Derbird Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 Well new tank new thread (laugh) I have been scrubbing and scrubbing making my new tank look as good as possible. The coriline algae in the lower tanks that no one will see of course came off a lot easier than in the main thank but I'm pretty pleased with how it is all looking so far. Here is what I have put together at this point Don't look at the messy living room (whistle) I still have to play with the plumbing, a trip to ace hardware for plumbers tape. It is coming along nicely. Lighting is still needed for this tank. I don't think my original idea of T-5 lighting my be appropriate for this tank. I was thinking of maybe metal hydrite lights. Any thoughts? Do they really cost that much to run? Would that be the best for the cost, I am soooo broke. My plan at this point is softies and LPS but want to be able to change it up in the future. I'm so excited this is going to be a killer tank! (dancing) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stylaster Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 great pickup! I love my 120 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoobtoSalt Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 Wow. Looks great. The only thing I would change is where you have your return from the fuge. Place it in the same area as the return (last chamber) that way once you get it going all of the pods will go into the tank. Looking great though. And my wife loves having her car back in the garage. Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derbird Posted October 17, 2011 Author Share Posted October 17, 2011 great pickup! I love my 120 So far I have to agree, I love the dimentions to 72 X 18 X 20 perfiect for swimmers, I see tangs in my future (laugh) Wow. Looks great. The only thing I would change is where you have your return from the fuge. Place it in the same area as the return (last chamber) that way once you get it going all of the pods will go into the tank. Looking great though. And my wife loves having her car back in the garage. Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk Belive me its my pleasure to clear some space for you. Good thought on the fuge return I will change that out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derbird Posted October 18, 2011 Author Share Posted October 18, 2011 (sad)(sad)ARGGGG, I have a leak(sad)(sad) Well I moved every thing around broke down the 75, moved all critters to a temp tank. Every thing was going to plan until I turned on the return pump. It had a drip drip leak (sad). I battled with the PVC nut on the back but was unable to take it off, that teaches me to sinch it down. I turned off the valves to and from the pump and will have to get a wrench for it tomorrow. I live in St Helens and every thing but McDonalds and the bars close by 10. On the bright side every thing else worked great the part I was afraid of was the return pipeing from the overflow. But that held out great and is still dry :p All in all a small set back but those are to be expeced I guess. By the way, I didn't see a washer in there. Is there usually a rubber washer behind that PVC nut? That just might explain the leak. (scratch) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derbird Posted October 19, 2011 Author Share Posted October 19, 2011 I do think I figured out the problem. I have torn this thing apart several times trying to figure out the problem with the PVC piping. I did it again tonight after rushing to Ace before they close to get a wrench and I finally see whats up. I am missing a 2 to 2-1/2 inch O-ring (whistle) I don't know why I was not able to see this before but I'm glad I finally figured this out I was going even crazier than normal (nutty) I won't be able to go back to Ace tonigh They close at 8pm DOH! but I should be able to fire up the beast tomorrow (dancing). You have gotta love living in a small city. Soon my little critters will have their ginormous new home and there will finally be peace in the living room. At least I can clean it up (laugh) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoobtoSalt Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 I do think I figured out the problem. I have torn this thing apart several times trying to figure out the problem with the PVC piping. I did it again tonight after rushing to Ace before they close to get a wrench and I finally see whats up. I am missing a 2 to 2-1/2 inch O-ring (whistle) I don't know why I was not able to see this before but I'm glad I finally figured this out I was going even crazier than normal (nutty) I won't be able to go back to Ace tonigh They close at 8pm DOH! but I should be able to fire up the beast tomorrow (dancing). You have gotta love living in a small city. Soon my little critters will have their ginormous new home and there will finally be peace in the living room. At least I can clean it up (laugh) Sorry for the troubles bud. Not sure what happened to the seal. It didn't leak here so I'm sure I had one but that tank was town down fairly fast to get my new tank in Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derbird Posted October 19, 2011 Author Share Posted October 19, 2011 Sorry for the troubles bud. Not sure what happened to the seal. It didn't leak here so I'm sure I had one but that tank was town down fairly fast to get my new tank in Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk No worries, just