EBR

Almost forgot -- here's the tank with the temporary canopy in place: and inside: and behind: So I spent all this time getting the SW and FW from the basement to be delivered behind the tank -- time to now make the final connections to the sump. So I needed three value-added attachments for the sump: 1) a way to hold the Tsumnami top-off sensor at the right level (without the less-than-reliable suction cups it comes with), 2) a mounting bracket for the SW hose to attach to, and 3) a bracket of some sort to hold the drain in the right position relative to the sump. I had some scraps already, so after a little cutting and drilling: the top off sensor: the SW supply bracket (the hose is not attached yet): and the drain bracket:

Knowing that I wanted to have this 125g up and running (and the 55g outta here) for the holidays, I knew that I would not have enough time to sand, stain, and finish the canopy. But to move everything over, I needed lights -- so I compromised and slapped together a temporary canopy of the same size and height to hold the lights and fans. First, measure/cut the top that will eventually be used in the real canopy: Take that, add the lights, and build the temporary canopy to fit. Fitting the top with the lights: With the electrical partition of the stand being at one end, I had to extend one of the two the power harnesses: add some shrink tubing to each: and one final layer of shrink tubing to make it nice: Lights: So now that I knew the footprint of the top, put together the canopy in about an hour: cut out the front doors: attach the ballasts and harness... And why not break off the ground wire off the darn harness (not both, thankfully) for fun! ARRRRGGGGHHHHHH!! I was so irritated at my luck. I searched on line for Molex extraction tool of the right size -- and found it -- but it was $20 bucks. A whole new harness costs $25. I just couldn't make myself go that way -- there had to be a way to fix this. More on that later. Next: I learn first hand how messy Weld-On 16 can be.

OK, so it's been since the beginning of October since I've updated here. Good news, October saw a lot of progress on the tank, while November... not so much. But with Thanksgiving, a company cruise, and a trip to the Sea Aquarium in Curacao, there wasn't much time for the tank. December was pretty good, too. Everything has been moved from the 55g to the 125g, and the old one is cleaned and sitting in the garage. So, let's rewind back to October: For top offs, it's just a 5g bucket plumbed into the DI water supply from the basement. Flip a switch at the tank, and new water fills it up. Top off sensor take it from there -- I decided to go with the Tsunami AT1: Then came the task of tuning the sump -- figuring out the levels on either side, what is "normal" and marking on the side of the sump when I should panic. Once again, hats off to Jeff/NAGA for thinking of stuff I never considered: there is enough head room on the sump to accept the entire 5g of top off water (say, if the TO pump sticks on) with the return pump off. Now, I truly don't know if you (Jeff) planned for this, but it sure did work out! But just to be sure, and even though the inside of the stand has two coats of exterior door paint, I wanted a little extra protection against water getting into the stand. After draining the tank and sump of the garden hose water (and man, having the sump plumbed right into the sewer is SWEET), I lifted the sump and tucked in $3 worth of shower pan liner (I didn't take a picture, but the corners are just folded up making a nice 4" tall drip pan between the sump and the stand: It then took 2 days to fill the thing with DI salt water from the basement: And a whole lot of electrical and plumbing to get things just right. Could always use some 6' extension cords. Along the lines of "measure twice, cut once" I wish I had put the electrical outlet closer to the middle of the tank location (I didn't because the old tank was in the way, but in hindissght, I wish I moved the tank out of the way -- oh well). And the first bit of skimmate: And trying to get a handle on the electrical: And the skimmate after one day (no fish, no corals -- just some funky live rock that I pulled out of the 55g last year: Next... canopy progress.

Very well done, Dan. I like what you did for reinforcing the floor -- I used flitch plates for mine since there is a bedroom underneath, but the idea of having your tank on its own [mostly] independent piers is too cool. BTW, where did you get that shed? it looks about the right size I need for other non-tank-related purposes -- like all the yard-work-related junk I have :-) Looks awesome -- Keep it up. Matt

Yeah, me too. Holy Smoke, Bob. and congratulations, Moshin :-) Matt

Thanks for the update... And wow! very, very awesome, Bob. I share you sentiments about not being able to make a living at cabinet work. I know that if I could keep the same standard of living, I'd ditch the DoD engineering game in a minute to punch out custom cabinetry. Sigh. Anyway, looking forward to the final shots of this tank/stand :-) Matt

Whew! Thanks. Matt

Any ideas? I first noticed the little buggers today on the glass of the new 125g, which has been running for a few weeks now with substrate and a few chunks of LR from the 55g. None seen in the 55g, however. And sorry for the lowsy photo quality -- but they're really small (like that of a fruit fly), and this was the best I could get after cropping down on a macro shot. Thanks. Matt

Yauger -- very cool -- looking forward to more as you build it up. NAGA -- You rock -- that looks great. Matt

Looks fine to me -- I've got four of those in my stand :-)

I might have to try that -- but in the meantime, I just float the bag and add tank water every 10-15 minutes for an hour (more the for corals). Matt

regular Instant Ocean, sans cigar butts. Matt

I'm getting ready to tear down a 55 and may be able to help, depending on your timing and location.

Cool! So the manifold -- is that connected to the return, or part of a closed loop? Matt Oh, and congratulations :-)

That --- is awesome. Very nice work.Yours is good motivation for me to finally make the final transfer to the new tank... Matt

Yeah, me too. Kicking myself now. Oh well.

Bump -- anyone?

Anyone have one I can borrow? Or know where to even get it locally? The ground wire snapped off right at the pin of the harness connector for an Icecap 660. The tool itself is about $18 (online) and hardly seems worth it, since a whole new harness is $25. Thanks. Matt

If it easily peels off and blows around, then congratulations! You're the proud owner of cyano. Cut back the light and food, increase the flow, use a turkey baster to blow any and all crud out from the rocks, and do a good water change after the dust settles (and another the next day). Basically, there are too many nutrients in the water and they are not being exported. Not a huge problem -- it just takes patience.

Uhhhhh. No thanks. The mental image is bad enough.

You guys really crack me up. You had me there for a minute -- I actually googled for Albert Theil. Oh, wait. Arrrrggghh. :-)

From what I understand, the thing pictured in the first post here is a "kalk reactor", where it is a sealed, air-tight system with a power head to mix it all up every so often. A "kalk stirrer", I believe, is an open-top vessel (with a loose-fitting lid, really) that holds the water+kalk, but it's got a paddle in the bottom that rotates all the time to keep the kalk mixed up. True, the kalk at the surface gets all crusty, but like aluminum oxide, it forms a protective layer for the rest of the liquid -- since it turns so slowly, the crusty/protective layer is not disturbed. BTW, I had no idea this thread would generate such a wealth of information -- thanks! Matt

No doubt. Sorry I was so thick ;-) Sage advice, thanks! Yay! More homework! (seriously, thanks) Matt

I have to admit that I'm not sure I get it either -- but since ... Then I'll consider this thread a success. I think. Unless I, too, have a loose booger. Matt

Very cool -- thanks! Matt