LanglandJoshua

It looks incredible, I'm still trying to get my husbandry up to par...but you guys have a true beauty! Congrats on kicking those flat worms out!

I use the BRS 75 GPD RO/DI 6 Stage Chloramines *DELUXE* System($250). When I bought it I was not too familiar with RO/DI. But its been great, I change filters every few months. I get 0TDS. I've never had an issue with it, other than my habit of forgetting that I have the water running. Then it overfills the water containers, and goes down the drain...I cant wait to get my full ATO/water change setup DONE! But some other major things need fixing on this system first(pluming ). I hope the info helps!

check out survival laser.com I read the warnings, they say the same things several times. But I'm pretty sure PERMINANT blindness is worth warning someone about! It can even blind from a reflection, and cause damage from the little bit that reflects back when shined through glass. I still want one, but I dont have a spare $500....

There are still several things I need to fine tune, but here is the over all idea. The first image I ever did on this program was the other day with the sump, so I'm brand new with it. Forgive the lack of detail! *Note* the DT tank is 60"x30"x21", the sump in the design is 3ft tall. I want to TRY and get a lot of my rock hidden away, theres an estimated 350-400lbs! Hopefully this will help. There is a refugium in the sump, and a corner for my ATO built in as well. In the large section of the sump(rock tank) there is a water break, with a bubble trap. I am not sure if its necessary, so I put it in anyways.

I dont doubt it will cost a lot. But I need the quality. I plan to have this tank for many years, it will have to be taken down some day. But this goal is to LAST! Finally I have a great move forward in this project, thanks to you guys I have settled on what type of stand I want. The best part is it will match the light rack we wanted to build. I am living with family, so I have to build this within their guidlines. The best part is during one converstation, they finally agreed to let me bolt the light rack to the main floor supports above the tank! So I will try to get the rack and stand at the same time. It will look SO MUCH DIFFERENT! I also tought myself how to use google sketchup. My first successful design is of a sump, the main rock tank will be 2'x2'x3'. This way I can keep most of my rock in the sump. Letting me really use all the space this tank has! In addition to the rock tank, there will be one 1'x1'x3' refugium and an ATO of matching dimensions. I am thinking about making that portion of the design only 2' tall. This way I can actually reach the bottom! I will use photobucket to add some pictures of the design here. Its just a rough draft of the idea. I want to keep the capabilities I have now behind the tank. Meaning: refugium, ATO, rock storage. But I want it streamlined and upgraded. So in stead of having my return pump in the sump, it will be attatched via PVC. My skimmer will be upgraded to a recirculating(Avast Pegleg). With all that my sump sits behind the main tank on the floor. The skimmer and reactors will be connected to the sump by PVC. The idea is to have two holes for them. They will both be connected to a manifold. Which splits one pipe out to many locations. One feeds the equipment from the sump, and the other returns the water to my sump. With this I think I can consolodate all my gear into the center 1/3rd of my stand. Leaving the other 2/3rds for refugium tanks later on. I hope this all makes sense, once again I'm just throwing my ideas out there! Thanks for all the advice and ideas! I am going to make an entire google sketchup design of my system. Oh what an adventure this will be!

Haha, mmmm grilled protein! Gotta admit didn't think of it like that, thought meant a live one!

That sounds great, but I'm wondering who could/would make one for me. So I could get a price range. I will send steve a message.

I'm going out on a limb here, but that might NOT be one of your best ideas! Have fun!

I was curious about that. But it would have to be some thick gauge steel! As for ventilation, I plan for my stand to have six pillars. Just the standard one in each corner and one on each side of the longer section. The front face and right faces will have doors for access. The other sides will be open. For plumbing and wires. I want the inside of the stand split into three spaces the two on the side for future refugiums. The middle space will be for my skimmer and reactors. Or any other great I can fit! But I wonder if with the steel having a support beam in the middle would even be needed. That would let me do one larger tank with many small sections instead of two small tanks. I would have to chat with someone with experience in that kind of work.

BTW, I have a very beautiful Blue Velvet Damsel that I will sell to anyone interested. FYI, he is agressive and about 3.5-4" long! Since this is not a FS thread, please PM if your interested.

I am rebuilding my 160 gallon tank. For now I will keep my 55 gallon sump bellow and behind the tank leaving the underside of the stand free for refugium tanks and equipment. But I'm not sure of what to build the stand of. The wood it is made of now is so soft! When I put it back together originally(it was used), without even trying I could drill right through a peice of wood. So I really need a new stand. Some of the pipes are leaking micro bubbles into my Closed Loop. I've got the layout of the plumbing down. But if theres anything you guys would want on your systems. I could really use some suggestions. I am also debating making the stand out of concrete, or a combination cinderblock, rebar, cement. Since this tank will be here for a while, I'm willing to make a perminant stand. But after the earth quakes and knowing I will have two MP40ES's on there. I dont want any cracks or chiping when that water is rocking. Either way (wood/concrete) the stand will be skinned with a protective/decorative plywood layer. I already have my old 75 gallon glass tank and 96 gallon trash can on standby for when this gets going. Or any emergencies. I do have a large dual reactor, Avast skimmer(want recirculating later on) , 250W MH light, MP40ES, reefkeeper elite, and 3,600 closed loop pump. Unfortunately after this "redo" I will need to get another 250W light, and MP40ES. The plan for the 75 gallon glass tank after this is to have it as a RO/DI water storage/mixing tank. Basically, everything I have will be reused. Except the lumber and some pipes. So I know the tank wont be completed by this. But its time to knock out a couple issues I've had with it since I bought it. This is me throwing my ideas out there, I look forward to seeing what you guys think! I will add pictures, and maybe some simple word designed images on later.

