daves 185 build
- Thread starter lemkerailroad1
- Start date
lemkerailroad1
New member
shes been hounding me for one now that all of the kids, 6 between us, are now out of the house............you sure were not married to the same lady........lol
but on another note
I am thinking of making a DSB, any thought to go or bad in this matter
I am going to be building a DBS in a 5 gallon bucket and having the water go through it at a slow pace to help fight off toxins and return to the sump where it will be pumped into the main display tank, but do I need to have a DSB in the display as well, I have read that it is beneficial, I have also read that its helpful in the refugium to have at least 4-5" of sugar sand or <2mm size grains to help also
your thoughts on this issue would be greatly helpful right about now as I am going to be buying more sand tonight
but on another note
I am thinking of making a DSB, any thought to go or bad in this matter
I am going to be building a DBS in a 5 gallon bucket and having the water go through it at a slow pace to help fight off toxins and return to the sump where it will be pumped into the main display tank, but do I need to have a DSB in the display as well, I have read that it is beneficial, I have also read that its helpful in the refugium to have at least 4-5" of sugar sand or <2mm size grains to help also
your thoughts on this issue would be greatly helpful right about now as I am going to be buying more sand tonight
lemkerailroad1
New member
calfos book turned me onto the bucket deal, figure 60 pounds of <1mm sand, which should put you about 4"below the rim, im going to use a small powerhead like for a brs reactor or something smaller and have a valve on the pump side to slow it down to about 1 or 2 gallons a hour of flow and have it return to the sump to be pumped north to the display, no one around me is using one so I guess im going to be the guinea pig for this diy project, should have it running by Saturday, but it will help in denitrating the system I hear
if it don't work im not out anything as I will convert the bucket to hold a toilet flapper and ball float to make a diy wave box........lol
if it don't work im not out anything as I will convert the bucket to hold a toilet flapper and ball float to make a diy wave box........lol
lemkerailroad1
New member
well, tonight is the night, I am in the process of cleaning out my 55 gallon drum for salt mix and getting it ready for the station, I made the mistake over the summer of taking it to the quarter was and cleaning it out that way of all the debris and leaves that were in it, still had that sweet smell. bought 4 gallons of bleach and rolled it around for a bit tonight and am rinsing it as we speak, I hope the rest of the smell comes out as there is still a hint of it even after 2 rinses
but on another not, went to the store and bought strawberries and raw shrimp, the strawberries was for the container, the wife and I will eat them up quickly........lol
but on the ledge in the right side you can see this container with 6 raw shrimp cut up and resting in their to start my cycle, the light on top is only temp. until I get proper lighting for the corals................let the cycle begin
but on another not, went to the store and bought strawberries and raw shrimp, the strawberries was for the container, the wife and I will eat them up quickly........lol
but on the ledge in the right side you can see this container with 6 raw shrimp cut up and resting in their to start my cycle, the light on top is only temp. until I get proper lighting for the corals................let the cycle begin
lemkerailroad1
New member
really god
the container is perfect with the cuts in it and all, had to think outside the box when I couldn't find a mesh bag.........lol
so how long should I leave it in the tank........until it dissolves???????
never done it this way so forgive me for the dumb question
dave.m
Active member
It's not enough just to get the cycle started. You need to keep feeding the bacteria until you have some animals in there to start your real bioload. I would have just used straight laundry ammonia (with no additives). As it is you're going to have to replace the shrimp every week or so before they go putrid and start producing H2S.
If you don't mind spending the dosh, I have also had good results with Bio-Spira by Instant Ocean. There are several other similar products for starting all the bacteria types you need for your saltwater aquarium. I have even had fish in a new tank the same day (customer insistence). The thing with these products is the same with the ammonia treatment: once you have started the bacterial culture in your system, you have to keep feeding them to maintain the culture. Some people just throw in some flake food and let it rot to feed the bacteria, but I don't care for this method as you are starting already to build up an unwanted detritus load. Better to get some life in the tank and get going on building your fish and invert population.
Dave.M
If you don't mind spending the dosh, I have also had good results with Bio-Spira by Instant Ocean. There are several other similar products for starting all the bacteria types you need for your saltwater aquarium. I have even had fish in a new tank the same day (customer insistence). The thing with these products is the same with the ammonia treatment: once you have started the bacterial culture in your system, you have to keep feeding them to maintain the culture. Some people just throw in some flake food and let it rot to feed the bacteria, but I don't care for this method as you are starting already to build up an unwanted detritus load. Better to get some life in the tank and get going on building your fish and invert population.
Dave.M
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lemkerailroad1
New member
I found liquid ammonia last night at the store, not the lemon either, what is the dosing of this to a gallon of water, same price as shrimp and all but a lot more liquid to play with, this may be cheaper in the long run to use everyday or everyweek???????
