through December, so I may just use a 5.5 gallon as sump in the meantime. Link to comment
tpallas Posted November 12, 2011 Author Share Posted November 12, 2011 Been a while since I made some updates, but I've been busy on the tank! I'll post what's happened in the meantime. Completed the plumbing (with a temporary 5.5 gallon sump), completed the rockwork and got her up and running: Installed the Osmolator: And started dosing Prodibio: And finally added some corals: Installed the first MP10: The SWC 120 runs a little wet but I'm very pleased: Link to comment
Squared Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 tank looks great such a clean look, but no baffles in sump? Link to comment
tpallas Posted November 12, 2011 Author Share Posted November 12, 2011 tank looks great such a clean look, but no baffles in sump? Thanks! Yeah, the sump is temporarily until I get one made, but even now, I get zero microbubbles in the display. Link to comment
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