Another Risk, reefer 350

[Risk1994]

DT has been filled with SW for a while. Been using the QT period to tweak my plumbing and pretty up my wiring.

Im getting really tired of maintaining 3 tanks. I just want to dump the fish in my DT and get on with my life.

I never understood you guys who run 10 tanks in your house and complain about wanting more. One is enough for me.

 

[Risk1994]

The wires, my God the wires! How do you people manage this???

I dont even have my lights on it yet...so MORE wires.

 

[kiet_kat]

I'm in the same boat but with an even smaller cabinet (reefer 250). Going to accept that everything isnt going to fit under the stand and get a separate cabinet for the electronics.

 

[Risk1994]

I'm in the same boat but with an even smaller cabinet (reefer 250). Going to accept that everything isnt going to fit under the stand and get a separate cabinet for the electronics.

Im not going to surrender just yet!

My plan is to extend that apex board all the way to the bottom and let the wires be messy behind it. I plan to get an apex trident (and reservoir's for alk/cal) which will require a cutout, but better that than looking at all these ugly wires.

 

[count krunk]

Looks good. Huge bummer on the tank crack.

 

[Risk1994]

Ok, tried this again. I had the bottom of Apex board open as I planned to put in a Neptune trident down the road. Being open at the bottom made it look horrible though...

Turns out the trident will fit even if the board goes all the way to the bottom. So here we go....

Set door on a pin hinge and magnetic push latch so It can be opened/removed easily.


The stupid MP40 driver cant be separated from the motor, so I cant hide that wire....dumb setup. Ruins the whole look.

Hidden UV sterilizer! Full sized pentair 25w.

 

[Bleigh]

Wires look great! I’m trying to figure the same thing out for my new tank currently.

 

[Risk1994]

Wires look great! I’m trying to figure the same thing out for my new tank currently.

Hey! I've got a youtube celebrity commenting on my build...I have arrived!

Thanks for the kind words, been reading through your dream thread as well. BTW love your kitchen!

 

[Risk1994]

Looks good. Huge bummer on the tank crack.

Thanks, I've tried to put it behind me. I still have it in my garage, Im going to use it to soak the tanks mesh cover in vinegar before I throw it away. So at least it will have been use for something.

 

[Risk1994]

This is a cool build. Love the step by step documentation

Thanks...I CANNOT wait to get my first fish out of QT. Seems like its been forever. There moving out of copper today and into prazi for a couple more weeks.

 

[Risk1994]

Finally! Took nearly 5 months to get fish in this tank.

These suckers are fully QT'd! You can read about that ordeal with the link below. Props to Humblefish!

https://humble.fish/community/index.php?threads/moving-to-new-tank.4155/

 

[ctopherl]

So after a bunch of reading and phone calls I decided on the following solution for ATO....

Got an Apex LDK (leak detection kit) and a couple of optical sensors. With this the apex can monitor Sump levels. For the pump I got an Avast diaphram pump. From what I've read this should be able to pull a prime up from the basement and run dry is not an issue. This way I need NO cables going to the basement, just the RO tubing. Also it comes with some leak sensors I can put around the display. I got the one with the Apex 12VDC so dont need to use an outlet for a cleaner install.

If it turns out it needs to go in the basement I can move the FMM down there and daisy chain it to the DOS.

Sorry I'm late can you explain this setup a bit more? I've been wondering this myself. How is using that pump to top off automatically possible without running any cables to the basement? What tells the pump when to turn on?

I'm assuming you have some optical level sensors to indicate to apex when the water gets too low and needs to be refilled, and also when it is full and the filling can stop.

Like you mentioned I'm assuming this is possible getting the pump hooked up to the apex to trigger it on/off depending on which sensor is triggered, but it sounds like you've avoided this.

 

[ctopherl]

Love the look of this scape. If you had to do it again, what would you recommend using for supplies?

Still the marco rock? I'm assuming you had to break it up a bit?

What specific glue/cementing products?

 

[Risk1994]

Sorry I'm late can you explain this setup a bit more? I've been wondering this myself. How is using that pump to top off automatically possible without running any cables to the basement? What tells the pump when to turn on?

Like you mentioned I'm assuming this is possible getting the pump hooked up to the apex to trigger it on/off depending on which sensor is triggered, but it sounds like you've avoided this.

So I used 2 of these...(one for high level, one for low)
they're in the return chamber in my sump.

OS-1-M Optical Level Sensor V2 With Mount

Optical sensors are the go-to sensor if you want a reliability over a long period of time. The Neptune Optical Sensor plugs directly into the FMM allowing you to monitor the level of your sump, mixing station, or any other reservoir that has up to 1/4" thick walls. Includes Magnetic Mount...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

connected to this...