part of the fun of the hobby. I am still a very satisfied customer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derbird Posted October 19, 2011 Author Share Posted October 19, 2011 Here is where I am I think the 48" light strip may have meet its match. Kinda a reef with a rock over hang. Yea thats it (laugh) All paramiters are looking good 0 across the board NH3, NO2, and NO3 (dancing) This is good since I did a rookie mistake and just scooped up the sand and threw it in the new tank. NO3 may still be on the way. (scary) But my temp is hovering around 73 DOH!. In the safe zone but I'm not looking to do a mid winter reef. How may big of a heater do I need for a 120? I have a 200 watt in there but can add a 150 watt if needed. I just didn't want to boil water. Plus its in my QT tank with my baby's in it. (whistle) Oh it has a 40 gallon fug if that helps for heater help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burningbaal Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 I'm planning a total of ~300w in my 55+25sump, so I'd go with 500 or more in yours. it depends on your ambient temps, but I wanted to be able to keep the tank 15 degrees above the room, so I'm on the high end for mine. FYI: I've heard a lot of advice that if you're not using the fancy temp controllers (I'm just using the cheapos), to use more heaters of lower power instead of one big one. the logic is that it's fairly common that when they break they break 'on'. so they never stop heating...so the tank get wicked hot. BUT if you are using smaller heaters, only one is likely to go out at a time, so the temp raise will be slow...especially because the others will stop heating when they're supposed to. you may not even notice the problem for weeks. if you had one big heater get stuck 'on', it could raise the tank's temp 15 degrees above the room's temp in a couple hours and you might not like that! just some advice I picked up along the way and thought I'd pass along. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derbird Posted October 19, 2011 Author Share Posted October 19, 2011 I'm planning a total of ~300w in my 55+25sump, so I'd go with 500 or more in yours. it depends on your ambient temps, but I wanted to be able to keep the tank 15 degrees above the room, so I'm on the high end for mine. FYI: I've heard a lot of advice that if you're not using the fancy temp controllers (I'm just using the cheapos), to use more heaters of lower power instead of one big one. the logic is that it's fairly common that when they break they break 'on'. so they never stop heating...so the tank get wicked hot. BUT if you are using smaller heaters, only one is likely to go out at a time, so the temp raise will be slow...especially because the others will stop heating when they're supposed to. you may not even notice the problem for weeks. if you had one big heater get stuck 'on', it could raise the tank's temp 15 degrees above the room's temp in a couple hours and you might not like that! just some advice I picked up along the way and thought I'd pass along. That's a great Idea, especialy since the lower wattages are soooo much cheaper than the big boys. I was starting to sweat about the cost of a huge heater. Thank you for the quick reply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoobtoSalt Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 I was running A 300 watt heater in that tank. Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saltygobie Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 turning out nice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derbird Posted October 23, 2011 Author Share Posted October 23, 2011 I was running A 300 watt heater in that tank. Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk Great so the 200 + 150 should be more than enough turning out nice Thank you its been a challenge, but a good challenge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derbird Posted October 23, 2011 Author Share Posted October 23, 2011 Well the leak is plugged, I hope (scary) Now my baptism by fire is over in saltwater right? Tank Update. I have reworked my rocks and I am so happy with this aragement Sorry I always play with stuff and make the water cloudy right before I take a pix DOH! And to think half this tank is still waiting for rock. Just one little piece of tonga is over there. More room to play. This has been a difficult rockscape to set up because the rock came with all kinds of really cool soft corals on them that I had to keep in a good spot. They made it though the cycle prosses so its the least I can do for them. But this has lots of nooks and crannys for hideing and swimming. (fish) All parameters are holding well and the tank is happy My clean up crew from the 75 is now overwhelmed but I hope to grab a few goodies from the premium aquarium if my budget allows. and the drivers are game of course (naughty) Sad news. Some how while everone was in my QT tank the rocks shifted and the little cucumber didn't make it (sad) (sad) (sad) My first victim (sad) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smann Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 Looks good and of course you cant start a tank without at least one leak Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derbird Posted October 24, 2011 Author Share Posted October 24, 2011 I HAVE NEW CRITTERS! After the meeting today we stopped by Garrett's shop and I couldn't