56G Column Seahorse Build

I cycled it with live rock from another tank. In my case, my seahorse tank shares a sump with my reef tank, (not ideal, I know but necessary since both need my chiller) so getting the rock out of my sump was no more risky for my QT than what I was doing with my seahorse tank. I do not necessarily recommend you do that.

I'm glad it worked out for you, but I understand why it could lead to a potential issue.


The QT has been filled and running for a few days now. What I didn't think of is the brute trash can that has been running for about 6 months now with the cycled live rock for the DT. I think I will end up throwing a small rock from there in the QT to get the cycle going.

 
Progress has been slow with school and work taking up most of my time, but I have managed to finally finish all the plumbing and will be doing a freshwater test today on the system!



 
Also, the QT tank is cycled and ready for seahorses. As long as there are no leaks in the main system today I will be ordering a pair soon. This way I can be certain the DT will be ready for them once their quarantine time is over.

The rock for the DT has been circulating in a brute trash can for about 8 months now which will hopefully make the cycle minimal.

Feeling optimistic that we will have ponies very soon!
 
You can check the capability of the biological filter by CHALLENGING it.
Add some ammonia until you get a reading of about 6ppm ammonia and see how long it takes to clear. If it clears overnight, the cycle is ready.
 
You can check the capability of the biological filter by CHALLENGING it.
Add some ammonia until you get a reading of about 6ppm ammonia and see how long it takes to clear. If it clears overnight, the cycle is ready.

Sounds like a fun experiment. The nitrogen cycle has been complete for several months now in the rock bin, but it would be interesting to see the actual capacity of the bacteria population. Thanks for the input.
 
Joining in to this thread late, but I love the sump and refugium in the closet!

Feel free to join in any time!

Thank you for the feedback. The closet should allow for maintenance tasks to be easier as the equipment is more accessible than it would be under the stand in my opinion.
 
Well the leak test did not go so well, but it could always be way worse!

I had two leaky bulkheads that simply required some tightening, which was quick and painless, but I ran into one more problem that has caused more of a headache.

My overflow box has a pinhole in the silicone that allows water to leak ever so slowly. Doesn't seem like a big deal, but when the return pump is off, the water leaking into the overflow from the DT keeps the box full enough so that water can siphon down into my sump from it. It's so slow that it siphoned about 3-4 gallons in 8 hours or so. Luckily I caught what was happening before my sump overflowed all over the floor. (This was the next morning when I woke up)

The effect of this issue is the DT draining into the overflow until the water level is below the pinhole in the silicone, which is about 10 gallons or so. The plan is to silicone the outside joint of the overflow box and see if this does the trick. If not I might have to rebuild the overflow box which I would really prefer not to do. I originally only siliconed the inside of the box, so hopefully I can get a good seal around the outside.
 
Fellow Jacksonviller here! Subscribed! I got out of the hobby when I moved from NY to FL a little over a year ago but I am looking to get back in now that family is settled. Thinking 35 gal hex seahorse tank so I will be paying very close attention to this build!
 
Fellow Jacksonviller here! Subscribed! I got out of the hobby when I moved from NY to FL a little over a year ago but I am looking to get back in now that family is settled. Thinking 35 gal hex seahorse tank so I will be paying very close attention to this build!

Thanks for the input. I bet you're loving the weather down here compared to how cold it's been in New York over the winter.

Hope to see a build thread from you soon!
 
If it isn't one thing it's another!

The overflow box is sealed and not leaking, which is good news. On the other hand, I over-tightened the drain bulkhead for the refugium and of course it cracked.


The good news is Petco's $/gallon sale that happens to be running now, which cut the cost in half of a new tank. I purchased the new refugium already and drilled it. Once the paint dries on it we will be back in business.
 
It's alive!!!

It's alive!!!

After a lot of work and setbacks we finally have a running system!:dance:

I finished filling it with RODI and added salt on Sunday night. So far it has been running perfectly.











I still need to tidy up some wires and holes in the wall, and install the skimmer. Then I can fill the DT with live rock that has been curing since last June and add sand.
 
What a beautiful clean looking system! That should be a wonderful set up for seahorses with husbandry so well thought out.
 
Back
Top