Soy's 190 Gallon Build Thread (1 Viewer)

[soymilk]

Rigged up a uv due to what seems to be a bacterial bloom starting up.

Not my finest work but it works. I ended up using a j return to put the output into the tank. So running dual returns. Vectra on battery back up. I'm flirting with the idea of using a hydros instead of an apex.


Tang gang is in the tank. everyone look happy. I'm sure they are glad to be outta that 43 gallon observation tank.

 

[Andy]

Looking good!

 

[decimal]

I think @steveb is running hydros and has had a positive experience. It’s nice because you can control and power all your gear from a central point. You buy hydros cords that match OEM plug for specific devices on one end and the other to connect hydros device so you can get rid of bulky converters (if I understood that right). It definitely looks purpose built and solid.

 

[soymilk]

I have a wave engine I picked up from the marsh marketplace. Its definately handy reducing the number of cables. so it made me start thinking about trying the whole thing out.

I went ahead and ordered a hydros XS. its 200 bucks and lets me put my foot in the door with hydros controllers. The wave engine techincally isn't a controller.

So im going to be running both an apex and hydros for a little bit to check them both out. I might start a hydros thread in the equipment forum.

 

[decimal]

definitely do that. I, for one, would certainly like to know your experience.

 

[soymilk]

despite my best effects, i think my tank has ich. I was pretty psyched about buying some new fish but imma put that on hold until i get this under control.

since I watched @Humblefish 's presentation during the bingo night. I decided to wire up a dos I had sitting around to dos hydrogen peroxide. I'm guessing my tank total volume is closer to 240gallons. I'm dosing 30ml twice a day. I tried doing it by hand and always forgot or life got in the way. so automating everything I can to make the best of it.

 

[decimal]

Man sorry to hear that. That has been my experience in the past as well. Despite following best practices something would get through. I finally just wound up with the healthiest fish that lived and the other not so much. Not a great system especially since apparently others have had successful clean tanks but it was the best I could muster at the time. I do like the idea of a dual bath (h2o2 and Methylene Blue) prior to DT introduction. Now I will practice the double dip discussed by @Humblefish.

 

[soymilk]

imma send a test out for aquabiomics just to verify what im up against. One of my blue tangs is clearly not super happy, but still eatting and harassing the other fish.

Could just be blue tang things. I guess i'll find out. Less depressing news.

I finally got around to messing with my water mix station.

step one - mount my new 100g tank. I made sure it didn't block the attic access.




Step two - with a clean scalpel. Make a clean cut in the middle of the tank so you can both the foot and mouth.



Now I have 2 smaller tanks I can mount.


Not a ton of space by the door, but we rarely enter thru the garage.



The board I mounted is a bit crooked but so is my life so I just gotta deal with it.




So I learned its a good idea to mount a valve on this side of the wall as well.

Lets just say some comical hilarity ensued multiple times when I tried to turn on the system. The RO system leaked like crazy from one side. I guess it got tussled on the way home. I took apart the needle valve and manifolds and put a fresh wrapping of teflon tape. Seemed to slowed the leak to a very very slow drop. About a drip every 30 - 40 secs. I'll take the solenoids off and retape those next.

 

[soymilk]

Man sorry to hear that. That has been my experience in the past as well. Despite following best practices something would get through. I finally just wound up with the healthiest fish that lived and the other not so much. Not a great system especially since apparently others have had successful clean tanks but it was the best I could muster at the time. The idea of a dual bath (h2o2 and Methylene Blue) prior to DT introduction.Now I will practice the double dip discussed by @Humblefish.

definitely gonna try the h202 bath moving forward.

 

[soymilk]

So I tried to be cheap and not buy a flow meter to check my gph flow on my uv. I figured i'd ball park it and get it close and then do the bucket test.

I found out my line into my h2o2 reservoir was too short and didn't bottom out. So while I was checking on the resevoir, I did not catch that the volume as not going down as expected. I'm dosing 48ml every 8 hours and 96ml over nightime. Thats 240ml of hydrogen perixode per day. So a bottle should only last me 4 days. I've since corrected that and made a calendar of expected times to change out the resevoir.

