Gimmito's 450 Gal L-Shaped Display

[gimmito]

Jim, I just got caught up with the thread. That frag tank makes you look like a real frag farmer. Whoot!

BTW: The H&S skimmer looks like it is tilted a bit in the pics. You can tell from the waterline in the collection cup. Looks like it is standing on something uneven? Not sure how much it matters.

Scott,

Long time no hear ! How's everything ? How's the tank ?

Yeah, it sure looks like I'm getting in the coral farming business doesn't it ? I gotta pay for this hobby somehow. :wink:

Speaking of corals, we just had our BAR frag swap.

I got the following:

ORA Red Planet
ORA Red Table
Garf Purple Bonsai
Pink Lemonade
Leng Sy Cap
Purple Rim Cap
Miami Orchid
Ponape Birdsnest
Blue Stag

Good eye regarding the skimmer, the actually FT is level, but the garage is on a slight slope and the sump is off a bit. It doesn't seem to affect the skimmate production. but I'll place some shims under the sump to level it out.

Are you going to Reef-A-Palooza this year ?

 

[Troylee]

looking good looking good!!!!!

 

[gimmito]

Thanks Troylee.

 

[akabryanhall]

This is looking sweet so far!! Love that frag tank.

 

[gimmito]

I'm off next week and plan on doing a water test (expect a video). If all holds, I plan on starting the rock scaping. I bought some sakrete hydraulic cement/bonder to secure the rocks.

 

[gar732]

Does the hydraulic cement leach stuff like other cements? Great build, can't wait to see this thing with some water in it.

 

[gimmito]

Does the hydraulic cement leach stuff like other cements? Great build, can't wait to see this thing with some water in it.

This is what is used from members of my reef club. It actually has less leaching than many other comparable products on the market w/o ill effects. You can buy the products at Home Depot.

 

[hawkfishman]

WOW! Luv n it!

 

[dougers31]

Awesome tank and thread!!! Thanks for taking the time to post it.

 

[re-fin-away]

For all of you who ask for water...Here you go.

Very impressive I cant wait to see it plump full of goodies. Very nice work on the drilling.

 

[gimmito]

Thanks Re-Fin-Away....it was a lot of work, but worth it in the end.

 

[gar732]

This is what is used from members of my reef club. It actually has less leaching than many other comparable products on the market w/o ill effects. You can buy the products at Home Depot.

Interesting, do you have to soak it in water still or is it good to go into the when its dry?

 

[rroselavy]

Scott,

Long time no hear ! How's everything ? How's the tank ?

Jim-

Tanks good. Seems like a toy compared to your system.

Took the Kalk offline and am doing 2 part dosing now. Seeing how that goes.
Using B-ionic salt now, and really like it. Ca/Alk/Mg test very close what is advertised.
Still thinking of ripping everything out of the tank to go BB. I like my DSB critters too much I think.
Got a new o-ring and impeller shaft for my 90-F1000. I am about to rotate that back in. I feel real "counter-current" to run a skimmer appropriately sized for my system when most people are super-sizing theirs.

Yeah, it sure looks like I'm getting in the coral farming business doesn't it ? I gotta pay for this hobby somehow. :wink:

I've got an idea. When I purchase frags, I'll have them shipped to your place. You use that fancy equipment to turn my frags into colonies, and then I'll drive up to pick them up when they are ready, 'kay? :bigsmile:

Looking forward to pics of your new corals.

Good eye regarding the skimmer, the actually FT is level, but the garage is on a slight slope and the sump is off a bit. It doesn't seem to affect the skimmate production. but I'll place some shims under the sump to level it out.

I hope you mean shim the stand, right? I don't want the sump to stress on a shim...

Are you going to Reef-A-Palooza this year ?

Yeah. Probably MAX in the spring and RAP in the fall. I do not stay for the lectures, just for the corals and gear. Usually blow through in 2 hours max.

I saw Fin's Reef last fall at RAP, but their booth was all about MAXspect fixtures and no H&S. :cry: I wish H&S were cheaper so it would be more known that these chinese cones are no better...


ciao!

 

[gimmito]

Interesting, do you have to soak it in water still or is it good to go into the when its dry?

Always good to soak it in water first...some guys leave it soaking in water from a few days to a week.

 

[gimmito]

Tanks good. Seems like a toy compared to your system.

