Tank Journal Archive

[Synodontis]

Hi all,
We started this TJ on another site last month, I've just done a copy and paste into this site as this seems like a nice place to settle back and look around. Hope it keeps some of you amused and others in shock :D

We have only been "reefers" for less then a year. Some of the things we come up with go against the norm. I don't get carried away with the advanced side of things. My belief is "It's only as hard as you want to make it" When we first made the jump from topical to marine we started reading as much as we could. God! it was so intimidating! Finally we got our heads around the concept. It wasn't that hard if you take out all the million dollar toys, don't try to keep up with the neighbors, don't tinker when it aint broken and basically KISS!
You need a tank to hold water and livestock, live rock to filter the crap, a skimmer to take the crap out, power heads for flow, a heater to keep it all cosy, pumps to fill the skimmer and return , a few good test kits to keep things under control, some decent lights and if you have a phosphate problem, maybe a FBF.
Of course your going to run into problems, that's just life, but nothing you cant over come by doing some homework and asking for opinions from others in here. You don't need a dosing pump, calcium reactor, Co2 bottle under your tank an all the rest of the brand name gear. Of course its nice, and its cool toys, but really, you cant dose your tank once a week? Ahhh, but wait, IF you get all the biggest and bestest toys, you can help fuel the next "in" thing and have followers :D

But I digress, as I say, I'm not politically correct, that's just me, on with the project.

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This was first posted Wed 06 Jul, 2011 10:22 pm

Morning all,

Everyone seems to enjoy a Tank Journal so "welcome to our nightmare" (thanks Alice)

If you go back 4.5 years ago, I knew nothing about fish. If you told me you kept fish, I would have said "you got a fish & chip shop?" Then I meet Jen who had a little 4ft tropical tank. She has always loved fish so I brought my 2ft out of storage for her to play with. Then we brought a 6x18x18 to play with. I found out fish tanks = toys! We then found a 8x3x2.5 that's now a tropical tank used as a room divider. Lots of toys and plumbing on that one! :) Next was a three tier stand with 2x1x1 tanks. Then we found a 6.5x2x2 Jebo tank with the "Coburg" built in trickle filter at the rear, this was our first marine tank. After that was a 6x2.5x2.5 I couldnt pass up cause it was cheap, it's still sitting in the garage waiting for something.

So here we are, a 10FT hunk of glass sitting at the front door. I enjoy looking at the fish, but I seem to get slightly more enjoyment in setting a tank up. The novelty wore off on the other tanks so this is the next and final project I'm taking on. The things we do to make the women folk happy! I blame Jen for my toy addiction, "it's all for your tank Peewee, I'm getting them for your fish!"

If you like pics, then we will have lots to amuse you. Some may offend, but no one will be harmed and all will remain fully clothed. (we hope)
You may not have noticed, but I tend to prattle on a bit, and I'm not the most politically correct guy in the room. I will add a few comments above each photo to help the story along.

System Objectives: A pretty fish tank! with lots of really neat toys with lights and buttons and beeps and power cords to keep me amused. I LIKE toys, Jen does not seem to be as enthralled as I though.

System Type: Mixed Reef with all the usual, would like lots of color and movement

Display System:

Strike up Date: Purchased the tank 14/05/11. Got the tank home on the 19/06/11 so I guess strike up would be 19th

Get wet date: August 2011

Display Tank: 10x2.5x2.5 made using see through glass

Display Lighting: DIY LED - 208 Cree's, 52xRB, 52xB, 52XCW, 52x NW, Typhon controller.

Stand?: Well its not going straight on the floor now is it. That would just be lazy.

Hood?: Nope, Jen prefers a nice cap. Hoodies are so last year.

Sump: 6'x2'x18" made this one out of that see through glass too!

Refugium: Built into sump. 1x2x6" Miracle Mud, some green weeds on top of the mud. 22Ltr's of mud.

Refugium Lighting: 2x 3FT T5's under the cabinet above the sump


Support systems:

System Water: Natural Saltwater - IF we can find someone who delivers out this side of town or else it will be lots of trips to LFS!

Poor old ute didn't know what hit it with so much weight on its back. Water in large volume = heavy!