First... NEVER put ammonia in a tank with any inhabitants in it. If they get caught in the cloud you could wipe a few out, if not all of them.
I do not know the ratio. I know something like a little then test... because you are trying to build the bacteria up to handle a larger bioload.
I do not know the ratio. I know something like a little then test... because you are trying to build the bacteria up to handle a larger bioload.
dave.m
Active member
That will depend on the strength of the ammonia solution. Most of them are ammonium hydroxide at a strength of 5-10%. The rest of the bottle is just water.
Here's where it gets unscientific. I do one teaspoonful per 50 gallons. Measure the next day. You want to keep the ammonia levels in your tank low at about 1-2 ppm (which is still toxic for animals BTW) for a week or so or until the cycle starts. You know the cycle has started when you start to see measurable nitrites. Start to dial back the ammonia by half. When you start seeing nitrates cut the ammonia back even further until you are seeing 0 ppm in your ammonia tests even though you are still adding a small amount.
Dave.M
Here's where it gets unscientific. I do one teaspoonful per 50 gallons. Measure the next day. You want to keep the ammonia levels in your tank low at about 1-2 ppm (which is still toxic for animals BTW) for a week or so or until the cycle starts. You know the cycle has started when you start to see measurable nitrites. Start to dial back the ammonia by half. When you start seeing nitrates cut the ammonia back even further until you are seeing 0 ppm in your ammonia tests even though you are still adding a small amount.
Dave.M
lemkerailroad1
New member
thanks guys, very informative
I will let the shrimp work for a little bit then change over to the liquid form
I have to cycle the tank properly because all of the rock in it is dead anyways so I figure I can get the cycle of algea out of the way as well within a few months probably
should I start adding calerpa or chaeto to the fuge now to help out with the cycle also or wait a bit??????
I am also building a 3 tier red mangrove stand which will be plumbed into the system as well, small pump to feed the top tier then gravity down and eventually through the RDSB bucket DIY that I will be doing and eventually into the sump to be pumped back to the tank
I will let the shrimp work for a little bit then change over to the liquid form
I have to cycle the tank properly because all of the rock in it is dead anyways so I figure I can get the cycle of algea out of the way as well within a few months probably
should I start adding calerpa or chaeto to the fuge now to help out with the cycle also or wait a bit??????
I am also building a 3 tier red mangrove stand which will be plumbed into the system as well, small pump to feed the top tier then gravity down and eventually through the RDSB bucket DIY that I will be doing and eventually into the sump to be pumped back to the tank
Personally I started ALL of my equipment. That gave me plenty of time to sort out any flow issues or problems.
I also learned to set the skim to a perfect height. With NO load on it and a small work up of load every few days I learned how to tune in my skimmer to a perfect thick dark skim.
Once I started to add inhabitants it was easy to dial it back a bet each time. I could see the load increase on the skimmer when I ghost fed it too.
I also learned to set the skim to a perfect height. With NO load on it and a small work up of load every few days I learned how to tune in my skimmer to a perfect thick dark skim.
Once I started to add inhabitants it was easy to dial it back a bet each time. I could see the load increase on the skimmer when I ghost fed it too.
lemkerailroad1
New member
ok I need advice
I picked up a 55 plastic drum a few months ago, took it to the 1/4 wash and used rinse cycle to spray it out, a few nights ago I opened it and it smelled sweet like soap, I bleached it with 4 gallons straight and rinsed it out real good, let it dry and today it still has a hint of the sweet smell, this barrel came from pepsi, could I still use it as my salt mixer as I planned or should I get a new one ??????????
I picked up a 55 plastic drum a few months ago, took it to the 1/4 wash and used rinse cycle to spray it out, a few nights ago I opened it and it smelled sweet like soap, I bleached it with 4 gallons straight and rinsed it out real good, let it dry and today it still has a hint of the sweet smell, this barrel came from pepsi, could I still use it as my salt mixer as I planned or should I get a new one ??????????
lemkerailroad1
New member
thanks worm
im going to kick everything on and rock and roll from there
im going to kick everything on and rock and roll from there
lemkerailroad1
New member
started with 200 grit, and after about 15 different changes of paper ended with 12000 grit, you will need a spray bottle with water and a few drops of liquid dish soap , sand in long streaks, changing directions, KEEP WET, you will know when it is getting dry as the paper feels like it is being glued down, rewet area and keep going
trust me this is what separates the men from the boys, if you notice most people give up about 1/4 the way through reconditioning and they go and purchase new tanks
let me know if you need anymore help as I am always willing to share info
