Driving me crazy / Christopher Coomer Coral Enthusiast build thread!

[drivingmecrazy]

Topic: About me / my setup.

This is my setup. Please bare with me as I will make multiple post to show you my build and all the work i have done.
I don't have any show tanks except a 36gallon bow-front. I had a 150gallon tank and I destroyed it - Literally took a sledgehammer to it. When I started these tanks I purchased one low boy aquarium now I have 3 setup for a total of 180gallons. 3 - 50gallon lowboys 1- 40 gallon sump. 10 gallons not used for the sump = 180gallons. These pictures are from my Facebook group.

I finally though maybe I should share with others on reef2reef.

 

[Uncle99]

Looks great!
Love the dosers….

 

[drivingmecrazy]

Topic: Video Tank and Lights

This is a brief video mainly regarding my lights and my tanks. I have one dominant sps Acroporia tank and two dominant zoanthids tanks.

Sps tank is uses ATI 48" T5 lights the other two are 165Watt black china boxes.

 

[drivingmecrazy]

Topic: DIY RO Water Storage / Holding

My ro water System Upgrade. Use to be Two trash cans. These are Food grade barrels Top is fresh RODI water bottom is Salt water. Last two pictures was taken before my upgrade. I had no lids for these trash cans and they only held 20 gallons of water and they bowed when full of water. I also had to use a gallon picture to scoop the water out. Now i turn a valve. All gravity fed. No power use.

 

[drivingmecrazy]

Updated System.

 

[drivingmecrazy]

Topic: Re apply Silicon

When I purchased these (NEW) Lowboys they where all boxed up and once I unboxed them I felt like the silicon job was not up to my standards and was paper thin. I personally did not trust the silicon job that the manufacturer did.

I tested them in the garage before I stripped the silicon off they did hold water. In my mind I kept thinking for how long 1 year, 5 years? I was very uneasy and felt like it needed to be redone and that's what I did.

Noticed, how thin the bead was on the glass in the middle picture.

I scraped all the silicon off and reapplied the silicon. This time applied a thicker bead 1/4" / 3/8" and a nice thick patch at all 3 point mating surfaces.

 

[drivingmecrazy]

Topic: Neptune Apex

In march I purchased a complete Apex system (new in box) I've never owned a Apex I didn't know anything about it. The only reason I purchased it was because of the Trident. I was getting ready to leave for vacation in July and needed time to fully understand it and to make sure my water was being tested daily and accurately.

Looking back it was the best decision I could have ever made. Expensive but worth every dollar! We ended up being gone for 3 weeks my system was on autopilot never had any issues or any deaths : )

Thank You Neptune!

 

[drivingmecrazy]

Topic: Drilling tanks

I had four holes to drill in each tank so a total of 12 holes.

I made a template out of 3/4' Plywood scrap shelving I had left over. Nothing fancy. I cut it 46" or so enough to fit the length of the aquarium in between the plastic trim.

The Plywood was a perfect fit! I drilled out the holes exactly where I wanted my plumbing to be in the plywood.

I used the drilled holes and used my diamond drill bit hole saw and used it as a guide. To cut my holes in my glass using the diamond hole saw. I just drilled them very slowly took me about 15 minutes per hole. The slower the better and the better the hole will look when finished. Meaning nice and smooth no cracks or chips no splinters.

I used a water hose and slowly pour water on top the glass. I didn't crack any glass and the holes came out perfect.

While I was at it I painted the bottom glass pane and back glass pane black.

******Safety note I used electrical tape and taped my extension cord prongs together to make sure no water would get in. As the water just drained /poured out onto the concrete. ****

 

[drivingmecrazy]

Topic: Sump Build

I purchased a 40gallon all glass aquarium from Feeder Supply. And I purchased the sump kit with 3 filter socks housings from Fiji cube. I have 30gallons of water in it and the remaining 10 is empty for when my pumps kick off.

Looking back If i can redo this I would like to have at least 120gallon sump under neith with about 12 filter socks. I have to change mine out everyday. I use 100micron size.

I also redid the silicon on it aswell. Nice thick bead on all seams.

 

[drivingmecrazy]

Topic: My Specialty

This is to help you understand what I like to do.
I'm a collector and I like to watch my corals grow. This is just a few pictures of the zoanthids species I own.

 

[drivingmecrazy]

Topic: RO Filtration

1st picture is my whole house water filtration system. Then my RO water is after my water softener unit. And then last picture is my DIY RO water Complete filtration. I installed lines so I can test the chlorine / ammonia levels in between each filter as one goes bad I know which or when it needs to be replaced.

I use one sediment filters after the water sofener and a pressure pump to increase the pressure an and then another sediment filter 3 carbon blocks 1 micron each and then into the ro membrane into the water saver membrane and into 3 di resins and out into the barrels.

 

[drivingmecrazy]

Topic: Regen Di Resin

Me regenerating my color changing Di resin. Do your research its not hard just have to be safe about the chemicals.

 

[DeepintheReef]

Impressive set up! Love all the zoas, too. I need to start putting mine on large frag tiles so I can really grow them out properly.

I had the same issue with one of the low boy tanks I bought. The first two were fine, but on the third, the silicone was sloppy and I sent it back because I didn’t trust it. Zoomed sent out a replacement though

 

[drivingmecrazy]

Topic: Whole house surge protectors.

Because of the expensive equipment on the fish tanks. I installed a whole house power surge protector that hooks up to the breaker panel. Yes I have surge protectors on my outlets and GFCI outlets. Just another layer of protection : )

 

[drivingmecrazy]

Impressive set up! Love all the zoas, too. I need to start putting mine on large frag tiles so I can really grow them out properly.

I had the same issue with one of the low boy tanks I bought. The first two were fine, but on the third, the silicone was sloppy and I sent it back because I didn’t trust it. Zoomed sent out a replacement though

Thanks,

Wow, I didn't know you can send them back. I was under the impression once you have it in your possession its yours. I'm not done posting. I'm trying to be as thorough as possible. This has been a big learning lesson for sure.

 

[drivingmecrazy]

Topic: Membranes!

Do your research! Before you buy equipment for your reef tank. #1 lesson I learned!

First membrane is Dow 100HR second Membrane is Dow 100

***Note the second is not a High Rejection membrane. I purchased this membrane before I didn't know better. But I have low tds after my 1st membrane and decided to use it. Most of the time my output water is 1 - 2tds after both membranes. The biggest help is the water softener. I use to have 3 - 5 TDS. I also run a pressure pump.

 

[drivingmecrazy]

Topic: Growing Chaeto algae without sump.

Before I didn't have a sump so I used the phosban reactor with a pump and hoses and a led light. Screenshots as what I used and it grows chaeto algae great!

 

[drivingmecrazy]

I believe that's about it for now. As I think of things I'll update my thread.

 

[drivingmecrazy]

Topic: Pressure Booster Pump

Having a pressure booster pump not only helps increase pressure but also I higher performance in my membrane and less TDS.

Notice the before and after TDS.

40 PSI verses 90 PSI

This is using the 1 Dow 100 HR membrane. At this time I did not have the 2nd water saver membrane hooked up.

Installing the water saver membrane raised my TDS up to 2 TDS.

Increasing water pressure works!

 

[TheDragonsReef]

Love the setup, definitely post more pictures of the corals when you get around to it