HOW TO SET UP A TANK, condensed verions (retitled)

Extreme amount of foam

Extreme amount of foam

I finally got my 90 gal tank set up using Caribsea live sand and life rock. When I started the pump and skimmer it generated an extreme amount of foam. So much the it overflowed the skimmer and went on the floor. I have had to turn it off and only turn it on during times I am able to monitor and try to figure out what to do and what is wrong. I have been manually skimming it off.

It is coming from in the sump in the return line compartment and also the skimmer when I turn it on. The skimmer overflows in as little as 2 minutes.

Any help with what to do is greatly appreciated. Am I making things worse turning the pump off at times I cannot monitor it. I afraid of flooding.

Thanks
 
Extreme amount of foam

Extreme amount of foam

Picks of sump and skimmer with foam
 

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THese frothing incidents usually happen with a good skimmer and SOMETHING in the tank that doesn't belong there. Oil of some sort is a prime cause. As the bacteria eat it up, gradually, it stops. Just let the bacteria take care of it---I'd delay getting critters until whatever-it-is gets reduced and the skimmer can work. Hand lotion, creams, makeup residue, or a fatty food can all be culprits. Had it happen when I got a little bit of olive oil on something, and the tank threw a fit for a week. Usually not fatal, but messy. Wearing exam gloves (doctorlike) when you adjust something in your tank is a good idea. Just wiping your face when you're wearing some makeups is enough to start a foamover if you put your hand in the tank.
 
My makeup always gets into the tank when I cry over a lost fish or coral....

Did you just recently add a filter sock. If so, they often do this if they haven't first been very thoroughly rinsed. Also, anything with any kind of surfactant can cause this problem. I once did the dishes and didn't do a good enough job rinsing my hands and my sump looked just like yours.
 
Thank you!

No sock...just started to cycle the tank so I wasn't planning on anything for many weeks. I haven't even started looking at tests yet.

Will be more careful putting my hands in it. I bought some gloves but haven't been using them yet.
 
SKimmers sometimes also come in with manufacturing oils, to make the molds release or something---a wash with white vinegar on a rag may help. Vinegar is one of the safest cleaners---leaves nothing harmful in residue.
 
I do use vasaline on my hands as they are so dry and I am sure I was putting my hands in the tank and on things that went in. It is strange it started when I started up the skimmer. I think I will clean the skimmer off with vinegar and water. Should I do a water change or keep going and skim off the foam as it keeps making it.

I also have been turning everything off when I can't directly attend to it or it will overflow. Does it just sitting without the pump or anything running add to the problem.

Thank you so much for the advise.
 
The skimmer will get it out. Should be ok. SKim as much as you can, but watch your salinity as it removes water with the foam. If it hasn't calmed down in a week, you can do some 20% water changes a day apart. That will delay your cycle, unfortunately, but it's surely the vaseline product. Wear doctor's exam gloves for the sake of your skin and so as not to sensitize yourself to coral presence, which can be hobby-ending. Rubberband your wrists to keep water to a minimum and not allow even the natural oils of your skin to enter the tank.
 
I read no lid on a reef tank?

I notice you, SK8R, have an AquaVim corner tank....I just got aquaVim 90 3/4 cylinder but they sent a glass cover for the top and the light hangs from the canapy.

Are you worried about the light falling into b the tank if there is no cover? I am worried it would be dangerous?

Thanks
 
What I did: yes, it is a massive oak canopy. Witha liftable lid. I got four 'keyhole brackets,' the sort you stick a knob into and it holds.

I measured carefully and installed the brackets so they would match the four 'heads' of the screws that fit in the Ecotech Radion unit, then BLOCKed them with wire so they wouldn't slide when the lid was lifted. The radions are potent enough to reach the bottom. I have a 1/4 cylinder. Your 3/4 is bound to be different on the canopy: but mount to the lid if you can, and just be sure that opening it won't dump the unit. I don't know what kind of lights you have, but anything you can mount them to can be screwed to the lid, then up them about 10 to 15% above what you think they might be without the glass top. The glass top does slow down evap, but the sump takes care of that; and the glass makes sure your fish stay in the tank. I love my tank, but it did have some headaches in setup!
 
Thank you! So interesting to correspond with someone working with a very similar setup!

I love the tank too and was so thankful to get it all the way from NY in one piece.

I am still working / learning to get it all set up and cured. The equipment did not come with any instructions...making things even more of a challenge for a newbie...

The foam finally settled down in the tank but still can't get the skimmer running without it foaming over.

I tried testing the water yesterday and nitrate and nitrite look clear. The ammonia test is confusing to me...nutrafin....it came out a very pale blue green that doesn't seem to match anything on the color chart but is not clear
 
Ammonia test results confusing

Ammonia test results confusing

Here is a pick of my nutrafin ammonia test result. I don't understand how to read comparing it to the color chart. It seems to be too light colored compared to picks on line and doesnt specifically match any of the colors.
 

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Hey Sk8r,

Couple of questions. In the original post you mention 1lb of sand per gallon. Is this DT volume or Total Volume including sump? If I'm doing a 5' by 2' tank at 150 gallons, would I want 150 lbs of sand? Is that around a 2" to 3" sand bed?

Also, do you have any trouble with the eggcrate causing detritus pockets or does your CUC do a good job that it's not a concern?
I see lots of different ways people go with this, but I like the idea of rock stability over risking rock on glass contact.

Thanks for your always helpful advice.
 
I can't set up my tank yet because I'll be moving for few months. I'll be setting up 30 gallons of SW and if someone can tell me sump size for 30 gallons? Thanks in advance


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mmacapagal said:
I can't set up my tank yet because I'll be moving for few months. I'll be setting up 30 gallons of SW and if someone can tell me sump size for 30 gallons? Thanks in advance


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

It doesn't matter. The sump size should be determined my the size and amount of equipment you plan on placing in it (return pump, skimmer, reactors, macro section, mechanical filtration, etc.).
 
Looking for a particular QT post

Looking for a particular QT post

SK8r,

Or anyone who knows where it is...I'm looking for the post you did on the no cycle QT tank. I can't seem to find it. It was more in depth than this one. Thanks!
 
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