Randy's 180G Reef-Photo Journal
- Thread starter rdmpe
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so now I have to find some cheap local LR.
rdmpe
New member
Well, the tank is about half full now. I put some short elbows on the closed loop outlets so that I could run the CL while the tank was still filling. So I was able to add salt to the tank and it is mixing fine with the CL running. Temperature is steady at 79 deg.
Saturday I will be picking up about 100 lb of LR and 60 lb of LS from a local reefer. So now I really have to figure out how I'm going to do the rock etc.
My plan is to get the LR set up in the tank, supported on PVC, before putting the sand in. I want to use PVC to support the rock since that's how my closed loop returns work - pvc risers coming out of the sand up the middle of the rocks. In addition to the CL returns, I may need some other PVC supports depending on how the rockscape goes. If I put the DSB in first, it would be very difficult to work with PVC supports. So I feel like I need to wait.
So I wonder if I'll get stung by stuff on the LR while working with it. I don't have any gloves right now.
Saturday I will be picking up about 100 lb of LR and 60 lb of LS from a local reefer. So now I really have to figure out how I'm going to do the rock etc.
My plan is to get the LR set up in the tank, supported on PVC, before putting the sand in. I want to use PVC to support the rock since that's how my closed loop returns work - pvc risers coming out of the sand up the middle of the rocks. In addition to the CL returns, I may need some other PVC supports depending on how the rockscape goes. If I put the DSB in first, it would be very difficult to work with PVC supports. So I feel like I need to wait.
So I wonder if I'll get stung by stuff on the LR while working with it. I don't have any gloves right now.
tgunn
Active member
Isn't it grueling to wait for the tank to fill? :lol:
Sounds like a plan for the rocks and rockscaping! I'd definitely try to get a pair of gloves if I were you; my fingers got plenty of little cuts and scrapes while setting up my aquascaping. Luckily most of my rock was dead so there wasn't much life to worry about.
Then again, I don't even have a good pair of shoulder length gloves yet so I'm not one to talk. :lol:
Tyler
Sounds like a plan for the rocks and rockscaping! I'd definitely try to get a pair of gloves if I were you; my fingers got plenty of little cuts and scrapes while setting up my aquascaping. Luckily most of my rock was dead so there wasn't much life to worry about.
Then again, I don't even have a good pair of shoulder length gloves yet so I'm not one to talk. :lol:
Tyler
rdmpe
New member
GOT MILK ?
GOT MILK ?
Woo hooo what a mess!
I made the trip about an hour away to buy some LR, LS, etc. from a guy breaking an extra tank down. The LR had a ton of stuff on it including a bunch of xenia, some kenyi tree, some green slimer (?) frags, lots of coraline, etc. I also got a cleanup crew of a few dozen cerinth snails, some hermits, etc. and a spiny serpent star that is about a foot across, and a clown fish. I also got about 50 gallons of his water.
I loaded it all up in three 5G buckets, three 18G rubbermaids and one 44G brute. The drive home in my Project Manager's minivan went really well UNTIL about 5 miles from home. Then someone hit their breaks hard in front of me to make a left turn and I had to hit the breaks fairly hard myself. That's when I heard the sound of water pouring behind me
Nothing fell over, but even with the lids on the tubs, the water had come up the side and poured out under the lid. So I had some shop vac work to do when I got home... No real harm done.
GOT MILK ?
Woo hooo what a mess!
I made the trip about an hour away to buy some LR, LS, etc. from a guy breaking an extra tank down. The LR had a ton of stuff on it including a bunch of xenia, some kenyi tree, some green slimer (?) frags, lots of coraline, etc. I also got a cleanup crew of a few dozen cerinth snails, some hermits, etc. and a spiny serpent star that is about a foot across, and a clown fish. I also got about 50 gallons of his water.
I loaded it all up in three 5G buckets, three 18G rubbermaids and one 44G brute. The drive home in my Project Manager's minivan went really well UNTIL about 5 miles from home. Then someone hit their breaks hard in front of me to make a left turn and I had to hit the breaks fairly hard myself. That's when I heard the sound of water pouring behind me
Nothing fell over, but even with the lids on the tubs, the water had come up the side and poured out under the lid. So I had some shop vac work to do when I got home... No real harm done.
rdmpe
New member
I have a bunch of southdown sand that I planned to use along with the live sand I got from the tank breakdown.
I was thinking it would be better to put the LR in then put the sand in. The LR is supported on pieces of 2" pvc cut into 4" long lengths, and is also supported and zip tied to risers coming off my buried closed loop manifold. Here's a slightly out of date pic of the manifold and risers
I was concerned about putting the sand in first because I didn't want to have the rock sitting on the sand. But I didn't think about the fact that I could use these little pvc pieces to sit the rock on, and they would just go down into the sand and probably sit flat on the bottom glass.
So I ended up getting most of the LR into the tank. I need about 100 more lb to get the look I want. I don't think I'll be able to do 2 lb per gallon since that would be 360 lb and I'd end up with a huge pile of rock in my tank. That's not what I'm going for, I want a lot of open space.
Then I added about 400 to 450 lb of southdown. I've dealt with this stuff before, so I knew what to expect. That stuff sure makes a mess. I was running an air stone cuz I didn't have my sump full yet. So that made it even more foamy than it normally would have been.
After 10 hours or so there was no detectible clearing, and it still looked like this:
As of about 24 hours I can see about 2" into the tank. I decided not to put the serpent star, clownfish and cleanup crew into the tank when it was such a mess. So they're in a tub and doing fine so far. However, with all of the crabs, snails and all that in the tub, it's a little crowded and the water seems to get nasty fairly easily. I've done two 1/4 water changes about 12 hours apart and I think I'll get another ready for tomorrow morning before I go to work.
I'm wondering how often I need to feed the clownfish and friends. I'd like to go really light while they're in the tub. I've given them one very small pinch of flake yesterday evening and one again this evening.
I was thinking it would be better to put the LR in then put the sand in. The LR is supported on pieces of 2" pvc cut into 4" long lengths, and is also supported and zip tied to risers coming off my buried closed loop manifold. Here's a slightly out of date pic of the manifold and risers
I was concerned about putting the sand in first because I didn't want to have the rock sitting on the sand. But I didn't think about the fact that I could use these little pvc pieces to sit the rock on, and they would just go down into the sand and probably sit flat on the bottom glass.
So I ended up getting most of the LR into the tank. I need about 100 more lb to get the look I want. I don't think I'll be able to do 2 lb per gallon since that would be 360 lb and I'd end up with a huge pile of rock in my tank. That's not what I'm going for, I want a lot of open space.
Then I added about 400 to 450 lb of southdown. I've dealt with this stuff before, so I knew what to expect. That stuff sure makes a mess. I was running an air stone cuz I didn't have my sump full yet. So that made it even more foamy than it normally would have been.
After 10 hours or so there was no detectible clearing, and it still looked like this:
As of about 24 hours I can see about 2" into the tank. I decided not to put the serpent star, clownfish and cleanup crew into the tank when it was such a mess. So they're in a tub and doing fine so far. However, with all of the crabs, snails and all that in the tub, it's a little crowded and the water seems to get nasty fairly easily. I've done two 1/4 water changes about 12 hours apart and I think I'll get another ready for tomorrow morning before I go to work.
I'm wondering how often I need to feed the clownfish and friends. I'd like to go really light while they're in the tub. I've given them one very small pinch of flake yesterday evening and one again this evening.
rdmpe
New member
TOO TOASTY !
TOO TOASTY !
Heat issues and I don't even have any lights on the tank yet...
I have two external sequence pumps, a dart and a tarpon. And I have one submerged pump, a mag 9.5 running the skimmer. My temperatures have gone from 79 to almost 83 in just one day. I am going to turn the skimmer off for a day and see what the temperature is tomorrow evening.
I am also not sure if I'm going to be able to use the penductors as originally planned. They just create so much flow I don't know if I can do it with a sand bed. IF I don't use the penductors, I could sell the Tarpon and get another Dart. Even though it isn't pressure rated, I think it would do a good job powering my sump return and skimmer at the same time. I figure if I am getting 2400 gph (assuming 6' head total) and I use 800 gph or so on the skimmer and another 100 or so through the fuge, that still leaves plenty for the return into the tank. Hmmmmm....
TOO TOASTY !
Heat issues and I don't even have any lights on the tank yet...
I have two external sequence pumps, a dart and a tarpon. And I have one submerged pump, a mag 9.5 running the skimmer. My temperatures have gone from 79 to almost 83 in just one day. I am going to turn the skimmer off for a day and see what the temperature is tomorrow evening.
I am also not sure if I'm going to be able to use the penductors as originally planned. They just create so much flow I don't know if I can do it with a sand bed. IF I don't use the penductors, I could sell the Tarpon and get another Dart. Even though it isn't pressure rated, I think it would do a good job powering my sump return and skimmer at the same time. I figure if I am getting 2400 gph (assuming 6' head total) and I use 800 gph or so on the skimmer and another 100 or so through the fuge, that still leaves plenty for the return into the tank. Hmmmmm....
needyreefer
Active member
Really looks like things are coming along now, looks great! That looks like some nice rock you got there too..... just make sure the serpent star doesn't go after your fish. 
rjwilson37
New member
Excellent... We are starting to see some nice stuff now.
tgunn
Active member
Hey Randy,
Great to see some water in there. I'm sure it'll clear up eventually!
I'll give you a little warning about using a single pump for multiple devices. If a dart will give you 2400 GPH and you want to use 800gph for the skimmer I guarantee it's not going to work as you think it will.
I had tried to use my Sequence 1000 to be a sump return and a skimmer pump.
At the head pressure I was looking at it would provide 3600 GPH. I have planned around 1200 GPH sump return and 2400 GPH (roughly) for the beckett skimmer.. Because the beckett skimmer causes a lot of back pressure, I found that I had to dial back the return line considerably to get the skimmer to work adequately. I was getting probably 500-600 GPH sump turnover. I had the valve for the return line closed back considerably and the skimmer valve open wide. I found it almost impossible to split the flow as I imagined originally...
I also found that the shared pump made it harder to keep my silent overflow balanced. With separate pumps I haven't adjusted my silent overflow setup in a number of weeks. Combined I was always twiddling with it (because as I adjusted the skimmer it would change the pressures in the system just enough to mess up the overflow balance)..
Do the penductors stir up the surface too much to have them shoot more straight across the tank?
My closed loop is 5000 GPH and the return is giving me 1000 GPH. I get some sand drifting around every now and then, but nothing like I'd expect I would have..
Tyler
Great to see some water in there. I'm sure it'll clear up eventually!
I'll give you a little warning about using a single pump for multiple devices.
If a dart will give you 2400 GPH and you want to use 800gph for the skimmer I guarantee it's not going to work as you think it will. I had tried to use my Sequence 1000 to be a sump return and a skimmer pump.
At the head pressure I was looking at it would provide 3600 GPH. I have planned around 1200 GPH sump return and 2400 GPH (roughly) for the beckett skimmer.. Because the beckett skimmer causes a lot of back pressure, I found that I had to dial back the return line considerably to get the skimmer to work adequately. I was getting probably 500-600 GPH sump turnover. I had the valve for the return line closed back considerably and the skimmer valve open wide. I found it almost impossible to split the flow as I imagined originally...
I also found that the shared pump made it harder to keep my silent overflow balanced. With separate pumps I haven't adjusted my silent overflow setup in a number of weeks. Combined I was always twiddling with it (because as I adjusted the skimmer it would change the pressures in the system just enough to mess up the overflow balance)..
Do the penductors stir up the surface too much to have them shoot more straight across the tank?
My closed loop is 5000 GPH and the return is giving me 1000 GPH. I get some sand drifting around every now and then, but nothing like I'd expect I would have..
Tyler
rdmpe
New member
Hey Needy - thanks. The rock really is great, I'm just concerned that a lot of the better stuff will end up dying off while I'm setting things up...
Here's a shot of the tank I got the rock from. I basically got all of the livestock, rock and sand in this picture, plus a small refugium full of macro, LS and several mangroves. The seller thought it was about 100 lb of LR, but we didn't weight it... It has a lot of xenia on it, some pulsing and some long stem looking stuff. Don't know the names yet. Also got a bunch of sps frags "green slimer"? Have to look this stuff up. I've been so involved in the plumbing and stuff, that I haven't done much reading on livestock except in very general terms.
