40 Gallon Custom, looking for feedback...
- Thread starter calvin415
- Start date
"Umm fish?"
Premium Member
Bellus: 7 in.
Watanabe: 5.9 in.
According to Michael, Angelfishes & Butterflyfishes.
Watanabe: 5.9 in.
According to Michael, Angelfishes & Butterflyfishes.
Guess my only hope is Watanabe... Anyone have any luck with them? Are they an active species?
jdallred
New member
Eric, I personally would not put an active swimmer in such a small tank. Even though most books/sources put both of these fish at 6" (or more 
)it would take some time to get that large, if ever. The problem I see is they both are going to be active swimmers and would probably not do well in a 24"x24" tank.
If you are looking for a sand sifter the following goby is a great sand sifter that is inexpensive, very hardy, and unlike most of the other sand sifting gobies, wonââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t starve over time. Amblygobius phalaena ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Common Name: Dragon, Bullet, or Brown-barred goby. Most gobies that are considered sand sifting gobies eat meaty foods and rely on the ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œcrittersââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ in the sand for food and not the algae growing on top of the sand or elsewhere in the tank. In his book ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œMarine Fishesââ"šÂ¬Ã‚Â, Scott Michael (p 346) states that this goby eats large quantities of algae in the wild and will also consume some filamentous algae in an aquarium. While it is not considered a true sand sifter it does move the sand around while they burrow into it and since they do not rely on the sand for food they typically do well in aquariums.
)it would take some time to get that large, if ever. The problem I see is they both are going to be active swimmers and would probably not do well in a 24"x24" tank. If you are looking for a sand sifter the following goby is a great sand sifter that is inexpensive, very hardy, and unlike most of the other sand sifting gobies, wonââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t starve over time. Amblygobius phalaena ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Common Name: Dragon, Bullet, or Brown-barred goby. Most gobies that are considered sand sifting gobies eat meaty foods and rely on the ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œcrittersââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ in the sand for food and not the algae growing on top of the sand or elsewhere in the tank. In his book ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œMarine Fishesââ"šÂ¬Ã‚Â, Scott Michael (p 346) states that this goby eats large quantities of algae in the wild and will also consume some filamentous algae in an aquarium. While it is not considered a true sand sifter it does move the sand around while they burrow into it and since they do not rely on the sand for food they typically do well in aquariums.
I want more pictures... 
Hey Eric, I forget, do you have an automatic top-off system in this thing? If not, that may be a better use of the space where the chiller was. I know that is one thing I really need to get up-and-running on my new tank because I hate having to add water every day. It would also give me some peace of mind when going on a short vacation.
Just my thoughts...
-Scott
Hey Eric, I forget, do you have an automatic top-off system in this thing? If not, that may be a better use of the space where the chiller was. I know that is one thing I really need to get up-and-running on my new tank because I hate having to add water every day. It would also give me some peace of mind when going on a short vacation.
Just my thoughts...
-Scott
calvin415
New member
scbauer said:I want more pictures...
Hey Eric, I forget, do you have an automatic top-off system in this thing? If not, that may be a better use of the space where the chiller was. I know that is one thing I really need to get up-and-running on my new tank because I hate having to add water every day. It would also give me some peace of mind when going on a short vacation.
Just my thoughts...
-Scott
More pics? Okay I'll try to get some more, but any special requests? I've already got the ATO covered... I've got a 2.5G bucket gravity feed my DIY Kalk reactor which feeds lime water through a float valve so it's always the right water level. I just have to keep the bucket full; if I'm going to go out of town I just have to move the hose to a larger reservior and set it on my desk.
Here's some pic of the ATO...The reservior bucket with JG fitting installed (DIY).
The line feeds the DIY Kalk reactor.
Which dumps lime water into the sump via a float valve.
Another shot.
Nice... I forgot about that top-off system. Guess you'll need a fuge then
How long have you been using that Kent Float Valve? I've been looking into two options. The first is that Kent Float Valve plumbed directly into my RO/DI system. The thing that makes me worry is if it were to get stuck open, I would come home to a flood and a freshwater tank... NOT cool. The other option is to build something with the electronic float valves that would control a small powerhead. I would put the powerhead in a container that held something like 5 or 10 gallons of fresh water. This way, if something were to happen and all of the water went into the tank, it may not cause a flood and kill the tank.
What is your experience with the Kent valve?
