temperate reef

[hobogato]

yep, i am planning a new tank. i have lots going on right now, so unlike most of the builds i do, this one will be slow.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09399.jpg

picked up this marineland lobster tank for $20, and thought it might make a good cold water reef. it is in great condition, just needs a little reworking and a custom cabinet so it matches my other tanks and furniture. it is a total volume of 110 gallons with the display tank made of double pane gas filled glass to prevent sweating. the sump is 1/2" acrylic and has built in bio-wheels and media trays. it has a small skimmer, but i will probably swap it out for the tunze skimmer i have sitting in the garage. the thermostat controlled chiller has less than a year of use on it, and can chill the tank well below the 55 degree water temp i will maintain.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09400.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09401.jpg

the display tank is 48x25x18 with a deep well in the bottom that ia 6" deep. more than likely, this will serve as a dsb

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09404.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09402.jpg

i will use one of the existing return lines for the return from the sump. the other two will be used for a closed loop for circulation.

it has two corner overflows

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09403.jpg

more than likely i will buy a double pane gas insulated piece of glass to fit the top of the tank to minimize heat absorption there and increase the efficiency of the chiller. the tank will be lit by led strips.

an even mix of these

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/R1742063_001.jpg

and these

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/R1742022_001.jpg

maybe some of these too

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/IMG_2064_-_______.jpg

and now, i give you some inspiration for this project: steve weast's current temperate reef

RlUD3jqBcUM

[reefreak]

Going to be following this build

[Big_Pun]

if anything you can keep beer in it lol!! glad you got cuz I was trying to talk my self into it.

[SABOB]

You're always doing something different,can't wait to follow this build.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[rrasco]

I see these things come up on CL from time to time, but $20! A steal!

[hobogato]

yeah, i just couldnt pass it up.

i am hoping the filtration will work perfectly since it is designed to house such a high bioload. it seems to be a good fit for all the feeding i will have to do for the non-photosynthic corals that will eventually go into the tank.

[Roo&Lis]

Score! This should be interesting.

[profntbtr]

keep in mind that they don't feed the lobsters after they get them, I used to clean the lobster tank at heb ,always had incredibly hi nitrates anyway.

[hobogato]

yeah, that is why i will be adding the dsb in the tank and will still do small water changes twice a week like i do on my other tanks. i know that bacterial filtration is not as effective at lower temperatures, so it will definitely be an experiment...

[hobogato]

i could also diy a sulfer denitrator if needed?

[alton]

Ace you must have a very understanding wife?

[hobogato]

actually, i had talked myself out of it and she said "you may as well get it for that price." yes, her exact words :)

[SABOB]

+1 for your Wife


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[reefreak]

Well wish you luck on this build ace!

[Sherita]

I wish I could find something like that close to me. I would love to set up a tank for catalina gobies. Beautiful little fish, but they need cooler temps than I can manage in my tanks :(

[txg8gxp]

wow, what a awesome deal

[hobogato]

they are definitely on my want list sherita :) check craigslist, i think you can find these tanks there occasionally.

[Sherita]

OHHHH! Can I pretend to own one of yours when you get them? Because I have NO room for another large tank.

Of course, I could set up a smaller tank and put a big chiller on it..........hmmmmmmm.

[alton]

actually, i had talked myself out of it and she said "you may as well get it for that price." yes, her exact words :)

Wait till she gets the electric bill after a month of that thing running

[Texreefer]

Wait till she gets the electric bill after a month of that thing running

Thats what I was thinking!

[hobogato]

well, hopefully once it gets the water down to the colder temp it wont have to work as hard since the entire tank including the top will be insulated glass and the sump area is enclosed by 3/4" mdf with laminate. i will be making a removable insulated panel to cover the opening to the sump. it is a 1/2 hp chiller. i am also hoping that with only led lighting and low heat input pumps, that will help as well.

[reefreak]

Have you thought of the substrate your going to use?

[hobogato]

i am planning on sand in the depression in the bottom for a dsb, but on top of that, i am not sure. more than likely it will be some kind of rock like i have seen in other cold water reefs.

[350gt]

looks like a cool build(literally), good luck......

[hobogato]

the little giant pump that came with the tank is a bit noisier than i can take, so i will be changing to a sicce syncra 3.0 as a return with a sicce syncra 5.0 as a closed loop. plugged in the chiller, and it works fine - pretty quiet as well. found a spot for it in the house, so in a week or two i will start working on the cabinetry.

