KOgle's 180 diary

Ok all of you addicts, I fired up the MH's long enough last night to get some decent pictures of the display and I also took some pictures of the equipment that keeps this thing running. Here goes... where's Luna???

 

Some pictures of the filtration, the fuge drain, and the calcium reactor (which isn't yet hooked up)...

 

Some pictures of the fuge. I've only got water running through it right now, no lights or algae. Just good old saltwater for now until the tank matures. ;D

 

And a few random pictures...

 

And a few last ones for now... these show the closed loop set up which is a dual pump set up running 2 little giant pumps. If one fails there will still be enough flow to susstain the system until I can swap the bad pump for a third one I keep around "just in case" You'll also notice they run through clear check valves. This serves two purposes, first of all I can see how the pumps are running with a quick glance. Secondly if one pump does fail the check valve will close and prevent back pressure from getting to the bad pump.
There is also a shot of the Ocean's Motions valve everything runs through in a TL - BR - TR - BL pattern. (if you look at the tank shots you'll see the outputs) After the Ocean's Motions valve there are shut off valves for each line as well as built in unions for quick access...

Oh and I almost forgot, the canopy is set up on quick disconnects so everything can be unplugged from the canopy in about 2 minutes and the canopy can just come off and sit on the floor if access to the tank is required. No more days of trying to squeeze myself between the canopy and tank without getting wet...

So there it is for now gang, let me know what you think...

 

Man, a guy adds a bunch of pictures to his tank thread and Luna is no where to be found. ;D

The tank has been running for a little over a month now so I tested the water last night. A little worried but nothing that can't be fixed.

Calcium is 300 ppm
DKH is 14
Mag is 1950

Wish I had some calcium carbonate. Isn't that the same stuff as the 20 mule team borax?

 

Coming along looking good But I would loose the filter sock . Never understood what they where good for ? About as useful and Boobs on a Bull. On a reef tank.. Any food and or particles that settle out in the tank will just feed the tank and if you stir or have a few power heads come on nightly a few time to stir the sump then it will keep sump clean and what many call detritus is really coral food . Then you won't have to feed as much raw/fresh or new food that makes the sock I guess considered needed ? One fish's detritus is a corals food.

Also No Calcium carbonate is Arm and Hammer laundry soda Boraxo is simple pure borate that is used to stabilize the PH and lower and minimize the swings . I hoped some here watched the Dirty Jobs the other night when he was at a Borate mines in Ca.

here you go.. ARM & HAMMER® Super Washing Soda Detergent Booster - All Natural Household Cleaner and Cleaning Product

What are you trying to raise the ca levels ?

 

My thinking was that the calcium is a little low but with the mg being that high I don't know what direction to head. I am going to get that calcium reactor going this weekend so hopefully it will help stabalize the system.

i like the idea of having a pump come on in the tank at night to stir the sump.

 

I was noticing that Mag levels also,, Otty had that issue also did he not ? Speaking of that Rascal where is he e/m him to tell him to look out for his NO3 coil that should have arrived a few days ago and it came back saying he was away ? If you bump the Ca up that will pull the DKH down and once you get the Ca right at 450 the DKH should be near to 10 to 11 rather then 14 and that may deplete some Mag for you ? I have some super strong calcium chloride if you need it I sent Otty some hell a shot glass will bump 180 gal up a notch or two .. Very very pure and concentrated ..

AS for the sump pumps hell its a good deal I also have a cheesy little flexible hose like many use for wet dries that I have connected to a valve and I'll blast that in the sump when ever I have to go down to the basement . Tank becomes crystal clear again in a Hr or two and I get all that free food into the water to be eaten or skimmed out .. And I never use a filter other then a little passive from my skimmer outlet passes though a HOB I made 12"long x 4" wide that hangs on the rim right under the bullets outlet .. Put I use floss once a week or so for a day and the pumps in the sump I just cut on and let run to filter and skim out any excess .. I'd toss that sock it is totaly worthless on a reef tank.. But running one won't do any harm other then just waste more food and time and a little money But by not having to add more food and spot feeding I let the water currents do that job ..and less added food means less bio load ..

 

Just got back from Alaska finally. I got the coil before I left but will have to get it up and running this weekend as I didn't want my father to have to deal with it.
Good to see the tank coming along Kris.