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Here's my Big Office System

J

Jcurry@wesketch

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

Come on Bax let's get that thing into your office & get that 375 setup already.

On the other hand if you posted that last set of pics in the newbie forum on RC you'd probably have a sleu of people proclaiming the newest revelation in reef keeping...The Blue Tarp Method.
 
R

rkaiser

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

Great pics! I like the tarp method. It is an overlooked temperature stability method. ;-)
 
Baxreefs

Baxreefs

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

Technically, it's two plus layers of 1/2" pink foam, a layer of 4 mil poly sheeting, and two random sized blue tarps to add color and BTU retention, a Fire Inspector's nightmare to be sure!!! :eek: ::) :p
 
jimroth

jimroth

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

Bax, I have a question for you: Have you been recording tank temperatures in that thermodynamic nightmare you have set up? I would be really interested in knowing what low temps you have hit, particularly since your corals are doing so splendidly.

Probably worth mentioning your, uh, limited skimmer maintenance schedule (he physically can't get to it). I think you may just have the green, er, purple thumb!

I myself have gotten down as low as 75o durning the recent cold snap, leading to swings of 75o to 79o.
 
Baxreefs

Baxreefs

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

I have often arrived at the shop by 6 AM. I'd say that's right about the low for the day, the tank certainly has not warmed up any yet at the least. I have seen 74.9 on the digi thermometers, and it freaked me out. That's when the blue layer was added and a space heater to boot.

Generally, since it's been cold and the blue thingy in place, I see an occasional dip to 75.5 but not below, if it is very mild during the day, I'll see it climb as high as 79 not above.

During the summer I suffer the opposite effect and my temps generally range from 79 to83.

I think they like the cooler temps much better. I also feel the change is not such a big deal as long as it is shifted over time and not all at once. I suffer this in all my crotchety old industrial buildings at each change of the season and really have to pay attention to manage the temp shift slowly.

.... And what's skimmer maintenance? ???

With this buffering in place I often skip a day of unwrapping it and only open the cocoon up enough to enter during the warest points of the day. Otherwise I just peak in to see how things are running. So, my skimmer was cleaned T-day weekend and you saw it last week yuk! I usually clean it weekly and the performance is impacted to be sure.

One positive is, it made me finally hook up an ATO for my ATO reservoir which is really nice, been planning it for years and just never hooked it up. Basically a float controlled pump turns on by a timer for 30 mins a day and tops off the res, the res hold 10 gallons which with the heaters cranking is just enough for a day! ::)
 
Baxreefs

Baxreefs

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

Just to prove that I am headed in a direction that, albeit purposefully temporary in design, will get my critters out of the shadow of the big blue thing ...

This is the stand for a RR 75g and the 5' RR 100g from my office door. They will form a corner. And, I may add on more 75 toward the door. Yes, I am demented ::)
75stand100.jpg


... And from my desk
75stand100too.jpg


All goes well, we'll be rearranging the pallet racks a bit tomorrow, so I can tack a false wall wall up and have a sort of real fish room.
 
Baxreefs

Baxreefs

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

Well, it's been a while. But Finally! I've started putting up the start of my enclosure. I'd hoped I'd get this done around the holidays, but fortunately, business has been pretty good for this time of the year so it's going slow with the enclosure and system mods. But that's OK, gotta pay for reef'n some how!

Over the last week I've setup the main wall to separate the sump and equipment from the arctic cold of my shop. That's allowed me to use the pink foam sheets as a makeshift roof and the blue tarps as a door of sorts. This has really stabilized temps and I have the room to service the system! My skimmer was truly foul!

That, in turn has allowed me to actually look at my holding tanks for more then a moment or two. The 90 houses my SPS colonies and choice frags, the 75 g the nem clones (yes there are 2), caps, zoas, and a few LPS. Now I've joked here that things were going great on their own, and for the most part that's been true. First thing I noticed is that my flow lovin torts in the 90 were not looking their normal eye poppingly awesomeness. Closer inspection revealed that my Tunze spit its prop, so it did not alarm as they do when they freeze. It was probably like that for a week or more. As soon as I swapped a spare Tunze in all SPS produced better PE immediately. In just a few days things look much better again.

My params are still surprisingly solid despite my CO2 bottle running dry about 2 weeks ago. I was lucky enough to catch that fairly quickly and swap the bottle out. Whew! I need to do a good sized WC as it's been easily 6 maybe 8 weeks since I've been able to do one with the pink and blue cocoon in place as it was.

So, I want to get the real roof up. It'll support an elevated RODI vessel, SW mix vessel and the chiller. I'll then change the return manifold in preparation for some display tanks in my office, SOON! Not the 375 just yet, but the 100 & a 75 for now. Just need a little more confidence in the economy before I spring for the effort to set up of the 375 beast 8)
 
Baxreefs

Baxreefs

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

Still not done with the enclosure, but better access to the system has allowed me to actually do some much needed maintenance. My skimmer was really ugly! NO! I mean REALLY UGLY!!!

I was hoping to see a issue when I finally did some testing, to my delight and surprise, my nitrite/nitrates are good < 5, Alk - good dkh of 9-9.5, Ca - OK ~ 420 could be a little higher, pH - solid at 8.0-8.3, my ORP was low at 280 and PO4 high at 0.1 (Hanna) the highest it's been in a couple of years between here and the last tank. I did not test Mg but I've been using the BW mag chuncks stuff in my Ca Rx and hope that is holding it in line. Maybe I'll grab a vial and test the MG now.

Good news, is that I see no major imbalances. But obviousy the lack of maintenance is taking its toll and the corals that demand the cleanest water are showing the wear and tear. Time to get back to basics.

