acharpenter
Pitas' Pita
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Bejeesus this is beautiful!!!!!
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TCMAS Spring Saltwater Expo 2026
The pre-sale forum is open for the spring expo!First, read the pre-sale rules!Then head to the pre-sale forum
Livestuff 180 Gal Build (1 Viewer)
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jlanger
@thatfishcookieguy
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Without having been under there before, the photos look like they're a vertically compressed image of a regular-sized room.
OP
OP
So have had some ( like 2 
)inquires about heating the tank water. Being a plumber helped some with this project. It's simple but like always
there's a risk.
1. Tie into the water heater. Here I removed the drain valve and installed fittings to give me a opening for the new return line. Have a valve for obvious
reasons and a swing check valve (which I had to disable because pump would not open the flapper for some reason).
2. I ran a 1/2" pex line (insulated it and the house piping) from nearest house hot line to the sump. This has 2 benefits , water to heat the tank and can help with keeping hot water though the house piping (only when heating the tank of coarse).
3. When I had the sump made for me (Midwest custom aquariums) this idea was in my head already and I had the pump ,so I had a dedicated area baffled off.
With the scrap pieces I acquired from Chris. I drilled ,cut , sanded every sharp hole edge and glued the black supports into the sump. I installed them with holes being offset to ease the piping into a coil. Then coiled 25ft of the 1/2" pex into sump then out of the sump heading to the pump.
4. I had a pump lying around that made this job less expensive. I installed pump in the piping coming out of the sump so the water would be on the cool side ( save on wear and tear). Ran piping back to the heater to the valve in photo #1. This pump is adjustable from using 2 to 5 watts with flow increasing with the watts used. I have it set at 2 setting. So even if it runs all day long I'm only using 48 watts of power. But it runs much less then that
and since the water heater is only boosting the return water from 75 to 80 deg to 120 deg its not the bad on the heater.
After getting this all installed and before the new sump went on line to the fish tank ( old system still running) I started the new return pump as a loop back to sump and started the heating system. I monitored the temp for about a mouth and notice that I could not have it just run freely just off apex alone ,it had to be tuned down as to not spike the temp in the sump. So I installed this set up so a could throttle the valve down and adjusted pump speed limiting the flow of hot water though the coil. So to see what going on with all this I installed the gauges so fine turning could be accomplished, one shows in coming temp the other out going. You can see valve is turned more off then on.
This system has been up and running for about 1 1/2 years including the testing time and I believe it has saved me some money.
As for the tank its has been going well. The flatworms are still around but really have to look to find them. Have not noticed any negative results from them except me being able to sell or give away any coral that's been growing. @Gary (cyclone reef) did a really nice video last march. check it out.
That's the first time being interviewed and taped so I had some brain farts in my answers to his questions ( past injury didn't help either)
See if you can find them.
Not good at the "here" stuff so you may have to search for it. Its on here somewhere. Sorry
Most of the fish I have had for awhile (yrs shown) but not sure on how old they are.
2 Clowns 13 yrs Something fishy They were very small when I got them
1 Randell Goby 11 yrs Discovery Aquatics Actually found receipt 4/15/2010
1 Hippo Tang 7 yrs ? Discovery Aquatics Jay got this guy from a tank tear down
1 Yellow Tang 8 yrs ? Discovery Aquatics
1 Blue Green Chromis 7 yrs? Discovery Aquatics last one left of 5
1 Convict Tang 3 yrs From Bschowa 7/2018
1 Tomini Tang 3 yrs From Bschowa 7/2018
1 Pintail Wrasse 1+ yr From Eric ( Rendgrish) 8/2020
1 tail spot Benny 1+ yr From Eric ( Rendgrish) 9/2020
2 Flame Angles 5-6 yrs?? Saltwater Empire
1 Marble (checker) Wrasse 1yr Reef collective
1 Yellow Coris Wrasse 1yr Reef Collective
1 cleaner wrasse 6 to 7yr Saltwater Empire
The most resent additions have been a Checker , Pintail, and yellow Coris wrasses. All doing well and get alone for the most part.
