View Full Version : The twiglight zone
finally got some reefing time for this year:)
The plan is to switch from softies/lps and heavy fish load to keeping sticks and twigs.:D
I figured if I'm keeping twigs, then I'm only gonna have twigs in the system. Rock arrived Friday...
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q1/t2006r2.jpg
skylight and light mover all in place
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q1/t2006l1.jpg
just finalising the tank design, before the order goes in with Solaglass
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q1/glassplay.jpg
Just need to make contact with Pavlo, for the last magic component and all system are go:cool:
feels good to back in the game:), yeehah
That looks amazing :D
The skylight system looks very interesting, I've read a lot about the effect these have. Kind of makes sense too, we all spend so much time, money and effort to replicate sunlight with the real thing burning overhead :cool:
Sticks and twigs are great, too :D
Cheers
Chris :)
:D nice to know your still in the game:D ,come on then get a move on:p .
richard
Great to see this going ahead. :)
What's the full details of the lighting?
Hey this looks fun! Keep posting pictures!!!
I don't get it....
Sps, no movement, boring, high maintenance, expensive to buy and keep against beautiful flowing softies?
(ok the lps I can understand!)
You must have gone mad young man!
Good luck with it, give me a shout if you need a hand with anything, I'm fixed (fingers crossed!!)
Kev
simon garratt
16-12-06, 04:58
Come on then Nav, wheres the bloody updates...or are you scared that all that stuff Ive taught you over the years might be proved true and you'll have to concede defeat...;) ;)
Tank looks like its gonna be a stunner...:)
regards
Si.
This has got to be the slowest build in History:D .
but the last few weeks have seen some progress:)
dec 14th, 07:00 the door bell rings....
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/07tankgobain.jpg
20 mins of sweat and toil and a few nerving moments, and all we have to show for it is a few slabs of glass.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/07tankglass1.jpg
Dec 16th, mid-afternoon, some West London reefers arrive and we begin in earnest.
the base goes on
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/07tankbase1.jpg
Fuzed drops in the left side whilst rolling the next reefer:D , boy does he look mellow.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/07tankfuzed1.jpg
the back clamped into place using picture frame makers, as we couldn't find the masking tape!
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/07tankback1.jpg
Rapidly followed by the front
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/07tankfront1.jpg
5 hours later, the main tank is built and the playstation goes into action.:D
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/07tankfull1.jpg
If it wasn't for Fuzed and Waterfalls, I would have left the glass in the living room for a month, before deciding what to do with it:p , so gent's, once again I raise my glass to you for kicking my ass and shifting some glass.
more soon...
Wow, that's going to be stunning when its filled.
What size is the tank?
Cheers Tony, it's a 6x4x2.5, I like what poeple have done with larger back to front lenghts, so it will hopefully make for some interesting aquascaping.
Nav
Nav,
The offer of help is still there! Anything I can help with let me know.
Kev
Nice job, looking great already!
Looks like you will never want to leave that room when its done :D
Kev,
I trust all is well:) .
All the core plumbing is now in, so the next step is emptying the current system into a holding vat and then reconfiguring the old tank into a sump. We are going to need a few peeps, so i'll arrange an afternoon session, giving us plenty of time for few bevvies in the eve;) .
I'll need to get hold of a 65mm drill first though, hopefully Danny or Darren may be able to help.
Jon, in terms of lighting, It's going to be a bit of trial and error.:cool:
The only permenant fixture is a single 400w halide with a LumIII reflector that is on a motorised rail. I will most probably need to supplement, but am thinking that 2 x 6ft t5's may be more than adequate. Not sure how much usefull light the roofdomes will bring in. Any thoughts?
As far as I can gather, SPS only require 3 hours of intense light to get them going, I still don't undertand why reefers generally throw a huge wattage of light at them!
Looks very nice. Any pictures of the stand? and what are you using for turnover?
Danny
Nav,
Try this.....
http://www.beertech.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info¤cy=GBP&products_id=206
Kev, that looks ideal, the only problem is that the brass fitting are welded .:(
Danny, the front of the base rests on a main structural wall of the house, the centre and rear are on rsj's that are resting on brick built columns. I'll snap a pic this eve.
The turnover is 4 6100's(from the current system), with 2 of these in a wavebox configuration.
