Fish building/man cave build!

[dantimdad]

Just got off the phone with Coralvue... it's the controller. That's good news! $98 That's bad news! They are out until the first of the year. (blatant hee haw rip off for you old guys)

So now, I clean it up, box it up and wait whilst using the backup aquamaxx skimmer that's too small and just increase water changes.

 

[dantimdad]

So, I figured it's time to tell some of the trials that have happened since the room has been completed (on the inside anyway)

I have, for some reason, had several overflows and floods. I never had these in the house. I don't know if it's I am too busy and not paying attention, the strokes making me forgetful or what. I am thankful we did not put down permanent flooring. The rugs just get shop vac'd and then a fan put on them when they get wet. I am putting in more safety stops to prevent any more flooding.

leaks! I have had several leaks crop up, most of which have been easy to fix. I will NEVER again own another shadow overflow! From now on, if I replace one or get a different tank, I will go with Fijicube. They just work. The one leak I cannot get to stop is from a valve on the water change station. They changed the design on how the o rings are grooved or something and they slip out of place when you tighten them. I am going to pull the whole contraption outside, cut out the valves and go with ones from Mundaka like I had switched to at the store. These things are rock solid, easy to operate and never leak a drop. Yes, they are expensive but it's only 3 valves and worth it. I am using them on the 187 and the 12 footer and they are excellent. I will also return the valves to Lowes I bought for the manifold and buy the good ones for it too.

humidity. I forgot to install a fan and the humidity in the room, while not nearly as bad as I imagined it still enough to mist the window and the mini split is having trouble keeping up. So, I ordered a 6" through the wall fan and I will get an ink bird humidity controller to evacuate the room at a set point. This should fix the issue. I can say though that I doubt I will ever have to run a heater in here. :)

I already stated the issue with the skimmer. I won't belabor that issue other than to say we figured out the dude gave me the wrong power supply and that's what fried it.

Supply chain issues. This is the MOST frustrating thing of all. So far, the vinyl siding has been 8 months on order and now the homeowner's insurance is screaming at me, I have to wait 3 months for the replacement controller, my frozen food orders have not once this year been complete and I have had three different orders for supplies like plumbing, sand and sheet goods just outright cancelled. The current economy and labor situation really stinks.

That all being said, even though the fried skimmer literally had me wanting to give up, I am happy with the result and how things are progressing. I added two new corals Sunday and am working on a deal for a dozen more soon.

If I could tell anyone any piece of advice and have them heed it, it would PATIENCE. Nothing and I mean NOTHING good happens quickly in this hobby. And secondly, set a goal, take notes and don't keep changing the plan. I did several times, as you know, and it cost a lot of extra time and money that was just senseless. Yes, it probably turned out better, but, that was a risk and expense I wouldn't advise. ;)

 

[zbryant91]

Do the fiji cube overflows use the same hole size and spacing as the shadow? I have a v2 that came with my GC tank and it's been okay but the fiji weir design looks so nice and easy to clean. Doubt I'll upgrade anytime soon but would be nice to know if there's an "easy" replacement option.

 

[Mschmidt]

patience, why is it always patience?

Thanks for the update. It's refreshing to see troubles too.

 

[dantimdad]

Do the fiji cube overflows use the same hole size and spacing as the shadow? I have a v2 that came with my GC tank and it's been okay but the fiji weir design looks so nice and easy to clean. Doubt I'll upgrade anytime soon but would be nice to know if there's an "easy" replacement option.

I don't know but you can always send them a message and ask. What I would do if it doesn't is use a template to cut out pieces and solvent weld back in new pieces if I had to.

 

[dantimdad]

patience, why is it always patience?

Thanks for the update. It's refreshing to see troubles too.

She was a bad egg.....

 

[Mschmidt]

She was a bad egg.....

Maybe didn't deserve what she got, but someone had to do what her parents wouldn't.

 

[dantimdad]

I have to tell you, this little aquamaxx 2 skimmer kicks butt.

I am impressed!

 

[dantimdad]

Finally finished staining the back panel for the 525xl. Need to get it installed today and pick up a piece of corner trim for it and get it stained as well.

I am going to break down and redo the 15 gallon column tank. It doesn't have enough light, it has cyano I can't get rid of and I just don't like the way it looks. I am going to pick up blasting sand and get it done. Going to mount an old prime over it and just run the white/red/green channels on it and plant some giant val.

I have the salinity right in the saltwater system and the chaeto I got Sunday has grown a little.

I am breaking down the water station to fix the valve issues and running the freshwater line to the filter for the FW tanks this weekend. I have to get my son to get up in the attic to pass the line down to me in the laundry room. That way I can get rid of the brute can that's constantly in the way.

other than that, not much going on. :)

 

[Mschmidt]

Doesn't seem like much.

