Tyler's 220 gallon in wall build thread!

[scott11106]

@scott11106 can you help clarify something for me. About the only thing that I'm mildly confused on as far as operation goes.
Your dos that is responsible for auto water changes. It draws straight off of salt reservoir correct. Your pmup agitates water like you said, one every three hours, for five minutes. So here are questions,
1-how is salinity keep in check in res if evaporation happens? Which would raise it
2- how often do you make up the reservoir?
3- are you automated between your RODI and salt reservoirs? Or do you manually transfer rodi to salt res?

1. it is sealed so very little evaporation, and it is used in a week or 2 so does not have alot of time to change salinity and you have to make the salt water manually so i check salinity when making it with a digital or a manual one but i use digital because of im lazy



2. i was doing a 5 gal/day water change and that made it so i had to do a water change every 10 days, now i am doing 3 gal/day so i can go 2 weeks ( i changed because my water was too clean...lol (believe it or not)
3. i have a manual valve between the rodi and salt since i have to manually add salt i saw no reason to automate but if i can figure a way to automate making salt that may change

 

[TK_KW]

1. it is sealed so very little evaporation, and it is used in a week or 2 so does not have alot of time to change salinity and you have to make the salt water manually so i check salinity when making it with a digital or a manual one but i use digital because of im lazy



2. i was doing a 5 gal/day water change and that made it so i had to do a water change every 10 days, now i am doing 3 gal/day so i can go 2 weeks ( i changed because my water was too clean...lol (believe it or not)
3. i have a manual valve between the rodi and salt since i have to manually add salt i saw no reason to automate but if i can figure a way to automate making salt that may change

I figured as much with manually filling and testing, just thought of there was maybe easier way, as I am also "lazy", or maybe it's being a little more forward thinking. As like I said, I only like do it once, the right way lol.

Sounds good I'll keep you posted, going to purchase all equipment tonight...exciting...... I'd imagine I'll also start with very low volume water changes to start. My plexiglass lid will be sealed also, so looks like evaporation wont be a problem then either.

 

[TK_KW]

@scott11106
I might just two more ATK for Q.T tanks...

 

[scott11106]

I figured as much with manually filling and testing, just thought of there was maybe easier way, as I am also "lazy", or maybe it's being a little more forward thinking. As like I said, I only like do it once, the right way lol.

Sounds good I'll keep you posted, going to purchase all equipment tonight...exciting...... I'd imagine I'll also start with very low volume water changes to start. My plexiglass lid will be sealed also, so looks like evaporation wont be a problem then either.

very exciting!!! let me know if you have any questions.remember you will need a way to drain the dos removal of saltwater, i use 1/4" red and then go into a 1/2" red pvc then to the drain, i have future plans to pipe into the 1/2" drain line with the skimmer cup and what ever else comes lol

 

[TK_KW]

very exciting!!! let me know if you have any questions.remember you will need a way to drain the dos removal of saltwater, i use 1/4" red and then go into a 1/2" red pvc then to the drain, i have future plans to pipe into the 1/2" drain line with the skimmer cup and what ever else comes lol

From my 3" hub drain in corner of fishroom/mech room.I plan on running another indirect drain goes from where my softener brine well is ( cant see in photos) all the way to storage tanks. That.is where I'll tie in dos drains. and I'm also going to rought in a drain, in tight to the front corner of QT tank, so when I do those water changes, the drain is at waste level, right at the tank. Minimize cross contamination for my lack of distance between sump and QT.

 

[TK_KW]

@scott11106 I'll most definatly be need your assistance in programming parameters within the apex one all equipment is installed, if you would be so kind.
Now with purchasing two more ATKs for QT I'll have many extra ports
Also for my equipment, the back of my stairs will work perfectly for a board or cabinet for mounting everything, and I'll have some access behind, so ill be able to make it super clean looking. Center back of stairs, instead of that plywood wall I did, will be way better for reach from both systems I'm thinking

 

[TK_KW]

**FINAL REVISION**

So this is it, I swear I'm not adding anything else lol. For now. Last night purchased all equipment and will receive it about a week, will be like chrismas lol. Tonight I'm going to start leak testing tank, and tile my bathroom, and other basement tasks whole I wait for equipment.

 

[scott11106]

that looks pretty good ! you will want to watch your load per eb8 as you put them together. Also, some items i just purchased are flat head 1' extension cords so they are all the same look out of the eb8's, i know this may be a bit much but it looks really good. (just a unneeded cost, but i am anal about trying to make wiring look good) wish i would have done it originally.

