Jimbo’s CDA 250

[Jimbo327]

I’ve thought about gravity feed the ATO, but it might not work well for me because the water barrel is not raised due to the shed configuration. My ultimate goal is to fit as much as possible into the shed (RO/DI, chemical containers, etc.) and to avoid potential vermin/animal damage. My house has a lot of green space nearby and backs up close to a hill, rodents are an issue outside. I wish I can have my water station in the garage, but it’s located on the other side of the house and no attic/crawl space access to run the tubing from the garage.

I do like the idea of feeding both saltwater and fresh water station with the RO/DI and just use a gate valve to direct flow. I was also thinking of setting up the Apex DOS in the shed for an AWC/water change configuration. This will require a bigger pass thru hole.

 

[Jimbo327]

So lazy this weekend, only thing we did was start the bleach curing the dead live rocks/coral skeletons. My son helped with blasting the rocks with water and filling the barrel. I added 3 gallons of bleach and capped it off to let it marinate. Will let it sit for 1 week.

 

[Daniel]

And so it begins! Getting another step closer to fill-day... Looking forward to the aquascaping process

 

[Reeferkcp]

Wow looks great

 

[Jimbo327]

I suck at aquascaping, so don't even look forward to it. I know myself, have zero artistic talent.

I'm trying to recruit my wife and kids to help me with the scape. I'll just show them photos of the cool scape that other people are doing, and hopefully come up with something decent. If they say no, then you will most likely see a very bad attempt at stacking rocks and weird shelf positions.

 

[gofor100]

I suck at aquascaping, so don't even look forward to it. I know myself, have zero artistic talent.

I'm trying to recruit my wife and kids to help me with the scape. I'll just show them photos of the cool scape that other people are doing, and hopefully come up with something decent. If they say no, then you will most likely see a very bad attempt at stacking rocks and weird shelf positions.

If there's any advice I can give, here it is:

1) Take your time. However you decide to put it together, using acrylic rods, mortar, etc., try to have fun with it. I'd even watch some youtube videos on some tips.
2) It won't look perfect, so don't sweat it too much. And, in the end, the corals will hide it all anyways.

Good luck, and I look forward to the progress!

Chad

 

[Jimbo327]

My used AA sump needs some mods to fit my need. Besides a loose baffle, there is a big design flaw. Its top bracing is just too wide and restrictive. It may be one of AA’s earlier designs, not sure. I can’t even remove the floss basket and I feel like this sump loses so much usable space due to the top bracing. I really want to cut it with a saw and router. I wonder if it is worth it to buy a router.

Anyone else use a saw/router to do something like this? Or am I crazy for even thinking about doing this? View attachment 98768

 

[joseserrano]

My used AA sump needs some mods to fit my need. Besides a loose baffle, there is a big design flaw. Its top bracing is just too wide and restrictive. It may be one of AA’s earlier designs, not sure. I can’t even remove the floss basket and I feel like this sump loses so much usable space due to the top bracing. I really want to cut it with a saw and router. I wonder if it is worth it to buy a router vs renting up.

Anyone else use a saw/router to do something like this? Or am I crazy for even thinking about doing this? View attachment 98768 View attachment 98769

If you are making repairs, make sure to reinforce/reglue the windows

 

[Jimbo327]

Thanks for the tip. When I re-silicone the loose baffle, I think I will add some around the windows as well just in case.

 

[dattack]

Thanks for the tip. When I re-silicone the loose baffle, I think I will add some around the windows as well just in case.

Thanks for the tip. When I re-silicone the loose baffle, I think I will add some around the windows as well just in case.

IF it's pvc to pvc connection, use pvc glue/cement first if you can , then add silicone for extra insurance if you like.

 

[Jimbo327]

Okay, I'll do both the PVC glue followed by silicone. Can never be too sure.

I decided against cutting the sump top bracing. I don't have a router, and don't feel that comfortable using one.

 

[Jimbo327]

After a week in the bleach solution, it is considerably whiter. Hopefully, this killed everything in the rocks. I’ll have some time tomorrow to take them out and rinse. Planning to leave it outside for another week so it can evaporate off all the water and bleach.

 

[Jimbo327]

Swiss 🧀. Still have 9 more small holes to go. 🤣

Luckily, PVC is easy to drill through.

 

[Smite]

The rim does take some useable space away but it's worth it not to deal with any splashing for me. The part I don't really care for if lack of refugium space. I'm currently running a macro reactor but the added effort to pull the damn thing makes it about pointless as I don't keep up with it like I should. I'm tempted to find an external skimmer and plumb that in so I can use the center as my fuge.