[alton]

This would be a nice addition to your cold water tank

http://glassbox-design.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/pboylei-post.jpg

[hobogato]

yeah, i am sure that one is a bit out of my price range. beautiful tho

http://glassbox-design.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/pboylei-post.jpg

[hobogato]

oh, only about $20,000.00 (no that is not a typo) :lauging: i asked christy if we could get one and she said we would gladly accept it as a gift if you are buy alton :)

[kkiel02]

Holy cow. That's some serious cash for one fish. Pretty and all but for that $ you could get a car.

[Squiers007]

This should be really cool! (Haha, good pun eh...) Good luck with the build, I will definitely be following along.

Sent from my Ally using Tapatalk

[rrasco]

This should be really cool! (Haha, good pun eh...) Good luck with the build, I will definitely be following along.

Sent from my Ally using Tapatalk

You Canadian eh?

[hobogato]

am i gonna have to start keeping a tally? :lauging:


looks like a cool build(literally), good luck......



This should be really cool! (Haha, good pun eh...) Good luck with the build, I will definitely be following along.

Sent from my Ally using Tapatalk

[Bill S]

Why don't you get two, and breed them...

[RayAllen]

Awesome!! I have always wanted to do this myself, with a grocery store lobster tank. The inverts and interesting fish you will be able to keep is going to make this one cool tank, No Pun intended!

[hobogato]

i wish bill!

thanks ray

here is the plan for the woodwork

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/photobucket-2062-1332530136913.jpg

[hobogato]

another variation

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/photobucket-3460-1332534095309.jpg

[Europhyllia]

That is going to be fantastic! But it also makes me want to go out to eat...

[hobogato]

thanks, i guess i could just keep lobster - then we could eat fresh lobster when ever we want it :)


That is going to be fantastic! But it also makes me want to go out to eat...

[hobogato]

one final tweak, i think this is the design i will go with

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/projects/stand.jpg

[hobogato]

ok, i lied. i think this is the final design

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/stand.jpg

[Mr Cob]

can't wait to see this play out Ace, very creative and your mods tot he tank are super innovative. I would have never thought of ways to improve the efficiency of the chiller.

[hobogato]

got the new base in place underneath the stand, so i should be able to get some of the cabinet done today.

thanks again for your help donny and tony!

[Scutterborn]

Tagging along...

[hobogato]

well, the cabinet is almost done. just have a little finish work before sanding, staining and sealing

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC09457.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC09458.jpg

[reefreak]

Nice!!!

[SABOB]

Love the woodworking skills....keep the updates coming


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[hobogato]

thanks guys. got the cabinet pretty much finished except for some touch up work on the stain and finish. also got the back of the tank painted black.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC094601024x768.jpg

[hobogato]

got the tank moved into place yesterday. if the plumbing goes well, i will fill it with fresh water to test everything this evening. also ordered the led lights, they will be here in a couple of weeks.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09466.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09463.jpg

[Texreefer]

Nice work , looks good

[hobogato]

well, the leak test was 90% successful. a very small drip on one closed loop return line and the "o" ring on the closed loop pump is leaking. hopefully both will be pretty easy to fix.

[txg8gxp]

It is looking great, you do great wood work, I love the stand.

[hobogato]

thanks stephen. so it turns out that the tank had a very slow dripping leak in the front. the bottom is fiberglass, and the silicon seal holding the glass front to the fiberglass was coming loose. i resealed all the way around the bottom and up both corners that dont have an overflow, so we shall see if that fixed it tomorrow.

[Bill S]

This is such a cool idea...

[hobogato]

thanks bill

[hobogato]

leaks seem to be fixed and the exhaust fan for the chiller is installed. tomorrow i should be able to do some acrylic guards for the overflows and build the box that will house the lights. also decided to use texas holey rock and polished pebbles in the tank. i will also have to make some acrylic supports for the under gravel filter so it will support the rock. still have to install insulation on the plumbing, make an insulated panel to cover the opening to the sump and work on the drains to reduce the noise.

[Bill S]

Let me know if you need some holey rock. I'm often up in the hills walking lots. Just tell me exactly what you are looking for.

[reefreak]

Wow Ace This is really coming together!