 

[dantimdad]

Quick update:
The hollywood stunner frag is still doing ok in the 187.

I am still trying to get the pop I want out of the lights. I am close but still need to tweak it a bit. I may just cave and build some 430nm-450nm light bars like I did before.

The little skimmer that could is doing a great job. I am shocked at the nastiness this thing pulls out. If the refugium takes off, I may not even need to go back to the big skimmer.

 

[dantimdad]

What are your nitrates?

I really never bothered before but, I seem to have to clean the glass more in the current system than before. I got 13.5ppm this morning.

Usually, I would say if I did measure, it was under 10. I never try to go ULNS because the corals don't color up as well to me.

Thoughts?

 

[dantimdad]

Well, I took the plunge and bought a prusa MK3s+ printer. I assembled it yesterday and this morning and am doing test prints now. So far, I pretty impressed.

Now it's time to thin the herd and sell off about 4 or 5 printers.

And yes, printers, in my case, are definitely related to reefing. :)

 

[Lowell Lemon]

Ha thinning the herd. I have three motorcycles, two radio controlled planes, two sports cars, and multiple other items. How is it that you know how to thin a herd? No matter where I advertise it seems hard to move on what has become a herd. Did I forget to mention a boat? Haha good luck on your sale! Hope all is well in your neck of the woods!

 

[dantimdad]

Ha thinning the herd. I have three motorcycles, two radio controlled planes, two sports cars, and multiple other items. How is it that you know how to thin a herd? No matter where I advertise it seems hard to move on what has become a herd. Did I forget to mention a boat? Haha good luck on your sale! Hope all is well in your neck of the woods!

oh, I was only talking about the printers. Now, the rest of the stuff I have collected....

 

[Dierks]

So I finally got around to starting the plumbing. Wanted to show you that I also used the same Skimmer and wasn't blowing smoke up your butt.

Man I have so many more leaks now that I have the shop, so I think its just you have many more things happening at once. I also have to figure out a better solution for the many leaks as I did put down flooring!!

Anyways here is the FisHotel 125 with the big butt skimmer. I had to cut a hole as I couldnt figure out how to get it in the huge Fiji Cube chamber like you did... Not sure what I did wrong, but I think I am happy with this solution as it will allow me to have a bit more space.

 

[Dierks]

I meant to say spills but either way just water on the floor. (Not from any tanks or leaks)**

 

[dantimdad]

So I finally got around to starting the plumbing. Wanted to show you that I also used the same Skimmer and wasn't blowing smoke up your butt.

Man I have so many more leaks now that I have the shop, so I think its just you have many more things happening at once. I also have to figure out a better solution for the many leaks as I did put down flooring!!

Anyways here is the FisHotel 125 with the big butt skimmer. I had to cut a hole as I couldnt figure out how to get it in the huge Fiji Cube chamber like you did... Not sure what I did wrong, but I think I am happy with this solution as it will allow me to have a bit more space.

I can't wait for the controllers to get back into stock. That is a nice setup.

 

[dantimdad]

OK gang, time for an update!

I finally got the G5's dialed in to where I really like the color and the corals have shown a lot of improvement.

3/77/77/50/3/0 is what I am going with. This is a starting point from someone else with a little bit of tweak of my own.

Still battling aiptasia but I am making some headway.

I am now on the hunt for corals.

I got a great deal on a top off container on a pre-black friday event from Elos. I am going to dose kalk from it and keep my topoff container for RODI. I will dose about 50ml every 2 hours and run a pump every hour in the new top off to stir the kalk and keep it saturated. I will do this 24/7. Alexa will control the pump. I am hoping this keeps up with alk and kalk as long as possible. I shouldn't have a high demand because I mostly want softies and LPS. But, there are a few SPS I want.

Going to sell my water change station and build a frag tank to go there. I use a single container solution for water changes and it works very well so no need for the station taking up room.

 

[dantimdad]

I forgot a few things:

The minisplit has kept up very very well. I haven't had to run the heater at all. I do run the dehumidifier once in a while for a few hours. It has gotten down to 23 here and the room has yet to dip below 73. I am about to put in a humidity controlled exhaust fan. I finally got everything to that.

The vinyl siding finally came in and we picked it up Wednesday. I am going to start on it tomorrow.

I am also picking up 12 lyretail pineapple mollies to convert to saltwater. They will eat algae. I don't have a big problem with it at all, but, I like them and they add a splash of color. Mostly, there is some hair algae in the fuge and a few will go in there.