The sump return is a 12m3 Red Dragon, with a supplementary loop also running a 12m3 Red Dragon. I chose the Red Dragon over the sequences simply because they have greater electrical efficiency, quieter running and because they have a better head capacity for using eductors:D . Some more details on these pumps can be found here http://english.royal-exclusiv.de/index2.htm
the tank volume is approx 1630 litres, so at full stretch
4 x 6100 = 48,000l/h using 180W
2 x red dragon = 24,000l/h using 230W
4 x eductors = 96,000l/h using 0w
giving 168,000l/h using 410w/h
that's approx 100 times turnover. allowing 50% for static/friction/pressure headloss, pump cycling e.t.c should hopefully still provide enough flow.:cool:
Lovely looking build mate, nice size tank too. Love the sky light :) good idea.
I'll keep my eye on this one ;)
Marc Foord
16-01-07, 14:08
dunno how i missed this thread up until now :rolleyes:
looking great nav...although bit of a waste of a tank that size just to stuff some twigs in (i really should have TM'ed that term - everyone's using it now :D )
keep us posted.....
are you coming along to the WLRC meet on saturday ? hope to catch up then.....:)
well nav
you amaze me,must be a mirage:D
richard
4 x eductors = 96,000l/h using 0w
:confused:
Marc, Rich, hopefully se ya on Sat:) . Rich, sometimes I even surpass myself:D
Danny, here's some background to how eductors work
http://www.kthsales.com/website/Misc/hello_salt_water_enthusiasts.htm
plenty of posts on RC if you are looking for more practical info;)
A few pics of progress
plumbing of the left wier, theory is to rip the detritus of the base straight into the skimmer, with the stream helping to draw waste into the wier.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/07tanklp1.jpg
right wier, output to second skimmer (surface water skimmer) and overflow for any excess water or incase of blockage, skimmer maintainance e.t.c.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/07tankrp1.jpg
Frame drying into place
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/07tankf1.jpg
cutting up the wier plates.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/07tankc1.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/07tankc2.jpg
the system as it stands
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/07tankframed.jpg
not sure that covering the pipework is a good idea, I rather like the look of exposed pipework. what do you reckon?
Nav you can drill out the connectors on the conical tank and refit with plastic.
Do you need any help on saturday late afternoon before parrymore?
Kev
Marc Foord
16-01-07, 22:19
coming on nicely nav !
hopefully see you saturday, will add you to the list mate.
cheers
marc
nav - didn't realise you'd updated the thread.... ahhh scary pic of me in there...
glad to see it coming together, when's the fill matey???
Marc Foord
17-01-07, 11:07
nav
shouldn't this thread be the twiglet zone not the twilight zone ? :p :D
there were no twiglets in sight... honest guv ;)
phwaor! this looks awesome! give me a shout if you need a hand with anything (e.g. tank, playstation, sofa)
Hey Gubs, long time no hear!
Fuzed informs me that you have an excess of acro than you need to frag and insert into the newborn West London System:D
Hopefully, will hold the March meet, Elliot has been roped into bringing the Wii, and another member will bring some dancing ladies:cool: . I know what I'm going to be doing:D .
If I can achieve your growth rates and colours i'll be well chuffed. But the rules for running this system are very tight, so it's either going to be an antogonistic journey or a walk in the park. The latter if theory meets practice:cool:
being away from base for a while, I checked up with the tank keeper (my 9 year old nipper). He reports that all parms are stable and no noticable diatom growth:dance: . Nitrates are however 2ppm, not bad for 250kg reefbones in a raw system with a fair sprinkling of livestock.
In compliance with Murphys law, the first night i flew out the temperature dropped on 24.5 as one of the heaters blew tripping the secondary circuit taking half the tanks power out. No streams , just 1 skimmer, a 250w heater and the return pump for 15hrs but no damage done:) .
£30 of calls later:eek: , the IKS was reconfigured and the dodgy heater disabled to bring all aspects back online. Despite a weeks training it's tough to measure how much a nine year old can absorb in a short period. He has however done a sterling job and probably understands more than most reefers on this forum:D .