[Sherita]

Ace, if you need it I have several very nice larger pieces of holey rock. I can send some pics if you need them, these things are showpiece in both size and appearance.

[txg8gxp]

Why texas holey rock?

[Squiers007]

Why texas holey rock?

Also curious about this? I have always heard to avoid Holey rock for SW tanks because it can leach heavy metals into the water... maybe this was mis-information...

[hobogato]

thanks for the offers bill and sherita.

i chose holey rock because i already have some really cool pieces that have been in salt water for years. i have heard that it can leach phosphates into your water, but i dont know if that is true.

[Mr Cob]

man that looks great.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09463.jpg

[hobogato]

thanks rob, i do miss having the guitars downstairs tho. probably is better for them to have them away from the humidity anyway...

[LuckySingh]

Looks really nice ace.. It matches with the looks of ur room aswell

[hobogato]

thanks lucky

had lots of little things to do to get this tank going, i was able to get most of them done this evening.

here are some pics of the plumbing that i finished yesterday - still have to wrap the pipes with insulation to prevent sweating

return plumbing

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09469.jpg

closed loop

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09470.jpg

first, i wanted to make the overflows more fish friendly, so i made some toothed covers for them

before:

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09467.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09468.jpg

after

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09472.jpg

i also had to make an add on chamber that will be fed by a small maxijet to house the skimmer, as the water level in the sump isnt high enough for it. sorry, didnt get pics of that

[hobogato]

next, i got the under gravel filter modified to accommodate the closed loop intake.

bottom level installed

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09473.jpg

live rock rubble placed between levels

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09474.jpg

top layer installed

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09475.jpg

rocks added

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09476.jpg

and some more pics of the rocks

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09480.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09482.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09483.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09484.jpg

from the end

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09481.jpg

from the top - you can see i also got the top panels finished (1/2" acrylic)

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09485.jpg

[reefreak]

This is looking great man

[Bill S]

This is just so cool. Lookin' great.

[Texreefer]

Ace, I have a Roll of Insulating wrap if you want it

[Regric25]

That looks HOT! :P

[hobogato]

thanks guys :D

mike, i already picked some up. thanks anyway.

[hobogato]

finished almost all of the little tasks today

got the plumbing insulated to prevent sweating

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09486.jpg

attached manifolds to the drains to spread out the flow and cut down on the noise

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09487.jpg

installed the removable insulated panel in the access opening to the sump

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09488.jpg

added insulation to the inside of the door to cut down on noise

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09489.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09490.jpg

added airlines to the drains to stop the flushing toilet sound

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09491.jpg

the tank is now full and the cycle officially begins. i will leave it at room temp for a couple of weeks and then start dropping the temp slowly. hopefully that will keep the initial cycling from taking too long.

all i have left to do is build the box for the led light strips - they should be here sometime after may 1st.

[hobogato]

got the cabinet for the lighting finished today. it will still be at least a week until the led strips arrive.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09546.jpg

also decided to test out the chiller. i started it at 1pm and the starting temp in the tank was 81. the tank is now 67 (64 in the sump) - so far so good, about 10 degrees to go.

[hobogato]

tank is 59 this morning with a cool compressor. the thermostat is set at 58. i will bump it down to 54 and see how it holds for a couple of days.

[hobogato]

well, it is keeping the tank at 55, but it is running for over an hour every few hours to do it. neither christy or i am too keen on that much noise and heat being dumped into the living room. so, i am going to pick up an inline chiller that can be plumbed into the return line and will sit outside the house (what's a couple more holes in the wall :) ). i will keep the chiller in the cabinet set 5 degrees higher than the chiller oustide so it can serve as a backup.

[ErikH]

LOL, I'm here at work..... When I started reading this and saw the tank had a chiller..... Then Todd told me Christy (sp?) was coming by to pick up a chiller, and was wondering why. I just finished the thread, and all I can add is: "Cooooool!"

[hobogato]

did she pick it up yet?

[hobogato]

got the new (to me) chiller installed and the tank is now down to 55 deg F. it is a tradewinds super 1/3 hp inline chiller, so i was able to redo the plumbing on the closed loop to send it outside thru the wall to the chiller. i will keep the chiller inside the cabinet set at 62 as a backup. since that is taken care of, i will now let the tank temp come up to 65 to speed up the cycling a little bit.

thanks again for the great deal on the chiller todd!

