ZeeSparrow
New member
I didn't use tape on my bulkheads. >< Should I? (Mine are drain lines only; return is over the back.)
Please provide a link to your build thread when you start it!
ZeeSparrow's 75G LPS tank build
- Thread starter ZeeSparrow
- Start date
I didn't use tape on my bulkheads. >< Should I? (Mine are drain lines only; return is over the back.)
Please provide a link to your build thread when you start it!
Scubareefman
New member
Great build man, looks like a sweat setup. I like the sump , I may copy it in my next build. what brand ATO did you go with? I'm in the market for one but on a budget of less then $150.
ZeeSparrow
New member
Thanks! My ATO is the Tunze Osmolator. A bit more than your budget but great reviews. So easy to set up. The peace of mind is worth the cost for me.
mmittlesteadt
New member
I'm just running a gravity fed 5 gallon pail with an Eshopps float valve. But...I have failsafe's built in that take care of typical problems associated with manual float valves. I have about $35 stuck into my ATO.
By the way Zee...I'm filling my tank with RO/DI water right now! Watching paint dry is faster. LOL.
By the way Zee...I'm filling my tank with RO/DI water right now! Watching paint dry is faster. LOL.
ZeeSparrow
New member
Woo hoo! Just wait until you're looking at the rocks trying to figure out if that thing that's moving around in the rock is life or just fuzz. LOL
mmittlesteadt
New member
You know my sump is about 2/3rd's full and the rock in my refugium is sitting in water and I think I do see life on it already!
No, wait...it's just lint. How did that get in there? LOL.
I'm actually looking forward to just letting it be and chilling out while it cycles. It's been kind of a long, drawn out venture and just seeing water flow would make me feel like I achieved something great.
How is yours doing? Did you get your lights yet?
ZeeSparrow
New member
Lights arrive next Wednesday. I do have PCs on it from my old planted tank but that's just for a little algae supplement for the CUC. We're out of town for now so will check in again Sunday night.
ZeeSparrow
New member
Looking for opinions.
I am planning to add a CUC as soon as I have something for them to eat... hopefully this weekend, though may be another week longer. Should I continue to add ammonia in the meantime or is that not necessary?
I've been raising ammonia to 1-2ppm and it drops to 0 the next day, with 0 nitrites as well. Last time I added any was on Friday before we went out of town. Nitrates were over 40 at that time. I will test again tonight. I'm planning to do a 10-15% water change later this week... or should that be larger to drop nitrates more before adding CUC?
I am planning to add a CUC as soon as I have something for them to eat... hopefully this weekend, though may be another week longer. Should I continue to add ammonia in the meantime or is that not necessary?
I've been raising ammonia to 1-2ppm and it drops to 0 the next day, with 0 nitrites as well. Last time I added any was on Friday before we went out of town. Nitrates were over 40 at that time. I will test again tonight. I'm planning to do a 10-15% water change later this week... or should that be larger to drop nitrates more before adding CUC?
mmittlesteadt
New member
I don't think nitrates are going to hurt the CUC.
You could just ghost feed a little to keep things going along in the meantime.
You have a refugium, right? If you have nitrates, now would be a good time to put some chaeto in there. Macro algae loves nitrates and phosphates.
You could just ghost feed a little to keep things going along in the meantime.
You have a refugium, right? If you have nitrates, now would be a good time to put some chaeto in there. Macro algae loves nitrates and phosphates.
ZeeSparrow
New member
Nitrates (within reason) aren't an issue for CUC? Huh. Interesting.
Ghost feed. I can do that.
Technically, I have a place for a fuge. A little live rock in there now, but no chaeto or light. Forgot about that.... will do!
Ghost feed. I can do that.
Technically, I have a place for a fuge. A little live rock in there now, but no chaeto or light. Forgot about that.... will do!
mmittlesteadt
New member
I'm just using a cheap clamp light fixture with a cheap 6000k CFL floodlight in my refugium. I only turn it on when I'm working with my sump for now. Once I have chaeto I'm going to have it on a timer and run it opposite of the display lights.
Do NOT get caulerpa. That is not the kind of macro algae you want as it is very invasive.
Nitrates are the least toxic form, with nitrites right behind it. Ammonia is the killer in reef/fish tanks. Even Nitrite is not usually fatal for saltwater fish. Of course, if you have high nitrate, it will cause algae outbreaks, but macro algae will compete with that for a food source. It will also compete with other unwanted algae for phosphates.
My plan is that once my tank is cycled, I'm going to continue to ghost feed until I see the beginning of an algae bloom and/or diatoms (whichever happens first). Then I'll add a CUC to my display and some chaeto to my fuge at the same time. I am currently running my skimmer, but purposely not dialing it in to skim. Right now it is just aerating the first chamber in my sump.
Do NOT get caulerpa. That is not the kind of macro algae you want as it is very invasive.
