tpallas

Working on the dosing setup. While I’m waiting for the dosing containers from Lifereef, I’m installing the tubing. Since the pumps will be on the opposite sides of the stand, the tubing runs a bit awkwardly but I think I’ve got a good layout. Got the first pump done. Really looking forward to having the Trident auto dose to my desired levels, what a breakthrough in the hobby.

The one thing I traded space for was the ATO container. I just like large, 10 gallon+ containers and I needed the space under the tank for other things. So we are going to get matching piece of furniture - maybe a bench of a side table - that the ATO container will be under. Right now it's just a HD 5 gallon bucket next to the tnak. But for your stand - hang on! There may still be hope. I hit up a guy on Reef2Reef who had a really awesome Trident stand that was mounted to his tank stand wall. He sent me the link so you could get it printed if it would fit on the wall: https://myhub.autodesk360.com/ue2a31a75/g/shares/SH56a43QTfd62c1cd968967c6bf437c44b13?viewState=NoIgbgDAdAjCA0IDeAdEAXAngBwKZoC40ARXAZwEsBzAOzXjQEMyzd1C0AOCAMwBZGEAEwBjALQBOAMyc%2BYgQHZOkgKwq5CnlIBs2xgu08R2qWgC%2BIALpA Worst case scenario, I could see the Trident fitting in a side cabinet or something like that pretty easily. You are just restricted to the length of the intake tubing and having the Trident situated above the intake level. Other than that I think you could hide it away pretty easy.

To view, or to upload? I thought I read that YouTube doesnt support HD iOS video uploads but maybe I'm wrong. I know! We're trying to have a baby so I'm automating as much as I can. And TBH the more I install, the easier it becomes, and it makes the hobby a lot more enjoyable and much less stress. On the good news front, I had a phone call with Neptune tech support and we got the Trident working. Really glad I didn't have to send it back in. We ran water through some of the internal hoses, which is evidently there was some sort of blockage. Not sure if they do this in production or not. Also used some Gorilla double sided tape to mount the exhaust fan. This makes a pretty big difference in the humidity in the stand. I've been keeping the side door open this whole time but now with the fan I think it's kept at acceptable levels.

Hows that frag tank looking?

I got the stand exhaust fan in today. The only problem is the mounting holes are too narrow given the width of the opening. The edges of the unit do overlap the wood on both sides. Is it possible to use some sort of adhesive to hold it in place? Silicon or something else?

Can you dip it? I usually pick them off with my fingernails and dip to kill whatever remains. Nice on Olney BTW, I grew up off Emory Lane.

Any updates on this one?

Last thing I did this weekend was to get started on running the dosing pump lines. First step for that is straightening out the tubing included with the Dos pumps. I did this by boiling for a minute or two, or until al dente, and then laying out flat to cool.

On the good news front, the PAR monitoring kit went in without a hitch. I have it set up so that the meter is available inside the hood to take measurements. I don’t plan on keeping it full time in the tank. Next step is to take detailed readings from all over the tank.

Today was Trident install day, which has not gone as I’d hoped. Got an Amazon box that fits well for a temporary stand. I ran the feed line into the front area of the second sump chamber which is free from micro bubbles and away from where the dosing lines will be. I went through the install process and got a red error light at the end, indicating an error. The error is no sample water. The Trident pump is working, the feed line is clear, but no water is coming into the unit. The feed line is clear and I’ve gone through the troubleshooting list with no change. So I’ve got a help desk ticket in. Hoping I won’t have to send it in, but we’ll see. Did speak to Jeff at Lifereef and he will be building the dosing container unit, which will also act as a stand for the Trident. It will be matching color to the sump, should look pretty cool. Unit in place on a temporary box: Where the feed line goes in. I’ll clean up the tubing mounting with clips on final installation: The red light after multiple attempts:

You know, its got a smaller footprint than I was expecting - about 4" wide and a foot or so long. The space between the refugium and stand wall is only 6" in that photo. Wish I could say I planned it this way but I just Forrest Gumped my way into it working out near perfectly! Jeff at Lifereef is going to build the dosing containers to match the sump. Here's a shot of the corals this evening. I guess you can't upload HD iOS videos to YouTube?