[Texreefer]

yep, i am planning a new tank. i have lots going on right now, so unlike most of the builds i do, this one will be slow

:clown::lauging::rofl::lauging::clown::rofl::innoc ent2:

[hobogato]

hey, this has taken me over a month - that is slow for me :D

[ErikH]

It would take most of us at least a month to even figure out how to mention to our wives that we will be putting holes in exterior walls. Ace probably had them drilled 5 minutes after the phone call with Todd, lol.

[LuckySingh]

It would take most of us at least a month to even figure out how to mention to our wives that we will be putting holes in exterior walls. Ace probably had them drilled 5 minutes after the phone call with Todd, lol.

Very true...lol

[hobogato]

lol

just a small update

the chiller is not running much at all to keep it at 65. i got the pipes well insulated

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09553.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09554.jpg

and built the insulation box around the pipes - this will be covered with a box that matches the siding of the house.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09555.jpg

the skimmer is already producing some good stuff, so i think the cycle is going faster than i had hoped. this may be because the rock i used was from an existing system that was allowed to dry out - lots of die off on the rock to fuel the bacteria. i still need to build and inclosure for the skimmer chiller and the controller and clean up the wiring out there.

[Bill S]

Ace, I would put a cover of some kind over the chiller. They are NOT designed to be exposed to the elements.

[hobogato]

yeah, that is what i was saying at the end of the last post, i just mistyped "skimmer" instead of "chiller"


Ace, I would put a cover of some kind over the chiller. They are NOT designed to be exposed to the elements.

[ElChicano]

Sweet set up.. Still cant get over the fact that you got it for $20.

[Bill S]

"Skimmer. Chiller. Same thing".

[hobogato]

cycle is progressing:

Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 20 ppm
Nitrate - 10 ppm

[Scutterborn]

Moving right along, I see...

[hobogato]

got the covers built for the chiller and controller

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09556.jpg

also got the wood covering for the plumbing done - will be painting the house this summer, so that will get painted at the same time

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09557.jpg

also got all the wires taken care of

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09558.jpg

the front panel of the controller cover swivels open when needed

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09559.jpg

[kkiel02]

Looking real good! I looked at one of these tanks on another site and all I can say is WOW. The anemones you can get are soooo colorful it's amazing.

[hobogato]

thanks kevin

nitrites are down to 10 ppm

[Texreefer]

PUT SOMETHING IN IT ALREADY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[hobogato]

still waiting on lights...

bumped the temp down to 58 this morning.

nitrites should be near 0 now, i will test again when the lights come in. i already have some corals waiting for me at a vendor on the west coast :)

[hobogato]

well, i was not planning on adding anything to the tank until the led lights were in and the nitrates were dropping. sometimes things dont work out as planned. elegant reef got a waratah anemone today, and they are a temperate species - i just couldnt pass it up.

it grabbed onto the rock as soon as i put it into the tank and opened up perfectly. i have a warm white pc lamp just over this area of the tank for now (even tho it really doesnt need it).

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09575.jpg

nitrites are 0 and nitrates only got up to 40 ppm.

[Texreefer]

sweet!

[Scutterborn]

I fell as though I need to ask this question for my own education. I in no way feel as though you have made a snap or un educated decision with this addition. Now that I'm done with my disclaimer, on to the question. I had always been warned away from adding a Nem until the tank is "fully" matured. Swings in nitrates and ammonia can stress them too bad. Is this mitigated by the fact that the reef is a temperate environment? I would assume the bacteria strains would be different, considering the huge difference in temperatures. Again, I mean no disrespect. I'm just very curious...

[reefreak]

Wow this is a deep red

[allan]

I fell as though I need to ask this question for my own education. I in no way feel as though you have made a snap or un educated decision with this addition. Now that I'm done with my disclaimer, on to the question. I had always been warned away from adding a Nem until the tank is "fully" matured. Swings in nitrates and ammonia can stress them too bad. Is this mitigated by the fact that the reef is a temperate environment? I would assume the bacteria strains would be different, considering the huge difference in temperatures. Again, I mean no disrespect. I'm just very curious...

Were there a marine equivalent to king midus... Ace would be him.

Ace, son of Neptune!

