700G NOW! Should i add 1K Gallons more????

screenguy · 03/06/2010, 06:44 PM

i currently have a 560 display with a 200+ gallon sump. "700ish total"
i came across a free 1000 gallon water container and was wondering everybodies imput on care,pro's and cons between 700 and 1700 gallons of water.
display would stay the same, i would just plumb the contanier inline for more water mass and stabilty. Please all you huge reefers let me know your opinion.
thanks,
nick

StripestheEel · 03/07/2010, 08:09 AM

More water volume = Stability

If you can plumb it in effectively, go for it I say.

TiTAN · 03/07/2010, 08:39 AM

If I had the Space and could plumb it in fairly easily I would do it...

torchgirl · 03/07/2010, 08:52 AM

+1 to above comments. I would definitely add that 1000 gallons if you can. You would have one stable tank!

Bax · 03/07/2010, 09:38 AM

Absolutely!

Per gallon, maintenance would change much, Ca and element demands are based on invert loading, waste removal on over all bioloading. As long as you can manage the temp of the extra vessel, do it!

screenguy · 03/07/2010, 05:57 PM

awsome i think i will do it! i will probly do a little more thinking and such,but,If anybody else has any imput please..........

sarmo · 03/08/2010, 09:00 PM

in the last year i added two 150 gallon tubs to my system. one is a fuge and the other is a larger sump. i like the additional stability but i have to add a lot more CaCl2 and buffer to maintain levels.
i also recently treated for red flatworms, almost doubled the amount of FW exit i needed... not to mention the change water volume is much greater. for a major problem, it's hard to do a 25 or 40% water change!!!
the last and maybe biggest surprise is the tempature. part of the reason i made the change was to find a cheaper way to cool my tank. one of the tubs is partially buried in the dirt of my crawl space. in the summer it was great---- no chiller and only one fan

this winter it meant three 500W heaters

......

more stable, yes. more expensive too!!! would i do it again, yea. would i double my display volume, i don't think so. it's just a lot more expensive.

good luck and let us know what you decide.

waldomas · 03/08/2010, 10:49 PM

My concern would be the extra electricity needed to maintain temperature. You'll need a few more heaters!
I've considered adding more volume to my system that way, but I already see the electric bill dramatically increase during the winter. I know this dosen't sound unreasonable but I turn my heat completely off and heat with a pellet stove only!
Only thing I could figure is the heaters!?!
It could help to cool the display in the summer if you have heat problems!

screenguy · 03/08/2010, 11:07 PM

Well no heater issue in florida

Except maybe one day a year, maybe! Does anybody have something similiar, set up already? Like sump holding more water than display.

slief · 03/08/2010, 11:18 PM

I wouldnt do it!!!

Just kidding! Heck yea! More water is a good thing.. At least until you have a problem.

Reefer08 · 03/09/2010, 12:10 AM

I wouldn't do it. You will increase the cost of running the tank significantly.

bullitr · 03/09/2010, 01:23 AM

i think you should not do it!
you will spend more money to make the water pristine ,it means you need a skimmer rated for 2000 gallons means more electricity ,more pumps to circulate the water , more salt needed, more supplements(calcium iodine) and if you have problem( ick ,copper leaks or any contaminants ) its going to be difficult to replace the water!

SMOOTHIE · 03/09/2010, 01:44 AM

Man what a top off! Put your reactor in it and I think you will have a beautiful thing.
Pics?

polywise · 03/09/2010, 05:48 AM

My only concern would be how to introduce such a large volume of new water to you system without affecting your current setup. Temp is one thing, but other parameters are another.

waldomas · 03/09/2010, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polywise

My only concern would be how to introduce such a large volume of new water to you system without affecting your current setup. Temp is one thing, but other parameters are another.

Plumb it in line with ball valves and introduce it very very slowly...perhaps over a one week span / 150 gallons per day.

You shouldn't need any more additives as was mentioned earlier, not even more or larger water changes. Only added expense I see (asside from heaters) is the salt for the initial setup.

If you put some thought into the plumbing, you could set it up for easy water changes from the added volume container, and your display critters wouldn't even know it happened!

Since the heaters are a non-issue, I say...

GO FOR IT !!

heaton · 03/09/2010, 01:50 PM

I say go for it. Once you have stability water changes should not be an issue.

HOB · 03/10/2010, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by screenguy

i came across a free 1000 gallon water container

If it's a used container, do you know what the container was used for previously - if there were any other types of liquids in there?

