Sam's Oceanic 120 - DIY solutions

[Projects with Sam]

Some coral photos with my cellphone & filter-kit.

new head on my Duncan! to the left just under the big one.

Superman sps not angry.

super jiggly neon candycane

zoas are out - till I knocked their tray


Cant wait to setup my doser!

 

[Projects with Sam]

Pull that trigger!

oops

 

[PeterC99]

Some coral photos with my cellphone & filter-kit.

new head on my Duncan! to the left just under the big one.

Superman sps not angry.

super jiggly neon candycane

zoas are out - till I knocked their tray


Cant wait to setup my doser!

What are you going to dose?

 

[Projects with Sam]

What are you going to dose?

mainly kalkwasser until I have a better idea what to dose. I have 2 32fl.oz. of B-Ionic 2-part with a 2014 date on it from the prior owner not sure if I should toss it or experiment with it.
I plan to dose in the early morning when my pH is at its lowest. trying to mitigate the swings. I should probably switch my refugium to counter day/night instead of on all the time to help with the swings as well.

 

[PeterC99]

mainly kalkwasser until I have a better idea what to dose. I have 2 32fl.oz. of B-Ionic 2-part with a 2014 date on it from the prior owner not sure if I should toss it or experiment with it.
I plan to dose in the early morning when my pH is at its lowest. trying to mitigate the swings. I should probably switch my refugium to counter day/night instead of on all the time to help with the swings as well.

I’m not a fan of Kalkwasser - pain in the neck to regulate. Your corals look great and I would recommend Tropic Marin All For Reef. You can dose this stuff once a day and your corals will love you for it!

 

[Projects with Sam]

This is the place to get bulk soda lime: https://jorvet.com/ ~ 3lbs for $7.80 or 5 gallons for $87
Not feasible if only getting 3lbs though $26 shipping (gets better the more you buy) on 3lb $71 shipping on 5 gallons

hmm checking this now... https://www.thomasnet.com/products/soda-lime-44285302-1.html -- no luck finding local supplier here - wonder if there would be a good spot in the forums to compile a list of industrial chemical suppliers that have stuff useful for reefers.

 

[PeterC99]

Jorgensen Laboratories JorVet Soda Lime, 5 Gallon | Med-Vet International

JorVet soda lime is a high-grade granular product that effectively absorbs carbon dioxide that is produced as an anesthesia by-product. It is a mixture of calcium hydroxide Ca(OH)2 also known as lime plus a smaller amount of sodium hydroxide NaOH. Upon exposure to carbon dioxide CO2, the calcium...

www.shopmedvet.com

 

[Projects with Sam]

Jorgensen Laboratories JorVet Soda Lime, 5 Gallon | Med-Vet International

JorVet soda lime is a high-grade granular product that effectively absorbs carbon dioxide that is produced as an anesthesia by-product. It is a mixture of calcium hydroxide Ca(OH)2 also known as lime plus a smaller amount of sodium hydroxide NaOH. Upon exposure to carbon dioxide CO2, the calcium...

www.shopmedvet.com

thanks! these guys are close.

Soda Lime 3lb Bag | Med-Vet International

JorVet soda lime is a high-grade granular product that effectively absorbs carbon dioxide that is produced as an anesthesia by-product. Shop this product today at Med-Vet International for the best prices.

www.shopmedvet.com

*cry* Amazon still a better deal for 3lb bag for delivery.
Though I may be able to pickup at their store which would be awesome!
Good excuse to take the kids to Middlefork Savanna Forest Preserve or Lake Bluff Beach; I'll have to call them.
I'm planning on doing recirculating so don't plan on needing that much media to get started.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

This is the place to get bulk soda lime: https://jorvet.com/ ~ 3lbs for $7.80 or 5 gallons for $87
Not feasible if only getting 3lbs though $26 shipping (gets better the more you buy) on 3lb $71 shipping on 5 gallons

hmm checking this now... https://www.thomasnet.com/products/soda-lime-44285302-1.html -- no luck finding local supplier here - wonder if there would be a good spot in the forums to compile a list of industrial chemical suppliers that have stuff useful for reefers.

Why not just go with brs 2 part w/soda ash, thats what I use its super easy and relatively inexpensive

 

[Projects with Sam]

Why not just go with brs 2 part w/soda ash, thats what I use its super easy and relatively inexpensive

I need to look into that some more. I don't know what the soda ash is for yet - or I forgot ;D
I was planning to scrub my skimmer co2 with the soda lime.

Your thought on whether B-Ionic goes bad? or not even worth messing around with it.

