Doing it right... from the start (for a change)

[reefarchitect]

mille239,

If I may offer some advice with your leak. First, if possible, temporarily cap the intake to the bulkhead which is leaking. Second, if possible, undo the union at the end and drain that line. It does not have to be fully dry. Apply a generous amount of rain-or-shine PVC cement from Home Depot. It will cure in 2 hours with wet conditions. I have used this method several times and it has not failed me yet.

Good luck.

 

[mille239]

Reefarchitect: Thank you kindly for the advice, but I decided to suck it up and tear it down and rebuild the closed loop feed... (if anything I sleep better now) and I must say, it was the biggest PITA I've had since my introduction into the hobby many years back.
I began around noon on Saturday, first cranking up the heat in the house to 78 degrees. Then I started by draining the CL plumbing, unhooking the overflow drains to the sump, and removing the oceans motions. I then carefully moved my corals (nothing but zoanthids, ricordia, and mushrooms at this point) to a 20 gallon trash can with a powerhead for circulation, and moved all the live rock to the sump, so it could mainitain water moving through it. (the one thing I was happy about at this point was plumbing in that feed-back loop from the blue line pump so I could run the sump independently, with the tank valve closed.) Also having a lagre sump paid off big in this endeavor. I moved my fish, crabs and shrimp to a couple 5 gallon buckets hooked up to an air pump.

I then scooped out all the sand and placed it in two 5 gallon buckets with enough water to cover, and proceded to drain the water into whatever holding containers I could find.. (trash cans, old 30 gallon tank, even my recycling bin... (all lined with trash bags of course)

With the tank empty, I pulled it out from the wall and placed it face down on a couple of saw horses, and redid the closed loop feed plumbing, replacing the two 2" bulk heads in the back of the tank.

Once the plumbing was completed (I basically used an entire can of PVC cement and primer on this one portion to make sure it wouldn't happen again) with the help of my room mate, moved the tank back into place, and hooked up all the plumbing. got it running, and...... (drum roll.... NO MORE LEAKS!!!!) Once all was said and done, and everything was returned to the tank in opposite order, it was about 10:30pm. What a long Saturday. But I am happy to say everyone is happy, (including me) all livestock is doing well, and I even like the aquascaping I did with the liverock better than the first time! I have some pictures of the process, but didn't get around to posting them yet. Will get to them tonight.

Sunday I started working on the cabinet doors and facing the front of the enclosure. more to come!

 

[gkarshens]

I am glad you got it fixed!

 

[JE's Reef]

Blair,
Just think how much money you saved from being at the bar. Hope all is well. I wish my set up was as nice.
John

 

[89GTA]

Kudos blair. excellent work. no new reef project is complete without tending to an impossible to get to leaky joint. UGH. keep pix coming for the stand.

 

[reefarchitect]

I would say that is definately doing it right.

Congrats.

 

[mille239]

Ok, as promised, a couple pics, though I really haven't had much time to work on the cabinetry.

First off.. here are a couple pics of when I drained the tank, and redid the closed loop intakes:

Here is a picture of the set up now: (with the wood overlay in place on the frame, prior to sanding and painting) this will be the same color as the rest of the room

The first of the (7) door frames being assembled (these will be stained cherry to match the bar, rest of the wood in the room) I love that pocket-hole jig, sure makes this part of the project a snap!

Hopefully I can do a lot of work on it this weekend, would like to get down to the tank stocking!!!

I ordered my GEO neilsen reactor from The Reef Stop

As soon as it ships out I can finish up the top-off system.

good night!

 

[mille239]

Got sidetracked on the project this weekend with a new addition to the fam: say hello to PARKA!!

 

[gkarshens]

Adorable! The dog is cute too.

 

[Fish'InMN]

She(?) looks quite tough in those pictures! Very good looking dog, especially love the eyes!

