Better add a bit more salt to your Popcorn then.. ;)

:mrgreen:

I actually got 2 of them in the box. I was pretty confused as to why they provided me with two, I couldn't understand it! 1 has a spot for both the float switch and the electronic sensor, the other just one spot. In the instructions it shows that you can use the single holder one for when you want to have the float switch higher than the other dual magnet provides. I decided to use it for holding the feed pump hose in place.

I stole the eggcrate board idea from someone over on Nano-Reef. Works really well. Cable management is very important to me on this build. Clean clean clean..

w00t! Finally finished my plumbing today. :D I should have had it done weeks ago when I started it, but got a bit lazy @ home and busy @ work which delayed me in picking up the correct plumbing parts I needed to finish the job. But it's done now.

My plans now are to sell off that Bubble Magus NAC6 and pick up a Reef Octopus XP1000sss, then my Lights which I am back to being undecided on :neutral: , then Salt and RO unit.

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...f/photo1-3.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...f/photo2-3.jpg

Small update before life gets crazy for the christmas season.

Picked up my Vertex Puratek 100GPD RO/DI unit. It's felt a bit strange buying 2 of these things in a matter of a couple months apart. :lol:

Also decided on my salt after finding that the parameters of the CoralLife Salt I am using at the office is completely unacceptable out of the bag. So I will be going with H2Ocean salt. I've liked it in past so figured I would use it again. Also picked another 23lbs of dry rock to finish my aquascape. :) Unfortunately I probably won't get a whole lot of progress made before the New Year, but I will definitely have something to do after the holidays are over. :mrgreen:

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...f/photo1-4.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...f/photo2-4.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...f/photo3-2.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...f/photo4-1.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...f/photo5-1.jpg

looks good! i am using the same salt these days. been happy with it so far and it mixes a lot cleaner than RC.

Ditto on the salt. H2Ocean is one of my fav. Although I will occasionally rotate in a WC with RC still, just for fun. So who gets to tank sit during the Christmas holidays?

This tank, shouldn't need much babysitting...:lol: My office tank however will, I am topping off my ATO Friday which will last till monday, then my manager will come in monday to 2 pre-filled jugs of water to top up the ATO which will last until I get back in on Friday. As for feedings, I am going to use an Autofeeder with flake/pellet for the weekend, manager will feed Frozen and Nori on Monday and the autofeeder will take care of xmas day and boxing day. Skimmer should be ok for the entire time I'm gone. I'm also leaving a 35G batch of fresh SW in the case that things go horribly wrong. *knock on wood*! :lol:

oops sorry, had a bit of a brain fart there, ya I was thinking of your office tank with that question more than this tank. Always thought about doing something at my office but the whole issue around vacations and holidays has me wondering if that would actually work for us here. In other words I would not really trust any of my co-workers with a tank :lol:

I wouldn't say I have FULL faith in them. And even after leaving detailed instructions on what to do each day while I was away, they forgot/missed a few things, but this is a conversation for my other thread. :lol:


On the other hand...

I installed the RO/DI before leaving for christmas holidays and ran it for about 1.5hr as per the instructions. (Which only recommended 30mins actually, but I prefer to run longer for the initial flush)

Got home from the airport about 10pm tonight, got settled in and unpacked... figured it was time to turn this bad boy on!

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...0Reef/rodi.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...Reef/water.jpg

Awesome!

This tank needs water. :razz:

Indeed.. :biggrin:

I'm working on it!
http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...eef/water2.jpg


Seeing how I was out of the province on boxing day I didn't get to do any reef shopping so I took today off work to stop by a few places and grab a few more things for this build. I was looking to grab my new skimmer, but that will have to wait it appears. Otherwise I picked up my 2nd MP10, a bottle of Zeobak (and was hoping to get some Zeostart3, but Concept was sold out), and also picked up a stock 20H tank for my SW mixing station (not photographed)

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/.../boxingday.jpg

It's pretty much filled as of last night, but when I switched on the return pump to see where my sump would level off at, I wasn't getting any pumping action, just my tank draining back to the sump. It's a brand new Reef Octopus Water Blaster pump, so tonight when I get home I will have to disconnect it, open it up, fiddle around with the impeller, put it back together and expect it to work.


