d2mini's "Essential Focus" Mixed Reef Build

[dorky]

Wow that gave me a lot to think about when I plan thing with limited space thanks n keep it up. I've enjoy reading ur build

 

[foxt]

My understanding is that you won't be able to control the radions with your profilux - is that true?

 

[sheldonjjessup]

My understanding is that you won't be able to control the radions with your profilux - is that true?

In my opinion reef link is the best, it has an acclimation timer that's worth it

 

[d2mini]

I'm not saying that as a knock, btw

LOL, no worries. You have a thing against odd numbers? hahaha j/k ;)
We talked about two, but I didn't feel that was enough. With the 31" depth i wanted to turn them 90 degrees.

How many inches AWL are the Radions mounted?

Right now 11", but that's just where they ended up. Once the tank is filled and running I'll start playing with the height. They will probably end up several inches higher.

Dennis what kind of bulkheads are those quick connects on the top? I assume 1/4" female to 1/4" female? Any links? Thanks [emoji4]

I'm sorry, which ones are you talking about?

Amazing build! If I ever do it over again I'm going to use this as a reference. ;)

Thanks! :)

Amazing job! This is coming along nicely, Denise!

I see what you did there.....

ROFL! :D

I hate you both. :p

Ah ok, thought Ecotech came up with some new trick. Can't wait to see you get your tank up and running. Definitely going to be an awesome build. I am planning to get the Elos 120xl as well soon.

Love my Summilux and Noctilux together with the M :)

Yes, there is something about Elos and Leica that were meant to go together. ;)
Now if only there was a macro setup that could best my Nikon!

Wow that gave me a lot to think about when I plan thing with limited space thanks n keep it up. I've enjoy reading ur build

Cool, thanks. :)

My understanding is that you won't be able to control the radions with your profilux - is that true?

Correct. You could get Mitras if you wanted full control via the Profilux.
I do have the Radions plugged into the Profilux just so I have the capability to shut them down if I need to. But all programming is done through EcoSmart Live.

 

[morpheas]

I'm sorry, which ones are you talking about?

Sorry, the ones on the bottle caps. I have hard time finding them (except for ebay which might not be exactly what I want). Thanks!

 

[d2mini]

Sorry, the ones on the bottle caps. I have hard time finding them (except for ebay which might not be exactly what I want). Thanks!

Ah, yes... those are just the ones that are threaded on the other side.
I couldn't find double ended ones either (the center is always much thinner than the ends) so I just got these and force fit the lines into the threaded end.
The caps aren't really thick enough to work with the threads on the fittings so i just made sure the holes were small enough that it was a fairly tight fit, and then a little crazy glue holds them in nice and solid. ;)
And a small hole is drilled in the cap to allow air in.

 

[dbl]

Not to trivialize this awesome build, but these work well for a bottle-top pass-through. It's what I used for dosing bottles. Sorry Dennis for interrupting.

http://www.aquacave.com/john-guest-1-4-x-1-4-bulkhead.html

 

[jwarren220]

UPDATE 4-15-16

Moving right along... the equipment board is done and the sump is in!
Some of the plumbing is still dry fit as I wait for a couple fittings to arrive this week.
And some minor things to do like install the dosing lines, label the bottles, install my probes, put the Avast Spyglass in the return section of the sump... all in due time.

Now to head back outside and run those water supply lines from the mixing station on the back deck! :)

My face just melted!!! You're setting the new standard! Did BAO do your dosing bottles as well?

 

[d2mini]

Not to trivialize this awesome build, but these work well for a bottle-top pass-through. It's what I used for dosing bottles. Sorry Dennis for interrupting.

http://www.aquacave.com/john-guest-1-4-x-1-4-bulkhead.html

Yep, that's exactly what I used, just without the metal collar.
So instead of being held to the cap by the collar, mine are held in by some pressure and a little glue. ;)

My face just melted!!! You're setting the new standard! Did BAO do your dosing bottles as well?

haha, thanks!
And no, those are just Voss water bottles. The caps were spray painted and the graphics were scraped off the glass.

 

[JMLewis]

Noooo! Don't do it!

That white paper has been out for months now, I tried all of the schedules and was not happy by the color of the tank nor the color/growth of my sps. I was told "oh somethings off with your parameters that's why your having issues". However my parameters have been rock solid since day 1 so I knew that wasn't it.

ONLY 2 1/2 weeks ago I replaced my G3 Radion Pro with an ATI Sunpower and it's already making a huge impact on color and growth. My yellows are coming back, my Fire and Ice Echinata is getting its bright blue tips again, I could go on and on. In that same time period I've had to increase my dosing 2 part over 20% to keep up with new growth. I wanted the Radions to work, truly. But now that I've gone to T5 I'd never go back.

Let's just say hang onto that Powermodule. :)

 

[Turbo's Aquatics]

ONLY 2 1/2 weeks ago I replaced my G3 Radion Pro with an ATI Sunpower

@JMLewis you might want to update your signature then!

