Land Shark's 109 Reef Savvy Build

[Gablami]

Where did you read that the cables had a component of lead in it? I’ve never heard of that and I can’t easily find any reference.

 

[Land Shark]

-

 

[Land Shark]

I had a few pieces of 3/32" glass cut to size by a local glass shop. These should to create a spinning cheato chamber that keeps spinning until it is so large it fills up the chamber packed to the max. It will take a couple of days to find time to put it together but I'm looking forward to it.

PO4 tested at .16 tonight.

 

[Land Shark]

This is a new experiment I'm working on. The test was to create a single spin chamber in a 4" refugium to see if this is a success or not. I'll probably order some more 3/32" glass on Monday and add a second and third spin chamber. The cost of the glass was all of $24 total for both pieces of glass cut to size.

The pump rests inside the large sock so that there is no worry about the pump ever clogging up.

 

[najer]

Nice work.

 

[Land Shark]

[[/QUOTE]

Nice work.

Thank you sir!

I showed a picture of 4 pieces of glass but only used the two larger pieces. The two smaller pieces were unnecessary.

 

[Fin]

That came out nice! Good job.

 

[Land Shark]

That came out nice! Good job.

Thanks fin. The Chinese led light doesn’t have enough spread and 1/2 of the leds in it stopped working. It’s time for an upgrade. My PO4 battle continues for now at 0.18.

 

[Land Shark]

This is day 2 of the test. So far, so good. No issues causing the cheato to stop spinning, get stuck in a corner or anything like that. I turned off the LED grow light for the video. You can see drilled holes in the side of the PVC to direct the flow where wanted.

 

[Land Shark]

Here is what I ended up creating. I call it the cheato reactor triple threat! It consists of three gyre chambers that spin the cheato 24x7. The lighting runs from 5:00 PM to 9:00 AM the next morning.

Lighting consists of an LED light fixture pushing out 7100 lumens and using four long bulbs for even distribution. It uses a Sicce 780 gph pump and the water is directed using 3/4" PVC pipe. It isn't fancy really. The three gyre chambers measure roughly 12" x 12" x 12" each.

Time will tell but I believe that this setup may help to keep PO4 <= 0.07ppm. That is the goal anyways.

 

[Land Shark]

A random picture of one of my fish.

 

[NY_Caveman]

Here is what I ended up creating. I call it the cheato reactor triple threat! It consists of three gyre chambers that spin the cheato 24x7. The lighting runs from 5:00 PM to 9:00 AM the next morning.

Lighting consists of an LED light fixture pushing out 7100 lumens and using four long bulbs for even distribution. It uses a Sicce 780 gph pump and the water is directed using 3/4" PVC pipe. It isn't fancy really. The chambers are not even water tight as water can flow both over the top of the glass and under the glass as well. The three gyre chambers measure roughly 12" x 12" x 12" each.

Time will tell but I believe that this setup may keep PO4 <= 0.07ppm. That is the goal anyways.

I love this. Cannot wait to see the results.

 

[Land Shark]

I love this. Cannot wait to see the results.

Same here. I'll be sure to keep you up to date!

 

[Land Shark]

Just tested for PO4 and turned a 22ppb reading (0.06 ppm). PO4 is down from 67ppb a few days ago but I used a bit of Lanthanum Chloride to get it down so I can't really be sure how much credit goes to the spinning cheato refugium. My goal is to stop needing Lanthanum and GFO. The Triton method is what I'm using now and I don't think my old refugium setup was a very good one. This new spinning cheato should be more effective and should allow me to run a legit Triton tank.

Now I realize that most reefers are probably bored with cheato and PO4 test results and want to see pictures of corals and fish. Getting phosphate under control is my number one goal at the moment. I’m sure many of you have been in the same boat, right? After the PO4 is finally stabilized I will stock up and focus on the corals!

 

[Land Shark]

I run an avast marine davey jones skimate locker with a digital sensor that shuts off the skimmer when the skimmate locker fills up.

Here is a rundown.

Davey Jones Skimmate Locker
The clear 5/8" tube inside the reactor traps air when the reactor fills up to that level. The air pressure travels through a 1/4" hose up to the digital switch.

Digital switch
Works by sensing an increase in air pressure coming in through the 1/4" tubing on the right side. The bottom wire connects to a GHL controller. The skimmer is shut off by the controller automatically when the skimmate locker is full.

 

[Land Shark]

After a week using this new spinning setup and no Lanthanum, the cheato and other algae is growing well. PO4 is already down to .03. So far, so good!

My initial refugium setup didn't work out so well. It had low flow and uneven lighting. The result was slow, weak growing cheato that filled up the refugium but there was a lot of die off and this etup could not keep phosphates under control. PO4 was typically .25 - .50.

 

[Land Shark]

Here is an inventory of fish and inverts.

Fish
15 Chromis
3 Lyretail Anthias
2 Blue Star Leopard Wrasse
2 Mated Percula Clownfish
1 Silver Belly Wrasse
1 Powder Blue Tang
1 Algae Blenny
1 Female Psychedelic Mandarine
1 Scarus Quoyi Dwarf Parrotfish (reef safe)
1 Firefish

Inverts
5 Peppermint Shrimp
5 Misc Snails
3 Hermit Crabs
2 Emerald Crabs
1 Porcelain Anemone Crab
1 Tuxedo Urchin

 

[Land Shark]

A couple more pics taken this week.

A lot of folks like the way the chromis’ school together. I know that I do. Interestingly enough, when I added the chromis, they made the tank so active that all the other fish seemed to stop trying to claim a territory. The powder blue and the largest anthias in particular gave up trying to play tank boss. The chromis just do their thing and go wherever they want. They move around fast enough that no one can ever really bother them.

 

[SPR1968]

A couple more pics taken this week.

A lot of folks like the way the chromis’ school together. I know that I do. Interestingly enough, when I added the chromis, they made the tank so active that all the other fish seemed to stop trying to claim a territory. The powder blue and the largest anthias in particular no longer try to be a as much or a boss. The chromis just do their thing and they are fast enough that no one can ever really bother them.

I also quiet like chromis and how they school along together.

Mine are over 2 years old now and have grown significantly and are beautiful looking fish now. I started with 7 I think originally and the 5 I have now have been 5 for a long time so I assume they have established their hierarchy now.

Great pictures as well by the way!

 

[EW_Fish]

I also quiet like chromis and how they school along together.

Mine are over 2 years old now and have grown significantly and are beautiful looking fish now. I started with 7 I think originally and the 5 I have now have been 5 for a long time so I assume they have established their hierarchy now.

Great pictures as well by the way!

I've also started with 7 and now down the 6. Funny how the smallest of the small is still alive I was for sure he would be the first to go.