Micah Posted March 24, 2020 Share Posted March 24, 2020 (edited) 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. Edited March 24, 2020 by Micah Added link to tank info/tagged people 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micah Posted March 24, 2020 Author Share Posted March 24, 2020 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. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albertareef Posted March 24, 2020 Share Posted March 24, 2020 Excited to see you back and interested to see what you do with that waterbox! Nice score on the mixing station... that was tempting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micah Posted March 24, 2020 Author Share Posted March 24, 2020 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micah Posted March 24, 2020 Author Share Posted March 24, 2020 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. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuncrestReef Posted March 24, 2020 Share Posted March 24, 2020 40 minutes ago, Micah said: 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. 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: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micah Posted March 24, 2020 Author Share Posted March 24, 2020 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuncrestReef Posted March 24, 2020 Share Posted March 24, 2020 33 minutes ago, Micah said: Great tip. Is that a quick-connect garden hose fitting you're using? It's a camlock fitting. I wrote up a detailed parts list for my whole mixing station on my R2R build thread: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/suncrestreefs-red-sea-reefer-xl-425-build.358990/post-6173194 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuncrestReef Posted March 24, 2020 Share Posted March 24, 2020 Also let me know if you need any Apex help or advice. I'm the guy who wrote the 8-part Apex tutorial series: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/neptune-apex-programming-tutorials.700483/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micah Posted March 24, 2020 Author Share Posted March 24, 2020 4 minutes ago, SuncrestReef said: Also let me know if you need any Apex help or advice. I'm the guy who wrote the 8-part Apex tutorial series: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/neptune-apex-programming-tutorials.700483/ Thanks. I'm a giant Apex nerd myself, but I'm sure I'll need some refreshers. Especially on things that are new since my last Apex. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lexinverts Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 22 hours ago, Micah said: 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. Welcome back! I’m still running your old frag tank, btw. Works great! Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micah Posted March 25, 2020 Author Share Posted March 25, 2020 Just now, Lexinverts said: Welcome back! I’m still running your old frag tank, btw. Works great! Andy Nice! I can't even remember having a frag tank. Was it a 40b? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lexinverts Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 8 minutes ago, Micah said: Nice! I can't even remember having a frag tank. Was it a 40b? Yes, drilled 40b and homemade stand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micah Posted March 25, 2020 Author Share Posted March 25, 2020 Just now, Lexinverts said: Yes, drilled 40b and homemade stand. Ahh yes. I remember now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The ReefBox Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 My man!!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheClark Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 Welcome back stranger! Glad to see you back at it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micah Posted April 3, 2020 Author Share Posted April 3, 2020 This thing is a monster!! I'm in love! Also, the tank and stand are pretty cool too. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micah Posted April 3, 2020 Author Share Posted April 3, 2020 Absofreakinglutely HUGE thank you to @CuttleFishandCoral for helping me haul this thing... Pretty sure I'm going to hurt tomorrow. RIP - My back. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micah Posted April 3, 2020 Author Share Posted April 3, 2020 Oh! and the sump is just as gorgeous! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The ReefBox Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 4 minutes ago, Micah said: Absofreakinglutely HUGE thank you to @CuttleFishandCoral for helping me haul this thing... Pretty sure I'm going to hurt tomorrow. RIP - My back. Why such a small tank ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micah Posted April 7, 2020 Author Share Posted April 7, 2020 Some progress updates. I build some stands for the garage. One for the sump and aux/frag/etc tank and another for the two 20g quarantine tanks. They'll be physically separated to keep contamination risk to a minimum. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micah Posted April 7, 2020 Author Share Posted April 7, 2020 Oh! I also ordered my skimmer.. OCTO Elite 150INT. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obrien.david.j Posted April 8, 2020 Share Posted April 8, 2020 I love my 200 INT. Works great, easy maintenance. (Yes, ignore the ugly cord jungle in this photo. Working on it.) I've got my skimmer in it's own tank to keep water height and flow consistent. Overflow from the main tank goes into this skimmer tank, which sits directly above the sump. A removable standpipe lets me adjust water level super easy. Cut/recut/etc a few tries, and then never had to change it again. This also acts as an easy tank to rescue any fish that try and go for thrill ride through the overflow plumbing. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micah Posted April 8, 2020 Author Share Posted April 8, 2020 Nice! I'll be doing something similar. I had the older version of this exact skimmer on my old tank and while I liked it, I think it was oversized for that tank and it never quite skimmed right unless I fed the tank unrealistically heavy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obrien.david.j Posted April 8, 2020 Share Posted April 8, 2020 I believe in heavy feeding. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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