Lightsluvr's 340G Upgrade
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Re: Closed loop
Re: Closed loop
Great to see somebody reading threads to learn. Like George, I read tons of threads when I started. Here is link to where he glued up his closed loop:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1638966&perpage=25&pagenumber=20
And now all of that hidden by rock and corals:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1638966&perpage=25&pagenumber=35
Good luck learning and with your next tank...
Re: Closed loop
Great to see somebody reading threads to learn. Like George, I read tons of threads when I started. Here is link to where he glued up his closed loop:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1638966&perpage=25&pagenumber=20
And now all of that hidden by rock and corals:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1638966&perpage=25&pagenumber=35
Good luck learning and with your next tank...
Thanks for the info, I think I have the CL figured out now. I just guessed it drained into the sump. The pump can sit anywhere you want it to sit. The water drains out of the tank thru the two 1.5" ports and the pump picks it up and sends it back into the tank thru the 5, 1" ports you have going back into your tank. Does the pump increase you tank tempture very much? Geez, I think I am ready for my 300g tank now, lol. Now I just need to learn how Calcium Reactors work.
I am only using the (identical) return pump right now. I don't see any temp problems. I am not using a chiller or a fan... I don't run the air conditioning in the fish room unless the outside temp is over 95 degrees. So far, the tank has only reached 79 degrees once. It hovers between 77 and 78.5.
I attribute the steady water temperature to 1.) large water volume, 2.) large sump surface area, 3.) T5 lighting and 4.) pure dumb luck.
I'll be learning the CA Reactor as well - our LRC-2 Life Reef (brand)reactor is still sitting in several pieces in the tank stand...
LL
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Water tests - safety pays...
Water tests - safety pays...
Here is a post I copied (with permission) from EdandSandy's thread - very good advice that I admit I don't do routinely... with all the issues of "bad salt", this seems to be a excellent precaution, plus gives an opportunity to adjust PH, CA, MG and ALK before dumping a bunch of new water into your tank system...
*******************
Originally posted by melev
Whenever I mix up a new batch of saltwater, especially if it is a new bucket I've opened, I test for three things: Temperature, Salinity, and pH. If the pH is down, I'll buffer it up. Usually if the pH is down, the alkalinity is as well. By buffering it up, it brings up the alk at the same time.
A few years ago, I had several buckets of the bad batch of Kent Sea Salt (which was measuring 1 dKH out of the bucket). When it was mixed up, the pH of the barrel was 6.0 for some reason. I knew that was crazy low, and scratched my head thinking the CO2 level in my home must be off the charts (since it was winter and the house was sealed up). I buffered it up with baked Baking Soda until it read 8.2 to 8.3, and then proceeded with my water change.
A month later, I did it again and it was low again. I never thought it was a salt problem until all the threads here on RC popped up with a lot of unhappy people declaring the demise of their tanks. They were not testing as they did the water changes, and as their tanks declined, they did more water changes which only exacerbated the problem. As you can imagine, right? One LFS in Arkansas was furious, as he killed his gorgeous 700-800g showtank the same way. When he finally started taking his own advice and measured the newly mixed salt, he discovered that the salt had little to no alkalinity. He called me up and brought me up to speed, asking me to measure my own. Mine had the same problem.
Because I was cautious and used this routine, my tank never skipped a beat. I guess I was lucky, since I didn't know it was actually an alkalinity problem and corrected for it anyway.
What some people do is measure Salinity, Alk, Ca, and Mg when they open a new bucket. If it passes with good numbers, it would be good to mark the bucket accordingly. Some opt to add anything lacking to the newly mixed water in an effort to keep things very stable. Others choose to add the additives to the tank itself.
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I always test for, temp. salinity, PH, ALK & Mag, in the main tank and then try to match the NSW to that, or if I need to adjust something, I'll make the necessary adjustments then.
Each batch of salt can be different. If you make it part of your routine, you NSW will be consistent.
__________________
Sandy
Water tests - safety pays...
