captbunzo's 47g tank log
- Thread starter captbunzo
- Start date
captbunzo
Premium Member
Ha! I forgot to mention the OTHER big thing going on right now.
I have had some real hastles with the nasty, icky lady who is in charge of my apartment complex down here in Dallas. Well, that came to a head today when she told me that I couldn't setup the additional parts of my tank system (25g & 29g tanks). But worse then that, she lied & was rude & nasty & was just has been acting wrong.
So I decided to move out.
I get the keys to the new place on Monday and will have them both from then until the end of the month. So I guess that works well with the timing of this tank catastrophe.
I have had some real hastles with the nasty, icky lady who is in charge of my apartment complex down here in Dallas. Well, that came to a head today when she told me that I couldn't setup the additional parts of my tank system (25g & 29g tanks). But worse then that, she lied & was rude & nasty & was just has been acting wrong.
So I decided to move out.
I get the keys to the new place on Monday and will have them both from then until the end of the month. So I guess that works well with the timing of this tank catastrophe.
captbunzo
Premium Member
I am no chemist, but I do not believe that is correct. So I did a search and ran across a couple of useful references. According to Randy Holmes-Farley in the article listed below GFO is also known to bind to sulfate, chloride, calcium, magnesium, trace metals, and organics. I did not, however, find any reference to GFO media binding to copper.
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-11/rhf/index.php
I have the polyfilter in there right now, which should help with the copper. We also did a big water change and pulled out all the livestock. I might do some research on copper binding agents and see what the best options are for such a beast. It would certainly be easy enough to throw something else into one of my two phosban reactors on the system (see next post).
Thanks for the tips!
captbunzo
Premium Member
First, for anyone curious or who asked (I think someone did), here is a link to a thread with some updated pictures of my 55g tank in Ardmore.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=8478833#post8478833
And an update on the situation.....
Well, I dropped by the fish store, talked with Tim a bit (who is the friend that was coming by later to help with the fish tank), and decided to get some more chemical filtration media. I picked up another phosban reactor and some Chemi-Pure (which I have heard good things about).
Back at the apartment, I have Phosban Reactor #1 with new Carbon & GFO media as well as added the polyfilter rolled up and placed above that. I added Phosban Reactor #2 with the Chemi-Pure in it to the system. It was actually fun plumbing them together so that they were being powered by a single powerhead.
Phosban reactors rock for simple canister filter type action. So cheap, flexible, no silly bells and whistles.
And then we (ok, Tim did most of the work) did about a 17 gallon water change (probably 40-45%) and then proceeded to bag up all the corals and then the eel. Tim took about two-thirds of them back to his place and I brought the rest up to my house in Ardmore. I took the Ricordia, my new Clam, the Galaxea archelia (poor corals, these had the worst RTN) and a couple of zoa frags (including the blues, Professor Z).
And so the tank is now empty except for rock. Sooner or later we will get all of the sand out of there (maybe when it moves to my new apartment).
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=8478833#post8478833
And an update on the situation.....
Well, I dropped by the fish store, talked with Tim a bit (who is the friend that was coming by later to help with the fish tank), and decided to get some more chemical filtration media. I picked up another phosban reactor and some Chemi-Pure (which I have heard good things about).
Back at the apartment, I have Phosban Reactor #1 with new Carbon & GFO media as well as added the polyfilter rolled up and placed above that. I added Phosban Reactor #2 with the Chemi-Pure in it to the system. It was actually fun plumbing them together so that they were being powered by a single powerhead.
Phosban reactors rock for simple canister filter type action. So cheap, flexible, no silly bells and whistles.
And then we (ok, Tim did most of the work) did about a 17 gallon water change (probably 40-45%) and then proceeded to bag up all the corals and then the eel. Tim took about two-thirds of them back to his place and I brought the rest up to my house in Ardmore. I took the Ricordia, my new Clam, the Galaxea archelia (poor corals, these had the worst RTN) and a couple of zoa frags (including the blues, Professor Z).
