Starting 90g Reef Tank Build... Finally!!!

[Tswifty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12984839#post12984839 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kudora
umm capn i would head to home depot now and call frosty rofl


kuds list of things to do: find a reef buddy like frosty

:lol:

Haha... it sure makes things A LOT easier :lol:

 

[Tswifty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12985010#post12985010 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 2frosty4u
When I added my RBTA she did the same thing. She would go into the rocks at lights out and reappear when the lights came back on. She did that for about a week and then must have felt secure enough to stay out full time.
After a month she split and now I have two side by side.

Yeah I'm not worried right now. Kevin had quite a few nems housed throughout his various tanks, and most were situated in a sort of shady area. I tried to place it in a similiar location in my tank.

I was just worried about him getting comfortable, because of all the vermetid snails that are all over the rocks in my tank. I thought that may cause some discomfort while he tries to attatch, but so far so good.

 

[2frosty4u]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12985005#post12985005 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tswifty8
That's the easiest system to put together. I actually was planning on a gravity feed system with a float valve initially. It only cost like $15 all together.

I just had some concerns about it failing, because it would be hooked to a large reservoir in my living room.

If I had my sump in my basement though, I probably would have given it a shot.

I used a 5 gallon water bottle that I drilled and tapped for a john guest fitting to attach the 1/4" tubing. If the float fails it can only add a max of 5g's to my system which is peanuts since all my tanks share a common sump and my total water volume is 275 gallons. My sump can easily hold the extra 5 g's if it happens and would have minimal effect on Salinity levels. I have a 12 volt bilge pump that goes into my 50 gallon RO barrel that I use to to top off the water bottle at the flick of a switch as required.

 

[2frosty4u]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12985028#post12985028 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tswifty8
Yeah I'm not worried right now. Kevin had quite a few nems housed throughout his various tanks, and most were situated in a sort of shady area. I tried to place it in a similiar location in my tank.

I was just worried about him getting comfortable, because of all the vermetid snails that are all over the rocks in my tank. I thought that may cause some discomfort while he tries to attatch, but so far so good.

I placed mine in a shady area as well when she first entered the tank. She stayed there for about 2 weeks and then decided to go on a road trip. She ended up near the top of my live rock island at the right rear corner where she split 2 weeks later. They both seem to love the light now from my twin 250W MH's and haven't moved since.

 

[2frosty4u]

Hey Tswifty8, I see you're in Ohio and I'm taking a four day trip To Erie Pa in 2 weeks and was wondering if you live near there and could aim towards any Marine LFS's in that area that might be worth visiting? Scott mentioned yesterday the name of your hometown but I'm having a hard time remembering what he said. It began with a C I think.

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12984839#post12984839 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kudora
umm capn i would head to home depot now and call frosty rofl


kuds list of things to do: find a reef buddy like frosty

:lol:

you got that right---Harold is true friend through and through

The best thing we have going is we babysit each others tanks when one or the other is away

He is also one of the most creative diy guys I know--so you guys are really lucky he decided to join us (finally

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12985151#post12985151 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 2frosty4u
Hey Tswifty8, I see you're in Ohio and I'm taking a four day trip To Erie Pa in 2 weeks and was wondering if you live near there and could aim towards any Marine LFS's in that area that might be worth visiting? Scott mentioned yesterday the name of your hometown but I'm having a hard time remembering what he said. It began with a C I think.

That would have been Columbus but I think he is 4 hours from there.

12 posts to go and you can add your own avitar

 

[kar93]

Capn, How are things doing - skimmer wise today?

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12985210#post12985210 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kar93
Capn, How are things doing - skimmer wise today?

its firing on one cyclinder(pump) and I am getting skimmate in the neck column but it is not coming out the top into the collector yet.

I called "the company" yesterday for a new impeler but as usual no response from them.

2frosty4u brought the one he had epoxyed last night but it broke again soon as it was installed.

I have three fish waiting to go in the display tank but they will have to wait for the skimmer to be working properly

Speaking of the 30 gal that the fish are in. I burned out my third power head using the Remora skimmer. I was going to take off the internal overflow when I disturbed the 30 gal to get the fish out----they should not sell that internval oveflow with that unit---if you have a little more evaporation that day and are not right on it --the power head pumps dry and its toast. It also causes a major backup of organics on the surface of the water looking like a oil tanker slick

 

[Tswifty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12985151#post12985151 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 2frosty4u
Hey Tswifty8, I see you're in Ohio and I'm taking a four day trip To Erie Pa in 2 weeks and was wondering if you live near there and could aim towards any Marine LFS's in that area that might be worth visiting? Scott mentioned yesterday the name of your hometown but I'm having a hard time remembering what he said. It began with a C I think.

