Scott26's 90 Gallon Wave Front Build
- Build Thread
- Thread starter scott26
- Start date
- Tagged users None
OP
OP
scott26
Active Member
Well I got to test the water again last night and the results are:
PH: 8.3
Nitrite: 0
Ammonia: .25
Nitrate: 5
Calcium: 440
Phosphate: .25
Alkalinity: 9
Salinity: 1.023
So looks like I am on the tail end of the cycle and I am going to do a 10 gallon water change tonight. I am also going to be adding a damsel later.
PH: 8.3
Nitrite: 0
Ammonia: .25
Nitrate: 5
Calcium: 440
Phosphate: .25
Alkalinity: 9
Salinity: 1.023
So looks like I am on the tail end of the cycle and I am going to do a 10 gallon water change tonight. I am also going to be adding a damsel later.
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2009
- Messages
- 2,873
- Reaction score
- 348
Are you sure about that damsel? I added one to a new tank once and will never do it again, they're not the nicest fish IMO.
OP
OP
scott26
Active Member
While I have been trying to figure out the skimmer as well as letting the tank cycle more. I have been thinking about what else I need to do.
The ASM G2 I have is not working correctly still. I have let it run (and overfill the cup) for 3 days to try and get it to kick in and get used to the new tank but it never did anything, it is still overfilling so I made a new rack for the skimmer to sit on.
I have tried to have the skimmer in 10" of water and then on a rack so it would be at 8" and now with this new rack it sits at 6" of water.
So I tried this and it still is overfilling I am not sure what else to do I have even tried to do a water change by letting the cup fill then empty it then fill then empty it. I did this for about 3 gallons of water and it still kept overfilling. Ideas?
Next I have been trying to get this last final major purchase for the tank done I need to think about getting reactors, carbon, and GFO. I was thinking that I would get two single BRS reactors (this way I can fine tune the flow) and then I was going to get the media and two of the MaxiJet 1200's to power them. Now this would have brought my bill close to $200 bucks so I wanted to make it cheaper (so did my wife) so I got to thinking that my return pump has a lot of flow already and thanks to a suggestion from a fellow reefer I am just going to redo the return side of the plumbing and make a manifold to power the reactors.
Also in light of me wanting to get a dang fish in this system I am going to make a screen to fit over the top of the system. You can see window screen framing and connectors here. I also picked up some "bird netting" to use as the screen to keep jumpers in the tank. The netting is a larger square unlike screen material which is really small so this "bird netting" should not hold back any light from getting in the tank.
Pictures.
This is what I started with.
I forgot some fittings so I had to go back to Home Depot.
Then I realized I had forgotten about the extra port for the maintenance tube to connect to for blowing off rocks and what not also I needed to pick up a 3/4" nipple to connect to the return pump.
So it was back to Home Depot again (3rd time)
And so this is what I ended up with at the end of the day. Nothing but all the parts need to get started! What a long day of running back and forth to Home Depot.
The ASM G2 I have is not working correctly still. I have let it run (and overfill the cup) for 3 days to try and get it to kick in and get used to the new tank but it never did anything, it is still overfilling so I made a new rack for the skimmer to sit on.
I have tried to have the skimmer in 10" of water and then on a rack so it would be at 8" and now with this new rack it sits at 6" of water.
So I tried this and it still is overfilling I am not sure what else to do I have even tried to do a water change by letting the cup fill then empty it then fill then empty it. I did this for about 3 gallons of water and it still kept overfilling. Ideas?
Next I have been trying to get this last final major purchase for the tank done I need to think about getting reactors, carbon, and GFO. I was thinking that I would get two single BRS reactors (this way I can fine tune the flow) and then I was going to get the media and two of the MaxiJet 1200's to power them. Now this would have brought my bill close to $200 bucks so I wanted to make it cheaper (so did my wife) so I got to thinking that my return pump has a lot of flow already and thanks to a suggestion from a fellow reefer I am just going to redo the return side of the plumbing and make a manifold to power the reactors.
Also in light of me wanting to get a dang fish in this system I am going to make a screen to fit over the top of the system. You can see window screen framing and connectors here. I also picked up some "bird netting" to use as the screen to keep jumpers in the tank. The netting is a larger square unlike screen material which is really small so this "bird netting" should not hold back any light from getting in the tank.
Pictures.
This is what I started with.
I forgot some fittings so I had to go back to Home Depot.
Then I realized I had forgotten about the extra port for the maintenance tube to connect to for blowing off rocks and what not also I needed to pick up a 3/4" nipple to connect to the return pump.
So it was back to Home Depot again (3rd time)
And so this is what I ended up with at the end of the day. Nothing but all the parts need to get started! What a long day of running back and forth to Home Depot.
OP
OP
scott26
Active Member
Well I spent most of the day yesterday cleaning the garage and getting ready to do the manifold. After lots of measurements and double checking I got started and chopped off the old piping from the return (always cut longer and not shorter). And got everything dry fitted and mocked up. I also wanted to add another inch to the return u-tube so that it would be raised higher in the tank to create a higher siphon break therefore using less water when there is a power outage.
Anyway so I got to gluing and messed up on one of the fittings I put it facing 90 degrees in the wrong direction! (I hate PVC glue) Anyway no big deal I guess I will just have to deal with it the way it is.
So I went and measured some more and got to more gluing and got it all set up and fired it up for the first time and it worked great. (or so it seemed)
I didn't like the height of the return connection to the new manifold so I adjusted some and fired up again. This time realizing that I had small leaks and just about all of my connections! I guess I rushed it a little bit.
So back to Home Depot (4th time) today and I will try again when I get home.
