Finally, a reef tank!!

[Emisis]

I have one suggestion with your RO/DI set up. (I take no credit as I found the information elsewhere) Hopefully I can explain it so it makes sense, and this is all dependent on if you make RO water all the time or not. When the RO water sits in the filter system the TDS will rise until next use, this will then go directly in to the DI at a high TDS. This obviously floods the DI with high TDS water until the filter parts of the system flushes itself out (for lack of better terms) and depending on your DI's condition can raise the TDS output at the end product. So with that said, and after seeing it in my own system. I placed a 3 way "T" and a shut off valve in prior to the DI, this way I can divert the RO water from the DI until the TDS is ~2-3 after the membranes. It takes maybe 5 mins (starting from 190TDS the highest I have seen) to get to the 2-3 TDS depending on how long it has been since I made the last amount of water.

TLDR;
Basically I allow the RO water to go down the drain along with the waste water for a short period of time until my TDS from the RO water is ~2-3 TDS. I then direct it to the DI portion of the system and make my top off and water for water changes. In the end extending the life of my DI resin.

 

[jgvergo]

Gets some .375" acrylic and get a hole saw, and drill you a hole for you filer sock. then if you would like to remove and secure the acrylic sock hole go to the big box store and purchase some nylon screws and a tap for that size screw and you are in business.

jsker, can you post a picture?

 

[jgvergo]

I have one suggestion with your RO/DI set up. (I take no credit as I found the information elsewhere) Hopefully I can explain it so it makes sense, and this is all dependent on if you make RO water all the time or not. When the RO water sits in the filter system the TDS will rise until next use, this will then go directly in to the DI at a high TDS. This obviously floods the DI with high TDS water until the filter parts of the system flushes itself out (for lack of better terms) and depending on your DI's condition can raise the TDS output at the end product. So with that said, and after seeing it in my own system. I placed a 3 way "T" and a shut off valve in prior to the DI, this way I can divert the RO water from the DI until the TDS is ~2-3 after the membranes. It takes maybe 5 mins (starting from 190TDS the highest I have seen) to get to the 2-3 TDS depending on how long it has been since I made the last amount of water.

TLDR;
Basically I allow the RO water to go down the drain along with the waste water for a short period of time until my TDS from the RO water is ~2-3 TDS. I then direct it to the DI portion of the system and make my top off and water for water changes. In the end extending the life of my DI resin.

Great idea. I will implement it.

 

[Dunnman39]

Awesome

 

[jsker]

jsker, can you post a picture?

Just a suggestion, I have built other parts out of acrylic for my tank in the past. I am thinking about building a sump for my current setup and having the sump remote like your setup. When I lived in Queens NY I built a HOB filter with skimmer out of acrylic. The over flow box was adjustable using .375 acrylic drilled and tapped. Used a regular drill and it all worked out. Also when I lived up in NY I found scrap acrylic instead of purchasing whole sheets to build my filter. It was less expensive and at that time is did not have the equipment that I have to cut the plastic. I would use a worm drive skill saw and a strait board and clamp to cut the plastic. Where I am at now I have to purchase whole sheets and I cut them with a table saw with a carbide blade.

So enough about my history, I you just need to visualize what I am suggesting, I can throw together a simple drawing in you need?

 

[jgvergo]

I found a very simple solution to the filter sock holder. $15 on Amazon (but it did take two weeks to arrive from China). It is made of *very* sturdy acrylic.

The plumbing under the tank:

and the final Bean Animal plumbing in the overflow box:

Drum roll please...WATER IN THE TANK!!!

 

[ithk21620]

Just a heads up, with the sump being in your utility room and having all the tools hanging in there you may have an issue with them getting rusty. My sump is in my basement and I have a work bench about 15 feet away and all my tools got rusty. I ended up building walls around my sumo area and essentially making a fish room to stop this. My sump is much larger but you will still get salt spray in the air. Over time stuff in my fish room gets a nice little film of salt.

Just wanted to let you know my experience so you don't ruin all your tools. Luckily I don't store most of my tools in the basement so it was just a few things.

 

[jsker]

I found a very simple solution to the filter sock holder. $15 on Amazon (but it did take two weeks to arrive from China). It is made of *very* sturdy acrylic.

The plumbing under the tank:

and the final Bean Animal plumbing in the overflow box:

Drum roll please...WATER IN THE TANK!!!

Nice find on the sock holder. I am inspired to build a remote sump now that I have watched your build these couple of months. Good so see you have water in the system.