I'm in Canton, OH

There a few good fish stores up around that area I believe.

Salty Critter - Vermilion, OH
Aquatic Technology - Columbia Station, OH

I try and go to Salty Critter once a month, (Laura and I are actually headed there in a little), but have never been to Aquatic Technology yet. I belive there are also a few more up around that area, but will have to ask in the C-Sea forum to get a for better answer.

 

[Tswifty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12985190#post12985190 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by capn_hylinur
That would have been Columbus but I think he is 4 hours from there.

12 posts to go and you can add your own avitar

I believe Rae is located near Columbus.

There are also supposed to be a few good stores down that way.

 

[2frosty4u]

I did a search last night on the epoxy companies website and I made an error on cure time. I thought it was eight hours but found out functional cure time was 24 hours. So I guess we rushed it a bit. I cleaned the impellar again last night and re-epoxied it and am giving it till tomorrow before I try and reinstall it into Scott's Skimmer.

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12985275#post12985275 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tswifty8
I believe Rae is located near Columbus.

There are also supposed to be a few good stores down that way.

okay then its Rae that is 4 hours from Columbus--Cincinatti

 

[Tswifty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12985241#post12985241 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by capn_hylinur
its firing on one cyclinder(pump) and I am getting skimmate in the neck column but it is not coming out the top into the collector yet.

I called "the company" yesterday for a new impeler but as usual no response from them.

2frosty4u brought the one he had epoxyed last night but it broke again soon as it was installed.

I have three fish waiting to go in the display tank but they will have to wait for the skimmer to be working properly

Speaking of the 30 gal that the fish are in. I burned out my third power head using the Remora skimmer. I was going to take off the internal overflow when I disturbed the 30 gal to get the fish out----they should not sell that internval oveflow with that unit---if you have a little more evaporation that day and are not right on it --the power head pumps dry and its toast. It also causes a major backup of organics on the surface of the water looking like a oil tanker slick

With regards to your remora... how close is the powerhead to the surface? I've never even come close to my pump running dry?

As far as the MSX... I really am astonished at all the issues you are having.

 

[Tswifty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12985296#post12985296 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by capn_hylinur
okay then its Rae that is 4 hours from Columbus--Cincinatti

Oh yeah that's where she's from... Cincy.

 

[2frosty4u]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12985270#post12985270 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tswifty8
I'm in Canton, OH

There a few good fish stores up around that area I believe.

Salty Critter - Vermilion, OH
Aquatic Technology - Columbia Station, OH

Thanks for the info. I did a quick search on mapquest and found that the both places are between 135 and 150 miles of where we are going to stay. I don't think my wife and children would appreciate a drive like that round trip so I could go fishing for reef supplies. Scott and I are lucky that we have quite a few excellent Marine suppliers within a 50 mile radius of our hometown with truly exceptional pricing in comparison to some of the LFS's I've visited in NY State. I've done some searches for the Erie area LFS's, but it's like looking for a needle in a haystack.

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12985297#post12985297 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tswifty8
With regards to your remora... how close is the powerhead to the surface? I've never even come close to my pump running dry?

As far as the MSX... I really am astonished at all the issues you are having.

its not that---the internal overflow has to be high up in that particular tank---so if I I go through a gal in evaporation that day the water level is below the overflow and the power head inside pumps dry.
I know the fix is not to run it. However that tank needs a new sand bed and there is alot of reef rock in there for catching a tang

I have to remove the HOB, the phosphate reactor, the internal overflow, the heater and some of the live rock to catch the cbb, and powder blue.
I thought at this point it would be good to change the substrate and run the remora without the overflow

 

[Tswifty]

FTS from today. I moved the brain coral to the back of the tank, and onto a rock. It opened up HUGE, as you can see in the picture :lol:

 

[kudora]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12985385#post12985385 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by capn_hylinur
its not that---the internal overflow has to be high up in that particular tank---so if I I go through a gal in evaporation that day the water level is below the overflow and the power head inside pumps dry.
I know the fix is not to run it. However that tank needs a new sand bed and there is alot of reef rock in there for catching a tang

I have to remove the HOB, the phosphate reactor, the internal overflow, the heater and some of the live rock to catch the cbb, and powder blue.
I thought at this point it would be good to change the substrate and run the remora without the overflow

just remove the overflow box capn, i run mine with out it.

 

[kudora]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12985489#post12985489 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tswifty8
FTS from today. I moved the brain coral to the back of the tank, and onto a rock. It opened up HUGE, as you can see in the picture :lol:

looks great swift, i should send you some of my coralline i have everywere lol i am going to clean one of the K3s today for sure since it completely purple.