New tank coming in later this week!

[sgallant04]

I've ordered a new larger tank & i'm excited to receive it and start setting it up.

I ordered a black framed Aqueon 75 pre drilled aquarium & basic black stand & standard glass canopy to keep the cats from going on a fishing expedition.

http://www.aqueonproducts.com/products/predrilled-aquariums.htm

for lighting I choose a sunlight supply TEK light 6 x 54w fixture & tank stand offs. I let the store owner help me choose the correct bulbs, they choose some white, daylight, UV, antanic and ..some other I forget all which. I asked for a nice full colored spectrum w/ plenty of growing power and not as much bluish/purple like my current 14K single MH bulb produces.

http://www.sunlightsupply.com/p-12623-tek-light-t5-ho-fluorescent-fixtures.aspx

and for a sump, I initially wanted a Aqueon ProFlex sump w/ dual filter socks, but they suggested instead I go with a Sealife system Reefmaster 100 refugium.

http://www.sealifesystems.com/product_info.php?products_id=1149


I'm very excited to start setting it up, It should be in store for pickup on wed or thursday. but i'm currently lacking a truck & moving safety gear to help get it home if anybody wants to help volunteer I'd be very grateful.

I also have to enclose the back of the stand to keep the cats out of it.. I was thinking about screening it to allow humidity to escape? does anybody have a good suggestion?

 

[xmenx2dad]

Sounds awesome. Are you going to use the sump with what kind of return pump? What kind of pumps in the tank or are you going to do a closed loop? How are you going to stock it?

 

[dsepp]

Very exciting. Looking forward to following the setup. What is the ETA on the tank?

 

[sgallant04]

Sounds awesome. Are you going to use the sump with what kind of return pump? What kind of pumps in the tank or are you going to do a closed loop? How are you going to stock it?

I'm not sure what the exact flow rate of the return pump is, the salesman I was working with helped select a in-sump Rio pump? I had been possibly thinking about wanting to drill the sump and install an external High pressure pump as I have every intention of take that pump's output and going to my chiller and then back up.

I'm coloring the back of tank w/ Blue Life Watercolors Black Vinyl and will be installing my current Vortech MP20 on the back wall low hopefully helping to create a forward and up type current back to the surface to be skimmed by the built in overlow. Between the MP20 and the built in Mega Flow I was hoping to not have to move more water around?

 

[sgallant04]

BTW what's the difference between an OPEN and CLOSED loop filtration?

 

[sgallant04]

If everything goes well, I'm expecting the store to receive it on Wed/Thur of this week. This is my first larger tank and external sump type tank. I expect it to take me a while to get it setup, i'm not in much hurry as I only have 3 peices of coral and 2 fish and a shrimp in my 34 cube currently. I'm building it out to help last me for a few more years in the hobby. I was feeling constrained by how small my current aquarium is and how unweidly it was becomming. Everything was HOB style or in the small false back wall sump.

i'm hoping for much more easier access to the filter for mtc etc with the sump, a good way to hide the mess and clutter of all the gear from the wifey lol and the constant Photosynthesis in refugium helps hold pH higher and lastly the lights...

I wasn't having much luck growing coral under my 14k only mh bulb. I could keep it and maintain it, but ...slow growing plus lots of heat pumped into that small 34g cube. I wound up hooking up a chiller to it as I like to keep my temp a bit cooler year round.

I suspect the water movement and evap from the sump will help in the cooling process and looking forward to more vibrant colors and stronger growing opportunities w/ the new lighting setup.

 

[seesick]

BTW what's the difference between an OPEN and CLOSED loop filtration?

A closed loop is used for water circulation. Usually there are two holes drilled in the back of the tank, connected with tubing and a pump to push water. I have used them in the past and they work good, however; they are not used as much anymore with the new technology that has come out like the Vortek and tunz pumps on the market. Random flow makes all the difference.
As far as buying new stuff for your tank, I would look around for used equipment. Sometimes it can save you big bucks, and be careful at our super duper LFS. Often times they will sell you the stuff they get the highest markup on. At one point in time, I had a freedom filter and oh my, what a pile of crap.
So do your research and then research some more, make sure you get what you want, not what they are selling.