Any updates?

I know!!! The colors and movement are just too good. This is my wife and I's tank and she could care less if it's a pure SPS tank or not, and I really am liking the LPS. Thanks! We are enthusiastic about the tank for sure. Haul from the Neptune sale came in today. Took advantage of it to get a Trident, 2 dosing pump units, the PAR monitoring unit, and the second leak sensor I've been meaning to install. I'm rapidly running out of real estate in the stand for equipment, so I mounted the two pumps on the right side wall. Fortunately, there is sufficient space on the left hand side for the Trident. So what I will do is get some containers made that will also serve as a stand for the Trident, 4 in total - 1 waste water, then 3 for Alk/Ca/Mag. Feed lines will come across the front top of the stand, to the pump, and then dosing lines to the back right of the stand, and then across to center sump where the dosing line mount is. Tight, tight squeeze but everything fits!

That looks incredible! Love the sway.

Working on our euphyllia garden. From left to right, a $40 purple torch from Congressional aquarium frag tank, a TSA black panther, TSA indo gold, and indo gold from our own CKReefs. Needs a NY Knicks and some hammers! You can also see our blastos in the rear right. And an early morning FTS. I think it’s safe to say this is now a mixed reef and not pure SPS! @YHSublime is it possible to change the title?

I will say this - they only list a portion, and from what I can tell a small portion, of their inventory on auction or on their website. So the trip is certainly worthwhile. Maybe organize a caravan! On the plate I bid the minimum and won, but there are also some lively auctions on other pieces. Definitely not the last minute eBay thing so far as I can tell.

For this one, we decided to drive out (about 1.5 hours from Arlington) to check it out. I think it was worth the drive. We won't be going on a recurring basis, but we will once in a while. The nice thing is they post on auctions and online, and shipping within the DC area is free over $150 or $15 otherwise. They have some pretty nice pieces so it's worth it. The period took me a second to figure out - it's a way of marking the post so you get updated by FB when someone bids. So if you're interested in a particular coral, you get notified when someone else bids without bidding first yourself. LOL I did read the RHF article....the bottom line is at the end! He almost lost me before I got there. It looks like the two major uses are preventing an ozone overdose, and monitoring for spikes in the readings that might indicate something has died and decomposing. I don't use ozone but the second one is helpful so I will set an alarm if levels rise over 450-500 or so.

Here’s my ORP graph over the past several days since I installed the probe. Is this the probe adjusting, or just increasing because it’s a new tank? Never really payed that close attention to ORP.

Some sunset iPhone shots (use orange filter and it’s dead accurate). Still my all-time favorite coral: A little deflated for the night: This plate we picked up recently from the Coral Dragon (actually won it in their Facebook auction):

Did anyone take advantage of the Neptune sale? We did and went a little overboard, will have a busy weekend. Tank is coming along. Brown uglies are gone, have some green uglies. Not too bad in the display, we got a bristletooth and it is going to town on it. Sump is a little fugly, I’ll get some pics tomorrow. Alan, followed your advice. Running carbon and a small amount of GFO. And the Bubble King Mini 160 is pulling some funk. It stanks!

Looks great - so far, so good!

Looks great! I've been thinking about the same thing for dosing lines. Maybe those cable mounting clips for A/V cables that get nailed in? You could also run it through one of those cable consolidation sleeves, that might look nice. Do you still run CO2 on this? I've been thinking of running a CO2 capable skimmer, was it worth it?

Nice mushrooms!

Nice, great solution! I will do that. Got a couple more trachys: And a rainbow acan to fill out on the center rock:

Is the fuge the compartment front right?