South Side Outdoor - Finally!!
- Thread starter DeanT
- Start date
... with your tank,limitless possibilities dude. I can see this bein a real stunner:yeahdude:
LCornelius
Moderator
Great build this far! Tagging along for the ride!
Just a question, with the tank being 'outside' how will you manage the cold winters? The chiller will be great for the summers!
Just a question, with the tank being 'outside' how will you manage the cold winters? The chiller will be great for the summers!
DeanT
Dean
the outside area , is enclosed using outdoor blinds , so this will help with keeping the weather out as much as possible.
also with the lighting that i am using and the 4 x 300 watt heaters , this should do the trick.
will obviously monitor it closely , but during the cold snap after easter , it managed okay , so hopefully this is an indication of how it will handle.
i am also sealing off the top with glass panels with week end, to try and keep evap and heat dissipation to a minimum
also with the lighting that i am using and the 4 x 300 watt heaters , this should do the trick.
will obviously monitor it closely , but during the cold snap after easter , it managed okay , so hopefully this is an indication of how it will handle.
i am also sealing off the top with glass panels with week end, to try and keep evap and heat dissipation to a minimum
DeanT
Dean
okay so here is a little update .
here are some pictures of the engine room , very basic, nothing to flashy
firstly FTS , looks worse than it is , looks so much better compared to before the CUC
the master mind controller , with plug bars mounted , network switch and dosing unit
return pump , with plumbing and 4 heaters, plus the return plumbing for the chiller, and the profilux optical sensor for the ATU
skimmer working as required , and making sweet muck
forgot pics of the DSB , but nothing exciting there , as it is still new and developing
here are some pictures of the engine room , very basic, nothing to flashy
firstly FTS , looks worse than it is , looks so much better compared to before the CUC
the master mind controller , with plug bars mounted , network switch and dosing unit
return pump , with plumbing and 4 heaters, plus the return plumbing for the chiller, and the profilux optical sensor for the ATU
skimmer working as required , and making sweet muck
forgot pics of the DSB , but nothing exciting there , as it is still new and developing
Very nice tank thread. Hope for smooth sailing going forward. Keep us updated on the cold weather impact and your heaters ability to manage the cold. And why are your heaters not submerged, looks like they are out of the water.
DeanT
Dean
my ATU gave up about 2 days ago , and the tank guzzles water at the moment , cause the top isnt covered and the heat from the lights i am sure is causing evap. i am getting glass today.
at the moment i have to do top up manually until i get the profilux ATU working
you guys made me nervous , so i checked the levels this morning , and quickly pumped the level back up to highest possible level
at the moment i have to do top up manually until i get the profilux ATU working
you guys made me nervous , so i checked the levels this morning , and quickly pumped the level back up to highest possible level
DeanT
Dean
so thought i would give an update on the tank
been a little bit of hell.
managed to get my glass fitted on top of th tank and everything fitted perfectly.
seems to making water evap alot less , and stopping any excess dirty from getting inside.
been a little bit of hell.
managed to get my glass fitted on top of th tank and everything fitted perfectly.
seems to making water evap alot less , and stopping any excess dirty from getting inside.
DeanT
Dean
then around the 30 april , it started , first i lost my long nose butterfly , and slowly but surely , my 2 regals , either suffered from white spot, of flukes.
they all went through the same symtoms , white spot , which i seemed to try and control , when i introduced Ozone , and the also added fresh garlic to the food, but they stopped eating , and the next day they were gong (RIP)
i lost the one regal first and the other seemed to be pulling through , but eventually couldnt take it and lost him aswell.
they all went through the same symtoms , white spot , which i seemed to try and control , when i introduced Ozone , and the also added fresh garlic to the food, but they stopped eating , and the next day they were gong (RIP)
i lost the one regal first and the other seemed to be pulling through , but eventually couldnt take it and lost him aswell.
DeanT
Dean
so decided to stop the live stock buying, and let the tank settle, keep the ozone running and took it easy for a while
did some shopping for some equipment ,a and first got me a CR5000
becuase of the size of this monster , i had to re do , my electronics layout ,
also as i was having power failures , and burnt out extension cables , due to the load on the plugs.
i think this is mainly due to my lighting unit and the 4 x 300 w heaters
did some shopping for some equipment ,a and first got me a CR5000
becuase of the size of this monster , i had to re do , my electronics layout ,
also as i was having power failures , and burnt out extension cables , due to the load on the plugs.