Took the Kalk offline and am doing 2 part dosing now. Seeing how that goes.
Using B-ionic salt now, and really like it. Ca/Alk/Mg test very close what is advertised.
Still thinking of ripping everything out of the tank to go BB. I like my DSB critters too much I think.
Got a new o-ring and impeller shaft for my 90-F1000. I am about to rotate that back in. I feel real "counter-current" to run a skimmer appropriately sized for my system when most people are super-sizing theirs.

What made you change from dosing kalk to 2 part ? LMK the changes. I hear alot of good things about the ESV salt...mixes clear fast and good values. I recently switched to Salinity salt and so far so good...although I don't have anything in the tanks to compare it to...lol. I don't know if I could ever go BB, a bit too sterile for my taste. I enjoy looking at the critters also...especially on those sleepless nights. It will be interesting to see what the 90-F1000 pulls compared to the Euroreef RS80.

I've got an idea. When I purchase frags, I'll have them shipped to your place. You use that fancy equipment to turn my frags into colonies, and then I'll drive up to pick them up when they are ready, 'kay? :bigsmile

Always a good excuse to visit San Francisco and the Steinhart Aquarium.

Does your reef club do frag swaps by the way ?

I hope you mean shim the stand, right? I don't want the sump to stress on a shim...

Correct...or leave as is.

Yeah. Probably MAX in the spring and RAP in the fall. I do not stay for the lectures, just for the corals and gear. Usually blow through in 2 hours max.

I saw Fin's Reef last fall at RAP, but their booth was all about MAXspect fixtures and no H&S. :cry: I wish H&S were cheaper so it would be more known that these chinese cones are no better...ciao

I'll shoot you a PM if I end up attending any of those events this year. You can show me all those fancy places you get corals...maybe even check out Tom's place again. I haven't seen H&S skimmers selling so cheap (A150) on RC since I bought my A110/F2000 from Dave. I'm really happy w/them and wouldn't trade them for one of those chinese cone skimmers....although I might try a Bubble King one day.

 

[rroselavy]

What made you change from dosing kalk to 2 part ? LMK the changes.

My reactor was leaking (pesky Deltec check valve), and instead of replacing it (a second time) and continuing to yank, rinse & brush it out a reactor every two weeks, I decided to just go the 2 part only route. My pH was very elevated with the kalk, although not out of bounds. BRS 2 part (recipe 1) keeps the pH in the comfort zone. Kalk precipitates phosphates though, which I appreciate. I may return to Kalk someday, but use 2 part (recipe 2) for adjustments to combat pH. Avast makes some Kalk reactors that seem well designed and are reasonably priced.

I hear alot of good things about the ESV salt...mixes clear fast and good values. I recently switched to Salinity salt and so far so good..

The downside of the ESV is that it is not just pour the mix and walk away. There are four components, and each one takes time (>5minutes, 5 minutes, 1 minute, 1 minute) to dissolve. Salinity is the other salt I would try if ESV did not exist. About the same price, but I know of no LFS that sells Salinity that does not involve an extensive drive. I'd rather have ESV delivered to my door.

It will be interesting to see what the 90-F1000 pulls compared to the Euroreef RS80.

I am sure it will be comparable (my bioload is light compared to most, and my DSB processes a lot I suspect, so 120lph is prolly enough air), but I think the 90-F1000 will allow me to skim dryer, FWIW. A a110 would probably be the bees knees for my tank though. I've been looking for a used one at a "I wanna upgrade my a110 to a SWC160" price. :xd:

Does your reef club do frag swaps by the way ?

Just joined a young club for the first time recently. Still building up membership, but we do have frag raffles. Great for swapping nuisance algae and pests... :smile:

I'll shoot you a PM if I end up attending any of those events this year. You can show me all those fancy places you get corals...maybe even check out Tom's place again.

Sure thing. PM me well in advance, and we'll figure something out.

 

[gimmito]

I finally got around to finishing the plumbing. :xd:

 

[gimmito]

Pic of left rear return. The plumbing goes from 1 1/2" to 1" omni flex nozzles. This is most likely a temporary return setup so I can do a water test. I plan on getting a couple of vertex mocean 3500's down the line.:bigsmile:

 

[gimmito]

Pic of right rear return...please excuse the dirty acrylic...too tired to clean it. :wink:

Again, plumbing goes from 1 1/2" to 1" omni flex nozzles. I'm thinking about building a couple of "wet boxes" (6x6x16) for tunze streams and placing them along the length of the overflows and siliconing them in. The idea is to hide as much plumbing as possible via the rockscaping. Any thoughts ?

 

[skinz78]

Looking good man, what is all the PVC on the bottom for? Any chance of a FTS so we can see the full pic?