Thanks to Fuzed for the standy position, much appreciated in the panick moments, at least you know you can now rely on Aston! Still can't believe he knows the IKS better than I do:eek:
To cut a long tale short,time was limited, I cleaned the sump with vinegar and acetic acid. The system was salted and populated with bones and about 80kg of live from the existing system. The excess carbon resulted in a 2 day milky algae bloom, that was skimmed of in a wet 30 gallons!
All parms were then bang on the mark, apart from 5ppm nitrate. All existing stock was thrown in the tank, and off I flew.
No noticable diatom, algae or other effects have been reported since:cool: ,but I guess I should get an adult to do a cross check.:whistling:
I can view the tank and all IKS parms away from home, and all is incredibly stable:dance: . I've got 3 days at home next weekend to check things over and make up some replacement water for the 6 gallons that being skimmed daily.
On the down side, despite contacting the reefing community, there a no tanks worthwhile of mention in Mumbai, Hopefully Dubai will offer some better options.
anyways here's where things stood before I left.
bones and old stock
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/newtn1.jpg
just bones
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/newtn2.jpg
bones with feet
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/newtn3.jpg
fairly chuffed that all is going to plan, maybe something to do with the fact that I'm not around to get my hands wet and tamper unnecessarily:thumbsup:
ohh and a happy Holi to those that knows what It means:D , hopefully the system will be as colourfull as the celebration was:dance: . despite the 40 degrees, the 9 pools, stunning bollywood babes and being called saab all day, can't wait to get home to blighty. You don't know how good you've got it!
who said you can't cycle a tank in 2 days, and it's a game of patience:laugh: .
2 stonking skimmers set to wet goes a long way;) , almost as far as 1000 rupees:p
N
It looks so much better now Nav.
Stunning system!
Kev
now that does look realy good.................realy good
well done
R
Rupert,
It looks miles away from that now.
Its full of sps e.t.c and looks lovely.
Kev
Fantastic looking set-up there Nav! Look forward to seeing how it progresses...
:thumbsup:
Only just clocked this thread. Looks gorgeous. And the general attention to external room design/decor as well as what is in the tank contributes to what I'm sure will be a stunning system. Am looking forward to seeing this develop and grow.
Regards,
Keith
fireproofcujo
01-08-07, 02:13
A sterling job keep them pics and updates coming very cool job you done here :thumbsup:
A brief update
I've been seriously impressed with the growth rates over the past 3 months:)
Bearing in mind that the tank is a 6x4x2.5, it's primary lighting is a SINGLE 400w 6500K halide on a lightrail for 7 hours a day. This is supplemented by 2x 80w 10K halides 10hrs a day. That's not alot of lighting for the size of tank. I guess natural sunlight goes a long way:whistling:
The calc reactor has been struggling with Calc and ALk, so 2 part dosing of these has been necessary for the entire period pretty much. I'll be switching to a Jetstream2 to take care of this oversight.
Other than that, I reckon the 2 months away from home was probably the best thing for the tank, i.e. no medling and touch wood all went to plan.
7 tangs, a large rabbit, a 4ft eel, and 35 additional fish and the phos and nitrate are bang on the mark:) . Considering that all the rock in the display is dead branch and that there are only 2 pieces of live rock in the sump, with no sand anywhere to be seen, it's gotta to be testament to Wet skimming and same massive clams:dance:
I'll be scaping the tank in the coming month into what will hopefully be the final placement. ALL corals are on fiberglass pegs the sit into predrilled holes in the reefbones.
enough rambling, a few pics.....
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/ntank0ct8.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/ntankoct1.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/ntankoct2.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/ntankoct5.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/ntankoct3.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/ntankoct4.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/ntankoct6.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/ntankoct7.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/ntankoct8.jpg
see ya
N
Looking good! Stunning rabbit and some LARGE clams. How long did it take the deresas to get to that size?
John
That is a brilliant setup you have mangaed to build - kept us waiting for ages, but, with results like that the wait for pics was well worth it!!
The clams are all from UR reefers:dance: .
One I have had for 7-8 years and grown from a 3" babe to its current 12" size(also acquired from a UR member).
The smallest 8" clam was captive for 5 years in one tank, then spent 3 months in another members tank and has been with me for 3 months.
