SethTheWineGuy
Premium Member
I used a Tyvek like wrap over the plywood exposed to the outside but no vapor barrier on the inside. It's my hope/belief that the epoxy paint will double as a vapor barrier.
drummereef's 180g in-wall build
- Thread starter drummereef
- Start date
I used a Tyvek like wrap over the plywood exposed to the outside but no vapor barrier on the inside. It's my hope/belief that the epoxy paint will double as a vapor barrier.
drummereef
Team RC
Hi DoctaReef. Thanks for the kind words.
I'll try and answer your questions to the best of my ability. 1. No moisture, mold, or water damage present.
2. The sump room is located in the basement as such so only one wall is on a foundation wall. I insulated this wall with Kraft-faced insulation, no vapor barrier. The other walls are interior wall so no insulation.
3. The relative humidity stays between 55-65% in the basement which is normal for my area/climate. The upstairs living space stays around 45% year around.
As for vapor barriers, I personally do not recommend using them for areas of the country such as the midwest where I live. In fact, it's becoming more likely that it's against code in many parts of the country. Reason being is with the ambient humidity along with a concrete basement which tends to wick water towards the inside, you can trap moisture behind the plastic vapor barrier. The worst thing you can do is put a vapor barrier on top of the stud wall with insulation behind. This is a mold factory. The best product to use against concrete is to glue up rigid foam insulation and seal the joints with foil tape. Then you can frame it out and use Kraft-faced insulation so the wall can breath up and through the joist space above. Again, no plastic.
In my sump room I used 1/2" green board on the walls and regular sheetrock on the ceiling, as stated in code. I coated the walls with Moore Aura semi-gloss latex paint on the interior walls, again to allow the walls to breathe. I'm a big fan of allowing living spaces to breathe from the inside out, it's where trapped air and moisture behind the drywall really start to play havoc on those spaces. I also have a 80cfm DC ventilation fan along with a supply and return from my HVAC to keep the room climate controlled. Honestly, the supply and return are the biggest factors in keeping the room the same temp/humidity as the rest of the basement. Along with the vent fan it works great.
This is a heavily debated topic and none of this is intended to start an argument. I have a few friends in the building trade and I researched and consulted until I came up with the best solution for me. Biggest thing is to stay within code. If the space you build is climate controlled there is no reason it shouldn't stay within the same general temp/humidity as your living space - and without going overboard or breaking the budget.
Last edited:
drummereef
Team RC
...a couple more thoughts. :lol:
1. Warm air holds more humidity than cool air. Keep your sump room "cool" and the relative humidity will fall in line. This is where a vent fan and HVAC supply/return really help.
2. Think of your sump room in relation to a bathroom with a shower. When you take a shower there is an extreme amount of water vapor atomized into the air, warm/moist air is created saturating the walls. You can see this on the mirror when a dense haze accumulates on the glass. This is a warm environment where water is atomized by the shower head. Your display and sump should have no where close to that amount circulating water vapor, especially not the "steam" created by a shower. If it does you have other problems.
So what is required for residential bathrooms... Green board, ventilation, and latex paint.
This excessive amount of moisture created in a bathroom environment is dealt with simple but effective measures. IMO, fish/sump rooms should follow these same guidelines. Hope this helps.
1. Warm air holds more humidity than cool air. Keep your sump room "cool" and the relative humidity will fall in line. This is where a vent fan and HVAC supply/return really help.
2. Think of your sump room in relation to a bathroom with a shower. When you take a shower there is an extreme amount of water vapor atomized into the air, warm/moist air is created saturating the walls. You can see this on the mirror when a dense haze accumulates on the glass. This is a warm environment where water is atomized by the shower head. Your display and sump should have no where close to that amount circulating water vapor, especially not the "steam" created by a shower. If it does you have other problems.
So what is required for residential bathrooms... Green board, ventilation, and latex paint. This excessive amount of moisture created in a bathroom environment is dealt with simple but effective measures. IMO, fish/sump rooms should follow these same guidelines. Hope this helps.
Last edited:
drummereef
Team RC
Here's a strange and random question for you... 
Does anyone know if amphipods occationally shed their exoskeleton? First, I'm assuming amphipods have exoskeletons like shrimp and such. I've seen a couple floating around the tank, but they are clear in color and really look like just the outer shell of the amphipod. Any ideas?
Does anyone know if amphipods occationally shed their exoskeleton? First, I'm assuming amphipods have exoskeletons like shrimp and such. I've seen a couple floating around the tank, but they are clear in color and really look like just the outer shell of the amphipod. Any ideas?
reeftanknewbie
New member
Here's a strange and random question for you...
Does anyone know if amphipods occationally shed their exoskeleton? First, I'm assuming amphipods have exoskeletons like shrimp and such. I've seen a couple floating around the tank, but they are clear in color and really look like just the outer shell of the amphipod. Any ideas?
Brett,
I was wondering the same thing as I have found what appears to be the outer shell of the amphipods as well. Not sure but I will try to do some homework on this and see what I can come up with.
psteeleb
Team RC
Here's a strange and random question for you...