03/06/2010, 06:44 PM	#1
screenguy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: ocean of davie Posts: 319	700G NOW! Should i add 1K Gallons more???? i currently have a 560 display with a 200+ gallon sump. "700ish total" i came across a free 1000 gallon water container and was wondering everybodies imput on care,pro's and cons between 700 and 1700 gallons of water. display would stay the same, i would just plumb the contanier inline for more water mass and stabilty. Please all you huge reefers let me know your opinion. thanks, nick

03/07/2010, 08:09 AM	#2
StripestheEel Premium Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 351	More water volume = Stability If you can plumb it in effectively, go for it I say. __________________ Fried or battered? Current Tank Info: 7'x5'x2.2' SPS Reef

03/07/2010, 09:38 AM	#5
Bax Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,619	Absolutely! Per gallon, maintenance would change much, Ca and element demands are based on invert loading, waste removal on over all bioloading. As long as you can manage the temp of the extra vessel, do it! __________________ 150 gallon Perfecto with 1500 gph GH overflow / DIY stand-wine bar / Dart Return / SRO XP3000 Ext skimmer / 75 g frag / 40 g fuge / 40 g DIY sump / Orphek P156 & Kessil 150A Current Tank Info: 150 DT/ 40B fuge/ 75g frag/ 40 g sump/ SRO XP 3000 Ext/ TUNZEs & VorTechs circulation/Dart return/ MTC Pro Cal/ UV & Oz

03/08/2010, 11:18 PM	#10
slief RC Sponsor Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 14,173	I wouldnt do it!!! Just kidding! Heck yea! More water is a good thing.. At least until you have a problem. __________________ Director Customer Support Royal Exclusiv USA For All Royal Exclusiv & Bubble King questions please refer to our Sponsor forum: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=745 Current Tank Info: 480G display mixed reef, 90G sump, 90G refugium, 60G display refugium. Check out my build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1783476

03/09/2010, 01:23 AM	#12
bullitr broke but happy Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: stevenson ranch, ca Posts: 14,053	i think you should not do it! you will spend more money to make the water pristine ,it means you need a skimmer rated for 2000 gallons means more electricity ,more pumps to circulate the water , more salt needed, more supplements(calcium iodine) and if you have problem( ick ,copper leaks or any contaminants ) its going to be difficult to replace the water! __________________ Lawrence SFVR member 435 gallon display in wall see through no more hyposalinity... Current Tank Info: 96x36x29 inwall

03/07/2010, 08:39 AM	#3
TiTAN Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Kildare, Ireland Posts: 260	If I had the Space and could plumb it in fairly easily I would do it...

03/07/2010, 08:52 AM	#4
torchgirl Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Wake Forest, NC Posts: 37	+1 to above comments. I would definitely add that 1000 gallons if you can. You would have one stable tank!

03/07/2010, 05:57 PM	#6
screenguy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: ocean of davie Posts: 319	awsome i think i will do it! i will probly do a little more thinking and such,but,If anybody else has any imput please..........

03/08/2010, 09:00 PM	#7
sarmo Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Southwest MT Posts: 152	in the last year i added two 150 gallon tubs to my system. one is a fuge and the other is a larger sump. i like the additional stability but i have to add a lot more CaCl2 and buffer to maintain levels. i also recently treated for red flatworms, almost doubled the amount of FW exit i needed... not to mention the change water volume is much greater. for a major problem, it's hard to do a 25 or 40% water change!!! the last and maybe biggest surprise is the tempature. part of the reason i made the change was to find a cheaper way to cool my tank. one of the tubs is partially buried in the dirt of my crawl space. in the summer it was great---- no chiller and only one fan this winter it meant three 500W heaters ...... more stable, yes. more expensive too!!! would i do it again, yea. would i double my display volume, i don't think so. it's just a lot more expensive. good luck and let us know what you decide.

03/08/2010, 10:49 PM	#8
waldomas Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: south central Pa. Posts: 761	My concern would be the extra electricity needed to maintain temperature. You'll need a few more heaters! I've considered adding more volume to my system that way, but I already see the electric bill dramatically increase during the winter. I know this dosen't sound unreasonable but I turn my heat completely off and heat with a pellet stove only! Only thing I could figure is the heaters!?! It could help to cool the display in the summer if you have heat problems!

03/08/2010, 11:07 PM	#9
screenguy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: ocean of davie Posts: 319	Well no heater issue in florida Except maybe one day a year, maybe! Does anybody have something similiar, set up already? Like sump holding more water than display.

03/09/2010, 12:10 AM	#11
Reefer08 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 2,812	I wouldn't do it. You will increase the cost of running the tank significantly.

03/09/2010, 01:44 AM	#13
SMOOTHIE Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Valdosta GA Posts: 498	Man what a top off! Put your reactor in it and I think you will have a beautiful thing. Pics?

03/09/2010, 05:48 AM	#14
polywise OLD SCHOOL-ish Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Somers, NY Posts: 889	My only concern would be how to introduce such a large volume of new water to you system without affecting your current setup. Temp is one thing, but other parameters are another. __________________ Jim C.

03/09/2010, 01:50 PM	#16
heaton Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Gilbert, Arizona Posts: 115	I say go for it. Once you have stability water changes should not be an issue.