The resent addition of corals most are doing well.
It's also been time for a lighting change. I have had Radion Gen 1 since 2011 adding T 5s about 2+ years ago. After going back and forth on what to get I decided on the Radion G5 XR15 Pro (6). Have not installed them yet but will work on that his winter. I do nothing fast in this hobby except spend money.
Sorry for the rambling. Love this club
)inquires about heating the tank water. Being a plumber helped some with this project. It's simple but like alwaysthere's a risk.
1. Tie into the water heater. Here I removed the drain valve and installed fittings to give me a opening for the new return line. Have a valve for obvious
reasons and a swing check valve (which I had to disable because pump would not open the flapper for some reason).
2. I ran a 1/2" pex line (insulated it and the house piping) from nearest house hot line to the sump. This has 2 benefits , water to heat the tank and can help with keeping hot water though the house piping (only when heating the tank of coarse).
3. When I had the sump made for me (Midwest custom aquariums) this idea was in my head already and I had the pump ,so I had a dedicated area baffled off.
With the scrap pieces I acquired from Chris. I drilled ,cut , sanded every sharp hole edge and glued the black supports into the sump. I installed them with holes being offset to ease the piping into a coil. Then coiled 25ft of the 1/2" pex into sump then out of the sump heading to the pump.
4. I had a pump lying around that made this job less expensive. I installed pump in the piping coming out of the sump so the water would be on the cool side ( save on wear and tear). Ran piping back to the heater to the valve in photo #1. This pump is adjustable from using 2 to 5 watts with flow increasing with the watts used. I have it set at 2 setting. So even if it runs all day long I'm only using 48 watts of power. But it runs much less then that
and since the water heater is only boosting the return water from 75 to 80 deg to 120 deg its not the bad on the heater.
After getting this all installed and before the new sump went on line to the fish tank ( old system still running) I started the new return pump as a loop back to sump and started the heating system. I monitored the temp for about a mouth and notice that I could not have it just run freely just off apex alone ,it had to be tuned down as to not spike the temp in the sump. So I installed this set up so a could throttle the valve down and adjusted pump speed limiting the flow of hot water though the coil. So to see what going on with all this I installed the gauges so fine turning could be accomplished, one shows in coming temp the other out going. You can see valve is turned more off then on.
This system has been up and running for about 1 1/2 years including the testing time and I believe it has saved me some money.
As for the tank its has been going well. The flatworms are still around but really have to look to find them. Have not noticed any negative results from them except me being able to sell or give away any coral that's been growing. @Gary (cyclone reef) did a really nice video last march. check it out.
That's the first time being interviewed and taped so I had some brain farts in my answers to his questions ( past injury didn't help either)
See if you can find them.
Not good at the "here" stuff so you may have to search for it. Its on here somewhere. Sorry
Most of the fish I have had for awhile (yrs shown) but not sure on how old they are.
2 Clowns 13 yrs Something fishy They were very small when I got them
1 Randell Goby 11 yrs Discovery Aquatics Actually found receipt 4/15/2010
1 Hippo Tang 7 yrs ? Discovery Aquatics Jay got this guy from a tank tear down
1 Yellow Tang 8 yrs ? Discovery Aquatics
1 Blue Green Chromis 7 yrs? Discovery Aquatics last one left of 5
1 Convict Tang 3 yrs From Bschowa 7/2018
1 Tomini Tang 3 yrs From Bschowa 7/2018
1 Pintail Wrasse 1+ yr From Eric ( Rendgrish) 8/2020
1 tail spot Benny 1+ yr From Eric ( Rendgrish) 9/2020
2 Flame Angles 5-6 yrs?? Saltwater Empire
1 Marble (checker) Wrasse 1yr Reef collective
1 Yellow Coris Wrasse 1yr Reef Collective
1 cleaner wrasse 6 to 7yr Saltwater Empire
The most resent additions have been a Checker , Pintail, and yellow Coris wrasses. All doing well and get alone for the most part.
