Wrasse-cal's Waterbox 100.3 Build AKA "The Money Pit"

revhtree · Jan 3, 2018

Very nice build so far!

Wrasse-cal · Jan 3, 2018

JonJ said:
Looks nice! The large piece on the right looks like a sharp drop off that might make coral placement a little tough depending on what you put there. It helps me to think about what will go where while aquascaping. You could do a capricornis coming off the face of that big piece. Can’t wait to see the finished setup!

Thanks!

A monti cap or two off that sharp edge was exactly what I was planning on placing there.

Natedogg559 · Jan 20, 2018

Can you take a pic of the sump? Sweet build!

Wrasse-cal · Jan 20, 2018

Natedogg559 said:
Can you take a pic of the sump? Sweet build!

Thanks. The sump’s not set up yet. I’m still waiting on a bunch of equipment I have on order.

Wrasse-cal · Jan 25, 2018

UPDATES:

First (very stupid) setback: In attempting a fishless cycle, I accidentally overdosed ammonia--likely, if I were to guess, to around 66 PPM. I was wondering for the last three weeks why my ammonia readings were still all solidly over 2 PPM. I looked back at my notes, and see I dosed 5 ml (!) ammonia. I have no idea why I thought that was the proper amount.

Given my rocks are in a 30 gallon trashcan, and the can was only about half full with rocks and water, I'd guess I dosed 5 ml ammonia to 20 gallons/75 L water.

I added more saltwater to drop ammonia to below 2 PPM, then I added a new bottle of Dr. Tim's. I'm assuming no actual harm done, other than annoying delay?

Parts/equipment for the tank are still trickling in. I'm still waiting on my algae reactor and secondary chamber for my CA reactor to ship. It will likely will be a couple of weeks left before those arrive.

I'm also waiting on some plumbing from BRS that should get here tomorrow. Other than that, things are slowly coming together!

Wrasse-cal · Jan 26, 2018

Equipment coming in...

Lifereef SVS2-24 with Sicce Syncra Pro 1500

Geo CR618 Calcium Reactor with Carbon Doser. Per @geo, the secondary chamber (SMC415) is due to be shipped next week!

Custom Random Flow Generators from Vivid Creative Aquatics.

@Vivid Creative Aquatics did a spectacular job fabricating adapters so the 3/4 inch random flow generators would fit the Waterbox nonstandard locline. Thanks, @Waterbox Aquariums for the extra pieces of locline!

Vivid Creative Aquatics · Jan 26, 2018

Wrasse-cal said:
Equipment coming in...

Lifereef SVS2-24 with Sicce Syncra Pro 1500

Geo CR618 Calcium Reactor with Carbon Doser. Per @geo, the secondary chamber (SMC415) is due to be shipped next week!

Custom Random Flow Generators from Vivid Creative Aquatics.

@Vivid Creative Aquatics did a spectacular job fabricating adapters so the 3/4 inch random flow generators would fit the Waterbox nonstandard locline. Thanks, @Waterbox Aquariums for the extra pieces of locline!

We had a great time creating that 22mm to 3/4in adapter for you - and it fit perfectly. Thanks for including us in your build.

Wrasse-cal · Jan 31, 2018

I'm attempting something slightly unconventional and will be using a dedicated pump on a simple manifold to feed my CA reactor and algae reactor. My intention is to put the manifold pump in the skimmer chamber (because it fits there) and have the output from the reactors also feed into the same chamber.

After seeing @Caravanshaka 's build thread, I am now thinking about using the ATO reservoir as a refugium as he does. I'm however planning on using it as a place for pods and other critters to breed, grow safely.

Caravanshaka's sump

I'm concerned though about what will happen to the water level in my return pump chamber if I plumb the refugium off of the pump in the skimmer chamber. Caravanshaka plumbed his off of his return pump. If I run the refugium off of the dedicated manifold, I'm going to get water from the skimmer chamber bypassing the baffles to the return as water will overflow from the old ATO chamber into both the skimmer and return chambers.

I'm worried this will raise the level of water in my return chamber such that the water level in my return chamber won't vary anymore based on system volume. The upshot being that I worry that if I plumb the refugium this way, I won't be able to place my ATO sensor in the return pump chamber anymore.