Display Water circulation: 2x Tunze 6305's, 3x Tunze 6105's, 1x Polario 1500M

Return Pump: Hailea 9000L/h

Skimmer: 2x Reef Octopussy Beckett 2000's (BK-250-800) Each supplied by a Sicce 5800ltr pump.

Evaporation Top Up: Auto top-up (When I remind Jen to do it!) :p Soon to be installed firechild Custom Industries ATO System



Chemical Support:

Calcium Addition: Aqua Medic 4 head pump

Alkalinity Addition: Aqua Medic 4 head pump

Magnesium Addition: Aqua Medic 4 head pump

Other Chemical Maintenance:

Carbon: Deltec FR1020 reactor, Sicce 4000ltr pump

RowaPhos: Deltec FR1020 reactor, Sicce 4000ltr pump

Current Water Chemistry: N/A
Nitrates: N/A
Phosphates: N/A
Alkalinity: N/A
Calcium: N/A
Salinity / Specific Gravity: N/A
Magnesium: N/A


Images:

Moving day is here

Yes, he is a big boy! not smart, but damn he can lift heavy things! :D He's a great guy, I'm only picking on him, it's a bad pic I know.

Did you notice Jen in the truck "supervising" Hands in pockets working hard

Time to get it off

Had to remove all the trim and doors to get the bloody thing through our front door, oh yeah, we had to take that off also!

Now the hard part

Now this don't look pretty, if you have a weak stomach, look away now

Looking mighty pretty now!

Damn he's a big lad

Hmm, what now?

My view from the couch

Almost done lining the cabinet

I wont line the ends of the cabinet just yet

Sump installed

Installing the Skimmers

 

[Synodontis]

How big are the skimmers?

This tank had previously been installed with the sump outside. Trying to install it with the sump in the cabinet was always going to be a mission. The only way to get the skimmers in the cabinet was to recess them into the floor of the cabinet. I really hope this works! If not...., I'll get back to you on that. The next job is to get all the plumbing sorted and installed, but that's another post for another day.

I am going to thank the guys who helped us move the tank here. These guys work Monday to Saturday for me, then gave up their Sunday to come from Ballarat to help us. The tank pick up was out in Belgrave, then back to Melton, then back to Ballarat for these guys. So thanks guys! now get back to work! :)

Thanks MickyG from the Boronia Aquarium forums, another great guy.

That's about it for now. At least we now have somewhere else to look back and recall where it all started.

Take it easy, TTFN
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This was first post Wed 13 Jul, 2011 8:35 pm

Morning all,

Just a little update after the weekend. Picked up a power box on Sunday and mucked around with that. Getting it into the cabinet and finishing off the side lining. Also put the T5 lights into the cabinet.

I wanted to install the lights flat side up so they wouldn't hang as low as they do. Drilled a small hole through one end no problems. Went to drill at the other end and straight into the ballast, lol, back to Bunnings and one more light please. The actual light tube will swivel about 45deg to the front and 30 deg to the rear of the sump. Depending on where you want the strongest light. Can't see them from where I sit so all is good in the world for now.

The plumbing from the DT to the sump in the photos has been removed and will be replaced with a larger diameter pipe. I just figured it was a 40mm bulk head fitting installed in the tank so I would continue with that. Had a look at the old plumbing and they had used a 40-50mm adapter. Back to Bunnings for more bits.

The new bits below came from another reefing member closing her tank down. I was always going to make it tidy in and around the sump but this will make the job so much easier. She had done a great job on putting this together. (Thanks Hermione)

I like buttons, and whats better then buttons that light up!

Well that's about it for now.

Ken & Jen
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This was first posted Thu 21 Jul, 2011 10:49 pm


Morning all,

Had a play for the last few days. Finally got my backside into gear and wacked in a few glass panes to make some sort of sump dividers. I had to think about where to place them, I hate thinking. I get a picture in my head and just go from there. Think it turned out OK tho. Had no idea how to make them, this seemed like a good way at the time.

The Mud a heaters turned up the other day also. Not really sure where to place the heaters. Two 500w titanium heaters should keep everyone cosy in the tank. I hope just under 22Kg of mud will do. Looks like enough in the bottles in the sump, but maybe one more. It doesn't need to be as deep as a DSB but I'd still like 3 or 4 inches.

