Our Mini 425 Ocean

[Dudester]

Eric, you don't want to feed your skimmer from your fuge, that's for sure. The water source for your skimmer should be that which is directly drained from the top of your display tank, i.e. the water which drains via the overflow. If you don't feed directly from the overflow, then you should pump the water to the skimmer from a chamber in the sump that collects the overflow's drainage.

As for the aiptasia, see if you can get a Klein's butterfly. They are hardier than copperbands, and if trained properly, they are aiptasia terrorists!

 

[Ed Reef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13714344#post13714344 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dudester
As for the aiptasia, see if you can get a Klein's butterfly. They are hardier than copperbands, and if trained properly, they are aiptasia terrorists!

Eric,

With the Klein's butterfly, u do have to be careful with meaty corals thou'. I have one in my tank and he makes an expensive dinner out of my Elegant and Open Brain. :eek2:

 

[Dudester]

That's a bummer Ed ... I guess I'm lucky as mine is a model citizen. Let's hope he stays that way.

 

[erics3000]

Thanks guys. I really do like the look of the copper band. I am going to try another soon when I have things a little more settled. I am also working on getting a QT situated. I just don't want to do anything to my fish in there they are very stable happy and fat. I am going to get a start on a clean up crew first. I just hope the aptashia doesn't start to get out of control. Humm that makes me think about doing a cb sooner than later.

Ed I hope you get your clam taken care of.

I made a decision to move the skimmer over the sump. It looked cool but was another area for failure. I will split my returns to the fuge and sump. I am going to add a pipe to move the input for the return pump to the edge where my fuge drain is. At the other end of the sump I will have the skimmer input and the other 2 drains from my display. I am going to remove the 25 sump and save that space for something else. Hopefully in a year I will need room for a frag tank.

Once I get my skimmer working the next thing is to get some decent electrical going in my Garage. I am not sure if I am going to make a power panel box. I have been deciding on getting a reef keeper or a Neptune jr with internet. I plan on down the line adding a calcium reactor and really want a controller to help. I will post some updates latter this weekend.

Happy Veterans Day

 

[thor32766]

wow you have been busy eric!!!!post some pics with the new updates when they are done. Copperbands are sweet fish. Its just one of those fish that you really need to get a great specimen to begin with!

 

[michika]

Any particular reasons for or against the Reef Keeper or Neptune Jr?

 

[GlassReef]

Wow! Eric, it looks like you're really going full bore ahead. It's very daunting when you see that huge number of plumbing part staring back at you, isn't it.

What was the problem with placing the skimmer over the sump? I was thinking about raising my skimmers up about 18". Bad idea?

 

[erics3000]

thor.. I think I have been slacking on my tank. It is hard to find time after work, family, and fun. I am going to make some head way this weekend. I started on my mantle and cutting crown molding is a PITA. Not so bad once you understand the angles. I hope to get it done this weekend.

Michika I have made up my mind I am getting the new reef keeper elite. I think it is a sweet deal that comes with orp, temp, ph, and 8 outlets with purchase. If you haven't read about the new elite check it out. It is a sweet package deal for $500.

Glassreeef There was no problem with placing the skimmer over the pump. That is exactly what I am going to do this weekend. I was just trying t make sure the skimmer feed off nothing but return water. My dart couldn't flow enough for the marlin so I will pop it in the sump. Just super busy but I hope to get this knocked out this weekend. Your setup is incredible..great attention to detail...

 

[SexyReef]

nice set up!!

 

[edandsandy]

any updates?

 

[rocknreef]

Eric

Really nice setup

If you are wanting to add electric to you garage the sub panel that I did would work great for you. You can go about 50' with the 6 3 wire before it starts to lose any draw. 6 3 wire is rated for 55 amps so it would give you plenty of outlets to run pumps and such off of. I had to take one of my 30amp breakers out of my main panel and put it in the sub panel to make room for the 50amp breaker that feeds the sub panel. If you have a 200 amp main panel it would be no problem for you to add the sub. If you did the other panel I see in the pic you will have no problem wiring it up. Actually it is real cost effective to add the sub panel. I already had some 14 2 wire and a few 20 amp breakers but even if you had to buy everything you shouldnt have more than $100 to $150 in everything. That outlets and all.

Let me know if you need any help.

Scott

 

[erics3000]

Sexy Reef - Thanks..

rocknreef- That is exactly what i want to do. The other advantage is if i move I can remove the hole sub panle.

Sandy..Here some updates..

Quick Update. I hate crown molding..heheheh.. I got out my table saw, router, and miter saw. I am by no means a carpenter. I finally figured out how to make all the fancy cuts and after a week on and off I have my mantle installed. I still need to do some touch up. My flash on my camera quit so some of the pics suck but here is the process from Hell..

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z233/erics3000/Aquarium/DSC03933.jpg[/IM]

[IMG]http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z233/erics3000/Aquarium/DSC03934.jpg

 

[erics3000]

 

[erics3000]

After all the changes I have 2 1’ drains going to my fuge and 2 1 ½ going to my sump. Simple… less plumbing and less trouble. That is where I will put the skimmer. Now I am going to pop my skimmer in there and see how things go.

As soon as I put my mangroves tips out of the water a couple days later I had new leaves.

My little helper checkin out the fuge.

 

[Bax]

Eric

For not being a carpenter, your mantle came out great!

You're making some good system changes for the long haul too.

It's great you have a helper to keep you in line, mine are teenagers and too busy reading "Twilight" to help their old dad!

 

[jnarowe]

nice work. there are ways to "fake" crown too...

 

[~sp0ok~]

like your work.. good job on all of it

 

[edandsandy]

I agree with Bax!

you can come to our house and fake your carpentry work :lol:

 

[redtop03]

Nice progress,the wood work looks great,:thumbsup:

a compound miter saw makes that crown molding a lot easier to cut,the angles are a booger to figure out without one,

the little one has did some growing,handsome little fella,:thumbsup:

 

[jrpdriver]

That molding and trim work came out awesome