In-wall 380gal tank - cut out options

[Cyclist]

Enjoyed reading, thanks for sharing your progress.

[karimwassef]

Glad to share and open to more ideas

[karimwassef]

Upcoming DIYs being planned:

- CO2 scrubber
- concrete fish housing under overflow
- kalkwasser ATO upgrade
- nighttime vinegar / batch bacteria
- evaporation-less plastic sheet on aux containers
- plastic wire overflow install
- calcium reactor
- UV LED upgrade
- outside mangrove greenhouse
- Mylar curtains for increased lighting
- exhaust fan for humidity control
- RODI waste water garden recycling.

Not in order.

[Lavoisier]

I'm looking forward to these projects.

[karimwassef]

any requests on priority?

[muttley000]

I can't wait to see the mangrove greenhouse, but they all look interesting!

[Lavoisier]

I'm interested in all but maybe one these three first:

-CO2 scrubber
- kalkwasser ATO upgrade
- nighttime vinegar / batch bacteria

[karimwassef]

Ok. CO2 scrubber...





The choice of plumbing is based on whatever leftovers I had. I ran out of 1" PVC so I can't plumb it in until tomorrow. The 2" PVC Ts at the top are separated with a plastic sheet so the air flows down into the scrubber and then back up.

[karimwassef]

Adding a couple more and prioritized

- CO2 scrubber
- Active Carbon / GFO Reactor
- Nighttime vinegar / batch bacteria
- Kalkwasser ATO upgrade
- UV LED upgrade
- Evaporation-less plastic sheet on aux containers
- Plastic wire overflow install
- RODI waste water garden recycling.
- Mylar curtains for increased lighting

The above by November

- Concrete fish housing under overflow
- Calcium reactor
- Exhaust fan for humidity control

By January

- DT to Sump forced flow (bubble reduction)
- Outside mangrove greenhouse

By March?

[karimwassef]

Start of a carbon reactor made from leftover parts



The black container is a perfect fit around the 3" acrylic scrap. It was an old F.O.R.M. (Funky Old Reef Mud) container.

[karimwassef]

[karimwassef]

Ok. Scrubber is up

[karimwassef]

Active carbon/GFO reactor is done too

[karimwassef]

[karimwassef]

Ok. A quick update on the performance of the scrubber.

Before installing it, my Alkalinity due to the PurpleUp, PurpleTech, SuperBuffer, and Two part Ca and Kalkwasser hit a high of 14dKH. I suspect that was the reason my large emerald crab died.

So, I cut out all buffers last night including Kalkwasser. I was worried that the nighttime swing down in pH would be hard to counter. This coincides with the addition of the scrubber.

This morning, the pH was 8.16 when the skimmer started back up. A couple of hours later, the lights came on. Usually, the pH would have gone up to 8.2 or a little above, but it's up to 8.3 without buffers.

I can't say objectively that the scrubber pulling external air is the reason (too many variables uncontrolled for), but I think it is. It usually takes a few kicks of Kalkwasser to get to 8.3 and this time, it didn't need it.

[Lavoisier]

Thank you for the pics. I'm going to use your model. Sounds and looks good.

[karimwassef]

Finished the GFO/carbon reactor. Here it is under test:



And installed the overflow grill


I tried a couple of animal control plastic netting and the thin bird wire doesn't work because it won't hold a shape. This heavier grade stuff was made to go around trees so forms a natural curve when bent.

No impact on flow

[karimwassef]

Also ran a line from the ATO waste water under the garage door frame and used an airline splitter/valve to run it to three locations in the yard.

- CO2 scrubber (done)
- Active Carbon / GFO Reactor (done)
- Nighttime vinegar / batch bacteria (close to starting)
- Kalkwasser ATO upgrade
- UV LED upgrade (next on the list- pics coming)
- Evaporation-less plastic sheet on aux containers
- Plastic wire overflow install (done)
- RODI waste water garden recycling (done)
- Mylar curtains for increased lighting
- Concrete fish housing under overflow
- Calcium reactor
- Exhaust fan for humidity control
- DT to Sump forced flow (bubble reduction)
- Outside mangrove greenhouse

[karimwassef]

Ok. Updated the UV LED strip.

I had experimented with using Saran Wrap (yes, really) as a water barrier based on it's high temp properties and low UV absorption. This worked quite well except where there is direct contact between the LED and the sheet.

[karimwassef]

Replaced it with greenhouse rigid corrugated plastic roofing.





The strip has a low power commercial white strip, 99 x RB 1.8W, 100 x UV 1.9W for a total of ~ 400W.

[karimwassef]

It brings out the fluorescent green in the Favia even under full MH (1200W)

[karimwassef]

Given that I need to reduce the CO2 in the tank, I'll work on making my holding vessels airtight next.

- CO2 scrubber (done)
- Active Carbon / GFO Reactor (done)
- UV LED upgrade (done)
- Plastic wire overflow install (done)
- RODI waste water garden recycling (done)
- Nighttime vinegar / batch bacteria (close to starting)
- Kalkwasser ATO upgrade (this week)
- CO2 reduction plastic sheet on aux containers (starting next)
- Mylar curtains for increased lighting
- Concrete fish housing under overflow
- Calcium reactor
- Exhaust fan for humidity control
- DT to Sump forced flow (bubble reduction)
- Outside mangrove greenhouse

[karimwassef]

Adding algae scrubber on the eggcrate to increase pH

Here's the starting point:



I'll raise the eggcrate and cover it with mesh and upgrade the sump lights.

[karimwassef]

- Nighttime vinegar / batch bacteria (close to starting)
- Kalkwasser ATO upgrade (this week)
- CO2 reduction plastic sheet on aux containers (starting next)
- Macroalgae/algae scrubber
- Mylar curtains for increased lighting
- Concrete fish housing under overflow
- Calcium reactor
- Exhaust fan for humidity control
- DT to Sump forced flow (bubble reduction)
- Outside mangrove greenhouse

[karimwassef]