As far as a return pump, I would go with an external one unless you are going to go with a bare bottom system and not have any sand at all. It seems like to me that sand just gets into the internal pumps and screws everything up. Just my own personal opinion. good luck with your setup.

 

[xmenx2dad]

Any updates on your tank setup?

 

[sgallant04]

I've been taking my time setting it up, I do have most of stuff below the stand and have made a back for the stand to keep the cats out. But not much room to maneuver equipment below the tank and futz w/ the skimmer should it be needed i'm half tempted to to drill the sump and mount the return pump external to make more room in the sump and then pass that return through a chiller for accurate temp control.

 

[Sea-men]

with (sick) on this one! Sounds like a SWRC special to me, where did you order it from?
They probably just talk you into a different sump because they make more money on that particular one, you could use a old fish tank with some baffles in it for micro-bubbles as a sump and will work fine...
It’s the husbandry that makes the tank anyway, look forward to seeing some pictures.
Good luck on your set up.

ask your questins here there is a lot of experience packed in to this little web-site and its all at your finger-tips

 

[Ntvper]

if its open top on all u prob might not need a chiller that light if not mistaken doesnt pop out enough heat to make a 5-10 degree dent in your DT. +1 with seamen. it all boils down to husbandry the equipment is secondary(as long as the equipment does it job)

 

[seesick]

+2 Wise man that c-men, husbandry is the most important. also like Ntvper (as long as the equipment does it job)

 

[sgallant04]

The first thing I did was break my new glass canopy, and just yesterday did I get to a glass shop to have a new piece cut & re-assembled. I have to keep the cats from going on a fishing trip.

I got it filled last weekend and added live rock this week. I'm circulating the water and adjusting my aqua scaping. I still need to find/buy some micro algae for the refugium. I tried to mount the heater in the sump return but it seemed to have poor long term temp control upwards and I moved it into the main tank.

I have a much smaller slower loop comming out of the sump return into a chiller and then into a small switched as needed UV steralizer. I waiting on delivery of some flow control ball valves in different sizes so I can slow the flow on both the main loop and secondary loop.

My sump does not have a filter sock , just a sump block so currently I have small powerhead w/ particulate filter on it cleaning the water for a few days.

I've moved my main recirc propeller pump off my current cube and onto the new aquarium on the back wall on random hoping to push water through the rockwork towards the front of the tank i'm trying hard to keep the 3 main viewing panes clear of equipment clutter.

I still need to mount my ozone generator & ph probe under the cabinet before i'm done.

I don't currently have any plans for an ATO. no water source near the tank and i don't have much more room under cab.

Perhaps if the future budget allows I will do the drilled sump, external pump and out to larger chiller on the main loop outside the cabinet then i'd have room under cabinet for a ATO setup.

In the mean time I don't wind hauling a gallon container around.

 

[Ntvper]

sounds like a great plan. still wanna see pics lol. u can have a 5 gallon bucket with water for ATO near it enough and DIY so only one bucket to haul around

 

[sgallant04]

Don't get me wrong, I think an auto-ATO would be awesome, but if I had to choose based on add'l wires, buckets and lines I think I would rather have an auto drip for kalk or something like that.

I've seen a few idea and i sure do like them. Has anybody had any experience with a simple gravity IV style drip bag for kalk addition?

 

[Gomer]

ATO with a 1g or even 2/3L bottle that you refill daily is better imo. More stability

 

[sgallant04]

perhaps as I see more and more simple solutions for ato w/o the overkill of float switches & redundant float switches, trash buckets of fresh water in the living room & . & . & . and RO lines ran across the celling from a remote water source ( I mean c'mon! i have a wife here! ) i'd be interested until then..

 

[Ntvper]

i have the ATO with a float valve (plastic) from the line from the RO in the washroom ran about 20 feet tops i would say lol. gotta hang it properly cuz its blocking one of her closets lmao.

 

[steamboat]

Your new tank sound awesome! What type of fish and corals do you plan to keep? Any pictures of the setup?