Best Practices And Procedures for Avoiding Large Tank Crashes and Disasters?

robf · Feb 27, 2013

dennis5546 said:
Most Reefers will use a frag tank to grow frags from the trimming back their colonies in the display tank for sale, trade or growing out new frags for the display tank. To speed up acclimation of new frags in the frag tank, it best to have the same water parameters and lighting in both the display tank and frag tank. To accomplish this most people will plum the frag tank in the sump of the display tank. This also saves money and time by only having to only maintain water conditions in one tank and avoid a second sump, pump, skimmer, heater, etc. If you use Halides in the display tank then I recommend Halides in the frag tank. A change in lighting can cause your corals stress. I have seen standalone frag tanks and one plumed into the display tanks both having pros and cons. I see more cons for a standalone frag tank. Standalone tanks increase costs both short term and long term.

Dennis

Good points indeed. I don't mind supplying the tank with water from my display but I didn't want any water returning to the display. I'm paranoid of bugs getting in the display. Lighting the grow out tank with T5's instead of halides is a design compromise to reduce the heat in a small tank but I understand your concern. I already own the fixture but if it doesn't work I can put a couple of halides over the tank. I did buy a chiller for this smaller system. Thanks for your input. I'll put some more thought into these issues.

dennis5546 · Feb 27, 2013

One other thing to add, your water conditions(PH, Temp, Calcium, Sal etc.) will be more stable in the frag tank being hooked up to the display tank. You could always put a U/V between tank to reduce the chance of bugs getting into the display tank.

robf · Feb 27, 2013

The 40 gallon cube tank to the left of this tank is plumbed into the main system.

zoechance · Feb 28, 2013

mcarroll!! thank you so much for that information!! That is exactly the info I am looking for in order to rig a back up plan in the case of a power outage! my most feared tank disaster. I will likely hire an electrition to rig this up for me... LOL... I am a Physician but when it comes to this stuff as we say in NY fawwwgettaboutit!...
I will also look into that Tunze return pump!!
a million thanks
Barbara

robf · Mar 1, 2013

mcarroll said:
FWIW, Tunze offers a DC return pump now in the 1073.050. In addition, they offer a so-called "Safety Connector" (6105.50) for all their DC pumps that facilitates simultaneous connection of any DC backup power source. Direct wire of a solar panel/array is even a possibility.

Hope this helps! (Sorry if it's too off topic.)

-Matt

Did a search on DC pumps and found this Waveline makes an even bigger DC pump if you need more flow than the one Tunze offers....This puppy can pump 1320 gallons per hour and has 6 speeds! Impressive. DC pumps are generally quieter than AC I have been told.

Cheers,
Rob

zoechance · Mar 2, 2013

WOW Thanks! I am gonna look into this pump cause as you said the Tunze isnt powerful enough for my tank.
Thank Again

dennis5546 · Mar 25, 2013

Any Updates?

robf · Mar 26, 2013

Not a lot has happened in the last couple of weeks. I just installed a different sump because the old one couldn't handle the dual darts. This had delayed my project. I figured out some of the Apex logic for my pumps and have integrated this logic in the system. I re-routed the line from the chiller and frag tank so I returns through a Mocean (sea swirl type device) and I wanted to wait until a friend could help me glue in the last pieces of PVC. This pipe I want to be dead on square because it drops from the ceiling. Also pushing things back is a 10 day work trip I leave for on Thurs. Otherwise I'd start filling for one final rinse then start the cycle. Also, I glued in the blue acryllic pieces that go on the sides of the display. Originally I was going to put them on the outside of the tank with velcro but I didn't like the way they looked. These pieces look much better inside the display as it covers up the framing in the wall. I have one last tank to plumb that I can get to while the main display is cycling. Unfortunately, nothing much will happen for about 3 more weeks.

icedearth15324 · Mar 26, 2013

This build is definitely amazing. How do you like the tank quality from glasscages? Is your 75 gallon frag tank also from them?

Hopefully I can show this build to my boss and convince him to let me do something similar at our office haha.

Mike J. · Mar 26, 2013

I'm following along, fascinated. It's amazing how much time it takes to get a tank up and running. My wife bought a tank for me last Christmas (15 months) and I've got parts piled up, still working on it.

robf · Mar 26, 2013

Mike J. said:
I'm following along, fascinated. It's amazing how much time it takes to get a tank up and running. My wife bought a tank for me last Christmas (15 months) and I've got parts piled up, still working on it.

