*Need Help (Pics)*

[chatyak]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14430394#post14430394 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Whys
Now that is interesting. Haven't seen anyone else post anything like that. You should make a build thread for it. I'm sure a lot of people would want to see it.

Will do.. perhaps I will make it in here... keep it all together.

First I need to finalize the sump design and get this puppy on the road.

 

[chatyak]

Today is another water change with some new GFO/Carbon in the reactor and some siphoning of the junk on the sand again... hopefully it all works out... I think I have a DOA with one of my corals.. it's all white looking.

 

[chatyak]

Well I cleaned out my GFO/Carbon reactor.. shiny and new... vinegar works miracles! Then rinsed in RO/DI then back to work.. I found out I was using half of the amount of GFO and Carbon I should of been.

So that's back to work full force. I also took some pictures of the skimmer's collection for the past 1.8 days or so.. so will post those later.

Any more thoughts on the sump are welcome.

 

[chatyak]

So here's a couple before and after shots.. not exactly the same angle and lighting but you get the idea.

 

[chatyak]

And now for some more pictures. The skimmer pictures are from just under 2 days worth. Not skimming very much right now since I removed a LOT of algae and did about 50 gallons in water changes.

 

[chatyak]

Some more... along with some pictures of the hammer coral to prove it's either blue or not.

 

[chatyak]

 

[chatyak]

 

[chatyak]

I also cleaned up the sand bed by adding some new sand in a few spots to give it a clean look after I siphoned out the dinoflagellates. It should become live within a few weeks. Normally I have a background on it but for the time being it's easier to work with since I can not access the tank from the front.

 

[Whys]

You haven't said, is this a home aquarium and where did it come from? It's huge.

 

[chatyak]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14438394#post14438394 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Whys
You haven't said, is this a home aquarium and where did it come from? It's huge.

The pet store. Its only 125 gallons? Not THAT big haha

Yes it is the basement. Originally going to be in my room. Glad it is not whew. lol

 

[Whys]

I tried 125g once. Once...

Water changes were nearly an all day job and that kind of killed my interest. 125g might not be that big around here, but it's too big for me.

I like my little 37g. It nice and manageable.

 

[chatyak]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14438470#post14438470 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Whys
I tried 125g once. Once...

Water changes were nearly an all day job and that kind of killed my interest. 125g might not be that big around here, but it's too big for me.

I like my little 37g. It nice and manageable.

Really.. my water changes are not too long at all... and with the new sump and plumbing installed... just plug it in and away she goes... change 20 gallons in 3 minutes.

 

[chatyak]

I wonder if I can make the sump out of cheaper materials... I know that half inch glass for my sump will cost around $550.

 

[chatyak]

The dinoflagellates are back on the clean white sand.......... how frustrating.

 

[chatyak]

To add to the misery my return pump completely stopped working tonight. I was doing a water change and I suddenly hear a burst of bubbles from the sump and my pump no longer works.

So now ALL of my equipment is in the main tank except the skimmer... now I am skimmer-less in time of need.. This is really aggravating and upsetting!

 

[chatyak]

Would a mechanical filter help during this time??

 

[Whys]

That sux. Overnight delivery?

What kind of mechanical filter, 'cus probably not. Is your GFO still running?

Without a skimmer or turnover, the water isn't getting oxygenated. Have an air pump?

 

[chatyak]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14445087#post14445087 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Whys
That sux. Overnight delivery?

What kind of mechanical filter, 'cus probably not. Is your GFO still running?

Without a skimmer or turnover, the water isn't getting oxygenated. Have an air pump?

I'm running (2) Vortech MP20s, a sponge filter (short fat round sponge thing on an airline) and I sat my GFO/Carbon reactor above the tank, moved all the heaters to the tank... and that's all for now. There is surface agitation.

What do you think? That's for the response Whys, I appreciate it.


I also am ordering bulbs for my refugium.

Would these be suitable?
http://www.servicelighting.com/catalog_product.cfm?prod=TC14037

They aren't the same as the suggested one on Melevs site though.... at least I don't think.
http://www.melevsreef.com/fuge_bulb.html

 

[chatyak]

I'm thinking of plumbing two return pumps to my new sump.. is this possible?

Have two pumps connected to the same pvc piping... like an upside down "Y" shape. Is that too much flow??

I don't want this to happen again.