Dave W's 3000 gal plankton/reef tank

[dave w]

We are vacationing at Hilton Head and everyone in sight is pulling sand dollars out of the water to die in the sun before bleaching them in chlorox. My neighbor has eight rotting on the front porch. When I point out the big sign that reads "$500 fine for removing any sea creature" they express shock and surprise. There is cultural hurdle to overcome that appears insurmountable, and we aquarists who try to keep things alive are lumped together with those who kill sea creatures for decoration. I'd bet that 100,000 people on this beach take out one sand dollar each day.

 

 

[dave w]

Here is the boring stainless framed traingle that is the settlement chamber. You're getting sleepy.

 

[dave w]

Here is the boring southwest corner that is a refugium. You're getting sleepier.

 

[dave w]

Okay, now that the frame is welded it is time to start fiberglassing everything. First I will spread thinset mortar on the bottom to smooth out differences in the frame so the fiberglass doesn't have any bumps that could cause leaks.

[dave w]

I have another couple of questions. Regarding the Brine Shrimp filter: these non-selective filter feeders eat everything smaller than 60 microns so I probably need to grind the fish poop down to that size and keep it pumped into the water column. Because my sumps are conical a small grinder pump at the bottom will probably keep things in suspension, but does anyone have a better idea than this? Perhaps the grinder pump can send water into a filter sock or bucket of 60 micron mesh. Then any larger particles get sent to the algae refugium. Anyone know of a good grinder pump?

 

Regarding the solenoids on the bottom of the settlement chamber. For redundancy I will plumb several solenoids. I have used sprinkler timers as controllers that open valves up to six times per day for watering newly seeded lawns. I'd like to drain the settlement chamber more frequently, every half hour or so seems appropriate. So three timers on three solenoids would give 18 flushes per day. Do computerized aquarium controllers operate on a 12v AC system and could they open valves more frequently than this? If so I will use one instead of sprinkler timers.

 

Thanks in advance for the help.

[LanglandJoshua]

For the first part, why not use a skimmer pinwheel pump? Our is that not going to chop it enough?

 

For the other, I only have experience with the RKE(reefkeeper light). But wil be getting the elite soon. I'm sure you could set them as wavemakers and just adjust them to run for 5 min every 30. I did that with a to make a wave like current in my 75.

[dave w]

For the first part, why not use a skimmer pinwheel pump? Our is that not going to chop it enough?

 

For the other, I only have experience with the RKE(reefkeeper light). But wil be getting the elite soon. I'm sure you could set them as wavemakers and just adjust them to run for 5 min every 30. I did that with a to make a wave like current in my 75.

 

Joshua, thanks for the info. I don't know what a pinwheel pump is so I will look that up. And the last big tank I had was 10 years ago when microprocessor controllers were too expensive for me, so I never got one. I'm sure I will be getting one soon.

[dave w]

Does anybody know an experienced fiberglass worker? My good friend who has been helping me for several months just had his elderly father become ill and must stay at home for the summer.

 

If anyone has boat building or surfboard building experience and is looking for work, please PM me. The work is guaranteed to be hot and dirty.

[dave w]

I have an idea for easier maintenance. I'd like to set each of the reef "mountains" up on a concrete pad or fiberglass grate a couple inches above the sandbed. That way I can use a pump to push detritus along the tank bottom to the settlement chamber, kind of like using a leaf blower to walk grass clippings down the driveway. In theory there are fewer pockets or dead areas to accumulate waste. I also think the fish might like hiding under a shelf.

 

Has anyone else done this type of arrangement? Thanks in advance for the comments and criticism.

Edited July 30, 2011 by dave w

[LanglandJoshua]

I have never heard of or seen that done. But on that train of thought, why not vary flow and direction? That will limit your detris pockets even more. At work I use an industrial sink. When we put coffee grinds down some of my coworkers fool around splashing water. I just run the water down one side. Creating directional flow. After a couple minutes I put it on the other side. This could work in your tank. If you use an output that turns 90 degrees, maybe a couple clever rocks to guide the water flow. Then you should be set! The reason I like the idea of variable flow is that it won't create as much of a plume of detris, our shock/frighten the the fish when it turns on. You can also create a tidal effect.

[davelin315]

I have an idea for easier maintenance. I'd like to set each of the reef "mountains" up on a concrete pad or fiberglass grate a couple inches above the sandbed. That way I can use a pump to push detritus along the tank bottom to the settlement chamber, kind of like using a leaf blower to walk grass clippings down the driveway. In theory there are fewer pockets or dead areas to accumulate waste. I also think the fish might like hiding under a shelf.

 

Has anyone else done this type of arrangement? Thanks in advance for the comments and criticism.

Sounds like how a pond is created with straight walls to guide detritus to the bottom and then sloping towards the drain so that it can be sucked out. Talk to John at BRK as he builds ponds. This is essentially a pond so he'd be a good one to consult with design.

[dave w]

I have never heard of or seen that done. But on that train of thought, why not vary flow and direction? That will limit your detris pockets even more. At work I use an industrial sink. When we put coffee grinds down some of my coworkers fool around splashing water. I just run the water down one side. Creating directional flow. After a couple minutes I put it on the other side. This could work in your tank. If you use an output that turns 90 degrees, maybe a couple clever rocks to guide the water flow. Then you should be set! The reason I like the idea of variable flow is that it won't create as much of a plume of detris, our shock/frighten the the fish when it turns on. You can also create a tidal effect.

 

That's a good idea, Joshua. I'm thinking of hanging a pump on some kind of rail running from front to back of the tank, then the pump outlet is a pvc pipe that goes to the bottom of the tank and ends with a 90 degree elbow, so it directs water flow under the reef and to the settlement chamber. This should work all the detritus toward the right area.

