View Full Version : Tim's New Ecosystem Tank
Well, after being on the market for six months and going nowhere, we decided maybe we'd stay in the flat and spend some money doing it up more to our liking. As well as lots of decorating to make it more to our tastes, this included a bigger tank...
The small tank I was parellel running at my Mum's was rushed back and filled. Its currently a little crowded, even though lots of bits were sold before hand and were traded in at the LFS to go towards the tank...
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/kosh42/URPics/New%20tank/Temp%20tank.jpg
As the living room is quite long and narrow, the tank is going along a short wall to stop the room looking even narrower. This gives the added advantage that it will go accross the serving hatch into the kitchen, allowing the tank to be viewed from two and a half side, as shown below:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/kosh42/URPics/New%20tank/Where%20its%20going.jpg
The space is five feet long, but as I'm going for side overflows (it the conector fails, I only lose the top few inches of water), I'm going for a four and a half foot long tank. The bigest dimensions I could fit for front to back and height are two foot. I currently have a 54 x 24 x 24 on order from Lynchford in Aldershot :D Just worrying about getting it home when it arrives :o Think I'm off to the van rental place :unsure:
The stand I've built myself. I visited Reef-Eden (http://www.reef-eden.com/) lots then went shopping at Screwfix Direct and Jewsons. Most of what you need to know is on Si's site, so I won't repeat it here. A few points I've picked up are:
2 x 4 wood is not two inches by four inches. Its planed down. I wanted my stand an inch too wide for confort. Luckily this meant that when I realised I'd cut wrong by not allowing for the real thickness of the wood, its now exactly two foot...
Using a drill to put four inch screws in is hard work for the drill... Mine had smoke coming out of it one evening. Try having two handy so you can swap between them...
MDF soaks up the varnish like a sponge... Be prepared to use lots...
All in all, it wasn't too bad, and I'm no DIY expert... We went from this:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/kosh42/URPics/New%20tank/Wood%20for%20stand.jpg
To this:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/kosh42/URPics/New%20tank/All%20cut%20and%20ready.jpg
To this:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/kosh42/URPics/New%20tank/Finished%20stand.jpg
Looks OK, but the real test will come when its weighed down with about 140 gallons (including the sump) of water... I hope it holds :(
Back to the tank...I'm getting two 55mm holes in the back left side for the overflow piping, with small wiers setting the water level. I'm planning a trip to the plumbers merchant soon to stock up on some 40mm Marley push fit pipe for the overflows. This should give my OR6500 return pump (from Aquaristic.net) plenty or breathing space and allows for one to become blocked. These will go down and accross to the sump into the right hand end...
From here, it will go through a chamber of bio-balls and into a 24/7 refugium with Miracle Mud in. I've read the pros and cons and opinions, and fancy giving it a try. The more natural, plankton rich environment appeals to me. I'm also keeping my Turboflater 1000 handy, though... Just in case... ;)
After the refugium, its through another chamber of bio-balls into the last section, that will house the OR6500, heaters and kalk/ca reactor outputs, as well as the top-up sensors...
The circulation in the tanks will be from three sources... I'm planning on having the OR6500 return water coming from a spraybar type arangement along the front. This will be one pipe under the sand with three T connectors going to 45 degree elbows for directional control.I'm planning a similar arangement along the back with an OR3500 as a closed loop to keep the flow up behind the rock work... There will also be a lot of horizontal flow coming from a 6100 Tunze Stream on a single controller.
Lighting will be from a 400W Maxibright setup on the left and a 250W Maxibright on the right, both with 10k BLV bulbs. This will be supplemented with two four foot Narva Blue T5's and an NO 4ft actinic. The halides will come from Harry Hird. Tried ringing today but he wasn't in and the other guy said it was best to speak to Hary... One question, though... Should I be going for Maxibright or Maxilight reflectors?
The sump will be lit by two NO 2tf flourescents. I'm also trying to squeze in a small, shallow frag tank above the sump that will be lit with one Starcoat and one Narva T5....
All I have to do now is work out the size of the Marley solvent weld pipe I need for the closed loop piping and OR6500 return...
At the end of the cabinet, in a separate (and hence not damp and condensation dripping) triangular cupbard will be all of my electrics. As I'm on old wiring and fuses, I'm going to install a dedicated RCD consumer unit for the tank in this cupboard. This will either be from an old cooker point, or wired into the ring-main. From this unit will come three or four mini ring-mains with half a dozen plugs each. This means that if one MCB trips due to faulty equipment, I still have 3/4 of my pumps, etc working... Also meant I'm going to have 24 plugs, so won't be relying on multi-gangers and extension leads...Only worry is will a Neptune (that I'm hopefully getting second hand) run through the different circuits? I reckon it will due to the fact you can get X-10 units to go in light fittings, which will be on a different circuit to the ring-main anyway... Anyone want to correct me?
The Neptune will do some pretty basic but essential things for me... I'm thinking of:
If temp is below 25.8C, turn on heater one.
