Cor4eyh

Here's the stand of you guys suggest anything else let me know, the corners of the stand are supported with direct vertical support

 

 

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Starting to make some progress! Any advice or criticism is appreciated!

 

 

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Here is latest blk stand I built

This would be perfect!!!

 

 

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Here's the most recent finished stand

 

That's a gorgeous stand!

 

I'm looking for simple, very plain, painted black, the less molding the better. But thank you for the info.

 

 

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After realizing my tank stand that came with the tank was made of mdf and got wet and started swelling compromising the integrity of the stand I started planning my first tank stand build.

 

It seems easy just time consuming. But in this new build I'm desiring a bit more from the stand, I'd like to make the stand about 1 foot wider than the original stand, from what I've read as long as there is vertical support under the 4 corners of the rimless tank I should be good. So it's just extending the ends by 6 inches on both sides of the tank correct?

 

And as for skinning i purchased some 15/32 pre sanded plywood in a 4x4 sheet (easier for transporting) and have it all home and going to start soon.

 

My only question is the length of the stand if I'm using 2x4's as long as the 4 corners are on these supported 2x4 it doesn't necessarily matter if I just use longer 2x4's both front and back and that will make my stand bigger does it?

 

Also I'll be doing some plumbing as well and pretty much revamping my whole setup. But this time I'm taking my sweet time.

 

Fish and corals remain in a tub ran by my apex and ATO. And auto feeder.

 

Any other advice for a first time stand builder would be awesome!

 

Oh yea I'm also waterproofing this beast. No more crazy mistakes!

 

And also considering redoing my sump as well, where do you guys buy the glass from and or cut it with?

 

 

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can be dirty or used or whatever. 

 

Rebuilding my tank stand to include an ATO container just thinking a 10 gallon tank ish would work. Does anyone have one their getting rid of something about 10 gallons cube like would be good as well. let me know!

 

 

Not sure on what size your tank is or even where you are at but if close to the metro area I can help you whip out a 2x4 wood stand if need be. I have everything you need to do it but the 2x4s and screws......can make you one out of metal but that costs a few dollars more......

im in Portland up behind st Vincent's hospital and my table is 24x24x24 if love that msg me your number

 

 

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So woke up this morning and found a lot of water on the floor of the living room, the tank was still running but upon further investigation it seems as though my rodi was not going into the tank but near the tank. Off the side and onto the carpet. So normally most of you would probably just clean the mess and move on however my tank stand is made of what I think is particle board, and it was swelling now I'm sure it probably would be ok but I freaked drained the tank grabbed a tub filled it up and transferred everything into the tub fish and corals and all, so I'm waiting to hear back from the company I bought the tank and stand from and see what they say about its integrity, but I've considered a few times making my own stand however this would be my first stand and I'd like to seek the help of anyone experienced in making a stand to see if they might build it or help me build mine. Hopefully everything lives in the interim. But that's my morning how have you guys been?

 

 

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I finally got my dosing all dialed in really haven't done much to the tank other than refill the ato and the cal and alk dosing. Going to do a big 25 gallon water change soon and maybe get some more fish and inverts. I'm down to 4 fish :( something was killing them or they were dieing for some reason or another. Also have some fragging to do!

 

 

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I'm in!

 

 

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Watch for wierd worms or crabs at night. A red led will help you spot them. You could have a bad hitch hiker that has gotten bug enough to start eating things. I had a unicid worm in my 90 gallon that was takingbout fish.

Hmm that's crazy!! How did you catch it or kill it?

 

 

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So I've had some issues with random algae and now am having fish disappear. I'm getting frustrated and annoyed. I had at one point about 15 fish in down to 4. I went on vacation and when I came home I had 5 fish was missing a clown and my wrasse, of course I had a tank topper but the wrasse managed to jump through a small gap crazy fish! My pair of clowns were doing fine then also when I got back one of the 2 clowns is missing then I had 3 chromis like 3 days ago now I have 2. I'm thinking something is eating them. My water Chem is good

 

Kh 9.8

Cal 450

Nitrates .02

Nitrites 0

Ammonia 0.0

Phos .02

 

I'm considering pulling all my rocks and selling all my corals but maybe keeping a frag of each and start with conpletely new sand and new dry rock. Let the tank cycle with no fish or inverts and rebuild again. Any advice or disagreements or agreements?