And so the tank is now empty except for rock. Sooner or later we will get all of the sand out of there (maybe when it moves to my new apartment).
divecj5
New member
Man....sorry to hear that all this is happening at the same time as the lady from your old apartment decided to rear her ugly head 
I guess like you said though, it might just work out for the best (well not the best but you know) since you will be moving now.
Keep us posted how the corals are doing, moving, and how the critters are making it.
Best of luck Paul
Adam
I guess like you said though, it might just work out for the best (well not the best but you know) since you will be moving now. Keep us posted how the corals are doing, moving, and how the critters are making it.
Best of luck Paul
Adam
captbunzo
Premium Member
Ok, here is a pic or 2 I should have posted a week ago... Almost, at least... But first, the normal link to my photo set for this tank on flickr.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/captbunzo/sets/72157594261988730/
This is the tank before a 50% water change and the addition of polyfilter and chemipure, and the switching out of my carbon & phosban.
And this is a pic of the good friend of mine that I have made at my LFS (he works there, nice guy, Tim) who helped me out with this all. I had minor surgery a week ahead of this tank crisis and was not supposed to be lifting heavy objects, etc.
Thank you a MILLION, Tim. You are awesome...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/captbunzo/sets/72157594261988730/
This is the tank before a 50% water change and the addition of polyfilter and chemipure, and the switching out of my carbon & phosban.
And this is a pic of the good friend of mine that I have made at my LFS (he works there, nice guy, Tim) who helped me out with this all. I had minor surgery a week ahead of this tank crisis and was not supposed to be lifting heavy objects, etc.
Thank you a MILLION, Tim. You are awesome...
Last edited:
captbunzo
Premium Member
And here are some current updates. I have a good bit of my move made to my new apartment. AND, extremely exciting, I have finished my stands!!! 
Except I now need to make a small update to one stand based on where I want to put one of these tanks in the new apartment.
This picture shows the 25g secondary display tank sitting on it's newly completed (doors mounted, magnetic clasps installed) stand. When I took this picture, I was standing in the living room of my new apartment looking toward the dining room type area. The 25g tank stand is going to be setup as a sort of divider tank between these 2 rooms of the apartment.
Here you can see the stand from the front. Where I am taking the picture from there will be a futon. On the "backside", there will be a small oval dining table. Therefore, the "back" of the stand will now be exposed to the world. And I, unfortunately, did not put a full back on the stand.
So I am going to be cutting a piece of plywood to fit the open space, staining it, dyeing it, and polycrylicing it. Then I will nail it in place. Hopefully I can make it look really good and get it done in less then a week. I'll take the stand with me home this weekend so I can just cut and fit the plywood with my tablesaw (heck yeah).
Now imagine where I was standing when I took the first picture in this post. And imagine I rotate clockwise 90 degrees. That puts me pointing toward another corner of the living room. In this corner, I will be placing the 47g primary display tank facing diagonally out from the corner. And directly to the right of that tank will be the 29g display sump, which can be seen in this picture.
You might notice that this tank is directly in front of a window. Usually this would be a no-no in most reefing setups due to concerns with algae, etc. HOWEVER, I hope to use sunlight coming through this window to naturally light Chaeto and Mangroves growing in this sump. We'll have to see how that goes.
With the lovely big size of this window, I only wish that this 29g tank was a 55g tank and that lovely stand I built was a FOR a 55g tank. Oh well, 29g should work fine...
These pictures just show some detail of the tank. Notice the flush fitting of the doors of this stand all the way to the left and right. I REALLY like this fitting. I don't know if this is the best design, but it sure worked out well....
And, lastly, a dorky picture of a magnetic clasp. Yes, I really am posting a picture of a magnetic clasp in my tank thread. This is one of those clasps that springs a door open when you press it, if that makes any sense. This allows the doors to be knobless.
And that's all she wrote for tonight, folks. No more pics for now.