Here is a post I copied (with permission) from EdandSandy's thread - very good advice that I admit I don't do routinely... with all the issues of "bad salt", this seems to be a excellent precaution, plus gives an opportunity to adjust PH, CA, MG and ALK before dumping a bunch of new water into your tank system...
*******************
Originally posted by melev
Whenever I mix up a new batch of saltwater, especially if it is a new bucket I've opened, I test for three things: Temperature, Salinity, and pH. If the pH is down, I'll buffer it up. Usually if the pH is down, the alkalinity is as well. By buffering it up, it brings up the alk at the same time.
A few years ago, I had several buckets of the bad batch of Kent Sea Salt (which was measuring 1 dKH out of the bucket). When it was mixed up, the pH of the barrel was 6.0 for some reason. I knew that was crazy low, and scratched my head thinking the CO2 level in my home must be off the charts (since it was winter and the house was sealed up). I buffered it up with baked Baking Soda until it read 8.2 to 8.3, and then proceeded with my water change.
A month later, I did it again and it was low again. I never thought it was a salt problem until all the threads here on RC popped up with a lot of unhappy people declaring the demise of their tanks. They were not testing as they did the water changes, and as their tanks declined, they did more water changes which only exacerbated the problem. As you can imagine, right? One LFS in Arkansas was furious, as he killed his gorgeous 700-800g showtank the same way. When he finally started taking his own advice and measured the newly mixed salt, he discovered that the salt had little to no alkalinity. He called me up and brought me up to speed, asking me to measure my own. Mine had the same problem.
Because I was cautious and used this routine, my tank never skipped a beat. I guess I was lucky, since I didn't know it was actually an alkalinity problem and corrected for it anyway.
What some people do is measure Salinity, Alk, Ca, and Mg when they open a new bucket. If it passes with good numbers, it would be good to mark the bucket accordingly. Some opt to add anything lacking to the newly mixed water in an effort to keep things very stable. Others choose to add the additives to the tank itself.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
I always test for, temp. salinity, PH, ALK & Mag, in the main tank and then try to match the NSW to that, or if I need to adjust something, I'll make the necessary adjustments then.
Each batch of salt can be different. If you make it part of your routine, you NSW will be consistent.
__________________
Sandy
stunreefer
Reef Hugger
Tank is looking fantastic George, keep up the great work! :thumbsup:
Regarding testing new salt - I do it everytime. I too experienced "bad salt" about two-three years ago. Seachem Reef was the culprit. I always test Salinity, Alk, Ca and Mg. Another note to mention for those of us using buckets of salt... mix 'em up good before using it! I've had huge differences when testing from the top of the bucket compared to the bottom of the bucket. I didn't belive it and ran the test three times, with different kits as well to confirm... it was true! I couldn't belive that the salt on the top of the bucket was that different from the bottom - granted it wasn't horrible levels one way or the other, but they were anything but close! I experienced that with a bucket of Reef Crystals.
Regarding testing new salt - I do it everytime. I too experienced "bad salt" about two-three years ago. Seachem Reef was the culprit. I always test Salinity, Alk, Ca and Mg. Another note to mention for those of us using buckets of salt... mix 'em up good before using it! I've had huge differences when testing from the top of the bucket compared to the bottom of the bucket. I didn't belive it and ran the test three times, with different kits as well to confirm... it was true! I couldn't belive that the salt on the top of the bucket was that different from the bottom - granted it wasn't horrible levels one way or the other, but they were anything but close! I experienced that with a bucket of Reef Crystals.
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So how did you handle the mixing? Did you just pour it from one bucket into another?
LL
magellan007
New member
Wow, time really flies when others are having fun with their tank!! 
Everything looks great, you guys. I'm definitely envious. I'll have to make it over and see it in person soon!
