320g build/journey/experiment :-)

[Greenmaster]

Some pics that my brother took

 

[TANKSALOT]

Love those fish in the bottom tank :snicker:

TANKSALOT
aka - Steve

 

[Greenmaster]

Well I decided that while I waited for some of my stuff to dry I would work on the lights a bit... I'm just soldering away... I have done 48 out of 360 solder points... still got a ways to go.

 

[Greenmaster]

Well one more major step along the way... Plumbing is 90% complete... I just have to wait for the nozzles to show up for final completion. But in my mind the plumbing is done... and if I had to I could do run it without the nozzles. Now less than 2 weeks till I can start my cycle ... and if the parameters are right I will add fish on September 6th.

Anyways an update isn't an update without pics...
Looking at it from the outside.

Looking at it from the inside

A slightly closer look at the refuge.

 

[ReeferRob]

No skimmer?

 

[Greenmaster]

Nope... But if I change my mind I have plans for an external one... If I change my mind, and that will only happen if I have problems.

 

[Greenmaster]

Some updates on my LED's

This is me feeding the wires through and my daughter grabbing them and pulling them tight.

All the LED's soldered to the drivers an almost ready to go.

The test of 3 of the LED's.

 

[TANKSALOT]

Very nice!

i see your high tech drafting tool laying on the bench there :wink:

 

[redtop03]

awesome build,can't wait to see more

 

[Greenmaster]

Just a quick question... what is the best "canary" in a coal mine, for a salt water reef tank?

 

[Greenmaster]

WOOT!
Tank has salt water in it... and only 1 leak... about 1 drip every 60 seconds or so.
I have salt in it... only at 1.016 atm. I have also started my cycle... I have added 5 raw shrimp... the 30 per pound size.

 

[TANKSALOT]

Looking sweet

 

[Greenmaster]

So on controllers I'm still on the fence about the controller I'm going to use... Neptune Apex or Digital Aquatics RKE. The main function for me is the light's going on and off as well as the moonlights... I will probably use the other stuff later on but my main thing is those two... does anyone have a preference or an opinion on them? Possibly even experience.

 

[Greenmaster]

I'm sure there are more people following but I'm just not getting much response... oh well...

So here is an update on my water parameters.
After 2 days these are my current levels.

Ammonia 0.6
Nitrite 0.2
Nitrate 5

I did use an additive by Seachem... it's called Stability® here is a quote off the bottle: "...contains synergistic blend of aerobic, anaerobic, and facultative bacteria..."
I don't know why they put it like that... by the sounds of it it's all one type of bacterium.

 

[Azurel]

Looks awesome man.....Will be a stunner once it get sorals and stuff growing.....

 

[TANKSALOT]

Still tagging along..... and loving every minute of it :bigsmile:

 

[LegoZ81]

Any updates on the LEDS?

 

[Greenmaster]

Any updates on the LEDS?

not yet... I'm working 7 days a week right now... it's hard enough just to get the time to test the water...


Parameter update.

Ammonia is at 0 (or very close)
Nitrites are at 0 (there may be some slight color but not even a 10th the color of the lowest reading)
Nitrates are dropping... it's at less then 5 now... I would say 2 or 2.5
PH is at 8.1-8.3... hard to tell.
I will have KH and Calcium tests tomorrow.

 

[reefsmokinFOOL]

Thats gonna be awsome. I'll be following along to see the progression.

 

[LegoZ81]

you may be interested in the following:
Using Household Ammonia for Humane Cycling of a Tank
It will cycle the tank for a MUCH higher bioload without additional organics of rotting food.