Does anyone know if amphipods occationally shed their exoskeleton? First, I'm assuming amphipods have exoskeletons like shrimp and such. I've seen a couple floating around the tank, but they are clear in color and really look like just the outer shell of the amphipod. Any ideas?
They molt just like any other critter with an exoskeleton
I'll see the little molts float around the tank a day after evey time I do a water change. It's a decent indicator that you have a healthy pod population, that and fat mandarins
gary faulkner
New member
Here's a strange and random question for you...
Does anyone know if amphipods occationally shed their exoskeleton? First, I'm assuming amphipods have exoskeletons like shrimp and such. I've seen a couple floating around the tank, but they are clear in color and really look like just the outer shell of the amphipod. Any ideas?
Yes, I see one on occasion. Just a molt, the fish ignore them. However if whole amphipod floats by the fish will gobble them up.
HTH
110galreef
New member
Here's a strange and random question for you...
Does anyone know if amphipods occationally shed their exoskeleton? First, I'm assuming amphipods have exoskeletons like shrimp and such. I've seen a couple floating around the tank, but they are clear in color and really look like just the outer shell of the amphipod. Any ideas?
:wave:
Maybe your fish are just "Amphipod Intolerante".......Just adds some good fiber to their diet!:lolspin:
Time for you to make a new majic brew or create some sort of sytem to remedy this.:hammer:
We know your too OCD to let this go!:eek1:
drummereef
Team RC
Great, thanks guys! I've noticed a fairly large increase in pods, copepods and amphipods, since I've been feeding Oyster-Feast. I've noticed a bit of undesirables in the sand bed so I'm going to back on the daily coral feeding. So maybe feed every other day but continue my ZEOzym/Bio-Mate combo 4-5x weekly and the Magic Brew 1x weekly after water changes. Obviously fish will be feed every day, fat and happy.
I've noticed a fairly large increase in pods, copepods and amphipods, since I've been feeding Oyster-Feast. I've noticed a bit of undesirables in the sand bed so I'm going to back on the daily coral feeding. So maybe feed every other day but continue my ZEOzym/Bio-Mate combo 4-5x weekly and the Magic Brew 1x weekly after water changes. Obviously fish will be feed every day, fat and happy.
Last edited:
drummereef
Team RC
No worries, there's no final for this class. :lol:
Check Page 96 for all the info on the Magic Brew. It's a work in progress but you get the idea.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1599945&page=96
110galreef
New member
new avatar I see Bret!:hammer:
drummereef
Team RC
Ha! Yeah I thought I'd try something different.
I can't get the avatar upload quality to look the same as the original file. Looks less sharp but my file size is 99.4kb but is 150x150 pixels. I guess it's compressing it on the way in. I'm destined to fix this! :hammer:I haven't taken PAR samples of the tank yet. I think one of my local clubs has a meter that I might be able to borrow. I'll work on it.
110galreef
New member
Of course you are....I (we) wouldn't expect anyless, else the build wouldn't be "PROP-AER!":beer:
afernandez
Never Quit!!
Great, thanks guys!
Interesting thing u mention your cutting down on coral feeding, im currently doing the same thing. on sunday which is the day that i do my WC's i decided that this week im only going to feed corals twice to see if this "brown filmy algae" would go away and today is thursday and it sure is gone
to top it off all corals seem fine and extending as usual. :spin1:BTW how long have u had the pellets on?
drummereef
Team RC
:lol:
:rollface:Interesting thing u mention your cutting down on coral feeding, im currently doing the same thing. on sunday which is the day that i do my WC's i decided that this week im only going to feed corals twice to see if this "brown filmy algae" would go away and today is thursday and it sure is gone
BTW how long have u had the pellets on?
Nice afernandez, glad you are finding that balance point between feeding and over-feeding. My pellets have been in service since 8-25-10, so right at 7 months.
drummereef
Team RC
UPDATE:
So I've noticed quite a big difference in skimmate production since I started dosing the ZEOzym / Bio-Mate combo. Since it is an enzyme and bacteria formula, it's supposed to help break down proteins so the skimmer can efficiently skim them out. I've noticed a darker and drier skimmate after dosing. This is about 1.5 days worth of skimmate. I also didn't feed any Oyster-Feast or Cyclop-eeze today. Here's the stinky details.
Here is the mucous-like blob I was speaking about in a previous post. I can't tell if it came from this coral frag or just got caught on it after floating around the display. I originally thought it came from the Purple Stag but now I'm not sure. I've seen 3 or 4 of these floating around within the last month or two. What is it?
So I've noticed quite a big difference in skimmate production since I started dosing the ZEOzym / Bio-Mate combo. Since it is an enzyme and bacteria formula, it's supposed to help break down proteins so the skimmer can efficiently skim them out. I've noticed a darker and drier skimmate after dosing. This is about 1.5 days worth of skimmate. I also didn't feed any Oyster-Feast or Cyclop-eeze today. Here's the stinky details.
Here is the mucous-like blob I was speaking about in a previous post. I can't tell if it came from this coral frag or just got caught on it after floating around the display. I originally thought it came from the Purple Stag but now I'm not sure. I've seen 3 or 4 of these floating around within the last month or two. What is it?
Last edited by a moderator:
