New prop system plans. - Page 2

Rendos · #26 11/05/2005, 05:22 PM

I am nearing completion on this project finally. I have one last thing...connect the two sumps together. Then fill with water and hope for no leaks.
I have the starboard (cutting board) siliconed in...waiting for it to cure.

bond007069 · #27 11/07/2005, 09:09 PM

Nice set up

I switch from a T4 pump to a PXC 40..........and the temp Increased a couple of degrees.

my only con about the pump was the calcium buildup.

tekknoschtev · #28 11/07/2005, 11:57 PM

The setup is coming along nicely. I scored some 30 breeders from a local store and I hope to get them running in a very similar fashion, except I cant afford the MH lighting so I'm going to try and see how ODNO works, and if that doesnt work I'm going T5s.

I cant wait to see how yours works out. Its looking pretty good right now.

Rendos · #29 11/08/2005, 08:58 AM

Thanks. I started filling the tanks last night, but ran out of RO/DI water. My unit is home now producing more H2O. Hopefully it will be running tonight. I will run it for a couple of days with just fresh water to leak test everything. Then by the weekend I can hopefully start adding salt.

Whaledriver · #30 11/12/2005, 10:51 AM

tekknoschtev
Check out VHO's for a non MH prop system. They are very cost effective with Icecap ballasts. I dont want to start up about the color or merit of the lighting, I just think that it is one of the best values when you consider costs over time. Look up the Garf site or find a cost study. Good luck with 300 breeders, sounds cool.

tekknoschtev · #31 11/12/2005, 03:39 PM

Whaledriver, thanks. Right now the ODNO is going to have to do.

Any updated pictures of the tanks with water? Hmm?! I realized after I placed the tanks side by side to clean them that, like yours, they are off by about an inch. Very odd coincidence

At any rate, I hope things are working out for you. Cant wait to see some corals in there (and I bet you cant either).

Rendos · #32 11/13/2005, 05:32 PM

Whole system.

Frag plugs.

More frag plugs.

tekknoschtev · #33 11/13/2005, 05:47 PM

Very nice and clean setup! I like the look of the black used on the bottom of the stand. overall a ver nice setup.

Rendos · #34 11/13/2005, 06:07 PM

Thanks. I am disappointed in one thing about the setup...I can't open up my return pump all the way...the drains can't handle it. I may drain them down a bit and drill one more drain in each. I would rather do it now then wait until they have a bunch of frags in them. I really hate that the 2 existing drains won't handle the 1200 GPH flow, but they just don't cut it. I will think on that tonight and possibly drill tomorrow.

Any other suggestions on how to increase flow in this setup would be greatly appreciated.

Rendos · #35 11/13/2005, 06:59 PM

I figured it out. I will 'T' off the prop tanks return pump and use it to return water to the attached Clownfish tank. That way I get rid of one submersible pump also. Maybe that will in some small way help with heat too.

levon15 · #36 11/15/2005, 04:59 PM

have any pics of the plumbing on your overflows?

the back of the tanks?

What size bulkheads did you use ?

doodoobrown · #37 11/15/2005, 05:41 PM

what are you doing for biological filtration?

Rendos · #38 11/15/2005, 07:14 PM

levon15 - 1" bulkheads. Little overflow box inside each tank. Pictures are posted earlier in the thread (I think).

doodoobrown - it will be hooked in with my existing 40 gallon clown tank. I also plan on adding some live rock to the sump, and some live rock will be in the tanks...mostly rubble rock for zoos, and other softies to attach to.

bond007069 · #39 11/15/2005, 08:46 PM

should you run the prop tanks seperatly and go through a cycle before you connect to the main tank?

Rendos · #40 11/17/2005, 01:00 PM

That is how they are running right now. Of course, with no livestock in the tank yet, there will be no cycle. I am going to the LFS this week to get some liverock to put in the prop system.

Rendos · #41 11/20/2005, 04:58 PM

I finished all the plumbing, electrical, everything. The tanks are completed. Now to add some liverock to the sump, and put frags in. I actually already have a few frags in one of the prop tanks that I got at our club meeting last night. I didn't have anywhere else to put them.
New system.

Completely tied into the clownfish tank.

DIY skimmer pumping out the foam.

Rendos · #42 11/25/2005, 05:15 PM

Got a few frags in one tank and 3 mother colonies in the other...
Frags...mostly SPS, a zooanthid, and a few LPS.

Mother colonies.

Green bird's nest frag...

Blue millepora...

Brown/purple base SPS with green polyps.

It's a start.

bond007069 · #43 11/25/2005, 06:16 PM

looks great nice frags

Rendos · #44 12/12/2005, 07:31 PM

Well, I thought I was going to add a calcium reactor to this system, but instead I got a medical dosing pump from eBay really cheap, and thought I would give that method a try. So far...it has been really easy to set up, and even lets you know just how much you have dosed. Here are a couple of pictures. I am using it with Kent Marine Tech CB parts A & B.

Rendos · #45 12/18/2005, 12:01 PM

A few updated pics of coral frags...growing...growing...growing.

RevHtree · #46 12/19/2005, 11:57 AM

Wow very nice!!

BrianPlankis · #47 12/19/2005, 05:31 PM

Awesome! I see you are mounting the frags on their side for increased growth

Keep the pics coming

Brian

Rendos · #48 12/20/2005, 09:02 AM

Thanks.

Yes, I like mounting frags horizontally...they put down a better base than when mounted vertically. The encrusting makes for a stronger frag down the road IMO.

Rendos · #49 01/10/2006, 08:10 PM

Here are some updated pics of the corals I am propagating in my system.

BigEasy · #50 01/27/2006, 08:45 AM

Rendos,
I have a few not so brilliant questions if you don't mind. I'm doing the same thing with a 20L.
1. Your light bar: those look like 1x2 pieces going vertical, correct? What did you use to secure the ends of the bar to the wood and the bar to what appears to be an L bracket?

2. You used starboard in the bottom I assume for reflectivity. Where did you get it and do you think it is helping and was worth it?

Thanks,
Steve