New tank - UAS targeted

[kotlec]

So my corals have outgrown my ever first saltwater tank and now is time to upgrade. I decided to custom build new 40G glass tank. 90cm x 50cm x 45cm.
Let it be UAS driven tank decided I and started dreaming. Here I need all help that I can have from you. Please share all your ideas and criticue mine.
There are first my thoughts :

http://algaescrubber.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=2935&d=1342605520


As you see tank will have back chamber. I have no room for sump so I has to go this route. I tested it with my first tank and could not be more happy with it.
Good thing about custom built is that all can be arranged exactly to needs. And there most interesting starts. How to predict all that can be best? Hope you will help.

First idea was to make dry chamber in the corner for UAS led lights unit. Sounds good. But it would be much better if it be both sides lighted unit.
Any ideas how can I materialize that idea ? Keep in mind - all must be inside back chamber. There is no space around tank. It will sit in recess. Only cables will run down the wall.
Any kind and size of baffles are possible on the other hand.

http://algaescrubber.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=2936&d=1342607046

There is how old tank looks. I plan on same exactly design. New tank will take all table space.
You can see dosing unit above and ATO container under. Next to ato sits my DIY controller. Those 3 will stay untouched.

[SantaMonica]

Just put another dry compartment on the other side of the UAS screen. Then make a cutout at the top of the UAS screen area so the output flows into the display. To remove bubbles, you can add a down-flow section from that cutout. And the input to the UAS screen area just needs a hole at its bottom to lead to the display.

[srusso]

Be careful... that shelf wasn't made for a tank... a small tank can basically be put anywhere... however a 40 gallon tank, water alone weighs 334 lb.

Just a thought....

[kotlec]

http://algaescrubber.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=2937&d=1342614096

SM do you mean that ?

You thing bubbles will circulate water ?

[MorganAtlanta]

If you are only feeding a cube or two, why try to make the UAS two sided if one sided would work fine and would be compact enough?

I'd flow from the UAS chamber into a second chamber for bubble control and for space to put your heater and ATO float switch, and then from there into the display. If the flow from just the UAS isn't enough, you could include a pump in that chamber.

I'd make sure there is some surface skimming in the flow into the back chamber or you will get accumulation of junk on the surface.

[kotlec]

srusso, thanks for warning.
I calculatedtank brutto weight should be max 200kg . Those 3 vertical boards can hold much more than that. Has good support on both sides as well.

[kotlec]

Hi Morgan. Thanks for thoughts. That was what I thought exactly.
I am using diy float less probes for ATO btw.

[MorganAtlanta]

Watch the inflows down low. I just lost a big anemone who moved in front of some inflows and got partially sucked in. It happened when I was away for 5 days and it was just a pile of slime when I got back.

I'd suggest a surface overflow. Maybe surface flow into a chamber for any media you might like, then bottom flow into the UAS, then surface flow to a third chamber for heater and ATO switch, then small pump into the tank? Split the UAS chamber in two to slot some LEDs into a dry slot (parallel to the back wall).

[kotlec]

Yes - possibly making chamber parallel is way to go (like it is now on old tank (1,5 years lol)).
There idea of double dry chamber non parallel

http://algaescrubber.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=2938&d=1342621224

I see a problem with skimming surface of scrubber chamber here though.

[SantaMonica]

Looks good. Definitely 2 sided.

[kotlec]

Is it enough of water exchange in that closed chamber for scrubber? I have no experience how much bubbles can move water.
May be I can use Jnad's idea and use small power-head instead of air pump...

[SantaMonica]

A powerhead will not reach too deep from the top, and, will kill some things.

Flow should be enough either way.

[kotlec]

So let it be this

http://algaescrubber.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=2945&d=1342641212

Since this tank will run double sided screen, I calculated 10cm wide and 8cm long mesh will be needed. Looks ridiculously small. :D

4 red led per side + one blue. All 1w. That's the plan for now.

