My 300 gallon acrylic tank

[michika]

Cool, well I hope it all works out for you! Did you sell your old tank?

 

[steve the plumb]

I sold it last year.After I had a kalk disaster I sold the tank lights and stand.I pretty much gave up on the hobby.I had always wanted an 8 ft tank and I became board without a hobby and my friend has a 125 so I kept looking at his when I used to go over and I started to want to get back in.But this time I said I wanted to have the sump in another room were I can work on it and worse come to worse I could expand.I have another garage so I can always put my work bench in that one and have more room in this one for fish stuff.Once I get the skimmer I know I will need some more space.It will get a bit more crowded in there.I will also be dosing when I get corals so I will use 2 x 3 litre bottles for cal and alk I also have to install my uv unit witch isn't large enough for this syatem so I will probably need another one.

 

[steve the plumb]

Catherine have you thought of witch controller you want to buy

 

[steve the plumb]

Ok my lights and skimmer have arrived but not to my house I will have to drive to New York to get them so I may try to go this weekend I am not sure.I have to see I may have a job interview in the next 2 days so I may try to go Friday.There is also something wrong with my car so I am not sure if I should drive there but I am dying to get the goods.

 

[jnarowe]

That bites. Too bad you can't have them shipped.

 

[steve the plumb]

well the thing is I didn't want to pay $300 in taxes plus shipping plus brokerage fees.It was cheaper to have the stuff shipped to my cousin and drive there(6 hrs) plus it gives me a reason to visit.My cousin said I won't be able to fit everything in my car the boxes are very big.

 

[michika]

I guess then you will have to remove some items from their boxes. They will fit, you just have to be creative about it. Besides think of how happily decorated your "Man-Cave" will be once everything is home to you!

 

[steve the plumb]

well the skimmer will go into the garage its to big to fit in the stand plus the sump is in there.I am excited about finally having lights.It will be nice to see 1000 watts of lighting.I don't want to see the electric bill when all the lights are on.I think I will run the T5 for now but I will take pics of everything.I still have to figure out how to set up the controller to control the lights.I think what I will do is set up my level sensor in the skimmer cup this way if the skimmer goes nuts I would make a flood.I can have the controller shut off the skimmer.I didn't think of this till recently.I think its not a bad idea.How many times has a skimmer gone crazy when its shut off or when doing water changes,readjustments its happened to me.

 

[steve the plumb]

I think I will have to remove stuff out of the box.Its all the packaging that takes up space.

 

[michika]

I think its a great idea to be able to shut off your skimmer.

 

[steve the plumb]

Thanks in case of an overflow I would rather the skimmer shut off than drain my sump and have water all over the garage floor.

 

[jnarowe]

I have had this happen MANY times...so I put a float switch in my collection bucket. That way when the collection gets full, my air pump/skimmer shuts down. Plus I have my controller set to sound an alarm and send an email when it happens.

 

[steve the plumb]

Jnarowe do you use a UV unit.I have one but I haven't connected it yet

 

[jnarowe]

Not yet. I plan to, but the one I need is about $2K. I also want to add ozone. I am considering building my own ozone generator though.

If you are not actively trying to breed snails and other broadcast spawners, i would hook up the UV.

 

[steve the plumb]

thats what I heard the UV can kill pods and other small organisms that are helpful to a reef tank.I may hook my unit up but its to small.It does 250 gals.I don't know if it will make a difference to use it.I will probably need either one unit that can do my entire system or buy another unit.I have the coralife (twist) model but I don't know how good these units are.Should I get another one like mine witch in combination will do 500 gal or should I get something completely different.

 

[jnarowe]

I would probably relegate the Coralife to my QT. For your system, you need a much better one. As far as pods go, if you wait and allow that population to grow up enough, it shouldn't be a problem. A lot of reefers use UV and still have pods.

 

[steve the plumb]

witch model do you reccomend

 

[jnarowe]

PM sent!

 

[steve the plumb]

Thanks for the info it looks like I will have to save up some pennies for a good unit.I have to find a job because this hobby has put me into debt again.Why is it that I wanted a large tank?

 

[jnarowe]

Well, while you are saving your pennies, check into building one. I just opened up an old LifeGuard unit and it is really simple. Essentially just a "reactor" with in and outflow, a UV resistant shield of plastic, and a glass tube that you slide the lamp into. You can buy parts for them too. I have never seen a wiper model taken apart so no idea on how that is done. Have you searched for UV DIY yet?