 

The tank will probably be on a tidal system anyway, but I should move the pump along the rail to make sure I catch everything. After 10 minutes in one valley, I should move the pump over to the next valley to keep pushing toward the settlement trap. Moving the pump around the tank should be a lot less work than siphoning out detritus.

[dave w]

Sounds like how a pond is created with straight walls to guide detritus to the bottom and then sloping towards the drain so that it can be sucked out. Talk to John at BRK as he builds ponds. This is essentially a pond so he'd be a good one to consult with design.

 

Thanks Dave. My sumps are like that, they are cylindri-conical to facilitate the brine shrimp and copepod fecal pellets. But with a flat sand bottom in the tank the idea is more to roll detritus along until it hits the settlement chamber.

 

I really need to post a diagram, it's harder to explain by narrative.

 

I will contact BRK and ask their advice.

[dave w]

oops. fractured right wrist and separated right shoulder in softball tonite. and i'm right handed. this is bound to set back my tank building schedule. at least my welding friend can finish the algae setup so people can see the plan when they can't think of a better way to get to sleep. i'm not typing with caps because that requires two hands. i'll try to get more pics soon.

[LanglandJoshua]

Lol, just oops? Fractures can hurt more than a break, sometimes. And I hope you don't mean the shoulder dislocated. Sorry to hear about that. I hope it heals well. Keep us updated.

[dave w]

Lol, just oops? Fractures can hurt more than a break, sometimes. And I hope you don't mean the shoulder dislocated. Sorry to hear about that. I hope it heals well. Keep us updated.

 

yes on the dislocation. there is a lot i can do on the tank with one hand, so we'll see how it goes. thanks for the support.

[Chad]

Wow, Dave, did you make the play?

 

Recover well, and feel better soon.

[Guest thefishman65]

Well I have just finished reading. Sorry to hear about your injury, but the tank sound great.

 

I worry about your mountains. You talked about blowing the detris under them, but won't this disturb the sand? i also wonder if the mountains will block or channel the water flow. So what happened to the bonsai trees? I think that would be a better approach at least for water flow.

[dave w]

Chad, not only did I not make the play but we lost the last game of the season which was the battle for first place. I was running for second and got thrown out. Problem was, the 2nd baseman wasn't sure he touched the bag so at the last second he stuck his leg back again, sending me flying. That's how it goes in sports but we'll beat them next year.

[dave w]

Well I have just finished reading. Sorry to hear about your injury, but the tank sound great.

 

I worry about your mountains. You talked about blowing the detris under them, but won't this disturb the sand? i also wonder if the mountains will block or channel the water flow. So what happened to the bonsai trees? I think that would be a better approach at least for water flow.

 

 

You're right that the "leaf blower" may disturb sand, especially fine sand. This needs a solution. The mountains will definitely block the water flow around the tank but I'd rather turn them perpendicular than just have another stack rocks of against the back wall (no offense meant toward rock stackers, they are the staple of our hobby).

 

Dendronephthya would make the best bonsai trees but even with a plankton setup I grapple with the ethical problem of keeping fragile organisms. Either I am one of the few to show how success can be gained or I am one of the many who needlessly killed delicate species to satisfy my ego of coveting rare jewels. And even if I'm successful, doesn't that just encourage more people to kill more dendronephthya to try and duplicate the success? I have the same issue with colored carpet anems. I think I'll have the light and plankton to keep them alive and maybe even reproduce, but even a great tank can't match their natural lifespan. Yet I love them so.

[Guest thefishman65]

I thought you were talking about making concrete trees at one point. Did I misunderstand?

 

I wonder if you could alternate the mountains. Have the first one start on the back wall, the next on the front. This might create an 'S' pattern for the water as it goes through which might create some good random currents as it it turns. Of all the flow might go through V center channel of the mountains.

[dave w]

I thought you were talking about making concrete trees at one point. Did I misunderstand?

 

I wonder if you could alternate the mountains. Have the first one start on the back wall, the next on the front. This might create an 'S' pattern for the water as it goes through which might create some good random currents as it it turns. Of all the flow might go through V center channel of the mountains.

 

You understood well, its just that I've changed direction on this half a dozen times. Now I lean toward mountains and valleys similar to what you describe. I want the many territorial angels to have visual separation. The S pattern will do nicely if I can still keep the front glass clean.

[dave w]

Here are the welded but not yet complete phyto culture shelves in the Northeast corner of the sunroom.

 

 

 

 

 

To explain, the silver colored frame is the 16' deep algae refugium. 18" above the refugium is the deck (at eye level to the camera) so I can walk around the phyto cylinders. The short middle shelf 20" above the deck will hold about a dozen 16" phyto cylinders, maybe 350 gallons. The dark red on the far left side of the pic is the door from my house into the sunroom and the red milk crate on the lower right of the pic is part of the display tank that is about 40" deep.

 

The top horizontal bar is the rail, I will drill holes through the vertical posts every 6" and pull horizontal stainless wire so nobody can fall off the deck. The bottom of the algae fuge is about 42" above the floor of the room, enough space for cabinets, sinks, desk, refridgerator, blenders and wet bar under the tank. I know this pic is hard to understand. It will look more obvious when it is primed, shelved and has cylinders in place. It is a gravity feed system with the sterile water reservoir near the ceiling, phyto culture in the middle of the wall and pod tanks and the display tank below phyto. It will be automated by timers and solenoids. And it won't get contaminated (for at least the first day).

 

Zzzzzzzz. You are now completely asleep. PM me your credit card and PIN and you will awaken at the count of three.

Edited August 12, 2011 by dave w

[LanglandJoshua]

....zzzz here is info...zzzz...duh wah?

 

Lol, looks great

[dave w]

Thanks Joshua. I really shouldn't post pics before painting and finishing but this took long enough. Glad you like it.