If temp is below 25.5C, turn on heater two.
If temp is above 26.5C, turn on the fans.
If temp is over 27.5C, turn off the halide contactors.
If pH is below 8, shut of the solenoid controling the CO2 to the Ca reactor.
If pH is over 8.4, shut off the kalk stirrer (rigged to a float switch for top-up. There will also be a Tunze Osmolator on the tank, set at a level slightly below the float switch. This will keep salinity in check at midday when pH is at its highest but so is evaporation)
Any other suggestions greatly welcomed...
I'm sure I've forgotten something, but my fingers are dropping off after typing all of this... Any comments, suggestions, critisims, etc are greatly appreciated and any questions will endevour to be answered....
As you can see from lots of this, I have relied on Reef Eden for a lot of insparation. Many thanks to Si Garrett for taking the time to put such a usefull resource at our disposal...
Tim
Edit: Really poor spelling...
Are you on the ground floor?
Yep, we're ground floor... the floor is solid concrete too, so the weight should be no problem at all...
Just ordered loads of bits from Screwfix for the electrics (and more varnish). Also been on to Harry Hird and the lights are arriving next week. Very nice bloke and very helpful. I'm only having to wait so long as the Maxilight reflectors they have in are faulty and not getting replaced until Monday. I though £330 was a bargain for 650 watts of 10k BLV metal halides...
One thing I did forget above is perhaps the most important aspect of all... The stock!!!
The right hand end that can be seen from three sides will have a tall, narrow pillar type arrangement of rock. I have some PVC pipe and releif rock ready to get to work with my drill on. This will be mounted with finger Montis on the top half and Plating Monti's on the bottom... I have a lovely Monti Confusa from Ed Miller that will be the star peice and a few colours of finger Monti from Simon Clarkefor the top. Also have a couple of plating colours for the bottom. All I need now is a frag of Brian's famous orange beastie :D
The left hand side is going to be a more conventional rock pile going from the top, back corner down. The top of this will be right under the 400W halide and will become home to some of the lovely Acro frags I keep seeing but can't buy yet. Time to arrange visits to Martin's, Ed's and Kev Ling's. This bit will also house my couple of LPS lower down where there's less flow and light.
On the sand in the centre will be a lovely blue Maxima clam. Possibly thinking of a second in some subtler colours to acompany it. More than likey this will be from the guys who run www.clams.co.uk (if they're who I'm thinking of)...
Fish stock will be:
Kole Tang (love these guys but underfed my last one :( )
Scopas Tang (had mixed reports, but I love the colours so will take my chances)
Pair of Orchid Dottybacks (have to buy another one to replace the carpet surfer)
Shoal of about half a dozen Threadfin Cardinals
Think I will see how these go before planning anything else. Though a Bi-colour Blenny will end up in there too if I see one as I love these guys...
As before, any opinions welcome...
Thanks,
Tim
Sounds like a great plan Tim.
The only slight flaw is this:
If temp is over 27.5C, turn off the halide contactors.
The problem is if the temp fluctuates, the system will try to turn off/on the halides a few times. You need some sort of timer to let you switch it off until the next on in the cycle.
Tim,
That explains why (in another thread) you said you could get a consumer unit for about half the price I thought possible ! I stared at my screwfix catalogue for a while....
As described, all your equipment will be running from a single RCD, channelled thru' a load of MCB's. If you get a leak, the RCD will trip, cutting off all power. I don't think your CU is really doing you much good, since hopefully the circuit will already be protected by MCB's or fuses, or the various bits of kit will have fuses anyway. It's a bloody expensive junction box !
Ideally you want several circuits with independent RCD's.
In my version, the CU itself will NOT be controlled by an RCD, simply an on/off switch (so that's a cheaper box). But instead of using MCB's for individual circuits, I will use RCD's - hence more expensive but now I think it adds some value over and above having the usual RCD adapter plugs all over the place. Tho' it is still quite an expensive way of being neat and compact (my electrician thinks I'm a bit bonkers, but then he hasn't seen the price of a Stream either).
Just my opinion.
Btw, if you do a search for relays and simonh, you'll see that he uses a "timed" relay on his lights as tuan suggests. If you look up part number 236-1155 on RS Components (http://rswww.com) you'll see a whole page of possibilities (that part just gets you to the page.....it's the first in the list, not necessarily the right one for you.....).
Did you think about widening the service hatch to fit the tank ? If it isn't a load bearing wall that might be quite simple to do.
Either way, sounds like lots of fun,
:)
kim
I'm only having to wait so long as the Maxilight reflectors they have in are faulty and not getting replaced until Monday
Hmmm... *cough*... er sorry - my fault... well kim's fault indirectly :P
(you may have seen a post earlier today re:400 and lights)
Elliot
Originally posted by tuan@Sep 26 2003, 17:42
The problem is if the temp fluctuates, the system will try to turn off/on the halides a few times. You need some sort of timer to let you switch it off until the next on in the cycle.
