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120 Gallon Rimless in Lake Jackson (1 Viewer)

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blfuller123
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Equipment is all running as its supposed to.

I added a door bell switch to the back of the stand to act as a feed button. I could not figure out why I couldn't make it work. After a day and a half, I finally figured out it had an LED inside the button so I got that out. Now it's a NO switch that when pressed, turns off my return pump, skimmer and power head for 5 minutes.

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blfuller123
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I decided to add a dimmable hybrid t5 fixture so I got that ordered. I took the Kessils down today and will install them in the new fixture when it gets here later this week.

The company I own cuts and installs 6 mm EVA foam on boats. One of the things the foam does is sound insulation. Since the tank is in our living room, I decided to insulate the stand doors. Here is how they turned out. I kind of wished I had everything inside the stand before I got started.


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blfuller123
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Made up a bracket for some float switches to add some redundancy. I have the two lower switches for setting the sump water level and the top as an oh sh*t sump level high. It just clips over the side of the sump.

I'm going to be changing to a vertex skimmer. I didn't realize the reef octopus I bought was not recommended for ozone use.



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Are you keeping data on your cycle testing? Interested to see what your numbers were over the first couple weeks, since I just started up 3 days ago.
 

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Got the continuous water change up and running. I'll keep a close eye on it the next couple of days. The DOS is the loudest piece of equipment I have.

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I have had great success with the stenner pump and installed multiple for other reefers. Mine is currently in my attic and has no issue with the head pressure, which you mentioned was a concern. The highest flow one goes up to 25 psi which translates to 57.67 feet before it stops functioning. Mine changes roughly a gallon every 15 minutes of opporation while being in the attic. Also, with it being in the attic, you don't really hear it. It's a little noisy.

Your build so far is looking fantastic. I need to make it down there to chat about your experience with cnc routing acrylic.
 
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blfuller123
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I have had great success with the stenner pump and installed multiple for other reefers. Mine is currently in my attic and has no issue with the head pressure, which you mentioned was a concern. The highest flow one goes up to 25 psi which translates to 57.67 feet before it stops functioning. Mine changes roughly a gallon every 15 minutes of opporation while being in the attic. Also, with it being in the attic, you don't really hear it. It's a little noisy.

Your build so far is looking fantastic. I need to make it down there to chat about your experience with cnc routing acrylic.


I have the water change off right now. I started noticing my sump level was high every day about a week ago and determined it was the DOS doing this. I went to re-calibrate the the heads and the water out line was completely empty. Im not sure how but it was draining the line empty after the pump shutoff. I ordered some check valves that will be here today or tomorrow and I hope that will solve this issue. If not, I will find a stenner pump. Anyone have a source for them they can recommend?

Come on down some time and we can play with the CNC. Im hoping to have a second machine up after the first of the year. I also have a Prodim Proliner 2d/3d digitizer that I use to digitize the boat floors-it essentially traces a part/area and creates a dxf file. The main thing I can tell you with cutting acrylic is using O flute bits with the correct feeds and speeds and a vacuum table really helps.

Brett
 
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blfuller123
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Got the new skimmer today. Its a Vertex 200i, seems very well made. I will be adding an Avast Swabbie neck cleaner for it, the last one I had worked like a champ and the one Vertex offers has some really bad reviews. The Reef Octopus skimmer I was using is out, cleaned up and listed on the market. Got this one running in the sump now.

I got the check valves installed for my continuous water change and I am still having issues with the water out. The water out line is not draining back at all now, but when both DOS heads are turning, the water out does not seem to be coming out. I dont know if there is too much head pressure or what. I cant see why because my fresh SW barrel is on the ground and its pumping through the ceiling to the top of the tank. I think I may spend a little more and go for a Stenner pump if I cant figure this out soon.

Vertex 200i.jpg
 

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Got the new skimmer today. Its a Vertex 200i, seems very well made. I will be adding an Avast Swabbie neck cleaner for it, the last one I had worked like a champ and the one Vertex offers has some really bad reviews. The Reef Octopus skimmer I was using is out, cleaned up and listed on the market. Got this one running in the sump now.

I got the check valves installed for my continuous water change and I am still having issues with the water out. The water out line is not draining back at all now, but when both DOS heads are turning, the water out does not seem to be coming out. I dont know if there is too much head pressure or what. I cant see why because my fresh SW barrel is on the ground and its pumping through the ceiling to the top of the tank. I think I may spend a little more and go for a Stenner pump if I cant figure this out soon.

Vertex 200i.jpg
If you go the stenner route, this is the one that you want. Like I said, they're relatively noisy, but they're heavy duty and meant to do work like this. I just use a little $8 digital timer from harbor freight to tell it when to turn off and on.



Also, even though the two heads are on the same axle, there will be a slight variance between each one depending on tubing length, friction, etc. The important thing is that it will continuously be off. Depending on if it's removing more or adding more, you just slightly adjust your salinity in your water storage container to compensate. Once you get that sorted out, you're golden.
 
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blfuller123
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If you go the stenner route, this is the one that you want. Like I said, they're relatively noisy, but they're heavy duty and meant to do work like this. I just use a little $8 digital timer from harbor freight to tell it when to turn off and on.



Also, even though the two heads are on the same axle, there will be a slight variance between each one depending on tubing length, friction, etc. The important thing is that it will continuously be off. Depending on if it's removing more or adding more, you just slightly adjust your salinity in your water storage container to compensate. Once you get that sorted out, you're golden.

Got a Stenner pump ordered. I may put it in the stand so I can control it with the apex and only run it at night if its that loud. Id put it in the laundry room but I dont have an EB8 there, yet.
 

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Got a Stenner pump ordered. I may put it in the stand so I can control it with the apex and only run it at night if its that loud. Id put it in the laundry room but I dont have an EB8 there, yet.
Good deal. I'm going to pm you my number to reach out to me. Before you set it up, I can explain how to figure out if there is an inconsistency in the heads and how to remedy that situation.
 
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blfuller123
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The tank is doing well at this point. The few corals I have seem happy. Since introducing livestock, the only casualty has been 1 of 7 anthias. I have 6 females, still looking for a male

I'm looking to pickup some acrylic this week with plans of making a container to use to start dosing, an ozone reactor and a carbon reactor. I dont have tracking on the stenner pump but I hope it's on its way.

I did have some hair algae on the on the rock, I picked up this guy yesterday and his very healthy appetite had everything completely clean when I got up this morning.

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The Stenner pump is supposed to be delivered tomorrow so the auto water change will be up and running soon.

I picked up some acrylic yesterday and got my dosing container made up. I have it filled with water in the garage now to make sure I have no leaks.

I'll work on getting the ozone and carbon reactors done the next couple of days. I have all the acrylic cut for it, just gotta figure out the plumbing part of it.

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I'm re-making the dosing container, couple of things I didn't account for. Hopefully it's done quickly.

The stenner got here yesterday. Got it all up and running. It's in the stand so I only have it set to run at night.


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How's the noise? Too loud for the stand?
 
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Its loud for the living room and the reason it's only running at night. I'll move it to the laundry room next to the water barrels when I can get a cable pulled for another eb8.

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steveb

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The Stenner pump is supposed to be delivered tomorrow so the auto water change will be up and running soon.

I picked up some acrylic yesterday and got my dosing container made up. I have it filled with water in the garage now to make sure I have no leaks.

I'll work on getting the ozone and carbon reactors done the next couple of days. I have all the acrylic cut for it, just gotta figure out the plumbing part of it.

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Really like the design! I'm assuming you layered the acrylic sheets on the bottom and created channels to the fittings?
 
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