250 Gallon reboot - Page 2

brainchild24 · 01/31/2017, 11:59 PM

Stand continued...

brainchild24 · 02/01/2017, 12:00 AM

Stand completed and tank mounted...Had a bit of sap make it through that explains the discoloration on the front panels. I should have ponied up more money for wood and finished it in walnut...

worm5406 · 02/01/2017, 03:20 PM

Nice woodwork!

ADVRESOURCE · 02/01/2017, 03:31 PM

nice work.

brainchild24 · 02/01/2017, 04:53 PM

Thanks guys.

brainchild24 · 02/02/2017, 07:04 PM

200lbs of CaribSea Seaflor Special Grade Reef Sand, which gave me a 2in sand bed to work with. I have always run a semi-deep bed in all my tanks which give my sifting animals a place to hide and scavenge for food. Then I have about 100lbs of what was my live rock, which is now base rock as it's been dried for three years.

brainchild24 · 02/02/2017, 07:06 PM

Foundation jacks have been installed to prevent the floor joist from slumping.

brainchild24 · 02/02/2017, 07:12 PM

A few pieces of equipment.

vikinglord13 · 02/04/2017, 01:05 AM

Brainchild do you live in a manufactured home or is your house just raised to be "level" on a slope?

brainchild24 · 02/11/2017, 07:11 PM

vikinglord13 my home is on a sloped lot, which gives me a partial basement, this was one thing on the list is a basement space to set up a fish room.

brainchild24 · 02/11/2017, 07:26 PM

Here are a couple quick shots of equipment in the basement.

brainchild24 · 02/11/2017, 07:28 PM

I must say that ecotech has done a great job with the new Gen4 Radions.

Dapg8gt · 02/13/2017, 08:21 PM

How do you like the calcium reactor? Looking at grabbing the same for my 300g...any issues or regrets? Thanks

brainchild24 · 02/13/2017, 10:56 PM

Dapg8gt the reactor is well built and pretty simple setup, I like fact that the effuent is controlled on the intake of the reactor which should prevent clogging, there is also a sediment filter on the intake to keep detritus out. I do have to admit that the reactor should be dead level to make sure that all the air bubbles are vented. I had mine on a wire shelf and had to put a piece of plywood underneath. The unit took four days total to setup, first day plumbing and filling with media, second day running it wide open to let the dust purge from the media, this is even after an initial rinse, then the last two days to find a drip rate which maintained the calcium and ALK....Two days of small adjustments ��. No regrets in regards to the reactor, I would purchase it again.

brainchild24 · 02/13/2017, 10:59 PM

Dapg8gt also getting the aquamaxx allowed for room in the budget to purchase the carbon doser which is an awesome regulator set it and forget it. The bubble count will not change.

Dapg8gt · 02/14/2017, 12:51 AM

Awesome thanks for the info.. Pulled the trigger right after I posted here lol..It was so cheaply priced compared to others I was curious on function since your initial impression on build quality was so good..

It will be an upgrade for my larger tank.. I already have a geo 612 running with a brushless Cole parmer and dual stage regulator so I'm golden in that dept =) ..

The tank looks like it's off to a great start and congrats on getting back into the unforgiving (on the wallet) hobby we all seem to love. Look forward to updates on the progression and growth of your tank..

Thanks

brainchild24 · 02/14/2017, 09:16 PM

Dapg8gt, thanks, I am looking forward to getting a few frags in a week or two. Waiting on the diotoms to die off...I have performed a water change today which makes for the second one, next week I will perform another small water change.

I think you should be happy with the aquamaxx, the choices I narrowed it down to were aquamaxx and GEO. To be honest I couldn't find faults with either and what made the difference was the price.

brainchild24 · 02/17/2017, 07:58 PM

So it's been about 12yrs since I last cycled a tank and for the life of me, I can't remember diatoms making the water cloudy.

Anyone have this experience. The water parameters as within norms.

brainchild24 · 02/17/2017, 08:01 PM

I have been using a 50micron sheet, changing them out daily and that has helped somewhat, but the water is still cloudy. I am waiting on my new shipment of activated carbon to see if that will polish the water a bit.

brainchild24 · 02/17/2017, 08:04 PM

On a positive note, I have finished my water mix station. I will post a picture tomorrow. Still cleaning up all the various messes from assembling everything in the basement.

worm5406 · 02/17/2017, 09:57 PM

You are not carbon dosing are you?

brainchild24 · 02/18/2017, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by worm5406

You are not carbon dosing are you?

