City's 15 gallon Column NANO reef build

[NY_Caveman]

This evening I'm doing two 5 gallon water changes.
Dilution is the solution to pollution.

For anyone that does not know, you remove more bad stuff if you do your water changes a certain way.

I take out 5 gallons. I then replace that 5 gallons with fresh mixed ro/di saltwater.
That knocks the nitrate concentration down somewhat.
I then take out another 5 gallons but remember, the nitrates (or whatever you are trying to remove) are already diluted.
Replace with another fresh mix of ro/di saltwater and you have removed more nitrates than bu just simply removing 10 gallons and replacing it.

Well,

if you do one 10% water change NO3 drops 10% total.

If you do one 5% full water change, and then immediately another 5% water change, NO3 drops 9.75% total.

 

[Dj City]

That is incorrect.

If you start at 100% something and take out 5% then refill, you are now at 95%. You have diluted what is in the tank.

Next immediate change of the same 5% you are taking out of 95% instead of 100%.

You are more removing already diluted water.

Each time you do this, you further dilute for the next water change making the water you are pulling out less strong than the last batch.

Try it with dyed water in a cup or jug and you will see for yourself.

Do one 50% change and look at the diluted color,
Then do 5 10% changes and see how much more diluted the dye has become.

 

[NY_Caveman]

I trust math more than my eyes.

100 * 95% = 95
95 * 95% = 90.25
(90.25 / 100) -1 = -9.75%

100 * 90% = 90
(90/100)-1= -10%

The math cannot be wrong. Not trying to argue, but want you to understand. A 10% removal removes more of a substance than two consecutive 5% removals.

 

[Dj City]

I wish I were better at math.
Lol.

 

[Dj City]

I have my smart auto water change system set up and ready to go!
Tested manual mode about 50 times and it's flawless.
I have it set to change 1.5 quarts.

Now all I need to do for it is figure out how to program it to do my water change daily.

 

[NY_Caveman]

I wish I were better at math.
Lol.

LOL. You are not alone. I know very smart people who cannot add. Leaving a tip confounds them, but they are very successful. You either get it or you do not.

 

[Kevin Jaako]

No math needed :)

Each time you do this, you further dilute for the next water change making the water you are pulling out less strong than the last batch.

The answer is hiding right there in plain sight. The next batch you pull out is “less strong” i.e.: you’re pulling out less nitrate.

I have my smart auto water change system set up and ready to go!

Sweeeeeeet.

 

[Dj City]

Hopefully I will be able to get my electrical system (dj switch) installed in the stand sometime this weekend.

If I do, I will take pics of the whole system. Tank, HOB fuge, Smart ATO and corals.
(Teaser alert... I added coral frags from 110gal tank)

This is all going much faster than I anticipated.

 

[Dj City]

So...

These are the frags I'm trying to save from the 110 gallon rockslide.

Nothing is where it will ultimately be.
Everything is just in there trying to get acclimated.

 

[NY_Caveman]

So...

These are the frags I'm trying to save from the 110 gallon rockslide.

Nothing is where it will ultimately be.
Everything is just in there trying to get acclimated.

Nice to see some color in there!

 

[Dj City]

Electrical is done (kind of)

I have to figure out if I can make it neater.
I had to splice and extend two wires in order to reach the power switch through the stand.

Some wires are too long...
Some wires are too short...
But
Everything is plugged in. Everything is safe from spills and I have easy access to turn on / off anything I need to.

 

[Dj City]

Oh...

I believe I figured out how to program the AWC to do my daily water change automatically.

I can tell you this for a fact. If you do water changes, this unit is the BEST THING EVER!!!

it's accurate, i'ts automatic, it"s simple.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

I have it set to change out 1.5 quarts every day.
The small (tiny) pumps work really well. I thought they would be underpowered but they have surprised and amazed me.

I have the drain going right through my window to the outside of the house so no need for a waste water container.

On the side of the tank, I am using a rubbermaid 23 gallon slim line trash bin to hold my fresh saltwater.

Im loving this set up.

 

[Dj City]

If I can acquire the courage (skills). I will build a fresh saltwater tank.
It would look a LOT neater and nicer than the 23 gallon trash can.

Let's face it. Who really wants a large trash can in their living room next to a reef tank?

 

[Dj City]

Or...

I can just get a 20 gallon high tank and place it behind the display.
I would only be losing 3 gallons but i'd gain aesthetics and simple salt measurements.

Question.
Should I keep a powerhead in the saltwater mix?
A heater?

What do I need to know about storing saltwater.

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

If I can acquire the courage (skills). I will build a fresh saltwater tank.
It would look a LOT neater and nicer than the 23 gallon trash can.

Let's face it. Who really wants a large trash can in their living room next to a reef tank?

They say if you have a 23gal. trash can in the living room , you just might be a red neck. Heehee

 

[NY_Caveman]

Or...

I can just get a 20 gallon high tank and place it behind the display.
I would only be losing 3 gallons but i'd gain aesthetics.

Question.
Should I keep a powerhead in the saltwater mix?
A heater?

What do I need to know about storing saltwater.

Yes small powerhead, no heater. Your changes will be small, so temp change will be minimal.

 

[Dj City]

Nice! I


Yes small powerhead, no heater. Your changes will be small, so temp change will be minimal.

Thank you!
I have a not so small circulation pump that I got from petco years ago.
I used it to mix salt in my 32 gal brute. I will repurpose it to the fresh saltwater holding tank.

 

[Dj City]

They say if you have a 23gal. trash can in the living room , you just might be a red neck. Heehee

Lol...
I'm a little too brown skined to be a redneck so...

20 gallon high to the rescue!

The hob filter will not be staying with us. It's there to filter the water that I transferred from the 23 gallon rubbermaid.
Because it's a new tank straight from the lfs, I figured it's a good idea to let the filter run on it overnight.

Im about to go to Lowe's and have a plexiglass cover cut for it.

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Lol...
I'm a little too brown skined to be a redneck so...

20 gallon high to the rescue!

The hob filter will not be staying with us. It's there to filter the water that I transferred from the 23 gallon rubbermaid.
Because it's a new tank straight from the lfs, I figured it's a good idea to let the filter run on it overnight.

Im about to go to Lowe's and have a plexiglass cover cut for it.

Hybrid red neck, heehee. I'm Latino/Jew

 

[Dj City]

I can't believe it's more expensive to have glass or plexiglass cut than it is to go to petsmart and buy a glass cover.

Guess which one I did?

$17.99 for this vs $38 and up for Lowe's.
Go figure.