Few Questions (vacation, 2nd rd of fish, ATO, water changes)

[Thornbreaker]

Background info is that I've got a 150 gallon tank with a 35 gallon sump. Currently in cycle since early April (0 ppm Ammonia, 1.5 ppm Nitrite), but expect it to be ready in the next week.
I also have 2 clown fish that have been in QT since February that are ready to go in as soon as tank is cycled.

So I'll be going on vacation in a couple of weeks for the first time since starting a SW tank. At most gone for 5 days. I expect to just be down to the DT.

1. I'd like to know if it's reasonable to turn the skimmer off, so that I don't have to worry about it over flowing or someone else having to clean it out while I'm gone? (It's actually not running yet, as I haven't taken the time to break it in while the tank is cycling).

2. Separate question - Would a food grade container like Glad be aquarium safe? Thinking of making an inexpensive platform to raise the skimmer up a few inches.

3. After I get back from vacation, I plan to get another round of fish (probably a Royal Gramma and/or firefish (is this a bad pairing in 5 gallon buckets for TTM?). I have a filter cartridge and will have a sponge in the DT to accumulate live bacteria. Assuming I just drop those into a new QT (20 gal) would I still need to dose to 2 ppm Ammonia and monitor at least 24 hours to ensure the cycle is ready? Or can I just add the fish straight in once they've completed TTM?

4. Does anyone have a good recommendation for an inexpensive 10 gallon ATO container? I currently use a 5 gallon bucket.

5. Last question (I promise). With about 175 gallons of actual SW in the DT, what's an appropriate way to do a 20% water change? As in, do you siphon or pump from the DT (after turning off return pump)? And just mark your 10% and 20% levels for future reference?

Thanks everyone!

 

[scooter31707]

1. If the tank is still cycling, I would turn off the skimmer until you come back.

2. I recommend egg crate. Got mine from Home Depot

3. You may hear different opinions on this question, but I observe the fish for at least 3-4 weeks after TTM. Remember TTM on treats ich. So illness and/or parasites could rear its ugly head, so you may have to treat.

4. look around for a Brute container

5. different ways of during this. My method I change out 64 gallons (2 32g Brute trash cans). So don't measure, I just drain the water into 2 different 32g Brute trash cans (if that makes sense)

 

[Thornbreaker]

Yeah for 3. I meant straight to QT after TTM without double checking what should be an immediate cycle in QT by adding the filter/sponge.

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[Drewbe147]

Mines only a 90 gal tank with a 15 gal sump but the container I use for ATO i got from walmart camping section and got the slim 6.5 gal water storage container. Theres also a 7 gal cube “aquatainer” theyre both around $12? I believe. If ur wanting to fit under your stand these are potential options. As for the water change I emptied out the first change into 5 gal buckets (3) then marked my tank on the backside outta sight unless ur looking for it for the 15gal mark (i make 15 gals at a time in a 20 gal brute). So now i syphon out to the mark and my new SW takes me back up to it. First time was a pain but now its cake. I have 85 gal total water volume after rock/substrate/equipment displacement so the 15 gals is between 17-18% WC for me.

 

[lapin]

(5) Water changes. Turn off your pumps and ATO. Mark the "high" water mark in your sump with a piece of tape. Place a pump in your sump and pump out the amount you want to change into a container. Pump new mixed water into the sump up to the "high" water level you marked. (done) In your case since your sump is small you might have to do 2 smaller changes a day apart to achieve 20%.

 

[Thornbreaker]

(5) Water changes. Turn off your pumps and ATO. Mark the "high" water mark in your sump with a piece of tape. Place a pump in your sump and pump out the amount you want to change into a container. Pump new mixed water into the sump up to the "high" water level you marked. (done) In your case since your sump is small you might have to do 2 smaller changes a day apart to achieve 20%.

I marked my sump with tape where the max height is when the return pump is off when I tested for failure. It's also marked for the top off point.

So it's best to take it from the Sump and not the DT? Or just your preference?

Sump is 35 gallons, but probably only 2/3rds full, so I'd be close to emptying it all even on a 10% I think. And doing 10% on back to back days is still more like a 10% than a total of 20%.

 

[Thornbreaker]

2. I recommend egg crate. Got mine from Home Depot


4. look around for a Brute container

Sounds like I just need to make a good home depot run. I have some egg crate that's currently being a "lid" on the QT. I thought inside the sump it might trap too much gunk and be harder to clean later. Meanwhile a good square 2 to 3" thick container might make a good platform for a couple bucks without having to cut and stack egg crate.

Brute apparently makes a 10 gallon. Thanks for the tips Scooter.

 

[ryeguyy84]

I marked my sump with tape where the max height is when the return pump is off when I tested for failure. It's also marked for the top off point.

So it's best to take it from the Sump and not the DT? Or just your preference?

Sump is 35 gallons, but probably only 2/3rds full, so I'd be close to emptying it all even on a 10% I think. And doing 10% on back to back days is still more like a 10% than a total of 20%.

I siphon water from the display and return it to the sump. It's just easier to pour in there because i don't have to lift the 5 gallon bucket 6 feet in the air. plus you can throw a towel down in front of the sump to catch any spills.

no need to overthink it, just take water out and put water back in. it'll all get mixed up eventually.

 

[Thornbreaker]

I siphon water from the display and return it to the sump. It's just easier to pour in there because i don't have to lift the 5 gallon bucket 6 feet in the air. plus you can throw a towel down in front of the sump to catch any spills.

no need to overthink it, just take water out and put water back in. it'll all get mixed up eventually.

Thanks. That makes sense. My mixing station is 2 feet from the sump, so I can just run a hose to it for refilling.

 

[ryeguyy84]

Now that's nice [emoji16]

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