Decided to use new pumps also. No idea how old the others are. Will be good to put away for spares if ever needed. Went looking for sch80 pipe as I was told it would suit Octopus skimmers. Found some on this side of town but the wall thickness was huge! Even sch40 which has the same outside dia as the 80 was still to thick. Found a place that has metric pipe so I could hook the skimmers to the pumps with the same grey pipe without using any rubber pipe. Keeps everything looking tidy again.

Hahaha, just noticed the dates on the photos. The last 5 pics were taken tonight. Bloody silly Kiwi huh. I'll learn how to tell time soon! That's about it for now.

Take it easy,
Ken & Jen
=====================================================================

 

[Synodontis]

This was first posted Sat 30 Jul, 2011 11:59 pm

Morning all,

Well its been a steady off an on week. Finally got round to doing a fresh water test with the sump and skimmers. Was all going really well to! the glass dividers I put in where working well, all the compartments are water tight and holding their own. Turned on the pump for the rear skimmer and was nervous as it started to fill but it went well, turned on the front skimmer and it looked good also. After about ten minutes into it, I noticed a wet patch. I knew it wasn't meant to be easy. The ball valves on the skimmers! where the handle comes out of the fitting, not a huge amount, but they where both drip drip. Nothing else was leaking just the bloody ball valves. Shut it all down and jumped online to order a couple of new valves. Ordered Sunday night, got them Thursday.

OK, finally pulled the skimmers out and fitted the two new ball valves. Figured it was all hunky dory to start again. We put 22Kg of mineral mud into place and topped off with some NSW to sit for a night and day to settle.

Also took this opportunity to install 20Kg of rubble into its new position in the scheme of things.

Just add water and hey presto! nothing leaked and all was good in the world again. Put 5Kg of crushed coral (Aragonite) over the mud to stop it taking off into the rest of the tank.

Ive looked at SO many full tank shots and how people have set up their tanks and such, I decided long ago that if we ever attempted anything like this, I would like to incorporate the sump setup into the display. Line the cabinet, hide the bulk of the power cords, put on show what bits cant be hid and generally have some sort of order to it all. Its taking longer but I'm starting to get there. Hopefully we will end up with what I have envisioned in my mind. The cords are still hanging at the moment, but I have made plans to get rid of them. Its about getting things in their place and making sure they work before the tidy up.

So here comes the wank factor :wtf You know when you have an idea but just not sure how it will turn out? Well it turned out like this.............

That's about all she wrote for tonight,

Take it easy,

Ken & Jen
P.S- I just noticed the dates again! I WILL learn how to use camera! 03/08/11
=====================================================================

This was first posted Sun 31 Jul, 2011 9:29 pm

Morning all,

T'is been a long day. Got up this morning, sitting on the couch having my coffee, looking at the sump thinking, it's getting untidy down there. That early in the morning and the co-ordination between brain and limbs was just not happening, so decided to sit and think some more. (and finish watching Ben 10) Little women was heading off on a shopping expedition so i grabbed another gear and started a shopping list thinking it wouldn't take her that long. Anyway, that's another story and I'm sure she'll get over the time taken.

So after she de-camped the premises, another coffee and finally getting that co-ordination thing going, this is what I was looking at...........

The pump leads over the sump heading down to the power box, leads for the skimmer lights curled up, the large hose running from one end to the other is from the return pump to the display inlet, just keeps everything flowing along and I can see what flow is where. Cords hanging out of the power box, it was just messy.

So for the next few hours between watching cartoons, drinking coffee, playing on the PC and thinking "why is she so long?" I finally ended up with this...............

Yesterday after work I threw 26Kg of live rock into one of the chambers to help things along. Still got more live rock to go in but there is good looking rock sitting on top of it. The first 22Kg was out of a tank we had running on the kitchen bench lol, just to hold rock that didn't fit in the 6Ft tank. I guess once this tank is going and we can transfer that rock in to the display, more will be added to the sump. That was one "brownie point" in my favor tho, Little lady got the full length of her bench top back!