Pants... Didn't think of that...
you'll see that he uses a "timed" relay on his lights as tuan suggests
Now that sounds like a plan... I shall have a look into it...
If you get a leak, the RCD will trip, cutting off all power
Bugger!!! Didn't think of that, either <_< So, can you get indivual RCD's for consumer units, or only to replace the main on/off isolator? If not, how are you going to run the curciuts on RCD's? I know you can get conection boxes that are RCD's, but this won't let you have it as a ring main to the consumer unit as the return wire will still be conected and act as a spur... Unless... Would this work?
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/kosh42/URPics/New%20tank/rcd%20idea%201.jpg
Only worry would be that the wire from the consumer unit to the RCD isn't a ring... Or would this not matter? And I know, if in doubt, get a sparky ;)
Did you think about widening the service hatch to fit the tank ?
I'm surprised I talked the better half into a bigger tank. I think she'd draw the line at me sawing holes in the wall :rolleyes:
Hmmm... *cough*... er sorry - my fault...
I know. You were mentioned by name :P Still, at least you questioned it as I would probably have thought it was part of the design...
Cheers,
Tim
Edit: Typos...
Originally posted by kim@Sep 26 2003, 18:57
Btw, if you do a search for relays and simonh, you'll see that he uses a "timed" relay on his lights as tuan suggests.
Tried this and can't find the thread... Must be being dense... :blink:
Tim
Okay, it was tough.....I always find I can't post links to threads....so look up a thread started by Keith Hellyar titled "Too Darn Hot". Simon posts the RS Components part number, so this is your lucky day ! Thread started 4 August 2003. His post is the last page. You will miss my hilarious joke halfway through, but I have heard that this is survivable.
In your circuit I still only saw one RCD. I think a lot of people do it this way, so I don't want to say it's bad, but I don't think that it is great.
Yes, you can get RCD's that fit into a CU just like a miniature circuit breaker (MCB). The ones in the Screwfix catalogue which I have are "two pole" or "four pole" (ie will control two or four circuits from the RCD) and take up two or four socket positions. If you want single pole, to maximise the number of independent circuits possible from a CU (ie get really really anal) then the only one I have found is by MK Electric (the "Sentry" range, I think).
Think about the wall ! Maybe the lady would normally flinch at you sawing holes, but in the context of allowing "two sided" tank viewing, and drawing the kichen and dining rooms together via a common and unifying feature" (just make it up as you go along....) it might be different.
kim
(ps yes the Maxilight problem is all down to Elliot. Keep my name out of it.)
Originally posted by kim@Sep 27 2003, 00:08
In your circuit I still only saw one RCD. I think a lot of people do it this way, so I don't want to say it's bad, but I don't think that it is great.
That was just a demonstration of the principle... In reality I'd have a few curcuits going from the MCB's to individual RCB fused conection units, then a ring of plugs from each of these...
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/kosh42/URPics/New%20tank/rcd%20idea%202.jpg
Does this sound OK rather than the RCD's that go into the consumer unit? I'm getting a pre-wired 5+5 consumer unit as they're on special. This has 5 MCB's on an RCD (I'll only use one for the reason you stated before) and five on a normal isolator. From these I'll put in a rings from RCD fused connection units... Also have my Argos label printing machine ready to mark up the sockets so I know where they're coming from...
And I tried the cutting the wall tactics and its still a no :( Main problem is the kitchen is small and the bit behing the wall if full of microwaves, toasters and stuff...
Cheers for the help Kim... Come on guys... Everyone else is welcome to comment too...
Tim
Multiple RCD's......cool. Make sure that they are passive !
I personally wouldn't go with a CU just for MCB's (expensive fuses) - but don't know your existing circuitry (you said it was odd, or at least old), and if the CU is on "special".......
Yep, opening up the gap would be a bit iffy if it presented a vision of a microwave or toaster floating amongst the corals.
And thanks for asking Simon to take a pikky. You tried to blame me, but hopefully that won't wash. Elliot does seem to have started a trend..... try to help a guy, next thing you know you're in trouble........
:wacko:
kim
:)
Sorry, I'll take your name out of that post :P
The consumer unit was £49.99, fully wired, including 10 MCB's and an RCD. Fused RCD units are £25, so I reckon the conveinience of a consumer unit was £25, including all MCB's... Always an excuse to spend money on my tank :D
Talking of which, time to get a shopping list together to send to Ed Miller B)
As the RCD fused units are £25 (rather than the £7 for the unlatched plugs), I'll assume they're latched... If not, I'll say they were described wrong in the catalouge and send them back ;)
Cheers again gor you help...
Tim
Well more bits done... I put some shelves behind the sump...
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/kosh42/URPics/New%20tank/Shelves.jpg
One of these is for the worlds tiniest frag tank... It measures a mere 20 x 6 x 5... Made it myself from glass I got cut at a local cutters... Got to test its watertight tomorrow... Two days should be OK for the silicone to cure, shouldn't it?