i think this is mainly due to my lighting unit and the 4 x 300 w heaters
DeanT
Dean
so due to the effectiveness of ozone and clearness of my water, i decided to invest in a ozone generator of my own, as well as a reactor chamber and air dryer ( cape town winter weather)
prior to this i was loaning a unit from a LFS to assist with the health of my long nose and regals.
even though it didnt save them , other fish seemed to be clear, and my water seems to be crystal.
her are the pics off the net , but will post some of my own , when i get a chance to take some this week end
prior to this i was loaning a unit from a LFS to assist with the health of my long nose and regals.
even though it didnt save them , other fish seemed to be clear, and my water seems to be crystal.
her are the pics off the net , but will post some of my own , when i get a chance to take some this week end
DeanT
Dean
explorer being full of nonsense , so here are the pics for display only ,
will upload actual pics ASAP
ozone dyer , to ensure the air is as dry as possible
ozone generator
ozone reactor
will upload actual pics ASAP
ozone dyer , to ensure the air is as dry as possible
ozone generator
ozone reactor
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DeanT
Dean
after doing tons of research , and finding out as much as i can about ozone , i decided to get the reactor.
prior to this, i am still running ozone through my skimmer even though this is not ideal , i needed to do this, to ensure there was contact with the water.
the advantage of the Ozone reactor , is that the contact time , between the water and O3 is longer , therefore better reaction,( which is what is said online)
also the skimmer doesnt like the feed of ozone direct , and also with the corrosiveness of the o3, i needed to ensure i contain the gas as much as possible.
prior to this, i am still running ozone through my skimmer even though this is not ideal , i needed to do this, to ensure there was contact with the water.
the advantage of the Ozone reactor , is that the contact time , between the water and O3 is longer , therefore better reaction,( which is what is said online)
also the skimmer doesnt like the feed of ozone direct , and also with the corrosiveness of the o3, i needed to ensure i contain the gas as much as possible.
DeanT
Dean
last on my list , was a UV sterlizer , which i decided to go Aqua Medic.
i am still waiting on this to arrive , so hopefully will be able to fit it this week end .
i have the approach that cutting corners , just doesn't do it , and that i would rather invest properly first time , then do things half A@#
i know there are cheaper Ozone units on the market , but apparently these cannot be cleaned , and therefore the effecientcy of the generator decreases over time and eventually you toss it.
at least with the aqua medic unit , the filter / element can be cleaned once i a while ensuring performance and longevity.
here is a picture of the aqua medic UV , in transit
i am still waiting on this to arrive , so hopefully will be able to fit it this week end .
i have the approach that cutting corners , just doesn't do it , and that i would rather invest properly first time , then do things half A@#
i know there are cheaper Ozone units on the market , but apparently these cannot be cleaned , and therefore the effecientcy of the generator decreases over time and eventually you toss it.
at least with the aqua medic unit , the filter / element can be cleaned once i a while ensuring performance and longevity.
here is a picture of the aqua medic UV , in transit
DeanT
Dean
equipment update , some of my stuff finally arrived, but i havent had a chance to fit it
here are some pics :
Ozone Dryer
Ozone Generator
Ozone Generator Box
here are some pics :
Ozone Dryer
Ozone Generator
Ozone Generator Box
DeanT
Dean
livestock update @JsREEFn decided to take down another tank - very restless one he is 
anyway decided to jump at the opportunity to grab a clam , that i have been wanting since day dot, and also picked up some other corals at the same time.
here are the pics for you to see.
your corals nice and settled and seem to be happy as can be
now just waiting on the livestock , especially the tailspot blenny
my cleaner shrimp seems a little lonely so getting him 2 friends - he may then decide to do some work , as all he does at the moment is chill under a rock ( dont worry i have checked he is okay)
anyway decided to jump at the opportunity to grab a clam , that i have been wanting since day dot, and also picked up some other corals at the same time.
here are the pics for you to see.
your corals nice and settled and seem to be happy as can be
now just waiting on the livestock , especially the tailspot blenny
my cleaner shrimp seems a little lonely so getting him 2 friends - he may then decide to do some work , as all he does at the moment is chill under a rock ( dont worry i have checked he is okay)
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lemme know wen you wana collect, tank is emptier and easier to move around liverock to catch them
BTW, corals look flippin nice,glas they went to a good home
DeanT
Dean
@JsREEFn
can come anyday after work , or week end
maybe catch them one afternoon/evening and when they in bucket let me know
will swing past on my way home
can come anyday after work , or week end
maybe catch them one afternoon/evening and when they in bucket let me know
will swing past on my way home
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no prob dude! maybe tomorw night or sat morning
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Broder
Mudshark
Looks great. I admire your perceverance with all of your setbacks.