One thing about gravity feeding the skimmer is that I had to choke off my return pump to match the skimmer's capacity. I thought that would cure my microbubbles aswell but it didn't. Redoing the return pump's connections has been on my list for months.<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7190586#post7190586 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Hop
Hmmm... Somehow I really messed up the headloss calc when I was planning mine. I expected the sequence to be the right pump, but found out that I was way over powered. I bet I was pumping 1000gph through a T, right back into the sump as it was too much for the drains in the overflow to handle. Now with running the blueline, I don't have a T going back to the sump at all... and it fixed my micro bubble issue to bootNo more filter socks!
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My problem is lack of choice. It's either that or shelling out $500 on sand. In fact I don't even want to pay $50 for sand. If I sieve the dry sand and then rinse it really well I'm hoping it would be okay. But I'm widely open to advice on this subject.<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7190588#post7190588 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jnarowe
true, but you could get some good stuff in live sand. (as well as some bad stuff) But sand off the beach is bound to have a variety of pollutants I would think. Maybe you should, if you haven't already, do some research into that.
I know with my planted tank I did several "no-nos" like I used sand and rocks from the stream on our property, and I also used worm castings in a lower layer of the substrate. Most "pros" would tell you not to even think about that but I have one of the nicest natural FW Planted tanks around.
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