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/kosh42/URPics/New%20tank/Frag%20tray.jpg
Also put the top if the tank up. The brace on the right is to hold the hood up (I can't drill the ceiling, its reinforced concrete :wacko: ). I'll have battens accross to the wall and build the hood from there... The two smaller braces are to hang my halides from...
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/kosh42/URPics/New%20tank/Braces.jpg
Also got my halides from Harry Hird. Wonderfull guy and I'd recomend him to anyone... Service was top class... Apart from he forgot to charge me for and include the contactor... Its on its way now, though... God these are bright B) And this is just the 250w!!! :blink:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/kosh42/URPics/New%20tank/250W%20Test.jpg
Cheers,
Tim
Edit: Linked the wrong photo ans spellings...
Tim
Looking good.....
How easy did you find to silicone yrou frag tank?
Was it your first attempt?
Thanks
Elliot
Originally posted by elliot@Oct 3 2003, 13:48
Looking good.....
Kind of different, post-viagra, look to that Maxilight !
:)
Tim, great frag tank. Surely that's all most people need ? Are you putting it in the cabinet or above the tank ?
kim
Kim - Frag tank is going to go in the cabinet behind and above the sump... Fed by a MJ1200 and overflowing back into the sump. I have one blue and one white T5 above it, but with the distance between them and the bottom of the frag tank being less than a foot, it should be fine... I only really have it for accidental breakages that happen, or if someone specifically wants a certain coral, rather than fragging for sales...
Elliot - Siliconing was surprisingly easy... I siliconed the back of the bottom pane and then placed the back on this, using a box on the table for support. The sides were then taped to the back when I'd siliconed, and the front to the sides... After a few minutes, it was able to stand with just the back and sides as its quite squat... Real test comes when I see if its water tight... Haven't got round to that yet...
Only time I've tried before was to partition a refugium in my old tank... And as that was in the tank, it didn't matter if it was water tight :blink:
Cheers for the input guys... Keep it coming...
Tim
Well, I've done a little more since my last update... I've fitted all of the electrics upfor one think. My sockets are now run through four curciuts from a dedicated fuse box... Two of these are RCD's for in tank items, to split the load of heaters and pumps... So it one trips, I still have some electrics... I'm also thinking of earthing my reflectors though, especially after reading of people getting static shocks from them...
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/kosh42/URPics/New%20tank/Electrics%20done.jpg
And my baby frag tank is water tight...
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/kosh42/URPics/New%20tank/Frag%20tank%20test.jpg
Next job is to partition the sump.... Then I'm just waiting for the tank to be delivered... I'm getting all excited like a kid at Christmas :D
Still sctraching my head over the return and closed loop plumbing, though... :unsure:
Tim
Edit: Gramma...
Lawrence Corley
15-10-03, 20:53
That's some serious wiring you got there Tim.
What are you planning to plug up, and have you warned the National Grid people to expect a big drain on power when your new system comes online?
Looking good m8, keep up the good work ;)
Lawrence.
I was gonna run extension leads, then I worked out how many sockets I needed and thought better of it...
Halides (2 plugs)
4ft T5 Ballast
2ft T5 Ballast
4ft NO Ballast
2ft NO Ballast (x2)
OR3500
OR6500
Tunze 6100
MJ1200
Heater (x2)
Kalk stirrer
Peri-pump
Transformer (for float switches)
Auto Top-up
Solenoid
Neptune
X-10 Interface
And there's bound to be some I've forgotten/room for expansion... Still got to phone the electric company and get them to up my direct debit by £20 a month :wacko:
Tim
Forgot to add, this also allowed me to put a couple of decent RCD's in the curcuits, too...
Tim
Well... Its been a while... ntl are pants, so I now have Pipex ASDL through a BT line :D
The tank has finally arrived and is in place...
http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/town/pipexdsl/s/asgg13/URPics/Building%20the%20tank/New%20baby%20dry.jpg
And even been tested with water...
http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/town/pipexdsl/s/asgg13/URPics/Building%20the%20tank/New%20baby%20wet.jpg
Almost OK. I just have to re-silicon the weir as it leaks. Also have to plug my anti-syphon hole and re-drill it on the side of the pipe facing into the tank... Water jeted out of the current hole, hit the side glass and sprayed everywhere :o
Quick question... How unlevel does a tank have to be before its a problem? I made my stand dead level, but it appears my floor is pi**ed :angry: This means that the water in the left hand end is about 1 1/2 cm higher than the right... Will this cause problems over time? Or is it not enough to worry about?
Thanks guys and gals... Its good to be back B)
Tim
Paul Everton
14-11-03, 22:08
Hi
I would make it level before you fill back up with water and restock it. I had my level out as your is once and it becomes very annoying to look at it not to mention cause problems with my overflows having to adjust them to compensate for it.
The level won´t be a problem due to the hood. I´m worried about pressure at one end causing a leak... Anyone comment on this?