The 20" clam and the 10", have also been in a number of members tanks for the past 10 years, these were acquired with a Pyramidellidae infestation that I have almost cleared up.:)
N
Halfsleeve
15-10-07, 15:17
Great read just stunning love these hole in the wall jobs .
nav mate, think its time for more pics ;)
simon garratt
14-01-08, 17:03
Looking really nice Nav... well done on the perameters as well.
not my cup of tea the bare bottom look, but in this case it seems to work well imo..
I take it thats an orangespot rabbit,? I was pondering one of these myself. any more pics showing the full colouration. ie are the spots a rusty colour, or are they a full blown orange.
regards
Si.
Superb. Those clams are chuffin huge! :laugh: Love it! :thumbsup: :worship:
saw the tank tonight, looking great nav and the growth is just amazing!!! :D
Thanks Chaps,
the tank is progressing nicely:) , all parameters are now what I consider in perfect balance. The next 7 months is all about selecting the right corals, ensuring correct placement and watching the corals grow out, then it's a change from the 6500K lamp to a 10K lamp to colour them up:) .
Si, the rabbit is indeed a full blown orange, an exceptional fish but a heavy payload on the system, I'm considering finding him a new home and adding a few schooling fish as a replacement. Would be great in a system that has algae, but at the moment I'm throwing in alot of nori to keep him well fed.
Tony,
the clams are now back in quarantine, will some wrasses and shrimps to finish of the job that manual removal did not take care off:o , hopefully this will their last time in quarantine ;) .
Lot I would like to do, but the only real addition that is now NEEDED is an automatic switching backup generator, but really want to connect something up that will keep the fridge, central heating circuit and downstairs lighting circuit operational also. Doubt it ill have the time/finance to expend before the end of summer though :(
Hopefully Fuzed and pop over in the near future and take some updated pics.:D
N
Hi Nav
Tank looking good mate, well done!:thumbsup:
Saf
MoOriginal
20-01-08, 09:32
holy moly - with a tank that size and that well thought out makes me inspired to want to do something the same - it was nice to put a face to a name at the Sat meet of WLRC - although briefy.
Look forward to a meet at your place sometime!
Can I ask a question - with natural light - do you not have to worry about excessive algae growth ?
Thanks
Mo
I will eventually get Fuzed to pop over and take some proper shots, until then a few pics of the tank as it stands, gives a general feel. hope u like em:)
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2008Q1/navmar87.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2008Q1/navmar84.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2008Q1/navmar83.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2008Q1/navmar82.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2008Q1/navmar81a.jpg
reefingbuddha
16-03-08, 22:33
your tank looks fantastic. congratulations
great dimensions. I happy to see someone try using just dry branch rock for all their aqua scaping. That is what I want to do for my next tank (a 60" by 60" by 30" reef tank). Figured it would be the best for a BB setup. Please let me know what you like about it and what you don't.
once again things look great.
i have to say if i ever moved house or built a large extension! then a hole in wall tank with approx the dimensions of yours is the way id go... i love that extra front to back room,
nice to also see thats its taken a few years for the clams to grow to that size... ive got two and i have to say ive been scared by the amount theyve grown in the couple of months ive had them! lol
looking great!
Reefclown, that looks fantastic, well done mate
HOLY CRAP!!!!!
i don't think i've seen this thread before, that looks incredible!
Are you still running that 6500k to get the growth as colour doesn't seem too shabby at all.
I am quite speechless, that really is very very nice!
Christ on a bike! Your tank is absolutely outstanding
I see you live near heathrow....... :wave:
Can i come visit? :D
Southwestmarines
17-03-08, 10:10
Stunning. That's going to be a full time fragging job! Well done Nav.
Marc Foord
17-03-08, 11:18
nav
that has certainly grown out a tad since the WLRC meet last year :eek: :thumbsup:
pictures certainly don't do this tank justice in terms of the setting - in terms of the build and how nicely this tank looks in the room it stands, don't think i've seen better.
TOTM ? cough cough :whistling:
keep up the good work as always !
markreefer
17-03-08, 17:58
Looking great!