Whats your plan for nutrient export/fuge?

 

[Jimbo327]

My goal for the tank is basically no filter socks/floss, no water changes, crazy heavy feeding with food/bacteria.

Here is my game plan for nutrient export. With the start of the tank, the bioload is light, so I will initially be using just an oversized skimmer. And when bioload starts to increase to a point where the nutrients can no longer be controlled by skimmer, I’ll start an ethanol carbon dosing reactor. If all that fails, I guess it’s just good old massive water change.

I think you are running the moonshiner method, any feedback? It’s similar in how I want to run my tank via dosers to avoid water changes. How do you control phosphates?

 

[Smite]

My goal for the tank is basically no filter socks/floss, no water changes, crazy heavy feeding with food/bacteria.

Here is my game plan for nutrient export. With the start of the tank, the bioload is light, so I will initially be using just an oversized skimmer. And when bioload starts to increase to a point where the nutrients can no longer be controlled by skimmer, I’ll start an ethanol carbon dosing reactor. If all that fails, I guess it’s just good old massive water change.

I think you are running the moonshiner method, any feedback? It’s similar in how I want to run my tank via dosers to avoid water changes. How do you control phosphates?

Sounds like a great plan.
I’m a fan of the moonshine method. I ran it on my previous system successfully and have been partially running it on this one. Partially is just due to the metal and algae issues so far with this system. With large water changes attempting to correct those issues I haven’t been 100% on my corrections. Hopefully I’ll be back to no water changes soon and just correcting/dailies.

I’ve relied on skimming and refugiums for nutrient control while shining. Carbon/uv for water quality when needed. My last tank was always undetectable but I fed like mad so I was able to retain color. This tank had Dino’s so I raised nutrients and am still very high now. Strange thing is chaeto and dragons breathe did not grow on the reactor for me. Im 20/.1 nitrate/phosphate on my kits so im a bit torn on how to proceed. Ideally I’ll be adding a large easily serviceable fuge if I can’t figure out how to do so.

 

[Jimbo327]

“Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face” - Mike Tyson. 🤣. I fully expect my plans vs reality will be very different.

For the macro algae, you might try to add some iron to stimulate growth. But adding iron may throw other things off. 🤷‍♂️ You definitely have enough phosphates. I think after your tank matures, everything will get into a groove and settle in, and your chaeto will grow fast. I would prefer chaeto in a fuge than a reactor though. Harvesting from a reactor must be a pain in the butt.

I’ve thought about using chaeto for nutrient export, but ultimately decided to carbon dose since I like using bacteria to convert nitrates more than macro algae uptake. Plus, I’m attracted to the science of carbon dosing and driving up bacteria numbers to feed the tank. And I always make a mess when harvesting chaeto. I do love chaeto for providing a home for the pods, so it definitely is a good way for a more natural nutrient export.

My plan is to feed heavy, and need to export heavy quickly. Carbon dosing can do that.

Biggest drawback for carbon dosing and biggest benefit for chaeto is phosphate export. Carbon dosing only removes nitrates, while chaeto removes both nitrate and phosphates. I will have to figure that out later.

 

[Jimbo327]

I think I screwed up my shed setup. I had bought some styrofoam boards to insulate the Rubbermaid shed (when I had planned to run an outdoor sump shed). I didn’t want the material to go to waste, so I installed it. But now, my metal racks doesn’t fit in there with the insulation. Instead of a quick job of installing the rack, now it is a Mcguyver hack job. Insulation looked really nice though, not bad with a kitchen steak knife.

 

[Jimbo327]

Measure once, cut twice. Doh!! As my luck would have it, hit a piece of wood on the 1st hole. The pilot hole went through fine though, so need to patch that. 2nd try was a success, but who knew cutting holes in the wall was so difficult. The hole saw dulled really quickly and I was only able to cut through the inside drywall. When I tried to drill the outside wall, the hole saw was done, I had to drill small holes all around using a masonry bit and that’s how I cut through.

Used 2 electrical hatch for RV’s and connect with a PVC pipe coupler/gasket. Now I have a 3” hole pass-through. And will add more insulation and steel wool in the hatch to further seal the environment in. My plan now is to install the chiller and UV outside, and I’ll run the tubing through the wall.

 

[Smite]

Great work, that looks very clean!