I try not to laugh(or cry) when I think of the time involved. Everything takes twice as long as I think it should but the minute you cut corners you regret it.

robf · Mar 27, 2013

Today we finished wiring the generator complete w/ auto-transfer switch. It works great but need to put calendar reminder to exercise it once a month. The tank is nearly done with the exception of one glue joint on the emergency overfill drain. I leave town on business trip for 10 days then I'll fill it one more time with RO water and test the systems. Then it's time to start my cycle. Wow. I cant believe I'm almost there! The UV sterilizer, heaters and chiller still needs to be tested. Keeping my fingers (and toes) crossed.

dennis5546 · Mar 28, 2013

Understand

dennis5546 · May 19, 2013

Hey whats the tank status?

robf · May 19, 2013

dennis5546 said:
Hey whats the tank status?

Sorry about not posting. I need to take a few pictures. The tank is cycling. 1 month in. I have the top off system up and running and the water change system is turned off. Right now I have the skimmer only running for 1 hour a day. UV is off. The only thing I am running is GFO simply because to my knowledge, phosphates are not part of the nitrite/nitrate bacteria cycle and I want to avoid any hair algae outbreaks. I put a bag of live rubble in from Paul's tank (a guy i totally trust because he's crazy ocd about his tank) and a couple of raw shrimp. I am running socks which I replace every 3-4 days. Bought a "cute" mini washing machine for the office. It's really handy for these socks. It's so small and on casters. Attaches to my sink. Gotta get you a pic of that too.

I've been focusing on getting the coral qt tank set up. I have it mostly plumbed in but the reactors leaked to Vertex is sending my new ones. Great service from them btw. What else....Oh the chiller is kind of noisy so I'm building a custom sound attenuated louver for it. Next problem to solve is quarantine for fish. I have to set it up but I'm afraid I won't have the ability to watch it properly if it's somewhere at work and we travel often in the summer for swimming meets. With ammonia always a threat you really need to be in a place to observe the qt tanks every day so I need to get this figured out soon or it's going to be a long time before I get any fish in the thing. The coral qt is easier as they can sit in the tank at work. My only reason for qt'ing the corals it so observe them for disease and acro eating flatworms. Also I can pick corals that seem to be doing best for my tank and I'll have a place to keep frags. Another fun part will be choosing and installing my calcium reactor. I've always wanted to own one but realize they can be difficult to get right. Like I said. I'll get some pics in tomorrow hopefully but then I leave for 3 days for work related travel. Chow!

robf · May 20, 2013

Some updates.....

First i purchased this portable washing machine. Works great for my socks. I just roll it away into the janitorial closet when I'm not using it.

Here is a bag of rubble from Paul's tank that I'm using to seed the dry rock...

Here are some pics of the tank cycling....

An ammonia monitor....This is in the cube behind the display. This tank is tied into the main tanks filtration.

The main display. About 1 month into the cycle.

Raw shrimp to help with cycle. I'm also feeding fish pellets 2x a day

MP60's really turn the water over!

The sump under the coral qt tank.....These reactors are leaking so Vertex is replacing them. This will take a few weeks to replace I'm guessing. No hurry.

More shots of the coral qt tank. This tank will optionally get saltwater for changes either from the main display or from the salt mixing station via LiteMeter III dosing pump for continuous water changes. I have yet to purchase this gear from SpectraPure.

Here is the UV sterilizer for coral qt

Reactors return to sump

Coral QT tank with RO water in it currently not operational....

More shots of the Coral QT sump

Lots of room to work under the Coral tank....(notice the washer doing a load of socks in the background)

dennis5546 · May 21, 2013

Wow! quarantine tanks for both fish and coral. Best practice to avoid disease and unhealthy fish is to find a trusted LFS who takes the risk and will quarantine the fish for you. Coral is a different story. LFS carry the common corals at high prices. They will sell you Zenia or Birdsnest coral that refers will give you free due to high growth rate. Corals can normally be dipped and placed directly in the tank. The common mistake most reefers make is placing slow growing corals next to fast growing corals. The faster growing corals will try to choke out slower ones. Birdnest and Monti family of corals grow very fast thus the lower asking price when you sell your frags. I ordered from a number of online stores and have done road trips looking for rare collector corals. Jason Fox has a online stores with some nice pieces and Cornfeed sells a nice collection corals each week. Every Tuesday he puts his corals on eBay and the auction closes out on Sunday. If you order over $250 shipping is free. He will hold your orders until you reach the free shipping or your order is complete. I would recommend using some blue chromis to cycle the tank. They are tough, cheap, and look nice swimming in a school.
I bought a cheap used calcium reactor setup for $300. As your corals mature and calcium requirements increase a calcium reactor will be needed. A calcium reactor will also speed up coral growth.