The resent addition of corals most are doing well.
It's also been time for a lighting change. I have had Radion Gen 1 since 2011 adding T 5s about 2+ years ago. After going back and forth on what to get I decided on the Radion G5 XR15 Pro (6). Have not installed them yet but will work on that his winter. I do nothing fast in this hobby except spend money.
Sorry for the rambling. Love this club
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OP
OP
Do it! Very low maintenance compared to my sps tank
Amazing job. You mentioned that you would get a temperature spike if you didn't have a valve to adjust the flow. How much of a spike did you get? Are you using 1/2" or 3/4" pipe in your in-sump coil? I've considered this as well and I've wondered if it is better to have the higher surface to volume ratio with 1/2" or slower flow of 3/4".
OP
OP
It's just 1/2" and I have a valve turned way down. I don't have spikes anymore because of throttling the valve down. I have temp gages to show the in coming and out going Temps at the sump. Works great for me and heating around 260+gal or water.
OP
OP
Nem tank has nems.
Looking great, Scott. Can’t wait to see it in person come April 30, garage sale day!!
OP
OP
So for those of you who were at meet garage sale/meeting ( Thanks for attending) I had mentioned the tank was having signs of ICK showing up a few weeks before the meeting.
So I had started to take this seriously and got a UV going running at 260 gph for parasites. I also was planning on adding a finer filter in my filter pad holder. I had found 5 micron sheet filter stock. @RSnodgrass had informed me that to filter out suspended ick you need a 1 micron filter. So I sent back the 5 and ordered the 1 micron sheets. During the mouth of April the fish (not all) were showing signs and rubbing on rocks and such with this Ick problem.. At the meeting @Coolbobjoe said to added Metroplex and focus to the fish food too. Funny my wife had found some Metroplex on the free table at the meeting. Bonus. So I got some focus and feed the same as always with the additions of Blackworm to the mix.
So to update. Things are looking very positive. All signs have ceased and all the fish looking happy and acting normal. But in no way will I stop any of the above actions for awhile. They are now a part of the tank care. I may weed off the metroplex in a few months and see. Thanks all and Happy reefing.
So I had started to take this seriously and got a UV going running at 260 gph for parasites. I also was planning on adding a finer filter in my filter pad holder. I had found 5 micron sheet filter stock. @RSnodgrass had informed me that to filter out suspended ick you need a 1 micron filter. So I sent back the 5 and ordered the 1 micron sheets. During the mouth of April the fish (not all) were showing signs and rubbing on rocks and such with this Ick problem.. At the meeting @Coolbobjoe said to added Metroplex and focus to the fish food too. Funny my wife had found some Metroplex on the free table at the meeting. Bonus. So I got some focus and feed the same as always with the additions of Blackworm to the mix.
So to update. Things are looking very positive. All signs have ceased and all the fish looking happy and acting normal. But in no way will I stop any of the above actions for awhile. They are now a part of the tank care. I may weed off the metroplex in a few months and see. Thanks all and Happy reefing.
Coolbobjoe
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Very happy to hear! I swear by the metro/focus regime for any new fish as well as all possible signs of illness along with doubling up my UVs. Looking forward to showing you what I did with that UV unit I bought off ya before you realized you might need it
still deciding how to implement into the shark system but they aren't excactly ich susceptible either so that's low on that build list.
I would like to hear more about this “shark system”
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All will be revealed at the meeting in less than a month
I will let on to this. The filter system is running full bore minus the skimmer and a 100 gallon stock tank was added on after a test damsel survived in the deep sand bed chamber. It now holds my first true large saltwater rescue: Mr. Grumpy Grouper (Miniatus.) Ate the first night he was with me!
OP
OP
Little over due update.
