Magic Kiwi's Tank Journal Thread

[kien]

Originally Posted by Magickiwi

The RSM set ups are really good looking IMO but yeah, I don't dig the sealed tops. My friend also has the tank set up on his main floor with no central air and a south facing room.

As to your other post I can totally understand what you're saying. For my house the basement will be the main living area, so keeping it in the fore front of my mind shouldn't be an issue. The problem will be with leaving it alone instead of constantly fiddling

Ya, the all-in-one units do look pretty sexy. The newer models with the LED lights are nice, plus I think they've caught on and now have open tops on their newer models. Main floors with a south facing windows can be a challenge. That's what I have to battle. My tank sits in my living room with a giant south facing living room window. I have an open top with a fan and central AC though so that helps. I still have to keep my blinds closed in the summer. Ironically, in the winter when the sun does blast through the windows more its cold enough outside (and in the house) that I can keep the blinds open mostly all winter.

Constantly fiddling will be something that both you and your tank will suffer through for at least the first 6 months. Possibly up to a year. After that, it should get better

[Magickiwi]

Finally got the flooring in! Astute readers may notice the lack of baseboards though...

[michika]

I just notice the magical freestanding pants

[Magickiwi]

Originally Posted by michika

I just notice the magical freestanding pants

Yes, they are amazing. Too bad they don't wash themselves.

[michika]

Originally Posted by Magickiwi

Yes, they are amazing. Too bad they don't wash themselves.

If only, if only.

[Magickiwi]

Big night last night for the set up of my large aquarium. Got most of it pieced back together, still a couple small items outstanding. The following was assembled last night:

- sump installed and hoses, pumps, overflow and return set up

- small cracks along the bottom of the sump where the main bulkhead meets the floor. I siliconed them inside the sump, I hope they won't leak...

- UV sterilizer installed on return from sump
- Dual media reactor and pump installed
- Protein skimmer installed (HOB)
- Heater and controller installed
- ATO unit set in position to be configured when system is wet
- MP40 unit installed, still need to position and configure the controller

Not bad for a guy that went home from work sick earlier in the day. For some reason I am taking a long time to get better...

Remaining items:
- hang light fixture and solder/install moonlight LEDs
- configure ATO when system is wet
- position and install MP40 controller
- configure protein skimmer when system is wet
- rock work! (this could take forever...)

I haven't touched the nano-cube set up yet, it's been a big job getting the large tank set up again. Will take pictures of the set up tonight when I get home.

[Dearth]

I stressed when I got my 33 gallon going was so much stuff to buy then when I started my 95 gallon I stressed again because so much stuff to buy again and learning how to make it all work.

Looking forward to seeing pictures of your tank

[Magickiwi]

Wow! Sick as a dog again this weekend but for some reason I couldn’t just sit and stare at an empty tank during my misery. I managed to set up the entire tank on Friday night and almost the entire day Saturday in between vomiting and napping.
Friday night:
- Completed rockwork and placed it in the aquarium on white egg crate (matches the sand better than the black)
- Installed heater in display tank (There wasn’t enough room in my sump with my very large circulation pump and small reactor pump)
- Heater controller was installed in cabinet
- Installed UV sterilizer in cabinet
- Installed dual media reactor in cabinet
Saturday:
- Ran plumbing for main sump, return pump (Quiet 6000), UV sterilizer, media reactor (Ehiem Universal 600)
- Installed media in reactor chambers (.8 Carbon in chamber 1, Phosban in reactor 2)
- Purigen and Coppersorb in sump
- Installed protein skimmer (HOB style, not as pretty but couldn’t fit one in sump)
- Mixed water and pumped into tank
- Pressure tested all plumbing, fixed one small drip on return but touch wood it all seems to be tight
- Started circulation pumps
- Started protein skimmer
- Started heater (500w heater brought water to temp overnight)
Sunday:
- Half dead by this time
- Tested water in the AM and ammonia=0, nitrite=0, nitrate=0, phosphate= not measurable by test kit
- Went to Gold’s looking for live rock but they didn’t have any pieces that were interesting to me so I went to Pieces and bough 20lbs of very well shaped rock with at least some coralline and remnants of leather corals, sponges, etc with the hope that some may come back
- Placed rock in tank
- Installed HQI bulbs in fixture and holy hell they are bright as the sun


Once again everything was done as a sprint so naturally the setup process has NO pictures. OCD > Me... This morning I did find a nice blue sponge that is attached to the LR I bought. Hopefully it survives

[Dearth]

Sounds like you had a very productive weekend despite the fact you you were busy trying to see your insides


When your done dying how about posting some pictures so we can ohh and ahh