Build Thread: TKERacer619's 600gal SPS Tank

[tkeracer619]

Originally Posted by xoomer

Where did you get 1 micron bags??? Cant seem to find these.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01LB...lter+bag&psc=1

[ZorroV]

Great looking setup!

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[tkeracer619]

Originally Posted by ZorroV

Great looking setup!

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Thanks!

The fish are a lot more comfortable today!

[BZOFIQ]

Originally Posted by tkeracer619

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01LB...lter+bag&psc=1

TY, Re-read the whole thread this AM, great work!

[sus]

Looking great Mark! Good to see some life in there

[tkeracer619]

Originally Posted by xoomer

TY, Re-read the whole thread this AM, great work!

Thanks, I appreciate it!

Originally Posted by sus

Looking great Mark! Good to see some life in there

Thank you! You and Derrick need to come check it out.

[tkeracer619]

A pair of Crosshatch Triggers showed up today to fill the void courtesy of Jordan at Among The Reef . This is my second order I've placed with him and am very impressed with the quality of livestock I've received as well as his CS. Top Notch, especially if you are looking for something a little different.

The female wasn't doing well this morning but has come around and is now swimming around. The male has eaten but the female has not, however, I think she is one more feeding away from eating. Going to try some krill in the next 20 or so minutes.



I added a stainless steel RO faucet onto the shop sink so I can fill buckets and clean stuff in RO. I cut a Python Gravel Vacuum to length specifically for the QT tanks, and added a temp controller to the display.

Tomorrow I am going to move my trio of copperbands from the QT and into the bta flat that has a ton of aptasia. I've been letting it get out of control for a year so that when I got some copperbands that didn't eat well I had a food source for them. This will get that QT freed up and ready. It's looking like I am going to end up just keeping one of those copperbands but I have made good progress on getting them to eat frozen so it shouldn't be a problem re-homing them. This hopefully will give them a much needed grazing opportunity.

Now that there is livestock in the display it is time to get back to a promise I made in the first post of this thread... I placed an order for a professional grade Axis Network Camera to stream the display. It will run 1080p@60fps and have a nice clear white balanced image so you can actually see stuff.

[FunFishin24]

Just finished reading this entire thread.....WOW!!!!

1st-I would like to congratulate the both of you on the engagement.

2nd-you make me want to tear my tank down & start all over. Lol! I thought I did good for an old country kid on my 550 upgrade but now I'm not to sure. . Great job on your build. It looks amazing on here but I would love to see this beast in person some day. I go to Denver for 90% of my hobby because I don't really have anything good here locally in pueblo. Great job.

[tkeracer619]

Originally Posted by FunFishin24

Just finished reading this entire thread.....WOW!!!!

1st-I would like to congratulate the both of you on the engagement.

2nd-you make me want to tear my tank down & start all over. Lol! I thought I did good for an old country kid on my 550 upgrade but now I'm not to sure. . Great job on your build. It looks amazing on here but I would love to see this beast in person some day. I go to Denver for 90% of my hobby because I don't really have anything good here locally in pueblo. Great job.

Thank you! We appreciate it! I'm sure we can work something out, just let me know when you're in denver.

What shops do you go to?

[FunFishin24]

I've been to Neptunes a few times but I was finally able to meet up with Kris from AA & really liked his stuff. They r both on the south end of town & really all I know of. I'm interested in trying to get to Elite Reefs after reading this tho.

[BigBlueTang]

Everything looks great, looks like I did a good job moving rocks
Triggers look amazing..

[tkeracer619]

Originally Posted by BigBlueTang

Everything looks great, looks like I did a good job moving rocks
Triggers look amazing..

Indeed, thanks for the help!

The female Crosshatch is out swimming now. She hasn't eaten yet but she's tempted. I'm betting tomorrow is the day.

[sus]

Originally Posted by tkeracer619

Thanks, I appreciate it!



Thank you! You and Derrick need to come check it out.

Would love to man! We will set something up soon

[tkeracer619]

Hoping to get this bad boy installed and streaming over the next week.

[halmus]

I'm curious to see how that camera works out for you. I'm looking for a good streaming solution.

[tkeracer619]

Reefbum's webcam is an Axis M1145 which is very similar to this one except the M1145 is 30fps where the one I ordered is 60fps. Other than that they are very much alike.



You can get similar Axis camera gear with PTZ that allows for the user to pan tilt and zoom down to polyp level but... the price tag continues to rise. You can easily pay $2400 for a nice PTZ from Axis. I may do that later on but for now I think this fixed version gets me what I want.

