im sure this will make it much clearer.
I'm new to asking questions here. I read a lot and have been searching past discussions for info.
I just ordered the book, that i have seen mentioned.
My dh decided he wanted a saltwater tank 7 years ago. I tried to stay out of it and we have spent thousands (as you know) ,and have been through 3 fish guys. First was a moron (metal clamps do not belong in a saltwater sump), the second took us to the cleaners, and the third just moved.
So, screw it,i'm going to try and learn. I have a bit of basic knowledge. (not much)
We have been through so much equipment and fish and......
I'm either over it,or will find a new hobby. (back to my own interests )
So my first question of many is......i have this protein skimmer (im pretty sure that is what it is),i have no idea what kind. I can't find the receipts, box ,or name.
Where do i go?
Does it look familiar?
and lastly,
How the hell do i clean it, if i have to?
TIA!!! Tiffany aka :going to kill my dh for forcing me to LOVE our fish tank.
(basic info: all i know
155 bow front
a ton of live rock that looks grayish lately
no fish alive
i just acclimated a few days ago a new clean up crew
a sump
a skimmer
huge *** lightening kit
ballasts
timers
an expensive ,just croaked chiller
a calcium reactor in the garage that confuses me
an RO unit and water in the garage for water adding and changes
um....
i just received a cheapy water testing kit and all levels match with the required specifications in the book
Last edited by fourfarrells on Jan 07, 2006 - 12:32 PM; edited 2 times in total
fourfarrells
Post subject: RE: Nice to meet everyone. I Posted: Jan 07, 2006 - 09:00 AM
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Joined: Jan 07, 2006
Posts: 6
Location: space coast
Status: Online!
Here is my hell:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/f ... 002431.jpg
Last edited by fourfarrells on Jan 07, 2006 - 12:05 PM; edited 2 times in total
fourfarrells
Post subject: RE: Nice to meet everyone. I Posted: Jan 07, 2006 - 09:41 AM
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Posts: 6
Location: space coast
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great.. not!
i found the brand and they are out of business. :sigh::
http://www.customsealife.com/
Spuds725
Post subject: RE: Nice to meet everyone. I Posted: Jan 07, 2006 - 10:02 AM
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Posts: 1013
Location: NW Ohio
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Welcome to fishgeeks...
I just googled (I know not a verb) and searched EBAY for that brand of skimmer and could not find it anywhere...I did find other custom sea life products, just not a skimmer.
Can you post a pic of it-- and if the scale (size) of it isn't obvious could you tell us how tall it is. Maybe they sold the design to another manufacturer--- for that sized tank you would want a fairly good skimmer.
As far as the test kit readings... Please post actual numbers-- and if it is a cheap test kit, maybe take some water to a local fish store (LFS) and have them verify your readings... also the brand of the test kit.
Also, post everything.... salinity, temperature including any fluctuation you get from your lights.
A fairly detailed tank history might help.
A calcium reactor is not needed unless you have a fairly high coral load on your tank-- I have one in my basement that I bought cheap and hope to one day need it.
_________________
Bill ---135 gallon (wannabe) reef tank--
Fish (Date added)
2 Yellow Stripe Maroon Clownfish (Sep 2001) 4 1/2" & 2"
1 Orchid Dottyback (Feb 2004) 3"
1 Bicolor Angelfish (Mar 2004) 3"
1 Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp (Mar 2004) 3"
1 Blue (Regal) Tang (Mar 2005) 4"
1 Rainsford Goby (Aug 2005) 2"
Several soft corals and an anemone
fourfarrells
Post subject: RE: Nice to meet everyone. I Posted: Jan 07, 2006 - 11:48 AM
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Joined: Jan 07, 2006
Posts: 6
Location: space coast
Status: Online!
Thanks bill.
I removed the photos,they were stretching the post.
(how do you shrink pics here?)
It seems my skimmer manufacturer went out of business. I googled everything.
Its about 21" tall. Give or take with the tubing attached to the top.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/f ... 002371.jpg
here is the test kit:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/P ... 004+113074
The fish guys always brought their own.