:applause:dammn that has come a long way since your meet,keep up the good reefing nav:thumbsup:.glad to see that softie in the background:D.
richard
Magic Beans
17-03-08, 18:34
I wasn't sure i'd like it to start off with but seeing in now, i realised i was very wrong. Looks great! 100x turnover though, wow! :eek:
Norvern Rob
18-03-08, 18:30
Beautiful looking tank - made all the better IMO by not just filling it with solid colour vivid SPS - they are there, but complimented by blue tips, purple tips, browns, greens etc. It just makes the whole thing look more like a reef than a fruit stall.
Rob :)
Thanks for the kind words, all is still going to plan:).
As far as the softies go, as much as try, I simply can't get myself to remove them all from the system, there is something about them that I simply can't resist, it's all in the movement!:D.
The 6500K lamp is now a year old, I picked up a 10k BLV last week, it was installed on Sat morning, not to impressed so far, It appears to punch out alot less light than the iwasaki 6500K:(. I'll leave it another week to see how it burns in. It could just be that there is less visible light to the human eye? The light mover is also starting to show signs of age, it's ride along the track is not so smooth anymore. A new set of bearing will be needed in due course:(. All in all, I'm quite elated on the overall results from the single halide. So far, I have resisted the temptation to add another halide to speed things along, the increase in utilities prices has certainly helped the decision to a large extent ( there is also the danger that another halide would turn it into a fruit stall:eek:)
I'm a firm believer that the days of 'live rock' are over. In terms of biologial capacity, bones is more than capable in a fairly short measure of time. Hopefully a few goverment imposed restrictions should put an end to the outdated practice of taking live-rock from the oceans:cool:. IME, The advantage of using just branching rock, is that you get a whole lot more flow in the system, fewer detrial traps, greater water volume, and it easy to play and mount on. Not to add it's a great deal cheaper to source!
Can't wait for the summer to kick in, the addition on natural daylight is a huge bonus, I expect the system to go through a real growth spurt in the summer months. Daylight has no affect on algae growth IME, it's all about water quality.
100x turnover though, wow! :eek:
The pumps were not man enough to drive the eductors, so for the moment the eductors or not on the system. I've added an additonal 6100 to take care of flow for the interim period, until I find a suitable pump or better approach
Martin, you are more than welcome to pop over:).
The final pieces of the jigsaw, is a solid purple plating monti and an achilles, If you see one in your travels let me know:thumbsup:.
eddiedundee
19-03-08, 11:50
simply stunning mate you must be really chuffed
Hi,
A stunning tank:worship:
Many thanks for sharing:)
ATB
Tets.
Stunning tank mate!! don't know how i've missed this one,thats going to grow into something very special,well done!! :thumbsup:
Now that the corals have taken over most of the rock structure its looking very very nice. Certainly takes the eye away from the bare bottom! Keep up the good work
Great looking tank very natural colours on the acros aswell deffo TOTM
The next 7 months is all about selecting the right corals, ensuring correct placement and watching the corals grow out, then it's a change from the 6500K lamp to a 10K lamp to colour them up:) .
Your time is up - come in reefclown. Be good to see an update on this.
Can't believe that the 12000 lph Red Dragon's weren't powerful enough to drive the eductors - how big were they?
John
how are you my friend..thanks for the chat ...
nav, your system is awesome mate...some pics of your filtration sytem..sump..skimmer ect...
Emperor Angel
10-02-09, 17:40
Hi Nav
Was just pottering through UR and came across your build - Holy Moses - It's fricken awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And don't even get me started on the size of your clams (That sounds rude - Doesn't it :whistling:).
Can you please post some new pics for us to see :) At least do it for the WLRC members out there!
Keep up the good work
Robbie
The Reef Master
10-02-09, 18:25
I missed it too , Awesome is all I can say.Love the clams
truly stunning,lets see an update please :p
Yeah Nav whats going on with updates!
I heard that you aquired another large clam........
Matty
P.s when are you fragging lol
Thanks for the kind words:)
Much has happened, hardships :confused:and pleasures:), now that all is once again in order I'll get an update together on Friday once I can find the pics from the recent period.;)
50 inches in clams is a tad addictive I guess:o
Nav
Emperor Angel
12-02-09, 17:31
Awaiting Pics.........................................
Updated pics please Nav. :)
Jeff.
simon garratt
06-04-09, 12:32
Looking stunning there now its all grown out Nav.
a real credit to you.
