Wonderboy Posted December 9, 2018 Share Posted December 9, 2018 This journal is to document progress on a nano system that I just started up last night; It is a 10 G display with HOB filter and overhead refugium. This setup will most likely handle over-stock or grow-outs from/for other systems alongside a handful of permanent residents. [psalmopoeus irminia in paludarium next door] 1 Quote Link to comment
Christopher Marks Posted December 10, 2018 Share Posted December 10, 2018 Interesting setup @Wonderboy, that's a really cool aquascape in the display! What is your plumbing design like for the overhead refugium? Quote Link to comment
Wonderboy Posted December 10, 2018 Author Share Posted December 10, 2018 Thanks @Christopher Marks - it was around 12 AM that I decided I wanted to put this up (like right then and there - REALLY wanted some more room for coral), so I made do with what I had, again. I am using a HOB filter (no media) just to house extra rock and a submersible pump. This pump moves water from the HOB filter to the refugium. To maintain plenty flow from the HOB filter back to the tank, the supply to the refugium is regulated with a ball valve. From there, I went with some kind of herbie overflow that allows the water to go straight back down to the opposite, rear corner from which it came. The first (lower) standpipe often creates a small whirlpool and injects air bubbles into the display, but luckily it is noiseless, so I think I am going to leave it as is. The HOB filter intake is wrapped with polyester filter held in place wih a PVC ring to reduce any organism casualties at the two following propeller sites. Contained sand, mud, chaeto, and rocks in the refugium; implemented a funnel in the lid - going with manual top offs for now. I'll take a few closer shots when I can, but remember that I just used overstock plumbing and stuff that I had in storage, so try not to laugh too much when you see it lol. 1 Quote Link to comment
Wonderboy Posted December 13, 2018 Author Share Posted December 13, 2018 Shot inside of the refugium - Left to right: container of coarse sand and rubble w/perforated base, chaeto in a plastic orchid pot, and a container of mud w/perforated base: Yes, the supply line is not the most practical way to have done it; try not to pay attention to it it too much :] Also, after taking some time to play with bubbles, the first overflow standpipe is now partially restricted with a slotted piece of tubing and a frag plug; this has really cut down the air injection that was occurring in the display (almost 100%). Also, even with that additional restriction, the water still isn't going into the second standpipe yet, like in a normal herbie setup; however, all of the water is draining super nice and quiet through just the first, and so now the second can act as an emergency overflow. Quote Link to comment
Wonderboy Posted December 16, 2018 Author Share Posted December 16, 2018 HOB intake was getting clogged every other day - here's the upgrade I came up with: This still got glogged up a little much over time; I pulled the floss out of this and just went with nylon screen zip-tied over the holes - it has not clogged since. Quote Link to comment
Wonderboy Posted January 31, 2019 Author Share Posted January 31, 2019 Added a dragon face pipefish as the first fish; a week after, a ruby dragonette from QT because she ran out of pods and dosing phyto wasn't doing it. Had a bunch laying around, so I added more rock to support more micro fauna... and frags. Also added 2 Randall's pistol shrimps. Also moved a handful of frags over from QT because I needed to QT not-reef-safe fish. Here's images of some of the changes: Sorry bout the blue da ba dee da ba daa. 2 Quote Link to comment
Wonderboy Posted January 31, 2019 Author Share Posted January 31, 2019 I also have been wanting to quickly document how approx every-other-day manual top-offs are done for this tank: Nanno and iso right now; still deciding on a third species - the clear one is also iso at this point in time. I'll use RODI if a culture can't sustain dilution every once in a while. 1 Quote Link to comment
Friendly Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 I like the scape on this as well! how is your coral doing with the odd lighting setup...being it's not evenly spread and directional? 1 Quote Link to comment
Wonderboy Posted January 31, 2019 Author Share Posted January 31, 2019 It's sufficient, not awesome. The light does a decent job of reaching the other side of the tank; I did my best to position the rocks so that light would still slip through the features at the front of the tank. The pico jar's light on the right does something for the dark side of the ten; but been meaning to upgrade that light also. There's a leptoceris in the fire shrimp's tunnel that still gets enough light. The hammer from the stacking pico is kind of far from the light, but seems content. Again, the blue, sorry. 1 Quote Link to comment
Wonderboy Posted April 24, 2019 Author Share Posted April 24, 2019 Updates: New DT LED (2x blue, 2x white, 1x red) - been running for a few months New LED light for additional refugium in HOB (on 1hr prior to DT light, off 1hr after DT light) - been running for a few weeks A few quick shots: 2 Quote Link to comment
