Aquarium Advice - Aquarium Forum Community - General Hardware/Equipment Discussion

Skimming

milhous3er — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:44:55 GMT

Is it possible to over skim ?? What i'm looking at is a Reef Octopus skimmer that can handle 135 gallons. My tank is only 40g. I'm sure it won't hurt anything.

I'm looking to replace my CPR Bak Pak 2 with a Reef Octopus BH-300F or maybe the BH-1000

Corner Overflow vs. Back Overflow

BeaglesBuddy — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:38:03 GMT

I've been having a hard time locating the tank I want specifically the Aqueon 125 gallon with dual corner overflows. The LFS said they had a back dual overflow but they no longer get the corner ones in. They could special order it but it will take months to arrive. Is there any reason why those back overflows would be better than the corners. I felt that the corners would be more out of the way. They did say they could get me a perfecto tank but I've been reading some really good things about the Aqueons so i had my heart set on that.

Lunar lights Aqualight by coral life

djay5034 — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 04:54:14 GMT

I don't have any experience with this, but I bought it second hand. I checked the support page of coralife and I didn't get the information I needed.

Does the fan work immediately when I turn on the equipment?

or

does it detect a certain temperature and then it starts to work?

I don't know if the guy I bought it from told me an incorrect information. :confused:

Anti-Chlorine and General Tonic used at the same time: What will happen?

Temp — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 12:16:59 GMT

I poured 30 c.c. anti-chlorine and 30 c.c. general tonic into an outdoor pond. The water level wasn't what it used to be, so I had measured it to about 150 gallons or so.

I poured both of them into the pond at the same time, and was wondering what will happen to the fish that were in the pond? Will it cause any health-related problem?

I'm a bit worried that I had done the most disrespectful thing of pouring both mixtures into the water and killing all of the fish. :(

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EDIT: At 9:07 PM, it started to rain. I am now wondering if the anti-chlorine's effect will be reduced from the rain.

Chiller Controller: Do I need one?

RLG2182 — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 05:47:41 GMT

So I just got a jbj 1/4 chiller for my 140+60 sump. The guy I bought it from said it would be a good idea to get a controller to hook up a heater to it. Is it really necessary to get a controller?

Was thinking I would set my heater to 76F and the chiller to 78F. Would think that would be ok to keep them from constantly trying to heat while the other is trying to cool.

Thoughts?

Replacing fluorescent tube help!

darkxrose — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 18:10:42 GMT

I recently purchased a 30" deluxe full hood from the aqueon brand from here:
Aqueon Deluxe Full Fluorescent Black Aquarium Hoods at PETCO
for my 20 gallon tank. It fits snugly but I want to replace the tube it comes with because I want to grow plants.
The tube it comes with is a rapid start 17W 8000k 24" tube.
On the label it says All-Glass Aquarium Inc 30" Fluorescent Aquarium Reflector
120V 20 watt 60Hz
9N23
E163201

What tube should I get to be able to grow some java ferns and anubias and swords?
I have no knowledge in the lighting department, so I dont know what ballasts are or where they go.

How do you use a test kit? Are they like pH strips used in chemistry lab?

Temp — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 10:56:09 GMT

Looking at a lot of these threads, I have no knowledge about test kits.

1. How do you determine water parameters with a test kit? Comparing them to a graph, or seeing how many grain particles left in a small measuring cup?

2. Do we need to buy a lot of these test kits? Where is a video that teaches how to use them? Google isn't helping. Our local aquarium store is filled with Chinese aquarium test kits, and I don't know how to read them, so I didn't buy any.

3. Expiration Date. Expiring Test Kits. Are they still correct, even after expiring? Are they "not" suppose to expire, like the pH strips in chemistry labs? Or I'm mistaking something I didn't know along the way?

Thanks in advance. :)

Mag-Drive 12 is it a good one?

artur — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 18:44:19 GMT

So my big project is done < upgrade from 90 to 125>.You can see my thread on " Saltwater Reef Aquaria" forum. But as you know there's always something... In the future I will change my sump to 40gal. with refugium. But before that I want to change my external pump witch is Gen-X 40 < 1190gal/h> to submersible Mag 12 <1200 gal/h>. Reason? Noise. I leave in split level house < four levels>. Some people say thouse pumps are quiet. With stand doors closed I can still hear hmmmmm sound on three levels of my house.I get used to it for 3 years but decided to give a shot and put Mag in my sump< I think pump works in water must be less noise than one outside water>. I have a chiller so I don't care if it heats a water more. I'm so happy with my new 125. That is the last thing it bothers me. So what you think about Mag Drive 12 pump???? Please let me know. Thanks!!!!!!

What type of filter should I use for my 10gal

Jdh — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:24:45 GMT

Hi all! This is my first post here.
I'm wondering what kind of filter I should have with my 10 Gallon. Currently, I have a Cascade 80 (Charcoal filteration only), but an Aquarium calculator advised that it was too weak with my Bioload. (I'm also noticing small white specs in the water, I imagine a stronger filter would eliminate this?)

