A few General questions about a current build I am working on.

[Ariel V Rosa]

1) inside sump cabinet... best color for functionality Black or White?
2) Sump Ventilation, should I go for passive ventilation or Install some fans pulling air across the sump Area?
3) I have a lot of height, would a taller skimmer be better.
4) I am moving away from deep tanks and went with a frag tank that sits really high up, I personally like the look of a sand bed, would I get better results and ease of maintenance to just go with an egg crate bottom? Or maybe i can sprinkle some heavy crushed coral to just barely cover the egg crate bottom.

5) I have been looking at dosing systems, I am leaning more towards the simple BRS style dosers, but have been giving the Neptune system a seriously look; yet i cant really see the sense in the price for something that looks slightly aesthetically pleasing. Seems money is better spend on other doesers and a better storage system.

6) The system will have an in stand RO storage tank, that I want to eventually let my Apex refill it when needed, hopefully someone knows a great link to follow. The basic Idea is that it's an 11 gallon tank, I want to install two sensors One for High and one for Low, two electronic valves one for the Main water line and one for the purified water exit. Never turns on unless "Low" condition is triggered, ensuring it runs for several hours to avoid DI creep.


---- I know i know, I will get a build thread going soon.

-Thank you Ariel

I got a few other things to share, but let me get that tank build thread started.

 

[don_chuwish]

White in the stand - with some LED strip lights to see by as well.
If the stand is going to be closed off then have a fan of some kind - I used a simple 120mm computer case fan that is always on.
A taller skimmer SHOULD work better but it’s probably not the primary concern.
I think egg crate would just make it harder to clean the sand.
BRS has some great videos on RO/DI & ATO integration - all the solenoids and safety features to be aware of.

 

[dugthefish]

If the stand is going to be closed off then have a fan of some kind - I used a simple 120mm computer case fan that is always on

Is the fan pulling in fresh air, or pushing out stale air?

 

[Captain Quint]

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2) Sump Ventilation, should I go for passive ventilation or Install some fans pulling air across the sump Area?...........................................................
---- I know i know, I will get a build thread going soon.

-Thank you Ariel

I got a few other things to share, but let me get that tank build thread started.

Welcome to R2R Ariel V Rosa and we are glad you're here.

Regarding the stand.

If it's enclosed in the back you would have a good deal of condensation especially if all inner seams are silicone at all joints, primed and painted it would allow no escape being sealed and nowhere for the condensation to go.

IME building stands or canopies for that matter if a complete enclosure is a case you just cut two holes and install PC fans, one in and one out. It would not move a lot of air, but it would exchange enough to keep the humidity the same in the stand as out also, it would help with keeping the inside of the stand from forming condensation.

If an open back there should be little to no condensation. Please, keep us updated.

 

[don_chuwish]

Is the fan pulling in fresh air, or pushing out stale air?

I have a vent hole at one end with a dust filter (again just like for a PC case) and a single fan at the other end pulling air out. Two fans like CQ's suggestion would work great too. They don't have to move much air to do the job. A pic from my build thread:

 

[Ariel V Rosa]

Excellent about the ventilation, i got a ton of 140 MM fans laying around from all my PC's. It's a massive stand (well compared to my last one) and im taking it slow making sure I get all the woodworking and specs right. 48X24X40 The aim of the project is to have nothing Reef tank related outside of the tank or in another "box" around the house.

 

[don_chuwish]

The aim of the project is to have nothing Reef tank related outside of the tank or in another "box" around the house.

BAHAHAAAAAHHHAAAA! Sorry, but I just spent the day sorting through stuff that had to stay in the garage vs stuff I could take down to the basement.

 

[Gregg @ ADP]

Any time I have an enclosed cabinet, I put 2 fans in...1 blowing in, 1 blowing out.

 

[Ariel V Rosa]

Any time I have an enclosed cabinet, I put 2 fans in...1 blowing in, 1 blowing out.

The doors do have about a 3 mm gap all around, but i might seal that if I get to much light seepage, that is one of my main worries, sump light seepage. Definitely will be planning for at least two fans in there, I can probably go with two static pressure fans pushing in and one Air flow fan pulling out.

 

[Tastee]

For your ATO and as you are using an Apex I suggest you go with the Neptune ATK. I use that in my tank to keep the stock RSR gravity fed ATO topped up from my RODI reservoir. The ATK comes with a FMM and only uses 2 of the 4 ports. I used one the other two for an optical sensor for my sump, to detect low water levels in case the gravity fed ATO stopped working (the outlet is a pinhole so prone to getting gummed up). The other one is used for a floor leak sensor. That covers the most important bases for me.

 

[Captain Quint]

I have a vent hole at one end with a dust filter (again just like for a PC case) and a single fan at the other end pulling air out. Two fans like CQ's suggestion would work great too. They don't have to move much air to do the job. A pic from my build thread:

An awesome part of the build my friend.!

 

[Captain Quint]

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If leaving the back open you should not have any worries.

Kind of hard to tell from my attached pic. This is near the end. I have doors on each side which can lift out as well as on the front. If I put them all on, condensation would form. Leaving door(s) off, in this case, equals no worries.

Pre-sealing, priming and painting inner and outer of stand pics follow.

Hope it gives you an idea.

 

[14 foot reef]

You cant beat these for the money, I run them on an audio rack, has it's on thermostat, very high quality build material.

https://www.acinfinity.com/quiet-cabinet-fans/

 

[Ariel V Rosa]

You cant beat these for the money, I run them on an audio rack, has it's on thermostat, very high quality build material.

https://www.acinfinity.com/quiet-cabinet-fans/

I like that they list their static pressure, which is probably the most important figure when dealing with enclosed spaces.

 

[Fritzhamer]

6) The system will have an in stand RO storage tank, that I want to eventually let my Apex refill it when needed, hopefully someone knows a great link to follow. The basic Idea is that it's an 11 gallon tank, I want to install two sensors One for High and one for....

The Neptune ATK as mentioned above plus the Neptune Solenoid. The solenoid plugs into a 24v port on the eb832. I use an optical sensor in my ATO. When the low water sensor is tripped it triggers the solenoid to open. The solenoid then runs for 50 minutes. I have it emptying into the ATO container through a float valve so there is no need for a “high water” sensor.

If you want to be super paranoid, I put a leak sensor under the input to the ATO container that shuts down the solenoid if it gets wet.