Trivan's 45 Cube

[trivan]

I haven't posted my build pictures since the web site was lost, but I've been slowly recovering from my tank crash as well (they both happened at the same time).

Here are some shots of some of the corals which are currently in:

One day when I have time, I'll repost all the build photos which were lost.

 

[shipwrecked]

Nice coral pics,also nice looking wrasse

 

[mnat]

Really like the pictures, go team 45g! Is that a branching monti in the third pic? It is really nice. For the gorgonians (especially the blueberry) what are you feeding it? I would recommend getting decapsulated brine shrimp eggs. You can easily feed those a few times a day. The blueberry is a very very tough gorg to keep (probably the hardest) which stinks because it is so beautiful. We had good luck with outs and the decapsulated brine shrimp until it got stung by some chalice sweepers. Yours looks really healthy with no tissue loss which is a good thing, most people start off with unhealthy gorgs which is a recipe for disaster. Strong flow and lots of food are key for gorgs.

 

[trivan]

Thanks for the tips on the blueberry. It was given to me when I bought the red gorgonia. I've been feeding it phyto and I feed oyster fest as well.

I hope I can keep it alive as it is a beautiful piece.

 

[trivan]

Yes it is a ORA branching Monti, I got it from Dr. Jim.
Here is the ORA description: Green Digitata is a branching neon green Montipora that develops vivid white growth tips. This coral is fast growing and extremely hardy as well as tolerant of a wide range of lighting conditions. The ORA Green Digitata is a thinner branching variety that often breaks with the slightest of touches.

 

[trivan]

So to get me going on reposting some of my build pictures and changes, I decided to list out the crazyness I have to support my 45 Cube. Hopefully the rest of December will be a little slower at work and I will have some energy at the end of the day to repost everything.

Tank
- 45 Marineland Cube
- Glass holes overflow
Stand
- DYI built
Lights
- AI Sol Blue w/hang kit
Sump Area:
- Custom made by Custom King
- Pump - Eheim
- Skimmer - SWC 120
- Fuge Light - JBJ LED
- ATO - Tunze
Flow:
- 2 x MP10's
Controller
- Apex Neptune
- Break out box
- 2 x DC 8
- 2 x DC 4
- Varible speed module to control AI Sol
- Conductivity Module to monitor QT tank Temp and Salinity
- Water leak sensor in Sump area
Maintenance
- RO/DI - Bulk Reef Supply 5 stage
- Auto Top off for the RO/DI to the ATO holding - 2 x solnoids controlled by Apex
- Continous water changer - Litermeter w/ 2 external pumps
QT
- 5 Gallon tank fed from main DT

Pending is another breakout box for the water changing station to alert on high's/Low's in the water trash cans.

My continous water changer has been online for 2 weeks now and currently QT'ing some coral I picked up at a frag swap this past weekend. My ATO for the ATO has been working perfectly (less the human errors) for about 7 months.
Jeez, I can't believe I have all this stuff to run the tank. If anyone has any specfic question on the build please feel free to ask.

 

[Hawkeye]

The tunze ATO is a set it and forget it thing. The ONLY thing I check is to ensure the top off water is never exhausted of water, if an airbubble gets into the tunze pump - it will cause it to stop functioning correctly. I take it you eliminated this risk with the solenoids?

how does a continuous water changer work? I've gotten my water changes down to a science where I set up the python and 15 mins later, 40 gallons are down the drain. then I go downstairs and turn the return pump and the new water pump on for 15 minutes and done deal. but i still deal with one huge 55 gallon barrel which I wheel around. A continuous water changer sounds deceptively appealing/easy.

 

[trivan]

The continuous water change is great. There is a lot of write ups on the benefits as it prevents swings due to a water changes.

It's really simple but you do need a pretty accurate pumping system, which is why I went for the LiterMeter. I have a 2 long RO tubes running to the Sump. One tube is for the good water and one for the old. I have a 20 gallon can for the good water which the RO tube is put into and the 2nd line goes to the sink. Note here I'm pumping up maybe 10 feet across and probably 10feet up. LiterMeter and other dosing pumps can handle this pretty easily. With the LiterMeter, you set how many gallons per day you want to "dose", it divides that by 150 and will cycle the pumps accordingly.

So I do about 1 gallon a day in my tank so I go about 15 days without doing anything. I still have the pipes to do the larger water changes in case I need to, but for routine maintance this is the best. Some will argue that there is some waste involved, and this is true, but Randy Holmes (SP) I think did the analysis and found there is a very minimal about of waste (maybe and the benefits of having a stable system out weighs the waste. Quote from the below link " A continuous water change of 30% exactly matches one batch 26% water change. "

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/rhf/index.php#13


For the ATO, I have floats in the ATO fresh water tank. I have the controller open one solenoid 4 times a day, if that solenoid is on and the float sensor is low, then the 2nd opens. The Timed Soleniod is only on for the approximate time that it take to fill the tank with RO to prevent a flood. The 2 soleniods are for reduncency in case one fails. To have a 3rd level of protection, I put in another "OH S***" float, which if that is triggered, kicks on a powerhead connected to my water change plumbing so water will get pumped out of the ATO hold tank. Helps me sleep at night knowing that there is multiple fail safes in this, since it is connected to the water line.

 

[trivan]

So, I found some of my previous posts on MR, so here is my 1 year old build pictures. I update this site more so, I'll try to fill in the rest.


DYI Stand being built:

Test fitting the Custom sump made by CustomKing. Its 18x18x16:

Decided to use the Glass-Holes 700 overflow with the 1/2" return. Getting ready to drill.

Success and preping to paint the back black:

So now, I have the stand almost completed and the interior plumbing almost done with the wiring of the Neptune Apex fitting in.

Rocks have been received from Marcorocks and new RO/DI in transit from BRS.

I found a good use of the LED lighting - it makes a great shop light!!

Hopefully the next update will be of some rocks and water in the tank.

 

[trivan]

So here is the latest. I'm pretty slow to update.
Stand with tank on it:

A test run of the plumbing lucky only 1 leak from a cracked bulkhead:

I hate painting, but that part is done (the dolly isn't part of the stand):

Installed a new RO/DI, I was having problem with my last unit and I got so frustrated I got a BRS one. Finally able to get 0 TDS.

An finally some in the wall plumbing for WC's

 

[trivan]

So after a cracked bulkhead and hours of RO/DI water making the tank is finally cycling.

I still need to order some custom doors and make a housing for the light fixture. But I guess I have at least 4 weeks for the cycle to finish.

 

[trivan]

I'll take some recent pictures when I can. Seems as I have a lot more equipment then when I started this 1 year ago!!

 

[kevin]

Looks great & so clean!!

 

[trivan]

That was a year ago!!! It's a bit more of a mess, lol.

 

[trivan]

Here is a recent FTS

 

[kevin]

That was a year ago!!! It's a bit more of a mess, lol.

lol. Well, not only is the tank clean, but the wiring and plumbing is neat/clean/organizer!!

 

[trivan]

I've been so busy, that I have not even kept up with my tank thread. Not much has happened in terms of new equipement or such. I haven't even really been getting new frags. Work has been keeping me very busy.

I was taking a few pictures around the house and took a FTS and then compared to when I first started. I'm amazed at the change. The clam never made it, and never had luck with scoly's. My tank has really been pretty stable, so looking forward to trying a few Acros again.

Before April 2011:

Now: