siskiou

Let me know how it works for you! For now I'm going to have to stick with my simple system, but maybe in the future. I thought I was almost set, but there are still a lot of things on my list that I'd like to get at some point. Probably a couple of thousand bucks worth!(nutty) My main concern right now is getting some water movement into the tank (MJ mod, most likely) and some more LR. And then a 20 sps for $200 coral pack, a few months down the road. A few fish would be nice, too.

Do you have a link to that? All I could find is the Litermeter III, plus a bunch of accessories that are all expensive, too. I'd love to have a unit that tops off two tanks (the 120G and the 20H are both in the same room, and we've half decided to not break down the 20 after all).

Is the spectrapure unit really over $300?:eek:

I've been using an airlifter pump for my 40G ATO, but I think it's a little too slow for my 120G. It practically has to run all the time and gets pretty warm. What pumps do you all use for your top-off? I love the airlifter, because it's almost silent, but have the feeling it will burn out soon if it's on all the time.

In my 40G I had one of those spa intake strainers on a 1 1/2 CL intake. My pump was only an Eheim 1262 for the closed loop, but I was a little worried about my tiny eviota goby. Never had any trouble, though.

If you are drilling another hole, couldn't you make it a 1 1/2"? Or are you limited to the drill bit for 1" only? Otherwise the 2 1" intakes should work in my amateur opinion.

Don't worry! I pretty much know all about curing and that shipped rock will have die-off and needs to be re-cured. I have a rubbermaid tub with skimmer, powerhead, heater etc. for the curing process. I was more interested in what types you all prefer, and which online or local places you've had good experiences with. And price is a consideration, unfortunately.

Yep! Basically, the pump starts the syphon by filling the tubing, and then it keeps merrily running even when the pump turns off. The water comes out drop by drop running it up to the tank, and it's right by the return so I think it mixes just fine that way. I'll have to get some more plumbing to submerge it completely, but I'll give that a try. And I'll put a T instead of the SCWD to see if it's really airtight. One thing at a time to narrow it down. Things never seem to be easy, though.(flame)

The container holds about 10G, and I can't run it into the sump because it will create a syphon with the top-off container taller than the sump. Otherwise I would. Darn about the locline! Any ideas what to use instead? Or can I silicone around everything outside the water? Thanks!

ATO set up! I may try to find something a little less tall with similar volume, but for the time being this is good enough. I really like the switched outlets! It makes testing things out so much easier! Now I have to figure out where the air bubbles in the tank are coming from. One culprit is one of the MJs (I'll never know how a powerhead can spew out bubbles every few seconds even when a foot under water!), but it looks like I'm getting some air through the return, too. Just through the right side, though! The return goes through a SCWD, but that seems to be air tight, and I don't see any moisture or salt creep anywhere along the line. Could the locline be the culprit?

This looks like one of the coral munching types!

Here you go! Not nearly as organized as your's, but it'll do. I still need to get a hose for the skimmate, which I'll be getting today. The "channel with the LR pieces in it will be a frag area later, with pc lighting over it. Oh, and does anyone have an idea what to put underneath the skimmer that will not become a nitrate factory down the road? I stuffed a filter sock underneath, which really helps with the noise, but it might cause problems later.

I will once I have all my rock. My current pieces are so small that a lot of the outside lifts are only supporting it by one of the "spikes" of the lift. So, they may look as if they aren't needed in the picture, but they actually are. Any advice how to hide these later?

and what type do you prefer? I'm looking into getting more rock, but need larger pieces. Everything I have so far is medium to small. Are there places that cherry pick the size you need? Anyone ever get Totoka rock and is it as nice as it is rumored to be?

I did some more work on the tank this weekend. The gate valves have arrived and the "Herbie overflows" are nicely dialed in. Ah, the silence (if only it weren't for the somewhat noisy mag7 that came with my used skimmer. Not bad, but noticable.)! I hope this Terminator skimmer works! I still have no idea how this design without a collection cup is supposed to get the skimmate into the external skimmate bottle. I added my meager amount of cycled rock from the 40G, that has been sitting in a rubbermaid tub in the kitchen for the last few weeks. Obviously, I need a lot more LR, and larger pieces than I currently have, too! Notice Flyguy's rock lifts! I'll leave the tank barebottom until I have all the rock I'm going to add. This current rock still sheds a bit, and it's easier to clean the stuff out without sand. Once things have settled down and nothing much comes out when I blast the rocks, I'll add a shallow sandbed. Currently circulation is three MJ1200 and the Eheim 1262 return pump. I haven't added the penductors to the returns yet, but hopefully tomorrow.

Wow! Nice set-up! I now wish I had gone with a smaller sump and left some room to put the top-off reservoir inside the stand! But there is always the future, right?

If you can't get any locally, let me know and maybe we can split the shipping costs. I need a 1" strainer and two 1 1/2".

Yep, our daughter started high school this year, and I worry every time I hear sirens going in the direction of her school. Things felt a lot safer when she was still at the same school that I teach at. At least I was right there in the same building.

But where do you get one that eats prepared foods?

Ah! I'll have to check on that, once the lights come on.

How can you tell what type of ric you have (yuma, any other types)? I have some orange ones, and one that's a blue-gray coloration.

The tendrils, if normally white like the tips, look like a boring sponge I once had in my 20G. It was pretty invasive, but vanished after a couple of years.

The light is an 8 bulb Tek fixture with hanging kit and my skimmer is that weird Terminator. Can't tell you how well that works yet, because I don't even have salt in the water at this point. Once I have the gate valves and can dial in the "herbie" overflow properly, I can get things going.

Here are a few more pics of the very slow progress! Finally, some water in the tank. No salt yet, until I have the plumbing fully figured out. Getting fuller! Notice Fly Guy's rock lifts waiting for the live rock to be added. And we hung up the light today! The background is finally on, too.