907 Tank & Stand Build - 55 Gallon

[That Crusso Kid]

100 GPD, 4-stage RODI, yep! Not a "water saver". I make RO in batches, 20-30 gal typically, store for use over the next few weeks/months. I have 2-16 gal RODI water containers next to the tank, one runs the ATO and the other for storage/topping off the other/water changes, plus a handful of 7 gal containers for extra stored in the basement which I will (for now) haul up 1 level to the tank as needed. For mixing SW, I plan to continue just mixing 5 gal at a time on water change days for immediate use. A single 5 gal bucket at a time works perfect for ~15% WC in this little 55g, I drop 5 gal RODI, salt, pump and heater in and give it an hour or so.

RODI (at old house, currently uninstalled):

Thermostatic valve is definitely interesting! I saw a post here claiming that 77 degree water can give something like a 75% increase in efficiency (I have some more recon to do before officializing those #s).. In this case, the valve would pay for itself fairly quickly, assuming minimal propane used for the on-demand heater to mix.

Water at this house is pressurized from the cisterns by a DAB Esybox, capable of 8 bar / 116 psi.

And yea, 14 is bigger than my shoes. I use a 12 lb steel maul for splitting our firewood though if that counts for anything related :D



Yes! This will be our first spring at the house, and that is totally on my radar. Basement is already setup with 3 separate 2500g cisterns, so it would not be a big project to plumb our gutters into at least one of the tanks! My goal is to get the entire-house UV setup shortly here, then visit water catchment in the spring.

Gawd I would love to turn these into, 1 potable house water, 1 RODI, 1 SW mix - plumb to 1000 gal aquarium :grinning-squinting-face:. Funny not funny. "1000g Rainwater-Fed Aquarium", could be my next build thread..............................

We moved in-state, here in Alaska.



Haha, we are about 5 hours south of Anchorage, we call this "tropical Alaska" :rolling-on-the-floor-laughing:. This area has snow October through April typically, so there are 5-6 months of catchment potential plus melt during the winter as it fluctuates above freezing regularly in the colder months.

I do not recommend running your water anywhere near 116psi! I mean unless you're into stuff leaking all over.

Is any part of the basement finished?

 

[907_Reefer]

I do not recommend running your water anywhere near 116psi! I mean unless you're into stuff leaking all over.

Is any part of the basement finished?

We do not run it at 116 haha! I'll have to venture down to check the exact setting, but it is set at "human PSI" basically now lol..

Half of the basement is finished (on slab), that's the back half / water room which is under ground level (house on a hill facing the other direction), always stays at ~54F.

 

[That Crusso Kid]

We do not run it at 116 haha! I'll have to venture down to check the exact setting, but it is set at "human PSI" basically now lol..

Half of the basement is finished (on slab), that's the back half / water room which is under ground level (house on a hill facing the other direction), always stays at ~54F.

Big tank set up on wall of water room in the future?

 

[907_Reefer]

Big tank set up on wall of water room in the future?

Got 10'+ wall space with an under-stair fish closet space ready between the basement on slab and water room also.. I can picture a CADE REEF S2 2100 (or bigger) sitting right there. hehe.

 

[907_Reefer]

Teaser - coming this weekend - few things to unbox and play with!

 

[907_Reefer]

First up, Radion XR15 diffusers! Too much light spilling into the room, adding these plus some shades from @Projects with Sam and we should be good to go!

They note fit is for G5, but fit is fine on my G6s. Not too pricy, un-box and snap in place via magnets. It was noted they may drop a few PAR, but since I'm only running these lights at 35% schedule, no issue to bump up if needed.

Before:

After:

Orange filter used for those pics.

 

[Fish Styx]

First up, Radion XR15 diffusers! Too much light spilling into the room, adding these plus some shades from @Projects with Sam and we should be good to go!

They note fit is for G5, but fit is fine on my G6s. Not too pricy, un-box and snap in place via magnets. It was noted they may drop a few PAR, but since I'm only running these lights at 35% schedule, no issue to bump up if needed.

Before:

After:

Orange filter used for those pics.

Very nice!

 

[907_Reefer]

Next up, protein skimmer upgrade! Reef Octopus Classic 90 HOB. It's rated for over 100 gal tanks (depending on stocking), should do plenty of work on this 55!

Our Eshopps skimmer has put in its time (10 months), still produces skimmate fine but has developed a little rattle from the pump and leaks ever so slightly from the pump intake (even after a citric acid cleaning) if not adjusted perfectly, and needs to be tweaked on occasion. It will get cleaned again and stored for maybe a QT/second tank/backup etc.

I have the new Reef Octopus HOB together and running in a 5 gal bucket of tank water from a recent WC for break in, will let it cycle here for a few days before swapping into the tank.