All the best
Simon.
Had the camera out this eve to take some pics of the car, got back in, unloaded the images and found some tank shots:).
Bearing in mind that the AEFW and nudi infestation resulted in just over 2 buckets of corals being stripped from the tank:(, things are now thankfully back in recovery and on the mend:).
so here's a few recent shots
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2009Q1/navt05092.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2009Q1/navt05093.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2009Q1/navt05094.jpg
have fun
N
Emperor Angel
18-05-09, 22:36
Looking great Nav - The pics were certainly worth the wait.
djpaulmichael
22-05-09, 21:27
ive seen the clams in the flesh,they are the size of footballs!!! awsome
I loved your tank when it was full of huge soft corals but I reckon it looks even better now.
Hi nav looking great.. hope all's well.
Nic..
Looking forward to see this system at the end of the month, hopefully... can I bring a container for some frags? :D
Can't wait to see this one in the flesh Nav :D
How did you overcome your AEFW infestation?
a quick Vid update, whilst Murphy is at bay :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bw59v7ApaHk
Spookyspike
10-12-09, 15:48
Absolutlely fantastic tank... has to be a TOTM!
Norvern Rob
10-12-09, 17:50
Absolutely superb, loving the size of those colonies :)
:worship::worship:talk about recovery,looking good ,nav:worship:
cracking tank mate. how are them clams so small :laugh::applause::dance:
simonclarke2000
20-12-09, 16:49
how is the tank coming along?
tomcoleman
21-12-09, 13:50
those are some big clams what do you feed them,?
Emperor Angel
23-12-09, 22:42
those are some big clams what do you feed them,?
Naughty Children! That's why his are so well behaved!
Emperor Angel
23-12-09, 22:43
Nav, I asked Santa for a huge clam like yours :) has he contacted you about the collection?
tomcoleman
24-12-09, 09:13
Naughty Children! That's why his are so well behaved!
:laugh:
Have never seen such massive clams, they look fantastic, ohh and the tank is outstanding,
Keep the pics coming,
Just come across this tank build and my jaw nearly hit the ground, a stunning size setup and the corals and clams are stunning, also love the reef bones look that your have created, looks very natural and a credit to you.
this is a great thread and tank any more pics of your skylight please
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2010Q2/TtankJun1.jpg.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2010Q2/TtankJun2.jpg.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2010Q2/TtankJun3.jpg.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2010Q2/TtankJun4.jpg.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2010Q2/TtankJun5.jpg.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2010Q2/TtankJun6.jpg.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2010Q2/TtankJun7.jpg.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2010Q2/TtankJun8.jpg.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2010Q2/TtankJun9.jpg.jpg
Nauman popped over and took a few snaps, i badly resized and degraded the shots, gives an idea of progress none the less :)
Hopefully this will inspire Mo and Adnaan to get their fingers out, get the rock in and start the process rocking;):thumbsup:
some of the better shots can be seen at www.naum.smugmug.com (http://www.naum.smugmug.com)
hopefully catch up with the WLRC folks in the next 10 days whilst i have an extended break in Blighty:dance:
have fun
Nav
Thats some stunning shots and a stunning looking setup you have got there, looks very full.
Wow looks great, love the clams.
Cheers
Pete
That'll look good when it grows out a bit.
That'll look good when it grows out a bit.
:laugh:
Wow, that is unreal! Absolutely stunning and clearly a credit to your hard work :cool:
:wub:Just keeps getting better:applause:
Nav,
I think you need to start fragging. when can mo and i come round :whistling::whistling:
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2010Q2/TtankJun1.jpg.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2010Q2/TtankJun2.jpg.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2010Q2/TtankJun3.jpg.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2010Q2/TtankJun4.jpg.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2010Q2/TtankJun5.jpg.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2010Q2/TtankJun6.jpg.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2010Q2/TtankJun7.jpg.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2010Q2/TtankJun8.jpg.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2010Q2/TtankJun9.jpg.jpg
Nauman popped over and took a few snaps, i badly resized and degraded the shots, gives an idea of progress none the less :)
Hopefully this will inspire Mo and Adnaan to get their fingers out, get the rock in and start the process rocking;):thumbsup:
some of the better shots can be seen at www.naum.smugmug.com (http://www.naum.smugmug.com)
hopefully catch up with the WLRC folks in the next 10 days whilst i have an extended break in Blighty:dance:
have fun
Nav
Cor, it's grown in a lot since the last set of pics Nav! Are you still running the single 400W halide (along with all the natual light ofcourse)?