[jnad]

Hello!

Interesting project.

Just thinking, have you thought of doing it simple making a hole in the sidewall of that shelf on the left side of aquarium? You could have the light buildt in and hidden in that shelf, the light would be outside the aquarium, and the screen one sided.

If this could be a solution for you, you could also maybe just build a standard glass aquarium with no back chamber making bigger space for fish and corals.

Just a thougt

Jnad

[kotlec]

Thanks for thoughts Jnad. I'd like to have back chamber too keep all equipment here and have display as clean as possible. SM recommends double sided whenever its possible. In my situation it still possible :)

Another question is what distance between screen and glass is best to keep bubbles in place ?

[jnad]

I dont have so mutch experience with your question, but my slim line scrubber measuring only 1,5 cm total kept the bubbles close to the screen. The distance between glass and screen in that scrubber maybe was like 1,0 cm.

[kotlec]

So 2,5 cm (1 inch) between 2 glass panes for double sided sounds about right ?

[MorganAtlanta]

You'll get algae growing on the glass where the lights shine through, so be sure you have enough space to get in and clean it. One inch sounds tight to me.

[SantaMonica]

20 cm.

[MorganAtlanta]

It looks like the space where you are planning to put your screen is cut off from flow. I think you might get bubbles "bubbling up" and overflowing into the lights compartments. Put a cup on top and you've got a skimmer. I'd really think about one sided parallel to the back wall to let the flow move by the screen and let the bubbles have somewhere to go to dissipate. Two sided might be "better", but if one sided does the job and fits the space better, that should be okay too.

[kotlec]

20 cm.

What reason for that much ? Anyone have tested this is real life ?
With this big space I can make tank overflow direct to
scrubber chamber. It will got flow this way and bubbles have a lot of space to dissipate.


Put a cup on top and you've got a skimmer.

Was thinking about it another sleepless night. :D

http://algaescrubber.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=2951&d=1342777543

One more attempt. Screen looks ridiculously small. "lost in space"

[RkyRickstr]

That looks a lot better, scrubber chamber will have lots of flow.

[kotlec]

Just fabricated UAS unit for backchamber of black pvc. General tank design was changed from last sketch.

http://algaescrubber.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3070&d=1345022627

http://algaescrubber.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3071&d=1345022629

Crappy phone pic, but you can see idea. Screen just slides in and out and rests on bubble stone. You can see transparent panel behind the screen so that lights can be installed on the other side too. Just need to find out how to make it waterproof. Does using stainless steel for cooling led heatsink is reef safe ?

[SantaMonica]

20 cm has just been an observation from looking down at the 3D growth in my waterfalls before harvesting. LEDs penetrate deeper than cfl's but not much.

[kotlec]

Hard day over.
My adoptees got new big house and are ready to sleep.

http://algaescrubber.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3191&d=1346695950

Crap picture , but thats all I was capable in this situation. No scaping yet just moved.
Better pics to come...

[kotlec]

As promised

http://algaescrubber.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3218&d=1346944458

New tank water strangely has very low Ca and kh. 320 and 5,9 respectively. But all corals look extremely happy. Fish also are in good mood swimming at all speed across all length of tank. Should I maintain those low levels or try to up them ?

[Garf]

I would get them up slowly Kotlec. Calcium below 360 is said to be harmful in the long term. Ace25 has run alkalinity low like this but it is not for the faint of heart. I would get it up to 9 or so with calcium around 400. Bloody good job again on the tank. I bet you don't get alien growth on the UAS screen. I must mention that the UAS unit you've made is great. Good luck.

[kotlec]

Thanks.
I will use your advice.
:)

[kotlec]

I thing I newer posted good fts of my tank . So it is here:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7132/8157938359_cc228f17da_b.jpg

[Devs]

Very nice kotlec...your unit is not too dissimilar to the one I have made :)

[kotlec]

Lets see your tank then too !

[SantaMonica]

Happy damsel :)