I will redo the tests and post numbers. I guess i need a better one.
I detached the calcium reactor. It was scaring me having that compressed tank inside.
My chiller is an Aqua Logics 1/4 HP But it needs some help. Its been making a noise and i smelled a burning hair smell ,so i unplugged it.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/f ... 002411.jpg
I purchased a digital temp controller and its reading 78.7 .
My tank history is annoying.
We purchased it new back in 98-ish. We purchased a bio-ball something sump and the guy installed it with tubing and metal clamps. We had LR. (800 -1000 bucks worth)Whatever lighting that came with it.
Crushed coral and after a few months added fish and he added corals. (we had no idea and were paying him by-weekly to maintain it. hahahaha!!
Next guy came in. Threw away all the rock and crushed coral.
Bought new Fiji LR, even more money than before. Live sand. New lighting . Its huge (to me) about $1000. Three short ,fat lights and 4 skinny lights. I'll post a link to a pic.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/f ... 002391.jpg
A new sump, custom made ,acrylic i believe. Used PVC and a blue water-safe glue.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/f ... 002401.jpg
Added Rio (thingies that circulate water)- power heads? 3 of them ,plus the 2 that are built in.
A Custom Sea Life pump not sure on the size. I can't see it.
Um..I'll think of more. Oh yeah..
The calcium reactor ,that i sold on eBay. (i still dont have a clue ,what to do with the tank and gauge) Something else i sold,a long skinny tubish thing. ( UV sterilizer) The larger protein skimmer.
He added the RO unit outside in the garage ,( a clean and covered brand new rubber trash can with PVC and a gauge to stop from overflowing) connected to the hot water heater ,so i can add water and do changes.....Kent Marine Maxximus.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/f ... 002421.jpg
2nd guy would order stuff and mark everything up by hundreds and thousands of dollars. (I later found out) Let him go when i caught on.
The 3rd guy just basically tested the water,checked the equipment and cleaned the glass.
fourfarrells
Post subject: RE: Nice to meet everyone. I Posted: Jan 07, 2006 - 06:29 PM
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Joined: Jan 07, 2006
Posts: 6
Location: space coast
Status: Online!
if im in the wrong place or there is a more appropriate forum for my questions ,will someone direct me or give me a link? thank you.
jack-o
Post subject: RE: Nice to meet everyone. I Posted: Jan 07, 2006 - 08:47 PM
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How much skimmate is the skimmer pulling out a day? If it's getting near a cup then it's working fine. You want to keep it clean all skimmers work better when they are cleaned routinely.
As for the chiller as long as your tank doesn't heat up too bad(around +/- 2 degrees) when the lights are on then you don't need to replace the one that just crapped out.
It looks like your lighting is 6 metal halide bulbs(short fat ones), and 2 power compact bulbs(long skinny ones). I'm guessing the short fat ones are at least 250w, 10000 or 14000k, and the power compacts are probably actinics(blue light). I would imagine that your lighting is fine, as long as you replace the mh bulbs about once a year and the pc's about every 6 months.
As for your sump, is that a sponge in between the baffles? If it is I would remove it, just something that will become a nitrate factory. If you can I would try to cultivate macroalgae in there for nutrient export. I can't tell exactly where the baffles are situated inside the sump, so I am not sure if this is even possible.
The main thing is you want to have alot of flow/water movement in your tank around 20x tank turnover, a little less is okay if your not reefing it. So for your tank your talking about 3100gph in flow between your powerheads and the sump return. The idea is tosituate the powerheads to eliminate dead spots where nutrients can accumulate by keeping the nutrients suspended in the water column until it's biologically removed or mechanically removed.
Are the rios phs you have seio's or just plain rio's? I ask because unfortunately rio powerheads are pretty crappy products. However, the rio seio seems to be better, at least for me and everything I've read about them.
How deep is your sand bed?
Spuds725
Post subject: RE: Nice to meet everyone. I Posted: Jan 07, 2006 - 08:59 PM
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Posts: 1013
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I think you are better off doing all this yourself... sounds like you were taken advantage of big time.... that book (I"m assuming you were referring to the Concientious Marine aquarist by Robert Fenner)--- will help you alot.
