A Reefaholic's 1000+ Gallon Mixed Reef System Build

[Dustin1300]

Thanks! I could not stop there and after sitting down for an hour let my ADD () kick in and headed back down to secure the back which I ended up going with black acrylic on. After another hour or so of organizing wires I'm really calling it quits for the night!



***As far as the ammonia, you are to keep it between 1-4 ppm (As over 4 ppm can be overwhelming to the bacteria and kill off the colony). Maybe my salifert ammonia kit was off but mine never went that high and I have far less volume than you currently! Has the tank already been cycling? You are to stop testing once you can have 1ppm of ammonia converted to nitrate in a 24 hour period which means the cycle is as complete as it can be.

[Dustin1300]

Tonight I got the frag QT tops/bottoms welded on and hopefully can route it out tomorrow night and possibly do a water test! I also got the o-rings in for the Geo 420 Reactors and installed and they are still leaking....Anyone have any advice on the Geo Reactors? Should I lubricate the o-rings somehow?

[SPotter]

I've never lubricated o-rings on any of the reactors I've had. If you want to, you can use vaseline or silicone grease but I don't think you need to.

[Dustin1300]

I've posted in the equipment forum too. Geo's website does not provide much of anything in regards to FAQ/manuals. I thought maybe it was leaking because I placed the top on when it was wet since I had earlier tested it without the o-rings? If I don't have any luck soon I might give Jeremy at PA a ring to figure out something with them!

[Floyd R Turbo]

Don't use vaseline or aquaphor, it's petroleum based. Used silicone grease that stuff is awesome and reef safe

[Dustin1300]

Originally Posted by Floyd R Turbo

Don't use vaseline or aquaphor, it's petroleum based. Used silicone grease that stuff is awesome and reef safe

Sounds like a fair deal. Same recommendation that I got from the equipment forum too! I was able to get the reactors to function properly without leaking by giving it a third try and cleaning out the ring position/top so they were dry. Barely any residue from the GFO/Carbon but guess it was enough to cause a leak. I'll pick up some silicone on my next trip to Lowes and start using it on all my o-rings on the reactors/unions. I'd guess it will increase the life on the o-rings and help me from having to replace them as often on one union I'll use often which holds the pipes to the filter socks.

[elijaher]

Tagged alone

[Dustin1300]

Originally Posted by elijaher

Tagged alone

Glad to have you. Hope your not tagging alone

[Dustin1300]

Not much to report tonight as I did not make it home until later. I routed the frag QT tank and just put water in it. So far, so good and no leaks. Onto another project tomorrow night

Out in the garage by 'The Beast':


Filled with water down in the basement:

[Dustin1300]

Not a lot of progress to report past couple of days. Been cleaning up the fish room and getting the wires organized which has been a bigger feat than originally anticipated. Tonight I also did a ~40 gallon water change to help start bringing these nitrates down. In the next week hope to do following:

- Get order in with BRS for RO/DI unit to make it more efficient (Have thread opened to get advice on this for large system if anyone else has recommendations for larger systems)
- Fill fish QT system and get it up and ready for fish
- Put fish list together and start ordering some fish with Premium Aquatics Monday to pick up next weekend
- Design where ATS will be in system and have FloydRTurbo help if my design is not up to snuff
- Plumb in Frag QT system and figure out lighting....(Possibly PAR38 LED light)

[The Grizz]

HOLY CRAP!! This is one hell of a build. My only thought is.........you going kick *** on everything else so why not go with LED'S for your lighting?

[Dustin1300]

Originally Posted by The Grizz

HOLY CRAP!! This is one hell of a build. My only thought is.........you going kick *** on everything else so why not go with LED'S for your lighting?

Who said I'm not going LED? I'm going LED!

So far plans are as follows:

- Frag QT Tank - Par38
- Frag/Grow Out Tank - 2 X Apollo Reef Dimmable LED
- DT - Not yet decided but some form of LED (Possibly frag fixtures if I like the coloration)

***I currently have an old fixture of mine hanging above frag tank that is MH/T5 combo. I will be taking that down to replace with LED fixture in the near future if wife does not divorce me

[bishop40k]

Dustin, I have some left over DIY LED parts here, I think about 12 whites and 10 royal blues and a driver, all aquastyle stuff. Was going to put it over my macro-garden, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

Might give it a shot, hell of a lot cheaper than premade fixtures and you can customize it.