Cheers,
Tim
Who´s in Spain :D
My floor is also a bit uneven but not as much as yours. Mines a bit less than half an inch and has been that way for 2 years or so with no probs.
HTH,
Mark.
craigandsimon
16-11-03, 23:33
lookin good tim :) any more pics
Well, back from Spain and time to start working on the tank again...
As it is now...
http://www.tim.mortlock.dsl.pipex.com/URPics/Almost%20there/Pipework.jpg
The pipe at the front is the return from the OR6500 in the sump. The one in the back is the OR3500 closed loop...
I also have another problem :( I have a chip in the front edge I never noticed before :unsure:
http://www.tim.mortlock.dsl.pipex.com/URPics/Almost%20there/The%20chip.jpg
Hopefully it won't cause me too many problems... Tomorrow I'm off to Dewsons or B&Q to get some more polystyrene to go underneath... Not sure the single layer of tiles the LFS provided me are thick enough... Then I'm stuck waiting for D&D to sort their @rse from there elbow and send me my RO unit... I so want to get these bags of sand and crap out of my longe <_<
Tim
Right... A productive day yesterday... I cut some of the pipes...
http://www.tim.mortlock.dsl.pipex.com/URPics/Almost%20there/1.jpg
Removed the releif rock...
http://www.tim.mortlock.dsl.pipex.com/URPics/Almost%20there/2.jpg
Threw out the thin polystyrene sheets the LFS gave me...
http://www.tim.mortlock.dsl.pipex.com/URPics/Almost%20there/3.jpg
And put in some inch thick stuff from Dewsons at a cost of about £3.50...
http://www.tim.mortlock.dsl.pipex.com/URPics/Almost%20there/4.jpg
Waiting for the silicon to dry on the patched up wier (three attemps and it still leaks :angry: ) then its time for another, and hopefully final, tap water test...
Cheers,
Tim
Way to go Tim, looking good. Keep the updates coming. B)
Regards
Lisa
How's it coming along Tim?
Not too bad... Got the D&D RO off Ed on Thursday and after a false start (and help from Kevin) the tank is now mostly full. I've got the tank water up to full strength and added the Aragamax after arranging the Reef Bones and Releif Rock to form the base of the structures. Just waiting for it to clear now as it looks a little milky :blink:
http://www.tim.mortlock.dsl.pipex.com/URPics/Almost%20there/mirky%20tank.jpg
Quite impressed with the RO unit. Got my TDS meter from RS today and I'm getting a 95% rejection rate from the unit (290 odd in tap water to 14-15 in the RO water). Not bad from a £99 unit rated at 50 GPD... Think I'll add a DI phase in the long term, though... Just got to hunt and trawl on the net for best ideas on this...
Also got the Aragamud in the sump and the water in there. I've run out of heaters though so I have a little 100W struggeling to get the sump up to temp... New one should be delivered before the end of the week though, and once stable I'll add the Caulerpa that is rampaging in my three foot holding tank at the moment :angry:
When I get my first Tang in a couple of months, I hope he's going to be hungry B)
Cheers,
Tim
Well, the water has cleared a bit, and the tank now looks like this:
http://www.tim.mortlock.dsl.pipex.com/URPics/Almost%20there/Rock%20work.jpg
The tank has actually clouded up since this picture was taken... I've taken away the floss packed canister that was on it, but this was only to get the worst of it out... Hopefully it'll settle in a couple of days... Or do marine tanks suffer an algae bloom like fresh water tanks do when new?
A couple of bits of liverock from the old tank are also in amonst the Reef Bones and Releif Rock... Seems they had a hitchhiker, as I've spoted two Stommella cruising the glass in the main tank already...
http://www.tim.mortlock.dsl.pipex.com/URPics/Almost%20there/The%20visitor.jpg
Will post sump ics tomorrow... That's actually crystal clear... How odd...
Tim
Tim its all pulling together looks like its gonna be a nice tank. I trust that you'll put the heater in the sump???nic
reef boy 2002
13-12-03, 14:45
getting there now tim
btw yes marine tanks suffer algae blooms when first started
if u can try avoid this by getting some critters and some rowaphos in
cheers ritchie
Well... Cleared up a lot now and things are setteling... Amonia and Nitrites have stayed at zero (probably as most of the rock was left in a bucket of salt water for a month with heat and circulation to get bacterial growth). Nitrate is currently about 12.5 mg/l but I'm not surprised with the bioballs in the sump. Have to wait for the liverock and Macroalgae to kick in...
Originally posted by narthur+--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (narthur)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>I trust that you'll put the heater in the sump???[/b]
Already done as per the pictures below... The two extra big lumps of rock on the left are from an STM trip on Sunday. Nabbed two of their biggest bits B)
http://www.tim.mortlock.dsl.pipex.com/URPics/Almost%20there/tank.jpg
Heres a picture of the sump... The sand around the algae is now covered with tons on Diatoms and there's loads of tiny bubbles coming in from the pipes... Think I'm going to try two 90 degree bends on each pipe so the output is coming up rather than forcing the bubbles down...
http://www.tim.mortlock.dsl.pipex.com/URPics/Almost%20there/sump.jpg
Also put in half a dozen Trochus and five Turbos from Clearwater on Wednesday... They seem to be fine and munching on the algae thats starting to grow...
