o2manyfish 400g Tank, 1100g System "Built" Thread

[dave.m]

Brilliant idea for the automated feeder, but I am concerned about the amount of nutrients this would add with these semi-liquified foods. Are you keeping tabs on nitrate and phosphate levels during these experiments? Any signs of algae growth taking off?

Dave.M

[o2manyfish]

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the compliment. I don't worry about chasing the numbers. If you look thru the photo for at least the past 20 months, all those photos are taken with the phosphates at .6 to .8 --- Not a mistake, I didn't drop a zero. Tested by multiple Phosphate checkers, and various people. But validated with quarterly Triton ICP Tests.

And any photo since the end of Jan 2017 the phosphate levels are 1.64.

You can look thru the photos, or take some time watching the display tank or frag tank webcams -- o2manyfish.com/webcam/ or o2manyfish.com/fragtank and see that I don't have algae issues or problems other than having to wipe the glass several times a week.

And I have never cared about Nitrates. for the past 17 years the only nitrate testing done is when people come over bewildered by phosphate claims and they test the water to try to make me a liar Nitrates are usually between 8 and 15

This project took a lot longer than I expected. Whether gathering more and more different pieces of PVC and plastic parts to find all the correct sized nipples.

Or when I drilled the freezer the first time trying to put the water in/out thru the sides, and hit the chilling coils in the first cut. All the dorm fridges I have ever destroyed -- lots -- always have the chilling coils in the back. Well it turns out a 1.6 cubic foot freezer has coils on all sides. And to discover that I had to open up every single surface to explore.

Plus some health issues slowing me down. This little project I started about 4 months ago.

Yesterday Amazon delivered a new Freezer - With all the parts finally in one place. It took me about 90 minutes to put everything together.

The video last night was right after I confirmed my Proof of Concept. I still need to change some things. I used really thin vinyl wall tubing and it's just kinking at every turn. So I think I will swap the in/out lines for PEX.

Dave B

[dave.m]

I can't find the Like button. Drat these old forums.

Dave.M

[thetedinator]

Very cool.

[larrysmith75]

Very nice!! Any chance you can share a link to the doser? I will have to try this.
Also do you recall where you got your 3 way ato/kalk solenoid?
Thanks for all the videos and great information you post.



Larry

[o2manyfish]

Larry,

On the largest auction site look up "large flow Peristaltic Pump dosing 400ml/min"


Seller was DIYELECMALL108

I paid $135 for 4 of them shipped.

Took about 10 days for them to arrive.


The 3 way solenoid was purchased from the same auction site. It is a Red Hat / Asco solenoid.

There are 1000 different models. Search for "Asco 110 3 way" and that narrows the list. They are available at different voltages, different pressure ratings, different materials, etc etc -- For topoff it doesn't matter which one you get.

There are lots of them available as "NOS" New Old Stock. They have boxes in the photo that look like they are 75 years old. Don't worry about the box. Surplus companies buy lots of these from defunct HVAC based businesses.


Dave B

Originally Posted by larrysmith75

Very nice!! Any chance you can share a link to the doser? I will have to try this.
Also do you recall where you got your 3 way ato/kalk solenoid?
Thanks for all the videos and great information you post.



Larry

[larrysmith75]

Thanks again for the info.
The valve is otw and the dosing heads are in my cart ready for check out.

Larry

[o2manyfish]

Hi Everyone,

The most frequently asked question about my outdoor frag tank is 'What about the rain?'

We just had the rainiest winter in decades and enough rain fell to end a 15 year drought.

Here is what the frag tank looks like after months of rain....





Dave B

[cFloor]

I love your videos, some of my favorites on YouTube. Keep em comin!

[maxxII]

Originally Posted by o2manyfish

Larry,

On the largest auction site look up "large flow Peristaltic Pump dosing 400ml/min"


Seller was DIYELECMALL108

I paid $135 for 4 of them shipped.

Took about 10 days for them to arrive.


The 3 way solenoid was purchased from the same auction site. It is a Red Hat / Asco solenoid.

There are 1000 different models. Search for "Asco 110 3 way" and that narrows the list. They are available at different voltages, different pressure ratings, different materials, etc etc -- For topoff it doesn't matter which one you get.

There are lots of them available as "NOS" New Old Stock. They have boxes in the photo that look like they are 75 years old. Don't worry about the box. Surplus companies buy lots of these from defunct HVAC based businesses.


Dave B

Dave,
What power source are you using for these large flow peristaltic pumps, and what tubing are you using from the pump to the food source?

Thanks.

[Reef of Fillory]

Originally Posted by o2manyfish

Hi Everyone,

The most frequently asked question about my outdoor frag tank is 'What about the rain?'

We just had the rainiest winter in decades and enough rain fell to end a 15 year drought.

Here is what the frag tank looks like after months of rain....





Dave B

My question is what about the birds? Do you not have any issues with birds going after your fish?

Sent from my Galaxy S8+ using Tapatalk

[rickztahone]

How are you dealing with all of this wind? Are you getting a lot of debris in your tanks?