66g SCA Cube - SPS Dominant - Waveline DC 600 RP - Radion XR30 Gen3 Pro - Apex Controller - Vertex Omega 150

 

[d2mini]

Noooo! Don't do it!

That white paper has been out for months now, I tried all of the schedules and was not happy by the color of the tank nor the color/growth of my sps. I was told "oh somethings off with your parameters that's why your having issues". However my parameters have been rock solid since day 1 so I knew that wasn't it.

ONLY 2 1/2 weeks ago I replaced my G3 Radion Pro with an ATI Sunpower and it's already making a huge impact on color and growth. My yellows are coming back, my Fire and Ice Echinata is getting its bright blue tips again, I could go on and on. In that same time period I've had to increase my dosing 2 part over 20% to keep up with new growth. I wanted the Radions to work, truly. But now that I've gone to T5 I'd never go back.

Let's just say hang onto that Powermodule. :)

I hear ya. Trust me. I've been there as I explained earlier. :)
But to be fair, you got your tank wet in mid January and it's been almost 3 weeks since you switched, so that means you only gave the Radions a chance for about 3 1/2 months?
And tried "all of the schedules" in that short time? It takes time for coral to adjust to lighting. Making a lot of changes is a common mistake... and this is one of the downfalls of LED fixtures that allow all this control over spectrum and intensity.
Your tank is just a baby. After 6 months my nano lit with MH and LED is still looking like poop as far as sps is concerned.
I was reading your build thread but didn't see any info on the lighting. How many units? How high was it mounted? PAR readings?
Forgive me if I'm wrong but I'm not sure you gave them a fair chance.
But as I said above, I do understand the simplicity of the older lighting technologies and how they can make a big difference.

 

[jwarren220]

Yep, that's exactly what I used, just without the metal collar.
So instead of being held to the cap by the collar, mine are held in by some pressure and a little glue. ;)


haha, thanks!
And no, those are just Voss water bottles. The caps were spray painted and the graphics were scraped off the glass.[/QUOTE
Brilliant!! What kind of spray paint? Krylon?

 

[d2mini]

I'll have to look. I think it might have been the Rustoleom brand but I'll let you know.

 

[Wilsoni]

I seriously love this build! I'm going to have to steal your Voss dosing container idea (;

 

[Flipside]

LOL, no worries. You have a thing against odd numbers? hahaha j/k ;)
We talked about two, but I didn't feel that was enough. With the 31" depth i wanted to turn them 90 degrees.

You know... in Japan, 3 is a VERY lucky number. :) ...just sayin'

 

[Clayton Jessup]

I am also stealing your Voss dosing container idea as well lol. Got to love this build though its amazing , is all i got to say , Props to you Denis..

 

[d2mini]

UPDATE 5-19-16

We're down the very last piece of the puzzle before the tank gets wet! :)

Yesterday I finished running the water lines from the outdoor mixing station.
This is a trick that goes back to my old 36" cube days.
I drilled a small hole through the house, ran the two water lines (fresh and salt) through the hole, and then behind the baseboard molding.
As you can see in the pics below, once everything is put back in place, no one can tell!
I also ran a third line from the sump and through the wall directly behind the tank.
The powder room pedestal sink is against that wall so I will eventually tap into the drain.

This is the setup I would normally be using for my Auto Water Change system.
Since the Triton Method doesn't require water changes on a regular basis, it won't get used much. Just the ATO line.
But it's there if I need it. It will take a while to do a large change, but shouldn't be too big of a deal.
In an emergency I have a 45g Brute on wheels that I can use to do it the old fashioned way.

Meanwhile, 55g of Tropic Marin Pro SW is currently mixing, and another 55g of RO/DI is being made.
Woot! :)

Here's the water lines connected to the sump, right behind the skimmer.

The other part of this is ATO.
Since I'm tight in space in the stand, I've decided not to use the Cole-Parmer peristaltic pump that I have.
I still have an extra old PowerBar for my GHL Profilux so I'm going to put that outside in the mixing station shed with a standard hobby pump inside the RO tank.
I'm going to be running that flat style Cat6 cable between the PowerBar and the stand.
It will be going through the same hole in the house but since it's flat, I'm just going to run it along the baseboard molding and/or bundled with those two extension cords.
I know from experience that there's really nothing to go wrong with the water lines, so once those are hidden they are good for years.
But the Cat6 cable could get damaged so in order to avoid having to pull molding again, especially behind the tank, it's going to remain exposed... but tidy.

Next stop.... filling the tank! :)

 

[morpheas]

I know from experience that there's really nothing to go wrong with the water lines, so once those are hidden they are good for years.

You know you just jinxed it now right? Why did you have to say that! Hah! Looks good though man, how did you bend the RO line without kinking it behind the base board though? And honestly, I know you feel strong about this but I would have run an extra line or two since you did all this and now that you can pull the tank just in case :)

 

[morpheas]

Oh i see now, you went under the sheet rock...