Still a Newbie

[boydx6]

Well I thought I was starting to get the hang of this tank and was reminded that I am still a beginner! I have been having heat issues since I put the sump in the garage. I have been adding fans, adjusting the time on the lights, hooking up my chiller etc...

Come to find out, the temp probe was near the surface in one of the overflows and was partially out of the water. (I had it at the bottom of the overflow when I set up the tank) I would get temp readings around 82-83 soon after the lights came on.

I was looking for my neon goby and red-lipped blenny and noticed the temp probe was at the surface. (I found the fish, one in each overflow.) I moved the probe to the display and the probe read 78 degrees.

What I learned, check the probe before you start making changes to your tank to correct temperature problems! Fortunately I already had all of the added equipment. It would have been a very expensive lesson otherwise.

 

[GlassReef]

Harmless lessons learned are almost always the best kind.

 

[CMcNeil]

so i can assume you moved the temp probe to a better spot then?

 

[boydx6]

It is in the display for now so I can easily see it. I will probably move it to the sump soon.

 

[kingnai]

Rookie

 

[SoundsFishy2me2]

I've been a Rookie for more then 10 years, seems I learn something new all the time. Glad to hear you cought it before it was a greater issue!

 

[mflamb]

Gee whiz...newbies....what will they think of next???

 

[Reefman79]

LOL ^

 

[mflamb]

I'll give you my newbie stunt from yesterday. I turned on the return pump on the 300 and like a newbie, I started "adjusting" the loc-lines on the return, and tried to twist one of them too far, and it snapped off of the screw in fitting. So I'm standing on a salt bucket trying to keep water from going everywhere. Finally, I just let the water spray and grab the pump cord and unplug it.

 

[LuisC]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14066358#post14066358 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mflamb
I'll give you my newbie stunt from yesterday. I turned on the return pump on the 300 and like a newbie, I started "adjusting" the loc-lines on the return, and tried to twist one of them too far, and it snapped off of the screw in fitting. So I'm standing on a salt bucket trying to keep water from going everywhere. Finally, I just let the water spray and grab the pump cord and unplug it.

LOL, I did the same thing. I had a flood in my living room in no time ..

 

[screamincamaro]

I have one for you from earlier in the year. I bought a RO/DI (for the first time) that was supposed to be good for 75 gal/day. For the life of me I could not figure out why i was not able to get 20gal/day out of it and it was dumping so much water in the drain.

Four months later I posted and someone enlightened me that there is a valve that allows you to back flush the RO. I think it might of been mflamb......I closed the valve and it worked perfect.

Man did I feel like a dope. LOL

 

[reefrubble]

I've had salt water tanks on , and off for 37 years , and I'm still a newbie . May be I'm just dumb , because I still screw things up , from time to time . I don't want to think about how many times I have flooded the house .

Ted

 

[NONNA58]

I would just love to be able to do a water change by myself but cannot because I have to stand on a chair to reach into the tank. I tried to do it twice and both times the tube came out of the bucket and flooded the floor, then I jump down to get it and fall on my butt across the floor.

 

[boydx6]

Sue, pull the water out of the sump instead of the display. (no stools involved)

 

[shibumi]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14068954#post14068954 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by boydx6
Sue, pull the water out of the sump instead of the display. (no stools involved)

+1 and a christmas wireless switch.

 

[mflamb]

I have another one from today. Joe and Adam came over to help aquascape the 300. I took off the return manifold at the union on the far right pipe.

After we put the rock in, I plugged in the return pump. The pump is very near the corner of the tank with the union. Well.....the return manifold was still on the floor and that darn Dart pump.....well it looked like old faithful going off.

 

[NONNA58]

OMG Mike! Russ would have killed me. Stephen, If I could reach the sand bed from the sump I would have no problem using the sump to do the water change. Remember, I go in to my sand bed when I do a water change...

 

[mflamb]

Joe laughed for an hour!!!!!!!

 

[boydx6]

Sue,
You can still clean the sandbed without doing a water change. Just run the hose into a filter sock and take your time sifting sand. Put a clamp on it so it stays put.

 

[usfpaul82]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14071938#post14071938 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by boydx6
Sue,
You can still clean the sandbed without doing a water change. Just run the hose into a filter sock and take your time sifting sand. Put a clamp on it so it stays put.

why can't I ever think of this stuff????