[o2manyfish]

MaxII,

For the Power Supply I was using a 12v 500ma. It worked fine in testing when I left the pump in the freezer for a week. However with the food in the link the 500ma wasn't enough. I just upped them to a 2amp and haven't had any issues.

The pumps came with the tubing to go thru the pump. I took my calipers and measured it and then ordered some from online- I don't recall what size it was.


Dave B

[o2manyfish]

Reef Fillory,

Well I have my own macaw. He has yet to catch a fish but he has pulled corals out and chewed on them.

In the 14 years of having tanks outside we haven't had a bird issue. I have 3 small active dogs that are pretty good at chasing birds in the yard.


Dave B

[o2manyfish]

Rickztahone,

The winds have been crazy. I've only pulled a couple of leaves out of the tank. While windy, by me there hasn't been that much crap flying around.

When we have the fires and the ash falls from the sky, the corals love it. Best polyp extension ever when that happens.

The only things that have fallen into the tank and had a negative effect have been put in by humans. Mother nature has been pretty respectful of the tanks


Dave B

[rickztahone]

That is so awesome. Glad to hear it bud

Originally Posted by o2manyfish

Rickztahone,

The winds have been crazy. I've only pulled a couple of leaves out of the tank. While windy, by me there hasn't been that much crap flying around.

When we have the fires and the ash falls from the sky, the corals love it. Best polyp extension ever when that happens.

The only things that have fallen into the tank and had a negative effect have been put in by humans. Mother nature has been pretty respectful of the tanks


Dave B

[maxxII]

Originally Posted by o2manyfish

MaxII,

For the Power Supply I was using a 12v 500ma. It worked fine in testing when I left the pump in the freezer for a week. However with the food in the link the 500ma wasn't enough. I just upped them to a 2amp and haven't had any issues.

The pumps came with the tubing to go thru the pump. I took my calipers and measured it and then ordered some from online- I don't recall what size it was.


Dave B

I just google searched 12v 2A power supply and found several on Amazon.... were the ones used plug and play, or did you have to wire the power supply to the pump(s)? Did each pump require an individual power supply, or were you able to use a single power supply for all four pumps?

[lolgranny]

Ive always been impressed with your obsession of fish as its been a quality ive had since i was little. Ive had a massive tank crash, same as you did with kalk when i was out of town. Lost everything. Hard to take that pain and get back on your feet, but you sure have done it. Very beautiful collection. I only hope i can achieve what you have down the road.

[o2manyfish]

MaxxII,

I just bought inexpensive Wall Wart 12v power supplies. I buy the ones with the LED on them so I know when they are 'activated'.

I just cut off the plug on the end and wire it straight to the pump.

You could use one powersupply and they relays to trigger the pumps. But that's add multiple mechanic relays rather than just a $4 power supply. With either method if you want to control 4 different foods independently from the Apex you still are using 4 ports on an EB8.

Dave b

[o2manyfish]

Hey Guys,

I picked up one of the new Neptune 'utility' pumps a few weeks ago to use for a filtration project. I originally thought it was going to be a good little pump for small water needs.

Well yesterday I come out and find it's not working.

I took it apart of find the center of the pump melted to the point it broke the impeller blades off and then seized.

I understand that all products have failures. But the impeller blades are very brittle. I'm concerned that anything could possible snap the blades.

























Dave B

[sfsuphysics]

Wow, wonder what caused the blades to break like that. Either way, hopefully Neptune replaces it.

[saf1]

Originally Posted by o2manyfish

Dave B

Some products do have failure. However, pumps are not one I wouldn't expect. Manufactures should know small creatures will try and make that area home (with intent or on accident). I had a pump a few years back run into similar issues with the blades snapping off. Ended up being a wide spread issue and they redesigned it. Never bought a pump from them again.

To me those blades look weak and a source of failure - just my opinion anyway having seen a similar issue with another brand.

[RCS82]

Wow, this is an all time favorite thread. Great story, love the outdoor frag tank and filtration, great videos too. Your dedication through the ups and downs is just awesome.

Now how bout an easy question if you don't mind . I could probably think of many haha.

Are you set on LED's? Like there is no going back to MH or T5's? It's an old debate but the Radion is a fantastic light after all. Or a Mitra or a Kessil or the list goes on, lots of great Led's out there.

Thanks and all the best

[o2manyfish]

I live in Los Angeles and after the 94 Northridge Earthquake I bought an emergency generator.

In the past 23 years I had to use the generator 2x. In the past 6 months I have had to use it 8x.

The last 2 weeks of June, when the weather was over 100 degrees the power went out twice.

The first time I was home.

On June 26th, i was on vacation.....



We live and learn. New 22kw Generac autostart generator with 200amp auto transfer switch has been delivered. Now hopefully I can get it hooked up before LADWP fails again.

Dave B

[dave.m]

Wow! Just gutted to hear of your losses. The Generac run off natural gas is a good start towards self-sufficiency, but maybe a solar and/or wind installation might be worthwhile, as well.

Dave.M