[hobogato]

hardly allan

if this were a tropical reef i would agree with you 100% ben. however, like you pointed out, a temperate reef is much different. everything happens much slower, so food and waste doesnt break down and pollute the water as fast. as a result, mechanical removal is very important. in talking with someone really experienced with this kind of setup, i was told that there will never be enough bacterial filtration for a temperate tank. he even suggested that i could begin slowly adding livestock as soon as the ammonia was gone from the tank (i just couldnt make that much of a leap of faith). the organisms that live in temperate water are also not used to the pristine, low nutrient water that we keep in a tropical tank. i am really a beginner in this venture, but i have been reading quite a bit :)

as far as the anemone goes, the picture does it no justice. it is actually more of a true red (not as much of an orange tint as the pic shows).

[Scutterborn]

I see. This is something I have no experience and find it very interesting. Thanks for explaining to a noob! Lol. Also, I tore down the old Red Lobster sign at their location on Walzem the other day and considered calling you to see if you wanted the 8' red claw from the old sign to mount above your tank! Hahaha!

[hobogato]

:lauging: i dont think christy would appreciate that interior decorating idea, even if it does fit the them :D

[Scutterborn]

I kinda felt the same way. That's why I let 'em haul it off the scrap yard with rest of the sign.. Lol.

[hobogato]

had to tweak the plumbing a bit today.

there was an incessant humming because the sicce 5 was hard plumbed thru the wall to the chiller. our bedroom, situated right above the room that houses the tank, seemed to be the perfect distance for that hum to resonate right up the wall. to alleviate the issue, i shortened the plumbing from the wall and connected the output of the pump to the input of the plumbing to the chiller with a large loop of clear tubing.

noise problem solved! now i just have to re-insulate the plumbing and the new loop of tubing.

[hobogato]

even with foam wrap on most of the plumbing, there was quite a bit of condensation. to solve that issue, i insulated the entire fiberglass bottom and all of the plumbing with cotton/foil insulation. temp is now set at 56 F and no condensation at all.

looks a little like the lunar lander :D

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09576.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09577.jpg

[jrossjr79]

I as well will be following this build, seems very interesting.

[Scutterborn]

Houston, I believe we've solved the problem...

[zerreissen]

That is nuts, Ace! (In a good way, of course!!) Glad to see it coming along so nicely!

[hobogato]

thank for the comments

the led strips finally got here, so i put them on the tank this evening.

here they are installed into the light box

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09586.jpg

moonlight strip

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09584.jpg

dawn/dusk

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09583.jpg

daylight

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09582.jpg

here is the tank under moonlight

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09589.jpg

dawn/dusk

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09591.jpg

daylight

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09593.jpg

[reefreak]

Wow speechless!

[Bill S]

That is one freaky looking tank...

[Zack]

Hey Ace, kind of a noob question but can you shoot me a link of what you're using to power those LEDs and how you wired them together?

[hobogato]

thanks jeremy


That is one freaky looking tank...

it is a little different, huh?

zack, i ordered the power supply from the same vendor as the rolls of leds. it is just a 12v 2amp ac/dc converter. the strips have contacts every third emitter, so you just cut the ribbon at that contact and solder the leads from the ac/dc converter to those contacts. you can wire the strips in series or parallel, it really doesnt matter because there are resistors built into the led strips to control the current thru the emitters.

[Squiers007]

Looking good! How's the cycle coming along? Any ideas on when you will start stocking it?

[hobogato]

it seems to be pretty much done, but with cold water tanks it is a little different. because of the temperature, you never get a huge population of bacteria, so every time the bioload changes, there will be an adjustment period for the bacterial populations. it is similar to tropical tanks, but can effect the tank more drastically. i have one small waratah anemone in the tank atm, and will be adding some small colonial anemones and a green surf anemone in the next week or two (waiting on shipment from a vendor). eventually, i will start to add a few fish slowly. everything has to be done slowly to avoid overloading the small population of bacteria.

[Sherita]

Ace, where did you order those led strips from? They are exactly what I need for one of my many projects.

[Zack]

Sherita if you type in blue led strip on ebay you will get a bunch of results and different lengths of LEDs. Heres one for example.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Waterproof-Blue-3528-SMD-300-LED-Light-5M-Flexible-Strip-Lamp-12V-2A-Car-Auto-/110877803179?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19d0d502ab#ht_3202wt_955

[hobogato]

sent you both a pm with light info

[ElChicano]

Looks Amazing, this build has been great to watch. Loving the led lights. Have been thinking about doing something similar with the RGB leds. Here is my question how have you managed to still be allowed to live in your home. . Lol ..

