ReefStuff
Community Member
Hello!
Welcome to my build thread. 1st and foremost I am not a pro reefer. I had been out of the reefing hobby for about 18 years until about 6 months ago. Everyone is encouraged to comment with suggestions, critique's or any other info regarding the build. Buckle up and enjoy the ride through what may be one of my biggest "Was looking for one thing, came home with another" moments.
Couple caveats to this build:
1) I Started this thread after I modified the APS Stand and Base Unit. Nothing major and I will explain it later in the thread but, have no pictures of the process.
2) Due to my work and parenting schedule. Updates will mostly be bi-weekly. Occasional rapid fire updates will likely happen during my open weeks.
3) I have some "Goals" followed by "Plans" to achieve the goal listed. I will update those with pictures and any changes or successes as I progress through the build.
Here is the tank and stand in place. Although things will settle once its full and will need to be adjusted again. This tank was leveled using Standards used to certify and calibrate levels, accurate to .001 degrees. It was also aligned exactly 45 degrees off either wall also using other industry standards. Amazing what happens to a simple project when myself and a 20 year calibration vet have a couple beers :face-with-monocle:.
How I ended up with this tank:
I was simply browsing my local FB marketplace for some SMALL used tanks for a really complete QT setup. I wanted 1 for fish in copper, One for "other" treatments, one for coral, and one for a major "all fish QT" emergency. I was looking at 20 gallon tanks..... I have one QT tank still.....
This tank and stand came up listed with the sump. Brand New, plastic still on the glass etc. Only opened for pictures. Listed for $1600. I looked and moved on. Couple weeks later it was still up but $1400. Message and ask at $1200. At this point I go to see it. Low and behold it ends up being listed by a pawn shop. I was very confused when I arrived. They brought me in and showed me the tank. Turns out it was purchased during the pandemic by a man who wife said "Nope". Being Built to order it was not returnable. He had a hard time selling it so brought it to the pawn shop. Pawn shop saw the price difference and jumped on it. Then the pawn shop got to realize how hard selling a dedicated Reef tank is of this size. They have had it a long time.
Sump was not included and was just a pic on the box. I asked for whole thing 1K without a sump. They called bosses, I waited for about an hour. Eventually they agreed and informed me of the loss they incurred. ($800). They also informed me they were happy with the deal and to get it out of their store.
Never thought I would end up getting a Brand New IM INT 112 from a Pawn Shop. But here it is. I feel very lucky to have been in the right place at the right time.
Equipment I Have so far:
Tank - Innovative Marine INT 112 Lagoon (New)
Overflow - Internal Bean Animal Design
Stand - Innovative Marine APS, White. (New)
Sump - Used, 30"x20"x16" from a Red Sea Reefer 425XL G2
Skimmer - Simplicity 240DC
Return Pump - Simplicity DC 2100
ATO Reservoir - 10 Gal tank
ATO Unit - No Name Amazon brand. I also have a $130 Duo ATO unit. I decided to to try the cheaper one to see if money is well spent, or wasted on the higher priced units.
Flow - 2 3400GPH DC wave makers. Not sure of the brand anymore but they worked very well in another tank they were greatly oversized for, so :p.
Testing - Hannah Checkers(Phos and Alk), Salifert Mag, Red Sea for Cal, Nitrate, PH and a Refractometer for salinity.
I have a long way to go still.
I need suggestions on:
Lighting - I have some Nicrew on another tank... I do not like them. Horrible spread. Limited color adjustment. I drank the kool-aid..... They do work, do grow coral and do cost far less $$. Im looking for something between that, and the $1,000 dollar a piece lights that I would then need 3 of.
Mounting Lights - Euro Braced tank poses some challenges for the standard easy mounting arms. I have seen some ideas but they all seem to be done by people with a lot more of a disposable income than I have currently.
Canopy? I can build stuff, They look super nice with the floating canopy. WWC video had a guy with a motorized canopy he DIY'd from adjustable desks? Anyone have any insight here or similar?
CO2 Scrubber while running Kalk? Seems like I would not need that. I ran outside air for another tank but cant as easily on this one. I did not use Kalk in the other tank though. So, thats why I ask. Question is about the PH of the two really.
