My Cube

[elefantman]

Hi all thought I would update things been real busy over the last few weeks.

Please see http://www.reefcentral.co.uk/showthr...llo?highlight= This will show my tank after a few weeks of being setup.

Since the above post a few things have happened.

• Hair algae outbreak. Setup a fluidized filter with rowaphos and after what seems like an eternity (6-7 weeks) its finally just about gone.
• Two of my calcinus elegans ganged up on the smallest one and killed him. All seems peaceful since.
• My Six line wrasse jumped to his doom.
• Got a yellow Watchman Goby and Tiger Pistol shrimp
• Got a tail spot Blenny
• Got some Turbo Snails

In and amongst all of the above I have been building.

• DIY PVC overflow. (Complete)
• DIY 8 channel reef timer controller (90% done)
• A sump (Complete ish)
• Setup a quarantiune tank (Complete)
• Bought a new skimmer (Bubble Magus NAC 3.5 cone as the turboflotor started leaking from the cup and was too big for the sump.

So a little about each of the new projects.

The PVC overflow was a real doddle to build there are loads and loads of diy threads all over the net. Don't be put off building one just read lots and lots. Mine took about 1/2 a day messing around measuring cutting swearing cutting measuring and finally solvent weld gluing it all together. I fount the top little strainer ring in my big box of bits. I machined the small round grate on my CNC router out of 3mm black perspex to fit just nice. I have completed extensive testeing on the overlow and I cannot break the siphon unless the pipe is tipped at 45 degrees with no flow. I have left the pipe with no flow for three days and it started again as soon as the water level reached the inlet. Very happy with this pipe will let you know how it goes in the long term.

The 8 channel controller is something I wanted and wanted doing my way. This may not be the best way be hey its my tank. Its all controlled by a zelio industrial programmable relay. Brief outline of function as as follows.

Outputs

• Channel 1 daytime lighting 240v 6a possible.
• Channel 2 night lighting any volts 6a possible.
• Channel 3 Skimmer and reactor pumps + others upto 6a possible.
• Channel 4 Wave pumps left side of tank upto 6a possible.
• Channel 5 Wave pumps right side of tank upto 6a possible.
• Channel 6 Auto top off pump upto 6a possible.
• Channel 7 Return pump upto 6a possible.
• Channel 8 Heaters upto 6a possible.

Inputs

• Low sump water level triggers auto top off variable delay on cut on off etc.
• High sump water level shuts off auto top off variable delay on cut on off etc. ( This only functions if the above level has stuck a backup so to speak)
• Main tank water level float. Variable delay on cut on off etc needed as the wave pumps move the water level alot. ( If the overflow gets blocked stops etc the controller stops all sump pumps until the water level drops)
• Button A Feeding mode shuts down preset pumps for a preset amount of time.
• Button B Maint mode shuts all pumps down.
• Button C Tank only mode shuts all sump pumps off.
• Button D Scrolls through all the menus.
• Temp probe. I have a thermo couple temp probe that shuts off the heater circuit in case a heater sticks on ( just a failsafe.)

This is all working just finishing the wiring all of the outputs will be run from 2 x 4 way lighting controller boxes for neatness.

The sump was made from some new some recycled glass. 18" square 19" deep three chamber. Left side is the inlet the skimmer / reactor will go in here. I have CNC machined a plastic shelf which will be cut to accept a 4" x 9" filter sock on the inlet. The next chamber is the return and the water gets here by an over under bubble trap water level in these two chamber will be 9". The right chamber is a fuge which I plan on putting 6-7" of sand in DSB and some cheto on a reverse light cycle. Thats the plan anyway. My float switches are mounted on a mag float so they are easy to clean service and move.

The quarantine tank is one of the most essential bits of kit in my opinion so I set up a little 60L tank with LED lighting not too bright but enough. It has a fluval filter in the corner and the filter media is currently being seeded in my ext filter soon to be made redundant by the sump. I will keep fresh filter media in the sump at all times for fast setup of the tank.

The skimmer what can I say Its a Bubble Magus NAC 3.5 Cone very quiet after two very noisy break in days in the bucket. Now you can here a pin drop. I picked it for its size and I hope it performs as I hope it will. Keep you posted on that.

Phew as I said been pretty busy. Quick thanks to my mate Andy the silicone and glass man who helped so much on the sump oh and pipe supplier for the overflow...Thanks Andy My mate Rob for the controller help advice and brain storming. Not forgetting Ruth my better half who has put up with foul language water everywhere and fish tank junk in every corner.

See pics below.

Rich

[elefantman]

[r60sgr]

You have been busy and thanks for sharing. Keep us posted on progress bud, that's how we all learn. Stewart

[lr85ninety]

neat looking setup mate, one question is it possible to wire the programmable relay to a remote keypad?

[elefantman]

neat looking setup mate, one question is it possible to wire the programmable relay to a remote keypad?

That should not be a problem. The relay unit accepts any input from 12v to 240v on the signal in side so as long as you can feed 12v from the keypad anything is possible. I am allways willing to help I can and will write the logic files for these relays and will program chips as long as you post me the chip with a return envelope. Save you having to pay for the programming lead this way.

I just ordered 10 IEC c14 plugs tonight to finish this project £45 I bought 10 for under a tenner but deem them unsafe so ordered top notch ones.

[elefantman]

For more info on the relay I used see the link below.

http://www.schneider-electric.co.uk/...lio-logic.page

We use these all the time at work and are very reliable units. The free programming software is a very easy drag and drop affair. The programming lead I have only works on the units shown on the link. My unit I have has 12 inputs 6 of which can be digital and 8 outputs. All of the inputs must be 12v in my case but the outputs can be any voltage upto 240v.

[lr85ninety]

cheers mate

[elefantman]

Well its been a long day but my sump is now up and running

I got the controller rigged up too and its all working as planned added the addition of being able to switch on the fuge light outside the timed parameters with a long button press. This helps work on the sump.

I was surprised just how bright the led fuge light is for a 3w bulb looks more than enough but time will tell.

[elefantman]

Here are the pics of the full system up and running with the sump and controller.

I had to make a change to the controller program to delay the skimmer start up if all the pumps have been off. The delay (5 mins) allows for the sump level to drop to normal running level before the skimmer starts this stops the skimmer filling the cup due to high water in the sump. The auto top off is working great I used a very small tunze 5024.040 300l/h pump for the top up and its quiet and pumping great. The float is maintaining the levels + or - about 3mm so I am very pleased. I fired up the CNC machine and made a little GRP bracket for the two 4 way controller bars to mount too this is hung on the back of the cabinet. The overflow is quiet and auto starting no problem.

All in all very happy with the long slog to get all this together and the busy day yesterday getting it all fitted to the tank and setup and running. The sump has added 65l extra water to the system. Just need some more sand for the DSB in the fuge its only 3" at the mo and I want 6-7" deep. I will then get some cheato in it in the new year.

[pak1802]

looking very good .