While I do love these pumps for their solid build quality (housing wise) and low noise output, this is the 2nd of 3 that I have had start up issues with brand new out of the box. My first issue was with the HY7000, impeller seemed to constantly rattle vibrate, so I swapped that out for a HY5000, which worked really well. Now I'm having issues with the HY3000. Hopefully its as simple as just pulling the impeller out, rinsing it out and re-assembling it.



Fingers Crossed!

Well I officially have water circulating through my system. [:)] Now I just have to get it up to temp and start adding the salty white stuff. [:happy:] Still gotta clean up some of the cabling too. Now where did I leave my zip-ties?

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...f/photo1-7.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...f/photo2-6.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...f/photo3-3.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...f/photo4-2.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...f/photo5-2.jpg

Looking very nice! Well thought out, can't wait to see this stocked.

looks really good man. other then that thing in the first compartment. now I know you can do better then that.:biggrin:

holy crap you're slow josh! i'm equal parts excited and impatient.

MOVE IT!

Thanks! I can't wait for it to be cycled, let alone stocked.. :lol:

I'm not actually using that skimmer Mike.. That's just where I put it for "storage". I'm getting one of the Reef Life Support System skimmers actually. Unless I get impatient and pick up a Reef Octopus XP1000sss. Either way, it'll be an improvement.

:redface: Sorry Brett.. my reef budget isn't endless with this tank. ;) I got 2 big purchases left.. Skimmer, hopefully next week, and lights. At this rate I'm looking at T5's for one simple reason.. CHEAP(er) than LEDs (initially). Hoping to find a 36" 4 or 6 bulb unit. I really don't need lighting during the cycle, but the skimmer sure would be nice.

Also need to track down some Zeostart3... Concept and Oceans are both out of stock.. Does Golds sell that stuff?

I got it salted and heated last weekend. 1.026 @ 25.3'C.

Changed my aquascape too as I wasn't thrilled with my previous layout. Still not sure about this one. What do you guys think?

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...f/newscape.jpg

I think it looks great, but you should take the day off and enjoy your HAPPY B-DAY :razz:

Haha.. I don't know where you found saw that info, but Thanks greg! I would love to dip out of work early. :mrgreen:

On the front page, under members birthdays. You're actually the only one listed today.

Happy Birthday!

looks great Josh! So what's your bday present to yourself? :-)

All I'd do is remove that top rock so your sticks have room to stretch out otherwise looks great.

I know all about building when budget allows. But you still need a few jackasses on you throughout the process to liven things up =)

Ah! The one part of the site I rarely see or check on.

Thanks!

Thanks. I'm not really sure. I still need to get my skimmer and lights, and a bottle of Zeostart3 so I can start the cycle. I will likely swing by Concept tonight after work and see what they have kicking around. :)


See I was thinking about moving that rock, but I really don't have anywhere else in the tank to put it. I like having that canyon-esque looking between the left rock and the right, so bridging that isn't really an option. I suppose I could toss it into the sump, but that one rock would fill my entire fuge area. haha I might try it tonight, see what it looks like.

I'm always up for some jackassing. Hmmm wrong wording? :lol:

When I got my nano setup I promptly threw out half the rock. You don't always need to put it somewhere. Toss it or sell it. I'm not a fan of rock in sumps. I used to do this but it traps stuff.

I saved one piece which I smash with a hammer if I need a rubble piece to attach something to.

I can't toss it.. haha The thing is, if I move it, there really isn't much of a "frag mounting base" there. That rock is perched across 3 others so it leaves a big open space kind of.


I'll figure out what I like sooner or later.. right now though I'm driving myself crazy trying to make a final decision on a skimmer purchase.. As soon as I THINK I know which skimmer I want, I change my mind and start looking again or doubting whether I would be happy with X or Y purchase..

I either stick with my Bubble Magus NAC6 for a bit and purchase my lights (which I'm also back and forth on, ATI PM T5s or LEDs.. haha)... or....