Rock - Leaning towards TBS and dry rock to keep cost down but help diversity. Anyone done this? How does it look when setup?
Sand - Always have used Fiji Pink. I like my sand sifters to have it easy, and the look of smooth sand. But, it blows around too much above 35X turnover.
11/25/24 - Sump
This is the sump I picked up for $100. Missing the Filter sock trays and refugium wall. I ordered some 1/4" acrylic sheets to make my own replacements. Red Sea is out to lunch with their pricing for parts. I plumbed this so the 10gal ATO reservoir could sit on top of the sump. However, it blocks the filter sock tray enough to require me to use the side door of the stand to change them easily. The sump is designed for a completely different system, suggestions of better plumbing is welcome. Nothing is glued yet.
The Objective:
Simplify some of the process and maintenance required for reef tanks. While still having a beautiful system that doesn't cost too much. Some automation is just too expensive for me to justify. So, simplifying is my next option. I also currently rent my home so serious modification to accommodate some things is not an option. Some of these ideas may seem obvious or have been done. I am not re-inventing the wheel or anything. Just showing what I am planning on doing.
I also have always wanted a tank like this. A large, open display for everyone to see. I would like a clean looking sump area as well. Tips for any and all tricks or methods to help with that are very welcome.
Water Changes.
GOAL: I do not want to carry buckets/containers of water for changes anymore and do not want to risk overflows either.
Plan: (Draining) Sized the sump to hold enough volume to allow me to simply turn off the return pump and allow the display to drain into the sump until it breaks siphon. A second pump for water changes will live in the sump with enough line to reach my sink. Pump will be connected to a float valve to turn off the pump once the water level in sump has dropped to a preset depth based on some volume calculations from a calculator. This should also prevent any worry of return pump failure and overflow as the sump holds more volume than the tank can back flow.
(Re-Filling) I will have a coil/shrink hose connected to a pump in my saltwater mix tank dedicated to refills. Valve the end of the hose so I can pressurize the hose while at the mix station, then walk to the sump and refill. Close valve when finished, return the hose. Seemingly I just turn the system back on.
- Let me know what major element I missed :upside-down-face:.
In the end I should be able to turn a switch, walk a line to my sink and wait a minute or two to pump out the volume. Then walk to the garage and grab the refill hose, walk back and refill said volume. Coil the lines up and be done. Not exactly quick and painless. But I am not carrying water
Dosing:
Goal: I do not want to dose manually every week or every 3 days like previously.
Plan: 4 head dosing pump. Kalkwasser and 2 part to fine tune and magnesium on the 4th head. (mag runs low in my tanks) I made a calculator for this also :rolleyes:. These will all dose constantly (varying rates and very slowly) throughout the day/weeks.
4 week supplies of each product so I can setup monthly re-occurring orders to be delivered to my home. This way I cant forget, or LFS be out of stock at the wrong time. Except the B... Calculations (for a diff tank) are showing 1 250ml bottle of reef code B will last 144.717 weeks if used to fine tune with Kalk.....
Here is a pic of the calculator I made for "Reef Stuff" hehe.
ATO Refill:
GOAL: Simplify an area I have problems. Personally, I will start my R/O and forget. Usually come running back just in time. Even had to leave a cart full of groceries in the isle of Safeway and run out, and drive home once. I do not trust R/O float valves long term either. Maybe someone can convince me they will work well? My R/O is 100GPD rated but is more like 75GPD in reality due to ground water temp here. Waiting almost 2-3 hours to fill the res is out.
PLAN: Use a hose timer (or similar) plumbed inline to the R/O output so I can turn on the R/O, set the timer and watch a movie, do dad stuff etc and not worry if I miss it by 20 minutes (hopefully). Timer should stop the water. I installed a R/O quick connect in the lid of my make due ATO res so the line to the ATO will be secured also. I will calculate the time to fill maybe 90%, than set the timer accordingly.
