Sandman's 187g Tank Build

I am going to eventually use bio-pellets. I started looking into them and I like the technology. They are somewhat new, but just like LED's, new isn't always bad. When I do use them, I am going to go with the Super Reef Octopus BR-110
OCT-BR110
Diameter: 3.9″
Height: 21″
Footprint: 5.25″ x 5.25″ (6.7 is with the lid)
Inlet & Outlet Options: ½” Direct PVC or barb fittings ½" & 5/8” barb fittings
Load capacity: 1000ml BioPellet
Max recommended feed flow: 520-790GPH
Suggested pump: Water Blaster 2000
And Dr. Tim's NP-Active Pearls

Thanks for the link, and I have like 1500 ml of pellets.

Do you have the BRS pellets? I looked into those too, but I really like what I have been reading about Dr. Tim's Pearls.

Dr tims pearls look really nice. I like how open they are about how they are made pluss they have some great reviews!

FYI, Dr. Tim will be speaking at the SFVR meeting this Sunday. He will be discussing bio pellets.

for that pump did you order extra motors?

nikecivic wrote:FYI, Dr. Tim will be speaking at the SFVR meeting this Sunday. He will be discussing bio pellets.

Thanks, great to know. I think I'll head down there for that. Anyone want to ride along?

Sandman wrote:Do you have the BRS pellets? I looked into those too, but I really like what I have been reading about Dr. Tim's Pearls.

I have a 1000 of the brs and about 500 of TLF(I think thats the brand?)

Those pearls do look nice. I saw them at RAP last year.

I'm going to go to the SFVR meeting this Sunday and talk with Dr. Tim to get more in depth info; should be interesting.

Yeah when we spoke with him, he was saying that his was more organic with no fillers. it will be interesting to hear him again. but I have other plans that day.

I'm sure it will be very informative. I'll recap what I learn for you.

I want to hear more about that doser. I have been talking ith Jimmy about whether to get a BM doser or have my apex control dosing pumps. One complaint he had with the BM was that you could only vary the dosing by 5 min from one to another(if I am writing that correctly)

Do you know if you can have it dose all that it needs to at night for example?

According to the directions, it will dose 0.05ml-0.65ml/sec. With a max of 16 times per day/per pump.

It recommends not to run the pumps for more than 10min/per dose, although you can choose to dose longer if you like.

They warn the life of the motors will be decreased significantly if the pumps are ran continuously for more than 10min.

You can also turn the pumps on a continuous flow if you like when in manual mode.

The replacement motors are 15-20$ if I remember correctly.

The pump comes with a temperature probe that reads on the LED screen.

I haven't used it yet, although I will this weekend and let you know how accurate and easy to use it is. I set the time and it seemed really simple.

Yeah the BM doser only allows 5 minute intervals between pump 1 and pump 2. so when I set pump 1 to does 90ml 24 times a day it can only be set for X:00 of the hour. Pump 2, 90ml 24 times a day can only be set for X:05, Pump 3 X:10.

and since I bought the doser I purchased the ACIII and looking back I wish that I got the ACIII first and then bought the single dosers from BRS and have them controlled by the ACIII.


Cory,

Why would he have to get extra motors for that model?

coryg wrote:for that pump did you order extra motors?

No, I did not purchase extra motors. When and if I do need one they are easy to purchase and cheap.

Why do you ask?

I was just wondering that if one went out how long it would take to get the replacement I know you could just manually dose if that happened. How is the pump working for you anyways? I was thinking about getting one.

It's still sitting in the box. When we decided to move it was considered to break down the tank; I didn't want to use it before I new what the future held.

I decided to keep the tank running when we move to the new location, so I will be getting it running then. Seems kinda silly to consider breaking down the tank, but sometimes life has a way of dictating our actions.

But, to answer your question about delivery time, I received the pump in about 1.5 weeks. It was shipped Air China.

How did the tank do during the move? Did you change your aquascape?

dwolson2 wrote:How did the tank do during the move? Did you change your aquascape?

It went really well, smooth. I did the rock work a little different as I could not have recreated what I had before. It looks like I am going to loss my Snow Cap Tenius though. Not looking very good which is upsetting since that frag is retails at 160 or so.

Ill post some pics of the new set up tonight

Could Jimmy take your snow cap and bring it back to life?

He has a really nice place. As for the tank, there was a perfect spot for it right as you walk in the house, he just needs to get a bench seat to plop right in front of the tank so you can sit and enjoy it.

Sweet! Luke can we have the meeting at ur house next month

we'll have to all pitch in and rent a bus

Haha

D- Not sure if moving it at this point would be the best thing. I am going to leave it alone until it either dies off, or pulls through. Luckily I didn't pay retail for it, otherwise I would be much more upset. I figure if that is all I lose then I can except that.

As for holding the meeting at my house, I would be more than happy to host. It would be quite the field trip though; bout 80 miles from Oxnard...

I still haven't uploaded any pics, but I will soon. I got lazy last night after work.

Hey everybody, I promised pictures so here they are. My tank is still going through a diatom bloom, and I have cyano as well. But, on a positive not I am not concerned, it will pass. I am very happy with the rock work, but I do wish I would have moved the right side rock section back a few inches. My coral is all doing really good, and my Joe the Coral has finally colored back up! I lost an emeraled crab earlier this week, but other than that I a A-OK. My snowcap that I was worried about has polyp extention throughout and is slowly coloring back up which is exciting. It took me 2 weeks to get my skimmer to operate properly, and I have still not installed my doser. I plan to do so this weekend so I can stop dosing by hand...
Let me know what you guys think. The placement for the tank is perfect in my opinion.


Ill take another like this from the other side

Looks good! Did you ever get the plumbing to be silent?

It is now. My sand is heavier now
So I am able to point my powerheads in a way that doesnt make water splash on the overflow box.

I took a few pics today that I wanted to share.
Not sure what they were doing in this pic, but it was a cool pic so that's why I'm sharing.
Wow Paly's



Green Bay Packer's

great pics, what camera are you using?

Thanks, I took these with my iPhone 4!

Damn, those are nice pics for the I-phone

Yea, I thought you broke out a DSLR!

A few more... Honestly, although I have a massive cyano outbreak my corals have never looked better. My polyp extension is insane on almost everything-Except my Snow Cap Tenius..