Then next I finally got around to testing the output of my UV. BRS recommended 250-330 gph. I'm currently running a cor20 on the uv return with a max output of 2000 gph. I ball parked 30% output and have been running that for the past month or so. I finally timed how long it takes to fill a 1 gallon bucket and came out with the grand total of 98 gph. This caught me way off guard. that means my uv has only been having a turnover rate of like 50% volume per hour. I have since adjusted the flow rate and I'm in the 200-250gph range.

I switched over to (4) a360x kessils and a t5 hybrid light system. I thought I was going to like it more, but i almost preferred the skys on the tank. With the t5s on, the kessils have a hard time punching though that light. The shimmer is not very noticable. Goes to show you t5 really put out light.

 

[BigRick]

So I tried to be cheap and not buy a flow meter to check my gph flow on my uv. I figured i'd ball park it and get it close and then do the bucket test.

I found out my line into my h2o2 reservoir was too short and didn't bottom out. So while I was checking on the resevoir, I did not catch that the volume as not going down as expected. I'm dosing 48ml every 8 hours and 96ml over nightime. Thats 240ml of hydrogen perixode per day. So a bottle should only last me 4 days. I've since corrected that and made a calendar of expected times to change out the resevoir.

Then next I finally got around to testing the output of my UV. BRS recommended 250-330 gph. I'm currently running a cor20 on the uv return with a max output of 2000 gph. I ball parked 30% output and have been running that for the past month or so. I finally timed how long it takes to fill a 1 gallon bucket and came out with the grand total of 98 gph. This caught me way off guard. that means my uv has only been having a turnover rate of like 50% volume per hour. I have since adjusted the flow rate and I'm in the 200-250gph range.

I switched over to (4) a360x kessils and a t5 hybrid light system. I thought I was going to like it more, but i almost preferred the skys on the tank. With the t5s on, the kessils have a hard time punching though that light. The shimmer is not very noticable. Goes to show you t5 really put out light.

I've been keeping my T5s off and only running the ap700s lately.. T5s do overpower the leds... colors big time too... time for new bulbs anyways.

 

[decimal]

FWIW, One thing about leds and “shimmer” is surface agitation. I have T5 and LED and was able to adjust the shimmer intensity by moderating the surface agitation.

 

[soymilk]

good point, let me get some more ripples up in hea

 

[decimal]

Y’all gonna make me lose my mind Up in hea, up in hea..

 

[decimal]

How did that work out? Where you able to “tune” it so the t5 didn’t drown out the shimmer?

 

[soymilk]

i actually had quite a bit of water movement on top. with the t5 on the shimmer isnt as noticeable to me. A friend stopped by and said there was a ton of shimmer.

I think I just got used to how the skys looked and he transition is throwing me off. I don't have any corals in there yet, so the t5s are offline for a while.

I have to figure out a plug situation. I went from 2 plugs for 2 skys, to 6 plugs for 4 a360x, and 2 t5. I might order some more hydros power bricks. Luckily they are only 40 bucks. But they are only 4 plugs.

 

[decimal]

i actually had quite a bit of water movement on top. with the t5 on the shimmer isnt as noticeable to me. A friend stopped by and said there was a ton of shimmer.

Ah.. well if you are legally blind, then no amount of surface agitation is going to help. Sorry, I didn’t mean to appear insensitive to your plight.

 

[soymilk]

me trying to find the shimmer

 

[Cody]

i actually had quite a bit of water movement on top. with the t5 on the shimmer isnt as noticeable to me. A friend stopped by and said there was a ton of shimmer.

I think I just got used to how the skys looked and he transition is throwing me off. I don't have any corals in there yet, so the t5s are offline for a while.

I have to figure out a plug situation. I went from 2 plugs for 2 skys, to 6 plugs for 4 a360x, and 2 t5. I might order some more hydros power bricks. Luckily they are only 40 bucks. But they are only 4 plugs.

Wait, so you’re trying to run lights off of batteries in the event of a power outage?

 

[soymilk]

the lights power my solar panels that charge the battery.

i've stumbled across unlimited power