Patrick's 81G - the last dance

[finalphaze987]

Alright....hopefully this is my last dry post for this build..seeing the year is coming to the end, it's only fitting I document where I'm at with it..

Since I couldn't fit the simplicity dosing container behind the ecoflow I hit up John from Advanced Acrylics to work his magic..

I picked up a dosing container to match the ATO reservoir I had built a while back. Quality is spot on and built solid.

I had concerns over fixing it to the wall with how much it weighed when full, but once it was all mounted up I knew it wasn't going anywhere.

Fired up the Apex and attempted to dive in with some coding...man was that a mistake...not something I'll be learning overnight..but with the holidays nearing the end, should allow some time for me to get acclimated to it.

All that's left is to affix the MP40s, level the stand out, and install a couple brackets and she's ready to go.

The plan was to finish before year end, but when doing a dry run with the equipment and simulating servicing, I found that too much wire management when the tank is fixed was a bad thing..things were just a PITA to get to and remove in case of cleaning or repair..so I had to tone it back some

 

[MarcosD]

Alright....hopefully this is my last dry post for this build..seeing the year is coming to the end, it's only fitting I document where I'm at with it..

Since I couldn't fit the simplicity dosing container behind the ecoflow I hit up John from Advanced Acrylics to work his magic..
View attachment 64225
I picked up a dosing container to match the ATO reservoir I had built a while back. Quality is spot on and built solid.
View attachment 64226
I had concerns over fixing it to the wall with how much it weighed when full, but once it was all mounted up I knew it wasn't going anywhere.
View attachment 64227
Fired up the Apex and attempted to dive in with some coding...man was that a mistake...not something I'll be learning overnight..but with the holidays nearing the end, should allow some time for me to get acclimated to it.
View attachment 64228
All that's left is to affix the MP40s, level the stand out, and install a couple brackets and she's ready to go.

The plan was to finish before year end, but when doing a dry run with the equipment and simulating servicing, I found that too much wire management when the tank is fixed was a bad thing..things were just a PITA to get to and remove in case of cleaning or repair..so I had to tone it back some

John does some great work! How long did that take you to get after ordering?

 

[finalphaze987]

John does some great work! How long did that take you to get after ordering?

He had it at my door in a week. Considering the dimentions weren't his standard size, the request for tabs to hang it on, and the time of the year I ordered, I was thoroughly impressed..I ordered a lid on BF that's still a couple weeks out from reaching here. His turnaround and communication has been spot on.Even sent me the production pics.

 

[MichaelB]

Alright....hopefully this is my last dry post for this build..seeing the year is coming to the end, it's only fitting I document where I'm at with it..

Since I couldn't fit the simplicity dosing container behind the ecoflow I hit up John from Advanced Acrylics to work his magic..
View attachment 64225
I picked up a dosing container to match the ATO reservoir I had built a while back. Quality is spot on and built solid.
View attachment 64226
I had concerns over fixing it to the wall with how much it weighed when full, but once it was all mounted up I knew it wasn't going anywhere.
View attachment 64227
Fired up the Apex and attempted to dive in with some coding...man was that a mistake...not something I'll be learning overnight..but with the holidays nearing the end, should allow some time for me to get acclimated to it.
View attachment 64228
All that's left is to affix the MP40s, level the stand out, and install a couple brackets and she's ready to go.

The plan was to finish before year end, but when doing a dry run with the equipment and simulating servicing, I found that too much wire management when the tank is fixed was a bad thing..things were just a PITA to get to and remove in case of cleaning or repair..so I had to tone it back some

Looks like it belongs on the International space station it's so clean.

 

[finalphaze987]

The day has come! With a little help from two of my younger kids, the first of the water is in.

I was glad to find the tank itself had no leaks and held up just fine. I filled enough to get the sump 75% full and fired up the pump fir the first time. Sucker was loud as all hell and I knew it needed some tuning, but alas, what would our hobby be if everything went smooth.

Upon grabbing the gate valve I noticed water on my UV...I initially thought it was a union I didn't tighten..boy was I wrong..

My dumb ash forgot to glue a piece. Luckily I went crazy with unions and it was easy enough to disassemble the plumbing section and get it glued up. I think I counted 28 total unions used..I found that the spears ones suck...they get stuck and have the least grip...Charlotte unions are robust, easy to turn, and don't sieze once water hits them..good to know for future builds.

Upon combing for any other traces of leaks at every point, I noticed the sump was wet on top.
The pipes leading into the bulkhead for the sump wasn't glued...I figured, it's gravity fed...pipes in all the way..itll be fine right? Hell naw...that could have been a mess within an hour...time to glue some more. I'm hoping the glue I used works for ABS ->PVC

At this point, I'm rushing to leave to the airport to drop my daughter back on her way to college and had to pick up some more glue.

