It begins... 345-gallon Starphire in-wall system - Page 14

mrcrab · #**326** 03/17/2007, 10:42 PM

Yes, I believe that's his last name.

mflamb · #**327** 03/19/2007, 08:00 PM

mrcrab, were you at Marcye's after the ORA tour. I was there picking up my RO/DI, and met some of the ORCA folks. I would like to come over and see your system sometime.

mrcrab · #**328** 03/19/2007, 08:04 PM

No, I'm in Ormond and we met them there. You're more than welcome to come over and visit. I'll probably host a meeting towards the end of the year once I get everything sorted out.
PM me and I'll send my phone number.

0p3n Brain · #**329** 03/25/2007, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mrcrab
...

Just got home and check water parameters:

Salinity: 1.025
PH: 8.8 not sure why so high
NO3: 15mg/l
NO2: N/A
PO4: 0 mg/l
Ca: 300 low no flow from reactor will clean tomorrow
ALK: 3 meq/l

mrcrab:
Did you figure out the pH issue? Was it really 8.8 or was it the test kit?

-Jim

swimboy123 · #**330** 04/02/2007, 09:02 PM

This whole thread is freakin' awesome!

mrcrab · #**331** 04/02/2007, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 0p3n Brain
mrcrab:
Did you figure out the pH issue? Was it really 8.8 or was it the test kit?

-Jim

Hey Jim,

Sorry for the lack of response, I'm in the middle of remodeling the house.

Must have been the test kit but my PH is running slightly high 8.4-8.54. Ich seems to have abated although I lost $100's in fish in the process. The only one's left are a purple tang, the chromis and a threadfin cardinal.

I still need to get them out of the display and into QT for sixty days while the display goes fallow before I start adding anymore piscine livestock. I'm hoping to have that accomplished by the end of this week.

mrcrab · #**332** 04/02/2007, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by swimboy123
This whole thread is freakin' awesome!

Thanks swimboy, glad you're enjoying it.

purpletang26 · #**333** 04/03/2007, 12:11 PM

sorry about the loses, let your tank sit and run for a few months and let everything calm down before you add any more fish. your bioload is probably very weak right now. Give it some time i waited a few months.

King Nine · #**334** 04/03/2007, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by purpletang26
sorry about the loses, let your tank sit and run for a few months and let everything calm down before you add any more fish. your bioload is probably very weak right now. Give it some time i waited a few months.

You have a 857 gallon tank? Do you have pics too?

Jamokie01 · #**335** 04/03/2007, 10:26 PM

Just throwing this out there, has anyone suggested that the portland cement you used may be messing with your PH? I dunno if you cured it at all but cement will definitly leech stuff into your water and mess with your PH, as well as overall water quality.

erics3000 · #**336** 04/25/2007, 03:52 PM

Mrcrab hope your fish are doing fine?

I finally made it to an orca meeting in March before I left town. I am now a member. I cant wait to you have your meet. I have a couple questions for you.

I was thinking about picking up a tank form glass cages. I am cutting a room in hale and making an in wall. I am kinda of limited on widht and decided to go with a 96l 30w 24h. It is a little shallower ut I want to see if I can just run T5's. I dont want to have to crazy an electric bill. Any ideas on that guys?

I was going to first go with acrylic and then decided on glass. I just got a price from glass cages for 1400 glass with 2 overflows one at each end. Saphire for front and back panel. I can meet them in Orlando the end of next month. Do you have any info on the guy who built your tank? Any thought acrylic versus glass?

Thanks again everyone for taking time to help the rookies.

mrcrab · #**337** 04/25/2007, 06:33 PM

Hey erics3000, glad you finally made it to a meeting. I couldn't make it last month but will be there on Saturday. I'll talk to the boss before then...I'm thinking I'll host the August or September meeting.

Unfortunately the guy that made my tank has retired, so can't help you there. 24" is a good height the 30" is a bit much the way I have mine in. You'll have much better access. T-5's will not be a problem and even at 30" you could get away with them but no deeper and you'd have to be careful with coral placement. Glass or acrylic is a personal choice acrylic is much lighter but scratches much too easy for my taste. I had the same problem deciding, but settled on glass.

$1400 is not a bad price for that, I paid $2300 for mine.

mrcrab · #**338** 04/25/2007, 06:49 PM

erics3000 · #**339** 04/25/2007, 06:59 PM

Done... I am going to order it. I just need to think about returns. How do you feel about having the bottom drilled? Is that asking for trouble?

I fly in Saturday evening but after about 16 hours travel and 3 flights I think I am goning relax. I'll catch you next month.

One more question since your a local. Do you know anywhere around here to get acrylic? I am trying to get some 1/2 and wanted to try something besides hd and LW.

Any new PICS??
Thanks again.

mrcrab · #**340** 04/25/2007, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by erics3000
Done... I am going to order it. I just need to think about returns. How do you feel about having the bottom drilled? Is that asking for trouble?

I fly in Saturday evening but after about 16 hours travel and 3 flights I think I am goning relax. I'll catch you next month.

One more question since your a local. Do you know anywhere around here to get acrylic? I am trying to get some 1/2 and wanted to try something besides hd and LW.

Any new PICS??
Thanks again.

I didn't drill my tank at all, I'm running 4 X vortechs and returns off 2 X seaswirls.

There's a place in Daytona called Piedmont Plastics:
http://www.piedmontplastics.com/default.asp

RevHtree · #**341** 04/25/2007, 11:08 PM

Sorry late here and it might have been said, but could it have possibly been a case or Marine Velvet the fish got?

mrcrab · #**342** 04/25/2007, 11:28 PM

I'm actually leaning towards that now as I could not get the survivors out...one being a purple tang and I haven't seen any indication of ick at all.

RevHtree · #**343** 04/27/2007, 11:03 AM

How fast did it come on? Velvet is fast and brutal!

mrcrab · #**344** 04/27/2007, 12:52 PM

It may have been both starting with the ick, then I went out of town and had most of the losses in a few days.

Sparkss · #**345** 04/27/2007, 02:14 PM

Wish we were closer to lend you a hand in trapping out those fish

erics3000 · #**346** 04/27/2007, 03:56 PM

What about on of the acrylic fish traps?

erics3000 · #**347** 04/27/2007, 04:39 PM

What about on of the acrylic fish traps?

jnarowe · #**348** 04/27/2007, 05:07 PM

Those only work for Marc.

erics3000 · #**349** 04/27/2007, 05:26 PM

humm... One time I drained my 75 and took out half the rock to get a fish to put in my other tank. It was a pita. I guess when you big it is no where as near as easy..

Hopefully the fish turn around for the better..Good Luck.

melev · #**350** 04/27/2007, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jnarowe
Those only work for Marc.

They do work, but it takes some time. First of all, put the trap in the tank for a few days with the door open (or removed). Then the day you are ready, put some tasty food in the trap, reset the door, and stand away so you are mainly out of sight. Various fish will enter, but the one you want will not exit if you're quick.