Except I now need to make a small update to one stand based on where I want to put one of these tanks in the new apartment.
This picture shows the 25g secondary display tank sitting on it's newly completed (doors mounted, magnetic clasps installed) stand. When I took this picture, I was standing in the living room of my new apartment looking toward the dining room type area. The 25g tank stand is going to be setup as a sort of divider tank between these 2 rooms of the apartment.
Here you can see the stand from the front. Where I am taking the picture from there will be a futon. On the "backside", there will be a small oval dining table. Therefore, the "back" of the stand will now be exposed to the world. And I, unfortunately, did not put a full back on the stand.
So I am going to be cutting a piece of plywood to fit the open space, staining it, dyeing it, and polycrylicing it. Then I will nail it in place. Hopefully I can make it look really good and get it done in less then a week. I'll take the stand with me home this weekend so I can just cut and fit the plywood with my tablesaw (heck yeah).
Now imagine where I was standing when I took the first picture in this post. And imagine I rotate clockwise 90 degrees. That puts me pointing toward another corner of the living room. In this corner, I will be placing the 47g primary display tank facing diagonally out from the corner. And directly to the right of that tank will be the 29g display sump, which can be seen in this picture.
You might notice that this tank is directly in front of a window. Usually this would be a no-no in most reefing setups due to concerns with algae, etc. HOWEVER, I hope to use sunlight coming through this window to naturally light Chaeto and Mangroves growing in this sump. We'll have to see how that goes.
With the lovely big size of this window, I only wish that this 29g tank was a 55g tank and that lovely stand I built was a FOR a 55g tank. Oh well, 29g should work fine...
These pictures just show some detail of the tank. Notice the flush fitting of the doors of this stand all the way to the left and right. I REALLY like this fitting. I don't know if this is the best design, but it sure worked out well....
And, lastly, a dorky picture of a magnetic clasp. Yes, I really am posting a picture of a magnetic clasp in my tank thread. This is one of those clasps that springs a door open when you press it, if that makes any sense. This allows the doors to be knobless.
And that's all she wrote for tonight, folks. No more pics for now.
captbunzo
Premium Member
But I WILL post a few more details in written word, not quite the thousands of words shown in the picture above.
Ok, so the plan. I am going to get the rest of my apartment stuff moved in over the next week. However, for the stuff you care about, the fish tank.
1. This weekend I will be bringing the 25g tank stand home so that I can cut a piece of plywood for a back panel. Hopefully I will have enough time as well to at least start the first step or even two of the finishing process. This finishing will continue over the next week at my old apartment (so I don't have to stink up my new one, muwhahaha).
2. I am also thinking about putting a bulkhead in the back of the 29g fish tank (sump) so that I can route the output of my return pump out the back of the tank and then snake it low behind the back of the tank so that it will not block light from entering the tank, etc. I will have to think that over a bit.
3. Next Monday evening, hopefully, I'll be moving the 47g tank over with the help of a friend. At this time, Tim (the helper above) and I plan to do a 100% water change. I'll also be removing all the old sand and replacing it with a mix of some southdown and some aragonite (of some sort).
4. Next priority is doing a little silicone work in the 29g and 25g tanks. This is related to resealing an internal overflow in the 25g tank and installing partitions, etc, in the 29g refugium. I need to get this done ASAP so that the silicone will have time to cure. I really should have done this already.
5. Then I need to rehang the metal halide light over the 47g tank. This isn't a HUGE priority as the tank is without any real livestock. However, I would like this to get back on soon so that the tank starts to establish a normal equilibrium.
6. And from there, things probably move to the plumbing of the tanks all up. Now, a fun part of this is that the 25g tank is going to be located about 10 feet away from main tank and the 29g sump.However, I think I can easily plumb things back and forth behind a futon that is going to sit there. Fun fun. And then there is always the normal bits of plumbing, etc.