Whats flow like in the centre of the tank? The sps growth looks seriously dense, good forward thinking to use reef bones compared to LR which would further impede the flow, I'd imagine it's made quite a big difference.
Jeff.
katymarieharper
04-06-10, 08:54
Wow - stunning! Thanks for the pics :)
TOTM for sure, Best tank i've seen online in all of 2010 on any site. Awesome! :)
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2010Q2/TtankJun1.jpg.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2010Q2/TtankJun2.jpg.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2010Q2/TtankJun3.jpg.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2010Q2/TtankJun4.jpg.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2010Q2/TtankJun5.jpg.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2010Q2/TtankJun6.jpg.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2010Q2/TtankJun7.jpg.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2010Q2/TtankJun8.jpg.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2010Q2/TtankJun9.jpg.jpg
Nauman popped over and took a few snaps, i badly resized and degraded the shots, gives an idea of progress none the less :)
Hopefully this will inspire Mo and Adnaan to get their fingers out, get the rock in and start the process rocking;):thumbsup:
some of the better shots can be seen at www.naum.smugmug.com (http://www.naum.smugmug.com)
hopefully catch up with the WLRC folks in the next 10 days whilst i have an extended break in Blighty:dance:
have fun
Nav
:w00t::thumbup:
Get some shots ready for TOTM too !!!....
:applause:
Mo
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2010Q2/Reefclown UR.jpg
Did you show this shot??.....:drool:
Mo
wow there some clams, how big is the bigest one?
Nav
have you got a sand bed :S... for your sea cucumbers?
will be picking mine up tomorrow.
Raj
I can't believe just how beautiful this tanks is, TOTM for sure.
I was thinking it should be voted. How do we vote?
:D
Here you go. (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=247054) Most worthy tank in a long time in my opinion.
Jeff.
Correct me if I'm wrong but I think TOTM has been offered to Nav in the past and he has declined.
I was thinking it should be voted. How do we vote?
:D
Didn't realise that Paul!
Here you go. (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=247054)
There it is Raj.
Jeff.
Correct me if I'm wrong but I think TOTM has been offered to Nav in the past and he has declined.
Well, we wouldn't know that being just regular members :whistling:
Well, we wouldn't know that being just regular members :whistling:
No insider knowledge here I'm afraid. I read it in this post
http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showpost.php?p=3031323&postcount=13
NAVVV!!!!!
time to update :D
No insider knowledge here I'm afraid. I read it in this post
http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showpost.php?p=3031323&postcount=13
Apologies, i hadn't read it before... :o
:thanks: for the kind words folks, It is at a stage whereby it is really starting to look grown-in, but agree with Pavlo, that a tank is not mature until ALL the corals are growing out of the water:D.
I have promised Chris that i'll do a TOTM write-up this year (hopefully sooner rather than later). I assure you that there is no conspiracy:laugh:
The largest clam is around 16inches, these feed along with the corals from whatever the fish poop out!
A sandbed does exist in the rear of the tank to provide home for the wrasses, it's kept clean by tiger cukes and a large black cuke.
Continous water changes have been in place for 2 years now, the skimmer is set to wet-skim and takes out a D&D bucket of skimmate a day. This is automatically topped up from a saltwater and RO resevoir depending on what the salinity probe reads.The one thing i have learnt over the years from running such automation is that float switches should be replaced every year without fail!
I'll start to provide some system running details next week to give an idea of the level of redundancy i've had to build in as a result of being away so often. I'll also share some of distastor stories so others can avoid the same mistakes. Should hopefully be permanently back in the UK in 2 months giving me more time for reefing:dance:
Nav
Ok, some more details.
Automated Water Changes.
Since inception, one of the aims of this system was automation, Water changes was one area that took some careful consideration. The basic concept is that a ‘controllable’ amount of wet skimmate is removed daily with an equivalent amount of fresh saltwater being added as the skimmate is being extracted. This brings both stability and efficiency in a single swoop!