Things have been going well but still not any great growth on any newer LPS I have picked up, yet only a couple looses. So as for the ick issue I have not seen any indications since the new filters and UV have been installed this last spring. I would really like to take the 1 micro filters off line as it cleans the water to much hence the lack of growth on some corals I'm guessing. My main issue is I have to thin some corals and yet I still have flatworms. They still have not caused any issues or problems since they showed up, I now really have to look hard to find any. Hoping the fishes are eating them. So I cant even give this stuff away so it will be sad the have to toss them. Anybody have any better options? No I'm not starting over that's way to much work.
I'm guessing I finally have lost my old Randell Goby 9 Purchased from Jake at Discovery Aquatics when it was in Anoka. I have not seen him in awhile thought he has gone missing in the past, but was not looking well the last time I saw him.
Things have been going well but still not any great growth on any newer LPS I have picked up, yet only a couple looses. So as for the ick issue I have not seen any indications since the new filters and UV have been installed this last spring. I would really like to take the 1 micro filters off line as it cleans the water to much hence the lack of growth on some corals I'm guessing. My main issue is I have to thin some corals and yet I still have flatworms. They still have not caused any issues or problems since they showed up, I now really have to look hard to find any. Hoping the fishes are eating them. So I cant even give this stuff away so it will be sad the have to toss them. Anybody have any better options? No I'm not starting over that's way to much work.
I'm guessing I finally have lost my old Randell Goby 9 Purchased from Jake at Discovery Aquatics when it was in Anoka. I have not seen him in awhile thought he has gone missing in the past, but was not looking well the last time I saw him.
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BlindSwordsman
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My tank had some flat worms before I redid the whole tank (and dipped and scrubbed everything during the transfer). I couldn't get rid of them by other ways. So, when I saw something else going with the tank, I thought it was a good time as ever to redo it (and someone thought I was bored and just wanted something to do 
). I used Flatworm Exit (if I get the name right). I even over dosed that stuff and they always came back (from eggs, I believe). I read that you could have some luck in keeping them under control with fish like yellow coris, melanurus wrasse, green spotted mandarin, (and I did have the yellow coris and melanurus at the time too if I remember it correctly) .. But it can also be hit and miss with these fish as well. Some flat worms can be big and killed off my torch, I believe.
). I used Flatworm Exit (if I get the name right). I even over dosed that stuff and they always came back (from eggs, I believe). I read that you could have some luck in keeping them under control with fish like yellow coris, melanurus wrasse, green spotted mandarin, (and I did have the yellow coris and melanurus at the time too if I remember it correctly) .. But it can also be hit and miss with these fish as well. Some flat worms can be big and killed off my torch, I believe.
12 years on a gobie... that's gotta be a life expectancy for a small fish like that I'd think.
OP
OP
Yep I have one of these. It may be the reason I don't see flatworm much, but like I said this particular type of flatworm has not bothered anything that I can tell or gotten out of control. It is what it is. May get around to a overhall of some rock work and thinning of corals and vermided snails.
OP
OP
Wow!! Guess I'm lacking on posting anything.. AGAIN! After reading this you'll know why. I suck at it.
So I had started feeding home made food in Feb of 2023. Things seemed to be going fine till it wasn't. Long story short, guessing the food I made did not have a high enough nutritional value and ended up watching some fish getting skinny and lost a couple. Or maybe they just got old. This same food ended up raising my N3O and Pho4 to a very high level. This took awhile to notice for me anyway. It was the only change I had made to the tank. So I had tested the water that had food in it and found the levels very high. I stopped that feeding and started feeding store bought frozen cubes again.
I'm guessing ( I know it is) it is high levels of N3O and Pho4 that is the cause for my coral lose. This did not sit well with me as the tank in late 2022 was looking great with things finally growing and happy, so I just ended up ignoring it to much. I've now been working at it slowly with water changes, sand cleanings, some GFO and just spending time with the tank more dealing with the basic items trying to get motivated to get back into it. Going to a couple meetings lately is a really great way to get motivated.