- RLSS RS8i
- Reef Octopus XP 2000sss
- ATI Powercone I-series 200 (just added to the list today, but almost BK $$$ for something new and relatively untested)
- BK Mini 160 (not really, but it crosses my mind once in a while.. haha If i found one used in Canada I probably would bite)

Everything else on this build I had so well planned out what I wanted, now I'm sooo indecisive on the Lights and Skimmer (obviously 2 important parts of a reef).

Arrrrrrrrrrrrggggggghhhhhhh!

what about one the the new Vertex omega skimmers? or were you hoping to keep the skimmer pump inside the body?

I like the idea of the pump being in the body. Especially if I am going to be having a GFO/Carbon reactor(s) running in the sump as well. Just saves a bit more space.

Plus I went out tonight and did some birthday shopping for myself. Picked up the following goodies.

Going to try the probidio products on this tank.

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...0/Untitled.jpg


Vertex 1.5 Reactor, likely for GFO:
http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...f/photo2-7.jpg

Reef Octopus XP-2000sss
http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...f/photo5-4.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...f/photo1-8.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...f/photo1-9.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...f/photo3-6.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...f/photo4-5.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...f/photo2-8.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...f/photo5-5.jpg

The reason why I went with the Reef Octopus is pretty simple. It's the one that was in stock tonight. I told myself before I went in the shop that I was going to end my headaches and come home with a skimmer tonight. Canadian Customs made it really easy to choose as the Concepts RLSS skimmer shipment was being held at Customs for whatever reason and the Reef Octopus Skimmers arrived yesterday. I didn't feel the XP-1000sss was rated high enough for my system, so I went with the XP-2000sss which has a very similar Air draw as the RS6i (900+ lph). Also just realized I said RS8i above, I meant RS6i.

I am happy with it so far. The build quality is really nice, I like the Reef Octopus pumps and this is a very quiet skimmer.

Time to get this tank on the road to glory! :mrgreen:

While I was at Concept last night talking to the guys about my 180G issues and to get a few test results on my water I ended up walking out with one of these.

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...ps79df9289.jpg

cant wait to see that bad boy over your tank josh , your fish are gonna need sunglasses as well lol :P:P


cheers buddy:)

denny

pretty damn big impulse buy!

Go big or go home!!

..actually, I think in this case Josh did both.

Shhhh.... Don't tell my wallet.

...actually.. I went back to the office THEN went home.

Well worth it! Those lights are getting great reviews. It will fit your tank perfectly

k ok ok man that is a enough who do you think you are showing us all these fancy pieces of gear. well you have some explaining to do mister.:razz:


But more pictures will do thou im easily perswaded

To be honest, I'm finding them to be quite a pain in the butt to program via my PC. Compared to the Ecotech anyways. Once I get that figured out I should be happier with it.

The light spread is actually what sold me on it. I tested out a Radion and found that I was going to need 2 to get the coverage I wanted on the tank.

Hoping to weld up a light rack for it this weekend.


What sort of explaining am I suppose to do? :mrgreen:

As for pics, I'll get some up after I get it hanging over the tank. :wink:

i wasnt too sure on the programming as i havent had a chance to play on the pc with them too much as far as programming goes, cant wait to see some pics.

i gotta say you picked one hell of a line up for equipment on this tank this is gonna run pretty smoothly for ya:)

Once you get the hang of the light composer you'll like the program, probably not as simple as ecotech but it does a lot more in the end.

I hope it runs smooth. I may still add a dosing pump to the setup down the road, but that's about it. I've put so much into the build I got nothing left for livestock.. :lol:

I actually got my light rack welded up here at the office yesterday after work. Just need to get a couple coats of black paint on it and pick up was rubber weather stripping so it does slide around and scratch the euro-bracing.


My main issue so far has been that no matter what I tell it to do at night at 9 or 10pm (ie. all leds off) at 12:09am the HV come back on for the night until the first stage of the program starts in the morning. So basically, I can't get them to turn off at night except for 2 hours between 10pm and 12:09am.

I'll play around with it more tonight and see what happens.

It maybe your moonlight setting, go to the channel that stays on and uncheck the moon simulation.