Got this far and now don't know how to end a thread that is far from finished...... I will update as often as possibel with pictures of how I accomplish my goals. See ya again soon? :grinning-face-with-smiling-eyes:
ReefStuff
Welcome to my build thread. 1st and foremost I am not a pro reefer. I had been out of the reefing hobby for about 18 years until about 6 months ago. Everyone is encouraged to comment with suggestions, critique's or any other info regarding the build. Buckle up and enjoy the ride through what may be one of my biggest "Was looking for one thing, came home with another" moments.
Couple caveats to this build:
1) I Started this thread after I modified the APS Stand and Base Unit. Nothing major and I will explain it later in the thread but, have no pictures of the process.
2) Due to my work and parenting schedule. Updates will mostly be bi-weekly. Occasional rapid fire updates will likely happen during my open weeks.
3) I have some "Goals" followed by "Plans" to achieve the goal listed. I will update those with pictures and any changes or successes as I progress through the build.
Here is the tank and stand in place. Although things will settle once its full and will need to be adjusted again. This tank was leveled using Standards used to certify and calibrate levels, accurate to .001 degrees. It was also aligned exactly 45 degrees off either wall also using other industry standards. Amazing what happens to a simple project when myself and a 20 year calibration vet have a couple beers :face-with-monocle:.
How I ended up with this tank:
I was simply browsing my local FB marketplace for some SMALL used tanks for a really complete QT setup. I wanted 1 for fish in copper, One for "other" treatments, one for coral, and one for a major "all fish QT" emergency. I was looking at 20 gallon tanks..... I have one QT tank still.....
This tank and stand came up listed with the sump. Brand New, plastic still on the glass etc. Only opened for pictures. Listed for $1600. I looked and moved on. Couple weeks later it was still up but $1400. Message and ask at $1200. At this point I go to see it. Low and behold it ends up being listed by a pawn shop. I was very confused when I arrived. They brought me in and showed me the tank. Turns out it was purchased during the pandemic by a man who wife said "Nope". Being Built to order it was not returnable. He had a hard time selling it so brought it to the pawn shop. Pawn shop saw the price difference and jumped on it. Then the pawn shop got to realize how hard selling a dedicated Reef tank is of this size. They have had it a long time.
Sump was not included and was just a pic on the box. I asked for whole thing 1K without a sump. They called bosses, I waited for about an hour. Eventually they agreed and informed me of the loss they incurred. ($800). They also informed me they were happy with the deal and to get it out of their store.
Never thought I would end up getting a Brand New IM INT 112 from a Pawn Shop. But here it is. I feel very lucky to have been in the right place at the right time.
Equipment I Have so far:
Tank - Innovative Marine INT 112 Lagoon (New)
Overflow - Internal Bean Animal Design
Stand - Innovative Marine APS, White. (New)
Sump - Used, 30"x20"x16" from a Red Sea Reefer 425XL G2
Skimmer - Simplicity 240DC
Return Pump - Simplicity DC 2100
ATO Reservoir - 10 Gal tank
ATO Unit - No Name Amazon brand. I also have a $130 Duo ATO unit. I decided to to try the cheaper one to see if money is well spent, or wasted on the higher priced units.
Flow - 2 3400GPH DC wave makers. Not sure of the brand anymore but they worked very well in another tank they were greatly oversized for, so :p.
Testing - Hannah Checkers(Phos and Alk), Salifert Mag, Red Sea for Cal, Nitrate, PH and a Refractometer for salinity.
I have a long way to go still.
I need suggestions on:
Lighting - I have some Nicrew on another tank... I do not like them. Horrible spread. Limited color adjustment. I drank the kool-aid..... They do work, do grow coral and do cost far less $$. Im looking for something between that, and the $1,000 dollar a piece lights that I would then need 3 of.
Mounting Lights - Euro Braced tank poses some challenges for the standard easy mounting arms. I have seen some ideas but they all seem to be done by people with a lot more of a disposable income than I have currently.
Canopy? I can build stuff, They look super nice with the floating canopy. WWC video had a guy with a motorized canopy he DIY'd from adjustable desks? Anyone have any insight here or similar?
CO2 Scrubber while running Kalk? Seems like I would not need that. I ran outside air for another tank but cant as easily on this one. I did not use Kalk in the other tank though. So, thats why I ask. Question is about the PH of the two really.
