Reefing On A Budget - My 29 Gallon Build

[kelley_mc]

Originally posted by zmazza
So the one for the pinpoint monitor will work for the refractometer? Is that the one I need to purchase?

The thread I gave you a link to says it does.

[kelley_mc]

Originally posted by zmazza
So in just a few days... probably next week... I'll be putting in my order for the 75 GPD Reefkeeper Compact with TDS meter. Seems like a very good unit.

They also offer the 100 GPD unit for the same price...

What's the difference? Does one put out more water at the expense of water quality?

This is interesting... I called thefilterguys.biz and talked to them about this and they said to go with the 75 gpd unit. I wish I remembered why. You may want to post a thread in Reef Discussion about it. A guy named AZDesertRat knows all about RO/DI units. He will definitely help you out.

[zmazza]

Awesome. Will definitely check that out before I order.

[zmazza]

Just a QUICK update!

My shipment arrived today!

I purchased the Digital Coralife Powercenter and a single outlet GFCI from drs foster and smith. Just FYI, the Shockbuster's GFCI's are about $10 dollars cheaper at Lowes.

Oh well, still feel confident purchasing from the drs.

I also ordered my 160 gallon mix of REEF CRYSTALS! Never tried that mix.... hopefully it's a good one. I like instant ocean, so it has to be good, right?

I know it will mix perfectly with the RO/DI UNIT I JUST PURCHASED! Whoo hoo!

I've always wanted one, so I finally took the plunge.

I got the 75 GPD model with the saddle valve. I'll be posting pics on how I installed it and how well it works.

I'm sure this will be the last thing I am able to purchase for awhile, lol. The project manager (my wife) says the budget is getting tight with the new baby on the way.

I'm sure I can keep some nice mushrooms, xenia, or zoanthids under my 55 watt 50/50 pc bulb from ah supply. The reflector is really nice.

It's about 6-8" off the water though... how much of a problem will that cause? It lights the tank VERY well though.

Just a quick review for AH supply...

Extremely easy to install, produces little to no heat... The reflector is in a modified "M" shape so it reflects light better than a normal reflector. Super cheap too, IMO.

I'll take some pictures of the next proces....

INSTALLING THE 5 STAGE RO/DI UNIT!

[cyslyde]

congrats on the baby on the way.

thanx for the info on the refractometers. I was going to give a buddy of mine one for his b-day as he is setting up to buy my old 29 from me.

You have a nice looking setup, I'll keep checking in to see how it's going

-=mike

[gary faulkner]

zmazza
I see that you have already figured out that electrical supplies and such are almost always cheaper locally.

75 GPD is the best bet for RODI. congrats on that one.

I have a AH Supply on my 37 and it is a very good unit. I keep mine about 3 in. above water and haven't had any problems with it. Mine is a 96 watter 36 in.

Congrats on the little zmazza jr. :0)

Whishing you the best.

[zmazza]

Thanks Mike and Gary. Can't wait til they get here. My little helper and fishing buddy.

I may try and lower the light, but the top of the canopy is up so high I'm not sure how I'd do it. I guess I could hang it by chains, but not sure how well that would work. Would hate for it to fall and take a dip into the tank.

I guess I could put huge washers through the reflector and through the top of the canopy to allow it to hang, right? The only problem then would be moving the canopy to work on it...

Future project. Check back when this thread hits 10 pages, haha!

Like I said, I guess I don't see a problem with keeping it 6-8" over the water. It seems to do what it's supposed to do, and that is light the tank. I'm still getting coraline growth, but definitely not the algae growth I had when I had the 192 watts of 6700k bulbs on it.

I plan on getting another 1x55 for it, and I'm trying to find a way to make my own 1 watt LED moonlights.

I do feel a LOT better about having a GFCI now. I'm not extremely familiar with household appliances and wiring... if it detects the slightest amount of change, it turns off, right? Like the light falls in, something shorts out, etc?

So that means I'm safe, right?

[gary faulkner]

GFCI Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter.

Keeps you safe. That's why they are required in all new bathrooms, garages,outdoor receptacles and whirlpool tubs.

HTH

[zmazza]

Definitely.

[kelley_mc]

Originally posted by zmazza
Thanks Mike and Gary. Can't wait til they get here. My little helper and fishing buddy.

they ????

Are you having more than 1 baby?

[zmazza]

They, being my daughter. I can't wait till SHE get's here!

[bstoner]

Another nice build thread.

kelley_mc also has inspired me to build a tank. I am also doing a 29 gal with a 20 sump on a budget.

Good luck with yours and I look forward to more pics.

[zmazza]

Kelley_MC's thread is the one this thread is based off of. I saw his tank build and wondered why I couldn't do that for my 29 gallon with 20 gallon sump. Needless to say I'm AMAZED at the results. GOod luck with yours!

