Kelley's 37 gal system. from the start

[kelley_mc]

Next was on to the overflow box. I liked the look and design of the Calfo style box. Most seem to go across the entire length of the back of the aquarium. I decided to stop it short on both ends for 2 reasons.

1. I didn't want the silicon on the viewable sides of my tank
2. I needed to have openings on both the corners so that I have a location for my returns nozzles from my sump.

Here is a pic of the glass I used to build the box.

Here is the glass clamped together to shape the box

 

[kelley_mc]

Next was applying the silicon. I did not use painters tape on these seems and I should have. They look OK but would have been nicer if I used the tape to give it a nice clean look.

 

[kelley_mc]

Once the silicon used to build the box had cured, I installed the box to the aquarium. Leveling is key here. I used levels to confirm that the top plastic rim was level with the bottom of the aquarium and with the sides. Next I used the top rim as a guide and secured the box in place with clamps. I checked this about 10 times using a speed square. I dragged the speed square along the entire edge of the glass to confirm it was even. I did my best to be sure it was as level as possible but I won't know for sure until I do the wet test. Some people say that it is best to put the tank where it is going to be and fill it with water. Then use the water line as the guide as to where to install the box. I am a long way from putting the tank in its final resting place so I had to try to use another method. Hopefully it worked.

 

[kelley_mc]

I wanted to divert the water flow returning from the sump in more than one location. I settled on using a manifold design. It is very basic and simply the water comes up from the pump into a pvc system that wraps completely around the top edge of the tank. There are two outputs in the back and two in the front.

 

[kelley_mc]

Here is a pic of the complete drain and return system. I shortened the Calfo box so that I could run the return nozzles along the back edge of the aquarium.

 

[TripleP]

this is gonna be nice when you are done with it

 

[kelley_mc]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8450544#post8450544 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TripleP
this is gonna be nice when you are done with it

Thank you! I hope so.

 

[AquaReeferMan]

Wow you're off to a great start. Everything looks good. In a couple of months if will be booming with life.

 

[db_triggerfish]

GREAT TREAD THANKS, I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IT ALL SETUP AND RUNNING.

 

[kelley_mc]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8451529#post8451529 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AquaReeferMan
Wow you're off to a great start. Everything looks good. In a couple of months if will be booming with life.

So far so good... I'll have a much better idea once I put some water in there and turn it all on. Thanks for the support!

 

[kelley_mc]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8451740#post8451740 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by db_triggerfish
GREAT TREAD THANKS, I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IT ALL SETUP AND RUNNING.

Thanks! I hope it helps some of us who can't have the 70-180 gal tanks of the world. At least not yet!

 

[kelley_mc]

Last night my skimmer came in! I ordered the Coralife Super Skimmer, 125 gal model. First impressions are impressive. Large size and feels well built. I checked for fit in my sump and it seems like it will be just right. Then I put it together and put it on my rubermaid containers that I will be using to cycle my liverock.

It took some tweaking, but I was able to get it to work. The saltwater on the rubermaid is new so obviously there won't be anything to skim yet. However, I am currently having some problems with the skimmer.

1. I am having trouble keeping the water level where I want it. I set it and it seems OK but then I check it later and its higher or lower than where I wanted it. Acccording to the instructions, it may do this over the first 24-72 hours.

2. The other problem I am having is with the silencer that comes on the skimmer. Whenever I install the silencer, bubble production stops completely. I take it off, the skimmer works fine. I tried to blow air through and suck air through the silencer and it's completely blocked. I'm pretty sure the silencer is defective. I have called the company but the techinical person will not be in until tomorrow. For now I am running the skimmer without the silencer and it works.

Here is an image of the skimmer. It came highly recommended from many people on RC:

 

[kelley_mc]

My rock came in from Salty Critter and I just put it in the rubermaid to start cycling. I am VERY impressed with the rock. I will try to post some pics tonight. Great rock.

 

[kelley_mc]

Here are some images of the Live Rock.

 

[kelley_mc]

 

[kelley_mc]

I am curing the Live Rock in a rubermaid container with an oversized skimmer, powerhead for water movement and heater. I also have another rubermaid container filled with saltwater right next to it. I will have both water parameters as close as I can get them, then I will simply shake the rock from one rubermaid and put the rock in the other. This will help remove all the excess debris. Once I move all the rock to the new rubermaid, I will move the skimmer and powerhead. Viola! Easy 100% water change. I will do these early on to try and save as much life as possible on the rock. Once I start to get the ammonia and nitrites under control, I will perform more typical water changes. I think by moving the rock, I will be able to shake off a lot of junk that will hopefully speed the cycle somewhat.

Here is an image of my setup:

 

[jimsta]

Nice thread. I like your curing idea. Looks like you put alot of thought into this, wish I would have done the same on all the tanks that I have had over the years.

 

[kelley_mc]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8461403#post8461403 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jimsta
Nice thread. I like your curing idea. Looks like you put alot of thought into this, wish I would have done the same on all the tanks that I have had over the years.

Thank you! I have done a lot of research, hopefully it will pay off in the end.

I was thinking about how to easily change 100% of the water and figured that rubbermaid containers are so cheap, why not have two and switch the rock from one to the other.

 

[kelley_mc]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8457119#post8457119 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kelley_mc
2. The other problem I am having is with the silencer that comes on the skimmer. Whenever I install the silencer, bubble production stops completely. I take it off, the skimmer works fine. I tried to blow air through and suck air through the silencer and it's completely blocked. I'm pretty sure the silencer is defective. I have called the company but the techinical person will not be in until tomorrow. For now I am running the skimmer without the silencer and it works.

After talking to someone at Coralife, the silencer appears to be defective. They will be sending out a new one. Skimmer works great, hopefully the silencer will tone the sound down a bit.

 

[kelley_mc]

Just checked my LR and did a 100% water change. The parameters were:

Ammonia - 3.0
Nitrites - 0.50
Nitrates - 5.0
Temp - 80.0
Salinty - 33 ppt

I will do 100% water changes until I can get the ammonia and nitrites under control. The rock is amazing and I hopefully will keep as much alive as possible.