tank is up and running *pics included*

[Yinger]

After spending this weekend going back and forth to Home Depot and a couple trips to the LFS with 10 jugs of water each time... my tank is up and running. Need some more sand and putty to glue the rocks. The white stuff is aquamend... you can get it at HD for 3 bucks a tube.

pic of the sump/fuge.

return/drain

initial aquascape

Right side view

Left side

 

[jeffreylam1132]

Looking good, Yinger. Are you using aquamend to glue the rocks inside your display tank? Very interesting method I would say and would love to know more about it.

 

[Yinger]

thanks! Yup, I'm using aquamend to putty the rocks together. You just pull some off the tube, roll it around till it turns white and apply it to the section your trying to glue together. basically you just want to use it around a piece that isn't too stable. It'll turn purple once coralline grows all over it.

 

[NicoleC]

Congrats -- you have water!

You don't want to hear this now, but you really want some space behind your rock to improve circulation and cut down on dead spots where detritus collects.

Like what you did with the sump and the pod farm. Roomy to work with and space for more stuff. My only suggested modification would be to get the skimmer pump fed with as much raw water from the overflow as possible. In that big of a chamber, it's not optimal. If your overflow feeds into small chamber where the skimmer pump is (acrylic box, bucket, whatever) you'll get more surface proteins into the skimmer to be, er, skimmed out.

Is that a filter sock *right by* the return bulkhead? (Or maybe it's to the chiller?) If so, disaster waiting to happen. Get something between them that the filter sock can't possibly cover up 100%, even if it comes loose. Maybe a box of eggcrate.

 

[Yinger]

Thanks Nicole! took me 22 jugs to fill up the tank haha... Do you mean spacing on the sides of the tank or the back? I'll see what I can do to free up some space back there. I need to get some more putty first though so the rocks are secured.

I'll readjust the drain so it drains closer to the skimmer pump.

Hmm... i never thought about that. I'll look into getting a box around that strainer for the return. Thanks again!

Oh yeh, i fixed the stand problem. I spoke with some people at Jeff's and they suggested wood shims between the gap... so I went out and bought some and shimmed up around the back so it sits flat everywhere now.

 

[migston]

Cool setup although what's with all the rocks in your fuge? Are you not planning to grow macroalgae in there? Or is that your bubble trap?

 

[NicoleC]

The shims are under the WOOD or the bottom of the stand, not directly under the tank, right?

On the space/flow thing, sides and back. Without some space between the rocks and the back wall, the water movement gets blocked and diminished in a lots of places, and then you spend a fortune on Tunze's and stuff to increase the flow. If you open up the aquascaping a bit, the water gets a chance to move around.

 

[Jar*Head]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7636190#post7636190 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NicoleC
Congrats -- you have water!

You don't want to hear this now, but you really want some space behind your rock to improve circulation and cut down on dead spots where detritus collects.

Like what you did with the sump and the pod farm. Roomy to work with and space for more stuff. My only suggested modification would be to get the skimmer pump fed with as much raw water from the overflow as possible. In that big of a chamber, it's not optimal. If your overflow feeds into small chamber where the skimmer pump is (acrylic box, bucket, whatever) you'll get more surface proteins into the skimmer to be, er, skimmed out.

Is that a filter sock *right by* the return bulkhead? (Or maybe it's to the chiller?) If so, disaster waiting to happen. Get something between them that the filter sock can't possibly cover up 100%, even if it comes loose. Maybe a box of eggcrate.

I agree with Jen. You need some cave and the back should be somewhat open to get the flow through the rock. I am picking up my tank in two weeks. Want to give me a hand? I want to glue the rock together since i have tons of flow, i don't want anythng to fall.

 

[Yinger]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7636872#post7636872 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NicoleC
The shims are under the WOOD or the bottom of the stand, not directly under the tank, right?

On the space/flow thing, sides and back. Without some space between the rocks and the back wall, the water movement gets blocked and diminished in a lots of places, and then you spend a fortune on Tunze's and stuff to increase the flow. If you open up the aquascaping a bit, the water gets a chance to move around.

yup, nothing underneath the glass at all. i removed the stryofoam and everything so its between the frame and the stand. I will try to reacquascape it today to give some room in the back so there's flow back there too. Thanks for the info.

 

[Yinger]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7637179#post7637179 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by REEFER714
I agree with Jen. You need some cave and the back should be somewhat open to get the flow through the rock. I am picking up my tank in two weeks. Want to give me a hand? I want to glue the rock together since i have tons of flow, i don't want anythng to fall.

haha, what size tank? all glass? let me know, I'll stop by.

 

[DRC69]

Is that an Eheim for your return??? Whats your turn-over rate????
The drain setup is unusual. Part machanical and part not.
Clean water first. I think I would run ALL the water though the sock first.
Just my opinion.

 

[Yinger]

that's right, eheim 1262 for the return. Turnover is probably around 3x-5x for the sump which is right where it should be. what do you mean by part mechanical and part not? Oh yeh, and the pic was taken right after aquascaping so that's why the water was murky.

migston: Its live rock rubble and I will be adding chaeto later and taking out some of that rubble as well.

 

[DRC69]

The drain. Half to the sock and half to the rubble. Which means a portion of (dirty) water to the sump. I would want to keep my sump as clean as possible of any additional build-up of debris. There is going to be plenty already in the tank to keep-up with.
Just my opinion.

 

[Yinger]

oh okay, my idea was since its going ot be a pod farm... i want the unfiltered debris to fall in there for them to clean up. I can always put a filter sock on there if needed, but we'll see once everything is up and running.

 

[818]

I agree with everyone but he has a center overflow. So shooting a powerhead will be a waste since it will only blow up untill it hits the overflow. Youd have to waste 2 powerheads just for a simple task.

If there is any possible way for you to tweak your returns and shoot behind the rocks that would be sweet, definatley leave some room behind the tank. Youll thank all of us a thousand times later.

Sam

 

[noschmo]

Good looking set up and the little poochie is cute too!