Yea looks like diatoms to me. Cuc. And time
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Do you have a ball valve or anything before the UV? How do you control flow through it?Great question!
My UV plumbing is not ideal. There were no good options for placement, and I *believe* my placement was the least bad of the options. I plan to use the unions built into the UV if I need to remove the whole unit. But that will result in some spillage. If I had it to do over again I’d also add ball valves to be able to shut it off. I may still modify that at some point.
For simple bulb changes I should have space to unscrew the bulb and swap it without removing the whole unit.
Here are a couple of better shots of the placement and plumbing…
Yea looks like diatoms to me. Cuc. And time
Do you have a ball valve or anything before the UV? How do you control flow through it?
Sick!!!For my original Innovative Marine 50 gallon AIO build, click HERE.
This will serve as my new build thread. It will be slow to get started as I gather all the gear but once Black Friday hits the pace will pick up dramatically!
Long story short, my fiancé just built a house out in the country. It makes the most sense for us to sell my house and move in with her once we get married (yeah we're the old fashioned type). I suggested the possibility of upgrading my current 50 gallon AIO tank to a 4 ft 120 gal tank because it would fit PERFECTLY in the spot we've picked out for it. There's even a laundry room on the other side of the wall where I can set up a large controller board and possibly even the RODI setup. Plus... there's no better time to upgrade than when you move! She didn't put up any fight at all
My philosophy guiding this build is to automate and back up as much as possible, provide some more space for some fish I couldn't keep long term in my 50 gallon, and not become a slave to the maintenance of the tank. I travel a decent amount, and I work 24+ hours at a time. I don't want my fiancé to have to manage things while I'm away.
My plan for the 50 gallon was to pretty much focus on LPS. But with this bigger tank, and the lighting I have planned, I may shift focus to some hardy SPS as well as some LPS and shrooms. A 4-foot tank with SPS lighting also opens the door for a clam, which I'd REALY love to do!
Here's what I have planned so far:
Tank
Planet Aquarium rimless 120g w/internalexternal overflow and stand
Sump
Tideline 36 (a little large for the tank size,but I'm going to ATTEMPT to go sans-skimmer,relying instead on a filter roller and refugium)
Rock/Sand
Marco dry rock (cooked in a dark tub with dark-rubble from my current tank)
I'm leaning toward TBS live sand. I'm really digging the look/makeup of their sand (the big chunks and such) and I wanna give the "live" stuff a go.
Filtration
ClariSea SK3000 G3 filter roller
Refugium lit by an AI Blade Fuge
Reef Octopus Classic 110EXT recirculating skimmer (intentionally undersized because of the filter roller and refugium)
Pumps/Flow
Return pump: Dual EcoTech M2 pumps,one S2 going straight to the tank, and an M2 going through the UV and a small manifold.One of the M2 pumps will flow through UV and on to the display, the other will flow through a manifold and then to the display.
Powerheads: Ecotech MP40mQD x2
Lighting
2x AI Prime 16 HD
2x AI Blade Grow 48"
Controller
Neptune A3 Apex
- FMM
- MXM
- EB832 x2
- LLS15 for the sump
Topoff/Dosing
Neptune ATKGravity-fed from the fresh water in the mixing station (RIP Jake )
Neptune DOS #1
- Dosing head 1: Kalkwasser (possibly adding an Avast Kalk Stirrer)
- Dosing head 2: TBD (phyto, All For Reef...)
Neptune DOS #2 for auto water changes
Temperature Control
BRS Titanium heaters x2
Inkbird Wifi thermostats x2
RODI/Mixing Station
Brute 44 gal trash cans x265 gallon water tanks
Vectra L2 (definitely didn’t need a pump this big!)
BRS 7-stage 150 gpd RODI system with auto flush, auto shutoff and booster pump
Misc
Avast Plank autofeeder
Amazon autofeeder
Ecotech battery backup x2
Aqua Ultraviolet 25 watt UV sterilizer
I'm going to be having a couple of engineer friends help me design and build a dope controller board and cabinet. One of them has a wood shop, the other has a 3d printer, and CNC router/laser cutter. All of those will come in REALLY handy!
Anyway, hopefully you all will enjoy the process along with me
CURRENT PROGRESS
12/12/23
RODI and tank plumbing complete (mostly… still waiting on a couple of parts for a manifold), same with aquascape. Controller board mostly complete (still needs a door, and I’m in the process of adding the equipment to it). Taking delivery of TBS live sand Dec 18!
I hope all that food doesn't cause too much chaos with your parameters.
So irritating when its something out of your control. Seems like your getting that beast back on track, could have been way worse! Luckily you've shown the self control of a saint not loading that with wall to wall coral yet! Sending positive vibes your way sir!Woof
And that was AFTER a 20% wc!
I have since then increased my AWC to 3%/day (up from 1%/day) and added a bag of gfo.
So irritating when its something out of your control. Seems like your getting that beast back on track, could have been way worse! Luckily you've shown the self control of a saint not loading that with wall to wall coral yet! Sending positive vibes your way sir!
Yikes! GL getting that under control.Woof
And that was AFTER a 20% wc!
I have since then increased my AWC to 3%/day (up from 1%/day) and added a bag of gfo.
yea they are, luckily I have mine in the basement so I can't really hear them.those DOS pumps loud. Absurdly loud.
Looking great, so so so clean! I have the same style branching cyphastrea, they are very temperamental in my little experience. I've moved mine multiple times, once you find the sweet spot they seem to take off pretty quick! Noticed they seem very sensitive to alk changes, more so than other corals in my tank. That and high phosphates seem dull their color, my green/pink one turned almost all brown at one point, sure it happens to everything but I def notice those first. Can't wait to see this loaded up!! Have a great week!