Ok... that skimmer actually looks like its making a decent head of foam but it does look very dirty and the foam doesn't seem to be rising up and into the cup--- I try not to go longer then a week between cleanings on mine-- at least the riser part (where the foam comes up)-- the rest of it, maybe every couple of months.... but looking on how the water goes back to the sump, I don't see how you can clean that (the lower section) without draining your sump--- you need to at least clean the riser and cup. Cleaning the riser section helps the foam get over that lip and into the collection section of the cup...
I can't tell from the pic how high the water is in your sump in relation to the skimmer-- as long as its below that flange below the collection cup, looks like all you would need to do is turn off the skimmer pump and unscrew the four screws just below your collection cup and remove it...since there is only 4 screws, you probably have an O-ring in there sealing the top and bottom-- be careful not to pinch it when you reassemble it... you will need to remove the tubing from the top of it and I would take the top and the collection jug out together...
WHen you clean it--- just run it under hot water---don't use soap-- but if you can get a cleaning brush (specifically for this that won't see soap)-- it will make it a little less messy for you.... just scrub and rinse--- if you have any hard deposits (if its been a long time) you might need to soak it in vinegar or something... when clean just wipe dry with a towel and re-assemble. I think that white elbow on top is some type of venturi/air injector for the skimmer.
If you shut that valve by the pump-- make sure you set it the same as before-- its possible the water level might get too high in your skimmer if you leave it open too much...
I see the test kit in your pic (if thats the one you are still using)-- thats a decent kit-- I've used it before... you do need to do the nitrate test exactly as it says-- you need to shake it after adding the 2nd reagent for a full minute and let it develop--- I don't like that nitrate test for reading higher levels as they all look the same--- but its good if your nitrates are 20 ppm or less (easy to read)...
It looks like you have 2 Metal Halide lights and the skinny ones are PC lights (Power compact)--- are they (the PC lights) blueish (actinic) or white???
I hope that the RO/DI unit isn't connected to the hot water side of the water heater--- thats bad for the RO membrane from what I've been told...
I hope this helps.....
_________________
Bill ---135 gallon (wannabe) reef tank--
Fish (Date added)
2 Yellow Stripe Maroon Clownfish (Sep 2001) 4 1/2" & 2"
1 Orchid Dottyback (Feb 2004) 3"
1 Bicolor Angelfish (Mar 2004) 3"
1 Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp (Mar 2004) 3"
1 Blue (Regal) Tang (Mar 2005) 4"
1 Rainsford Goby (Aug 2005) 2"
Several soft corals and an anemone
fourfarrells
Post subject: RE: Nice to meet everyone. I Posted: Jan 08, 2006 - 09:46 AM
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Joined: Jan 07, 2006
Posts: 6
Location: space coast
Status: Online!
Thank you much for all of your help.You guys are great.
So you are saying remove these sponges. i just lift them out and discard,don't squeeze ,right?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/f ... 002441.jpg
this is the skimmer right now.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/f ... 002461.jpg
So the white foam should be moving into the top part of the canister? he used to clean just that back little one that's attached. But i need to be cleaning the big one,right? is that possible with the pics. I think i see what your saying about where he connected them.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/f ... 002471.jpg
The sand goes to the bottom of the black part ,which is 2". Some parts of the sand are higher some are lower,depending on where the fish had left it. Gobies and such.
Here's another pic of the sump.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/f ... 002451.jpg
As far as the chiller ,i do live in central florida but we run our ac 24/7. I keep it about 67-68 and we have tile. Right now its reading 79.9 and i read it shouldn't go over 80. Do you think we should invest inanother chiller?
or a new skimmer for that matter?
here are random pics. Feel free to tell me what's wrong. I have no clue,neither does dh and we just want it to look nice without being robbed. Please it's not personal,we didn't do it.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/f ... 002481.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/f ... 002471.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/f ... 002491.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/f ... 002521.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/f ... 002511.jpg
...and should we invest in more live rock. that whole curing thing is freaking me out a bit. Is that something necessary for me? again?