 

[mille239]

Thanks!! (lol) she's really as sweet as can be, but for some reason all the pictures of her come out ferocious looking! (I am referring to the dog) :lol:

 

[mille239]

NEW KALK REACTOR & CLEAN-UP CREW RECOMMENDATIONS

I got my GEO kalk reactor yesterday, (will post pictures) it's pretty sweet lookin, and designed for easy refilling and maintenance. I was thinking of locating it on a shelf attached to the wall above my refugium, but I think I can fit it under the display if I fabricate a little stand for it. I have read that Mrs. Wage's pickling lime is just as good as any aquarium grade kalk, but does anyone know where to find it? my Kroger doesn't carry it.

Also, it's time to start thinking clean up crew...(getting some diatoms starting to show up) I know I don't want any hermits, and I do want lots of nassarius snails for the sand bed. I have one monster turbo in there right now, but hear they can be a pain, knocking frags off and stuff. What are some good recommendations for other cleaners, and how many should I get for a 120 gallon? Anyone have experience with online companies selling clean up crews, which would sell a package instead of buying them individually from my LFS? recommendations please!

I don't think my diatom bloom should be too bad since all the live rock was from another tank, but since the substrate is new I suppose some is to be expected.

 

[55Reef]

Mrs. Wages.

Works great.

http://store.yahoo.com/mrswages/mrswagpiclim.html

 

[fishykeeper]

I had a great clean up crew order from reeftopia.com with great prices/free shipping and everything arrived alive and is doing well.

 

[gkarshens]

Here is a link to the page in my thread where I got my clean up crew. There are pics of them. I ordered from liverockandmore.com. I was very happy with them!

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=709837&perpage=25&pagenumber=19

 

[reefarchitect]

I will second reeftopia.com The prices are pretty reasonable and you can buy in quantity for greater savings. They offer small sized astrea (turbo) snails in groups of 100 for $29.00. They also have nassarius and ceriths. The only thing that is a little pricey is the peppermint shrimp; they are cheaper at the LFS.

 

[mille239]

Thank you for the recommendations guys! I do like both reeftopia and LiveRockandMore's prices. I think I will sleep on it tonight, and decide in the morning. If I order tomorrow morning, I can have it held at the Fed-ex holding facility to pick up after work Friday.

On another note, I found a crab the other morning, that I have never seen before! (I have not gotten any new live rock in over 3 yrs, and this is the first I've seen him)!!!!

I posted in another thread looking for an ID, but can't find the link, so here is the pictures... he's about the size of a quarter, and has orange markings on his carapace, orange/brown claws, and hairy legs.

I just can't believe I haven't seen him until now! anyways if you have any clue as to species, temperment, please feel free to chime in.. in the mean time he's chillin in the fuge as a precaution. :rollface:

Also, finished a couple more door frames, but ran out of wood. will have to make a home depot run this weekend. heres the progress so far.

lastly, here's my new GEO kalk reactor. I have to build a little pedastal for it, but it will fit into my stand nicely.. now I just have to quit procrastinating and wire up my float switches and top-off pump.

That's it for now.. tune in next time when I finish up the facing of the cabinetry, and get the reactor online.. (oh, and decide on my clean-up crew!)

 

[mille239]

One last thing, from your guys' (gals') experience what are the best snails for working the rocks: I know nassarius are substrate dwellers, and thouh turbos prefer the glass, I am pretty maticulous at keeping my glass cleaned; I need some snails that like to stay on the rock work. opinions? Thanks in advance, and good night.

 

[reefarchitect]

I'd say I have a 50/50 split with astrea snails on the class and on the rockwork. Ceriths are great as well.

You might also want to get a tuxedo urchin or two. They are incredible algae eaters and do not have the nasty habits/traits of other urchins.

 

[gkarshens]

My Astreas work on my rocks too, but my hermits are on them the most. If you have rock that is not touching any glass the Astreas are more likely to stay on them if you put them there. They don't like sand.