My New Tank!!!

[Marc Daniels]

Sarah-

I have been very happy running the XM 15k bulbs. I run my T5's for a few hours and they go off when the halides come on, and then they come back on when the halides go off. My total lighting period is 12 hrs, but the halides are only on for 8hrs of that time.
350g
10am - Two 80w T5's On
11am - Two 80w T5's On
1pm - Four 250w Halides On
1:10pm - Four 80w T5's Off
8:45pm - Four 80w T5's On
9:00pm - Four 250w Halides Off
9:30pm - Two 80w T5's Off
10pm - Two 80w T5's Off

 

[TotalKhaos]

well as it stands what I have is 2x 175w 12k MHs. I just dont feel its enough as far as coverage goes. It was great in my 90g as it was 48 inches long the same size as my reflector. But this tank is a full foot longer and 4 inches wider as well. Height is the same.

I have some 39w t-5's I can take apart and mount inside the canopy but I fear they wont do much esspecially without reflectors for them.

I believe what I have will do to start, some corals can be placed just so to get the most of the light, but I'll have to concider upgrading or adding to my lights soon. ugh... I just dont have the money to buy more lights now.

that is unless you guys think the 2x 175w will support the life I mean to keep... a little of everything, but mainly lps, zoos and mushrooms. Plus an rbta.

Marc, your lighting sounds great, maybe if you are home when I stop by on friday you'll let me make calf eyes at your tank?

 

[Marc Daniels]

I have a single 175w Hamilton retrofit that I'm not using. It would provide the coverage that you're looking for. I'll show it to you Friday.

 

[TotalKhaos]

sump time

sump time

tomorrow is the big day. Picking up my return pump and LR. Once I get home in the afternoon it'll be time to finish setting up.

Have a few questions before I do it. THis'll be my first time working with a sump. I'd like to think I have a good idea of how to get everthing started but wondered if ya'll could give me a basic rundown of a safe way to get my sump running.

I figured just fill the tank to the overflow line without going over - then fill the sump - then turn on my return pump and add water to the sump as needed until the level in the tank and sump are stable. Yes? No?

 

[TotalKhaos]

Was up till 1am last night setting up. After I turned the sump on it took a hour or so of fine tuning to get everything where I wanted it and nice and quiet.

Have about 90 lbs of LR in and it doesnt seem like enough - Need to aquascape a bit today. After that I'll have a better idea of weather I'll need a bit more rock or not.

Marc offered me a wonderful deal on a MH retro so now I have 3x 175w MH under the hood.

My Drain pipe to my sump is a little long and makes some unnecassary noise. Going to cut that back this evening.

Now the real fun begins! Thanks so Much for all your help everyone.

 

[TotalKhaos]

Here is a poor picture of it right now. Needs to settle and I need to fix the drain to get rid of the micro bubbles (going to use Matt's suggestion)

I did a quick aquascape, not sure if I'm happy with it yet but I want to leave it alone so it can settle for now.

In case you are wondering, no the brain will not be in the tank for long. Minh agreed to coral sit while my tank cycles, I just need to bring it down to him.

please excuse my mess - the whole house is littered with aquarium junk and my kids toys atm.

the sand is about an inch deeper than it looks, the tank sits down into the stand a bit hiding the actual depth.

 

[wombat2]

Lookin' good!

A bag made of filter material attached to the drain will seriously help out with the micro bubbles, noise, and salt creep. Problem is you have to clean it out very regularly or else it becomes a detritus trap. A plastic bag will help with noise and salt creep, but won't help much with the micro bubbles. It won't trap detritus though, which is a nice benefit.

What I like to do is use a plastic bag, and then place my skimmer close to the drain. Your return pump should be on the opposite side of the sump. I cut to size and place a little filter pad from Fluval across the width of the sump to completely separate the pump:

Air bubbles won't cross this barrier. No more micro-bubbles! It won't trap nearly as much gunk as a filter bag attached to the drain. I clean mine once every month or so.

Hope this helps!

BTW, is the white elbow at the top your return? Are you thinking about doing anything about the light escaping from the canopy?

 

[TotalKhaos]

yes thats the return - I want to change it a little but was excited to get started. hopefully I'll get to it sometime this week.

about the light - YES, Its horribly annoying having that light leaking out the canopy doors. I'll figure something out soon.