I've had my fare share of messed up glue jobs, so I take my sweet time when plumbing...measure 20 times cut once kinda caution...

Now at 3am its all glued up and drying...going to fire it up again tomorrow to check for more leaks...I threw the sand in it before I was aware of the leaks, so it looks like I got a tank full of horchata..

Will update as things unfold.

 

[Kensington Reefer]

IMHO
I recommend a brute can on wheels with a pump and hose to add water.
Pouring water….high potential for mishap
Looking very clean thus far

 

[finalphaze987]

IMHO
I recommend a brute can on wheels with a pump and hose to add water.
Pouring water….high potential for mishap
Looking very clean thus far

The water jug for the first pour was only commemoratory...all subsequent water was filled by a sicce ultrazero..I don't have the back to lift a jug anymore...lol

Got all the plumbing in order and fired up the pump again...still looking like a kalk holding tank...maybe in a couple days it'll clear up.

I did notice some moisture from where the tank meets the external overflow....Ill be monitoring it for now, but plan on disassembling it to make sure the bulkheads are in good order...the ones sent from fiji cube suck to say the least..

 

[finalphaze987]

I was able to fix the leak from the overflow box. After disassembly, found that the culprit was a warped bulkhead. I ordered another set from fiji cube and received another warped one. QC sucks but I was able to get a good set after my third order.

I originally plugged the Straton into the 15amp outlet by the tank instead thinking all should be fine. At max power its around 250w and I only had it at 50% intensity. A week in, the circuit breaker tripped. I didn't think nothing of it at first, thought it may have been a vacuum being plugged in or something, but it occurred the next day again. I decided to call an electrician friend over to take a look.

Before the light coming on, the circuit was already pushing >10amps, so sought to run another dedicated circuit, but this time oit of our subpanel. Ready for the $#!t show?

After removing the panels, we found a complete mess and was lucky the house didn't burn down..priority became the house and redoing it all. Called the GC I went through and he immediately got defensive. Went on saying how the electrician he subbed moved out of the country and there's no one to sue. Not sure why he went that route, I just wanted it fixed.

Needless to say, I went with someone else. A friend of mine recommended volt techs out of san jose. They did multiple jobs for him and were trustworthy.

Working with them was a great experience. Rewired a few rooms and redid the subpanel. Night and day difference.

Since the 20amps are pulled from our main service, the tank stayed on the whole time. He was pretty amazed by it and I explained how I wanted another dedicated circuit for it. They were very easy to work with and had everything done in 3 days.

I told him we have a whole community of aquarist in the bay area. For anyone looking to get electrical work done for their tank, the owner Jose said he'll offer discounted rates to BAR members. Tell him Patrick sent you.

 

[finalphaze987]

Water has been gradually clearing up after adding a bottle of PNS and as I sat looking at the tank before lights on, noticed that the sun comes in hard through the skylight in the room. It pans through the scape from as early as 9am through 12. I have the photo period set to start at 1pm through 1130pm with a peak intensity of 5 hours in the middle of it.

Not sure how this would affect things in the future, but im sure a PAR meter could help me decide on how to adjust.

Other than that, temp is stable from 77.6 - 78.4, most equipment has been tested to work, less the tridents and two DOS.

Currently waiting for some rock and sand from TBS and IPSF. Once Aquabiomics is back in stock I plan on picking up some from there as well. I'll be cycling with one and only shortly before adding the first fish

Next up is starting up a QT system. Going to try to hunt down an AIO tank to set up across the room from the display.

 

[MichaelB]

Sounds like another build, how long before the quarantine tank gets wet lol. I picture a sign saying water Coming in 2027 joking.

Tanks looking great so far. Happily following along.

 

[Alexander1312]

Water has been gradually clearing up after adding a bottle of PNS and as I sat looking at the tank before lights on, noticed that the sun comes in hard through the skylight in the room. It pans through the scape from as early as 9am through 12. I have the photo period set to start at 1pm through 1130pm with a peak intensity of 5 hours in the middle of it.

Not sure how this would affect things in the future, but im sure a PAR meter could help me decide on how to adjust.

Other than that, temp is stable from 77.6 - 78.4, most equipment has been tested to work, less the tridents and two DOS.

Currently waiting for some rock and sand from TBS and IPSF. Once Aquabiomics is back in stock I plan on picking up some from there as well. I'll be cycling with one and only shortly before adding the first fish

Next up is starting up a QT system. Going to try to hunt down an AIO tank to set up across the room from the display.

I would not add one and only if you are getting the TBS and IPSF stuff. This should be enough to get the tank cycled. And add a few easy corals.

 

[finalphaze987]

Sounds like another build, how long before the quarantine tank gets wet lol. I picture a sign saying water Coming in 2027 joking.

Tanks looking great so far. Happily following along.

