Johnny Reefer's Reef

[Skimmerking]

Mark why not make 2 tanks converted into one have 1 sump so that everything is dealt with on the reef side then the FOWLR wont get half the attention. IE when doing water changes you change the water in the sump and then your good to go. and you water parameters are going to be more stable in both tanks too.... lots of people are doing this should sheck into it...


good luck and congrats

[Johnny Reefer]

Originally Posted by asmodeus

Mark why not make 2 tanks converted into one have 1 sump so that everything is dealt with on the reef side then the FOWLR wont get half the attention. ......

Definitely a good idea and something I will consider. One problem I struggle with is hooking up an RO/DI to the existing condo plumbing and then have it fail someday. I'm not so sure my insurance, (or the Strata's insurance), would cover that. I'm new to owning, having rented all my life. Not too comfortable asking about it. ....."Hi! I'm the new owner of unit xxx. I have these huge aquariums. I want to hook up an RO/DI auto top-off from the laundry room plumbing directly to my tank systems. This means running water filled lines along walls and ceilings. Does the strata insurance cover damages when it fails?"
I'd rather run the RO/DI off the kitchen faucet only when I need it, thus the top-off tanks....which will take up more space. Consequently, the Reef and the FOWLR could not both fit in the same room.

Am I out to lunch worrying about not being insured in the event of an RO/DI failure?

Thanx much,

[Johnny Reefer]

Changes soon forthcoming in December.
Here’s a “before” shot of the 180g reef tank.
Sump too small; awkward to access / hard to work on; couldn’t fit skimmer in with this arrangement.
Temperature control by way of those two wall mounted fans.
Water circ is by way of 2 Seio 1500s; 4 MaxiJet 1200s; and the sump return.
Been running skimmerless since mid September due to unreliable HOB skimmer.
Fluidized Bed filter removed and gone for good.
45g top-off tank not large enough for my needs.


Here’s a shot of the new 135g sump.
(It will not be used on this stand, as photographed. The sump will sit down on the floor, beside the display tank).
Live Rock will go in the first chamber and the second chamber, (in that basket under the skimmer), and also between the skimmer and the ‘fuge chamber.
The ‘fuge will have a 2” sandbed and I’m going to use Chaeto as the nutrient exporter.
The canister will run carbon and maybe RowaPhos. I’m going to try my PhosBan (RowaPhos) reactor again, but I may go back to Rowa in the canister.


More.....

[Johnny Reefer]

Here’s a detail shot of the right side of the sump.
The return pump is in behind the canister and, hard to see here, but in the far back corner is the chiller pump. Both pumps are Aquaclear 901s. (Actually, they are big powerheads).



I’ll post “After” pics when the time comes.

Cheers,

[Johnny Reefer]

Well my big move and associated upgrades are essentially complete. Phew! Still a few minor loose ends to deal with, in time. I'm ground floor now, so weight and flooding neighbours below are no longer an issue. Here are some after move pics. (Mods. Please move this thread to the Tank Journal Forum if that is deemed more appropriate).

This is a new 180g Seastar tank. That's a 1/4 HP Coralife AquaChill in the background. On the right is the 135g Auto Top-Off tank.


Here's a shot of the 135g sump in action. The skimmer is a Euro-Reef RS 250. Lighting the 16g 'fuge is a Coralife Aqualight 1 x 150W 10,000K DE used MH. (Still have to get some Chaeto in there). Return is a Hagen Aquaclear 901 powerhead. a second 901 feeds the chiller. Float valve for the top-off system is a Laguna (Hagen pond product).


More pics....

[Johnny Reefer]

Here's a couple of shots with the foam board facade in place.




More pics.....

[Johnny Reefer]

This is the SpectraPure 180GPD RO/DI unit. I still have to hook this up. Thus, it goes without saying that I've used tapwater so far. (I was too impatient and wanted to get things going).


And here's a shot, albeit not that great a pic, of the display tank itself. Lighting is a Coralife Aqualight Pro 2 x 14,000K 150W DE MH and 1 (soon to be replaced) x 150W 10,000K DE MH with 2 x 96W actinics. Water circulation is provided by 2 Tunze 6100s on 7091 contollers, and 2 MaxiJet 1200s. Livestock at present is a PB Tang; Yellow Tang; 2 Tasseled Filefish; 2 Green Mandarins; 2 False Percula Clowns; 4 Green Chromis; Softies, Zoos, LPS; and various inverts.


Thanx to all that helped with this endeavour.

Cheers,