I'll be doing my 20 gallon tall sump in a few months. Probably around June. We've got a baby on the way and I want to get everything settled before I start the next project. =)

[kelley_mc]

Originally posted by bstoner
Another nice build thread.

kelley_mc also has inspired me to build a tank. I am also doing a 29 gal with a 20 sump on a budget.

Good luck with yours and I look forward to more pics.

That's great!

If you start I thread, please let me know. I would love to follow the progress.

[zmazza]

Well I just got my invoice for my reefkeeper RO/DI 5 stage unit. It will be here Tuesday! I'm off Wednesday, what a coincidence.

Pictures and how-to's to follow!

[kelley_mc]

Originally posted by zmazza
They, being my daughter. I can't wait till SHE get's here!

My 2 year old girs LOVES to help with my tank, she has for months. When both of our kids were babies, sometimes the only thing that calmed them down was sitting them in their swing in front of the fishtank. I am sure your little one will love it just as much.

[kelley_mc]

Originally posted by zmazza
Well I just got my invoice for my reefkeeper RO/DI 5 stage unit. It will be here Tuesday! I'm off Wednesday, what a coincidence.

Pictures and how-to's to follow!

Nice.

[zmazza]

Yay RO/DI!

In case any of you are wondering, the model I ordered is a 75 Gallon Per Day with the DOW membrane, has 5 stages including a DI stage, and comes with a hand held electronic TDS meter.

Talk about awesome! I can't wait til it gets here. I'm ready to get started on my superior water quality.

I've been stuck with 8.4 out of the tap. What a bummer. Maybe now I can keep those angelfish in my freshwater tank. Yes, that's a freshwater angel not a saltwater one.

My corals should have a good growth spurt, right? With the RO water? From a person who knows NOTHING about RO/DI... what kind of changes can I expect?

I'm also thinking about buying a few coral frags tomorrow...

I'm looking for the easiest to keep, least poisonous or dangerous coral that I can find. I've got some zoanthids and some palythoa looking zoanthids... although I've never had any bad effects... My wife and I have both handled them and they've "goo'd" up. No side effects what so ever. We are much more careful now, but I'm wanting something that is much safer.

What do you guys recommend? Are mushrooms really poisonous or harmful to your skin?

I know some corals like frogspawn or hammer corals, my favorite, will leave huge welts on your arms if you touch their tentacles.

Any recommendations would be awesome!

[kelley_mc]

Originally posted by zmazza
I've been stuck with 8.4 out of the tap. What a bummer. Maybe now I can keep those angelfish in my freshwater tank. Yes, that's a freshwater angel not a saltwater one.

Keep in mind that you will need to add something to the RO/DI water to use it for freshwater fish. I think its called Electrolyte or something like that. For saltwater, everything you need is basically in the salt mix.

[zmazza]

Exactly. I noticed that Kent makes an RO water reconstitution powder for adding the water to freshwater. Seems like it might work pretty well.

Who knows. I like marine more anyway. I've got a little 12 gallon nano cube with a gourami and a few plants. It's got CO2 set up on it, and I've been dosing nutrients here and there, but it's really going downhill and now looks like a swamp. I'm thinking about turning it into a marine tank. Maybe some seahorses... who knows. Something interesting for sure. It's only 8 gallons though, so that's a bummer, and only has a 24 watt 50/50 bulb.

Maybe another build thread? Haha! Any ideas for that little tank?

I'll move "Boudro" the Gourami to the 10 gallon I've got sitting at the house.

[kelley_mc]

Mantis tank?

Check the Nano forum, you'll find many ideas for it.

[skwirl]

Originally posted by zmazza
The project manager (my wife) says the budget is getting tight with the new baby on the way.

congrats... i got 1 on the way too.. a boy due 6/22 when is yours due?

[zmazza]

Exactly 3 months earlier, skwirl. March 22nd.

Sounds like a fun idea, kelley_mc! I've always wanted to try and keep one of those. Maybe I can get lucky enough to pick up a piece of live rock with one of them on it.

I definitely hope my little girl is like yours, kelley. It would be awesome to have a helper with the reef tanks and another person to enjoy the tanks with. My wife can stare at ours for hours. Reef tanks are truly a beautiful thing.

[cyslyde]

zmazza,

I never had any issues with stings from my hammer or frogspawn. I dont know why, but they never bothered me.

oh and for a suggestion, a real nice fiji leather always catches my attention... seem to be pretty hardy too. I have both a yellow, and a purple devils hand. almost everybody asks me about them fist thing when they see the tank. never had any issues with either of them stinging me either.

[zmazza]

Interesting. Seems like keeping corals has it's extremes. I've never had ANY problems with ANY of them, but other people swell up like a balloon or have serious issues with them. Maybe I'm buying into the hype again.

I'll check into those. The only problem I've run into is I only have a 55 watt PC 50/50 bulb over the tank. It lights the tank up really well, but I'm not sure about corals. My zoanthids are doing super. Then again, they are tanks.

So Fiji Leather Coral? I'm going to stop by one of our marine specialty stores tomorrow. I'll check for those.