<!--QuoteBegin--reef boy 2002
btw yes marine tanks suffer algae blooms when first started[/quote]
DOH!!! :wacko: Meant bacterial blooms... When you set-up a fresh water tank, the water goes cloudy with a bacterial bloom... Never seen it in a marine tank before, though...
Cheers,
Tim
Well, after a few days of staring at a tank covered in sludgy brown diatoms, I think its finally clearing. The lights were off by the time I got home last night, but the sand in the sump is starting to clear. Also saw the sand in the tank a bit clearer this morning. Will post more pics tonight...
Up North with the other halve's family after Xmas. Gonna test my nitrates before I go, and maybe treat myself to the lovely Atlantic Blue Tang that they had in Clearwater last week if its started going down... Providing they still have it of course... 'Cos I get a feeling that its green algae next :angry:
Tim
Oh s&*t!!!! :(
Came home tonight to a conspicuously dark house. Rushed in to find what was wrong and found that not a plug socket in the place was working... Turns out that the return pipe had come off the sump pump and had sprayed water everywhere... This included into the plug socket on a nearby wall...
The back of the socket is charred and a little melted, and the wall above has a couple of scorch marks... I was bloody lucky the flat didn't burn down... Made sure everything was dry, rewired the socket with a 15amp ceramic conector and replaced the fuse... Everythings running again (except the sump return until I get it sorted) but the temp sagged a fair bit...
Also had to mop up five gallons of water off the new floor in the lounge. I have lots of flowers to buy ;)
Also had a tiny (read about half a cup) floor in the bedroom, but that's small fry by comparison...
Tim
ouch.... bloody lucky mate... makes me think :S
Well, here's the damage:
http://www.tim.mortlock.dsl.pipex.com/URPics/Almost%20there/wall.jpg
http://www.tim.mortlock.dsl.pipex.com/URPics/Almost%20there/socket.jpg
Seem the water shorted the live terminal to earth... Bet there was a bloody big bang as the fuse went :unsure:
Tim
Touch wood, but no loses from the power outage yet...
I've started moving some of my coral's accross and everything seems fine... Been putting together a stock list for fish over the Xmas break and was after people's opinions...
Two of the following Tangs:
Kole Tang
Powder Blue
Atlantic Blue
Scopas
Yellow
Plus the following:
Coral Beauty x1
Flasher Wrasse x3 (1M2F if I can ever find them)
Green Chromis x8
Bangii Cardinals x2 (Pair)
Any comments? Cheers,
Tim
Just a quick update... All of the livestock from the old tank is across into the new one (horay!!! I get to sleep properly without a skimmer and kalk stirrer in the bedroom :D )... The diatoms have all dissapeared and were replace by a soft, green hair type algae. After the addition of my Atlantic Blue Tang, this has all dissapeared too... He does look ready to pop, though :lol:
Full (and kinda bare) tank shot:
http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/town/pipexdsl/s/asgg13/URPics/Almost%20there/20040113/fulltank.jpg
My gorgeous Atlantic Blue Tank from Clearwater... Despite my pitifull attemps in Paint Shop Pro, the body in this picture is still darker than real life...
http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/town/pipexdsl/s/asgg13/URPics/Almost%20there/20040113/frankie.jpg
My lovely green Montipora Confua from Ed Miller... Looking a lot greener and happier under the increased lighting in the new tank...
http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/town/pipexdsl/s/asgg13/URPics/Almost%20there/20040113/confusa.jpg
Green Monti. from Simon Clarke:
http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/town/pipexdsl/s/asgg13/URPics/Almost%20there/20040113/greenmonti.jpg
Orange Monti. also from Simon:
http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/town/pipexdsl/s/asgg13/URPics/Almost%20there/20040113/orangemonti.jpg
And finally the "frag" from Gareth... As you can see, this frag is one on the biggest SPS in the tank :blink:
http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/town/pipexdsl/s/asgg13/URPics/Almost%20there/20040113/seriatopora.jpg
Regards,
Tim
Lawrence Corley
13-01-04, 21:04
Looks like all your hard work is paying off. Nice looking tank. NiceTang too :wub:
Lawrence.
Originally posted by Lawrence Corley@Jan 13 2004, 21:04
Nice Tang too :wub:
I know... Kinda fell in love when I saw him in Clearwater in mid-December :wub: I was lucky he was still there when I went back in Jan... I toold it as a sign that meant I had to buy him...
On a different note, off to buy a tripod at lunch-time... Expect more pics soon :D
Tim
Mountainman01
15-01-04, 16:25
Looking forward to seeing them Tim :)
Been following your tank closely as i'm on the brink of setting up my 4x2x2 ecosystem soon.
