Iron's 4x2x2 slow build

[IronVulture]

So that is the first time I had leak tested the tank since finishing all the plumbing. I have a few minor drips I need to fix and I will be mixing my salt directly in the tank.

 

[G8trBait16]

It is looking great! I am definitely following.

 

[IronVulture]

Premature layout of equipment cabinet, one L1 controller is missing because it is presently keeping water circulating in the main display, the mounting bracket is holding its future place.

I left room on the bottom for a future eb8 and a second break out box. The green thing at the top is a led light to illuminate everything that will connect to the lights already highlighted in a previous post.

 

[Arron209]

Premature layout of equipment cabinet, one L1 controller is missing because it is presently keeping water circulating in the main display, the mounting bracket is holding its future place.

I left room on the bottom for a future eb8 and a second break out box. The green thing at the top is a led light to illuminate everything that will connect to the lights already highlighted in a previous post.

Great progress. Will you be adding a fan in the equipment cabinet?

 

[IronVulture]

Great progress. Will you be adding a fan in the equipment cabinet?

Thanks

I will add a fan if it is needed but I don't think I will have to. All the power bricks will be going on the back which will be open.

 

[don_chuwish]

Premature layout of equipment cabinet, one L1 controller is missing because it is presently keeping water circulating in the main display, the mounting bracket is holding its future place.

I left room on the bottom for a future eb8 and a second break out box. The green thing at the top is a led light to illuminate everything that will connect to the lights already highlighted in a previous post.

Having just finished my board I'll warn that it's surprising how fast the cable bulk adds up. If you're doing raceways in back, get the 2x2 inch ones.
Where will all the power cables to those EB8s go?

 

[Txdragonslayer]

And for the good news

I picked up a frag tank to plumb into the system after reef currents (got a killer deal). It is an IM lagoon 25

It was only used for one day during the show I still need to get a stand for it.

I also got in my Sea Sweeps made to fit my Neptune WAV pumps. I am supper excited the build quality is top notch. If you haven't ever heard of Sea Sweeps or Sea Swirls you must check them out.

Basically the motor that mounts to your tank rim turns your power heads so not only do you get the pulse or wave modes built in to the power heads but they rotate back and forth changing the current in your tank like no other product can do. Absolutely worth every penny.

I like that i may try that with the sweepers!

 

[IronVulture]

Having just finished my board I'll warn that it's surprising how fast the cable bulk adds up. If you're doing raceways in back, get the 2x2 inch ones.
Where will all the power cables to those EB8s go?

Thanks for the tip. I do have multiple cable management solutions lined up hopefully I will have a few updates by the end of the week.

 

[IronVulture]

I like that i may try that with the sweepers!

Look in to them they really area very unique way to randomize the flow in your aquarium. They are costly and are made to order so plan early but you will not be disappointed. I will get a video up as soon as my equipment cabinet is finished so I can get power to everything.

 

[IronVulture]

Got about 90% of my electric finished. I still have lots of wires to organize in the back and I need to get my lights and dosers mounted.

With the apex up and running I was finally able to add salt and start my fishless cycle. I used HW Marine salt with Dr Tim's liquid ammonia and Fritz Zyme 9 to kick it off.

Stay tuned lights coming on soon.

 

[ScottMyers123]

Great start, looking awesome!

 

[IronVulture]

Great start, looking awesome!

Thanks!

 

[IronVulture]

We have lights!

Got them all installed in the canopy.

Unfortunately I did not test them before I installed them and one of the Giesemann fixtures did not fire. The back one of course. I swapped the bulbs around and still nothing. So I will pull the fixture and test the ballast before I attempt make a warranty claim. I contacted brs and tried to get them to handle it. Because this build has been so slow the time that has elapsed since I originally ordered the lights is too far out of their acceptable return period. They are also sold out of the fixtures and wouldn't even be able to provide a replacement anyway. Oh well I have plenty of light to move forward so I won't dwell on it.

