New 225 Setup with Aquascaping Focus

[TheReefGeek]

Your Tunze auto top off will pump from a reservoir of water into your tank when water evaporates. This means you still have to use an RODI until to fill a reservoir manually. I ran like this for a while, but after forgetting to turn the RODI off sometimes, I got some small floods.

A really simple solution is to hook up a sprinkler solenoid between your water source and the RODI. Then put this on a timer, for just under the water usage you have per day, and plumb the RODI to your reservoir. This will keep the reservoir slowly filling up each day, but also the reservoir will slowly go down, but at least you are not manually filling it as often.

More complicated involves float switches in the reservoir to control the sprinkler soloenoid precisely.

Another way is to use a float valve in the reservoir, with a hydraulic switch in your RODI that will flip from pressure in the line when the float valve closes. But this can fail too easily IMO, especially when your line between RODI and reservoir is lengthy, like across your house, then you would need pressure bladders to keep the pressure up, like spectrapure setup use.

I have tried all 3 of the above methods, right now I just set my RODI unit to just below my daily usage, and manually crank the timer around to top up immiediately when I notice it is low. So a couple times a week I crank the timer, and all is well.

I have not run ozone (yet) but ozone clears up your water quality by breaking down organics in the water that otherwise would color it.

UV kill free floating "stuff" like bacteria, im no biologist, but this has cut down my slime algae by 1/10th at least, I rarely have to clean the glass, I actually clean the glass to get rid of coralline now, not green slime.

[TheReefGeek]

I have seen PVC frames too, but you don't necessarily have to build a whole frame if you don't want to

You could get a masonary/diamond drill bit that is just a bit smaller than 1/2" PVC outside diameter, then drill into rock #1 in desired connecting location. Then jamb a lenght of 1/2" PVC into it, should be a snug fit, and cut the PVC to lenth that the next hold depth will be in rock #2. Then drill rock #2, and connect the two pieces of rock.

If you end up with any visible PVC, you can glue on rubble rock to cover it, but if you do it right and pay attention to the surfaces this should not be necessary.

Make sure you use a really nice drill bit (maybe a diamond or carbide masonary bit would work best? Ask at the hardware store) so you dont fracture the rock, drill really slowly and test on smaller pieces first. It would be best to use a drill press with the rock in a vice, but by hand should work too if you are carefully. This is a great way to make long arches of rock, and allows you to make really clean looking connections between rocks, they don't have to overlap as much and you end up with your whole rock structure looking like it is just 1 solid piece of rock, very reef-like IMO.

[andrewsk]

Albert,

Can you post the pics here? I am sure others would love to see your handiwork!

[albert_dao]

It's printed... haha

[Tarolisol]

Thats alot of tunze gear, your tanks going to be rockin' like a hurricane. Keep us posted.

[TheReefGeek]

You mean it is going to be slick, like the Oilers.

Hope you got a good deal for ordering 1 of everything from their catalogue.
Tunze stuff is so nice, im soooo jealous.

[andrewsk]

Slick like the oilers. Boy did you guys dodge a bullet last night!


Here is a mockup of what I want to do with the tank. Excuse my poor MSPaint Skills.

[niloc16]

the best rock work i have ever seen done is by a guy that goes by fudge on here and his pics are posted on RC. he did an unbelievable job. i like your layout plan. looks really good, keep us posted with tons of pics

[TheReefGeek]

Very similar to what I am going to do, except I have to hide my overflow, and I am going to have an arch connecting the two areas.

And you will want area on the right hand side open, just like the back, for cleaning.

[Delphinus]

Top shelf system Your setup is very much like what I was planning to do with my 280g project (except that, unlike me, you seem to be actually taking steps to work on it).

Anyhow I'm happy to hear where you got the cutting board, I'm going to remember that for when I'm close to that point.

And I'm looking forward to seeing the completed project. Should be sweet!!! Best of luck.