Just got to finish painting the lounge or the boss won't be happy! :D
Paul
Well, the tripod means my pics are a little less blurry...
First, my Acro...
http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/town/pipexdsl/s/asgg13/URPics/Almost%20there/20040115/acros.jpg
My brain coral, who's turning more brown under the new lights, rather than the pink he used to be...
http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/town/pipexdsl/s/asgg13/URPics/Almost%20there/20040115/brain.jpg
My new Chromis...
http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/town/pipexdsl/s/asgg13/URPics/Almost%20there/20040115/chromis.jpg
A nice close up of my Green Monti (a rarety with my point and click camera)...
http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/town/pipexdsl/s/asgg13/URPics/Almost%20there/20040115/green%20monti%20close%20up.jpg
My lovely purple Monti frag from Clayton last week...
http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/town/pipexdsl/s/asgg13/URPics/Almost%20there/20040115/purple%20monti.jpg
My red Monti, that's looking a little pink-ish in the new tank...
http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/town/pipexdsl/s/asgg13/URPics/Almost%20there/20040115/red%20monti.jpg
An in focus Seriatopora (thanks again to Gareth)...
http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/town/pipexdsl/s/asgg13/URPics/Almost%20there/20040115/seriatopora.jpg
My trumpet coral, looking healthier now its out from under the 400W, that it didn't like...
http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/town/pipexdsl/s/asgg13/URPics/Almost%20there/20040115/trumpet.jpg
Cheers,
Tim
Wow what a set up.
Any chance of Harry's tel no? Looks looks the man to speak to for Halides!
Cheers
Sam
Harry Hird is on 01726 69552... And no, I'm not on commission :D
Tim
Well, slowly getting better at the pictures I think... Read the article in Advanced Aquarist and these two are slight improvements... Now I just gotta get the tang to sit still long enough for the auto-focus to work <_< Think I'm gonna order an S602Z at the current bargain price while people still have stock...
My green Acro from Kevin Douglas...
http://www.tim.mortlock.dsl.pipex.com/URPics/Almost%20there/20040125/acro.jpg
One of my favourite peices, my Montipora Confusa from Ed Miller...
http://www.tim.mortlock.dsl.pipex.com/URPics/Almost%20there/20040125/confusa.jpg
Tim
Well, yesterday saw me a trip to Ed Miller's in the hacking rain, and coming home a lot poorer :wacko: Got some lovely bits, though...
A beutiful green A. millipora...
http://www.tim.mortlock.dsl.pipex.com/URPics/Almost%20there/20040131/milli.JPG
A blue-ish Acro (colour is slightly off in this shot)...
http://www.tim.mortlock.dsl.pipex.com/URPics/Almost%20there/20040131/Blue.JPG
This is both of the above, plus the third purple Acro colony I bought in the bottom left...
http://www.tim.mortlock.dsl.pipex.com/URPics/Almost%20there/20040131/Newbies.JPG
Also got a couple of other frags, but they're too small to photo...
Hope you like them...
Tim
Hi Tim
nice looking corals
I got a very simular piece to the second photo,I got mine from Ed too back in late august time.
heres a pic of it when first purchased.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/LA.JPG
And a pic of the same coral now(crap photo though)
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/31104.JPG
It will be interesting to see how yours changes over time.
your have to keep it updated!
Hope you dont mind me posting these pics if you do PM and il remove them.
Cheers
Andrew
Originally posted by sparky@Feb 1 2004, 22:11
Hope you dont mind me posting these pics if you do PM and il remove them.
Don't be silly... Its fine... Hope I can see similar growth... Might make my tank look a little less barren :rolleyes:
Tim
Mountainman01
02-02-04, 02:01
Love :wub: that A.Millipora, fantastic!
Looking really nice mate. Starting to make real progress, unlike me who has come to a grinding halt with my ecosystem. I keep having to return to your thread to kick myself up the ar*e! :D
Paul.
Tim, love the green milli - very very nice mate :D hows the tank coming along?
Starting to come along well... Think I have a couple more corals and a few fish to go, then I'll sit back and wait for it to grow out... Just added a load of photos on this thread (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=19371&st=0&) in photography...
Couple I'll post here though... First is a lovely frag I got from Ed Miller... Its a maroon/purple Acro with bright green polyps...
http://www.tim.mortlock.dsl.pipex.com/URPics/Stocking/20040203/Green%20polyped%20frag.JPG
And a whole tank shot, too...
http://www.tim.mortlock.dsl.pipex.com/URPics/Stocking/20040203/14.JPG
Also got a few frags from Kevin Douglas that I'll try and photo at the weekend...
Tim
A quickie of one of my newest fishies from Simon last night... :wub:
http://www.tim.mortlock.dsl.pipex.com/URPics/Stocking/20040206/bangii.JPG
Tim
Just a couple more pics...