Q - Would the pre filter that came with the mag 9.5 serve for what you were describing in your post? Cutting down the Micro bubbles I mean.

 

[Marc Daniels]

Matt-

Yes I am pretty sure from an earlier post of hers that the white elbow is the top of her drain.

Sarah-
What you can do is spray paint the white PVC in the tank black. Just make sure that you let it cure for a few days. I know that Custom Aquatic carries black PVC as well. To block out the light from the canopy doors, you could attach some black foam rubber around the inside of the canopy so that it covers the gaps, and then attach a piece to one door so that when you close it the center gap would be covered.

Looking good!

 

[TotalKhaos]

Thanks for the advice Marc. I'll try that.

here is a pic now that its cleared a bit more. the cheato will be moved into the overflow tonight once I get it all screened off.

dont mind the haphazardly placed PH's My husband is bringing home new suction cups for them tonight.

The base rock is pretty ugly but came in good shapes cheap. my past experience with this stuff is that it colors up really well.

 

[wombat2]

Spray painting it is a good idea. Or getting an ABS (grey) elbow if you don't want to wait. Looking real good!

Oh yeah, re the pre filter. It will work, but with the suction caused by it it will trap detritus in certain spots of high flow. Detritus trapped+high flow=fast decomposition=bad for water quality. Partitioning the sump so that the flow through the sponge is dipersed over a wide area decreases this effect. Hope that makes sense.

 

[TotalKhaos]

Day 4 since the additional 40lbs of LR went in:

Ammonia: 0.25ppm

Nitrite: .5 ppm

Nitrate: 10 ppm

PH: 8.1

already seeing a abundance of pods and various worms in the sand. Thanks Marc for that wonderful live sand and cheato.

Noticed a yellow sponge on some of my new rock that looks suprisingly healthy - I hope it stays that way.

 

[TotalKhaos]

well I wouldnt say my cycle is done, but my tests are looking great.

Ammonia is 0ppm, Nitrite 0 ppm, Nitrate is 10ppm.

So I'm adding my few snails and hermits today.

 

[Justin74]

:thumbsup: Right on. I still have a few weeks, but the rock is starting to color up.

-Justin

 

[TotalKhaos]

that is some nice rock - the colors are starting to pop more and more. Very Pleased a Yellow sponge even survived on the rocks. And I believe this little guy hitchhiked in with the rock:

Clibanarius sp.

 

[Justin74]

It is nice rock, I got my fingers crossed with some sponges as well, and my hitchhiker was a lil baby crab, so I threw him in my 15g FOWLR so he couldnt get into any trouble,be sure and give us a pic with your work so far

-Justin

 

[TotalKhaos]

You asked for it.

Here is a picture of the tank today. I'm still playing around with my aquascape. And I have a different piece of return plumbing spray painted black and curing for a few days to replace the white one in the tank now.

Here is a picture of one of my favorite rocks - look at all the purty color! lol

my poor husband - he about fainted when I told him my tests were looking good and I'd be wanting to start getting corals soon.

 

[boviac]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6732433#post6732433 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TotalKhaos

my poor husband - he about fainted when I told him my tests were looking good and I'd be wanting to start getting corals soon.

Would that 'about fainting' be from the new costs or from the next perpetual, time-cosuming step in this hobby?

Good luck!

Chris

 

[TotalKhaos]

update:

I've got my aquascape complete, Marc sold me a skimmer last week for a great price. I have that in the sump bubbling away. Its working great.

I've purchased various other items and have been playing with the flow. Its tricky getting it just right and making sure there are no dead spots. I used one of those Hydor Flo nozzles on one PH and that seems to have got it just right.

I'm hoping to get to John's (yourreef) to pick up some snails and some frags to start with. Likely just start with zoos and shrooms.

My Water Params are awesome - ammo: 0 nitrite: 0 nitrate: 10, and holding there for awhile now.

long story short - Done with my equipment purchases. Water Params are in order, Tank is looking awesome and I'm ready to get started with some corals.

Thanks again for everyones help, I couldnt have done any of this without the knowledge and generosity of MARS.

 

[H20Sidhe]

TK,

Do you mind posting another picture? I've been excited for you while following along reading this thread. Someday it will be me upgrading! When I do, can I pick your brain?

Sherie