Go
 

wow, can't wait to see this one!
________
LIVE SEX WEBSHOWS

So the cardboard is from the new water heater box.:biggrin:

And a new television!

True true. I need to do more work on the basement to make space for that. Right now we have space only for the unassembled glass or curing rock. Maybe I'll have enough of a refund to buy both instead of one or the other!

Catherine, from your drawing on the cardboard you are going with a tower of rock?? Very cool.....IMO drilling the rock to fit on PSV piping is more secure and looks better than zip tieing all the rocks .....if you are doing a tower. You may have to zip some rock but keep the larger ones secured by drilling and placing onto a PVC structure (or something secure)

I tried using too big of a drill bit to drill the rock and I broke a couple of rocks before I figured out to use a small bit and drill the outer circuference of the hole in the rock to fit onto the PVC. If you go this route.....just a hint.

Everything looks awesome!!

Brad

Yes I've done the same with 100% success. Small bit to make a circle then snap the core out.

Ok, I was not so bright. It took me breaking a couple of outstanding rocks to realize that I was the idiot on the end of the drill!!! I will drill anything now with the same 100% success.

Catherine if you guys have not done this before, it is very easy...

I even used a crappy old wood bit lol. Please do yourself a favour and get some decent masonry bits.

Will do!

A bit of a photo dump since I'm pressed for time this morning.

Old skimmer box which Kevin wanted to replicate.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...DSC_0646-1.jpg

New box turned out bigger, not sure why.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...DSC_0654-1.jpg

Then there was sort of a skimmer. Before the box was drilled. Just to give you an idea Kevin is 6.4". I also for the record hate that shirt.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...DSC_0655-1.jpg

He glued the damaged plumbing, and wants to see if the repair will hold. If not he says he'll replace it.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...DSC_0658-1.jpg

A look down inside the beast.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...a/DSC_0660.jpg

Our box from Bulk Reef Supply...I couldn't lift it and it barely fit through our door.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...DSC_0662-1.jpg

Goodies and the Captain for reference.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...a/DSC_0666.jpg

I do love the height of that badboy! (skimmer). You guys go big or don't go huh? I think that's the same ro/di beast that Greg runs. Oh and nice tile =)

how much was the RO unit can ya PM me the price OH ya

Re: The LAST big upgrade
 

The RO/DI is Bulk Reef Supply's Spartan system. It does 300 gpd and set us back $399.99+shipping (~$100). We also ordered a booster pump and misc. plumbing parts in a second order.

Re: The LAST big upgrade
 

Got out ozonizer on Friday, put it online in the 180g for the time being.

The beast skimmer is also going online on the 180g later today, the skimmer pumps on the 180g keep seizing.

Kevin blew out the remaining bathroom wall this afternoon and right now is cutting wood for the new wall.

I on the other hand am chipping up VCT and Lino tiles and wishing for a couple of nice cold beers.

Chipping tiles sucks, I don't envy you... I'm sitting on the deck ATM, where it's ~18C (and damn bright). You should be outside, I bet it's sunny and warm in Saskatoon today as well :wink:

We've been busy for the last couple of weeks.

Air dryer showed up last week, its huge! The ozonizer is online and chugging away on the 180g. Just hunting down some calibration fluid for the ORP probe so we can start running it with the RKE.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...a/192dd064.jpg

The rest of the fishroom has been gutted
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...a/DSC_0674.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...DSC_0675-1.jpg

In wall plumbing surprise
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...a/DSC_0680.jpg

Where the new wall will go
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...DSC_0677-1.jpg

Ceiling surprise! A heating duct that ended nowhere but in the ceiling behind a board. We'll be making use of it as that laundry room is cold.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...a/DSC_0686.jpg

Vintage spigots that lead to our washer and dryer. They need to be replaced, but I love the look of them.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...a/DSC_0681.jpg

Wall building in a small enclosed space
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...a/DSC_0685.jpg

Its up!
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...DSC_0687-1.jpg

Some photos detailing the holes to drill.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...a/DSC_0689.jpg

The drawing of the end of the tank 3'x2'....is that hole configuration going on both ends of the tank or just one?.......tank is gonna look like swiss cheese with all those holes in it:mrgreen:

:lol: .. so true!

Just one end. We're also going to do a center brace as well.

Been over a month. Updates?

I'll hook you up this afternoon/tonight with a recap of where we are at now. It will include videos of when we first brought the skimmer online!

I have had to stop working on this project temporarily due to work, school, sports, and other commitments. Kevin however is still working on the basement in his free time.

This morning we're making a couple dump runs, and a stop at the hardware store for additional supplies.

And we're back on track! After a rough patch including severely decreased income, we're hoping things are now back to normal!

Enmax is not my friend these days...they "forgot" to bill us for three months resulting in a $900 bill. This is after I called them every month and inquired as to the balance owing...oh joy!

So that being said, I'm kind of on a kick to really reduce my monthly utility bills. We currently pay about $204 per month, and and when I calculated all my material out originally I though we'd be paying about ~$350/month to run this beast in utility costs.

