afboundguy's 35 cube/display fuge/mangrove build thread!!!

[afboundguy]

As of right now the motorized ball valve is on the input line before the RODI. I need to put the auto shut off valve installed in case the two float switches fail and the float valve needs to kick in but I didn't have a check valve so I ordered one.

I also plan to add two bypass valves so I can flip two cables and bypass the motorized ball valve and the RO line to the ATO resevoir so I can still make water for water changes.

I plan to get one of those shut off valves that shuts off everything when the little filter pad gets too wet and closes the lines as another redundancy backup. Plan to put on maybe inside the ATO resevoir since it won't fill up too high and then also in a container where the motorized ball valve will be.

Worked like a charm and closed the valve like it was supposed to! Now just need to put it under the stand and put the ATO pump in it!

 

[The_Macro_Lady]

I also set up an apothecary tank after I saw The Macro Lady at FFM. Bought the jar for $5 off FB marketplace and threw in some macro algae, snails, hermit, live sand, rubble and an arrow crab and used a sponge filter (for now), small heater and spare light I had kicking around! It's a cool set up and the arrow crab walks right over every time he sees me as he thinks he's getting fed!

Looks great! Proud to inspire!

 

[Mickey]

I forget what led me to your build thread, but just finished reading it. I love your DIY skills and creativity. Your basement mess makes me feel not so alone! :rolling-on-the-floor-laughing: In awe of your copepod and phyto colonies. Not sure I have the wherewithall and patience for that so I just spend too much money buying it! :downcast-face-with-sweat:

 

[afboundguy]

I forget what led me to your build thread, but just finished reading it. I love your DIY skills and creativity. Your basement mess makes me feel not so alone! :rolling-on-the-floor-laughing: In awe of your copepod and phyto colonies. Not sure I have the wherewithall and patience for that so I just spend too much money buying it! :downcast-face-with-sweat:

Appreciate the feedback! Also appreciate feeling like I am not alone for having a messy basement!

My phyto skills are still on point (making RODI water as well speak to sanitize it overnight) but my pod skills have been slacking and might end up restarting the setups all together.

 

[afboundguy]

Looks great! Proud to inspire!

Thanks! Wait till you see what I am planning on doing it I can ever afford it!

 

[afboundguy]

I ended up going with a valve that was made for 1/4" RO tubing and it didn't leak! I ended up using a container with one of the RO shutoff switches that expands when it gets wet and I put the valve and the shutoff in a container in case it leaks and so far it's been fine!

I also added a second RO shut off if it gets wet to the top area of the ATO resevoir. I will probably move it on the bottom in case it overflows but I have the two float switches and the big ATO shut off float valve so that's the third level of protection.

 

[afboundguy]

I also started working on the new control boards using some 1/4" chalkboard from Home Depot for the good old RKE!

It will mount under here with the control heads near the remote display fuge...

 

[afboundguy]

Also added some on-line air filters to the phytoplankton air lines.

And my Rhodomonas Salina (red) and Isochrysis galbana (brown) were looking very dark when I harvested them the other day:cool:

 

[afboundguy]

Had a local club member print me up some stands for bioshere balls as my 3d printer got a tad messed up and is out of commission until I replace the hotend...

 

[afboundguy]

Over the past few months I have noticed many of my LPS (acans, torches and hammers) have been melting/releasing polyps and the few SPS I have have been dying.

I had a took my GFO reactor offline as it caused a ring of rust colored crud in the sump at the water line because I was tumbling it too much. I stopped it and tank looked better and then started it up about 3 weeks ago and noticed corals continued to not look so hot so I decided to ditch GFO.

I also checked my RODI TDS and saw it was at 1. I also forgot I hadn't changed my carbon blocks in 6-12 months and my Town uses chloramine to treat water so who knows what was in my top off water with the carbon blocks more than likely being shot! I purchased new carbon blocks and will be much more proactive in replacing them.