Spuds725
Post subject: Re: RE: Nice to meet everyone. I Posted: Jan 08, 2006 - 10:20 AM
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Joined: Mar 02, 2005
Posts: 1013
Location: NW Ohio
Status: Offline
fourfarrells wrote:
this is the skimmer right now.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/f ... 002461.jpg
So the white foam should be moving into the top part of the canister? he used to clean just that back little one that's attached. But i need to be cleaning the big one,right? is that possible with the pics. I think i see what your saying about where he connected them.
Yep the top section of the big one-- should be removed and cleaned regularly to keep it making foam--- Its hard to know how much stuff is in your water right now--- how long has it been since you had many critters in there.
The skimmers job is to collect foam which will form back into a dark smelly liquid....the darker the liquid the better its working along with the quantity-- if all its collecting is a light colored liquid, its not doing too well (unless there isn't alot of life in your tank creating waste)....
the small canister behind it looks like a collection jug for the waste-- the liquid drains into that--- skimmers mostly have the same basic design-- at least in how they collect the foam....
here is a typical collection cup...
http://www.saltyzoo.com/180/equipment/0 ... p-1024.jpg
I don't know if I've ever seen a skimmer that is fed water from the very top though (like yours)....
Here is a some pics of my recirculating skimmer.....it was home made by the guy that sold me my tank---- the water is fed in from the tank and there are 2 needle wheel pumps that recirculate the water in the body and add air to make foam.......
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/pizzifwa/ ... pg&.src=ph
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_________________
Bill ---135 gallon (wannabe) reef tank--
Fish (Date added)
2 Yellow Stripe Maroon Clownfish (Sep 2001) 4 1/2" & 2"
1 Orchid Dottyback (Feb 2004) 3"
1 Bicolor Angelfish (Mar 2004) 3"
1 Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp (Mar 2004) 3"
1 Blue (Regal) Tang (Mar 2005) 4"
1 Rainsford Goby (Aug 2005) 2"
Several soft corals and an anemone
keithgamble
Post subject: RE: Re: RE: Nice to meet everyone. I Posted: Jan 08, 2006 - 12:43 PM
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Joined: May 02, 2005
Posts: 379
Status: Offline
fourfarrells, the group on here is great to help you get rolling. Stick with this board and they'll get you up and running. you definatly don't need a "fish guy" to get your tank going. Looks like you have the makings of a great set up that can have the kinks worked out in no time. I often do searches on here for issues that i'm having. (i.e. skimmer help)...see that post once a week it seems. Don't panic you'll be fine.
_________________
Keith Gamble
Morgantown WV
36 Gal. bow front (corner tank)
40 lb. LR
1 Atl. pigmy angel
2 perc clowns
1 pearl jaw fish
4 turbo snails
1 aresta snail
8 blue legger hermits
55 gal
2 yellow tail damsel
2 perc clowns
1 yellow tang
9 blue hermits
3 red leg hermits
1 black brittle star
keithgamble
Post subject: RE: Re: RE: Nice to meet everyone. I Posted: Jan 08, 2006 - 12:49 PM
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Joined: May 02, 2005
Posts: 379
Status: Offline
fourfarrells...case in point...see the post today titled "breaking all the rules." Proof positive there is leway in this hobby. Your set up, is way better than mine....you'll have no problems.
_________________
Keith Gamble
Morgantown WV
36 Gal. bow front (corner tank)
40 lb. LR
1 Atl. pigmy angel
2 perc clowns
1 pearl jaw fish
4 turbo snails
1 aresta snail
8 blue legger hermits
55 gal
2 yellow tail damsel
2 perc clowns
1 yellow tang
9 blue hermits
3 red leg hermits
1 black brittle star
Don't take offense to some people's critisism, they're either having a bad day or are tired of hearing the same ol thing, in either case they shouldn't post unless they can be nicer and more helpful! I myself don't know VERY much about the mechanics of the tank, that's my husbands job
But IF I can help, I will do so..... give me awhile to make some sense out of your last post and I'll post whatever info I can 