Ratvan Posted April 24, 2019 Share Posted April 24, 2019 19 minutes ago, Wonderboy said: Updates: New DT LED (2x blue, 2x white, 1x red) - been running for a few months New LED light for additional refugium in HOB (on 1hr prior to DT light, off 1hr after DT light) - been running for a few weeks A few quick shots: Wow! Now that's an update! The tank looks beautiful 1 Quote Link to comment
Wonderboy Posted May 1, 2019 Author Share Posted May 1, 2019 Been seeing vayssierea felis here and there 2 Quote Link to comment
Wonderboy Posted May 22, 2019 Author Share Posted May 22, 2019 Took a bunch of frags from stuff in here today - took some pictures shortly after, too: 2 Quote Link to comment
Wonderboy Posted May 23, 2019 Author Share Posted May 23, 2019 The hammer from the stacking pico: 2 Quote Link to comment
Wonderboy Posted June 9, 2019 Author Share Posted June 9, 2019 Side Shot Saturday? Corals: Annnnd the dark side of the moon: 1 Quote Link to comment
Wonderboy Posted June 15, 2019 Author Share Posted June 15, 2019 I have been barbarically preparing to expand the volume of this system: 2 Quote Link to comment
billygoat Posted June 15, 2019 Share Posted June 15, 2019 Man, what an amazing tank! It's like a post-rock-concert dressing room party from the 70s in there, except the groupies are all corals! What a riot of life. I absolutely love it. 👍 2 Quote Link to comment
Wonderboy Posted June 15, 2019 Author Share Posted June 15, 2019 1 hour ago, billygoat said: Man, what an amazing tank! It's like a post-rock-concert dressing room party from the 70s in there, except the groupies are all corals! What a riot of life. I absolutely love it. 👍 Hahaha! Thank you - that's definitely what it seems like when trying to place or cater to particulars in here, too It's fun though :] Quote Link to comment
Wonderboy Posted July 2, 2019 Author Share Posted July 2, 2019 I still haven't been able to finish the volume expansion - waiting to get certain plumbing stuff... I just leave it - this happens so often (almost every/if not every day) that I probably don't actually have to feed the system 😆 Chaeto update: I turn it and stuff it back down in the orchid-pot every once in a while - those are moth wings btw. I made more room for growing frags out instead of in here (yeah, I set up another system), so I have been thinning out the groupies/plugs in here; I've decided to put coral into permanent spots (for the most part) from this point on. Resident update: I have added an orange spot goby and a yellow watchman goby (seperate events). The orange spot paired with a pistol quickly; the watchman is small, but the second pistol's borrow's entrance is still smaller he's doing good though, perching proudly everywhere, and eating lots. Pipefish and dragonet are well - frequently out and about hunting pods. Stomatella snails have been popping up all over, so I've been relocating my crew of trochus snails to another job site. Next update will probably be photo heavy, as the extension will be up and running and I will be fragging and placing particulars back in here asap. 1 Quote Link to comment
Wonderboy Posted August 30, 2019 Author Share Posted August 30, 2019 So, many of you know by now that I often try to put things together using just the equip and materials I've collected over the years... well, with that in mind, this is not for the faint hearted: The refugium and DT exchange waters using both HOBs (pump in one - overflow hole in the other). The pump in the DT HOB both moves water from DT and removes air (venturi) from the refugium HOB intake tube to ensure a syphon is active while it's pumping. There are emergencies in place; both HOBs can operate while off from a syphon; in which I should mention that the DT HOB turns off at night for flow reduction and the refugium HOB will be always off (excpet for emergencies - I plan to install a float switch to turn it on if the water rises too much - this will move water quickly back to DT as the drilled overflow in the HOB is under the tank's rim). There are anti-syphon holes in both HOB intakes at appropriate levels (in tanks) to prevent too much water from being moved into either tank in the event of line clogging. It is in the bedroom - it has been running with no sound 😄 The over-head fuge went down to that lower tank (QT right now - intended as little coral fragging system - 20G [light mount temporary lol]). More pictures en route 2 Quote Link to comment
Wonderboy Posted August 30, 2019 Author Share Posted August 30, 2019 Here's that entire area right now (almost all lights on for visibility): lol Since the over-head 'fuge came down, I plan to add a second light over the right side of the DT finally 2 Quote Link to comment
Wonderboy Posted August 30, 2019 Author Share Posted August 30, 2019 Oh yeah - I added this 'hidden' light bar from Marineland (blue and white LEDs) a few weeks ago to try to get more light over to the other side (before the old 'fuge was moved). It has helped a bunch; it will be staying here even after I add the other e26 light. Also - the e26 bulb that was on this thing went over the 2.5G for a little and then to the .123G - the e26 bulb over the left side of this tank is now a 12W ABI Tuna Blue LED 2 Quote Link to comment
billygoat Posted August 30, 2019 Share Posted August 30, 2019 Holy cow... all I can think of is Dr. Frankenstein's frenzied declaration: "IT'S ALIVE!" 😂 Very impressive work here! It's really amazing that you've been able to put together such a... thing! 😁 1 Quote Link to comment
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