125 build

[evo.howard2010]

I might just keep it until I upgrade to something larger

 

[Kalen]

I might just keep it until I upgrade to something larger

You already have a dt and qt for your build. So you could keep it and save it for when you do need it. Store it if you have room to. Spare tanks come in handy for emergencies. Never know when I seal on a tank might give out. Or sell it and make a little money and put it towards some equipment or live stock.

Me personally I would hang on to if I could. I have back up tanks just in case. However thinking about selling on. Just part of me don't want to part with my 90 aqueon drilled. I had a thirty and another 55 but got rid of them. Needed the space.

Been slowly cleaning out my freshwater closet and didn't realize how much junk I had. So I sold a bunch of stuff made $35. Money is going towards my current build.

Now on another note depending how much your going to get into salt water. You could turn that other tank into a frag tank, which I have seen some people do. But it all depends how much money your willing to put into this hobby and how much dedication as well.

 

[AZBigJohn]

Oh cool yeah I was gonna use a 55 gallon I have laving around for my sump but I was not thinking when I measured so its to big to fit below my Stand!!

Oh do I feel your pain there. I have a bowfront tanks, so I had to use the premade stand for it, which is bowfront, too. I measured and my 55 gallon sump would fit in there no problem. I just didn;t check to make sure I could insert it through the front doors...

Yep, after putting the tank on the stand (it's a glass tank, so that was a heavy job) and starting on the plumbing, I went to slide the sump in. Had to take the tank back off, and put the sump in from above... Luckily, before I put it back up, I checked to see make sure I could get my top-off container in there through the front... I couldn't, so in it went from up top, too.

My biggest fear is a failure of the sump as I would need to take the whole tank down to get it out. At least the top off is a plastic container I could cut up if it failed...

 

[evo.howard2010]

You already have a dt and qt for your build. So you could keep it and save it for when you do need it. Store it if you have room to. Spare tanks come in handy for emergencies. Never know when I seal on a tank might give out. Or sell it and make a little money and put it towards some equipment or live stock.

Me personally I would hang on to if I could. I have back up tanks just in case. However thinking about selling on. Just part of me don't want to part with my 90 aqueon drilled. I had a thirty and another 55 but got rid of them. Needed the space.

Been slowly cleaning out my freshwater closet and didn't realize how much junk I had. So I sold a bunch of stuff made $35. Money is going towards my current build.

Now on another note depending how much your going to get into salt water. You could turn that other tank into a frag tank, which I have seen some people do. But it all depends how much money your willing to put into this hobby and how much dedication as well.

I was contemplating that but my wife already does not like that ive spent $1300 on the tank I have now let alone taking up space for another Lol. Me and my wife move and get a lager house we may just have a room for the frag tanks, RODI, and sump

 

[Kalen]

If you have spent $1300 and have a running tank I think your doing pretty good. And I can understand space like I said I have the same problems. Not enough room or the floor plan wasn't done properly. So I have my ro/di above my dryer. My water barrels in my front room in between the kitchen and front in back of the tank. You made due with what you have.

 

[Kalen]

Oh do I feel your pain there. I have a bowfront tanks, so I had to use the premade stand for it, which is bowfront, too. I measured and my 55 gallon sump would fit in there no problem. I just didn;t check to make sure I could insert it through the front doors...

Yep, after putting the tank on the stand (it's a glass tank, so that was a heavy job) and starting on the plumbing, I went to slide the sump in. Had to take the tank back off, and put the sump in from above... Luckily, before I put it back up, I checked to see make sure I could get my top-off container in there through the front... I couldn't, so in it went from up top, too.

My biggest fear is a failure of the sump as I would need to take the whole tank down to get it out. At least the top off is a plastic container I could cut up if it failed...

I have realized that some time especially when we are in the moment of being a kid again with our fish tanks we don't stop and think if things will fit or not. Its not until we have things just about set up do we stop and think if things will fit properly.

Well i do hope that your sump don't fail cause that would be so much of a pain to empty the tank just to fix the sump. Solution just put the tank on floor jacks when you need to get under the stand.

Just had a pointless thought then I laughed about it. Don't ask sleep just don't like me these days.

 

[Kalen]

What does everyone use for a backup power supply in case of a power outage? I would like to get something just in case. I'd rather have and not use then need it and not have it.

