120 Peninsula (1 Viewer)

[zeek]

Hello All,

I have decided to revive my tank, my new job is settling in nicely and my new home craziness is almost over so I have some time to further my hobby/addiction.

A little Background.

This tank was originally set up late 2011 and begining 2012. Here is the build thread I abandoned when life started turning belly up, between hospital time and my job I lost time/patience to enjoy my hobby, I was overworked underpaid and verbally abused... Story for another day, but the company now being investigated/sued so I am glad I am out of there. With that said, I was very lucky and fortunate to find a new job, a more career oriented job where my hard work is paying off I am blessed to say I LOVE my job, not something easy in today's economy. Several months in the new job and settled it was time for me and the family to finally move on our own. We now have an apartment in Pearland and with it a bit more time, maybe the money (lol you all know what I mean here...) and a new found passion to re introduce/dedicate myself to my hobby.

first set-up Nov 2011

I backed off the hobby, kept the tank running minimally trough the year with the hopes it would get better and little livestock. Old job sucked and my new job has kept me PLENTY busy and I didn't have the time to restart things right until now. Fortunately I learned this lesson early on and without casualties, so even tho my tank crashed it was a good learned lesson. KEEP up with maintenance, specially with DEEP sand beds.

Before Move

After the Move my tank crashed within days, hydrogen sulfate developed everywhere under my sand and most of my rock, Here is a good read on the subject, it is something I had not heard/read about in 3 years in the hobby and definitely something everyone should know about.

Some of the sulfide build up on rocks/sand (this stuff S T U N K !!!! BAAADDD)

Tank after move (you can see the dark spotting on the sand)

With that said, my upgraded build has been coming along nicely. I will be posting more pictures and plans in the next few days and keep you guys updated. I am taking my time enjoying every minute of it and loving the results! one thing that is hard learned about this hobby is patience, but boy does it pay off.

 

[zeek]

Sump before

Now:

Four reactors will be fed from the return pump placed directly in their own compartment in the sump for easy access/maintenance.

30 Extra high:

This tank will go on the left side compartment to be added as added water volume and holding tank, Possibly refuge it is also going to be plumbed separately from the main tank, meaning I can isolate it should I need to, quarantine tank? NO Problem!

This is the spot this tank will go in:

 

[zeek]

After SEVERAL long hours of playing with rock work I think I settled on something .... maybe.

Very open landscape I want LOTS of flow.

I am currently working on manifold for a closed loop top circulation system. I decided to plumb the Reactors of the main line because being a 1200gph at my current head that might cut down on circulation a little which I planned, I want a lower flow trough the sump to increase filtration time as well as I plan on my closed loop to provide the flow, I do not plan on having ANY power heads in this tank when it is said and done (hopefully)

 

[zeek]

yep... H2O

Sunday 10:43 am

Monday 8:01 am

Tuesday 7:56 am (trickling into the sump now... almost there!)

 

[zeek]

Got home to a full tank last night!!!

I started up the pump and ran it for several hrs checking for leaks. Found 3 one where I forgot to tefflon tread some tape, the top which I had not glued because I didn't know exactly where I wanted the return at until I ran it and saw where it went but it drips inside the tank. Lastly one of my reactor feeds is leaking from bad glueing I guess.

Tonight I will fix those two and start adding salt!!

 

[gabe_j]

its looking good zeek! glad you're back i'd been wondering how life was treating you. its great to hear your back to a good spot in life. welcome back bud.

 

[Jasonc]

Looks great!

 

[BigRick]

Now:

Side note, that PVC Hose should be used just like the pipe. It should slip into a fitting and be glued with PVC Glue. The way you have it setup now may leak. That hose it too hard to use on barb fittings.

Four reactors will be fed from the return pump placed directly in their own compartment in the sump for easy access/maintenance.

What pump is that? Will it be enough to feed 4 reactors and the return to DT?

 

[zeek]

Side note, that PVC Hose should be used just like the pipe. It should slip into a fitting and be glued with PVC Glue. The way you have it setup now may leak. That hose it too hard to use on barb fittings.





What pump is that? Will it be enough to feed 4 reactors and the return to DT?

Glad you mentioned it because I had a H A R D time hooking them up... so its 1" outside but 3/4 inside I believe? that mean I need 1' slip to 3/4? because I already struggled with that... I have 3/4 inch pvc please help?

the RIO is an HF 20 the reactors only need 2-30 gal per hour according to the instructions from Two little fishies so they will barely be open. With 2 90's and the 4 reactors I estimate the flow in the mid 700 which will be about 5x my estimated water volume. I do plan to upgrade the pump to an external one in the near future, waiting on a deal

 

[BigRick]

Glad you mentioned it because I had a H A R D time hooking them up... so its 1" outside but 3/4 inside I believe? that mean I need 1' slip to 3/4? because I already struggled with that... I have 3/4 inch pvc please help?

Yeah you would need a 1" to 3/4" adapter. I'm guessing you're trying to use this stuff to minimize vibrations? If so, this hose isn't really good for that. If you don't want to use all hard plumbing you could use the setup you have now just get a softer 1" black hose that works with the barb fittings. Or get the 3/4" PVC flex hose and stay all 3/4"..... So many options lol.

If you're having a hard time getting hose over the fittings you can heat it up in boiling water for a few seconds and it should soften it enough to slip on. If you leave it in the boiling water too long it my end up a noodle and not make a snug enough fit.

 

[zeek]

Yeah you would need a 1" to 3/4" adapter. I'm guessing you're trying to use this stuff to minimize vibrations? If so, this hose isn't really good for that. If you don't want to use all hard plumbing you could use the setup you have now just get a softer 1" black hose that works with the barb fittings. Or get the 3/4" PVC flex hose and stay all 3/4"..... So many options lol.

