Twisty nano's build
 

Hi,

I'm new here :) Great forum and lot's of nice projects. :biggrin:

The members seems to very knowledgeable and courteous.

So this project started out 5 years ago, I had to put it on hold due to buying a new house. :sad: Prior to this project I owned a 75gl Reef (no sump)

I recently finished my basement and decided to resurrect this project.

My plans are to run a Biocube with Coast to Coast overflow and 40gl breeder tank Sump.
I also have a smaller 12gl cube that will be plumbed in-line.

When I first started the project (5 years ago) I had cut the back out of the tanks and assembled the overflow boxes. I recently made the Durso standpipes.

I built a custom stand to house the tanks and sump.

I will have several questions... some of which i have already answered by reading others posts.

Here's a pic of the project so far
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/pic...pictureid=6757

Finished basement....what's with the door sitting sideways? lol just kidding. looks good bud.:mrgreen:

It's a magic trick :P

It's going to be a slow process. I'm doing a bunch of reading/research regarding the muriatic acid baths we talked about.

I have approx 100lbs of rock that have been sitting "dry" for 5+ years. Prior to letting them "dry" I had cooked them.
Ie: Let them sit in a DARK TUB with him High flow and RO Salt Water with several water changes weekly.

RC's thread mention bleaching them ACID, there seems to be various opinion on the order of execution.

Is bleaching necesarry? or should I only do the ACID bath.

Do you think my local hardware store will have this muriatic acid? (home depot).

There's also a mention of using Baking Soda or Draino to neutralize the ACID.

It's cold in Ottawa (as i mentioned yesterday) :cry:

I'm hoping to find a warmer day to do this outside without the water freezing.

Any input would be appreciated.

Read the above in red please

Hi Twisty,

In regards to your question about the big 3 (alk, cal, mag), the following numbers should be a good guide (I am no expert).

alk : 6.5 - 8.5
cal : 410 - 430
mag : 1250 - 1300

I am only just starting to learn about balancing the big 3 myself, so hopefully other, more experienced reefers could chime in.
I would also recommend you do some research based on what livestock you plan on keeping, not every tank is the same.

I like the multi-level tank idea. This is going to be an interesting build!

Dog,

thanks for the numbers! :)
based on your thread... I know you don't have any test kits... but what brands are suggested?
I do know you like beer :idea:

I plan on keeping a Mixed Reef, given the size of the larger LOL tank. I will have to be selective with my corals or use frags.

I still haven't figured out what i'm going to do with the smaller tank.

I also have an empty spot, was thinking either Quarantine or Frag tank.

In my tank, I just couldn't keep my Ca stable unless my Mg was 1400ish. Once I got my mag there, I could leave my Ca reactor set for months till I had to refill it. And I started seeing huge growth of SPS once my Ca hit 420.
Either way, start with getting your Mg stable where you want it. Then play with the other two. If you don't, you'll chase numbers till the cows come home. Sk8er on RC has a great write up on the relationships between the 3

Good advice

And as for your other comments twisty, well you can't offer beers if you're halfway across the country
Most of us that are talking to you are in BC, so good luck with the beers for trade stuff :wink:

LOL...

Gave my LR and Acid bath this weekend.
Lot's of bubbles and FOAM!

The rock looks good and ready to start the cycle.

Any recommendations on how to start the cycle?
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/pic...pictureid=6760
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/pic...pictureid=6759

Also got a Vertex Deluxe RO/DI Unit...

Now i need to start mixing salt water :)

Return Pump
 

So I'm going to be purchasing a return pump. They guys @ J&L recommended the Sicce Syncra. Anybody use these pumps?

I'm having a hard time figuring out what one to use; re head loss.

I plan on running both tanks with one return pump. The top tank is about 4.5' from the sump in height. I'll measure it tonight.

I also want to create a manifold, so I can plumb media reactors on the same pump output.

Any idea which pump I should run?
Syncra 1.0 - 251 GPH <-- don't think this will be suitable.
Syncra 2.0 - 568 GPH
Syncra 3.0 - 714 GPH

sump design
 

I received my skimmer today :biggrin:
Now i'm trying to figure out what would be the best layout for my SUMP

I haven't installed any baffles yet as I would like input.

What do you guys think of this layout?
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/pic...pictureid=6761

Here's the view from the font

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/pic...pictureid=6763

A lot of people will prefer to have the fuge before the skimmer. That way the water isn't " too clean" for any macro algae or whatever you're wanting to grow in there.
Are you planning having any filter socks?

I was planning on plumbing both drains into one output and running a filter sock on it.

I guess I could still do this and T-off the drain in two with ball valves; one to the fuge (lower flow) and the other to the skimmer section. I guess with this method I would just run the sock on the skimmer portion and not the fuge?

Also my baffles are 10' high. From what i've seen the Fuge section has a higher baffle.

does this make sense?