So that's about it for today. The sump is mostly done me thinks. Its up and running, got the mud-bed in, skimmers are doing their thing, rock and rubble aren't doing anything I can see, all the power cords are put away tidy like and the heater is trying to cook the lot. Guess I'll have to start on he return to the display now. Oh yeah! how good are white board markers for writing down notes and stuff on the tank! I'd be lost with out it now, plus I don't forget as much now lol.
Not much else to add tonight, Might go and push my luck and see what my chances are of a cuddle :drool

Take it easy,

Ken & Jen
=====================================================================

03/08/11
A big thanks to Jashay also. He has offered to help us out on a little side project for the sump. I'm sure once you see it you'll either like it or hate it.

:D

 

[Tang]

Good luck for the remainder of your journey!

 

[Dynamic]

AWESOME!

 

[jashay]

no probs guys :D
happy to help where I can!

 

[marineclass]

Wow - looking unreal! Cant wait to see it stocked

 

[Synodontis]

Hi again guys,

Well not a great deal has happened I think. Had some really devastating news just over a week ago and no time to prepare so things sorta took a back seat. Just plodded along going through the motions with bits here and there. Finally got the thing filled during this time tho. Took a few pics tonight of where we are with it all. So may as well start the slide show huh.

Made the decision to go with marble sand. Its been a bit of a pain in the ass with blowing round, but we will sort that out later. Used 100Kg of 000 size marble, thanks to the guys at WillieTown. Still got two bags left over in the shed. Reckon by the time this is all done, we could start our own aquarium shop up with what we have "left over" from thinking "Ummm just a bit more to make sure" Either that or I win in the donations to the fuge bank ;)

PLEASE, take note of the precision leveling tool in use

Then came time to fill the tank. Never did find someone who delivers to Melton before we filled it. Have done since tho. Had to bring a truck home from work to do two runs into WillieTown again. All we had for water was 4x 120Ltr drums, 4x 25Ltr drums and 13x 20Ltr bright pretty pink drums. It was a 2Hr round trip each time there about.

This was the second trip........

Brought some live rock out of the classifieds one night so we could get the mini cycle going. Tried to get all "arty farty" with that but looked like crap :p

So just started to empty our VERY overloaded 6Ft. The "less is more" really looks good, but to me it don't look natural. I always thought the rock was there to help your tank? It's nearly at the stage of whoever has the least rock in their tank then the next bloke wins some sort of accolade. Again, I like the look, just don't think its feasible for a 10Yr life span without a lot of extra work and toys. So not going for the rock wall, but there will be ALOT of rock in the tank and the sump..........

I have weighed all the rock that has gone into the system. As it sits now, there is 60Kg's in the sump and 89Kg's in the main tank. 69Kg's came from our 6Ft and that only emptied about a third of that. So there is lots more to play with. Also have some in our 2Ft tank that's ear marked for the 10Ft.

And finally, the first large life form went into the tank last night. The first leather we got. This guy has gone through so much its a joke. Covered in algae and bristle worms from a very neglected tank. Really didn't think he would make it. He has been cramped in the 6Ft just waiting to stretch out in his new home. He is still working things out but his little doodles are out and he starting to work the flow of things out after one night.

The last week things have been rushed a little, needed to get this set up a running quicker then we would have liked but that's life. I have dropped a 6Ft 3x250W MH with T5's on the end with the rock in it just for now. Still have no idea what to do about final light's but this will keep everyone happy in the mean time, just looks shit. Dropped three wave maker's in there also. Two from Mr.Guppies and one from the rudest, most arrogant, self rightest and in-polite man I have ever had the non-pleasure of dealing with. That's why I sent Jen in to pick it up. Never again will I enter that shop without giving him a smack. Walked out of there and spent $600 at one of the dearest shops in Melbourne. They where the cheapest on the piece we needed at the time, only reason Jen went there. Umm, sorry I digress from the subject. One of those days :mad:

So it's up and running kinda at the moment. Will leave it sit till the weekend and put some more rock in. Have a tidy up with the new cords that have gone in and see where we are then.

HooRoo for now.
Ken & Jen

 

[MagicJ]

Looking good Ken. Any reason for the egg crate under the sand?

 

[Synodontis]

The egg crate was just one of those "Tips" you pick up surfing the net looking for info when we first started. It made sense so we have done it to all our tanks.

The logic is that if you have a rock fall in the tank, or while moving them ya drop one, not only the sand but the egg crate will protect the base of the tank from cracking and we didn't want a really deep sand bed, got that in the sump with the mud.