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2

[hobogato]

thanks hugo - i am thinking of adding at least some reds - maybe some greens as well

had a moment of panic yesterday - christy called me over to the tank and asked "is all of this water on the floor from condensation?"

a quick taste test (this will be even more gross in a minute) and i immediately knew it was salt water...

searched everywhere and found no leak, then i heard a strange bubbling noise from inside the sump. yep, the skimmer was set to skim very wet for initial breakin. now, a few weeks later and food being added to the tank daily for the anemone, the skimmer is going crazy and overflowing. it is in the sump, so that is no big deal, except the skimmer slid a tad forward and the collection cup is touching the insulated panel that covers the sump. this is allowing the overflowing skimmate to run down the panel, then down the front of the origial stand inside the skin and out the bottom of the tank on to the floor (remember the taste test?) yuk!

all fixed now and waiting for my first shipment of critters soon :D

[Texreefer]

lends new meaning to the deltec phrase "Got Skimmate?"

[ErikH]

Love it Ace.

[Bill S]

Yum!

[reefreak]

Oh nice lol atleast the tank wasn't loaded with fish

[hobogato]

the tank is still chugging along. i have a nice diatom bloom going, so i am really looking forward to my order coming in since i got some snails and a sea star. hopefully it will be in this week. in the mean time, i decided that it was too blue. i ordered some green and some red led strips just like the others i used. i will be adding a few in with the blue leds to reduce the intense blueness and more in as another stage in the lights. off to solder now...

[hobogato]

finished the lights yesterday morning, but had a very busy day afterward, so had to wait to post pics. i am very pleased with the results :)

moonlight (didnt change)

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09584.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09589.jpg

dawn/dusk (lost ones group already - bad resistor. i may replace it later)

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09707.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09710.jpg

mid morning/evening

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09708.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09711.jpg

full daylight

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09709.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09712.jpg

[KING]

man the light look sweet ..whats the temp at right now>?

[Mr Cob]

nice bro, love those lights

[hobogato]

thanks leroy and rob

the tank is running at 58 degrees F - that will be the temp i keep it at.

[KING]

this may be a bum question..but i was just thinking wen u get the fish for this tank. do they come from tanks in that temp rang or reg... acclimating would b crazy long>? Or how does this work..

sorry if you already answered didn't see

[hobogato]

yep, the fish that will go in here are temperate fish. they are not the fish you would get at a normal lfs.

[hobogato]

well, this tank should get a lot more interesting on thursday :D

[allan]

Hey ace,

I was reading a national geographic the other day that focused on the west coast tide pools. There were plenty of interesting creatures, one in particular was a brilliant green nem.

From what I remember growing up, those tide pools were plenty cold. Will you be stocking any of those animals?

[hobogato]

funny you mention that anemone, i should have one of them on thursday, among other things...

the business i am ordering from collects from those tide pools as well as ordering from other sources.

[hobogato]

got a small shipment of critters today.

there are two fish, but they have been in hiding since i let them go in the tank, so pics of them will have to come later.

here is the waratah anemone i already had

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09740.jpg

here is a baby painted anemone and the limpet that came in

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09739.jpg

a little closer on the nem

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09730.jpg

baby green surf anemone

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09738.jpg

jewel anemones (colonial)

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09742.jpg

strawberry anemones (colonial)

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09741.jpg

i also got some snails and a blood star, but it is in an area where i can get a pic atm.

[rrasco]

They look awesome. How many of each did you get?

[Bill S]

Very, very cool.

[Texreefer]

this will be really nice looking... I like it

[hobogato]

thanks guys.

i just got one of each robert. the colonial anemones will reproduce and take up some space with their colonies, the waratah will spit out babies to colonize the rock around it and the panted and green surf anemones will get much bigger.

[Scutterborn]

Those look sweet! I can't stand the wait until my tanks ready for a tropical nem...

[rrasco]

Interesting. I thought you got several of the jewel and strawberry, but I guess that's just one 'colony' right? Kind of like coral colony.

The painted nem looks wicked cool.

[hobogato]

yep, there are five or six of each type of colonial anemone right now. gave everyone a nice meal today, still havent seen the fish tho.

