Eric's 240 build

[erichm20]

Its a deep blue green color. Its a bummer because I really like this fish- but I really like crabs too so not sure yet what I want to do. It also ate a medium sized cleaner shrimp too, my wife said she heard a kid scream and when she went to check she saw them looking at the tank- the **** wrasse was swimming around with half of the shrimp sticking out of its mouth.

 

[bribo12]

Ouch that's a hurt on the wallet too . At least hermits are relatively cheap.

Oh nice probably a male then must just be the color of the pic makes him look grey.

 

[erichm20]

Here is the pump- quite a bit of salt creep after 1 year of operation.

Close up:

GHA outbreak photos taken 7/6/17

 

[erichm20]

I always had issues keeping the big 3 elements in line (calcium, alkalinity and magnesium) so I have wanted to automate it with dosers and add an ato so I figured I would use the opportunity to organize the stand and do it in a clean(ish) and sleek(er) way.

Stand prior to change:

I think the board with components attached is really clean looking, and it makes things easier to move around if necessary, so Here is my version.

In stand calibrating the dosers:

Brs really has got the aquarium game on point- these dosers were super easy to setup- took all of 5 minutes then another 30 for calibration.

 

[Brookster123]

Getting back into it! Nice! I'm a noob, I'll just watch quitely from the sidelines haha

 

[erichm20]

Hey we are all noobs in some respects- feel free to chime in anytime- we're all in it together! [emoji1303]

 

[Fresh2o]

Does the salt creep around the pump seal mean it needs to be tightened some more or the gaskets should be changed? It does not look too good for the nuts and bolts.

 

[Brookster123]

Hey we are all noobs in some respects- feel free to chime in anytime- we're all in it together! [emoji1303]

I suppose... the ocean has us all beat!

 

[erichm20]

Does the salt creep around the pump seal mean it needs to be tightened some more or the gaskets should be changed? It does not look too good for the nuts and bolts.

Not too sure- there is def a breach somewhere and I agree not looking good so this piece of equipment will not be going back on (for now at least). Its a shame too because its a great pump. Maybe Ill put a pond in the yard. [emoji13]

 

[erichm20]

I have been using the api kit to measure phosphates and I could never really tell the color so, I figured if I truly want to defeat the gha (by starving it) I will need a better test kit.

I did some research and decided to go with the hanna ultra low range checker. It is the phosphorus checker and, after speaking with them, is their most accurate low range checker. It does require a conversion- just multiply the reading by .003 and you get phosphates (ppm)

https://i.imgur.com/8EkGzqE.jpg

After botching the first test, because I misread the instructions, I got a successful reading:

https://i.imgur.com/f4XJ06T.jpg

So 41 * .003 = 0.123. So there you have it- I will be ordering som GFO to get working on reducing the phosphates to under .05.

 

[Sniperhank]

Hanna checkers are simply amazing. 1000% upgrade in testing from what you were using.

 

[erichm20]

Yea, I can understand why people love these. I was running very low on the ph test with api so I also got the hanna ph checker as well.

https://i.imgur.com/iZx2M2u.jpg


Convenient is an understatement

https://i.imgur.com/uAEqDua.jpg

It took a little while to setup and calibrate but now it is as easy as pushing a button and setting right in the test sample.

I would also like to give praise to the support staff at Hanna- first class, attentive, and prompt would be how I would describe their customer service and technical support staff, an all around great company I highly recommend.

 

[erichm20]

Anyone ever order from salty underground? I just placed an order for some sps frags.

 

[erichm20]

Couple full tank shots in "late afternoon/ early evening" mode which is only blues for Chinese leds on the sides and full for the orphek and cfl in the middle.

https://i.imgur.com/4NfwReC.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/CIO8e5b.jpg

 

[Brookster123]

Sahhhweeeeet!!

 

[Brookster123]

What's this?

 

[erichm20]

What's this?

That is a devil's hand leather. There was another member on this forum- I think his name is troy- grew a Huge one!

 

[erichm20]

Actually the member's name is Keith and I remember he was going to open his own LFS in California. I wonder how it is going for him?

 

[Bdonaldson]

Tank looks great. The corals look really nice and colorful.

 

[erichm20]

Thanks! They really look a lot better since ramping up the alkalinity and calcium dosing.