OP
OP
The Blue Window - 500 G in wall, never ending build
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- Thread starter Dennis Cartier
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OP
OP
You could divide the 300 with eggcrate and have both nems and SPS.
Just a thought
I thought about that. Nems are a tricky bunch. They are like mice. They squeeze through the smallest places. Probably helps when your body is a pile of goo!
Thanks Paleozoic reefer!
Dennis
Yes, it will be in my fish room. This is what I'm thinking on the basic layout. There will be a 3/4 wall around the sump/fuge and some frag tanks in the room. I'll figure out how I want that all laid out later.
OP
OP
Yes, it will be in my fish room. This is what I'm thinking on the basic layout. There will be a 3/4 wall around the sump/fuge and some frag tanks in the room. I'll figure out how I want that all laid out later.
Nice fishroom! I wish mine was bigger than it is.
Dennis
Thanks! I’m ready to get started but still a little ways out. The only reason it’s that big is because we don’t use our garage as intended. So I’m taking over it.
I’m enjoying watching yours, getting some good ideas. I’m curious to see what you do with your skimmer to help prevent micro bubbles getting into your return. I’ve seen a couple things but open to new ideas.
OP
OP
That depends on how I decide to setup for skimming. Truth be told, I would rather not have a skimmer on this tank. I know I will definitely need one at the start, so if I decide to go with the MRC MR-2R that I bought used for this tank, then it may end up being external. That should help to control the micro bubbles as I can decide where to discharge. If I run an internal one, then I would probably use nested containers for my container idea below. The outer container would be like a baffle with holes at the bottom and would be taller. Actually maybe the other way around internal container taller with holes at the bottom.
One think that I am going to do, is to run the return pumps inside their individual containers. Like a large tupperware. The ATO level will be just above the height of the container. That way if the returns get plugged, the return pumps will run out of water as soon as the sump has dropped below the return pump containers. This should prevent an overflow. Of course the ATO would probably kick in and start converting the tank to brackish ... this may take a bit more thinking.
Owww. I just got stung by my BTA on 2 fingers. There was a baby plate coral in my frag tank that had wandered under the overhang that the BTA has its foot stuck to. The plate coral had been there a few days. I was hoping it was going to walk itself out, but I decided to reach in grab it and put it out of harm's way. It was a very awkward operation and my hand startled the BTA and it retracted onto my hand. As soon as I pulled my hand out, my middle finger and ring finger started to sting and burn. I have kept BTA's for years and don't think I have ever been stung before. Kind of hurts, lol.
Dennis
Sounds like no fun, Hopefully the pain goes away fast
Lol, I wish my fish room was bigger than the foot print of the tank and a small stand next to it.
[emoji23]
You can become allergic to various stings over time.
Frog spawn is now very mildly annoying where it did nothing 6 years ago.
Keep an eye on it in the future.
OP
OP
The pain went away pretty fast. The thought did cross my mind though, I am allergic to bee stings and had to be careful as a kid, so would I be allergic to anemone stings? Still breathing, so looks like no.
Dennis
OP
OP
I should probably do an update related to the build.
The rest of the HD 26's have arrived! Ignore the box of Prime HD's those are for a couple upcoming RS 250 builds. I was supposed to get brackets (for the HD 26's), but I am guessing my vendor forgot. I was thinking about attaching them directly to the extrusions with standoffs anyway. I can always order the brackets later if my DIY attempts prove to be no good.
I also started opening and looking at the 5 boxes of BRS Reef Saver rocks I purchased. It looks like 2 boxes with largish pieces, 1 with medium and 2 with small pieces of rock. First observation, the Reef Saver rock is not too porous. I don't know how good it would be as the sole filtration for a tank. I have a different type of filter in mind for this tank anyway, so the limitation of the Reef Saver will not pose a problem. However, the 5 boxes of rock do not look like enough rock to fill much space in the tank. I want to do 3 pillars and have a bunch of low islands sprinkled throughout the sandbed. Once I have protection for the floor, I can tape off a 120" x 36" outline and pull the rocks out to see just how much volume these fill. I have a feeling another much larger rock order will be needed.