 

[Kalen]

So a bit of a update. So far I've spray painted the back panel and the sides of the 125. I used krylon supremaxx satin. It turned out nice. I still need to do a little clean up and touch up on the tank. I also got a rancho etc temp controller and wired it last night. Didn't have time to take any pictures of the controller working. I also bought a dymo 280 label maker to label my outlets on my power strip.

 

[Kalen]

Ordered my salt from Dr. Foster And Smith and it arrived today. I saw this.

 

[Kalen]

I called then up and told them what happened and they are sending me a second bucket of salt free. The bag had a hole in it and the life
Lid popped off the bucket. I was able to save most of the salt except for a few pounds.

 

[jmadison]

Kalen. I have has this happen on all 3 slat orders from DFS. They always take care of me, but I wish they could just get the salt to me the first time. I blame shipping more than dfs

 

[Kalen]

I agree, this has happened to me twice now. And both times they have replaced the salt free of charge. I mean I don't mind getting extra salt. However it makes you wonder how often this is really happening, which is what I told the representative that took my call. Regardless I don't waste anything if it can be avoided. The salt bag had a hole or two in the bag which is what caused it to spill out of the bucket. It didn't get wet, so I still use it.

I'm just glad that these companies that we order salt from are willing to replace the damaged products and make things right.

 

[AZBigJohn]

Earlier this year I had a box of salt arrive with the bottom of the box torn out, and the bags of salt missing. Yes, they were more than happy to send me a new box, I just keep wondering what poor shipping/transfer point had 200 gallons worth of salt spill in their rollers, or on their floor, without noticing it...

 

[Kalen]

Earlier this year I had a box of salt arrive with the bottom of the box torn out, and the bags of salt missing. Yes, they were more than happy to send me a new box, I just keep wondering what poor shipping/transfer point had 200 gallons worth of salt spill in their rollers, or on their floor, without noticing it...

Lol, makes you wonder what really happen to it. I guess we'll never know.

 

[Kalen]

So this morning I decided to test my etc ranco temp controller out on my 30 rL. It seems to be working properly. All that I need to do is find the balance spot between the ranco controller and my chiller. I have my chiller set to 77.0°F and the ranco controller set to 77.0°F. I watched my chiller temp climb to 77.5°F so I made a few adjustments on my chiller and the ranco controller. I just need to find the sweet spot between the two to keep a balance between the two.

 

[AZBigJohn]

I don't run a chiller, but I do have three fans that are set to my Apex, along with my heater (which almost never runs).

I leave a 2 degree spread between the two, to allow for more "off" time. You can't tell me the ocean doesn't have a slight temperature spread. I have my fans kick on at 78, and my heater set to come on at 76.

 

[Kalen]

Right now I am see where ever kicks on and off at before I make anymore adjustments. I believe my chiller will kick on once it hits 78° but its a slow climb.

However I don't have any high tech controller like the apex. I am a little old school in some aspects of things. I only have a controller for my heater and that's its. Only because I don't trust glass thermometers. When I doing freshwater I had many glass thermometers crack and break. So I decided that once I got into saltwater I would avoid them at all cost.

Once I get the 125 online I will make my final adjustments, but like I said I am just playing around so I have an idea on where to have things. However I won't have a chiller on the big tank for a while. As you may have notice my funds are a little tight so hopefully by next summer I'll have a chiller for the 125.

I know its not much of a update, but I like to share my progress with everyone.

 

[Kalen]

So I realized that there is a 1° fluctuation between the chiller and the heater controller. So I can live with that and just like bigjohn said the ocean fluctuates throughout the day anyways and things are still living so its not a dramatic change.

 

[Kalen]

I was able to figure it out. My heat controller is set for 77° it will heat till 78°. My chiller is set for 77° and will cool till the tank is 76°. The heating and cooling happens slowly.

 

[Kalen]

I feel like its time to for me decide on lighting, on my 30 winless I currently have I have the ai hydra 52. Its a nice light and all however I do like the features of the hydra 52. It seemed a little complex trying to find the right settings for my corals, which I am still struggling with.

I am not sure if I should stick with leds or go with a hybrid unit with a mixture of leds and t5s.

I know which ever way I go will be a little expensive due to the size of the tank. I want a good light for a sps tank that is not to complex to find the right settings for the corals.

Any suggestions?
Also what type of lighting (leds, t5, etc...) is everyone running?
Along with your experience with the lighting ( good, bad , indifferent )?

Wanting to get a feel for what type of lighting I should go with.