Neptune's 220g Build Thread

[Neptune777]

As my luck would have it they would eat only the most expensive and spectacular...leaving the ugliest to thrive

[virginiadiver69]

Originally posted by Neptune777
It's just the rodi tubing (not rodi water ) that carries water from the return line to feed the reactor. I used RODI because there are many fittings available to easily connect to PVC pipes.

Ahh...I see. That would make sense and very clever.

[mrcrab]

Originally posted by Neptune777
I am temped to do that. I am a little leary of my Juvenile Imperator though... I have some True Blues from my previous tank that I might give a whirl and see if he has a taste for them This is my first large Angel and I want to see what he/she will let me get away with. If these survive then I will get some others as well.

My Imperator never aquired a taste for zoos. He liked the acans!

[jnarowe]

Originally posted by Neptune777
As my luck would have it they would eat only the most expensive and spectacular...leaving the ugliest to thrive

Well ya got me there...that is THE rule isn't it! It's only your favorite coral that RTNs while you are at work trying to make enough to keep the system going!

[Neptune777]

Originally posted by mrcrab
My Imperator never aquired a taste for zoos. He liked the acans!

Now that could be really hard on the wallet!

[mrcrab]

Luckily I only had a small colony that I bought to try as I was concerned he might tak a liking to them. I gave the corals away to a good friend.

[Dudester]

Very unique aquascape, I think it's going to be fun. The blue silicone tubing is cool, where did you get it, and does the blue help prevent algae growth inside (akin to the Eheim green tubing)?

Mike

[J. Montgomery]

Originally posted by Dudester
The blue silicone tubing is cool, where did you get it, and does the blue help prevent algae growth inside

If light can't get in, algae can't grow on the inside of the tube. Though thats not to say that the occasional cleaning for preventative maintenance isn't necessary.

[Dudester]

Originally posted by J. Montgomery
If light can't get in, algae can't grow on the inside of the tube. Though thats not to say that the occasional cleaning for preventative maintenance isn't necessary.

True, I was asking because I couldn't tell if the tubing was somewhat transparent or not. The Eheim tubing, for example, is green, but some light still penetrates the tubing and algae does grow inside. If the blue is more inhibitive I would give it a try.

[mrcrab]

Originally posted by Dudester
True, I was asking because I couldn't tell if the tubing was somewhat transparent or not. The Eheim tubing, for example, is green, but some light still penetrates the tubing and algae does grow inside. If the blue is more inhibitive I would give it a try.

They sell a black. That's what I use for my RO and Ca rector.

Ooops, I was thinking of another type of tubing but they do sell a black vinyl that size.

[Neptune777]

Originally posted by Dudester
Very unique aquascape, I think it's going to be fun. The blue silicone tubing is cool, where did you get it, and does the blue help prevent algae growth inside (akin to the Eheim green tubing)?

Mike

Thanks.
The Silicone Tubing was supplied by our LFS. It still lets some light penetrate but since my tank bottom is painted black the sump area is in darkness all the time unless I turn on the cabinet lights. I got it because it looks nice, and it does not have a memory like vinyl.

[mr294]

It's about time for some post-weekend progress pics!

[Neptune777]

Pressure…Pressure…

Ok, no new pictures but I do have something new for you to chew on. I have decided that I will completely automate my water changes and have the display water feed a QT tank without having the potentially contaminated water go back into the main tank. The water changes will be done continuously at about 1% daily. This will accomplish several things that I think are important:
• Achieve great stability while exporting unwanted by-products from the system. It has been shown that 1% daily water changes are just about as effective as 30% once a month. My guess would be that under normal operating the 1% changes are better because they will prevent the depletion of trace elements that ordinarily get replenished at the monthly water change (thus avoiding any big swings). I got the idea from a Reef Chemistry article here: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/rhf/index.php
• It will allow me to use the 30g as a coral QT without an extra Ca reactor, and the seasoned main tank water will keep the smaller cube more stable. This will be the case because it will be fed with main tank water at a rate of about 2.2 gallons each day. For the cube this will be a 7% water change over daily.
• Allow me more time to sit on my can in front of the Reef and soak in the eye candy.

How will this get accomplished you ask without screwing up the salinity levels in the main reef? Why the answer is fairly simply my friend! I will be using a high quality Reef Filler dual pump (http://www.championlighting.com/prod...cat=386&page=1
) that will draw water from the mixed salt and the display at the same drip rate…just like you do dosing Parts A/B . The water that is drawn from the reef will feed the 30g Cube and the overflow in the Cube will go directly into the sewer. The system will be closely monitored and I am going to get an automatic salinity monitor with an alarm system to let me know if things have drifted too far.
Crazy? Might be…but I like pushing things to the edge

Here is a schematic to show what I mean:

[Hopeful Reefer]

That is actually a pretty cool looking idea...hope it works for ya...

[Neptune777]

Thanks... can't wait to start setting it up!

[jnarowe]

so how do you keep the salt tank topped off, and how do you deal with evap?

[Neptune777]

Salt tank will be mixed and filled biweekly via my auto-top-off and me filling it with fresh salt. The evaporation will be handled by my other auto-top-off that will come on twice daily via a timer. The water change drip rate will be slow enough so not to be messed up with the evaporation replenish. The evaporation replenish will not be impacted because the water change will not effect the overall water level in the system since the same amount is entering and exiting at the same time.

[jnarowe]

all sounds good. I have a buddy locally that has built his own DIY slightly saline top-off system, but every time he discusses it with me, I can't exactly understand what he's saying. He is actually topping off with saline water I believe, while removing water from the system.

[Neptune777]

slightly-Saline? That sounds odd...does he top off with fresh water as well?

[jnarowe]

as I stated, I just don't understand it. Yours makes sense to me. Apparently he is pulling water out and exchanging it with more water volume, but at a lower salinity. It is odd.

[Neptune777]

Update:
Golden Boy finally started eating this week The only problem was he decided to eat my Yashi Goby I actually saw him do it the other morning. He is now eating silversides with gusto!

[jnarowe]

Expensive snack...I know how that feels!

[Neptune777]

Boy you aren't kidding ...I felt bad for the little guy. I was under the impression that GDM's were not fish eaters per say........but I guess he had enough of his self imposed hunger strike and ate whatever was easily available.

Also goes to show that there are no rules set in stone in this hobby...every animal has a smidgen of free will .

[jnarowe]

Especially long skinny ones! We have a local reefer that did his "research" and determined that Snowflake eels were "reef safe". He put it in his tank and it ate every friggin' fish he had.

[Neptune777]

Fortunately at 10-12" max this guy is going to be very limited as to what he can tackle....