If you're having a hard time getting hose over the fittings you can heat it up in boiling water for a few seconds and it should soften it enough to slip on. If you leave it in the boiling water too long it my end up a noodle and not make a snug enough fit.

I thought this was PVC flex hose, it says it on the side, I did use a lighter to slighty warm it up to get them on the barbs.

 

[zeek]

its looking good zeek! glad you're back i'd been wondering how life was treating you. its great to hear your back to a good spot in life. welcome back bud.

Thanks Gabe, hope to see you at the frag swap?

Looks great!

Thank you Jason

Yeah you would need a 1" to 3/4" adapter. I'm guessing you're trying to use this stuff to minimize vibrations? If so, this hose isn't really good for that. If you don't want to use all hard plumbing you could use the setup you have now just get a softer 1" black hose that works with the barb fittings. Or get the 3/4" PVC flex hose and stay all 3/4"..... So many options lol.

If you're having a hard time getting hose over the fittings you can heat it up in boiling water for a few seconds and it should soften it enough to slip on. If you leave it in the boiling water too long it my end up a noodle and not make a snug enough fit.

I fixed it replaced it for flex hose.


Also update,

I've drilled the 30 and built the glass box for drain, drying now. I Plan to be plumbing it in the next few days and filling it up. I will post pics then.

 

[Pure Magic]

Zeek the tank looks great. I've had tanks set up for 3-4 years and never had a crash due to sand. Does stirring the sand help against old tank syndrome? I've read horror stories about sand crashing a tank. Thanks for sharing.

 

[zeek]

Zeek the tank looks great. I've had tanks set up for 3-4 years and never had a crash due to sand. Does stirring the sand help against old tank syndrome? I've read horror stories about sand crashing a tank. Thanks for sharing.

I saw your build thread nice tank man, are you dosing purple up I see your coraline just taking off man, again nice tank!

now onto my DSB rant.

I don't for a minute believe that it was entirely the sand bed's fault, with that said, You are "supposed" to leave it undisturbed for it to work it's best. From what I understand is you can do best by cleaning little bits at a time and have some sand stirring critters to remove gas pockets in small quantities. I've also read that you should leave it completely alone and it will process everything for you...that also raises my eyebrow... you put stuff in it's got to come out right?

I don't know and at this point and I have become biased against and possibly personally hate them anymore(I still love the look though ). I never knew which way to go, hearing so many mixed reviews. The time then came to move it so guess what? I got mixed advice again, some saying leave it as undisturbed as possible and some others asking to rinse it in tank water.

Sooo I tried the latter. I rinsed it, well guess not enough? I don't know but I do know the sulfate is a fact. Check out the link, I personally rather remove that from the equation so now I plan on keeping my stuff cleaner and not allowing waste in my system, Period. DSB is a good cushion that allows room for mistake but what happens when that sponge gets full? so it makes sense to try and clean it but then you get told NOT TO DISTURB IT? see I am back at square one and those threads go on and on... its a Ford vs Chevy argument lol.

Check out the link I gave you and do some reading of your own, ultimately EVERY system is different and I am NOT blaming my sand bed I am blaming myself for NOT knowing or understanding how to handle it properly which lead to my failure so now I am trying a different approach.

Here is some read when you have some time

Limitations of DSB's - The Reef Tank
Ron Shimek's Website...Deep Sand Beds (from the man himself)
Deep Sand Bed vs. Shallow Sand Bed - 3reef Forums
Deep Sand Beds

New York Steelo... BIG DSB guy on YouTube
Marine Aquarium Deep Sand Beds Pt. 1 of 2 - YouTube
How To Deep Sand Bed Maintenance Part 1 - YouTube (how to maintenance Deep Sand Bed)

List goes on... lol The info is there for sure but like the best part of this hobby some things work for some and some for others right? and my lack of time and attention caught up with me. Lesson learned for sure and I plan to stick around in the hobby so I am taking things slow and trying a different approach but I definitely know what I have gotten into and I feel more prepared now.

 

[Pure Magic]

Thanks for the kind words about my tank Zeek. I am dosing Reef two part and Brightwell mag daily (24ml Calc/ 28 kh/ 10ml mag daily with a bubble magus three channel doser). I really appreciate all the links and your time to post them. I have some reading to do.

 

[emixa]

this is good info. so has anyone come across where your sandbed has turned sort of solid/hard?

 

[zeek]

this is good info. so has anyone come across where your sandbed has turned sort of solid/hard?

Yes mine was doing that. I read and a buddy of mine said it was because it was too fine and it packed in a lot. When we took it down it almost came out in chunks lol.

 

[zeek]

Update:

Plumbing re-done. Just was not happy with the previous set-up.

I've reworked it all with 3/4 in plumbing and T'd off for the additional 30g side tank. Salt added and cycling. here's some shots. Complete system now estimated at 185g. Salt needed aided in assuring my calculation.

30g satellite tank and plumbing.

Main plumbing/sump

Ato finished, Avast magnetic ATO and temp 10gal trash can container:

 

[zeek]

Tank is now Cycled and then some. I am going to start tyding up the wiring and need to figure out what to do about my lights.

FTS

 

[zeek]

Updated FTS

I got a skimmer from a friend that got cracked during shipping

I was able to repair it but the material is not very flexible so I am sure with time It would give out so Manually emptying collection cup with my turkey baster and WIll only replace the cup maybe once a month for a thorough cleaning to extend the lifetime of my repair.

In the meantime I will save some money, since the holidays are coming I will need to make it work for now, I also got an apex lite Unit but Need to get the rest so anyone with a spare PB8 or probes, pm me what you go and a price and lets talk

New shots of my current live stock!