I currently have 4 Guppies and a Betta in the tank, in addition to 6 Cabomba Plants, 2 Anubias Nana, Dwarf Hairgrass, and Anubias Barteri.

Thanks! :)
-Josh

Sponge for Protein Skimmer

weemanpow3 — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:02:13 GMT

I have 2x Seaclone 100 Protein Skimmer's for my reef tank and the sponge pads are really worn out. I looked around on the net and didn't see any information where to get them. So now i'm thinking that I could just cut out and fit the sponge myself. Is their any specific sponge that I have to use? Is this something that I could get at a general store? My local fish stores are all closed down and the next one is about 45 minutes away. Thanks

Need Big Help with WATERFLOW

BlackMagic — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 08:53:27 GMT

im done building everything for my sump.
the pvc overflow and outflow.

i bought a 1000gph pump using 3/4 pvc pipe. *wrong move i did*
after buying everything n building everything, i found out i should of use 1" pipe for a pump that big.

what i did so far is, i used 1 valve balls on the out tube. i try turning it down to slow the flow up but seem like it only work for 2 hrs ...

at 2:30am i check my tank water line, was where i left it, after 1 hr n 30 mins at 4:00am i check n my water line was right on top of the tank, lucky enough it didnt over flow into the floor. i heavnt try turning the flow down some more duh to its late here, right now is 4:45am so ill try tomorr after work and see if it work or not.

option 2: i was thinking maybe ill get a new pump same brand 500 or 700 GPH. but then i bough so much 3/4 PVC elbow, pipe, and Tee. i dont want it to go a waste.

if i do get the bigger pipe(1")
it going to cost around 20 buck.

1 1" pipe = $2.50 ( i need 2) so its $5.00
a lot 1" elbow = about 45 or 50 cent each.*say i need 12* its $6.00
1 1" Tee = 60 cent, not sure.
2 1" Ball valve = $5.13 each so 2 will be $10.26

total is around $21.00 - $23.00.

any idea will be great, this is my first DIY pvc overflow/wet-dry/sump.

Light bulb age question

kdogg85 — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 05:12:39 GMT

How are bulbs determined to be too old. Is it from the date of manufacture or the first time electricity goes through them? Are one of these two ideas how to determine when to replace your bulbs?

How does my equipment list look

BeaglesBuddy — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:36:08 GMT

So I'm putting together an equipment list for my first saltwater plunge. Let me know what you guys think. I'm open to suggestion if there is better equipment out there. Some stuff I'm stuck between two choices so opinions would be appreciated. I'm not doing coral to start however I want to have the appropriate equipment for when I do 1-2 years down the road.

Tank: Aqueon 125 Gallon with Dual Overflow in Corners
Sump: Precision Marine Wet/Dry T30 OR a Berliner Sump
My two main concerns are that it doesn�t make a lot of noise and doesn�t flood my living room
Protein Skimmer � ASM G2 In-sump protein skimmer OR Berlin X2 Skimmer
Main concern is easy to clean and operating well in Sump.
Heater: Fluval E 300 Watt Electronic Heater x2 OR Azoo Titanium Heater - 300 Watt x2
Main concern is not killing fish or me.

Lights: Looking for recommendation. I am not getting reef lights until i decide to go that route. Maybe Marineland Perfecto Flourecent?
Main concern is making fish look their brightest

Return Pump: QuietOne 6000 � (1506 gph)
not too familiar with these but noise and not killing anything main concern

Powerheads: Vortech MP10es x2 or Vortech MP40 x1
Which should I go with. Is the MP40 powerful enough for my tank. Are 2 of the 10�s powerful enoguh for my tank.

Live Rock: LFS Cured rock

RO/DI Unit: Watts WP5-50 Premier Five-Stage Manifold reverse osmosis water treatment system
I read in a book that doesnt cover RO/DI all that much that I have to allow water to sit for 2-3 days after mixing with salt on 20% water changes. Do i still need to do this if i have a RO/DI unit? Also this one is suppossed to be very hard to install. Any suggestions on one that is easier?

Refracotmeter: Extech RF20

Salt Mix: Instant Ocean Salt

10-20 gallon quarantine tank (small heater, pump, filter, live rock)

Appreciate any feedback I can get!

Protien skimmer Problems

marc2121 — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:45:05 GMT

I have a 110g fish only saltwater tank that has been doing fine for about 5 months, but in the last week my H O B Coral life protien skimmer has gone crazy,it keeps overflowing causing alot of damage to my floors. I think I'm to the point where I want to stop the use of a protien skimmer all together.I've heard talk of being able to run a Fluval G6 filter without any use of a skimmer does anyone have any exerience with the G6 or any other advice ?

Repairing a leak in a 30 gallon aquarium

DinoManDraves — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 01:23:24 GMT

Hi, I got a 30 gallon on craigslist, and it appears to have a leak. I haven't put fish, or anything in that matter, in it right now, so I should be ok.

The leak is in the bottom corner.

It appears that they tried to fix it once, as their is silicon where the leak is. After looking at it, my dad says it is probably impossible to fix it, but I feel like it is possible.

Should I attempt to fix it? If so, how? The leak is only in one place.