Lucky Lefty
New member
I was kinda worried about the fish making waves.. Felt slight relief when the water level dropped when I turned back the return pump.
I guess there's still much for me to learn the hard way.
A noob learning the hard way. First post. LONG READ sorry
- Thread starter Lucky Lefty
- Start date
I was kinda worried about the fish making waves.. Felt slight relief when the water level dropped when I turned back the return pump.
I guess there's still much for me to learn the hard way.
Agree with everyone else on adding more rock. Even if you get the larger sump I think you will want more in the display too. Not necessarily for appearance, but to give you fish places to hide and sleep. I don't think anyone responded to your question about dialing down the return, so I will throw in my two cents. Flow in the display is the most important thing and it should be controlled with power heads and not return lines IMO. That being said I know you are planning on adding the MP40s which you will love and I don't think the slower flow will effect your cycling very much if at all. Good luck!
Lucky Lefty
New member
Thanks a lot!! I do want more live rock. What I have now resembles about 1/3 of my sketch that drew a month or two ago of how I want my rock to look. Payday is tomorrow
my problem is that I really like the rock I have and want to add more of it, and it's $5/lb. and for some reason, when I want something, I never...well, hardly ever settle for anything else, so I'll kill my bank account and buy more of this rock. My bday is in 3 weeks, maybe the reef fairy will drop some rock in my tank. Thanks for the info on flow. Again with wanting something and not settling, I really want the mp40s, just finding it hard to 1)save that much money for 2 pumps and 2) justify saving that much money for 2 pumps.
I've found myself scouring CL for some used hydor koralias, but don't know if that's what I really want to do. I really don't want any cords in the DT.
Despairodyne
New member
My LFS has a small clown trigger. What a beautiful fish and it comes to your finger when you tap on the glass.
When I think about adding a clown trigger to a tank, I imagine inviting Joe Pesci to my wedding. Not the Joe Pesci from "My Cousin Vinnie", Joe Pesci from Goodfellas.
"I'm funny how, I mean funny like I'm a clown?......"
When I think about adding a clown trigger to a tank, I imagine inviting Joe Pesci to my wedding. Not the Joe Pesci from "My Cousin Vinnie", Joe Pesci from Goodfellas.
"I'm funny how, I mean funny like I'm a clown?......"
If you can deal with the noise then I say leave it till you are able to add some more flow which I think is one of the more important aspects of keeping a long term and healthy saltwater tank it will help keep detritus suspended in the water column and down the overflow to be filtered out.
As for the question about the cycle I don't think that it will effect the cycle the bacteria is going to do its thing whether it's 700 gal or 500gal. I might have missed it but I didn't get the number of overflow bulk heads and what size they are and what kind of drain you are using?
As for the mp40s you can't go wrong I added 2 to my 125 gal and can't be happier with the amount of flow they put out plus the no wires in the tank is a plus.
Don't worry about the mistakes man we all have made them and still do. We all learn from are mistakes and try to help others out there to not make the same mistakes. I my self have flood my house a few times and it was usually from filling my Rodi container and falling asleep/not paying attention and not remembering to turn off the water, most of the time they went to bad but one time it got crazy and flooded the hallway ended up having to replace the whole hallway flooring, finally order some float flows and problem solved.
Good luck with the build this is some of the best times in keeping saltwater tanks learning all the ins and out of the tank and having problems and powering though and it seems like for every set back the tank seems to progress a little better each time
As for the question about the cycle I don't think that it will effect the cycle the bacteria is going to do its thing whether it's 700 gal or 500gal. I might have missed it but I didn't get the number of overflow bulk heads and what size they are and what kind of drain you are using?
As for the mp40s you can't go wrong I added 2 to my 125 gal and can't be happier with the amount of flow they put out plus the no wires in the tank is a plus.
Don't worry about the mistakes man we all have made them and still do. We all learn from are mistakes and try to help others out there to not make the same mistakes. I my self have flood my house a few times and it was usually from filling my Rodi container and falling asleep/not paying attention and not remembering to turn off the water, most of the time they went to bad but one time it got crazy and flooded the hallway ended up having to replace the whole hallway flooring, finally order some float flows and problem solved.
Good luck with the build this is some of the best times in keeping saltwater tanks learning all the ins and out of the tank and having problems and powering though and it seems like for every set back the tank seems to progress a little better each time
Lucky Lefty
New member
Exactly!! And who didn't love that Joe Pesci!? I think that analogy just got me even more pumped up about it.
We saw a couple recently in 2 different stores. When I tried to take a photo, they would go Joe Pesci on the glass because of the shiny chrome ring around the lense. Same with my wife's shiny nail polish. Couldn't imagine a full size one doing that. Must be awesome.. And scary. Could you imagine being a tiny little clown, or squirrelfish in a tank with a full grown clown. Holy crap.
Lucky Lefty
New member
I have a 2 bulkheads in either overflow box. One for a 1" drain and one for a 1/2" return pipe. The right drain going straight down into the sump, where as the left side comes all the way over and joins it at a T just above the outlet. The outlet is above the water line and goes into a filter sock.
Right now my protein skimmer is not on, but sitting in the sump, so the water just goes through the sock filter and is pumped back up at the other end of the sump.
