Donnie's 135 Build (1 Viewer)

[DonnieKim]

Hello All!
I'm a previous Marsh member since '04. I always had freshwater tanks while growing up. The marine aquarium keeping started initally with a 5 gal tank I found on the side of the road. I set it up for my wife and kids with some guppys and what not. I then bought a 55 gal tank from a friend and then thought I would set up saltwater since I always wanted a marine aquarium. I soon had 5 marine aquariums at once, from 35 gal to 180 gal, all reefs. I then started to work a job which was 7 days a week, 12 hours a day, for about 5 years. Eventually it got to me and I had to get out. I could'nt balance the hobby and work so one had to go.
Now I have the fever again and I believe the sickness is acute, and no longer chronic.
I bought a 135 gal Oceanic tank and stand. I immediately sold the stand and canopy that it came with, and had Justin Henry, with Custom Aquarium Cabinets, build me a taller stand.

 

[flexrac]

Nice! i know that standand canopy set you back some bucks, justin does great workand is a great guy.

 

[DonnieKim]

Thanks Flex! Yea, I decided to go 42" on stand height and 18" on the canopy.
Justin does excellent work!

 

[R-BallJunkie]

donnie, ur old school. you know they arent using under gravel filters and shop lights anymore????


just kidding, glad to see you back at it, im sure its going to be a nice build. any updates, intentions??

 

[flexrac]

when you are doing the scaping, try to use smaller rocks, they will make for better scaping.
those large bolders take up a lot of room quick.

 

[DonnieKim]

donnie, ur old school. you know they arent using under gravel filters and shop lights anymore????


just kidding, glad to see you back at it, im sure its going to be a nice build. any updates, intentions??

That's funny! Seriously though,,,,no undergravel?
How about the Berlin System?
Now I'm going to have to scrap the shop lights and I just bought new bulbs too!

I do have (3) 250 watt DE MH's and (4) VHO's, but now I see everybody's going to LED's!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! Damn!

 

[DonnieKim]

when you are doing the scaping, try to use smaller rocks, they will make for better scaping.
those large bolders take up a lot of room quick.

Yeah those were what came with the tank. They are dead, I just put them in there so it wouldn't be empty and dry!
But on that note I'm thinking of doing the 2 islands style and a bit of the minimalist look.

I'm actually in the market for a bit of Live Rock to seed my system too.

Years ago when I was active in the hobby, there was someone who kept a bunch of live sand to seed with for people starting up new tanks. Is that still around?

 

[toefu]

welcome back donnie, knew the name looked familiar. Same boat here. Less chronic and more acute, i like the analogy, but so true.

you're going to enjoy it this time around. When you take a multi year absence from the hobby, you have so much more patience this time around.

 

[DonnieKim]

welcome back donnie, knew the name looked familiar. Same boat here. Less chronic and more acute, i like the analogy, but so true.

you're going to enjoy it this time around. When you take a multi year absence from the hobby, you have so much more patience this time around.

You are exactly right about the more patience. Before when I set up I was wanting to put fish in after a week cycle. Now I'm a lot more laid back and taking my time in no hurry. My wife can't believe it! The tanks been sitting for 2 weeks and I just finally got the Calfo installed Monday!
But I have been working 12 hour days for almost a month now so,,,,

 

[DonnieKim]

Oh and Thanks all for the warm welcome!
Not many of the old crew left it seems.
There are alot of new ones though so that is good!
New blood for the addiction!

I just bought a Home Reef RO/DI system so next is water!

 

[DonnieKim]

 

[DonnieKim]

Finally got my RO/DI installed. I put it in a "Deck Box" outside the house by the tank. Did that make sense?
Now just got to finish plumbing and start making water.

 

[flexrac]

couple of things. you do not need the tank unless you are going to use it for drinking water
second: your di will not function correctly laying down like that, you won't get 0 tds.
here is a thread discussing mine: i had a similar setup.
http://www.marshreef.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=45028

your di need to be in a canister like your carbon and sediment.

 

[DonnieKim]

Yea the tank is for a faucet i mounted by the sink for some RO water, and since I read about yours, i have placed the DI vertically.
Thanks for the heads up Felix!

I have also got some insulation for the tubing and sheathing insulation for the deck box.

 

[mike13oy]

I think I read somewhere that rodi doesnt work properly if you leave it outside the house because of heat issue.

 

[DonnieKim]

I think I read somewhere that rodi doesnt work properly if you leave it outside the house because of heat issue.

What do you mean by properly?
I really don't understand why a little heat would effect the membranes etc.
I'm going to insulate the box and the tubing to the house so no algae will grow in lines, and to protect from the cold and heat.
But if you read something about it please post a link!

Thanks mike13oy, for the concern though

 

[flexrac]

i would be more worried about the lines freezing. best way to deal with it is to bury the lines. heat increases the amount of water the unit can make, as it gets colder, it will take longer and you will have more waste water.

 

[Mark L.]

I think I read somewhere that rodi doesnt work properly if you leave it outside the house because of heat issue.

What do you mean by properly?
I really don't understand why a little heat would effect the membranes etc.
I'm going to insulate the box and the tubing to the house so no algae will grow in lines, and to protect from the cold and heat.
But if you read something about it please post a link!

Thanks mike13oy, for the concern though

It's the DI resin you have to worry about getting hot. Most/all DI resin is rated for a max temp from 100°F-104°F (38°C-40°C). When I bought my ro/di unit they recommended I keep it inside the house since Texas summers get so hot. If you google search DI resin you will see most are rated for what I posted. Ex....

There's actually a hi temp DI resin you can buy called "MaxTemp DI" that is rated for up to 158°F (70°C) if you want to mount in a high temp location. It's at the very bottom of this page...

http://www.spectrapure.com/st_replac_p4.htm

With all that said, it seems a lot of people mount it in their garage and don't have any problems that they post about anyway. Maybe it just depletes quicker and they don't notice. I mounted mine inside as recommended just to be on the safe side.

 

[mike13oy]

Thanks flexrac and Bad_LS1 for the answer. lol
There you go. lol

 

[Jaypilot]

I think I read somewhere that rodi doesnt work properly if you leave it outside the house because of heat issue.

What do you mean by properly?
I really don't understand why a little heat would effect the membranes etc.
I'm going to insulate the box and the tubing to the house so no algae will grow in lines, and to protect from the cold and heat.
But if you read something about it please post a link!

Thanks mike13oy, for the concern though

Algae should never be an issue in the RO/DI units. Algae need light air and nutrient. You may have light and small air bubbles but you should never have any type of nutrient for the algae.