The camera I ordered is an Axis P1365 MKi. You can check specs on their website. Right now there is a seller who is unloading new MKi versions (what I bought) for about $200. Which is a great deal IMO The camera retails for over $1000 and was replaced by the very similar MKii. The spec list is identical except for the auto Iris speed. You certainly won't get a better webcam at that price so I jumped on it.

This webcam is an Axis V5915 PTZ camera... It's around $1800. Check it out when the lights come on. The PTZ zoom is awesome
http://www.o2manyfish.com/camera.htm

[halmus]

The frame rate is way better than the IP camera I had on my last tank. Streaming was really choppy. This one looks great. Thanks for all of the details.

[tkeracer619]

Originally Posted by halmus

The frame rate is way better than the IP camera I had on my last tank. Streaming was really choppy. This one looks great. Thanks for all of the details.

You're welcome!

There are some really nice solutions out there for network cams but one thing the Axis does great is auto white balance and if setup properly smooth framerates. The colors seem to mess with most brands to the point it effects the quality of the actual stream. Axis is pretty much the premium go to for reef tanks or streaming in harsh lighting conditions.

[tkeracer619]

Well... that was a well needed scuba diving trip . Finally settling back into the swing of reality.

I had to pull the right structure so I could get all of the fish out of the 600gal. Somehow Crypto got through QT and into that tank. No wanting to take any chances I am going to QT everything again.

My main goal right now is to start breaking down the old tanks and moving the coral flat into its permanent spot. To do this I need to get those BTA all in ones finished. My tester unit seems to have a case of dinos I haven't been able to win against so that tank will be broken down. The setup worked pretty good other than that but the skimmer never really had the bioload to function properly. I've decided to go a slight different route on these setups that originally planned. A version 2 if you will.

I have all the equipment to make these pieces but in the end I just don't have the time. I had a local shop make all the cut pieces out of 3/8" and 1/4" thick black cast acrylic. I started machining the overflows today. The overflows will go from top to bottom, will contain a sponge for mechanical, and then have a chamber for bio media. The ATO float switches will also have permanent mounting tabs in the sump compartment. The sump compartment will remain unchanged from V1.

Machining short side of the overflows.


Machining long side of the overflows.


Also, to complicate things further. We adopted these guys

[tkeracer619]

I'm kind of at a loss for words right now. I moved the fish from the display to QT in an effort to rid them of crypto (or maybe velvet), this seems to have been a bad idea as it appears that the QT I chose to put them in had something festering (brook) that had not yet shown it's ugly head. Starting Sunday evening I began losing fish and as of today I only have 3 left that were in the 600.

This is how it has played out...

I pulled all of the fish except the queen, potters, and flame. They got past my divider without my knowledge. I put all of the fish into the 75gal QT with the pyramid butterflies. I monitored ammonia and water quality. All was good and the visible cysts fell off the infected fish.

I caught the queen and didn't want her to go into the 75gal as it was already crowded. I reluctantly put her in with the triggers. Both QTs were being treated with CP and since the visible symptoms had dissipated and all fish in the other QT were eating again I felt comfortable the CP was doing its thing.

I lost the potters and still haven't been able to catch the flame.

The queen looks good and I don't see any visible signs of brook but in the other tank starting Sunday all had cloudy eyes end excess mucus. Not knowing what was going on and feeling like it was brook I changed course. I did formalin dips on everyone but it was too late. As of last night (couldn't bare to look this AM) my foxface was the only one remaining. The triggers and the Queen appear fine, as does the flame.

So that is it, I'm not sure if this bout is over or if I even have it contained. I will move forward again but right now am going to do what I must. This hobby can really punch you in the nuts sometimes, i'm feeling overwhelmingly defeated right now.

[biecacka]

Wow man!
So sorry to hear that. Yeah the hobby can be brutal at times for sure. I came home the other day to one frag completely white/dead. Everything else looks good. I don't now, I was at a loss for words as I am sure you are too.
Keep your head up!

Corey

[WLachnit]

Wow...tough break. Sorry to hear about the additional setbacks.


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[jason2459]

That's really terrible and sorry to see that happen.

[siliconinja]

I'm sorry that happened, but don't let it get you down


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[tkeracer619]

Thanks guys! Hard not to feel defeated in this situation.

I've sterilized both QTs and brought one back online. I dosed it with biospira and it is already processing ammonia. This time i'm going no substrate and no pond matrix. Going bioballs for media.