New 220 Accountability Thread

[PYRU]

https://www.lowes.com/pd/EASTMAN-1-1-2-in-x-1-ft-PVC-Flexible-Schedule-40-Hose/1000365073

A couple of observations:

• The word flexible here is a... liberal definition of the word. It is not flexible and it does not come off the roll easily. I found that it became much more flexible after being put in a tub of hot water.
• I glued this the same way as I do all PVC, but I would not trust gluing it directly into a bulkhead. It does not insert as far into the fittings as rigid PVC and combining it with the smooth edges of a bulkhead could spell disaster.

I use the combination of the two, with the flexible pieces comprising the middle of the connections only.

I will not go back to all-rigid PVC. This got rid of all the vibration from the return pump and I haven't had one leak.

That's exactly what I've been looking for and I like flexibility as well. Thanks a lot for the reply

 

[MSB123]

What lights are you going to use? For the LEDs?
The fixture you have now really won’t supply enough par.

 

[ZsWithTheFishes]

It's called an accountability thread for a reason... No progress until today. I bought some things from the store to work on the stand a bit, and I've been growing a lot of algae.

Thanks to a certain thread I was reading through on someone else's build I decided I could not live without a white interior in my stand. I will have to take some things out, but better now than later.

 

[ZsWithTheFishes]

It's like I just need a package to arrive to kick me back into gear...

Something like a 30 inch lifereef protein skimmer with the motor upgrade! If it wasn't for Reef2Reef I'd be sitting on yet another Reef octo.

 

[ZsWithTheFishes]

What lights are you going to use? For the LEDs?
The fixture you have now really won’t supply enough par.

I will be using 4 ati t5 (3 Coral plus and 1 blue). I have not decided on the LEDs yet but I am initially thinking 3 kessil 360. I can always lower the light closer to the aquarium, I can't imagine I will need too much more light.

 

[ZsWithTheFishes]

Between travel and severe weather, my project has been set back a bit. There was an unfortunate failure in my BRS RO/DI system and my emergency reservoir under the tank flooded. To prevent any mold issues I had to take out the sump and the (fortunately empty) fuge and let things air out. There was damage to the flooring around the tank, but the emergency reservoir held enough so that the problem could be caught enough to keep the damage to the 1000s and not 10000s.

 

[BeejReef]

Ouch, sorry to hear about your troubles. What was the issue, a problem with the RODI auto shut off valve or float switch?
Can't wait to see some life in there!

 

[ZsWithTheFishes]

Ouch, sorry to hear about your troubles. What was the issue, a problem with the RODI auto shut off valve or float switch?
Can't wait to see some life in there!

The problem appears to be a seal on one of the canisters from an initial inspection. I'm hoping that it can be fixed by replacing that canister if that is the case. I'm just glad that I had not hung up the RO/DI on the wall where it is intended. I'm now planning on building a separate basin for it just in case though.

 

[ZsWithTheFishes]

I decided since I had that thing disassembled then I would go ahead and put a back in the stand. I'd also spent a bit of time under another tank that I have and decided that I'd rather go for a white interior to improve tank maintenance and find spider webs more easily. This would have taken substantially less time at the beginning, but I'm glad I made the change. I will be going with white interiors from now forward.

There are currently two very small chromis in the display tank so that I could let the cycle go without my intervention for a while. They have been in for about a week and they are holding up the fort well.

 

[ZsWithTheFishes]

After a lot of life setbacks and a few hours of work, the display fuge is back in and everything is sealed in and painted white. Bolded note to self to think about painting the inside of stands before the tank is on and running.

 

[Loggerhead]

How do you like the Leopard L90? Quiet?

 

[ZsWithTheFishes]

How do you like the Leopard L90? Quiet?

I like it. I wasn't looking for dead silence since I knew that the durso would make at least some noise, but the pump is much quieter than I expected. I can't hear it over the overflow ambience.

 

[Loggerhead]

Thanks for the info. Trying to decide on a return pump for my new system and can’t seem to find many reviews on these pumps. BRS doesn’t have any reviews on them.

 

[ZsWithTheFishes]

I think the only issue with Skims (that I have heard) is reliability. I didn't find anything on this pump in particular, but the brand's history is there. Operationally I have no complaints and potential for reliability issues was worth it at the price point I found it.

 

[ZsWithTheFishes]

I finally got around to putting together my skimmer last night. I loved the instructions and, having a hobbyist's interest in colloidal science myself, the lengthy detail on skimmer function and factors affecting surface tension.

 

[ZsWithTheFishes]

Thank you to @jda and @d2mini for swaying me toward the LIFEREEF skimmer. There has been no noticeable break in period, and leaving it on a wet skim overnight already pulled up some particularly smelly skimmate.

No regrets so far except for perhaps not going taller :)

 

[JoshH]

Thank you to @jda and @d2mini for swaying me toward the LIFEREEF skimmer. There has been no noticeable break in period, and leaving it on a wet skim overnight already pulled up some particularly smelly skimmate.

No regrets so far except for perhaps not going taller :)

Gotta love a Lifereef, simple design and it just works. All day every day. Loving the build so far and even the setbacks you seem to take a lot more positively than I do lol!

Oh and as for going taller, how much more would you want? I guarantee Jeff would whip up an extension for you in no time because you have the flanged top they are really easy to install.

 

[ZsWithTheFishes]

Gotta love a Lifereef, simple design and it just works. All day every day. Loving the build so far and even the setbacks you seem to take a lot more positively than I do lol!

Oh and as for going taller, how much more would you want? I guarantee Jeff would whip up an extension for you in no time because you have the flanged top they are really easy to install.

Yes he mentioned that and I am considering it. I was originally going to put the skimmer in the center chamber, which had less room due to the center bracing (it's in the first pic). It fit nicely in the first chamber, however, and I can still access the socks. That leaves around 8-9 in of clearance. Having the room isn't bad for maintenance purposes, I'll have to see how often I take off the collection cup.

Unfortunately the setbacks result in procrastination, thus the need for accountability. Having a 220 tank housing 2 chromis for 4 months has gotten me a bit of ribbing from house guests.

 

[southerntnreefer]

loving this build! got a 220 water testing in the basement now that im ready to get rolling.

 

[JoshH]

Yes he mentioned that and I am considering it. I was originally going to put the skimmer in the center chamber, which had less room due to the center bracing (it's in the first pic). It fit nicely in the first chamber, however, and I can still access the socks. That leaves around 8-9 in of clearance. Having the room isn't bad for maintenance purposes, I'll have to see how often I take off the collection cup.

Unfortunately the setbacks result in procrastination, thus the need for accountability. Having a 220 tank housing 2 chromis for 4 months has gotten me a bit of ribbing from house guests.

Well luckily you don't need a whole lot of room for removing the top, and honestly with a drain you won't be taking it off all that much. A nice 6" extension would work well and leave you with enough room still to remove it. But probably don't need to worry about that with a couple chromis in there :p