[Newbie Aquarist]

Originally Posted by Dustin1300

Thanks for the recommendation. I'm going to give it a try when I get home. Until I have coral in the tank it's really hard to tell what mode I'll need. I'm planning on 4 MP60s in my DT too but that's later down the road. Maybe at MACNA they'll release an MP80 capable of 10,000 GPH

What type of orientation are you planning on having with the PHs? Back, sides, etc....

Sorry for getting back to you so late. I will have 2 on the 4' sides of the tank, one on each side of my center overflow. I will have them anti synced so it will create a gyre effect, i.e. the diagonal opposites will run going clockwise then switch to the others and go counter clockwise. For example:

A B

C D

A and D will run and then switch to B and C and alternate like that. Hope that helps or explains it better.

[Dustin1300]

Originally Posted by bishop40k

Dustin, I have some left over DIY LED parts here, I think about 12 whites and 10 royal blues and a driver, all aquastyle stuff. Was going to put it over my macro-garden, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

Might give it a shot, hell of a lot cheaper than premade fixtures and you can customize it.

Are you meaning for the QT or frag tank? I might give it a shot. How much you want?

[Dustin1300]

Originally Posted by Newbie Aquarist

Sorry for getting back to you so late. I will have 2 on the 4' sides of the tank, one on each side of my center overflow. I will have them anti synced so it will create a gyre effect, i.e. the diagonal opposites will run going clockwise then switch to the others and go counter clockwise. For example:

A B

C D

A and D will run and then switch to B and C and alternate like that. Hope that helps or explains it better.

That makes sense and thanks for sharing. I think that David is doing the same in his tank and was your idea. Sounds like a great way to get random flow going and cannot say I'm disappointed with these powerheads. Absolutely amazing and great control to do the impossible.

[bishop40k]

Originally Posted by Dustin1300

Are you meaning for the QT or frag tank? I might give it a shot. How much you want?

No where near enough LEDs to do YOUR frag tank, so would probably be something for your qt tank. I was planning to use them on a 20L tank. Let me get a count of what I have and I'll get back to you on price.

[Dustin1300]

Originally Posted by bishop40k

No where near enough LEDs to do YOUR frag tank, so would probably be something for your qt tank. I was planning to use them on a 20L tank. Let me get a count of what I have and I'll get back to you on price.

I was not sure from your earlier statement whether you meant I should build some from that site or if you were offering yours up

[bishop40k]

Originally Posted by Dustin1300

I was not sure from your earlier statement whether you meant I should build some from that site or if you were offering yours up

I'm referring to my extras from when I built my 48" fixture on my 75. I have 22 LEDs left (11 r.b and 11 10k white), 1 driver, 1 rheostat, 1 power cord. I'll PM you my email address and cell number.

[Dustin1300]

Sent you an e-mail.

[Dustin1300]

I promise the last of my phone pics have came and gone! My point and shoot I previously had just got replaced with my first DSLR. Let's hope I can start delivering some awesome pics to you in the near future but I'll have to find a way to justify a good macro lense to the wife too

[zigzag1]

Keep up the good work Dustin!

[TheFishTeen]

Awesome camera - you'll love it. Try the 'miniature' affect - it's amazing.

[Dustin1300]

Keep up the good work Dustin!

Thanks, hope to have you following along! Not a lot to report lately but patience, right?! That's what reefing is about anyways.

Originally Posted by TheFishTeen

Awesome camera - you'll love it. Try the 'miniature' affect - it's amazing.

I'm already loving it. Much better than my $400 point and shoot slim camera I had before. Enjoyed taking a few shots of dogs yesterday but more excited about coral shots to come

[david00061]

Originally Posted by Dustin1300

I promise the last of my phone pics have came and gone! My point and shoot I previously had just got replaced with my first DSLR. Let's hope I can start delivering some awesome pics to you in the near future but I'll have to find a way to justify a good macro lense to the wife too

I have the same camara. I like mine