So, I cleaned the skimmer and decrusted the becketts, changed filter socks and placed in some fresh carbon, cranked up the O3 (ozone) (set on low for 12 hours a day), and did a 10% water change. All over the course of a week. I did not want to do too much too soon as .... First off , that has never worked out well for me... And, secondly, I needed to travel this past weekend to Virginia to see family and did want to have any bad reactions while I was gone.

This week I'll change more water, add GFO to the mix, maybe turn up the O3 for a while, swap the socks and GAC... And, from the look of it, clean the skimmer again as it is down right nasty again already. A sure sign that the dirty skimmer was a big negative issue. As was lack of sock swaps and water canges due to the confining nature of my tempurature control measures. The big pink and blue wall was effective, tempurature wise, but a real PITA!

About the socks. I am really pleased with the additional mechanical filtration they provide, and believe they are worth the effort. But, they are a lot of effort. So, I'll be stealling an idea from a friend on RC and building an acrylic media rack for my drain section that will hold mats of filter fabric, ranging from coarse to fine in layers. The pads will be easier to swap. They can be bought in bulk rolls, so by reefing standards, that = dirt cheap! And no washing! Besides the act of the swap, there's no maintenance!

I've always used the bulk rolls of coarse media to cut filter pads to stick at convenient spots in the system, rinsing or changing them often. but with this at the main drain of the main sump, it should be over all more effective and simpler... At least, that's the plan! :p
 
Baxreefs

Baxreefs

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

Oh! One more thing!

Despite the fact that one is never "supposed" to add new critters when conditions aren't perfect ....

.... I stopped in OGII today to pick up some fine filter pad material to make disks for my TLF 150 GFO reactors and endded up with an unknown frg that was too cool to leave behind.

... I know I am a bad boy! 8)
 
Baxreefs

Baxreefs

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

Thanks DanJ!

It's an illness really ;)

I have to get my enclosure done so I can redo the RODI. I am certain that along with the basic maintinance items I mentioned, my RO unit just needs some attention and a good cleaning. It is just not performing as well as it always has. I want to disinfect and recharge avery stage. It is five years old after all.

... Add that to the list !
 
Baxreefs

Baxreefs

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

PO4 down to 0.05 on the Hanna so that's headed in theright direction at a good pace. Maybe I'll get those TLF GFO reactors on line here soon and knock it back some more. More water changes and getting back to regular maintenance should help with the source.

Tested the Mg it is only about 1150, I'd like to see it higher and was hoping the Brightwells Neo-Mag in the rector would keep it there, but I guess I'll still have to monitor and adjust. At least it should require less dosing to hold it above 1300. ::)
 
JRWOHLER

JRWOHLER

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

Not for nothing but would you get this setup already so we can enjoy some pics again? ;D
 
Baxreefs

Baxreefs

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

Slowly but surely, piece by piece, I am getting this enclosure done. Iy is almost complete except for the door. Couple more structural components (that I have to figure out how to get in behind my running 75) to cut and fit and I'll be able to mount the chiller, RODI & SW mix vessels up top! Finally!!! ;D

Cut most of the pieces for my 100g stand today too!

My SPS troubled SPS are starting to look serious about recovering, and that is making me very happy! 8)
 
Baxreefs

Baxreefs

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

After enjoying auto pilot for quite some time while my system was under winter wraps, I've been having some issues. Not that I did not expect there to be after all, lack of maintanance always leads to issues eventually ... right?

So, I framed out most of the enclosure. It goes slowly as I cut a board here and tack it in there, it's a process. In getting the frame up and covered, I now have much better access to do much needed maintinance. Upon getting a good look at the system, there was some minor algea starting up. My PO4 was up to 0.1 but other then that, my params seemed OK.

So, I cleaned the skimmer and started doing WCs to bring down the PO4. Oddly, things got worse, quickly. More small water changes, like 5 g a day. My SPS were loosing color and even STSning!

I start really digging into the set up to look for something that's gone out of wack while it was all coverd up. Nothing jumped out at first then I found this.

P3031619.jpg


P3031621.jpg


This was the digi thermometer on my SW mix tank. While moving stuff around to set up the enclosure, it ended up in the SW mix tank!

My water changes were poisoning my system! I've all but lost my beautiful torts, both of them! :mad:

I scrubbed he SW mix barrel and started changing water and things look better already. :p

I also note this, peeling paint from my old 120 canopy placed into service over the 90.

P3031623.jpg


It must have started peeling in the cold of the shop from temp swings as I do not recall it being in this shape, or I'd have done somthing about it. Anyone know if this is really bad for SPS? I am hoping most of it is removed in the socks on the drains.

And, no, the 375 is not set up yet. But, I did frame out the stand for the 100g! :p

100_7625.jpg


All pocket hole and glued joints

100_7626.jpg


It'll get a skinning and couple of coats of paint and then I'll set up the 75 and 100! SOON!!! :D
 
jimroth

jimroth

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

Baxreefs said:
My water changes were poisoning my system! I've all but lost my beautiful torts, both of them! :mad:
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear about your problems. It's always some dumb little thing, isn't it?

Still... aren't you lucky you fragged that Oregon Tort a while back, heh heh.
 
Baxreefs

Baxreefs

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

jimroth [/quote said:
Sorry to hear about your problems. It's always some dumb little thing, isn't it?

Still... aren't you lucky you fragged that Oregon Tort a while back, heh heh.
Click to expand...

... And the way it looks, I may be hitting you up for a frag of that! I have one of the ORA, but not of the Shaun Bennett, still they are both hanggin in at the moment. Mt teal tippied stag (which you also have a frag of) is struggling as well.

The things I've never fragged that I am really worried about are the borialis, pearl berry and blue tipped acculeus.

I am doing small changes daily and doesing Brightwells Reef Builder to build essential elements.
 
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