 

[Projects with Sam]

My cleaner shrimp may be having issues molting. I'd hate to have to euthanize him. he's laying on his back pulling at his legs with his foreclaws. I added Iodide to the QT tank but no luck yet. I heard its a Mg deficiency or it could be that he has been postponing his molt too long because of the cramped quarters.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

I need to look into that some more. I don't know what the soda ash is for yet - or I forgot ;D
I was planning to scrub my skimmer co2 with the soda lime.

Your thought on whether B-Ionic goes bad? or not even worth messing around with it.

I dont think it does with a tight fitting lid but I could be wrong for that long...but I always force the start of dosing so sooner the better IMO, it will push coraline algae to start forming

My cleaner shrimp may be having issues molting. I'd hate to have to euthanize him. he's laying on his back pulling at his legs with his foreclaws. I added Iodide to the QT tank but no luck yet. I heard its a Mg deficiency or it could be that he has been postponing his molt too long because of the cramped quarters.

Mine always molt a day or two after a water change, or once a month atleast

 

[Projects with Sam]

My cleaner shrimp may be having issues molting. I'd hate to have to euthanize him. he's laying on his back pulling at his legs with his foreclaws. I added Iodide to the QT tank but no luck yet. I heard its a Mg deficiency or it could be that he has been postponing his molt too long because of the cramped quarters.

After further reading, metroplex messes with them. I recently whipped-up a batch of Metroplex-soaked food and have been feeding it heavily so that may explain it. He stands a chance. Been in the sump - I've transferred all the fish out of QT. When he was doing bad I thought it was a water volume / crowding issue and I have been happy with all the critters in QT otherwise. Pretty irresponsible. Oh well.
I am hopeful he'll recover... but then I think I'll need to relocate the Purple Dottyback because he was camping the shrimp's acclimation box and biting at anything sticking out. hence the move to sump.

 

[Projects with Sam]

DIY Filter floss roller revamp

The motor mount/case with the random metal I found that will work as a collar. I tapped and threaded it to take an m3.

Used floss roll spool in position over the motor case. The collar and grub screw are integrated into this part.

Filter floss roller ready to go. There is a disposable sleeve that slides down around the spent floss spool that the floss is attached to.

Installed.

I am very happy with it so far but have already identified some things I can improve. Also, it may benefit from having a timer circuit making it advance the floss in larger increments to prevent jitter.

 

[Projects with Sam]

Ack... so bummed... just made ground 6-line wrasse with my powerhead

 

[Sean Clark]

Ack... so bummed... just made ground 6-line wrasse with my powerhead

Sorry to read about this.

 

[Projects with Sam]

There is an issue, due to the weight of the water, where the spool pulls down disputing the alignment and pulling the floss off-center. I've added the side support to help mitigate this but I think the problem is severe enough to require a rebuild.
The new design will be narrower so there will be less overall water in the catchment area. This will reduce the water weight pushing against the floss so in-theory it should be easier to roll-up and less likely to pull enough to misalign the roller.



my skunk cleaner shrimp is looking pretty rough. he may not make it either... dang. brings my 2 week total fish loss to 1 cardinal fish, a wrasse, and a shrimp.... I haven't seen the court jester goby since the first day... hope I didn't grind him up too... Surprisingly the green-stripe goby is accounted for.. He just hangs out on the back glass so I can sometimes spot him.

 

[PeterC99]

There is an issue, due to the weight of the water, where the spool pulls down disputing the alignment and pulling the floss off-center. I've added the side support to help mitigate this but I think the problem is severe enough to require a rebuild.
The new design will be narrower so there will be less overall water in the catchment area. This will reduce the water weight pushing against the floss so in-theory it should be easier to roll-up and less likely to pull enough to misalign the roller.



my skunk cleaner shrimp is looking pretty rough. he may not make it either... dang. brings my 2 week total fish loss to 1 cardinal fish, a wrasse, and a shrimp.... I haven't seen the court jester goby since the first day... hope I didn't grind him up too... Surprisingly the green-stripe goby is accounted for.. He just hangs out on the back glass so I can sometimes spot him.

Very impressive on your diy filter roller!!!

What’s going with the livestock?

 

[Projects with Sam]

Well, I lost one of the 4 cardinalfish in QT - I think I did a water change with slightly warm water and he was already weakened by a salinity thing at the LFS.
The Cleaner shrimp ate food with Metroplex/focus in it and hasn't been the same since. Now he is just laying on his side.
The 6-line wrasse was in my powerhead when it turned on and lived paralyzed for about 5 minutes.
and the court jester goby is just MIA - I think the damsel and purple dottyback were too aggressive for him.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Just printed and installed a skimmer carbon cap that I designed and posted here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5235342

"Looking good Mortimer!
Smelling good Lewis!"

I really like this!