IBroughtPopcorn
New member
First let me start by saying hello and thanks for taking the time to read and or help with my issues. Before my 29 Bio Cube completed its cycle (about a year ago), I came to the realization that I needed another tank, a bigger tank! I started searching for ideas and equipment and after several months, I had enough of the essential equipment to get my new/used 220 gallon Oceanic tank started. I hoped to have my new tank cycling by January 1st 2017, but I took my time and bleached, then acid washed, then RODI soaked the rock. I bought new sand, 120 lbs of aragonite and 80lbs of live sand. I first constructed the rockscape and then put in the sand. After both rock and sand where in place the way that I liked, I began filling with salt water. I put in the appropriate amount of bacteria in a bottle (SmartStart) and enough NH4Cl to bring the Ammonia to 4ppm. Two days later I wake up to find one of my wave makers laying on the bottom of the tank running. It pushed the 3"-4" sand bed to the other side of the tank. After a day or so the dust settled and the tank is clear again. So now onto the few issues that I need advice on.
1) There is sand dust every where in my tank, sump, and equipment. Would it be better to vacuum the sand out of my sump, or use a hose from my manifold to blow the sand around so it suspends in the water column with hopes to settle back into the display tank? Or is there any other ideas? Should I just leave it alone?
2) I put the live sand in last and I only used 40 lbs of the live sand in the DT. I do not want a DSB so I still have a bag of live sand. Should I put the sand in my sump? If so that raises another issue. I have a 55 gallon sump by ART. It has three chambers. First, is a small 4"-5" wide chamber that the water drains to. I filled it with large rubble. Then in the second larger chamber I have the skimmer. In between the 2nd and 3rd chamber is the sponge to remove bubbles. The third (large) chamber is where my return pump, heaters, and marine pure blocks are. Where should I put the sand? I am open to rearrange my current setup.
3) I have 2 jebao pp20s and 2 pp4. Its 3/4" glass and only one pp20 fell. What I have done is took a really strong rare earth magnet and rub it against the magnet that sets on the outside of the glass. The wave maker has been on and running since then without falling, but I don't want to keep checking my apex camera all day while I am at work just to make sure the dang thing hasn't fallen again. What else can I do about the magnets on the wave maker?
4) I did not think to shut off the skimmer and I ended up with about 1 1/4 inches of tan mud in my skimmer cup. I cleaned the cup and neck and now have my skimmer off. Luckily I did not have the UV sterilizer or Calcium reactor running yet. No need for the UV sterilizer to run now because I read it will kill the live bacteria. Should I do anything else with my equipment? Should I turn the skimmer back on?
If you made it this far, thank you and I am sorry for the long post, but I need some advice as I am not sure what to do and I have not found answers on RC.
1) There is sand dust every where in my tank, sump, and equipment. Would it be better to vacuum the sand out of my sump, or use a hose from my manifold to blow the sand around so it suspends in the water column with hopes to settle back into the display tank? Or is there any other ideas? Should I just leave it alone?
2) I put the live sand in last and I only used 40 lbs of the live sand in the DT. I do not want a DSB so I still have a bag of live sand. Should I put the sand in my sump? If so that raises another issue. I have a 55 gallon sump by ART. It has three chambers. First, is a small 4"-5" wide chamber that the water drains to. I filled it with large rubble. Then in the second larger chamber I have the skimmer. In between the 2nd and 3rd chamber is the sponge to remove bubbles. The third (large) chamber is where my return pump, heaters, and marine pure blocks are. Where should I put the sand? I am open to rearrange my current setup.
3) I have 2 jebao pp20s and 2 pp4. Its 3/4" glass and only one pp20 fell. What I have done is took a really strong rare earth magnet and rub it against the magnet that sets on the outside of the glass. The wave maker has been on and running since then without falling, but I don't want to keep checking my apex camera all day while I am at work just to make sure the dang thing hasn't fallen again. What else can I do about the magnets on the wave maker?
4) I did not think to shut off the skimmer and I ended up with about 1 1/4 inches of tan mud in my skimmer cup. I cleaned the cup and neck and now have my skimmer off. Luckily I did not have the UV sterilizer or Calcium reactor running yet. No need for the UV sterilizer to run now because I read it will kill the live bacteria. Should I do anything else with my equipment? Should I turn the skimmer back on?
If you made it this far, thank you and I am sorry for the long post, but I need some advice as I am not sure what to do and I have not found answers on RC.