Again - this is not my tank, this is a shot of the LR and stuff that I bought when it was in it's original tank:
rjwilson - thanks! Glad to have you following along and any suggestions or comments will be appreciated!
Tyler - I see what you are saying about the single pump and balancing the flow. My skimmer doesn't create much backpressure, so that may help my situation a little bit. But I can see how it would be tricky with the balanced overflow drain.
As for the penductors, they may just work too well for my tank! I have one in each corner. They really aren't getting their optimum flow with my pump because there are four. My pump would be more ideal for three. Anyway, I have the two at one "side" pointing across the 6' tank length toward the corresponding penductor at the other end. So basically the flows meet at the middle of the front glass and the middle of the back glass (front and back being the 6' long pieces). Where the flows meet, they create a strong upwelling at the surface. This upwelling prevents anything on the surface at one end from getting to the other end. Since my overflow is on one end, I can't skim stuff off the surface of the other end! This was very obvious when the southdown sand was creating a lot of foam when first added. The foamy stuff at the opposite end from the overflow was just trapped over there. I think my CL returns were also adding to the problem a little bit. I've made some adjustments to the CL that should help, but I haven't tested it with the penductors in place yet. I also think the penductors are going to blow the sand clean from the middle of the tank.
So as far as the sand goes, I have a lot of flow tweaking to do still, which means a lot of sandstorms to deal with. This could go on for a while!
Here's a shot of the tank I got the rock from. I basically got all of the livestock, rock and sand in this picture, plus a small refugium full of macro, LS and several mangroves. The seller thought it was about 100 lb of LR, but we didn't weight it... It has a lot of xenia on it, some pulsing and some long stem looking stuff. Don't know the names yet. Also got a bunch of sps frags "green slimer"? Have to look this stuff up. I've been so involved in the plumbing and stuff, that I haven't done much reading on livestock except in very general terms.
Again - this is not my tank, this is a shot of the LR and stuff that I bought when it was in it's original tank:
rjwilson - thanks! Glad to have you following along and any suggestions or comments will be appreciated!
Tyler - I see what you are saying about the single pump and balancing the flow. My skimmer doesn't create much backpressure, so that may help my situation a little bit. But I can see how it would be tricky with the balanced overflow drain.
As for the penductors, they may just work too well for my tank! I have one in each corner. They really aren't getting their optimum flow with my pump because there are four. My pump would be more ideal for three. Anyway, I have the two at one "side" pointing across the 6' tank length toward the corresponding penductor at the other end. So basically the flows meet at the middle of the front glass and the middle of the back glass (front and back being the 6' long pieces). Where the flows meet, they create a strong upwelling at the surface. This upwelling prevents anything on the surface at one end from getting to the other end. Since my overflow is on one end, I can't skim stuff off the surface of the other end! This was very obvious when the southdown sand was creating a lot of foam when first added. The foamy stuff at the opposite end from the overflow was just trapped over there. I think my CL returns were also adding to the problem a little bit. I've made some adjustments to the CL that should help, but I haven't tested it with the penductors in place yet. I also think the penductors are going to blow the sand clean from the middle of the tank.
So as far as the sand goes, I have a lot of flow tweaking to do still, which means a lot of sandstorms to deal with. This could go on for a while!
tgunn
Active member
rdmpe said:Tyler - I see what you are saying about the single pump and balancing the flow. My skimmer doesn't create much backpressure, so that may help my situation a little bit. But I can see how it would be tricky with the balanced overflow drain.
As for the penductors, they may just work too well for my tank! I have one in each corner. They really aren't getting their optimum flow with my pump because there are four. My pump would be more ideal for three. Anyway, I have the two at one "side" pointing across the 6' tank length toward the corresponding penductor at the other end. So basically the flows meet at the middle of the front glass and the middle of the back glass (front and back being the 6' long pieces). Where the flows meet, they create a strong upwelling at the surface. This upwelling prevents anything on the surface at one end from getting to the other end. Since my overflow is on one end, I can't skim stuff off the surface of the other end! This was very obvious when the southdown sand was creating a lot of foam when first added. The foamy stuff at the opposite end from the overflow was just trapped over there. I think my CL returns were also adding to the problem a little bit. I've made some adjustments to the CL that should help, but I haven't tested it with the penductors in place yet. I also think the penductors are going to blow the sand clean from the middle of the tank.
So as far as the sand goes, I have a lot of flow tweaking to do still, which means a lot of sandstorms to deal with. This could go on for a while!
Could you perhaps lower the two by the overflow so that they're pushing water down the length of the tank in a stream "underneath" the streams going across the tank from the other two?
How does the skimmer you have produce bubbles? Is it a venturi type of deal?
The other issue I had with the combined pump was that when I wanted to clean my skimmer cup when I shut off the pump my overflow gurgle empty, and then take a good 5 minutes to become silent again once I started the system back up.
Is the flow without the penductors not sufficient?
Hearing how strong those penductors are I have a feeling I won't end up using them in my own tank.. Gotta experiment at least once, but I have a feeling it may be overkill for my 4 foot tank...
Tyler
rdmpe
New member
That is a possibility, I'm going to fiddle with that stuff once I can see into the tank more than one inch :lol:tgunn said:
The AquaC models have a nozzle that basically sprays a jet of water through an air gap then into the mixing chamber. It's similar to using a hose nozzle to create suds in a bucket of water for washing your car (although I never wash my car
). So it will create some backpressure, but I don't think it's much really.Ouch - I didn't even think about that. But I can stop my skimmer production by closing the air control valve. So the pump could remain on while I deal with the skimmate. I would only need to turn the pump off when I want to completely remove my skimmer from the sump for major cleaning - not very often I hope !!
I think the flow is still pretty good without the penductors if I'm just doing the sump return and a little bleed off for the fuge. But I would not be able to run the skimmer with the same pump I currently have on the sump, it would reduce flow to much I think. I would like the option of a little more flow. Right now the gate valve on my overflow drain into the sump is WAY choked down...
I think eventually I'll take the dart that I have on the CL and try it as a sump return/skimmer feed and see what happens. Then I can get a hammerhead for the CL
:lol:
tgunn
Active member
rdmpe said:That is a possibility, I'm going to fiddle with that stuff once I can see into the tank more than one inch :lol:
The AquaC models have a nozzle that basically sprays a jet of water through an air gap then into the mixing chamber. It's similar to using a hose nozzle to create suds in a bucket of water for washing your car (although I never wash my car
Ouch - I didn't even think about that. But I can stop my skimmer production by closing the air control valve. So the pump could remain on while I deal with the skimmate. I would only need to turn the pump off when I want to completely remove my skimmer from the sump for major cleaning - not very often I hope !!
I think the flow is still pretty good without the penductors if I'm just doing the sump return and a little bleed off for the fuge. But I would not be able to run the skimmer with the same pump I currently have on the sump, it would reduce flow to much I think. I would like the option of a little more flow. Right now the gate valve on my overflow drain into the sump is WAY choked down...
I think eventually I'll take the dart that I have on the CL and try it as a sump return/skimmer feed and see what happens. Then I can get a hammerhead for the CL
AH, okay, so not a true venturi, but in essence it pretty much is a venturi.
Similar principal.Okay, as long as you can easily clean the skimmer cup you should be good.
If you can give the dart a try on the return line, might as well give it a shot. I find the thing with all the head pressure calcs is that you never can really tell how something is REALLY going to work until you try it.
Heh, a hammerhead would make a kickin' closed loop!
Tyler
Kenfuzed
New member
In response to the messages we exchanged, you mentioned that you experienced cavitation back at the 3/4" pump outlet after removing the penductors. Your plumbing includes a step up to 1.5" PVC from the pump outlet to the tank, where it is reduced to 1" where it enters the manifolds.
