400 gallon project

[mseepman]

Untamed,

I only recently found Canreef so I've just joined the "watch" on your project but I have to say, what an amazing job! I've read the whole thread and you've given me tons of ideas on how I want to do a new 280 gallon tank that I'm looking to put together.
Thanks for going into all the detail that you did as I know I'm going to use a few of your tricks.
Excellent Tank!!!

[untamed]

Originally Posted by mseepman

Untamed,

I only recently found Canreef so I've just joined the "watch" on your project but I have to say, what an amazing job! I've read the whole thread and you've given me tons of ideas on how I want to do a new 280 gallon tank that I'm looking to put together.
Thanks for going into all the detail that you did as I know I'm going to use a few of your tricks.
Excellent Tank!!!

That's the entire idea. I owe a lot of my plan to others who posted their builds on reefcentral etc.

[untamed]

This is old-hat stuff for you fish people...but to a lot of people who follow this story, they won't have seen this before!

Here's a quick video showing the leopard wrasse going to bed for the night. Every evening, about 10 minutes after the halide lights go off, he finds a place to sleep and dives in. You don't see him again until about noon the next day.

Sorry for the blue colour of the video...the flourescent lights are on in the evening and I can't do white-balance when I'm shooting video.

[Jason McK]

Great Vid Brad. I never see mine go to bed so it was cool you were able to catch it.

J

[untamed]

I just recently added an additional pH probe to begin monitoring my tank pH. Here's a shot of the daily cycle that the tank is currently experiencing.



My immediate thought is that this is a pretty high pH to be reaching (8.8)!! I have only just recalibrated the sensor, so I'm pretty sure this is accurate. I'm going to ask for pH advice on the other forum...

Now that I'm monitoring the pH, the plan is to add a Kalk reactor and run the Ca reator and Kalk reactor on opposite cycles to try to minimize the pH swing.

[Delphinus]

Wow, that does seem high. IMO though, in and of itself, the number shouldn't cause you concern if the livestock appears otherwise healthy and happy and whatnot. Ie. I think people tend to focus too much on things like "Oh no! My tank's pH is 8.1 and everyone else is at 8.4, I should add some pH up or something" - which is folly because the pH itself is only a summation of other variables at play. And of course, if the tank is doing fine at 8.1 then one shouldn't worry about it not being 8.4.

But, I have to say I'm a bit surprised to see those numbers if you're running a calcium reactor. I thought running a reactor tended to pull the #'s downwards. For example, on any tank I run, typically I see pH swings around something like 8.1 to 8.5 without a reactor on a tank, and about 7.8 to 8.2 when there is a reactor on the tank.

Sooo anyhow I have no idea what to make of your #'s, that is interesting indeed, although like I said if your livestock is otherwise doing fine I wouldn't sweat it too much.

Maybe because your tank volume is so large it has an easier time shedding any excess CO2 from the reactor?

[untamed]

No fancy photos in this update...

I was able to download a free version of "LogMeIn" and install it on the aquarium computer. Combined with my new home wifi network, this has now enabled me to access the Aquatronica remotely over the internet. I have full control over all aspects of the controller just as if I was standing there.

While I probably won't do much controlling remotely, it can certainly give me piece of mind to see the tank temp and pH are OK.

Now I'm really keen to get a webcam installed.