The155BowFrontBuild
- Thread starter TheRealChrisBrown
- Start date
So....now that I am no longer using the Apex Dos for dosing 2 part, I think I might set it up for Auto Water Changes.
Today I carefully measured my SW mixing bin at 24g and made a mark. My salt mix (Instant Ocean) says 1/2 cup per gal so I mixed that all in. I'm going to let the pump circulate that for a while, then I want to test the SG, Alk, Cal, and Mg so I have a baseline and then add to the mix to get my desired levels.
I'm thinking along the lines of 2 gal swapped out per day, I'm sitting at 225g of total water volume. Thoughts? More, Less, about right??
I am terrible at regular water changes. My last box of salt mix, which makes 200g, lasted me 12 months, so I did about 8 water changes at 25g each in 12 months. If I can mix up fresh mix of salt about every 12 days I should be good, that would be about 30 water changes at 24g each (2g per day takes 12 days to use up my 24g, 365/12 = 30.4 water changes.)
Thoughts/suggestions?
Today I carefully measured my SW mixing bin at 24g and made a mark. My salt mix (Instant Ocean) says 1/2 cup per gal so I mixed that all in. I'm going to let the pump circulate that for a while, then I want to test the SG, Alk, Cal, and Mg so I have a baseline and then add to the mix to get my desired levels.
I'm thinking along the lines of 2 gal swapped out per day, I'm sitting at 225g of total water volume. Thoughts? More, Less, about right??
I am terrible at regular water changes. My last box of salt mix, which makes 200g, lasted me 12 months, so I did about 8 water changes at 25g each in 12 months. If I can mix up fresh mix of salt about every 12 days I should be good, that would be about 30 water changes at 24g each (2g per day takes 12 days to use up my 24g, 365/12 = 30.4 water changes.)
Thoughts/suggestions?
I would do 3-4 gallons a day since a 10% weekly change is a pretty good target IME.
I would highly suggest using failsafes such as high level sump, low level sump, low level NSW reservoir, tank conductivity, and NSW conductivity (optional, not really that important). See my build thread for how to implement these failsafes.
Sent from my SM-G965U using MASC mobile app
I would highly suggest using failsafes such as high level sump, low level sump, low level NSW reservoir, tank conductivity, and NSW conductivity (optional, not really that important). See my build thread for how to implement these failsafes.
Sent from my SM-G965U using MASC mobile app
I have a powerhead that runs for 4 hours when I set a VO to AUTO saying that I just mixed new salt. It also turns on twice a day for 5 minutes no matter what.
I have heaters in the reservoir, but I only turn those on when I anticipate a need for a manual water change to limit KH precipitation.
Sent from my SM-G965U using MASC mobile app
I have heaters in the reservoir, but I only turn those on when I anticipate a need for a manual water change to limit KH precipitation.
Sent from my SM-G965U using MASC mobile app
I ran an AWC system for a while but found that my refugium did a much better job at nutrient export. I eventually even turned off my skimmer. You have a CaRx so your major elements are already being replaced. I had to dose the trace elements (particularly iron since the chaeto sucked that right up) but I gladly did that to not have any more water changes.
I've been making slow progress on the stand. What I'm finding is the curving wood is more difficult than I thought. I had one 1x4 glued and screwed in with L brackets (to match the curve of the bow front), and all clamped up. Came back the next morning and released the clamps and the 1x4 popped cracked and split! So today I'm trying a new approach, bending via Kerfs. So far it worked, but we'll see when it is unclamped!
Here is the progress on the front of the stand. The 2 pillars are in, the "drink rail" will rest at the top of them, and be pretty flush with the top of the black trim at the bottom of the tank.
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Here is the progress on the front of the stand. The 2 pillars are in, the "drink rail" will rest at the top of them, and be pretty flush with the top of the black trim at the bottom of the tank.
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Looks good so far! I was going to recommend trying the kerfs to help with the bend. You just have to be able to cover up those relief cuts somehow if they’re visible.
Other option is to plane the material down to 3 separate 1/4” thick pieces (or thinner) and laminate them together on the curve. You’re welcome to stop by and run them through my planer if needed.
Other option is to plane the material down to 3 separate 1/4” thick pieces (or thinner) and laminate them together on the curve. You’re welcome to stop by and run them through my planer if needed.
Thanks! The kerfs seemed to have worked I got a pretty good match to the curve. I went to Home Depot today and bought some mini slate tiles that are made for back splashes, I cut them down into like 1.25 inch strips and adhered them on. So far I think it looks pretty good, but I want to see it set up and in place before I get too excited about anything.
I finished the bar top, I think it turned out pretty good. The slate across the top covers the gap between the two pieces of wood, and I think it looks nice. I added some LED string lights under the bar top for added BALLER effect!
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I'm going to use the same wood to make simple doors I think. There is only about 8 inches of space between the studs on the sides, so I'm thinking just for maintenance purposes (not storage). I have my MH ballasts under the stand and reachable, and a power strip that runs a few pieces of equipment. My wonderful wife has allowed me to use a kitchen cabinet for my storage, which is 8 ft away from tank and working out pretty good so far.
So far everyone that has seen it (mostly non fish tank people) have asked if I am going to make a canopy. Which I think means my current lighting solution doesn't look great. So I'll address that at some point I guess.
So far everyone that has seen it (mostly non fish tank people) have asked if I am going to make a canopy. Which I think means my current lighting solution doesn't look great. So I'll address that at some point I guess.