Pretty simple and easy, and it made sense. Still enough for strom's to play in tho.

 

[nick_s_h]

Loving this journal :) What di you line the cabinet with?

 

[Synodontis]

Hi Nick,

Glad you like our dribble :)

The cabinet is lined with a coated plywood. Its only 3mm thick so easy to work with and don't add to much weight to the cabinet. Very easy to just wipe down to keep clean to. You can get it from any Bunnings store, cant remember what we paid for it, but its not that expensive.

 

[Dynamic]

Looking awesome people! I love this TJ.

 

['vspec']

You've got an epic build happening here. Along for the ride bud

 

[Synodontis]

Well morning all,

Hasn't it been a month full of stuff. Has been here anyways. Looking up I see last post was 24/09/11, lots happened since then. Lets start the update here...........

27/08/11
Added-
Another 12Kg of live rock to the DT.
RTBA we picked up from Belmont aquarium
Green coral morphs
Leather mushroom
scolly, 2x disc things, a puffy red thing and What we think is a galaxy
2x Black and white clowns
1x Sumatran clown
Let all that stew for the night and thought might add some more tomorrow. Was starting to look like a real honest to god fish tank now.

28/08/11
Added-
Another 84Kg of live rock to the DT
1x Blue tang
3x blue chromis
1x Coral beauty
1x Bi-color angel
1x Fairy wrasse
2x Tomato clowns
2x Pajama cardinals
1x CBS
1x Manderian
7x Yellow chromis
All the morphs stuck to live rock

As you can see I'm up with all the Latin names for corals! If anyone knows what is in this tank,please leave a comment cause I would only be guessing if I put a name down :)We have named some of the coral's so no lol'ing at us OK, I'm sure all of you do it to.

This is where the latest slide show starts, I will try and put some order into the many pics that are about to assault your eyes.

Not a lot has changed between the 29th and now. Some bits have been moved around here and there. Still have to tidy up power cords and sort out some permanent lights.The 250W halides look good but just to big and bulky, they are not scared to suck down all our power meter can throw at them either. Spent this weekend doing homework on LED's. So much to take in! but think I have a plan in mind, just have to let it tumble around in my head for a few days. Might go annoy Magic with silly little questions about LED's :D You can see by the last photo why I want to get rid of the Large bulky halides. I'm going to attempt to make my own LED's, the maths of it all is scary! just lucky I've got a smart lady to work that part out. You ever tried to make sense of a Cree data sheet when you have no idea what it all means? That should be an interesting side project huh. Think I will just add it in here as there are enough LED threads around the place already. Cant be that hard can it? Anyone know how to teach a Kiwi how to solder?

So as it sits now there is 173Kg of rock in the DT, 60Kg of live rock and 20Kg of rubble in the sump. With room for plenty more if desired. Not at the moment tho.
Its only taken us three months to get the setup to this stage. To fast some would say? I don't know. All I know is everyone in the tank is happy, growing and keeping us amused. We even have new new morphs, Duncan heads and corals popping up where there was nothing.
So what now? after the LED's are sorted, cords put away and controllers mounted, I don't know! I have picked up a few little toys that are sitting in the garage, will get around to plugging them in soon enough. As I think about it, maybe the journey isn't as close to finishing as I thought.

OK, that's enough dribble for one night and I'm getting sleepy,

Ta-ta for now, and be nice to your mothers,

Ken & Jen

 

[marineclass]

looking good !

 

[MagicJ]

You ever tried to make sense of a Cree data sheet when you have no idea what it all means?

Ask any questions you like Ken - it is honestly not that difficult to sort the good from the bad once you have a basic understanding of what you are looking at.

Lets start at the beginning - what don't you understand on the CREE data sheets?

 

['vspec']

Yeah, good a place as any to start.

I wouldn't mind seeing close up of your power switching system as well

 

[MTG]

need to get those lights hung properly:eek

 

[Synodontis]

Thought of that, but going the LED way so those light's hopefully wont be there after Christmas. It's going to take that long for me learn to solder, then get the buggers soldered lol.
Finally got down to pick up the heat sink's last week. In negotiation's for the LED's now so that shouldn't be to much longer, slowly getting my own way there.