The QT can't look nice...id be too tempted to leave it up if it was, and as is, I already catch enough crap for having one tank lol

I would not add one and only if you are getting the TBS and IPSF stuff. This should be enough to get the tank cycled. And add a few easy corals.

Hopefully that's the case and I won't have to use it. I opted to buy one of their "treasure chest" so the amount added is pretty small. I'd imagine, with time, it'll add to the biome.

 

[MarcosD]

Aquabiomics has sand in stock btw, but no rubble

Live Reef Sand – Gulf

Gulf Sand is collected at a deepwater site in the Gulf of Mexico. This sand is a mixture of Aragonite and other materials, including small pieces of rubble and shells. Along with the microbes this variety also offers a diverse community of invertebrates and coralline algae.

aquabiomics.com

 

[finalphaze987]

Aquabiomics has sand in stock btw, but no rubble

Live Reef Sand – Gulf

Gulf Sand is collected at a deepwater site in the Gulf of Mexico. This sand is a mixture of Aragonite and other materials, including small pieces of rubble and shells. Along with the microbes this variety also offers a diverse community of invertebrates and coralline algae.

aquabiomics.com

Good lookin out! First time I've seen them have this in stock.

 

[finalphaze987]

Starting the tank with dry rock has been definitely different that all other previous tanks. Bacteria blooms seemingly last forever and cast an eternal haze on things...although Its currently running with no lights, I can see this becoming problematic when I start to introduce livestock and algae becomes a concern.

Biome building:

Rather than trying out 1 or 2 things to get the biome kicked off, I'm taking more of the kitchen sink approach and going to source some biodiversity from different regions...

1) PNS Deepcycle w/ maxspect & Genesis blocks

I started by soaking these in PNS deepcycle bacteria for 24 hours..what remained in the container was injected into the sandbed per the directions from PNS.

The blocks would remain in the tank rather than the sump for now..eventually I'd look to trade them with others to expand on the biome and bank the one I'm building now.

Please excuse the vandalism from my sons. When you got 4 boys, you kinda get used to it.

2) Aquabiomics sand
While waiting for the rubble to become available, @MarcosD linked me to the sand. I picked up one immediately and had it to my door in no time..good lookin out brotha..

I got the gulf sand, so it was a more coarse grain and almost looks dirty when seeing it sprawled through the sandbed. The COA is cool, it'll be interesting to see how much of this remains after all is done.

3) IPSF live sand activator & wondermud
This one I sadly didn't get a chance to see..I picked this one up from FedEx during my lunch and dropped it off at home..I get a call shortly after to yell me that my box is leaking..at that point I wasn't going to ask too much of her and just said to dump it all in the tank..the only shot I got is what made it to the bottom..hard to comment, but I hope the worms made it in somewhere.

More to come...

 

[finalphaze987]

4) SWA Indo rock
Initial impressions was 5 lbs was alot more than I anticipated. Not much algae on them, and that may be for the better. Almost appeared to be precleaned of some of the nasties..The shapes were cool, very lightweight and porus. It came well packed with a heatpack. No water, but it was moist. Total weight recieved came out to 10.3lbs with the rubble included. The rocks are pictured on a brute top to give a sense of scale.

I did have a few hitchhikers in my order..a couple hermits, a couple bivalves, a few worms I decided to discard, and a crapload of dead sponge.

Just threw it all in the tank today after sitting in an observation tank for a few days..wanted to see if any aiptasia of other unwanted things showed up.

 

[finalphaze987]

Seeing how much rock came in has me concerned, as I still have another 17lbs en route. Once I get it all in and cycled, I may be selling off the bigger pieces I don't need or can't fit.

Still to come:

Aussie LR from Premiumaquatics.com
TBS LR and sand

 

[finalphaze987]

The lid I ordered from Krakenreef.com came in today. The measurements I provided them were very tight and had me a little worried at first, but upon fitting it, found they've made it spot on with very tight tolerances.

I like the clean look and the two piece design incase I only need to reach in one side of the tank, I won't have to take the whole cover off.

 

[MarcosD]

The lid I ordered from Krakenreef.com came in today. The measurements I provided them were very tight and had me a little worried at first, but upon fitting it, found they've made it spot on with very tight tolerances.
View attachment 66606View attachment 66605
I like the clean look and the two piece design incase I only need to reach in one side of the tank, I won't have to take the whole cover off.
View attachment 66607View attachment 66608

Wow they killed it. Did they give you the measurements they used for the cutout for the Avast Plank by any chance?

 

[finalphaze987]

Wow they killed it. Did they give you the measurements they used for the cutout for the Avast Plank by any chance?

For the cutout itself, no. They just asked the precise location of the plank and they took it from there. Must be a common request from their customers, seeing how tight they were able to tool it.