Crime and Vader - climbing rocks and riding motorcycles. ****, I'm just trying to get water to stay in a tank (lol)!!
150 Gallon Build Thread ... From the Start
- Thread starter WaywardSon
- Start date
Update -
Thanks to Vader's expertise, the loop seems to be looping ...
After checking and double checking the connections, we fired up the 2217. So far, so good.
For those just getting into this thread, it's out of the canister into the top of the Co2 bio-reactor (with the pressurized Co2 also being fed to the same reactor), then out the bottom to the UV sterilizer (the blue light on the sterilizer looks a bit like the starship enterprise - you gotta' get one) and then back to the tank.
The only 2 things left to "finalize" in the loop are the Co2 regulator (the low pressure gauge won't stay steady - fluctuates between 4 and 8 lbs - **** Milwaukee) and install the Ph controller.
Per Vader's suggestion (I had thought about this but was a bit worried about a mini-cycle on the small tank), I also replaced the media in the 2217 with media taken from a 2215 we have on our 45 (the Fluval 305 on the 45 was left alone). We also moved the 2 danios from the 45 to the 150. Hopefully, this will speed up the cycling process a bit.
Anyway - thanks a million Vader. Walking me through this sure helped a bunch! I am sure I will be hitting you back up when I install the controller.
Question: Does your Co2 reactor stay full? When we first started it the water level was about 1/4, now it's up to 3/4 and looks to be heading to full.
The paper towel is only to "spot" a leak. All is good so far ... I also placed a paper towel under the sterilizer behind the stand.
Thanks to Vader's expertise, the loop seems to be looping ...
After checking and double checking the connections, we fired up the 2217. So far, so good.
For those just getting into this thread, it's out of the canister into the top of the Co2 bio-reactor (with the pressurized Co2 also being fed to the same reactor), then out the bottom to the UV sterilizer (the blue light on the sterilizer looks a bit like the starship enterprise - you gotta' get one) and then back to the tank.
The only 2 things left to "finalize" in the loop are the Co2 regulator (the low pressure gauge won't stay steady - fluctuates between 4 and 8 lbs - **** Milwaukee) and install the Ph controller.
Per Vader's suggestion (I had thought about this but was a bit worried about a mini-cycle on the small tank), I also replaced the media in the 2217 with media taken from a 2215 we have on our 45 (the Fluval 305 on the 45 was left alone). We also moved the 2 danios from the 45 to the 150. Hopefully, this will speed up the cycling process a bit.
Anyway - thanks a million Vader. Walking me through this sure helped a bunch! I am sure I will be hitting you back up when I install the controller.
Question: Does your Co2 reactor stay full? When we first started it the water level was about 1/4, now it's up to 3/4 and looks to be heading to full.
The paper towel is only to "spot" a leak. All is good so far ... I also placed a paper towel under the sterilizer behind the stand.
Update -
Thanks to Vader's expertise, the loop seems to be looping ...
After checking and double checking the connections, we fired up the 2217. So far, so good.
For those just getting into this thread, it's out of the canister into the top of the Co2 bio-reactor (with the pressurized Co2 also being fed to the same reactor), then out the bottom to the UV sterilizer (the blue light on the sterilizer looks a bit like the starship enterprise - you gotta' get one) and then back to the tank.
The only 2 things left to "finalize" in the loop are the Co2 regulator (the low pressure gauge won't stay steady - fluctuates between 4 and 8 lbs - **** Milwaukee) and install the Ph controller.
Per Vader's suggestion (I had thought about this but was a bit worried about a mini-cycle on the small tank), I also replaced the media in the 2217 with media taken from a 2215 we have on our 45 (the Fluval 305 on the 45 was left alone). We also moved the 2 danios from the 45 to the 150. Hopefully, this will speed up the cycling process a bit.
Anyway - thanks a million Vader. Walking me through this sure helped a bunch! I am sure I will be hitting you back up when I install the controller.
Question: Does your Co2 reactor stay full? When we first started it the water level was about 1/4, now it's up to 3/4 and looks to be heading to full.
The paper towel is only to "spot" a leak. All is good so far ... I also placed a paper towel under the sterilizer behind the stand.
Congrats dude! :thm: I did the same trick using paper towel...
Re: the fill level of the reactor... now is one of those times to bleed the trapped air using the bleed valve. Open up the dial and let the trapped gas and a little bit of water escape. The reactor will then be completely full and will only fluctuate mildly as gas is injected. You should do this every time you start/stop or service the Eheim powering the loop.
LOL at Starship Enterprise... it does have a resemblance now that you mention it.
The controller is a whole new ball of wax; we'll tackle that later :evil_lol:
Wow - going back after an hour or so and there is the tiniest leak (which turns into a 150 gallon leak over time) on the input of the sterilizer. Also found a bit of water under the side of the 2217. I have laid out some toilet paper to better catch the spot. Will check in an hour or two ...
Wow - that worked slick as a whistle. The gas went right out and the reactor filled right up with water.
Those Co2 bubbles are everywhere - sweeeeeeeeeeeet! :thm::thm:
Now, if I can just keep the water in the loop - patience! :mad2::mad2::mad2::mad2:
The best part of that "ball of wax" is that I don't think it can leak water ... who knows maybe I will be able to make history!