 

[jgvergo]

Rocks have arrived! I'm going to cure them before aquascaping. 100 lbs., 1/2 Pukani and 1/2 Tonga shelf from Bulk Reef Supply. It looks fantastic to me

 

[jgvergo]

I got my shipment of BRS Pukani and Tonga Shelf (100 lbs. total). First, I put the rock in a 64 gallon garbage pail (plastic). I added two gallons of Muriatic Acid (34% concentration). I let it sit for 3 hours. I then neutralized the acid with 8 lbs. of Baking soda. I then dumped the neutralized liquid and soaked the rock in fresh tap water for 24 hours. I then power washed the rock and a LOT of gunk came off. The rock held up very well under the power washing. It seemed that some trapped sand was dislodged, but I don't think the power washing caused any erosion or structural damage to the rock. After drying, the rock has minimal smell and looks great. It really beats curing for a month or more. I'm experimenting with different scapes now.

 

[jgvergo]

Aquascape, sand and water!!!

I have not build the canopy yet, so the Radion is just sitting on the glass top temporarily.

The sump and Bean Animal is tuned and running. I have a carbon and GFO mixture in the media bag. I also turned on the skimmer with salt water for the first time, but could not generate any skimate. I need to investigate why.

Nighttime falls on the tank for the first time ))

 

[jgvergo]

1st inhabitants!!!

 

[jgvergo]

I have one suggestion with your RO/DI set up. (I take no credit as I found the information elsewhere) Hopefully I can explain it so it makes sense, and this is all dependent on if you make RO water all the time or not. When the RO water sits in the filter system the TDS will rise until next use, this will then go directly in to the DI at a high TDS. This obviously floods the DI with high TDS water until the filter parts of the system flushes itself out (for lack of better terms) and depending on your DI's condition can raise the TDS output at the end product. So with that said, and after seeing it in my own system. I placed a 3 way "T" and a shut off valve in prior to the DI, this way I can divert the RO water from the DI until the TDS is ~2-3 after the membranes. It takes maybe 5 mins (starting from 190TDS the highest I have seen) to get to the 2-3 TDS depending on how long it has been since I made the last amount of water.

TLDR;
Basically I allow the RO water to go down the drain along with the waste water for a short period of time until my TDS from the RO water is ~2-3 TDS. I then direct it to the DI portion of the system and make my top off and water for water changes. In the end extending the life of my DI resin.

Emisis, I implemented your suggestion. Thanks very much!

 

[jgvergo]

Just a heads up, with the sump being in your utility room and having all the tools hanging in there you may have an issue with them getting rusty. My sump is in my basement and I have a work bench about 15 feet away and all my tools got rusty. I ended up building walls around my sumo area and essentially making a fish room to stop this. My sump is much larger but you will still get salt spray in the air. Over time stuff in my fish room gets a nice little film of salt.

Just wanted to let you know my experience so you don't ruin all your tools. Luckily I don't store most of my tools in the basement so it was just a few things.

I'm not sure how to deal with this. I am so completely committed to the design I have in place and no where to move my tools. I think I'm going to try running a dehumidifier in my utility room and hope for the best. Thanks for the heads up. I really appreciate it!

 

[Chrisfish]

Wow! Great thread, I have really enjoyed following your journey and can't wait to see more. And congratulation on your new additions to your tank. I love clown fish.

 

[Retro Reefer]

Nice job! Love all the DIY items you have incorporated into your design.. It's always fun when showing off your system and somebody ask where did you get that? And you just casually respond I made it myself

 

[jgvergo]

Nice job! Love all the DIY items you have incorporated into your design.. It's always fun when showing off your system and somebody ask where did you get that? And you just casually respond I made it myself

I am one of those geeks that gets as much pleasure out of DIY and having a clean, well-designed "back end" of the system as the DT itself. I'm fascinated by all aspects of the hobby and really enjoy building things too.

 

[jgvergo]

Canopy is almost done...just need to put the crown molding on:

Plus I added some new friends for Fezzig and Inigo (my clowns):

Cleaner shrimp (2):

Red cleaner shrimp(1):

Mexican Turbo snails (2) (Green hair algae? What green hair algae??? - These guys are incredible with GHA!):

Blue claw Hermit crabs (10):

One Peppermint shrimp (whereabouts unknown)

I also bought some Chaeto and Calurpa on e-bay. I'm VERY happy with it.

The best surprise? It came with an abundant supply of pods!

I am starting to zero in on a dosing regime. My target parameters are Ca (420), Alk (9dKH) and 1350 (Mg). I've been dosing manually every day. I measure before and after dosing and I'm able to nail the target each time. I've been using BRS two-part and their dosing calculators. If I have time tomorrow, I intend to add my first corals!

 

[jgvergo]

I have been steadily refining my Apex programming. Here is the current setup:

PM me if you would like spreadsheet.

 

[jgvergo]

I think I got the final piece of the build in place today. I started dosing Alk and Ca. It turned out to be very easy. I just measured both and manually dosed for a few days until everything stabilized...i.e. I was adding 0.6 dKH of Alk each day to maintain 9.0 dKH. I add 42 ml of Alk and Ca per day. The Neptune DOS breaks it into a tiny dose every 10 minutes and does the rest. Easy peasy. Now it's about specimen selection and husbandry!