new tank with 2 month setup

[António Vitor]

First sorry about me english...

I hope you can undestand everything...

my setup 120x60x50 cms with a sump of 110x45x40 cms
2 T5 54 watts lamps (10 000 and actinic) and 2 hqi 150w 14000 kelvin.

ok, I went through planted aquaria, into reef, not because I believe that is the next progressive step, but because I love the sea and all his creatures. Also the rivers and everything in them...

What I believe is that reef is not more difficult than the rest, I am a newbie, and I might be wrong, but with osmosis with skimmers, there are lots of tools that can bring easiness towards our hobby.

but of course I am a newbie and I might be all wrong
;)

ok here is my setup...

The cabinet is made of wood with an galvanized iron structure (esqueleton). the iron structure was made by my father in law, and me...the wood was all my conception..

everything DIY...or at least allmoust...

here are the pics:

the startup...with few rocks...
http://waterinspiration.no.sapo.pt/geral/DSCF0011.JPG

here You can see my weak skimmer:
http://waterinspiration.no.sapo.pt/geral/DSCF0010.JPG

it is doing great now with a sicce 2500 pump with mesh (like those ATI pumps)
http://www.youtube.com/v/OLtNPJ-69BU

Or at least I believe it is.,..

this pump is too musch power for this skimmer I use a T junction with a valve in one exist and the skimmer in the other exit, at the compression of the pump...in the intake I amde a venturi like interface.

the more I open the valve the less goes into the skimmer controlling this way the height of the skimming...

And using all the power of the pump for increasing the redox level
;)

I also didn't use the tradicional hole...It's a piped overflow...
here it is... you can see from the pics also...

http://www.youtube.com/v/VB0Elldfln8

Ok, now let see a new pic with everything in place...and more recent...

http://waterinspiration.no.sapo.pt/overview/DSCF0119.JPG

http://waterinspiration.no.sapo.pt/overview/DSCF0120.JPG

I am anxious for all your replies...
what are my mistakes here?
;)

I have an ATC-800 controller, controling an normal fan, and of course an heater, I also have a redox and pH controller, don't remember the brand...
:D

My evaporation is corrected by reverse osmosis with an washing machine valve controlled by 2 level interrupters...

Regards!
António Vitor

[António Vitor]

I only have 3 corals...
Euphylia grabrescens green
Montipora Capricornis red
Zoanthus spp metalic green

they only have 1 week on my tank

here are the pics wityh my only 2 fish companions

http://www.waterinspiration.no.sapo.pt/habitants/DSCF0118.JPG
http://www.waterinspiration.no.sapo.pt/habitants/DSCF0119.JPG
http://www.waterinspiration.no.sapo.pt/habitants/DSCF0120.JPG
http://www.waterinspiration.no.sapo.pt/habitants/DSCF0121.JPG
http://www.waterinspiration.no.sapo.pt/habitants/DSCF0122.JPG

[1fishkeeper]

I just wanted to say welcome.

[António Vitor]

thank you very much! fishkeeper!

[singold]

Great start! Appears your mathematic skill is transferring over to your tank set-up knowledge. Anxious to see your progress along the way. My tank has only been set up 4 months and I can assure you that you will be consumed with nature's detail and lots of enjoyment! Enjoy and welcome! :)

[chatyak]

Welcome along..... good luck!

[António Vitor]

thank you Singold and Chatyak, I hope you are right Singold "(Appears your mathematic skill is transferring over to your tank set-up knowledge.)"
;)

I will put my progress in here, let see what happens next...
;)

Regards!
António Vitor

[fishguyshank]

very nice set up

[António Vitor]

thank you Fishguyshank, I am posting in the DIY division some of my ideas, explaining them at best of my capabilities ...

first it will be the pipe overflow I made...

Regards!
António Vitor

[joshkennedy07]

Welcome António,

Very impressive build/

One thought though.

There is going to be a lot of humidity under your tank and I notice you have a lot of electrical equipment located in the stand. Maybe make that electrical housing air-tight.

Humidity is very hard on the electrical equipment. Personally I would move to a different location outside of the stand or make that compartment air-tight with a small "muffin" fan to vent the heat out. I may be over cautious, but with that open-top sump your looking at a lot of moisture under there.

Also, I used some plastic ducting (the split-tube type) to clean up all of my wires (you tend to accumulate more with time) http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/directron_2007_393430088

Its easy to use. I use plastic cable ties, aka. zip ties to keep the duct closed


I look forward to seeing this tank mature:)

[António Vitor]

Thank you for the input and kind words joshkennedy07, I guess you are right, I thought that with an open back the humidity would never reach a critical level, but I might be wrong...

it's not close to the wall, a few inches...but with electricity we must not play...

there are even more aquarium stuff ...and a lot more electrical circuitry...
look here:
http://waterinspiration.no.sapo.pt/overview/DSCF0120.JPG

most of it, is only electrical connections...

I have a temperature controller and a redox/pH controller in there, a fan for decreasing the temperature and 2 economic lamps for the refugium...
like I said I hope the few inches that the stand is apart from the wall, might help a lot preventing any build up...

the rest is my electrcial circuitry for lamps pumps etc...

there are no water condensations in there at least now, that we are in the summer, but I must do something...

Regards!
António Vitor

[joshkennedy07]

And if your like me, there is many, many more toys to come:)

I put all of my electrical components in a separate cabinet next to the aquarium. My girl hates it..HEHE.

The humidity may not reach a the dew point (especially with the warm temperature from the lights and warm water) and may not condensate, but it is definitely present. The fan will help circulate the moist air out through the gap and you might be ok, but watch, I bet won't be long before you see corrosion on that fan.

Besides, I bet you would like to mount those controllers in a spot that would make then easier to read.

Are you running ozone with that ORP controller? That is my next project.

Take care.

[António Vitor]

I am not using ozone, I bought that controller only for reading pH and for controlling an solenoid valve for co2 with my future (diy) calcium reactor. the redox level reading and controller, is only 1 more feature of the controller.
:)

My redox levels are up there close to 400 with no ozone whatsoever...so I guess I do not need it.

but I am sure there are more toys coming...
heheeh