Return Pump selection
 

I need to purchase a return pump.

Anybody have any experience with the Sicce Syncra pumps?

the 4.0 pushes 900+ gph...

Or the Eheim Universal 1262.

I'm planning on using this pump as a return for both tanks... plus a manifold for reactors.

Any input?

The 1262 is a workhorse that's been around forever, so that's my vote. No experience with the Sicce yet.

Are you planning the top tank to drain into the lower tank then into the sump, with the return back up to the top tank? I'm trying to visualize your idea.

Both tanks will drain into the Sump... they both have C2C overflows with Durso standpipes...

So the Ehiem will be used as a return for both tanks....


I also plan on using the pump for media reactors off a manifold.

thanks for your input.

I'll post pictures tonight... I have the returns already plumbed. Just need a pump to get going. :biggrin:

Yeah, post some pictures if you can. You might want a bigger pump. I've got lots of suggestions for you, however it'll have to wait until I can get to a proper keyboard. I'm on lunch and need to get back to the slavery, lol.

Well my day slaving away it almost done! :biggrin:

I'll post a pic of what I've got done so far later tonight.

I still haven't glued the baffles in the sump yet... as I want to figure out what pump to run :)

Good call on the baffles. I'll send you an add, as to not clog up your build thread!

Update Nano Project
 

i'm one step closer to water :)

I got a piece of acrylic cut to prevent my fish from entering my overflow area.

I'm happy with it :) I silicon them last night.

Also installed the baffles on my sump.

Next plumbing, anybody know where i can get a slip 3/4 PVC to barbed fitting to run my media reactors?

What size tubing do most of those reactors run?

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/pic...pictureid=6782
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/pic...pictureid=6781
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/pic...pictureid=6783

Pump
 

Also received my return pump.
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/pic...pictureid=6784

Any Idea where i can get this type of fitting?

http://cdn3.volusion.com/carwc.szhuu...arbxSpig-2.jpg

I think the majority of reactors run half inch ID. Everything is looking good so far!!

Return Plumbing
 

busy day today :)

I got all my returned plumbed.

2 ball valves on oposite ends to control flow to each nano.

The one in the middle for the reactor.

Then added aone lower for Water Changes (dump water)

Let me know what you think?

I'm working on the drains now! Pic to come.

System might see water tomorrow :)
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/pic...pictureid=6785

Drain
 

Here's my drain... i'm using flex from the tank to the bottom of the stand. Then rigid PVC to the sump. Any thoughts?
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/pic...pictureid=6786

No unions on your drain for cleaning?

No, no unions.

Should I have some?

What you've done is by no means wrong, just a personal preference.

If it were me, I would have each flex going into a union, one above the elbow on the right, and one above the branch of the tee. This allows you to completely remove the drain rail for servicing and/or removal the sump.

Like I said, it's a personal preference.

Aquascape - testing
 

So last night after I plumbed everything I started playing with my rocks.

I know about the rules of 3rds... from reading lot's about photography.

I moved the rocks around all night...
Here's a few shots of what I did... and ended up with.

I'm going to Epoxy the rocks together... Is there a better solution for this?

This is my prefered layout
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/pic...pictureid=6789

Here are other versions:
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/pic...pictureid=6789
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/pic...pictureid=6787

Going to be making a mount for my lights, want to install this before I put water in the system. #waitinggame #killingme

Update
 

More progress!!!

Making a custom mount for my lights tonight AI SOLS.. Going to hang them tonight.

Then the FUN PART #waterhitsthetank #prayfornoleaks

What height do you hang your LEDS above the tanks? I was thinking 8"

I would go 12 inches. You will get a better spead. Also I had an AI sol super blue on my 18 x 18 and it was loads of power. This will help you keep the light up in tiny tank without scorching all your corals. Nice build. Looking forward to seeing water in it.

That's alot of sand in a small system. Gonna take alot of vacuuming!

Vacuuming?

I never vacuumed in my previous reef (90gls).

I thought you weren't supposed to disturb the sand bed (substrate)

It's got water
 

So, time for an update. :)

Quite the weekend. Filled my system up on the weekend, it's always an adventure to see your project progress.:biggrin:

Turns out the small system failed...and leaked. My external overflow had a leak and the seems. After some messing around to fix it. I damaged the tank and cracked the bottom panel. So off to the recycling with it.

I took advantage of the situation and had a custom one build with larger dimensions to fill the shelf properly. Looks much better!

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/pic...pictureid=6792

Also I wasn't running a filter sock on my overflow and my skimmer pump Sicce Syncra Sk400 sucked in some debris and broke it's impeller shaft.

I can't manage to get the magnet out of the body and don't want to damage it further.

Does anybody know how i would go about this? Getting the magnet out? Needle nose pliers?
Please see attached pick.
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/pic...pictureid=6794

Still waiting for the cycle to finish.. this is killing me ;)

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/pic...pictureid=6795