Nope, well if the media reactor with active carbon counts, then yes?

brainchild24 · 02/18/2017, 01:42 PM

So the diatoms happened right after adding the 5 chromis, the tank was what I thought cycled and everything was clear. Then two days later the bloom happened. I am not overfeeding either, just what they can clear in 10~15secs and the hermit crabs take care of anything that slips through the grasp of the fish.

worm5406 · 02/18/2017, 08:44 PM

Well after adding the chromis the amonia they pee'd out kicked started the bacteria.

How did you cycle it?

worm5406 · 02/18/2017, 08:45 PM

Update your album when you get a chance. I am curious what it looks like.

02/01/2017, 03:20 PM	#28
worm5406 Not afriad to admit wrong Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: South of WashDC in Maryland Posts: 7,774	Nice woodwork! __________________ Stock:LPS/SPS\|1 hippo\|4 OC Clown\|4 Pepp shrimp\|2 Brittle Star\|3000+ Copepods\|10+ MiniBrittle\|8+ Bristle Worm\|2 Anemone\|100+ mini-feather\|4 boys 14,21,22,22 Current Tank Info: Tank:300g Mixed Reef 300+lb LR\|4" LS\|5x MP40W\|75g fuge\|5x RadionPRO\|RO DB250 skimmer\|Apex

02/01/2017, 04:53 PM	#30
brainchild24 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 153	Thanks guys. __________________ 250 gallon display "My window to the Ocean" Current Tank Info: 250gallon deep dimension, Ecotech Radion G4 Pro, SRO XP5000, 3*MP40wQD

02/11/2017, 07:11 PM	#35
brainchild24 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 153	vikinglord13 my home is on a sloped lot, which gives me a partial basement, this was one thing on the list is a basement space to set up a fish room. __________________ 250 gallon display "My window to the Ocean" Current Tank Info: 250gallon deep dimension, Ecotech Radion G4 Pro, SRO XP5000, 3*MP40wQD

02/13/2017, 08:21 PM	#38
Dapg8gt Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Pacifica Posts: 3,741	How do you like the calcium reactor? Looking at grabbing the same for my 300g...any issues or regrets? Thanks __________________ 15 years in the hobby yet still learning every day. 280g radium lit sps flat living in my garage rent free. Current Tank Info: 105g SPS dominant euro braced powered by 4 ecotech pumps and lit by an ATI powermodule controlled by a reef angel =).

02/13/2017, 10:56 PM	#39
brainchild24 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 153	Dapg8gt the reactor is well built and pretty simple setup, I like fact that the effuent is controlled on the intake of the reactor which should prevent clogging, there is also a sediment filter on the intake to keep detritus out. I do have to admit that the reactor should be dead level to make sure that all the air bubbles are vented. I had mine on a wire shelf and had to put a piece of plywood underneath. The unit took four days total to setup, first day plumbing and filling with media, second day running it wide open to let the dust purge from the media, this is even after an initial rinse, then the last two days to find a drip rate which maintained the calcium and ALK....Two days of small adjustments ��. No regrets in regards to the reactor, I would purchase it again. __________________ 250 gallon display "My window to the Ocean" Current Tank Info: 250gallon deep dimension, Ecotech Radion G4 Pro, SRO XP5000, 3MP40wQD Last edited by brainchild24; 02/13/2017 at 11:03 PM.*

02/01/2017, 03:31 PM	#29
ADVRESOURCE Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: TUCSON Posts: 569	nice work.

02/04/2017, 01:05 AM	#34
vikinglord13 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 484	Brainchild do you live in a manufactured home or is your house just raised to be "level" on a slope?

02/13/2017, 10:59 PM	#40
brainchild24 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 153	Dapg8gt also getting the aquamaxx allowed for room in the budget to purchase the carbon doser which is an awesome regulator set it and forget it. The bubble count will not change. __________________ 250 gallon display "My window to the Ocean" Current Tank Info: 250gallon deep dimension, Ecotech Radion G4 Pro, SRO XP5000, 3*MP40wQD

02/14/2017, 12:51 AM	#41
Dapg8gt Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Pacifica Posts: 3,741	Awesome thanks for the info.. Pulled the trigger right after I posted here lol..It was so cheaply priced compared to others I was curious on function since your initial impression on build quality was so good.. It will be an upgrade for my larger tank.. I already have a geo 612 running with a brushless Cole parmer and dual stage regulator so I'm golden in that dept =) .. The tank looks like it's off to a great start and congrats on getting back into the unforgiving (on the wallet) hobby we all seem to love. Look forward to updates on the progression and growth of your tank.. Thanks __________________ 15 years in the hobby yet still learning every day. 280g radium lit sps flat living in my garage rent free. Current Tank Info: 105g SPS dominant euro braced powered by 4 ecotech pumps and lit by an ATI powermodule controlled by a reef angel =).