[hobogato]

this tank is just chugging along. i dont think the two fish made it, as i haven't seen them since the week they were added. the starfish was also mia (and presumed dead) until a few days ago. the snails did a great job cleaning up the algal bloom, now i need to get some swimmers in there

these pics are with all of the blue, green and red led strips on - no whites

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC00173.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC00174.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC00175.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC00184.jpg

and these are with all of the leds on, including the white strips

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC00197.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC00194.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC00193.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC00192.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC00189.jpg

[Mr Cob]

really cool tank man, what's the temp holding at?

[hobogato]

58 F the tank is so well insulated that the chiller hardly runs. our electricity bill didnt really change with the addition of this tank. that doesnt sound that cold, but as soon as you get your hand in the tank you realize it is a whole different ballgame than our tropical reef tanks :)

[Mr Cob]

Yeah, that's cold! Just lastnight I had my hands in the 85g which is running at 79-82 right now (82 at that specific moment). I then messed around in the 220 and it seemed so cold and was at 76...so I can only imagine the difference of a tank running at 58!

[zaquanh_09]

finished almost all of the little tasks today


added airlines to the drains to stop the flushing toilet sound

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/coldwater%20reef/DSC09491.jpg

the tank is now full and the cycle officially begins. i will leave it at room temp for a couple of weeks and then start dropping the temp slowly. hopefully that will keep the initial cycling from taking too long.

all i have left to do is build the box for the led light strips - they should be here sometime after may 1st.

can i do this for a over flow box ?

if i get you dimensions can you cut some acrylic for me so i can make a cover ?

[zaquanh_09]

thanks hugo - i am thinking of adding at least some reds - maybe some greens as well

had a moment of panic yesterday - christy called me over to the tank and asked "is all of this water on the floor from condensation?"

a quick taste test (this will be even more gross in a minute) and i immediately knew it was salt water...

searched everywhere and found no leak, then i heard a strange bubbling noise from inside the sump. yep, the skimmer was set to skim very wet for initial breakin. now, a few weeks later and food being added to the tank daily for the anemone, the skimmer is going crazy and overflowing. it is in the sump, so that is no big deal, except the skimmer slid a tad forward and the collection cup is touching the insulated panel that covers the sump. this is allowing the overflowing skimmate to run down the panel, then down the front of the origial stand inside the skin and out the bottom of the tank on to the floor (remember the taste test?) yuk!

all fixed now and waiting for my first shipment of critters soon :D


i like your threads haha ,

so with my skimmer if i adjust it to closed theres isnt any foam or water if i open it to much it pretty much fills my bucket with water did it twice ,

i know i need to find my point where its just foam right ? i took my anenome out of the tank in fear it was going , my water and skimmed foam has been pretty clear , i dont think this is due to me taking it out , but i also had alot of diatoms , so i cut down on food and moved things around a bit , im not sure what all im asking , i guess am i doing this right? lol

[hobogato]

yep, some skimmers can be difficult to adjust and even the oils on your hands can cause them to go crazy.

[zaquanh_09]

ive seen alot where it should be brown foam? mine is a nice white foam ? any input or is it just clean because i only have 4 fish and few inverts. no anemone

[zaquanh_09]

sorry for thread jack , ps tank is so cool , i saw one on fish kings lol very cool stuff

[Zack]

ive seen alot where it should be brown foam? mine is a nice white foam ? any input or is it just clean because i only have 4 fish and few inverts. no anemone

Could be breaking in still. Mine had white foam for roughly a week. Now it has a nice nasty brown foam head and produces some pretty stinky skimmate

[reefreak]

looking pretty clean ace

[adolph_09]

any updates on this tank?

[hobogato]

wow, it has been a long time since i updated this! really hasn't kept my interest, and it is up for sale, but it doesn't look like anyone is interested in buying it. so, i have been slowly raising the temp to acclimate the anemones to warmer, sub-tropical temperature. the plan is to go ahead and try an octopus if things work out. starting to research species that will be a good fit now.

[Sherita]

It's a neat tank Ace. I wish I could figure out how to replicate it on a much smaller scale, for catalina gobies. But, I simply do NOT need another tank (but I can wish).

I can't wait to see your octo, hardly anyone keeps them.

[hobogato]

new direction coming soon for this tank. no longer temperate and no octopus. new thread will be started.