Rock - Leaning towards TBS and dry rock to keep cost down but help diversity. Anyone done this? How does it look when setup?
Sand - Always have used Fiji Pink. I like my sand sifters to have it easy, and the look of smooth sand. But, it blows around too much above 35X turnover.
11/25/24 - Sump
This is the sump I picked up for $100. Missing the Filter sock trays and refugium wall. I ordered some 1/4" acrylic sheets to make my own replacements. Red Sea is out to lunch with their pricing for parts. I plumbed this so the 10gal ATO reservoir could sit on top of the sump. However, it blocks the filter sock tray enough to require me to use the side door of the stand to change them easily. The sump is designed for a completely different system, suggestions of better plumbing is welcome. Nothing is glued yet.
The Objective:
Simplify some of the process and maintenance required for reef tanks. While still having a beautiful system that doesn't cost too much. Some automation is just too expensive for me to justify. So, simplifying is my next option. I also currently rent my home so serious modification to accommodate some things is not an option. Some of these ideas may seem obvious or have been done. I am not re-inventing the wheel or anything. Just showing what I am planning on doing.
I also have always wanted a tank like this. A large, open display for everyone to see. I would like a clean looking sump area as well. Tips for any and all tricks or methods to help with that are very welcome.
Water Changes.
GOAL: I do not want to carry buckets/containers of water for changes anymore and do not want to risk overflows either.
Plan: (Draining) Sized the sump to hold enough volume to allow me to simply turn off the return pump and allow the display to drain into the sump until it breaks siphon. A second pump for water changes will live in the sump with enough line to reach my sink. Pump will be connected to a float valve to turn off the pump once the water level in sump has dropped to a preset depth based on some volume calculations from a calculator. This should also prevent any worry of return pump failure and overflow as the sump holds more volume than the tank can back flow.
(Re-Filling) I will have a coil/shrink hose connected to a pump in my saltwater mix tank dedicated to refills. Valve the end of the hose so I can pressurize the hose while at the mix station, then walk to the sump and refill. Close valve when finished, return the hose. Seemingly I just turn the system back on.
- Let me know what major element I missed :upside-down-face:.
In the end I should be able to turn a switch, walk a line to my sink and wait a minute or two to pump out the volume. Then walk to the garage and grab the refill hose, walk back and refill said volume. Coil the lines up and be done. Not exactly quick and painless. But I am not carrying water
Dosing:
Goal: I do not want to dose manually every week or every 3 days like previously.
Plan: 4 head dosing pump. Kalkwasser and 2 part to fine tune and magnesium on the 4th head. (mag runs low in my tanks) I made a calculator for this also :rolleyes:. These will all dose constantly (varying rates and very slowly) throughout the day/weeks.
4 week supplies of each product so I can setup monthly re-occurring orders to be delivered to my home. This way I cant forget, or LFS be out of stock at the wrong time. Except the B... Calculations (for a diff tank) are showing 1 250ml bottle of reef code B will last 144.717 weeks if used to fine tune with Kalk.....
Here is a pic of the calculator I made for "Reef Stuff" hehe.
ATO Refill:
GOAL: Simplify an area I have problems. Personally, I will start my R/O and forget. Usually come running back just in time. Even had to leave a cart full of groceries in the isle of Safeway and run out, and drive home once. I do not trust R/O float valves long term either. Maybe someone can convince me they will work well? My R/O is 100GPD rated but is more like 75GPD in reality due to ground water temp here. Waiting almost 2-3 hours to fill the res is out.
PLAN: Use a hose timer (or similar) plumbed inline to the R/O output so I can turn on the R/O, set the timer and watch a movie, do dad stuff etc and not worry if I miss it by 20 minutes (hopefully). Timer should stop the water. I installed a R/O quick connect in the lid of my make due ATO res so the line to the ATO will be secured also. I will calculate the time to fill maybe 90%, than set the timer accordingly.
Got this far and now don't know how to end a thread that is far from finished...... I will update as often as possibel with pictures of how I accomplish my goals. See ya again soon? :grinning-face-with-smiling-eyes:
ReefStuff