Everything looks great, you guys. I'm definitely envious. I'll have to make it over and see it in person soon!
serpentman
part time superhero
Hey George, Referencing your questions on my 250, it does have the pro kit which includes the larger cup and the modded wheel. Before I upgraded, I was running the 200. The pro kit it was night and day from the stock performance.
From what I gather the same is applicable on the 250. I know the pinwheel pulls a lot more air and the cup helps with the turbulence. However, without having run the stock cup and wheel, I can't really quantify the difference.
From what I gather the same is applicable on the 250. I know the pinwheel pulls a lot more air and the cup helps with the turbulence. However, without having run the stock cup and wheel, I can't really quantify the difference.
Reef_Matrix29
Water Lover
Never thought about mixing up my salt since I figured it was just salt, but I will keep that in mind the next time I mix some for a water change. Always good ideas floating around when you least expect them.
purebullet417
Rimless Reef Club
wow you have made a lot of progress since i last checked this thread. been so busy lately i haven't really been able to check the thread but good luck with the tank
Dtking
Member
George,
no worries, I still visit this thread daily! I have just been kinda silent, I have been doing alot of reading and not enough posting, my appologies! LOL Things here are going good, they have us on a 12 on 12 off shift this month so I have been very tired lately! Everything is looking good on your end and I cant wait until I get home to see the beautiful tank in person!
TTYL,
-Dustin
no worries, I still visit this thread daily! I have just been kinda silent, I have been doing alot of reading and not enough posting, my appologies! LOL Things here are going good, they have us on a 12 on 12 off shift this month so I have been very tired lately! Everything is looking good on your end and I cant wait until I get home to see the beautiful tank in person!
TTYL,
-Dustin
Love the cabinetry, George! I can't wait to see that thing fully shrouded.
It's funny, you're working on putting two small (okay, comparatively speaking) tanks in to a 340g, I'm working on one big (again, scale ya know!) tank into a little 14g. You'd think you'd have the easier job, but it's quite the opposite!
I'm keeping your scopas happy and fed so long as he's still mine. He's a piggy and a bit of a bad ***. He doesn't down to my Cinnamon clown who seems as if she could build a sand castle from the sand in her....uh...cloaca.
It's funny, you're working on putting two small (okay, comparatively speaking) tanks in to a 340g, I'm working on one big (again, scale ya know!) tank into a little 14g.
You'd think you'd have the easier job, but it's quite the opposite! I'm keeping your scopas happy and fed so long as he's still mine. He's a piggy and a bit of a bad ***. He doesn't down to my Cinnamon clown who seems as if she could build a sand castle from the sand in her....uh...cloaca.
Wow, the threads about bad salt were a real eye opener... I suffered some SPS losses in my 180G several months ago and I wondered if it was salt related. I may never know.
Thanks for contributing to the thread!
LL
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15445071#post15445071 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by magellan007
Wow, time really flies when others are having fun with their tank!!
Everything looks great, you guys. I'm definitely envious. I'll have to make it over and see it in person soon!
Thanks Kaitlyn.
We're usually around, since both of us work from home. If you're planning to be up in the area, send a PM - always glad to show the tank and fish room.
LL
I received a note from the guy who actually manufactures the Pro pin wheel. I might try the pinwheel with the existing collection cup... I can always add the Pro collection cup later?
What do you think?
LL
Just 4 months, Dustin!
Be safe.
LL
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15447858#post15447858 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cody6766
Love the cabinetry, George! I can't wait to see that thing fully shrouded.
I'm keeping your scopas happy and fed so long as he's still mine. He's a piggy and a bit of a bad ***. He doesn't down to my Cinnamon clown who seems as if she could build a sand castle from the sand in her....uh...cloaca.
OK, I admit - I did go to wikipedia to do a word search... :lol:
On the cabinetry, the doors were supposed to arrive today, but there's a little delay as I changed the order a little. They'll probably be here the middle of next week.
My contractor will be coming Monday to lay the tile in front of the tank...no more unsightly folded back carpet...
LL
That's why I really enjoy this thread... a real learning and sharing experience!
LL
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