The photo below shows a very circular hole in one rock. It is perfectly round and looks like it would fit a frag plug exactly. When I saw it, at first I wondered if the rock was a return and someone had drilled a hole into it. The inside edge even had a texture to it like you would expect from a drill bit. I went and got a flashlight and my glasses and upon examination, the hole goes several inches into the rock, like a perfect tube, and the inside surface is completely covered in crystals. Very neat looking. I will have to remember to make sure that hole is facing outward for something to use.
Dennis
The rest of the HD 26's have arrived! Ignore the box of Prime HD's those are for a couple upcoming RS 250 builds. I was supposed to get brackets (for the HD 26's), but I am guessing my vendor forgot. I was thinking about attaching them directly to the extrusions with standoffs anyway. I can always order the brackets later if my DIY attempts prove to be no good.
I also started opening and looking at the 5 boxes of BRS Reef Saver rocks I purchased. It looks like 2 boxes with largish pieces, 1 with medium and 2 with small pieces of rock. First observation, the Reef Saver rock is not too porous. I don't know how good it would be as the sole filtration for a tank. I have a different type of filter in mind for this tank anyway, so the limitation of the Reef Saver will not pose a problem. However, the 5 boxes of rock do not look like enough rock to fill much space in the tank. I want to do 3 pillars and have a bunch of low islands sprinkled throughout the sandbed. Once I have protection for the floor, I can tape off a 120" x 36" outline and pull the rocks out to see just how much volume these fill. I have a feeling another much larger rock order will be needed.
The photo below shows a very circular hole in one rock. It is perfectly round and looks like it would fit a frag plug exactly. When I saw it, at first I wondered if the rock was a return and someone had drilled a hole into it. The inside edge even had a texture to it like you would expect from a drill bit. I went and got a flashlight and my glasses and upon examination, the hole goes several inches into the rock, like a perfect tube, and the inside surface is completely covered in crystals. Very neat looking. I will have to remember to make sure that hole is facing outward for something to use.
Dennis
That’s a whole lot of lights! Look forward to seeing the scape. It’s got be fun and exhausting to do a tank that big.
OP
OP
Lol, to be exhausting I would have to work on it. Seems like I am always waiting on something. I checked in with the extrusion vendor and now they are saying October 29th or thereabouts for the parts I am waiting for. Hence the reason I am going to start diverting my attention to the rockscape while I wait.
Here is why I need to get my DT moving along. This is my frag tank holding all my livestock from my previous tank and frags I have been gathering for the new one. Excuse the mess, it is a bit tight in there. Just keeping everything alive and not at each other's throats is a full time job. The Space Invader? Ya, well, he is a handful as evidenced by the ring of destruction around him.
The pics were taken with a cell phone and one of those orange filter clips. Sorry about the quality (or lack thereof).
Dennis
NY_Caveman
likes words, fish and arbitrary statistics
The pics were taken with a cell phone and one of those orange filter clips. Sorry about the quality (or lack thereof).
Dennis
It is like the buffet of my dreams! I have heard that about Pectina’s, but seeing the circle of emptiness around it is pretty amazing.
Man, your going to have a tank full from the get go.
OP
OP
I actually bought the Space Invader on a whim. I had no idea what it was. I think I paid $60 for it when it was about 40% of the size it is now. When I looked the name up online, I thought "Huh, must be named after the little characters from the arcade game". The first night I looked at it with the lights off I got a whole new appreciation for the name. Oh, I see. It literally invades the tank space all around it. My aquascape plans for the DT have special accommodation for the corals of the Space Invader's ilk.
I plan to separate the sandbed into 3 sections of about the same size more or less. Each section will contain a rock column for attaching acros (high up) and plating SPS (low down). The first section closest to the viewable end of the tank will be christened "The Valley of the Kings". This section will be for choice corals that are unusually beautiful. Think rainbow acans, favias, blastos, etc. Perhaps some less common euphyllias.
