245 Gallon Custom new build with basement "fish room"

OP
OP
Dreadnaught

Dreadnaught

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Sep 26, 2015
Messages
318
Reaction score
234
Location
Dexter, MI
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Grabbed a few pics this morning of

IMG_1485604458.614968.jpg
 
OP
OP
Dreadnaught

Dreadnaught

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Sep 26, 2015
Messages
318
Reaction score
234
Location
Dexter, MI
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I had been without a skimmer for 3 weeks. I was scared to check nitrates during this time. I slowly cranked my carbon dosing (vinegar) up from 10ml/day to the 90 ml/day that I am running today. I checked Nitrates today and they went down from 1.75 to 1.25 and phosphates stated at 0.02 during this period.
 
OP
OP
Dreadnaught

Dreadnaught

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Sep 26, 2015
Messages
318
Reaction score
234
Location
Dexter, MI
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
The pump that feeds the water did not turn on after a power outage. The recirculating pumps burned out. At $160/each i was afraid of reoccurrence. The skimz is a great skimmer. I just want my skimmer out of the sump for easy cleaning and maintenance.
 
OP
OP
Dreadnaught

Dreadnaught

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Sep 26, 2015
Messages
318
Reaction score
234
Location
Dexter, MI
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I think I have AEFW. I had two Acro die quickly and notice bite marks on two others. I treated with flatworm exit 2x over the last 3 weeks and started dosing flatworm stop daily. Things have seemed to stabilize. Fingers crossed. I don't think this is a true solution but I am hoping it allows me to manage it long term.

I also moved Fathead Anthia (FA), Clown pair, Basslet, and Blenny from QT to DT. My pair of Bimaculatus Anthia immediately went on the attack of the FA. After a couple hours his tail was 1/2 gone, dorsal fin is missing pieces etc. Once he was exhausted I was able to catch. I quickly built an acclimation box and added the FA. I think I'll leave him here for a week or two and give him a chance to heal.

I lost the pair of Flame Wrasse. Admittedly I was not watching them very close in QT. They ate a little but never aggressively in my presence so I tried leaving them alone during feeding.

IMG_0226.JPG
IMG_0219.JPG
 

Nick James

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Aug 14, 2016
Messages
253
Reaction score
148
Location
Canada
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I have / had red planaria flatworms as well as red bugs. I noticed both seemed to have disappeared with the addition of my leopard wrasse. I've seen no ill effects on any corals and I have about 30+ sps frags, mostly acros.
 
OP
OP
Dreadnaught

Dreadnaught

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Sep 26, 2015
Messages
318
Reaction score
234
Location
Dexter, MI
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I learned the hard way these little refrigerators have a coil running on all sides. I originally tried putting the Venturi through the side and punctured the freon line. I destroyed that fridge and found there is not anything to hit in the top. I used the Kenmore 2.4G compact refrigerator you can get from Sears (~$100).


I used the above Venturi injector (http://mazzei.net/venturi_injectors/; ~$28) which has 1/2 thread on the ends. I added 1/2 elbows and passed them through holes I drilled through the top of the refrigerator. On the outside I converted the 1/2 PVC to 1/2 vinyl tubbing.

I did have a couple other small problems. I snapped off one of the ends of the Venturi. I glued it back on with a lot of super glue and luckily it worked.

I drilled a 3rd 1/2 hole on top to pass the DOS through. I choose the DOS (~$400) because the lines are much bigger than standard dosers. In fact, you can use 1/4 push fittings to join them together.

From the Venturi to the DOS I used a 3/8" vinyl tubbing and joined it with the 1/4" DOS tubbing with another push fitting.

Let me know if you have any other questions or need closer pictures.

c99145343682890e11039b199b0979dd.jpg
 

Nick James

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Aug 14, 2016
Messages
253
Reaction score
148
Location
Canada
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I saw another version of this mini fridge idea before. Very cool, and a benefit of having a seperate sump room!
 
OP
OP
Dreadnaught

Dreadnaught

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Sep 26, 2015
Messages
318
Reaction score
234
Location
Dexter, MI
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
It worked well during vacation and it will be good for when I travel for work. I won't use it as a primary feeding method for several reasons. 1) The Venturi valve by nature creates micro-bubbles that get sucked into the return. 2) this food is expensive and difficult to judge the amount of food actually going into the system. 3) lose the human/food association at feeding time. Etc...

Number 1 may be overcome with a shutoff valve / breakout box that opens the line at only feeding time.
 

Being sticky and staying connected: Have you used any reef-safe glue?

  • I have used reef safe glue.

    Votes: 132 88.0%
  • I haven’t used reef safe glue, but plan to in the future.

    Votes: 9 6.0%
  • I have no interest in using reef safe glue.

    Votes: 6 4.0%
  • Other.

    Votes: 3 2.0%
Back
Top