I forgot to take better pictures of the frag tank light but I think you can tell from this fts that it is also an AP700. It is huge over kill for the tank but my plan is to use the frag tank to acclimate all new corals to my water and lightning so I don't have to lower the intensity of the lights in the main display.

Thanks everyone for following along I will get some better shots of the frag tank up this weekend.

 

[don_chuwish]

I know the situation well - bought stuff a really long time ago that I may not end up using at all. Plus stuff I haven't tested yet.

 

[IronVulture]

Got the two DōS installed with the matching DDR's

I really need to figure out a way to tidy up the dosing lines any suggestions would be great.

Yes I need to touch up some of the paint also[emoji3].

 

[IronVulture]

Well I discovered my second doa [emoji24]. One of my DDR's will not talk to my DōS. I'm sure Neptune will take care of the issue however I'm not sure how many hoops I will be required to jump through. I did not keep records of purchase dates or receipts in fear my wife would find them [emoji33]. So I guess worse case scenario I'll have to buy another one and send the broken one in to Neptune for repairs and try to sell it when I get it back.

A bit of advice for anyone attempting a slow build. When acquiring all your gear at a slow pace test each item as it comes in and register it. That way you won't have to deal with the headaches I'm going through.

 

[IronVulture]

So I get the new DDR set up and filled last night and a little more programming done. Everything seamed to be running fine last night, however this morning around 7 am I get 11 alarms from my apex saying the other DDR(that had no previous problems) was empty. I rush down stairs trying to remember what Swx15_2 was praying it wasn't my leak detection but can't find anything wrong. After checking my notes I realized it was the DDR, which was not empty and no longer appears in fusion. Ugh I'm so frustrated I hope it is not burnt out. Has anyone else had issues with their DDR? Off to work I'll have to try and figure it out tonight.

 

[IronVulture]

Apex is giving me the blues. I'm just not going to do anything else until I have several uninterrupted hours to work on it(wife kids and mother in law out of the house). Don't get me wrong I do not regret getting all the apex gear I only regret not keeping better records of purchase dates and the items I bought new from other reefers that changed their mind about a purchase. I mean I did get up to 20+ percent off of some of those items but I would gladly pay that extra money now to have easy access to help filing for warranty repairs. My lfs could have sold me any of the apex gear I bought (which is next to everything apex offers) and he said anything I bought from him he would handle the entire warranty processes for me. Live and learn I guess some mistakes are more costly than others.

 

[IronVulture]

So let's go over my apex gear.

Apex gold
Firmware 4.40 - 3A16

Temp probe-calibrated and working

Lab grade ph probe - calibrated and working

Lab grade orp probe- not calibrated giving low reading( 130 )

Pm 1
Second temp probe - calibrated and working

Conductivity probe - calibrated not reading correctly (probe wire ran separate from all other wires) reading 40.0 actual salinity 1.024

ALD with 4 leak detectors - all tested and working

Left 1link with 2 WAV pumps - working great

Right 1link with 2 WAV pumps - 1 working great 1 stuck on 100%

1 break out box - tested on all channels with working sensor working great

1 break out box - tested with same working sensor no channels work

3 eb8's all working 1 of them lost a metal piece for the aqua bus inputs so I can only use 4 of 6 inputs ( not a huge concern I have lots of other inputs)

ASM with Par sensor - working but I'm not confident in the actual reading ( still should be useful)

Third temp probe - calibrated and working

Top DōS - calibrated and working

1st DDR - not detected not working

Replacement DDR - working perfectly ( bought not replaced by warranty )

Bottom DōS - 1 head loses prime ( will refit all connections and hopefully that will fix it )

2nd DDR - worked for two days now is no longer detected and does not work

Now to figure out what I can live without and send in for repairs and what I need to re-buy before I send it in for repairs and try to sell after it is refurbished.

 

[IronVulture]

A few pictures