I'm certainly no engineer but I have some ideas that might help the cavitation problem. I've noticed that when using pressure rated pumps that the plumbing will cavitate when running long lengths of oversized plumbing. some people cure this by adding ball valves. One cure I found on another system was to build a make-shift venturi just before the pipe exit(s) but well before entering the tank. This theory may explain why you had no cavitation when the penductors were installed, as they are themselves venturis. It's not so much back pressure as much as the ability to "suck" or scavenge a greater volume of water residing in the preceding plumbing.
My own personal theory is that the venturi when mated to a pressure pump will scavenge the larger pipe that lies between the tank and that reduced fitting on your pump outlet. Sort of like blowing through a long straw. If you then replace the middle portion of that straw with a large diameter pipe, your face would certainly cavitate trying to maintain flow over such a great volume. I've come across this same scenario while putting together exhaust systems for high torque/low RPM motorcycles. In either system, a venturi will help scavenge the oversized chamber (i.e. 1.5" pipe) and the pump will have to work less.
If you aren't going to use the penductors, try adding a reducer connected before the 1.5" split or inserting a bushing at that entry point. Because the pump is pressure rated I doubt you will lose any flow but instead pick up velocity. Just remember that the pump is expecting to push water through a 3/4" passage for up to 23 feet @ 9 psi. Increasing the pipe size on a pressure rated pump is like adding length (volume) for the pump to overcome. You may find that simply adding a short length of smaller diameter pipe is all it takes to help you pump perform better.
Just my own theory, hope it helps. Please don't flame me if my hairbrained theory falls apart. However I feel pretty confident that this should help cure your cavitation and heat problem... but don't hate me if it doesn't
I'm certainly no engineer but I have some ideas that might help the cavitation problem. I've noticed that when using pressure rated pumps that the plumbing will cavitate when running long lengths of oversized plumbing. some people cure this by adding ball valves. One cure I found on another system was to build a make-shift venturi just before the pipe exit(s) but well before entering the tank. This theory may explain why you had no cavitation when the penductors were installed, as they are themselves venturis. It's not so much back pressure as much as the ability to "suck" or scavenge a greater volume of water residing in the preceding plumbing.
My own personal theory is that the venturi when mated to a pressure pump will scavenge the larger pipe that lies between the tank and that reduced fitting on your pump outlet. Sort of like blowing through a long straw. If you then replace the middle portion of that straw with a large diameter pipe, your face would certainly cavitate trying to maintain flow over such a great volume. I've come across this same scenario while putting together exhaust systems for high torque/low RPM motorcycles. In either system, a venturi will help scavenge the oversized chamber (i.e. 1.5" pipe) and the pump will have to work less.
If you aren't going to use the penductors, try adding a reducer connected before the 1.5" split or inserting a bushing at that entry point. Because the pump is pressure rated I doubt you will lose any flow but instead pick up velocity. Just remember that the pump is expecting to push water through a 3/4" passage for up to 23 feet @ 9 psi. Increasing the pipe size on a pressure rated pump is like adding length (volume) for the pump to overcome. You may find that simply adding a short length of smaller diameter pipe is all it takes to help you pump perform better.
Just my own theory, hope it helps. Please don't flame me if my hairbrained theory falls apart. However I feel pretty confident that this should help cure your cavitation and heat problem... but don't hate me if it doesn't
TheCoralReef731
New member
nice. looks cool. I like all the plumbing.
rdmpe
New member
Thanks Kenfuzed - I may replace the 1.5" section with 1" and see what that does. That would be a fairly easy change.
Right now I have too many variables to think about though. I need to let the temperature stabilize with the dart and tarpon running, then shut one down and see what happens. Which means I probably need to shut the dart off and leave the tarpon on since it is the sump return. Some how or other, I need to figure out where this heat is coming from.
If I can't keep the tank temp down when there are no lights on it, I'm hosed when I hand the lights over it!
My problem lately is that I'm so busy at work! I was at work for 13 hours today
Doesn't leave much time for anything else.
Right now I have too many variables to think about though. I need to let the temperature stabilize with the dart and tarpon running, then shut one down and see what happens. Which means I probably need to shut the dart off and leave the tarpon on since it is the sump return. Some how or other, I need to figure out where this heat is coming from.
If I can't keep the tank temp down when there are no lights on it, I'm hosed when I hand the lights over it!
