The 40 gallon cube rebuild

[mch1984]

Let's go!! I hope to see great photos soon

Delivery is supposed to be the 20th, weather permitting. They are coming from San Diego, and I'm in West Texas, so I'm sure the weather will permit, lol. I bought more than I intended to buy, but the prices were good, so I took advantage. I'm not ready to start dosing or anything yet, but I do need to test out my auto water change system and make sure it's going well. I am finishing up my second 5 page paper for school now, and I have one final this week and two next week. Then I have a break. I hope to spend some time working on the tank during that time. I will have to balance it wife the stuff my wife would like to get done.

 

[JustinP.]

Delivery is supposed to be the 20th, weather permitting. They are coming from San Diego, and I'm in West Texas, so I'm sure the weather will permit, lol. I bought more than I intended to buy, but the prices were good, so I took advantage. I'm not ready to start dosing or anything yet, but I do need to test out my auto water change system and make sure it's going well. I am finishing up my second 5 page paper for school now, and I have one final this week and two next week. Then I have a break. I hope to spend some time working on the tank during that time. I will have to balance it wife the stuff my wife would like to get done.

I hear you with school. I just finished my fall semester and man it's different not having homework. I will say though. Maintaining the tank became alot easier when being busy with school and work because I actually looked forward to doing it. And it also stopped me from constantly tinkering things and just let things grow.

Funny enough I'm visiting Texas for the first time this weekend!

 

[mch1984]

I hear you with school. I just finished my fall semester and man it's different not having homework. I will say though. Maintaining the tank became alot easier when being busy with school and work because I actually looked forward to doing it. And it also stopped me from constantly tinkering things and just let things grow.

Funny enough I'm visiting Texas for the first time this weekend!

Hopefully you are going to the pretty part and not West Texas.

That is why I added some much automation to my tank. I always think I'll have spare time but then school work takes longer than expected and I don't. I'll take all the help I can get.

I feel you on when the semester is over, It's like I don't know what to do with myself. When I graduate in 26 I'll really be lost.

 

[JustinP.]

Hopefully you are going to the pretty part and not West Texas.

That is why I added some much automation to my tank. I always think I'll have spare time but then school work takes longer than expected and I don't. I'll take all the help I can get.

I feel you on when the semester is over, It's like I don't know what to do with myself. When I graduate in 26 I'll really be lost.

Man I have 2 and a half more years.. I'm finished in 27. You have an apex right?

 

[mch1984]

Man I have 2 and a half more years.. I'm finished in 27. You have an apex right?

Yeah, I bought a used one.

I started in 2019, but I waited till I was 35 to go to college and I had to take a couple of prep classes to even get started. Working full time I only do a few a semester so it's been slow going but I'll be classified as a senior in the spring and I feel like it's almost over. Just have to survive the senior design project.

 

[JustinP.]

Yeah, I bought a used one.

I started in 2019, but I waited till I was 35 to go to college and I had to take a couple of prep classes to even get started. Working full time I only do a few a semester so it's been slow going but I'll be classified as a senior in the spring and I feel like it's almost over. Just have to survive the senior design project.

You're almost there! Those projects are the bane of my existence. I just finished a semester project and man... that was a challenge

 

[mch1984]

You're almost there! Those projects are the bane of my existence. I just finished a semester project and man... that was a challenge

Yeah they suck. This will be a year-long one; I'm not sure how the selection process works, but we'll see.

What is your major?

 

[JustinP.]

Yeah they suck. This will be a year-long one; I'm not sure how the selection process works, but we'll see.

What is your major?

Mechanical engineering and business administration. How about you?

 

[mch1984]

Mechanical engineering and business administration. How about you?

Haha, mechanical engineering. What school? I'm going online at the University of North Dakota.

 

[JustinP.]

Haha, mechanical engineering. What school? I'm going online at the University of North Dakota.

University of central Florida. LOL what are the odds. What are you currently doing for work?

 

[mch1984]

University of central Florida. LOL what are the odds. What are you currently doing for work?

I work in the oil and gas industry. In particular, I am the technical manager for four shops that work on downhole rod pumps. I've been in the industry for 22 years, since I was 17. I will most likely end up working as a petroleum engineer after graduating, but many of the engineers on the production side and artificial lift side, like me, are mechanical. I liked the flexibility of jobs available with the mechanical over the petroleum.

 

[JustinP.]

I work in the oil and gas industry. In particular, I am the technical manager for four shops that work on downhole rod pumps. I've been in the industry for 22 years, since I was 17. I will most likely end up working as a petroleum engineer after graduating, but many of the engineers on the production side and artificial lift side, like me, are mechanical. I liked the flexibility of jobs available with the mechanical over the petroleum.

Yeah definitely! That's an incredible track record, plus the industry knowledge makes the degree even more valuable for other companies for sure.

 

[mch1984]

Yeah definitely! That's an incredible track record, plus the industry knowledge makes the degree even more valuable for other companies for sure.

Yeah, my boss is a little concerned that one of my customers will snatch me up after I graduate.

 

[JustinP.]

Yeah, my boss is a little concerned that one of my customers will snatch me up after I graduate.

Definitely not a bad problem to have LOL.

 

[mch1984]

I picked up a mushroom from a local reefer. He also threw in two little frags of his orange digi. It's not a great picture, but it's a nice little shroom.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I picked up a mushroom from a local reefer. He also threw in two little frags of his orange digi. It's not a great picture, but it's a nice little shroom.

That is cool that you got some free orange digis to go along with it!

 

[mch1984]

That is cool that you got some free orange digis to go along with it!

Yup, starting to find a few reefers local. The community is small but they are there.

 

[mch1984]

The clowns have arrived!! They look super healthy and good to go.

 

[mch1984]

I did my first round of full testing and I'm not sure what to think, the numbers weren't what I expected and my calcium is way out there. Not sure what to do with these test.

Nitrate - 50 ppm (this needs to come down for sure)
Phos - 0.05 ppm
Mag - 1400
Calcium - 585
alk - 10.1

I'm definitely doubting my PH probes readings at this point. I will recalibrate soon.

 

[JustinP.]

I did my first round of full testing and I'm not sure what to think, the numbers weren't what I expected and my calcium is way out there. Not sure what to do with these test.

Nitrate - 50 ppm (this needs to come down for sure)
Phos - 0.05 ppm
Mag - 1400
Calcium - 585
alk - 10.1

I'm definitely doubting my PH probes readings at this point. I will recalibrate soon.

What did you use to test it?