My new clam from http://www.clams.co.uk, Dot...
http://www.tim.mortlock.dsl.pipex.com/URPics/Stocking/20040219/20040219%20Dot%202.JPG
And the best every picture of Frankie, my Atlantic Blue Tang...
http://www.tim.mortlock.dsl.pipex.com/URPics/Stocking/20040219/20040219%20Frankie%20great%20picture.JPG
And some others in this thread (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=20281) in the photography forum...
Hope you like em...
Tim
craigandsimon
20-02-04, 08:29
very nice tim, coming along nicely now.
any more full tank shots?
Lawrence Corley
20-02-04, 14:16
Great shots Tim,
looks like you're getting the hang of your new camera :thumbsup:
Lawrence.
Hi Tim,
Just curious did you end up using the skimmer?? You corals are looking great! just wandering whether to have a go with miracle mud myself.
Regards Gareth
Only time I had a skimmer on the tank was when I was trying to clear the Aragamax particles out of the water column at the start... Never been on the tank since (touch wood)...
And instead of the Miracle Mud, I used Caribsea Aragamud from Ed Miller at less than half the price... I'm pulling out about half a kilo of Caulerpa every other week (plus what I take out daily to put in the tank for the Tang)... So far, so good... But only time will tell...
Cheers,
Tim
Thanks Tim,
I'll pick your brains on this one at the next meet. I having Preds Sump off him, so it will be an ideal time to do it.
Regards Gareth
great tank, keep the pics coming.
Its been a while, so some quick update shots...
My "frag" from Gareth...
http://www.tim.mortlock.dsl.pipex.com/URPics/Stocking/20040722/16.jpg
A Bangii from Simon...
http://www.tim.mortlock.dsl.pipex.com/URPics/Stocking/20040722/2.jpg
An Acro from Coral Culture...
http://www.tim.mortlock.dsl.pipex.com/URPics/Stocking/20040722/3.jpg
Another Acro from Coral Culture...
http://www.tim.mortlock.dsl.pipex.com/URPics/Stocking/20040722/4.jpg
Yet another Acro from Coral Culture...
http://www.tim.mortlock.dsl.pipex.com/URPics/Stocking/20040722/5.jpg
A frag that I think came from Coral Culture... This is gonna grow into a beauty...
http://www.tim.mortlock.dsl.pipex.com/URPics/Stocking/20040722/6.jpg
A frag that came from Coral Culture... This is also gonna grow into a beauty...
http://www.tim.mortlock.dsl.pipex.com/URPics/Stocking/20040722/7.jpg
My Hydnaphora that I got from Clearwater almost two years ago as a small brach with three tips...
http://www.tim.mortlock.dsl.pipex.com/URPics/Stocking/20040722/8.jpg
An Acro From Kevin Douglas that I got as a frag many moons ago...
http://www.tim.mortlock.dsl.pipex.com/URPics/Stocking/20040722/9.jpg
Orange finger Monti from Simon...
http://www.tim.mortlock.dsl.pipex.com/URPics/Stocking/20040722/10.jpg
Purple rimmed plating Monti from Coral Culture as a frag... The edges in the picture are not as bright as real life...
http://www.tim.mortlock.dsl.pipex.com/URPics/Stocking/20040722/11.jpg
Yet another Acro from Coral Culture... Danm I spend a lot of money with Nick :whistling:
http://www.tim.mortlock.dsl.pipex.com/URPics/Stocking/20040722/12.jpg
A slowly going pink Stylophora (sp?) frag from Ed Miller... Just need a frag of the matching green one from Kevin to go with it *hint* *hint* ;)
http://www.tim.mortlock.dsl.pipex.com/URPics/Stocking/20040722/13.jpg
An orange plating Monti from guess where? You got it! Coral Culture!!!
http://www.tim.mortlock.dsl.pipex.com/URPics/Stocking/20040722/14.jpg
And finally, a Trumpet coral from Clearwater that had four or five polyps on it when I bought it in the mists of time...
http://www.tim.mortlock.dsl.pipex.com/URPics/Stocking/20040722/15.jpg
There would have been more, but my batteries ran out...
Any comments/opinions/flames welcome as always...
Tim
CoralCulture
22-07-04, 22:50
Looking good Tim, yes, thanks for the business! Glad everything is doing well.
how about another full tank shot, and maybe one from the kitchen so we can see what effect you get from there.
lovely tank :wub:
Originally posted by SCOOB@Jul 23 2004, 18:02
how about another full tank shot, and maybe one from the kitchen so we can see what effect you get from there.
I'll charge up the batteries, clean the glass again and fire off a few tonight if I get time.
Cheers,
Tim
Sorry for the delay, but a couple of pull back shots... The ones from the kitchen came out fuzzy and pants... Will try some more but in a couple of weeks the kitchen is being ripped out... After will be prettier ;)
http://www.tim.mortlock.dsl.pipex.com/URPics/Stocking/20040727/20040727%20End%20Tank.JPG
http://www.tim.mortlock.dsl.pipex.com/URPics/Stocking/20040727/20040727%20Full%20Tank.JPG
Cheers,
Tim
tim, looking really really nice mate. :)
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