7. Probably during the week after next, Thanksgiving week, I will be likely ready (hopefully) to pour water into the 25g and 29g tanks and turn them all on. That will be an exciting, and hopefully dry, moment.
Ok, so the plan. I am going to get the rest of my apartment stuff moved in over the next week. However, for the stuff you care about, the fish tank.
1. This weekend I will be bringing the 25g tank stand home so that I can cut a piece of plywood for a back panel. Hopefully I will have enough time as well to at least start the first step or even two of the finishing process. This finishing will continue over the next week at my old apartment (so I don't have to stink up my new one, muwhahaha
).2. I am also thinking about putting a bulkhead in the back of the 29g fish tank (sump) so that I can route the output of my return pump out the back of the tank and then snake it low behind the back of the tank so that it will not block light from entering the tank, etc. I will have to think that over a bit.
3. Next Monday evening, hopefully, I'll be moving the 47g tank over with the help of a friend. At this time, Tim (the helper above) and I plan to do a 100% water change. I'll also be removing all the old sand and replacing it with a mix of some southdown and some aragonite (of some sort).
4. Next priority is doing a little silicone work in the 29g and 25g tanks. This is related to resealing an internal overflow in the 25g tank and installing partitions, etc, in the 29g refugium. I need to get this done ASAP so that the silicone will have time to cure. I really should have done this already.
5. Then I need to rehang the metal halide light over the 47g tank. This isn't a HUGE priority as the tank is without any real livestock. However, I would like this to get back on soon so that the tank starts to establish a normal equilibrium.
6. And from there, things probably move to the plumbing of the tanks all up. Now, a fun part of this is that the 25g tank is going to be located about 10 feet away from main tank and the 29g sump.However, I think I can easily plumb things back and forth behind a futon that is going to sit there. Fun fun. And then there is always the normal bits of plumbing, etc.
7. Probably during the week after next, Thanksgiving week, I will be likely ready (hopefully) to pour water into the 25g and 29g tanks and turn them all on. That will be an exciting, and hopefully dry, moment.
divecj5
New member
Thanks for the update Paul. I missed your call on Friday although I tried to call back. Looks like things went great with the move and things are moving right along. The stands look great and it really looks like the time and energy you put into them really paid off. They look awesome.
Sounds like you have a nice plan set out for yourself and it sounds like a lot of work Should make for a busy couple weeks. Keep us updated on how things are coming along.
Adam
Sounds like you have a nice plan set out for yourself and it sounds like a lot of work
Should make for a busy couple weeks. Keep us updated on how things are coming along.Adam
captbunzo
Premium Member
Woohoo - a REAL update finally...... A friend from work volunteered to help me move the tank over yesterday and I jumped at the occasion. Otherwise, it was going to be next Tuesday with another friend. So here are some updated pics.
Here is the tank immediately after being brought over to the new apartment and setup. In the process of moving the tank, we got rid of all the old sand and did about a 50% water change. At this point, I am confident that the tank is in good shape and is ready for action - ok maybe in a couple weeks or so....
And here, just about 18 hours later.... The water is running through 2 phosban reactors that are plumbed in sequence, powered by a single maxijet 600 which has been squeezed way down with a ball valve.
Anyhow, the first contains phosban (1/4 cup) and carbon (3/4 - 1 cup), then a layer of a fine filter floss (added to remove dust from water), and then some fresh polyfilter. The second reactor contains some chemi-pure.
I have had carbon and phosban and polyfilter and chemi-pure running on this tank for several weeks now. Honestly, I have been AMAZED at how clear the water is. I think I might have to use polyfilter and chemi-pure more regularly down the road. That has been nice.
Anyhow, enjoy the pics.
Next week I will be working on getting the Metal Halide bulb mounted above it (slightly modified version of what I did last time, using the pulley system again but this time with no drilling of walls or ceilings). And I need to finish a little siliconing of stuff into the other tanks (simple work).
And I need to buy the futon that is going to sit between display tanks 1 & 2. And then I will plumb the system all together. Woohoo!