I still really love the idea of LED lighting over T5s and MHs. I'm really hoping that in the next year some great LED lighting that would be appropriate to our situation pops up. DIY or commercial, I honestly couldn't care, but the thought of forking out $350 monthly in electricity and water does make me cringe. I'd rather be buying clams with that cash.

Kevin has finished wiring up the basement for internet, and I think the power is run (excluding the workshop) for the whole basement. We have the tank room mostly framed in now. We're just waiting on our water barrels to continue.

The giant beast of a skimmer has been chugging away from quite some time. The stuff it pulls out of the 180g makes me sick to look at. Kevin is looking at doing a few mods on the collection cup to allow for some other adjustments we'll need down the road.

It would be interesting to see a large tank like that under LED's.

Having said that, personally I'm sticking with halides until the plasma lights are a viable (ie., cost effective to switch) option. Those things are awesome!!

Whatcha gettin' for water barrels?

The LAST big upgrade
 

Plasma lights? This sounds interesting! Tell me more?

I can't remember offhand which of the reef blogging sites have done pieces on them, but if you search reeftools, reefbuilders, etc. you should find something - I have most of them I think, in my fb feed so the stuff just shows up and I get confused too easily which one posted what. :lol:)

http://reefbuilders.com/2009/06/16/a...loser-reality/

I thought there were some newer posts too somewhere but offhand I can't find them and unfortunately my time is up, I gotta run to work. :redface: Maybe someone else can fill in with more deets?

I saved this link awhile back but couldn't find anyone using the Seashine Aquarium light on a home reef tank.

http://www.straylightoptical.com/slot/products.jsf


If anyone has please I'd like to hear their opinion on it.

Wokaid

she's back!.......I was starting to think Tibet swallowed yous two whole:razz:......good to hear things are back on track......also curious about your water containers.....UFA?

The LAST big upgrade
 

Muhahahahahah! My evil plans are coming together!

I added three new fish to our little community. They seem to be integrating without problems.

The plastic containers we were looking at are from a local company recommended to me by the Eco Store. I'm still waiting for a day off to go and pick up the containers as their hours aren't really in tune with my schedule.

Good to hear they are doing ok.......no issues with the naso at all?

What new fish did you get?

The LAST big upgrade
 

Regal, yellow and blond tangs from Doug. Kevin says there was the usual 30 seconds of flashing from my yellow damsel and bristletooth tang, but that seems to have been it.

They all eat harmoniously and they also look awesome. I'm really really happy.

Oh, nice. :) Can't wait to see pics.

Doug when's your move date again? Was that this last weekend? How did it go?

The new fish are just as awesome as when I first got them.

I have FINALLY cleared off my plate, recovered from a big economic slowdown, and we're back at working on the tank. Also I'm only doing TWO school programs now instead of four! I'm still a little uncomfortable with the large amounts of free time I suddenly have. I missed reefkeeping, and I miss having somewhere comfortable I can sit and just creep on my fish. I'm sure they also 'appreciate' the gesture as well.

I'm now trying to play catchup with some of the industry advances since probably November of last year. I want to make sure I'm up to speed again before I continue to buy up pieces for Tibet.

One thing is for sure though, I miss shopping for tank stuff. So that definitely has to start again here shortly.

Good to hear that "the three amigos" are doing well and that you are happy with them Girly.....also great to hear that you guys are back on track with life and especially "tibet".....any tentative completion dates yet?......Jorge needs some bigger digs:razz:

I was wondering what was up with the big red sexy stand. Full steam ahead!

Good to hear that you're around again, I was beginning to wonder what was up. Look forward to see where the project is at.

I'm with Tony on this one. These look very promising, but just like the new LED surge have to wait for prices to become reasonable.

Ultimately I would love to have LEDs on the big tank. Kevin watches out for advances in them, and there is a couple threads on RC I follow about people making their own DIY fixtures.

I want my tank in the house for December. I want it to be our Christmas/Yule/Stuck inside/Just 'Cause gift this year. We have some stuff we need to do this summer, but things look much better then in March when that whole recession thing caught up to us, which sucked, a lot. We need to hammer out a work schedule, and an amended to do list, but otherwise we're back in business.

:thumb:

The containers we're hoping to pick up are going to be coming from Calgary Plastic Container Supply Ltd. We're going to pick up one? or two? horizontal leg tanks for mixing.

I also really want this; a Remote Display that Digital Aquatics released recently. I have no use for it now, but I will once Tibet is up and running, one display in the fishroom, and one outside of it.

I'm looking for a place that will rent you those big disposal bins for renovations. The ones were you can get it for say a weekend or week, then have the company haul the trash away for you.

Anyone have any recommendations? So far everyone I've called has a prohibitive price of $350+. I can keep doing trips with our truck, but its time consuming, and we're slow so we can only make maybe 3 trips per day. I'm holding on blowing out some remaining walls/structures until we can figure this out.

any current pictures of the new skimmer