The section in the middle of the tank will be "The Valley of the Gods". I expect this part of the sandbed to be almost 100% chalice corals. I love chalices and in my view, they have some of the best coluration out there, especially in large colonies.
The final section will be "The Valley of Death". The Space Invader will get central billing in this section. Any other corals that are attractive and lethal will get housed here as well. I expect the density to be lower since they are going to need their space.
The first step is to get the columns constructed, hopefully with some assurance that they are not going to topple over. I am thinking maybe 1.5" schedule 80 PVC tubing with a nice PVC base or perhaps a HDPE base. If I build the columns intending to slide over the PVC riser, in a pinch I could pull the towers out (if I can lift them) while leaving the PVC riser in place. Ya, who am I kidding. Each column will be close to 150 lbs, I will need help to get them into the tank, I doubt I need to plan for removal, least of all removal by myself.
I hope to unpack the rocks in the next couple of days and start working on some designs.
Dennis
The valley of death, I like it. Are you going to cement the columns as well? Or go the fiberglass/acrylic rod route?
OP
OP
I will have some frags to choose from, but unfortunately they come with complications. The frag tank has Montipora eating Nudibranchs, though you would never know it based on the appearance of the montis. They are there though, just under control. There are also Asterina starfish. I never really worried about them, until I found several eating my zoanthids perched on top with the arms draped over the polyp, eating it like a carrot. There are also a bucket load of vermetid snails in the tank and on the frags. So I can frag from this tank, but still need to QT everything coming out of it. At some point, I will have to shut it down and clean it up and restart it. Not until I have lots of tanks to slowly migrate the livestock to first.
I have 12 lbs of the AquaForest Stone Fix on hand. I am not sure how far that will go, but I have found a local supplier of 50 lb bags of what I assume it is. I expect it is the same as Marco sells (which is what I located locally). I am probably going to go with a PVC pipe core and zip ties holding rocks into place, and then cemented. I have located some PVC architectural boards at one of the big box stores. They are 100% PVC and can be cut like wood. I am hoping that the PVC pipe adhesive (for all types) can adhere these boards. I would like to make an 'H' pattern out of them (the footings for the pillars, and adhere a PVC flange to the centre board for the pipe to mount into.
I am not a fan of drilling as I always break the rocks, and these Reef Saver ones are very crumbly from the get go. I have not decided if I want to make some of the smaller rocks removable from the (future) central columns to make it possible to remove sections to work on outside the tank. I am hoping a can get the columns to have a large upper portion and a small waist. I really find this style of table like pillars makes for striking displays.
Once concern I have is how heavy and hard these will be to lift into the tank once complete. I could build them inside the tank, but that does not really appeal to me. I can fit in the tank, but doubt I would want to do rock sculpture while inside the tank. Once I have the walk platform in place, that may alleviate a lot of my worries.
Dennis
You may have dealt with Marco cement and this may be unneeded advice. When you cement two rocks, give it 24 hours before you mess with it all. My scape was put together with it, I wasted half a bucket of Marco before I learned. It’s slow going like that, but after the 24 hours it’s an incredibly strong hold.
Yeah I wouldn’t want to build in the tank either. May have to build them and have some buddies come over for beer and rock moving.
Yeah I wouldn’t want to build in the tank either. May have to build them and have some buddies come over for beer and rock moving.
OP
OP
Thanks for the advice on setting time to strength for the thorite cement. I plan on using Acryl 60 as well to speed up the setup.
I unpacked my Reef Saver dry rock last night, and I have to say, I am a bit underwhelmed. Here is what 400 lbs of dry Reef Saver rock looks like.
I don't think this is going to fill much space in my tank. I am not even sure if that is enough to do the 3 rock columns.
I am looking to get another 500 lbs of dry rock, not Reef Saver, more like Marco. The 500 lbs of new rock should be about 7 cubic feet of rock. I think that should give me plenty to work with, what do you guys think?
Dennis
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