Micah

2 minutes ago, SuncrestReef said:

Do yourself a huge favor by adding spigot valves at the bottom of each container.  It's so handy to be able to quickly dispense a small amount of either RO/DI to rinse something or saltwater to dip corals without needing to turn on a pump.  I use mine all the time:

 

Great tip.  Is that a quick-connect garden hose fitting you're using?

Also, HUGE thanks to @CuttleFishandCoral for hooking me up with the tank order, pump and pretty much everything going forward.   @CuttleFishandCoral is and has been instrumental to everything reef in my past, present and future.  I'm happy to throw that business his way again. Especially during these weird times.

Just now, albertareef said:

Excited to see you back and interested to see what you do with that waterbox!  Nice score on the mixing station... that was tempting.

Glad to be back! This will be my first tank that isn't a heavily modded off the shelf petco/aqueon style tank.   It'll be nice to have some quality to be proud of.

Here's the water mixing station I got.  It's not in it's final destination yet, and there are a few mods I'll be making prior to filling, but super stoked to have these things.  

Alrighty!  I'm back (I posted about this in the general area).  I've been collecting stuff here and there (HUGE thanks to some of you fine folks for priming my hobby pump) and I'm finally to a point where it's time to dump some coin and get my box of water.   

So.. I did it, I pulled the trigger on a WaterBox 180.5 - should be arriving some time this or next week.  Also on the list is a Neptune Systems COR-20 pump.    That should be enough to keep me busy during this whole shelter in place.  I also have a quarantine system consisting of two 20 gallon tanks, some HOB stuff, etc.  Going to get those cycled here shortly so I can at least get some fish in the QT while I set up the main tank.  Special thanks to @Gil&Fin for the tanks, the old RODI systems and the other miscellaneous items. It's been a huge help.  

My goal for this build is a fully sterile aquarium.  I've been pretty loose with my tanks in the past and I've always been that "Ich is everywhere, why bother trying" guy and this time I want to do it right.  I'll be following the Humblefish/Elliot Lim quarantine method.  I realize it's a lot of work, but I'm getting my garage all set up with the right stuff to make my life a little easier.  

I've ordered some replacement filters/DI resin/float valve/source water adapters/etc for the RODI system I'm making. They should be here shortly and I'll be able to fill this big boy water mixing station that I bought from @pdxmonkeyboy.  

Stay tuned, I'll be updating as I go and putting in lots of pictures.

2 hours ago, eclipse522 said:

Could you send me the file for the stand?

https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/various/protein-skimmer-stand-2-11x12-footprint

Woot woot!

Sure thing. I'll post it on thingiverse in a few.

If you haven't already, check tap plastics. They have a scrap bin. You pay by the pound. Usually some good bits in there.

I think I will be doing a lot more of this kind of thing.

Get me measurements and I'll attempt a design.

In hindsight, I should have made the holes bigger and it could double as a frag rack.

Want me to drop this off at CNC?

Don't do it.  Just save it for later.... Sell the livestock.  I just did this... Bought a house, now I wish I had most of the stuff.

So regret, much ouch.

5 hours ago, CuttleFishandCoral said:

U can come visit him at cuttlefish most weekends! 

Awesome!  I suspected as much.  I'll have to come bug him.

OMG!!!  @Jorge  You're bailing and I'm re-entering.  Perfectly balanced, as all things should be. 

I probably could.. but yeah, I'd need measurements and the such.   Or,  check Thingiverse or Cults3D to see if somebody has already designed one.   If you find something you like, let me know.

Disclaimer, I've been out of the hobby for a couple years, so my memory of things may have blips.  

I think I heard somewhere that it was from not mixing your salt in the manufacturers recommended way.   Some salts say to heat the water, some don't.   I also have noticed that I got that stuff when not having enough water in the container and putting in too much salt.  The chemistry doesn't dissolve correctly and many of the dissolved elements (mag/ca/alk/trace) will precipitate out and create that crust/gunk. 

That's just my understanding and it could be entirely wrong.  

This video has some good general guidelines on what to do: 

Linked to the time at which they actually talk about precipitation/correct mixing/etc. 

I'll get it printing asap.

How does this look?  

* note, there's a middle leg for center support.

Just now seeing these.  I'll see if I can whip something up.  My printer can accommodate that size.  I'll come back with some basic designs.   Does it need to be fancy at all?  Holes for the power cord, plumbing, etc?

Sold! Thanks Brian!

Give me some dimensions and I could design/print one for ya.

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I have this... It's acetylene, but you could likely swap it out at airgas for CO2. Not sure it's size, but it's 24" tall and 7" in diameter.

Yours for free if you take the whole thing. Cart and all.

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