As for the ick I'm sure its still there, but the fish are looking fine and heathy. I took the UV off line a couple months ago and still watching. I'll maybe get a full tank pic up soon and maybe sign up to host a meeting this spring.
Current Fish
Hippo Tang
Yellow Tang
Tomini Tang
Yellow watchman Gobie with pistal shrimp
2 Clowns
4 Royal Grammas
2 Flame angles
Coral
Large bubble coral
Cabbage leather
Couple different grand polys
GSP
Kenya Tree
Purple green frogspawn
Small Orange hammer came back from the dead
large hairy mushrooms
plus some others.
So I had started feeding home made food in Feb of 2023. Things seemed to be going fine till it wasn't. Long story short, guessing the food I made did not have a high enough nutritional value and ended up watching some fish getting skinny and lost a couple. Or maybe they just got old. This same food ended up raising my N3O and Pho4 to a very high level. This took awhile to notice for me anyway. It was the only change I had made to the tank. So I had tested the water that had food in it and found the levels very high. I stopped that feeding and started feeding store bought frozen cubes again.
I'm guessing ( I know it is) it is high levels of N3O and Pho4 that is the cause for my coral lose. This did not sit well with me as the tank in late 2022 was looking great with things finally growing and happy, so I just ended up ignoring it to much. I've now been working at it slowly with water changes, sand cleanings, some GFO and just spending time with the tank more dealing with the basic items trying to get motivated to get back into it. Going to a couple meetings lately is a really great way to get motivated.
As for the ick I'm sure its still there, but the fish are looking fine and heathy. I took the UV off line a couple months ago and still watching. I'll maybe get a full tank pic up soon and maybe sign up to host a meeting this spring.
Current Fish
Hippo Tang
Yellow Tang
Tomini Tang
Yellow watchman Gobie with pistal shrimp
2 Clowns
4 Royal Grammas
2 Flame angles
Coral
Large bubble coral
Cabbage leather
Couple different grand polys
GSP
Kenya Tree
Purple green frogspawn
Small Orange hammer came back from the dead
large hairy mushrooms
plus some others.
Thanks for sharing the ups and downs!Wow!! Guess I'm lacking on posting anything.. AGAIN! After reading this you'll know why. I suck at it.
So I had started feeding home made food in Feb of 2023. Things seemed to be going fine till it wasn't. Long story short, guessing the food I made did not have a high enough nutritional value and ended up watching some fish getting skinny and lost a couple. Or maybe they just got old. This same food ended up raising my N3O and Pho4 to a very high level. This took awhile to notice for me anyway. It was the only change I had made to the tank. So I had tested the water that had food in it and found the levels very high. I stopped that feeding and started feeding store bought frozen cubes again.
I'm guessing ( I know it is) it is high levels of N3O and Pho4 that is the cause for my coral lose. This did not sit well with me as the tank in late 2022 was looking great with things finally growing and happy, so I just ended up ignoring it to much. I've now been working at it slowly with water changes, sand cleanings, some GFO and just spending time with the tank more dealing with the basic items trying to get motivated to get back into it. Going to a couple meetings lately is a really great way to get motivated.
As for the ick I'm sure its still there, but the fish are looking fine and heathy. I took the UV off line a couple months ago and still watching. I'll maybe get a full tank pic up soon and maybe sign up to host a meeting this spring.
Current Fish
Hippo Tang
Yellow Tang
Tomini Tang
Yellow watchman Gobie with pistal shrimp
2 Clowns
4 Royal Grammas
2 Flame angles
Coral
Large bubble coral
Cabbage leather
Couple different grand polys
GSP
Kenya Tree
Purple green frogspawn
Small Orange hammer came back from the dead
large hairy mushrooms
plus some others.
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Agreed. It’s part of what makes this club great. Versus all the instagram/facebook ”perfect tank” shots.
It was great to chat at the recent meetings. And super to hear it kick started the passion again.
It was great to chat at the recent meetings. And super to hear it kick started the passion again.