 

[TK_KW]

Power consumption will be split, plugged in to two different circuits in fish/mech room.

@scott11106 you shouldn't have showed me those lol. Great idea lol

 

[TK_KW]

UPDATE

So found to finish board in fish/mech room to clean it up as best as possible. And finished sheeting above display. I have sealed my stairs off complete so I don't have any unwanted dirt or whatever falling into display.

Q.T is back (again) in its final spot, I took it back out so I could black out the bottom of tank. Sump/ref down under display, blacked out the bottom, and just cycling water for fun lol. Mag 5 that im cycling with will be my salt reservoir pump. I'm going to put outside res on closed loop. Also use it to do large water changes. I might run one hard piped line to each of the three tanks, off a manifold, from reservoir. So when I want to do water changes I can be lazy, and just open the corresponding valve for whatever tank I want saltwater at.

Somehow in all this craziness doing my basement at same time as fish room, I found time to make a little side project, wait till you see it when it's done. It's going to look fantastic.

I was going to cycle rock in my Q.T. as I'm going to get all my equipment this upcoming week. Not going to do that anymore, cause guess what.... my tank arrives in about two weeks, ahead of schedule....YES SIR....

 

[scott11106]

i would watch out having sheetrock in or around the tank openings unless you have the proper coating or paint as there will be alot of moisture especially around sump and main display unless it is concrete board and even that i coated above my main display with a rubberized paint and around sump i just used 2" foam insulation board as it does not hold moisture and also added a buffer for sound to the living room as equipment and gravity fed water sounds can be annoying in living spaces. you may have this covered but wanted to add my thoughts

 

[TK_KW]

No drywall behind sump. But sheets I used are green board, so moisture resistant. I also plan on running my ceiling exhaust fan on a timed schedule, to control any moisture/humidity levels. Is the bean animal overflow relatively silent in your opinion? Maybe I should insulate behind sump and drywall in room you think? Cut down noise? You think if the wall isnt insulated the noise will be that significant?

 

[vector824]

Man what a great build! My name is Tyler too so I'm definitely following.

 

[scott11106]

No drywall behind sump. But sheets I used are green board, so moisture resistant. I also plan on running my ceiling exhaust fan on a timed schedule, to control any moisture/humidity levels. Is the bean animal overflow relatively silent in your opinion? Maybe I should insulate behind sump and drywall in room you think? Cut down noise? You think if the wall isnt insulated the noise will be that significant?

i would definitely try to soundproof the room as it does make noise and if you run the apex DOS in a fast mode for water change it is a bit noisy, i have insulation and can still barely hear the overflow but i am a perfectionist of sorts..besides it is cheap comparatively and easy now but very difficult after its full of water

 

[TK_KW]

Best way to cycle rock? Preferably fast track it if possible. What are you thoughts on ARC reef dry rock? Far less to break down? Should I do it in main display? Or maybe use my quarintine tanks?

 

[scott11106]

Best way to cycle rock? Preferably fast track it if possible. What are you thoughts on ARC reef dry rock? Far less to break down? Should I do it in main display? Or maybe use my quarintine tanks?

seems like everyone has a different opinion on this but i use REEL live rock as it is clean and live and it was quick and flawless so i recommend it and putting it right in display

 

[NeveSSL]

Best way to cycle rock? Preferably fast track it if possible. What are you thoughts on ARC reef dry rock? Far less to break down? Should I do it in main display? Or maybe use my quarintine tanks?

I have used Dr Tim's multiple times with dry rock with great success. You just have to make sure you add a fish along with the bacteria at the same time so the bacteria has ammonia to eat. Unless you want to dose it. I personally find fish to be the best ammonia dosers. Haha!

Brandon

 

[TK_KW]

seems like everyone has a different opinion on this but i use REEL live rock as it is clean and live and it was quick and flawless so i recommend it and putting it right in display

I thought about live rock, but to many horror stories of pests. So I just figured I'd start dry, that way it's best in my control to prevent hitchhikers

 

[TK_KW]

I have used Dr Tim's multiple times with dry rock with great success. You just have to make sure you add a fish along with the bacteria at the same time so the bacteria has ammonia to eat. Unless you want to dose it. I personally find fish to be the best ammonia dosers. Haha!

Brandon

How long did you cycle for before adding fish? They say 3-6 weeks. I have patience, just not currently lol.

 

[NeveSSL]

With Dr. Tim's one and only, you literally add fish day 1. And it works perfectly. Ammonia never spiked. After that, give everything some time to find a balance and then add more fish. Works great.

Brandon