-Scott
How long have you been using that Kent Float Valve? I've been looking into two options. The first is that Kent Float Valve plumbed directly into my RO/DI system. The thing that makes me worry is if it were to get stuck open, I would come home to a flood and a freshwater tank... NOT cool. The other option is to build something with the electronic float valves that would control a small powerhead. I would put the powerhead in a container that held something like 5 or 10 gallons of fresh water. This way, if something were to happen and all of the water went into the tank, it may not cause a flood and kill the tank.
What is your experience with the Kent valve?
-Scott
calvin415
New member
scbauer said:Nice... I forgot about that top-off system. Guess you'll need a fuge then
How long have you been using that Kent Float Valve? I've been looking into two options. The first is that Kent Float Valve plumbed directly into my RO/DI system. The thing that makes me worry is if it were to get stuck open, I would come home to a flood and a freshwater tank... NOT cool. The other option is to build something with the electronic float valves that would control a small powerhead. I would put the powerhead in a container that held something like 5 or 10 gallons of fresh water. This way, if something were to happen and all of the water went into the tank, it may not cause a flood and kill the tank.
What is your experience with the Kent valve?
-Scott
Scott, so far so good... I've got the exact same setup on my dad's tank (good for 6 months so far). I'm not sure I would hook one up to a RO/DI due to the pressure. You could hook it up to a large reservoir and have a more professional on/off setup on the RO/DI feeding the reservoir... ??? I've used a float switch before as well, and it works, but I prefer the gravity fed method instead. Just more reliable IMO.
tigerarmy40
New member
so that kent cuts off the flow when its raised! there is no electrical run to it or mumps running you top off? thats awesome and simple and Im following suite!
stugray
Premium Member
I have a float valve hooked directly to my RO/DI unit, and it works great. However, I have been told that that setup is a bad idea ( due to the flood scenario mentioned above ) also, it is bad for the RO/DI unit to keep taking tiny bits from it and constantly 'surging'. So when I get around to it, I plan on building a autofilling RO/DI tank like in Joseph Weatherson's TOTM this month on RC.
Stu
Stu
calvin415
New member
Diatoms have started... I'm shutting off my light for the next week to try to keep it controlled.
Did my first tests last night,
SG 1.025
Ammonia just a trace,
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Ph 8.3
PO4 0.0
Ca 350
Alk 8.4 DKH
Mg 1350
I've got my Kalk reactor going so hopefully that will help the Ca and Alk levels.
Did my first tests last night,
SG 1.025
Ammonia just a trace,
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Ph 8.3
PO4 0.0
Ca 350
Alk 8.4 DKH
Mg 1350
I've got my Kalk reactor going so hopefully that will help the Ca and Alk levels.
zombiereef
New member
i have a float switch on a gravity fed topoff system and it works really well. once i started adding kalk, it became a different story. you have to keep the valve insanely clean. this means removing, dismantling, and cleaning the valve parts. the kalk will buildup on the switch and cause the kalk to overflow. this is one of the reasons i was going to go with the jbj a.t.o, but since i am tearing my tank down now, i wont be getting the jbj.
calvin415
New member
Were you adding kalk to your top off bucket? When I setup my dad's tank I used to add the kalk to the topoff bucket and yes it clogged because I would get kalk powder or calcium carbonate in the return line. Since then I've added a kalk reactor to keep the line running only saturated lime water through the valve and it hasn't clogged yet.
calvin415
New member
Tested my water again last night, I can't believe it, no ammonia, no nitrite, and just a trace of nitrate... Guess it pays to cook your rock! Although I would have thought cooking the rock would have kill the aptasia, nope instead it's spread all over...
Hired some peppermints to do some killing.
Hired some peppermints to do some killing.
djmod45
New member
Looking great Calvin! I have had a few probs with the aptasia myself but have been too cheap to get any shrimp in there yet so I have been resolving each issue by syphoning the aptasia out. All in a day's work I spose . Did commission a emerald crab to nip the bubble algae before it goes everywhere. Keep up the pics!
. Did commission a emerald crab to nip the bubble algae before it goes everywhere. Keep up the pics!
zombiereef
New member
i just added saturated kalk water to my topoff bucket. it still clogged it. in fact, it is clogged right now.
how does a kalk reactor work? what components are needed for one? is it the same as a calcium reactor that breaks down aragonite with co2?
how does a kalk reactor work? what components are needed for one? is it the same as a calcium reactor that breaks down aragonite with co2?