That is very interrupting that phosphates have such a key part in the reactions that remove nitrite. I don't have a DSB but have cheato instead. I'll be following this! I've always been curious how a DSB worked.

Now I suddenly want a cuttlefish tank...I remember the tank at the national zoo. It would be a real challenge though, and they would need a HUGE tank or pool! Great video, thanks for sharing it!

This is very interesting, I've got a a few mushroom covered rocks of various sizes. There has been a good bit of coral loss in my tank as well. But I believe it is a lack of water changes and high phosphates. Things I'm fixing now. I will keep this in mind if the coral loss continues past my known chem issues! Thanks for puting this up.

Haha, Muddy your fine breaking his tanks. But not yours?

This is something that has bothered me for a while. When I was studying Oceanography I was trying to design a tank that could sustain that kind of life. It is so incredibly technical! If there is anyone making an attempt, I would love to be there. This is the obsession that got me to put "tank/build design addict" under my profile pic! I have come to believe that extremely powerful one way valves and a combination of sea level pressure tanks for filtration equipment and high pressure tanks for livestock would be the most effective way. I wonder what kind of filtration equipment could safely clean that high pressure of water without the low pressure tanks? AVAST makes some great skimmers. But I'd be impressed if the Peg Leg series could handle the pressures of the Mariana's Trench! I could imagine steel sample jars with locking lids to maintain pressure on the way up to the boat. Something like this would allow Oceanographers to study ANYTHING they can bring back up. I doubt I'm the only one to wonder "what would happen IF" we could do this. Has anyone heard of a system that could keep these alive? If I remember correctly, the science channel said that it was "impossible" on one of their documentaries. That sounds like a challenge to me.

I would use it as an RO/DI storage tank. If your going to make a large system you could easily put a tank like that under your house, or in some thin/long area. I plan to use my 75 gallon tank for just that purpose. If you still have it in a couple months and dont decide to use it, I can always demote the 75 to a salt mixing tank! With this use, there is NO NEED TO DRILL! Just get the standard glass covers for it, and cut slits in the back plastic for piping or hose. For mine, I plan to wrap it in insulation and put one or two terrarium heating pads under it. Just to make sure it does not freeze in winter. I may never need them, but its better safe than sorry! It's probably worth mentioning that you will need to find some way to seal it. At least minorly so little critters dont get in! Think of it like this, a 75gpd RO/DI would take half your day to get the 40 gallons you need for your 20% water change on a 200gal system. If your going bigger, imagine taking your ENTIRE SATURDAY hauling 5 gallon buckets. This is not my favorite chore! So my tank just does not get the water changes it deserves. Dont make your tank , get what you REALLY need!

I'm so sorry top hear about that! I've got some loss too. But mine is from phosphate issues. It's hiting my chorals hard. I hope your tank recovers quickly and you can get it stocked soon. That is exactly why I'm afraid to go to Washington state and see family. I wonder what it will look like when I get back...

I just looked into a geyser pump the only downside I can see (if it works properly), is the noise. But a baffle or some form of muffler might limit it.

I'm not familiar with the geyser pumps, but a while back I did see a company specializing in paristaltic pumps. They had some really large models. I will have to find it again.

How about a corkscrew pump? Large tube (PVC or acrylic) with a spinning corkscrew inside. The power source could be an electric motor, put in variable speed controls and for the most part your set. I've not read all the past comments, but if I'm correct your goal in this case is to avoid killing the zooplankton. This may help you avoid that. It may not have a massive flow rate (depending on diameter of the pipe) but it's better than a conveyer belt of buckets! I'm curious if something like that could replace smaller return pumps. I would love to see what might get the chance to survive if pumps were replaced, but doubt it would work out! By the way, I would still love to check out the tank! Is any time free next week?

It takes 5-8 hours. Maybe more, then the skimmer fills.

I had bought a pegleg skimmer from Avast a while back. I believe I was told it could handle 200-250 gallons. But it may be too small I agree.

I had phosphates and magnesium tested at The Marine Scene. I do not remember the scale used so forgive my not marking units. Phosphates came back at 2.5! Wow, suggested level is .5! Magnesium came back at 1250, I believe suggested is around 1350. So what I have done is buy one dual reactor for carbon and phosguard. As well as one red sea magnesium test kit, and powder magnesium supplement. Time to get to work on that reactor!

Once I get my water tested today, I will look into ordering some gear. Thanks for the advice.