yet another 90Gal build

I've been playing around with all my old X10 junk...there are numerous leak detection gadgets for the home automation segment...in fact just a few years back I had my fishroom lights come on "opposite" based on the actual sunrise/sunset (saved on elec bill)

there is also thermostats and other stuff that could be applicable...I shelved the idea because the price of the Reefkeeper lite is such a game changer: for 99 bucks you get a wavemaker out the box, and for 60-90 buck "per" you can add all sorts of other functions ...

only thing I'm not sure it does is leak detection....I'm pretty sure the X10 stuff can handle that but I can't get my servers serial port to communicate with the software...I'm gonna have to shell out 50 bucks for a usb version...BTW can you expound on the leak detection system you got...we got laminate floors that would be ruined by salt water

 

A control guy eh... Have you seen mine?

 

What an awesome idea! I'm going to have to use it!!! =)

 

Why not, feel free... I shamlessly borrowed every other idea ;D

 

...here is the temporary Aquascape....these rocks represent about 40% of the total I plan to get

The rest will be about 30lbs of dead "base" pieces 2-3 large bases
...I also plan on getting 30-40lbs of "premium" Fiji, Tonga or Vanatu ....

I got these rocks for free as they had allegedly been in un-lit, non-running tanks for weeks...as it turns out they were still good and susprisingly still had life...I already see those "asymetrical" lil starfish showing up (I'm sure ya'll know: the "pest" type) and a few rocks are starting to shop color....


I'm going with the somewhat cliche' "C" shape for my rock and will have one contiuous "ridge"

lighting the tank temporarily is a 400W 5500K MH (used for hydroponics)...yeah I know not ideal, but again all I wanna do is get things jumping while I save for my
Tek fixture

 

I can do 2 things really good: imitate a good idea & follow orders



...these Marineland overflows won't backsiphon much, so the ball valve here really only stops a lil bit of water

but I did discover this slick thingie at Lowes: a union/ball valve combo


might all be for not, b-cuz space limitations might force me to go with a submersible pump :-[

 

OK I got more equipment:

...dusted off my MH Hydroponics fixture to color up my rock until the TEK arrives....

...Bought a Reef Octopus 150
...made a temporary ATO (cross posted on RC)
....had to redo the sump as the old sump cracked because the fittings/hole were off and the weight of the pump stressed the glass
...so I bought a Mag 9.5 from Salty Critters (shameless plug for the LFS)

...also got about 30lbs of more dry rock from them....here are the updated pics

...the sump re-worx (I've elected just to drip kalk for the foreseeable future, but an DI controller is in the plans)




the tank with the added rock (I expect a mini cycle)










I went with the old cliche' type "Bow" shape for my rock...hardly minimalist but not too over loaded

...I left space on the back for circulation




,,,,yes there are fish in there....before ya'll bash me for cycling with fish, 1/2 the rock was from an established tank but sat for weeks in the dark...other than those asymetrical starfish, I've noticed no pest...

I went with BB tank with a sprinkling of rubble

....inhabitants so far are a likley pair of marroons, pair of firefish a chromis and royal gramma.....tough guys that can withstand a mini cycle

 

Looks good so far.

 

OK, finally spent the cheeze on more stuff:

1st ordered a volt probe, a couple of Korallias, 2ea 1200's and some Bio-pellets (for later should I take the plunge)



and installed them directly

 

...then per your suggestions I remodified my returns using the suggested 1" unions



I used 45's to reduce the "head" on my pump

as mentioned: I re-designed a new 20L sump as the old one broke due to the hole being off or the weight of the the pump or vibrations from a bad Little Giant 3MDSC or whatever!! ...the new sump accomodates a more reliable and simplistic internal 9.5 Mag Drive pump (I don't like the heat issues, but the tradeoff is simplicity and reduced chance of plumbing failure)



I also redesigned the plumbing twice as you can see:

...the 1st design simply dumped water into the sumps skimmer compartment...problem being all the bubbles semed to affect skimmer performance, NTM so many bubbles overwhelmed the baffles



*note the refugium section in the center, the cheato is failing (melting) due to low nitrates...I've upgraded the bulb anyway to a 6500K 3way (only using the mid value of 2000 lumens)

...anyway, my latest modification involved relocating the inflow further down and incorporating a sock; see below (yeah I know the clamp; its only temporary, I'm waiting on a bonified sock holder)