02/14/2017, 09:16 PM	#42
brainchild24 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 153	Dapg8gt, thanks, I am looking forward to getting a few frags in a week or two. Waiting on the diotoms to die off...I have performed a water change today which makes for the second one, next week I will perform another small water change. I think you should be happy with the aquamaxx, the choices I narrowed it down to were aquamaxx and GEO. To be honest I couldn't find faults with either and what made the difference was the price. __________________ 250 gallon display "My window to the Ocean" Current Tank Info: 250gallon deep dimension, Ecotech Radion G4 Pro, SRO XP5000, 3MP40wQD Last edited by brainchild24; 02/14/2017 at 09:23 PM.*

02/17/2017, 07:58 PM	#43
brainchild24 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 153	So it's been about 12yrs since I last cycled a tank and for the life of me, I can't remember diatoms making the water cloudy. Anyone have this experience. The water parameters as within norms. __________________ 250 gallon display "My window to the Ocean" Current Tank Info: 250gallon deep dimension, Ecotech Radion G4 Pro, SRO XP5000, 3*MP40wQD

02/17/2017, 08:01 PM	#44
brainchild24 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 153	I have been using a 50micron sheet, changing them out daily and that has helped somewhat, but the water is still cloudy. I am waiting on my new shipment of activated carbon to see if that will polish the water a bit. __________________ 250 gallon display "My window to the Ocean" Current Tank Info: 250gallon deep dimension, Ecotech Radion G4 Pro, SRO XP5000, 3*MP40wQD

02/17/2017, 08:04 PM	#45
brainchild24 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 153	On a positive note, I have finished my water mix station. I will post a picture tomorrow. Still cleaning up all the various messes from assembling everything in the basement. __________________ 250 gallon display "My window to the Ocean" Current Tank Info: 250gallon deep dimension, Ecotech Radion G4 Pro, SRO XP5000, 3*MP40wQD

02/17/2017, 09:57 PM	#46
worm5406 Not afriad to admit wrong Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: South of WashDC in Maryland Posts: 7,774	You are not carbon dosing are you? __________________ Stock:LPS/SPS\|1 hippo\|4 OC Clown\|4 Pepp shrimp\|2 Brittle Star\|3000+ Copepods\|10+ MiniBrittle\|8+ Bristle Worm\|2 Anemone\|100+ mini-feather\|4 boys 14,21,22,22 Current Tank Info: Tank:300g Mixed Reef 300+lb LR\|4" LS\|5x MP40W\|75g fuge\|5x RadionPRO\|RO DB250 skimmer\|Apex

02/18/2017, 01:42 PM	#48
brainchild24 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 153	So the diatoms happened right after adding the 5 chromis, the tank was what I thought cycled and everything was clear. Then two days later the bloom happened. I am not overfeeding either, just what they can clear in 10~15secs and the hermit crabs take care of anything that slips through the grasp of the fish. __________________ 250 gallon display "My window to the Ocean" Current Tank Info: 250gallon deep dimension, Ecotech Radion G4 Pro, SRO XP5000, 3*MP40wQD

02/18/2017, 08:44 PM	#49
worm5406 Not afriad to admit wrong Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: South of WashDC in Maryland Posts: 7,774	Well after adding the chromis the amonia they pee'd out kicked started the bacteria. How did you cycle it? __________________ Stock:LPS/SPS\|1 hippo\|4 OC Clown\|4 Pepp shrimp\|2 Brittle Star\|3000+ Copepods\|10+ MiniBrittle\|8+ Bristle Worm\|2 Anemone\|100+ mini-feather\|4 boys 14,21,22,22 Current Tank Info: Tank:300g Mixed Reef 300+lb LR\|4" LS\|5x MP40W\|75g fuge\|5x RadionPRO\|RO DB250 skimmer\|Apex

02/18/2017, 08:45 PM	#50
worm5406 Not afriad to admit wrong Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: South of WashDC in Maryland Posts: 7,774	Update your album when you get a chance. I am curious what it looks like. __________________ Stock:LPS/SPS\|1 hippo\|4 OC Clown\|4 Pepp shrimp\|2 Brittle Star\|3000+ Copepods\|10+ MiniBrittle\|8+ Bristle Worm\|2 Anemone\|100+ mini-feather\|4 boys 14,21,22,22 Current Tank Info: Tank:300g Mixed Reef 300+lb LR\|4" LS\|5x MP40W\|75g fuge\|5x RadionPRO\|RO DB250 skimmer\|Apex