We'll see how much I get accomplished next week with Thanksgiving visit of my wife and kids down there planned..... But I REALLY hope to have the whole system all plumbed up and running by the end of the following week.
Here is the tank immediately after being brought over to the new apartment and setup. In the process of moving the tank, we got rid of all the old sand and did about a 50% water change. At this point, I am confident that the tank is in good shape and is ready for action - ok maybe in a couple weeks or so....
And here, just about 18 hours later.... The water is running through 2 phosban reactors that are plumbed in sequence, powered by a single maxijet 600 which has been squeezed way down with a ball valve.
Anyhow, the first contains phosban (1/4 cup) and carbon (3/4 - 1 cup), then a layer of a fine filter floss (added to remove dust from water), and then some fresh polyfilter. The second reactor contains some chemi-pure.
I have had carbon and phosban and polyfilter and chemi-pure running on this tank for several weeks now. Honestly, I have been AMAZED at how clear the water is. I think I might have to use polyfilter and chemi-pure more regularly down the road. That has been nice.
Anyhow, enjoy the pics.
Next week I will be working on getting the Metal Halide bulb mounted above it (slightly modified version of what I did last time, using the pulley system again but this time with no drilling of walls or ceilings). And I need to finish a little siliconing of stuff into the other tanks (simple work).
And I need to buy the futon that is going to sit between display tanks 1 & 2. And then I will plumb the system all together. Woohoo!
We'll see how much I get accomplished next week with Thanksgiving visit of my wife and kids down there planned..... But I REALLY hope to have the whole system all plumbed up and running by the end of the following week.
dustin Combs
In Memoriam
Looks great cap!!!
divecj5
New member
Looking great Paul and looks like you had quite the productive weekend for sure . The tank looks incredibly clear for just being moved and looks like the chemi-pure and everything else has really helped to clear things up nicely.
I'm really looking forward to seeing how it all turns out....as I'm sure you are as well.
So can chemi-pure be run just phosban and carbon in the reactor or does it have to be in a media bag or something? Just curious.
Looks great man.
Adam
. The tank looks incredibly clear for just being moved and looks like the chemi-pure and everything else has really helped to clear things up nicely.I'm really looking forward to seeing how it all turns out....as I'm sure you are as well.
So can chemi-pure be run just phosban and carbon in the reactor or does it have to be in a media bag or something? Just curious.
Looks great man.
Adam
captbunzo
Premium Member
As I suspected, with Thanksgiving break going on, I haven't moved along as far as I had hoped. I have, however, gotten a little bit done.
I've built a bizarre metal frame which sticks up behind the tank and serves as a method of hanging my 250W metal halide above the tank. And then I got my light hung. It seems to work well. The pulley system is still in place, so I can still get the light out of the way without having to turn it off.
Pics will follow later this evening........
And I added a fish. Ok, I actually added TWO fish.
I decided to take the plunge and give a Copperbanded Butterfly a try. The thing is absolutely gorgeous. So far he looks pretty good. I have noticed some ick spots, no big suprise considering the stress of being moved around. I am using garlic and vitamins added to food to treat that.
Of course, that will only help when he actually starts eating. Copperbands are typically hard to get going in a tank, and this guy is no exception. On the bright side, he is showing signs of less shyness and is definately swimming around very healthily. He may be eating some of the foods I throw in, that's hard to tell. And he pics at the rocks plenty, which is good.
Here is a pic and a link from fishbase - I didn't want to take any close up pics yet as I am trying to DESTRESS him, not the other way around.
Copperband butterflyfish (Chelmon rostratus)
http://fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=5483
And since I am dumping in a decent amount of food to encourage the guy to eat (as per recommendations found around the web), I decided to find a small and peaceful fish to add as well that might consume a little bit of the extra food. So I ended up getting a crosshatch goby.