While I was down there (RODI setup is under the model train layout) I replaced the two membranes, pre-filter and two carbon blocks. I went with a cheapo first carbon block and then the more expensive Pentek block and plan to replace cheap carbon blocks every 2-4 weeks and Pentek every 4-8 weeks.

I also took the time to upgrade my DI setup to a three stage one with an anion only resin, cation only resin with a mixed resin at the end. Kit came with a dual TDS monitor so I moved stuff around and can see TDS before each DI stage and can see which one gets used up faster and replace it individually and in theory saving money in the long run. Not sure how long it would take to save the $70-$80 for the upgrade kit but I've been wanting to do this upgrade for a while.

I also noticed my pressure gauge didn't appear to be working. I know I have tons of pressure as I purchased an additional RO membranes setup to go from 75 GPD to 150 GPD. Replaced gauge while I had everything apart and confirmed it was a bad gauge and I have 65-70 psi left once all the canisters filled up!

 

[jimmypencil]

Put a single bracket on the old carbon/GFO reactor and made it into the GFO reactor and installed the new BRS mini reactor with carbon. Took the bio-spheres out of the larger reactor and put them in the sump. I plan to 3D print a bracket to hold them better

Do you use a sponge on the bottom and top of the GFO in the reactor?

 

[afboundguy]

Do you use a sponge on the bottom and top of the GFO in the reactor?

When I was using GFO that is how I did it. I even started to keep a filter sock on the output but ended up stopping GFO to see if it was causing issues in my tank as I was loosing SPS and some LPS. Seems to be doing better since I stopped using GFO over a week ago but I haven't been able to test phosphates as I hurt my hip flexor/quad and can't walk very well...

 

[jimmypencil]

When I was using GFO that is how I did it. I even started to keep a filter sock on the output but ended up stopping GFO to see if it was causing issues in my tank as I was loosing SPS and some LPS. Seems to be doing better since I stopped using GFO over a week ago but I haven't been able to test phosphates as I hurt my hip flexor/quad and can't walk very well...

Thanks for the info

 

[afboundguy]

Thanks for the info

Anytime! I have seen/read about people having potential issues with GFO particles to include Polo Reef and if that crew can have issues I sure am not immune. I might put GFO back but I want to try building an algae turf scrubber and seeing how that does.

 

[jimmypencil]

Anytime! I have seen/read about people having potential issues with GFO particles to include Polo Reef and if that crew can have issues I sure am not immune. I might put GFO back but I want to try building an algae turf scrubber and seeing how that does.

I think im gonna put one of the new innovative marine filter rollers on my tank. Figure that might help a bit with nutrient control compared to my current media basket. I also have read alot of posts about issues after running GFO so im afraid lol.

 

[afboundguy]

Ended up hurting my leg trying to play softball like I was still in my 20s and tore/strained my quad and couldn't go down in the basement for over a month. Tank suffered and lost all my phyto cultures but the mated mandarins are still nice and fat and healthy!

Tank ended up looking this lovely...

 

[afboundguy]

Redid my phytoplankton Home Depot plastic shelving unit that had a busted support leg with some 2020 extrusion.

This was the first attempt

 

[afboundguy]

I redid it a little the next day as my original vision was an L shaped desk with phyto displayed on the top shelf so I lowered the top layer to be flush with other extrusion stand and added a top shelf that I also screwed into the ceiling header.

 

[afboundguy]

Had an epiphany the other day about "flooring" for the basement instead of just the painted concrete floors. I had some 2'x2' foam tiles I used to use when I would workout in the basement but I couldn't leave them on the ground due to the cats using them as a scratcher.

We lost our other cat several months ago and after cleaning up a bit the other day I put the ones I already had down to see how it would look and liked how it looked and it felt much better standing on foam than the concrete floor!

 

[afboundguy]

Ended up getting 288 square feet for about $200 which is a decent price and I will have extra as I don't plan on going under the stand and train layout. Been working on it the past two days and so far so good. Only major issue is that I realized the tank stand isn't straight and I need to move it out about 2 inches to be straight which will be super fun