I'm also terrified of leaving the water on on my rodi system as well. That's why that 55 gallon drum is right next to the garage door. If I do flood it, the slope of the floor should push it out of the garage. Hopefully.
Thanks for the good luck. I'm gonna need it I'm sure. And if you're anywhere near nj and want to unload those mp40s, let me know.
Dapg8gt
New member
welcome to your new addiction =)
Totally agree the flow will not affect your cycle at all.
You should be adding an ammonia source though if you haven't been doing it. You need to feed the nitrogen cycle in order for it to build to levels to support life. If your not ghost feeding, using shrimp, bottled bacteria or straight ammonia it's prolonging your cycle and once fish are introduced you will have another mini or possibly full blown cycle. I'm sure the rock had something on it but you should he making the bacteria work their Butts off to make your life easier down the line.
I think you should add some flow to the tank also just to manage things settling out and dead spots.. Jebaos are great inexpensive pumps to hold you over until you get the ecotech fwiw. Imo there is no substitute for the mp's looks wise and the cool factor that's why I have so many =) nothing wrong with cheap koralia's though either. You can go to your local forum and put a want to buy ad up to purchase things from local Reefers just don't try to sell or trade and your all good.
Do you have a shut off kit on your rodi? Best investment ever because you will leave it on and that can be avoided for less than $30.
Good luck tank looks great so far and you are doing it all right so far by learning the most important part of reefing, patience =).
Totally agree the flow will not affect your cycle at all.
You should be adding an ammonia source though if you haven't been doing it. You need to feed the nitrogen cycle in order for it to build to levels to support life. If your not ghost feeding, using shrimp, bottled bacteria or straight ammonia it's prolonging your cycle and once fish are introduced you will have another mini or possibly full blown cycle. I'm sure the rock had something on it but you should he making the bacteria work their Butts off to make your life easier down the line.
I think you should add some flow to the tank also just to manage things settling out and dead spots.. Jebaos are great inexpensive pumps to hold you over until you get the ecotech fwiw. Imo there is no substitute for the mp's looks wise and the cool factor that's why I have so many =) nothing wrong with cheap koralia's though either. You can go to your local forum and put a want to buy ad up to purchase things from local Reefers just don't try to sell or trade and your all good.
Do you have a shut off kit on your rodi? Best investment ever because you will leave it on and that can be avoided for less than $30.
Good luck tank looks great so far and you are doing it all right so far by learning the most important part of reefing, patience =).
frogdog
Relentless Question-Asker
That's a beautiful stand. I'm a woodworker (and write for a woodworking magazine), so I know how much work it is to make a nice cabinet.
Lucky Lefty
New member
I actually dropped I raw shrimp in last night. Brought out all kinds of very tiny bug like critters all over the stocking with the shrimp.
I've detailed this in another thread in this same forum (new to hobby) titled "feeding cycle with shrimp"
No shut off on the RODI yet, as I set it up on the fly and don't have my drums setup as I want em yet so I have to do that still.
I really need to start a blog or something, some much info spread between my 2 threads is tough to keep track of.
Thanks for the compliments too.
Lucky Lefty
New member
Wow thanks a lot. I worked my butt off on that thing. Just had a vision, went to home depot and bought a forest worth of lumber and started cutting wood and painting. It took me a while, but I would come home from work and just zone out and work on the stand.
I enjoyed building it so much, I was kinda bummed out when it was complete. I've just decided that I should have put a door on on side, so I'm about to perform surgery and make a door to slide out my sump.
One of my favorite parts is the black crown moulding under the lip of the top of the stand. To me it's a hidden detail that you see after you're done looking at all the white trim. That and the depth from the White trim in the center of the larger rectangles/doors.
Love carpentry, actually work for a large contractor, I wonder if I read the magazine you write for, as I have a few subscriptions.
Again, thanks a lot. I appreciate it.
frogdog
Relentless Question-Asker
Yeah, a door on the side is probably a good idea. I guess it depends on how it's plumbed, but I think the better access underneath, the better.
You probably haven't seen my stuff because I'm in Canada. But a bunch of articles are online.
It's Canadian Woodworking and Home Improvement. :celeb2:Lucky Lefty
New member
Just wanted to update my thread for anyone that comes across this.
As of today, the tank is establishing beautifully. I have a baby porcupine puffer and baby blue velvet damsel in the tank, and yesterday i added two turbo snails and 2 cerith snails to act as my CUC, with about 55lbs of live rock.
Protein skimmer working great, and over the holiday weekend I did my first water change of about 35-40 gallons and replaced all of the pvc fitting on my plumbing setup to make them all slip fittings. All is tight and dry now HUGE RELIEF THERE.
Just enjoying the view and still learning too much the hard way.
As of today, the tank is establishing beautifully. I have a baby porcupine puffer and baby blue velvet damsel in the tank, and yesterday i added two turbo snails and 2 cerith snails to act as my CUC, with about 55lbs of live rock.
Protein skimmer working great, and over the holiday weekend I did my first water change of about 35-40 gallons and replaced all of the pvc fitting on my plumbing setup to make them all slip fittings. All is tight and dry now
HUGE RELIEF THERE.Just enjoying the view and still learning too much the hard way.