Nitrates are the least toxic form, with nitrites right behind it. Ammonia is the killer in reef/fish tanks. Even Nitrite is not usually fatal for saltwater fish. Of course, if you have high nitrate, it will cause algae outbreaks, but macro algae will compete with that for a food source. It will also compete with other unwanted algae for phosphates.
My plan is that once my tank is cycled, I'm going to continue to ghost feed until I see the beginning of an algae bloom and/or diatoms (whichever happens first). Then I'll add a CUC to my display and some chaeto to my fuge at the same time. I am currently running my skimmer, but purposely not dialing it in to skim. Right now it is just aerating the first chamber in my sump.
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ZeeSparrow
New member
Exactly what I am planning as well.
And then there was light!
And then there was light!
mmittlesteadt
New member
Exactly what I am planning as well.
And then there was light!
That is really nice! I walk past a 75 gallon tank every day at work, and it is one of my favorite sized tanks. Not too big, but a great footprint for a reef tank. It's basically the same as my 40 Breeder but a foot longer. Very, very cool. I bet you are really getting impatient to add things to it now huh?
Mine is now starting in on the cycling process. I just dosed some pure ammonia (3ppm) last night and because I'm using all dry rock in mine I added Seachem's Stability to kick start the biofilter. I do want to add a bit of live rock to my sump soon though too. So I'm just a bit behind you.
Noticed your circulation pumps. The right one looks to be towards the back and the left one looks more towards the front. That should produce a very good gyre effect, keeping the flow going in a circular motion around your rockwork (which is already nice and open).
Also noticed you have a heater in the display tank. I have three heaters in my sump (one in each chamber) but none in my display tank. The temps are at 78 degrees in both my sump and my display tank. I'm thinking you could just keep the heater in your sump so you don't have to see it in the display. Just a thought.
ZeeSparrow
New member
It's very difficult to wait to add stock. Very difficult. Luckily for me, one LFS isn't open on Monday or Tuesday and the (new) LFS closed until its Grand Opening on Friday so I have no choice but to wait. Though I must admit to stopping in to another place last night hoping they'd have some chaeto or maybe a snail. No such luck. No point in going there again!
I need to do a little repositioning with my PH now that the sand has settled down as I have some bare spots in the right corners. As for the heater, that was placed in there when I was setting up the rocks and didn't have circulation to the sump. Now that I do, I intend to move it to the sump as you have. I have one in the bubble trap and will put this one into the fuge.
Tonight I'll do a small WC and take care of those things. May also rearrange my power cords as they're still a mess.
mmittlesteadt
New member
I think your circulation pumps are pretty close to ideal for a gyre. The one on the left maybe could come towards the front more.
If you wanted to, you could move it forward and lower, but point it more up. Then you could point the one on the right (leaving it where it is) and point it down a little.
What that will do is create a gyre that goes around your rockwork, but also kind of a up/down and down/up as the water flows around the rock.
I've been reading a lot about circulation and came across an excellent article on water flow...Water Flow
If you wanted to, you could move it forward and lower, but point it more up. Then you could point the one on the right (leaving it where it is) and point it down a little.
What that will do is create a gyre that goes around your rockwork, but also kind of a up/down and down/up as the water flows around the rock.
I've been reading a lot about circulation and came across an excellent article on water flow...Water Flow
ZeeSparrow
New member
I made a couple changes tonight. Moved the heater to the sump, the pump on the left a bit forward and tilted up, and rearranged the rocks on the right. Again. It's stable now so I will leave it alone. I'll get a new picture of it once it's cleared up again.
Also did a small water change. Not enough to really make a difference but didn't have enough water to do a larger one. I want to bring nitrates down under 20 this weekend with another water change. Hopefully the LFS will have chaeto so I can let that soak up more of it.
Also did a small water change. Not enough to really make a difference but didn't have enough water to do a larger one. I want to bring nitrates down under 20 this weekend with another water change. Hopefully the LFS will have chaeto so I can let that soak up more of it.
mmittlesteadt
New member
Cool. Can't wait to see the pics.
If you find you really do need a heater in the display tank, a lot of people put them in their overflow. Word of caution if you do that...make sure that if the power goes out and the tank drains down to your lowest drain bulkhead (your main drain on the Herbie) that your heater is still under water. I can't do that as my main drain sits too low.
If you find you really do need a heater in the display tank, a lot of people put them in their overflow. Word of caution if you do that...make sure that if the power goes out and the tank drains down to your lowest drain bulkhead (your main drain on the Herbie) that your heater is still under water. I can't do that as my main drain sits too low.
ZeeSparrow
New member
ZeeSparrow's 75G LPS tank build
If I do need a heater in the display then I'll just put it in back. Lower and hopefully behind the rocks.
Here are some pictures of the new scape.
If I do need a heater in the display then I'll just put it in back. Lower and hopefully behind the rocks.
Here are some pictures of the new scape.