So far, great packaging and everything seems high quality. Reviews to follow after tank install!

 

[Fish Styx]

Next up, protein skimmer upgrade! Reef Octopus Classic 90 HOB. It's rated for over 100 gal tanks (depending on stocking), should do plenty of work on this 55!

Our Eshopps skimmer has put in its time (10 months), still produces skimmate fine but has developed a little rattle from the pump and leaks ever so slightly from the pump intake (even after a citric acid cleaning) if not adjusted perfectly, and needs to be tweaked on occasion. It will get cleaned again and stored for maybe a QT/second tank/backup etc.

I have the new Reef Octopus HOB together and running in a 5 gal bucket of tank water from a recent WC for break in, will let it cycle here for a few days before swapping into the tank.

So far, great packaging and everything seems high quality. Reviews to follow after tank install!

Good idea with the bucket of WC water. I wouldn't have thought of that. Usually, I just plop 'em in and let them break in on the tank.

 

[907_Reefer]

Good idea with the bucket of WC water. I wouldn't have thought of that. Usually, I just plop 'em in and let them break in on the tank.

I think I read about it in the newspaper while I was staring at the tank during the last WC, otherwise that was my original plan. :D

 

[907_Reefer]

Next up, Hannah Magnesium checker!

Yep, looks like a Hannah Checker.

Let's do this.

Little high eh?

 

[Fish Styx]

Next up, Hannah Magnesium checker!

Yep, looks like a Hannah Checker.

Let's do this.

Little high eh?

Oh, just a tad.

 

[907_Reefer]

Last new toy for today, a Flipper Deep See Magnified Viewer. This thing is cool!

It's hard to get the camera to show the magnification well, but I'm thrilled with it - much easier to see small details and zoom in on the tank. Plop it in and drag it around like a cleaning magnet.

More fun than I thought it would be lol. Back to staring at the tank...

 

[Subliminal]

We moved in-state, here in Alaska.



Haha, we are about 5 hours south of Anchorage, we call this "tropical Alaska" :rolling-on-the-floor-laughing:. This area has snow October through April typically, so there are 5-6 months of catchment potential plus melt during the winter as it fluctuates above freezing regularly in the colder months.

Yeah, I meant Indian, which is like 20 mins south of Anchorage, or before Bird Creek...thought that was Hope across the water in one of your pictures. Sounds like you're out towards Homer, though?

 

[907_Reefer]

Yeah, I meant Indian, which is like 20 mins south of Anchorage, or before Bird Creek...thought that was Hope across the water in one of your pictures. Sounds like you're out towards Homer, though?

Gotcha! Yea we are down in the vicinity of Homer. Are you up in AK or spend some time up here prior?

 

[Subliminal]

Gotcha! Yea we are down in the vicinity of Homer. Are you up in AK or spend some time up here prior?

Just my first 26 years, and now I'm in Jersey and I venture up whenever I can. Last year on Memorial day weekend...this year taking my 10yo son up for his first time the week after 4th of July. :)

Anyway...following your build! :)

 

[907_Reefer]

Just my first 26 years, and now I'm in Jersey and I venture up whenever I can. Last year on Memorial day weekend...this year taking my 10yo son up for his first time the week after 4th of July. :)

Anyway...following your build! :)

Nice! And welcome aboard! I grew up in CT, right around the corner. We moved up here in 2013.

As you know July is a great time to visit AK. Also, dipnetting seasonnnn!

 

[907_Reefer]

Reef Octopus Classic 90 HOB skimmer installed and running! Tinkering with the return adjustment for water height, 50% closed puts me here, will be adjusting a little more on the closed side to get them bubbles up a bit.

FTS this morning:

Also cleaning out our 3.5 gal Beta tank today, it will be free for use for any SW purpose if needed, maybe as some type of small grow out tank.. Brine shrimp, etc? What should we do with this I wonder.... :face-with-monocle:

 

[Fish Styx]

Reef Octopus Classic 90 HOB skimmer installed and running! Tinkering with the return adjustment for water height, 50% closed puts me here, will be adjusting a little more on the closed side to get them bubbles up a bit.

FTS this morning:

Also cleaning out our 3.5 gal Beta tank today, it will be free for use for any SW purpose if needed, maybe as some type of small grow out tank.. Brine shrimp, etc? What should we do with this I wonder.... :face-with-monocle:

Clown and nem tank?

 

[That Crusso Kid]

Also cleaning out our 3.5 gal Beta tank today, it will be free for use for any SW purpose if needed, maybe as some type of small grow out tank.. Brine shrimp, etc? What should we do with this I wonder.... :face-with-monocle:

Not ideal for brine. Maybe a custom/mod bong!