But man when it was together it sure did look sexy.
Anyway so I got to gluing and messed up on one of the fittings I put it facing 90 degrees in the wrong direction! (I hate PVC glue) Anyway no big deal I guess I will just have to deal with it the way it is.
So I went and measured some more and got to more gluing and got it all set up and fired it up for the first time and it worked great. (or so it seemed)
I didn't like the height of the return connection to the new manifold so I adjusted some and fired up again. This time realizing that I had small leaks and just about all of my connections! I guess I rushed it a little bit.
So back to Home Depot (4th time) today and I will try again when I get home.
But man when it was together it sure did look sexy.
OP
OP
scott26
Active Member
Well I was able to get all my parts yesterday from Home Depot and got started redoing the manifold since the first one sprung a few leaks.
This time I used a medium setting PVC glue instead of the fast setting stuff. I like the medium more because it is a thicker compound and really looks like it is sealing up the connections.
Anyway I got it all measure up and glued together.
The offeneder:
New and Glued:
In place:
I also wanted to raise up the return pipes some so that the siphon break kicks in sooner and not rely on the small drill holes that I was using.
Right now I just have the pipes going straight down and blowing the sand up until I can get some better fittings.
And here are some update pictures of the diatom and its progression.
Overall I think the diatom out break is going well it is not uncontrolable and is keeping a slow growing pace not going crazy. I need to get my CUC (clean up crew) on order so that I can have to tank fighters in there.
I have also recently placed an order with BRS (Bulk Reef Supply) for some reactors (carbon,gfo) so that will be installed this weekend if it gets here in time.
Thanks for looking!
This time I used a medium setting PVC glue instead of the fast setting stuff. I like the medium more because it is a thicker compound and really looks like it is sealing up the connections.
Anyway I got it all measure up and glued together.
The offeneder:
New and Glued:
In place:
I also wanted to raise up the return pipes some so that the siphon break kicks in sooner and not rely on the small drill holes that I was using.
Right now I just have the pipes going straight down and blowing the sand up until I can get some better fittings.
And here are some update pictures of the diatom and its progression.
Overall I think the diatom out break is going well it is not uncontrolable and is keeping a slow growing pace not going crazy. I need to get my CUC (clean up crew) on order so that I can have to tank fighters in there.
I have also recently placed an order with BRS (Bulk Reef Supply) for some reactors (carbon,gfo) so that will be installed this weekend if it gets here in time.
Thanks for looking!
Electrobes
Valuable Member
Looking like a great start... but I've got to say the craftsmanship on that stand is just top notch. I couldn't even fathom attempting something like that. Good call on the manifold, it's one or two less wires that you have to worry about.
OP
OP
scott26
Active Member
Thanks! Ya I don't like having to rely on one pump though because if it goes out I don't have a backup... which I need to get kinda soon.
Tell you what, those are some of the best pics I've seen of diatoms!
CJ
Thanks another update on its way.
OP
OP
scott26
Active Member
Well I got my first fishes in the tank! One year and a few months later it has finally come!
Pictures
Video:
[youtube]oQj4impcqFc[/youtube]
I also finally got the skimmer worked out!!!!! I was trying to replace the mesh moded impeller with the needle and it wasn't working so I was trying to mess with that until I finally found out the spare magnet I was using on the neddle impeller was bad so I switched out the magnet with the mesh modded one and got it to run correctly.
But now I have a whole bunch of micro bubbles going to the main tank.
Pictures
Video:
[youtube]oQj4impcqFc[/youtube]
I also finally got the skimmer worked out!!!!! I was trying to replace the mesh moded impeller with the needle and it wasn't working so I was trying to mess with that until I finally found out the spare magnet I was using on the neddle impeller was bad so I switched out the magnet with the mesh modded one and got it to run correctly.
But now I have a whole bunch of micro bubbles going to the main tank.
CJO
Valuable Member
Nothing like getting a reef related package....but ummm you cant leave us hanging like that :hell_boy:
OP
OP
scott26
Active Member
Okay well I got to unpack everything last night from Bulk Reef Supply. I have to say the quality of their products is outstanding.
So here is the down low on all that I got.
I got some ROX Carbon, GFO, and some 4" filter socks.
And two single reactors.
I also got my screen material from a fellow reefer and got it set up on one of the sides. I had cut the screen frame to go around the return tube but when I put the screen on it made it to flimsy so I had to just cut a rectangle in order to get it to be stable then I just cut the screen where the tube goes through it will make it more of a pain to get off but I don't have any other ideas?!?
So here is the down low on all that I got.
I got some ROX Carbon, GFO, and some 4" filter socks.
And two single reactors.
I also got my screen material from a fellow reefer and got it set up on one of the sides. I had cut the screen frame to go around the return tube but when I put the screen on it made it to flimsy so I had to just cut a rectangle in order to get it to be stable then I just cut the screen where the tube goes through it will make it more of a pain to get off but I don't have any other ideas?!?
OP
OP
scott26
Active Member
I added some more livestock: To start I added the two Clownfish that I have had up in my temp aquarium during this build. They are happier then can be! I have never seen them so active.
I then got some of my first coral in the tank. I got a great deal on two pieces of Red Monti Cap and a piece of Green Monti Cap.
Also in the news I think I am going to have to build a canopy for the light fixture even though I would prefer not to. The light really does shine down into your eyes when sitting on the couch so I guess this would be the only fix. Here is a pic to get an idea this is from sitting on my couch.
Nice looking frags...cant wait to see the grow up! Glad to hear you clowns are enjoying their new home!! As for the canopy, as Kerfing King, i am sure you will have something sick together in no time!
Similar threads