The system employs 2 top-up tanks:
1. The ro reservoir is directly plumbed into the ro system using a combination of float valves and solenoids to ensure it remains full at all times.
2. A saltwater reservoir is kept at 35-40 ppm, this is also automatically filled from the ro system and salted every 10 days.
3.
The Salinity Control process is as follows:
The top-up system is driven by an IKS conductivity probe and some vertical float switches. If the float switches indicate that the sump level is outside of expected norms then the conductivity probe is consulted; if the tank SG is lower than 35ppt then a pump is switched on to take water from the saltwater reservoir otherwise top-up is taken from the RO reservoir.
The Skimmate Control process is as follows;
The Skimmer cup is directly piped to a saltbucket, the skimmer is set to fill the saltbucket every 2 days on average. When the saltbucket fills up, a floatswitch is activated that kills one of the skimmer pumps, throttling the skimmer to half power (many ways to achieve this). There is a pump in the bucket that pipes the skimmate directly to drain, this is run for 40seconds on a timer every 2 days. All the above aspects are tuneable!
Despite all the above the skimmer neck still needs a manual clean every 2 weeks to operate optimally. Ideally a proportional control circuit that controls the amount of air entering the skimmer would be the ideal manner in which to control such a system.
The key aspects that were tuned over time are:
1. Never clean the conductivity probe, after a month or so a dirty probe holds the calibration very well. Probe placement is important, must be in a dark flowing area with little chance of bubble traps or critter interference.
2. Change float valves every year, and also wire them in parallel pairs for redundancy
3. If auto filling from an RO unit, always employ a mechanical float alongside an electrical float/solenoid combination.
4. When automating RO production always close off supply, waste and feed when not in use (i.e use 3 solenoids).
5. When placing float switches in the sump, create a protective enclosure to stop the effects of any surface waves and also to deter critters.
6. Always use a delay relay with float switches to build in some hysteresis and as such prolong the life of the switch
7. Change Prefilters without fail every 6 months. Carbon every 9
8. Flush the RO system every 3 months (This can be automated)
That’s it for now, i’ll bang up a few pics when time allows. Any Q’s feel free to Ask.
That’s it for now, i’ll bang up a few pics when time allows. Any Q’s feel free to Ask.
Would you mind repeating that again,i did not quite catch that:whistling:
KRUSTY THE CLOWNfish
14-06-10, 20:46
This is one of my favourite tanks, it's simply amazing! Are you still just running a single 400w halide?
Your not to far away from me, might have to have a nosey at some point if its ok, and rob some frags when your not looking :laugh:
Emperor Angel
31-08-10, 21:26
Good tips - from a true MASTER of the hobby :) Thanks Nav.
how the heck did i miss this one that is one stunning sps tank well done you should be very proud would love to come and see it in the flesh sometime mate
Being a newbie to UR myself, I've never seen this tank. Really stunning, love it!
I was over at Navs at the weekend...it is still as lovely as ever....it was interesting to see the start of this thread...what it looked like in the begining!
Best Regards
Nigel
This is a lovely looking system, I subscribed to this thread a long time ago, I'd love to see some photo updates :)
nonstandard
10-01-11, 20:38
Interesting stuff on the automation, sort of thing I am looking at doing... Maybe not quite so supper dooper though!
Only 1 question from me Nav........where's the damn update pictures!!!!?????? :D
:thanks:
Finally, got the underwater housing out today as i may need it next week :)
housed the camera and took some updates, hope u like em
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2011Q1/t010316.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2011Q1/t010315.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2011Q1/t010314.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2011Q1/t010313.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2011Q1/t010312.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2011Q1/t010311.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2011Q1/t010310.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2011Q1/t01039.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2011Q1/t01038.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2011Q1/t01037.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2011Q1/t01036.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2011Q1/t01035.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2011Q1/t01034.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2011Q1/t01033.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2011Q1/t01031.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2011Q1/t01032.jpg
Holey moley sholey coley woley
Thats awesome dude :)
I really want some of that blue stag you got there :P
Crazy, what an incredible tank... :)
Great tank love the depth of it, it just looks like it goes on forever.
Beautifoooool, As bernard would say...Thanks for letting me look! :)
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