 

I'm sad and frustrated to no end, but I'm not a quitter just wondering if I can fix it or if a good reset would be good.

 

 

Tank today

 

 

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Exact reason why I purchased my apex, it's a Jr but it does all I need it to so far

 

 

CR Setup

 

My setup is a typical calcium reactor. Solenoid, dual stage regulator, 5lb tank. Old school downflow.

 

I have a PH probe in the tank, and one on the effluent line.

 

 

The Event

 

I was at home depot yesterday on lunch break, APEX texted me

 

'CR_PH_VLOW' aka calcium reactor ph very low.

 

My reactor PH had deviated .5 lower from where the solenoid was supposed to shut it off.

 

It appeared my solenoid had failed, and not shut off the CO2,

 

Apex shut off my feed pump to protect the tank and sent the text.

 

What Actually Happened

 

Two things led to this event:

 

1) The effluent flow had visibly slowed down, yet the CO2 bubble count remained steady. This caused the PH to drop (same CO2, less water)

2) The solenoid failed to close. Safeguard 1 failed.

 

So the PH decreased because the flow decreased and the same amount of CO2 was applied.

 

Safeguard 2 kicked in and turned off the feed pump.

 

The Fix

 

Tried:

 

- Swapping out spare CR feed pump, same problem.

- Tested at connection before reactor connection, same slow flow issue.

 

Turns out the 1/4" line that feeds the reactor was clogged. Replaced the line for a quick flx.

 

Also I fiddled with the solenoid, it is working again now but up for replacement

 

 

Why tell this story?

 

Just because it is a good positive story of automation saving some headaches. At a minimum my reactor media would have been turned to mush, worst case SPS damage (ugh... I do see a milli pretty upset today, losing flesh, could have been worse).

 

APEX has saved my bacon more than once. If you have an apex and a PH probe you can do something similar and many other cool things.

 

Controllers can also tell you when you are out of CO2 if you don't happen to notice by the PH of the effluent. It is really a handy tool for a calcium reactor.

So here is the after photo it's still a bit messy but it's all secured and organized and with a moments glance I can tell what's to unplug..

 

 

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you may set it up right.... but things fail, and you may still have to remove the ties.... velcro is your cable management friend!! big fat strips work great on carpet for temp pathways as well.

So true!

 

 

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Man that's a great deal if any fall through I'll take it!

Yeah but the zip ties are cheap and if you set it up right you don't need to take it apart....

That's probably true, but I found those Velcro things for heck cheap and they're all reusable. But it works and is much neater now! Now if only I had a really big tank with more than enough room! Lol

Cool idea with the Velcro!

Thanks I thought it would allow for more longevity and easy to take apart.

Actually I ordered some of these because I hate when everything is all zip tied and then the moment comes you must cut through them to detach.

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001E1Y5O6/ref=ya_aw_oh_pii

 

So these are all velcroed and it's easy to detach much better!

LOL I know right? Believe it or not under all those cables is 1 eb8 1 eb4 and a battery backup surge protector. I spent a good 3 hours cleaning it and organizing it. It was like 3am when I finished. But am feeling much better about it. Now it's easy to remove the 4 main components that need cleaning every now and the .

I finally got fed up enough to take care of the cable situation. It started to go downhill when I got the apex, then I got a module, and another module, and controllers for the jebao etc etc etc. so reorganized and all on the back of the ATO container. Excited for the new Kessil to get here. I will post an after photo tomorrow.

 

Cable mess before

 

 

 

 

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Thanks Chris!

Some photos of today!

 

 

 

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Been in process of slowly overhauling my system. Got quite a few new items

 

Reef octopus skimmer classic 110

Apex Jr, almost a elite now aside from the actual brain part

Par 38 bulb and light mount for my fuge so my light no longer rests on the sump aquarium

A white cabinet to house all of the electronics and my auto top off tank now 11gallons previously 5 gallons.

Haven't finished the wire clean up yet but going to organize all the wires as well.

 

Going to be getting a kessil a360we for my birthday next month so a new light.

 

Went to cuttlefish a couple weeks ago and got a very healthy nice Kole tang, also last week had my missing clown fish, got him replaced Jeff is a great guy to work with. Got some frags cut and setup to grow and trade some. Things are really stabilizing and it's looking amazing!

I'm in please