My 125g reef in the making

[scubadude]

why did you choose the Octopus Rocky?

well I was gonna go with an ASM G3 but I started reading about these octopus NW200 skimmers and they where over $100 cheaper and seem to be doing just as good a job as the ASM's

Charlie,
I sold my camera so I will try and get my mom or sisters camera when I get the skimmer and do the mesh mod.

[charlie]

Charlie,
I sold my camera so I will try and get my mom or sisters camera when I get the skimmer and do the mesh mod.

I'll be here.

[Poseidon]

well I was gonna go with an ASM G3 but I started reading about these octopus NW200 skimmers and they where over $100 cheaper and seem to be doing just as good a job as the ASM's

That is as good a reason as any I have heard that is for sure. I have been thinking about an Orca 200, using a Dart NW pump. I am having a little trouble getting consistency from my modified MR-2 Beckett skimmer. IT works GREAT, but I think the gravity feed is the problem.

[scubadude]

Ok got some pics, here is a link to thread on the mesh mod for the Skimmer (with bunch of pics)

TOTW 7-10-08 Mesh Mods?

And here are some more pics of the tank, sump, layout

This is the back of the tank (in the kitchen)...I put the tank between my living room, and kitchen, there is a large look-through, thus allowing me to watch my tank from the kitchen and from the living room, and was easy to plumb my autotopoff

above my kitchen sink is some cabinets I threw my ballast and a dedicated circuit in there for all my lights. Im looking for ideas on how to vent this (for now Im just keeping the doors open)

I have decided to try and get away with no chiller...I have some small fans securely mounted right on top of the tank braces also in this picture you can see the hallway to my bedroom which there is a fan on the floor by the window aimed toward the top of the tank, and right behind the camera in this picture is another fan pointing to my sliding glass door w/screen so I have created a powerful wind tunnel sort of to cool the tank. There is also a vent right above my tank for my central ac.


I went barebottom this time around, since I have a pretty good section baffled off for my sump dedicated to a fuge. Since I went BB I decided to paint the underside of the bottom of the tank white for light reflection purposes, it will prolly be coralline b4 too long neway.

[scubadude]

Had to run a new circuit for the lights

A shot under the kitchen sink, saddle clamp valve to feed the RO/DI, theres also a saddle clamp to the drain pipe for the wastewater from the RO/DI.


This picture shows the R. Side o-flow that has a Tee which feeds the R.side of the sump as well as the L. side of the sump. The R. side has a ball valve which feeds the fuge...I love this feature!



Here you can see where the fuge o-flows to the middle section of the sump which is the return which holds the Mag12, all my probes and the float for the autotopoff.

heres another shot of the middle section of the sump wich shows where the L.side (skimmer and most of the l. o-flow as well as some of the r.oflow are routed) It is baffled 3x's over, under, over cuz of the faster flow. It also has a mesh molded grated area where I plan on putting a pantyhose sock full of carbon on the last baffle

[scubadude]

L. side of the sump and 3 baffles

And here is the skimmer...you can see the pipe behind the skimmer...thats a 2" pipe and 2" Tee...both overflows are 1" but I joined them together and where the connect the go to one 2" pipe.

I havent really aquascaped yet but have some ideas, they involve using thorite to combine the existing rocks I have with easy detachments...thats my next project I dont plan on any full tank pics until then...all the LR was basically just thrown in there for now. I have lost a couple of sps and my linkia and shrimp. There are a couple of additions now too though. A rose BTA and a copper banded butterfly.

[scubadude]

Gonna try and get some pics up soon. I did a 10g w/c tuesday 10-4-08. And did a few test on my water

Nitrates 12 ppm
Ca 235
Alk 6.5 DKH
PH 8.8
Temp 79
I added 3/4 cup ea of my DIY 2 part