Dan's new 120 gallon!

[islandcreation]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12108933#post12108933 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TikiDan
I made my last sump and it worked fine so I know I could do it again, but according to Tham, I don't need baffles. I have seen his tank a few times and he gets zero microbubbles back to his tank so I know it can be done but I am just worried.

My sump now has no baffles and I get 0 bubbles. I don't know why I wanted to make baffles? I guess I wanted to make things more complicated I guess it was a just incase, if everything looks fine I'll just get a razor and take the silicone off.

 

[TikiDan]

If I don't have baffles keeping my water level the same in the skimmer compartment will that throw off the performance of the skimmer?

 

[islandcreation]

From my knowledge some skimmer are affected by water levels. Unfortunalty I never had any problems with my G3 which I have now or my past ETSS. I know Carlos's skimmer needed to be at a particular height inorder to function correctly. He didn't have a top off unit so thats all he needed to correct it.

 

[TikiDan]

I have about 6 inches on either side of my sump so I really don't have room for an ATO unfortunately, so to keep my skimmer consistent, I should have baffles.

Does anyone have some clever designs to partition the sump or should I just consider the standard design?

 

[TikiDan]

I moved some rocks around and added 75 lbs of dry sand!
It's looking better but still not perfect.

 

[northbay-reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12108970#post12108970 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TikiDan
If I don't have baffles keeping my water level the same in the skimmer compartment will that throw off the performance of the skimmer?

My skimmer never had any problem with different water level in the sump since I don't run my skimmer as wet as others

 

[TikiDan]

Would it be worth the hassle to put a 10g tank in the sump with like 6 inches of sand and a bunch of mangroves? Just trying to figure out a way to export nitrates.

 

[northbay-reefer]

Tiki Those little fuge doesn't do a thing for your system, all it does is add maintenance with no significant benefit, just do your frequent small water changes for the export part, use phosphate remover media, carbon, ect and you will be fine

 

[TikiDan]

ok cool. Do you still have the cut list for your filter sock holders? Thinking about using those to cut the bubbles from the overflows. Or do you have any ideas on how to minimize bubbles from the overflows?

I think if i put a 90 degree elbow on the intake of the return pump so that it pulls water in from the very bottom of the tank, and build a plexi shield that sits in front of the pump, it should make it so very few if not any bubbles make it to the display.

Does that make sense?

 

[northbay-reefer]

I don't have the cut list, but you are more than welcome to look at mine, Mike's or Jeff filter sock box to sturdy the design

 

[TikiDan]

I think I have my rocks pretty close to how I want them now.....but you never know

I also got the lights mounted to the canopy lid

 

[TikiDan]

I picked up a used Euro Reef RS 180! I didn't come with the plumbing to hook the pump to the body so I went out and bought some parts and made it work. I still haven't tested it but I think it should work out.

 

[TikiDan]

Ok, So I just filled it up with fresh water, should I let it run a while before I add salt to it?

 

[islandcreation]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12198544#post12198544 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TikiDan
Ok, So I just filled it up with fresh water, should I let it run a while before I add salt to it?

Are you refering to filling up the tank with freshwater? If so, I would have mixed water in a large plastic garbage can with a heater and powerhead. I'm not sure if I ever read or heard of someone filling up their tank with freshwater then adding salt. Hope others chime in cause it would making things easier. Any pics Dan?

 

[TikiDan]

I used all dry rock and dry sand so it should be easier to mix the salt in the tank.

 

[islandcreation]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12198700#post12198700 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TikiDan
I used all dry rock and dry sand so it should be easier to mix the salt in the tank.

Are you going to add any live rock or live sand? Just wondering how your going to seed all of that dead rock/sand? Wow, thats going to be a long process...

 

[TikiDan]

I have my seahorse tank going right now that I built using my 5 year old reef so I am going to seed from that. I also have a bag of live sand that I won at the raffle last meeting.

 

[TikiDan]

here is the shot filled up with RODI water and you can see that it's not cloudy at all! So I guess I did a good job cleaning my rocks and sand.

 

[jkreefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12199078#post12199078 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TikiDan

here is the shot filled up with RODI water and you can see that it's not cloudy at all! So I guess I did a good job cleaning my rocks and sand.

Why wouldnt you have put in salt water, itsnt it gonna be a pain trying to mix salt in the tank? Looks good though. Are you gonna do something to cover up the reflectors? Any supp. lighting or is it just the halides?

 

[TikiDan]

As soon as I get some money saved up I am going to add 2 VHO actinics and switch my bulbs to 10k. Before I left for work I dumped in a bunch of salt mix, so it should be completely dissolved by now.