The Crosshatch Goby (Amblygobius decussatus) is a sand sifting goby closely related to the dragon (brown-bar) goby (Amblygobius phalaena). According to Mr. Scott W. Michael, he is a peaceful fish and calm sand sifter. So that fills my sand stirring requirement and will hopefully be a good match with the Copperband.
Crosshatch Goby (Amblygobius decussatus)
http://fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=7197
So far, they seem to be doing really well together. They have not bothered each other at all, or even barely taken notice. And I did see the goby taking interest in food that floated past him at the bottom of the tank.
I've built a bizarre metal frame which sticks up behind the tank and serves as a method of hanging my 250W metal halide above the tank. And then I got my light hung. It seems to work well. The pulley system is still in place, so I can still get the light out of the way without having to turn it off.
Pics will follow later this evening........
And I added a fish. Ok, I actually added TWO fish.
I decided to take the plunge and give a Copperbanded Butterfly a try. The thing is absolutely gorgeous. So far he looks pretty good. I have noticed some ick spots, no big suprise considering the stress of being moved around. I am using garlic and vitamins added to food to treat that.
Of course, that will only help when he actually starts eating. Copperbands are typically hard to get going in a tank, and this guy is no exception. On the bright side, he is showing signs of less shyness and is definately swimming around very healthily. He may be eating some of the foods I throw in, that's hard to tell. And he pics at the rocks plenty, which is good.
Here is a pic and a link from fishbase - I didn't want to take any close up pics yet as I am trying to DESTRESS him, not the other way around.
Copperband butterflyfish (Chelmon rostratus)
http://fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=5483
And since I am dumping in a decent amount of food to encourage the guy to eat (as per recommendations found around the web), I decided to find a small and peaceful fish to add as well that might consume a little bit of the extra food. So I ended up getting a crosshatch goby.
The Crosshatch Goby (Amblygobius decussatus) is a sand sifting goby closely related to the dragon (brown-bar) goby (Amblygobius phalaena). According to Mr. Scott W. Michael, he is a peaceful fish and calm sand sifter. So that fills my sand stirring requirement and will hopefully be a good match with the Copperband.
Crosshatch Goby (Amblygobius decussatus)
http://fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=7197
So far, they seem to be doing really well together. They have not bothered each other at all, or even barely taken notice. And I did see the goby taking interest in food that floated past him at the bottom of the tank.
divecj5
New member
Glad to hear that you were able to get some work done over the break....and still relax as well. That's a must
I definitely think that copperband's are some of the most beautiful aquarium fish and glad to hear that it is doing well for you so far. Hopefully it continues to get accustomed to your tank and starts eating more regularly in the near future.
Awesome goby....I might seriously try and see if my LFS can try and get one in sometime in the near future. I am still interested in sand sifters and from what the link said, they sound like a nice addition to keep things neat and tidy in the tank (something that I always like ).
Glad to hear that things are going better with the tank and I look forward to seeing some pics of the additions once they get a little more accustomed to their new surroundings.
Adam
I definitely think that copperband's are some of the most beautiful aquarium fish and glad to hear that it is doing well for you so far. Hopefully it continues to get accustomed to your tank and starts eating more regularly in the near future.
Awesome goby....I might seriously try and see if my LFS can try and get one in sometime in the near future. I am still interested in sand sifters and from what the link said, they sound like a nice addition to keep things neat and tidy in the tank (something that I always like
).Glad to hear that things are going better with the tank and I look forward to seeing some pics of the additions once they get a little more accustomed to their new surroundings.
Adam
divecj5
New member
Hey Paul. That stand looks great and pretty ingenuous. It reminds me of things that I created using an Erector set
Adam...I believe that he went with this because the apartment that he moved into doesn't allow him to drill into the ceiling. He would know better than I would though.
Great work Paul.
How are the new fish doing?
Adam...I believe that he went with this because the apartment that he moved into doesn't allow him to drill into the ceiling. He would know better than I would though.
Great work Paul.
How are the new fish doing?