resist getting a few new friends for my empty tank. Here is whats new. 1 Skunk Cleaner Shrimp - A personal favorite 1 Sand Sifting Starfish 1 Emerald Crab 4 Zebra Turbo Snails I spent more than I was planning on but I think I got some pretty good deals. Also saw a few things for latter (plotting) Everyone has been in the tank now a couple of hours and is already looking for food. I think this is a very good sign (naughty) Thank you Roger for putting up with all my noobie questions like "and how do you aclimate this one, and this one....." great shop, there is more there than you would think space would allow. Its too bad its so far way (sad) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoobtoSalt Posted October 24, 2011 Share Posted October 24, 2011 Not sure I would have done the sand star so early on but I'm not going to rain on your parade. Nice stuff. Did you get the seal fixed now? Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mohaynow Posted October 24, 2011 Share Posted October 24, 2011 spent more than I was planning on but I think I got some pretty good deals. I say that to myself every time I go to his shop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derbird Posted October 24, 2011 Author Share Posted October 24, 2011 Not sure I would have done the sand star so early on but I'm not going to rain on your parade. Nice stuff. Did you get the seal fixed now? Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk I was also conserned about getting a sand star this early. Rodger at Garretts shop assured me that the little guy would have enough to eat. He is also very small only about 1-1/2". But who knows I have gotten iffy advice before but I hope this isn't one of those. He has already made a hole in the great brown gunk that is the bottom of the tank. If he cleanes everything up is there some thing I can feed him? You have me a little concerned now. The seal is holding tight and no more water leaving the tank, at least in liquid form. Some micro bubbles but I will continue to fine tune the system. It still is looking good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePremiumAquarium Posted October 24, 2011 Share Posted October 24, 2011 Thanks for swinging by the shop! I looks like you grabbed some great critters! Sand sifting stars have always been really easy for me. I have added them to new systems and have never had any issues. They consume benthic/sand dwelling micro life as well as detritus, diatoms, micro algaes, and uneatin food. They pretty much scavenge the tank. I rarely lose them and if I do it is almost always do to the particular individual having either not transited well or coming in looking pretty bad. All of the ones I had in this weekend were super healthy so i would imagine you will be just fine Your tank is looking pretty good! I like the coral combinations thus far! Keep up the good work and let us know if we can help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoobtoSalt Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 Thanks for swinging by the shop! I looks like you grabbed some great critters! Sand sifting stars have always been really easy for me. I have added them to new systems and have never had any issues. They consume benthic/sand dwelling micro life as well as detritus, diatoms, micro algaes, and uneatin food. They pretty much scavenge the tank. I rarely lose them and if I do it is almost always do to the particular individual having either not transited well or coming in looking pretty bad. All of the ones I had in this weekend were super healthy so i would imagine you will be just fine Your tank is looking pretty good! I like the coral combinations thus far! Keep up the good work and let us know if we can help Theres your answer. Wasn't trying to worry you. I just would have waited about a month myself. I had mine for over a year. It's now in my parents tank. Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derbird Posted October 25, 2011 Author Share Posted October 25, 2011 Thank you for your responces. So far every one is happy and eating, the tank looks better already. Good to hear that the star should be good. I haven't seen him since he or she went in but there is a growing clean spot. It was cool to watch it bury its self, another cool critter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derbird Posted October 27, 2011 Author Share Posted October 27, 2011 I managed to get some good pix of my tank tonight and could not resist putting the up for everyone.(whistle) The tank is looking pretty good lots of clean up crew yet to come but not bad for being so new if I do say so myself. Proud tank papa here (laugh) by the way. Those brown critters by the green mushrooms are looking less and less like any mushroom I have yet to see on line or in person. Are they little nems? They are cool whatever they are. I have several really small ones but these pix showed to bigger two very well. Here is a better shot of the big one. Not as good as the other pix but a close up. It really looks like some sort of nem. I love all the movement and life in this tank, and so much more to come. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burningbaal Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 looks a little like my ricordea, except mine are maroon with deep green centers...but I'm not an expert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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