My problem lately is that I'm so busy at work! I was at work for 13 hours today
Doesn't leave much time for anything else.
rdmpe
New member
Well, I want to begin moving the remaining cleanup crew over to the main tank even though visibility is still at 2 inches. There will be more sand storms and temperature swings to come, will they be OK?
Another disturbing thing - my PH is down around 7.9. Before adding anything, the water only, it was at 8.3. After LR and sand for 48 hours, it's at 7.9. Any theories?
So if I put the snails and hermits in the main tank, I'll still have the bristle star and the clownfish. Can I go ahead and add the bristle star and clownfish? I can do the drip aclimation thing with some airline tubing . . .
I'm not sure if they are better off in their little tub or in the main tank.
Another disturbing thing - my PH is down around 7.9. Before adding anything, the water only, it was at 8.3. After LR and sand for 48 hours, it's at 7.9. Any theories?
So if I put the snails and hermits in the main tank, I'll still have the bristle star and the clownfish. Can I go ahead and add the bristle star and clownfish? I can do the drip aclimation thing with some airline tubing . . .
I'm not sure if they are better off in their little tub or in the main tank.
rdmpe
New member
Heat Heat and more Heat
Heat Heat and more Heat
With no lights on tank and only the Dart and Tarpon running (no heater, no powerheads, no skimmer) the tank is at 82 this morning. The room temp is around 76 to 77.
I'm thinking I'll let it stabilize with no changes, no lighting or other pumps etc. for a day or two, then I'll shut off the closed loop and see what the temperature does... I suspect it's the Tarpon sump pump not the dart, but who knows... and the dart on the closed loop is easier to shut down with less effects on the system. If I shut down the sump pump, I have to worry about heat and some circulation in the fuge. I also wonder if all that powder sized sand suspended in the water allows it to hold heat better???
Also - I don't have any fans blowing on the system at all. Still, I didn't expect this much heat with no lights...
Heat Heat and more Heat
With no lights on tank and only the Dart and Tarpon running (no heater, no powerheads, no skimmer) the tank is at 82 this morning. The room temp is around 76 to 77.
I'm thinking I'll let it stabilize with no changes, no lighting or other pumps etc. for a day or two, then I'll shut off the closed loop and see what the temperature does... I suspect it's the Tarpon sump pump not the dart, but who knows... and the dart on the closed loop is easier to shut down with less effects on the system. If I shut down the sump pump, I have to worry about heat and some circulation in the fuge. I also wonder if all that powder sized sand suspended in the water allows it to hold heat better???
Also - I don't have any fans blowing on the system at all. Still, I didn't expect this much heat with no lights...
tgunn
Active member
Hey Randy,
What is the temperature of your house right now? How warm does it inside your stand? Your pumps could be heating up the area inside the stand and transferring heat to the sump there..
Try feeling around the pumps while they're running to see if perhaps one is radiating heat to the sump (if it's right by the pump)..
My dart did tend to get a bit warm; though nowehere near as warm as my PCX-70s... My Seq 1000 is the coolest to the touch of all of them..
I'd personally hold off a few more days to let the murk clear a bit before adding any fish to the tank. The snails and what not are probably fine though... The snails are likely quite hardy and resistant to the swings. I bought my sump used; we disconnected it from the previous owners system, hauled it outside and hosed it out with a garden hose... Once home I found a few snails in the dried out sump.. They got tossed in my rock cooking tub and survived fine...
Tyler
What is the temperature of your house right now? How warm does it inside your stand? Your pumps could be heating up the area inside the stand and transferring heat to the sump there..
Try feeling around the pumps while they're running to see if perhaps one is radiating heat to the sump (if it's right by the pump)..
My dart did tend to get a bit warm; though nowehere near as warm as my PCX-70s... My Seq 1000 is the coolest to the touch of all of them..
I'd personally hold off a few more days to let the murk clear a bit before adding any fish to the tank. The snails and what not are probably fine though... The snails are likely quite hardy and resistant to the swings. I bought my sump used; we disconnected it from the previous owners system, hauled it outside and hosed it out with a garden hose... Once home I found a few snails in the dried out sump.. They got tossed in my rock cooking tub and survived fine...
Tyler
- Status