Does that concern seem valid?

Caravanshaka · Jan 31, 2018

I don't see any issue with what you are planning. the low-point of the water level when the return pump is on is still going to be in the return chamber. Think of the tall wall between the ATO and the return section as just another really tall baffle, allowing water into that chamber. As water evaporates, the return section is still going to be the section of the sump that drops in water level since the water in the skimmer section and ATO section are baffled to stay that same height regardless of water level.

Wrasse-cal · Jan 31, 2018

Caravanshaka said:
I don't see any issue with what you are planning. the low-point of the water level when the return pump is on is still going to be in the return chamber. Think of the tall wall between the ATO and the return section as just another really tall baffle, allowing water into that chamber. As water evaporates, the return section is still going to be the section of the sump that drops in water level since the water in the skimmer section and ATO section are baffled to stay that same height regardless of water level.

Thanks. I appreciate the response.

LadyMac · Jan 31, 2018

I dream of a waterbox system. Following your build! What do you think of thebsetup this far? How’s the quality?

Wrasse-cal · Jan 31, 2018

LadyMac said:
I dream of a waterbox system. Following your build! What do you think of thebsetup this far? How’s the quality?

Given that my tank is still dry, I'm reserving final opinions--but so far, I'm very happy with my choice. The tank is beautiful and the general finishing on the stand is really quite nice. The magnetic closures on the stand though could be a bit better designed if I had to identify one shortcoming.

In the spirit of full disclosure, there have admittedly been some hiccups, but I'll chalk those problems up to Waterbox being a new company and still ironing out quality control kinks. That being said, @Waterbox Aquariums has been really amazingly responsive, easy to deal with and completely invested in fixing any problems as they have emerged. For example, I had some issues with my stand. The panel had a chip on one panel out of the box. Waterbox immediately sent a replacement part. I was missing a leveling foot. Waterbox sent a replacement the same day.

I've also had more than my fair share of questions, both pre-order and post-order, and Waterbox answered all of them quickly. I think they are very interested in providing a quality product with quality support.

LadyMac · Jan 31, 2018

Sounds amazing! Definitely sounds like a company I would like to give my money to. I really enjoy the style and price point. Thank you so much for the honest opinion

Caravanshaka · Jan 31, 2018

LadyMac said:
Sounds amazing! Definitely sounds like a company I would like to give my money to. I really enjoy the style and price point. Thank you so much for the honest opinion

I've had a similar experience with them. A few issues, but very responsive. I've got a review on my thread as well.

Wrasse-cal · Feb 1, 2018

Cycle update @ 1 week:

Ammonia: 1.2
Nitrite: 0.2
Nitrate: 2

This is going slowly. Ammonia level has not yet changed since I started the cycle and added Dr. Tim's.

Wrasse-cal · Feb 8, 2018

Cycle update @ 2 week:

Ammonia: 1.2
Nitrite: 0.2-0.5 (estimated to be ~0.3)
Nitrate: 2

I'm a bit perplexed by this cycle. Does something seem amiss? I would have thought by now I would see at least some measurable drop in ammonia levels. Perhaps somewhat reassuringly, there was a small rise in nitrites from week 1, so I know something is going on.

I also tested phosphate, just to see what was leaching from the Pukani, and got a result of .5 PPM.

NY_Caveman · Feb 8, 2018

In my experience, that does not seem unusual. In fact I would bet you see an ammonia drop by week three.

Wrasse-cal · Feb 15, 2018

Cycle update @ 3 week:

Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: >1
Nitrate: ~30

I dosed 10 drops of ammonia. @NY_Caveman, you were right!

I contacted Dr. Tim's Aquatics last week to confirm that the slower than expected cycle was normal. They advised that because I had no substrate, the lower amount of surface area present was causing the cycle to be slower. Interestingly though, in addition to my pukani rock, I also have a gallon of marinepure media in the cycling container--so I'm a bit skeptical that the lower amount of surface area was the cause. On the other hand, I decided to add a bag of live sand (contained in a mesh bag). The next day my cycle seems to have jump-started. Maybe this is a coincidence.