Wolfenstein's DSA 105 Tank build

[zach_discus]

Hello, first off beautiful tank build!!

As for you return vs overflow. They should be Equal?!?! The overflow can only process the water going into the tank. Check and make sure you don't have a obstruction in the return plumbing that's working like a check valve in reverse, ie snail shell or similar blocking the flow.

Good luck!!

 

[wolfenstein87]

My only theory is that I may have some sponges somewhere in the return line. We haven't added any snails, or crabs. I also made sure to put filters on the drain pipes to prevent any live stock from getting into the drains. I even took off the sock in case that was blocking water flow.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm gonna go by a soft bristle pipe cleaner and roto rooter the return lines.

 

[wolfenstein87]

I took apart the return section and couldn't find any blockage. I found the filter piece to my pump so I went ahead and installed it. Is it normal to need to redial your flow rate as the tank ends it's cycle? Still find it odd that if I turn the pump off and back on, or if I close the return valve and open it back up, the water level goes back to normal for a bit.

 

[ReeferEric]

Great work on the electrical. Nice work on the minor details, keep the photos coming!!!

 

[wolfenstein87]

So I started tweaking the drain valve and got everything regulated again last night; really didn't want to start that battle up again. Now I just need to fix our RODI inlet line before I'm out of fresh water. The line burst open the other night and sprayed something like 100 gallons of water all over my garage before we woke up.

Live stock question:
I have been looking at putting a pair of Anthias in the tank; looking at Ignitis and Carberryi more specifically. They will be sharing the tank with a pair of black clowns which dominate our 55 gallon currently. I have been wondering if I should put the Anthias into the new tank before the black clowns so they down get bullied too much. This sound like a good plan? Any known, or experienced issues with these two species coexisting?

Thanks for all of the comments, this has been a fun build so far.

 

[tigerdragon]

What drain type are you running? Herbie overflow, bean animal. The herbie is designed to use a ball or gate valve to get full siphon on overflow. Your rtn pump will rtn as much as you provide.

 

[wolfenstein87]

Using bean animal overflow with ball valves. Like I said, the system has been up and cyclin for 2 months, then all of a sudden it seemed like my return couldn't keep up. I closed off a drain just a tad last night and it balanced back out.

 

[tigerdragon]

Bean is like herbie just has one more drain tube

 

[wolfenstein87]

I have two drains and an emergency. One drain is all open, one is closed just a bit so that my return pump can keep up.

 

[tigerdragon]

Yea the second drain you want water level right at top of it but not flowing in too much maybe slightly is enough that way you have full siphon and a quiet overflow no slurping

 

[wolfenstein87]

So I found the issue. At some point one of is must have bumps the air line coming out of the second drain which caused it to go under water when the water level got to the preferred height. I took a heat gun to it and straightened it out a bit, then zip tied it in place. No more problems.

 

[wolfenstein87]

So I'm nearing the end of the cycle which means I'll need to replace around 130 gallons of water. Those of you who have done this in the past, did you bite the bullet and buy the water from your lfs, or buy a bunch of containers and pumps to mix the salt at home?

 

[wolfenstein87]

Picture of the diatom bloom

 

[wolfenstein87]

The diatom bloom has been replaced by green algae and some hair algae. Getting super close to the end of the cycle.

Those of you with larger tanks, I have some questions as far as equipment goes, and advise:

Our plan is to stock LPS, and softies primarily. The only SPS that we currently have is a few, very healthy colonies of Pocillopora's. Our game plan since we have started this hobby is to be as hands off as possible; large volume of live rock and plenty of sand for the bio filter, and water changes. Since then, I have seen other tanks and how well they are running with the occasional dosing of certain elements. I feel that this will be one of those, trial and error situations where I see what works for me. I have been on the fence as to whether or not I want to skim seeing that the corals I plan on stocking like dirtier water. I have considered a calcium reactor, and potentially doing some kind of carbon dosing, but I am not sure if my system will need this; at least in the beginning.

What are your thoughts?

Mike

 

[wolfenstein87]

The big water changed happened last night. Gonna start moving corals in tomorrow.

 

[wolfenstein87]

Coral propagation has begun! Made it through cutting off my pocilipora colonies off a branch piece. Moved over some armor of gods, a couple of mushrooms ands blasto. We also picked up some black eared white clowns. I have a bunch of GSP and some more armor of gods that won't make it to this tank because they are covered in algae. If any of you think you can save them, they're yours if you come pick them up.

 

[wolfenstein87]

Everything has been moved over and the old tank is broken down. We've added a few more corals and the wife just ordered two birds nest to add to the collection. Our two clownfish pairs are getting along and like to school it seems. Only time will tell if it's just the honeymoon phase. Anyway here is the eye candy.

 

[wolfenstein87]

 

[wolfenstein87]

 

[PCygni]

Nice build, holmes.