FMM Fluid Monitoring Module

Neptune Systems FMM Fluid Monitoring Module Flow Monitoring Leak Detection Water Level Management DC24 Accessory Port The Neptune Systems FMM Fluid Monitoring Module offers practical solutions for real-world aquarium issues. Compatible with the Apex Aquarium Controller, it has four ports for...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

This is in my cabinet under the fish tank. Its plugged into the EB832. The Apex senses low level and turn it on. This little pump pulls water through like 40ft of tubing up from the basement. Been working flawlessly for a month. I also have another of those sensors at the top of the tank to check for overflows and a few leak sensors under the tank. I actually have 2 of these FMM's. So I can sleep at night.

Diaphragm Pump

This Product has been discontinued. This little diaphragm pump is an excellent choice for automatic top-off duty. Unlike other diaphragm pumps available, this little powerhouse can push water to 30psi. Please be aware this is not a silent pump, it does vibrate and makes a similar amount of noise...

www.avastmarine.com

Next you'll want to know the Apex programming. I have it working but don't want to share my hack job at apex programming. I want to get it to only run during certain windows and limit the runtime but haven't been able to figure any of it out yet. Going to need to set aside awhile to figure out all this programming.

Hope this helps, let me know what you wind up doing, I put a lot of thought into this method. Didnt wind up doing apex due to cost and bad stories about the pmup.

 

[Risk1994]

Love the look of this scape. If you had to do it again, what would you recommend using for supplies?

Still the marco rock? I'm assuming you had to break it up a bit?

What specific glue/cementing products?

Everything you need is in this video. I used quite a bit of Marco Rock along with just a couple of the foundation peices to use as a base. I did a LOT of breaking rocks up. I bought the hammer and chisel you see in the video also. Regular hammer and wood chisels will NOT work.

Its amazing how well the glue and rapid set works. I built up and broke down several times. I placed the whole thing on a cardboard template of the tank for scale.

It's a fun but time consuming process. Im still not totally happy with it, concerned its not enough rock or hiding spaces. The plan is to fill up space with corals though, so well have to see how that goes.

 

[ctopherl]

So I used 2 of these...(one for high level, one for low)
they're in the return chamber in my sump.

OS-1-M Optical Level Sensor V2 With Mount

Optical sensors are the go-to sensor if you want a reliability over a long period of time. The Neptune Optical Sensor plugs directly into the FMM allowing you to monitor the level of your sump, mixing station, or any other reservoir that has up to 1/4" thick walls. Includes Magnetic Mount...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

connected to this...

FMM Fluid Monitoring Module

Neptune Systems FMM Fluid Monitoring Module Flow Monitoring Leak Detection Water Level Management DC24 Accessory Port The Neptune Systems FMM Fluid Monitoring Module offers practical solutions for real-world aquarium issues. Compatible with the Apex Aquarium Controller, it has four ports for...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

This is in my cabinet under the fish tank. Its plugged into the EB832. The Apex senses low level and turn it on. This little pump pulls water through like 40ft of tubing up from the basement. Been working flawlessly for a month. I also have another of those sensors at the top of the tank to check for overflows and a few leak sensors under the tank. I actually have 2 of these FMM's. So I can sleep at night.

Diaphragm Pump

This Product has been discontinued. This little diaphragm pump is an excellent choice for automatic top-off duty. Unlike other diaphragm pumps available, this little powerhouse can push water to 30psi. Please be aware this is not a silent pump, it does vibrate and makes a similar amount of noise...

www.avastmarine.com

Next you'll want to know the Apex programming. I have it working but don't want to share my hack job at apex programming. I want to get it to only run during certain windows and limit the runtime but haven't been able to figure any of it out yet. Going to need to set aside awhile to figure out all this programming.

Hope this helps, let me know what you wind up doing, I put a lot of thought into this method. Didnt wind up doing apex due to cost and bad stories about the pmup.

Wait, are you saying the diaphragm pump is located next to your tank, and it pulls water from a reservoir in the basement? Just through a plain RO line? Or is the pump itself in the basement with your water supply?

 

[Risk1994]

Wait, are you saying the diaphragm pump is located next to your tank, and it pulls water from a reservoir in the basement? Just through a plain RO line? Or is the pump itself in the basement with your water supply?

Yessir. It sits directly under the tank and pulls water all the way from basement. Works so well I bought a second one to top off my QT tank.

See pic....

 

[ctopherl]

Yessir. It sits directly under the tank and pulls water all the way from basement. Works so well I bought a second one to top off my QT tank.

See pic....

Wow impressive I may have to try this! Thanks for the info!

 

[Risk1994]

So been a month, no lights, fish doing great, just starting to see algae...funny with no lights or direct sunlight.

Also got my new babies in QT...

 

[ctopherl]

So been a month, no lights, fish doing great, just starting to see algae...funny with no lights or direct sunlight.

Also got my new babies in QT...

How big of a QT are you using? Any issues with aggression?