Buffy's 1st Ever SW Build - Reef Tank

[Dary421]

Yes I plan on having an ATO. I was moving the sump around last night trying to figure where I want another elbo so I can fit a container of some sort in there. I'd like a brute in there but I don't know if they make them small enough.

I go back to work tomorrow (was suspended without pay for 5 days - that setup stuff I was talking about before......well here we go, now to fight to keep my job), in the mean time:

I hope to get the other return line run tonite. I have a few things to order before I can finish it. I still need a return flow nozzle for the inside top of tank.

Should I keep my 2 Koralia 750 Evolutions in the tank or take them out when my sump is done? WOW that feels weird to type "sump is done" LMAO.

I'm still wanting to add some more fish but I'm not ready to add any more fish yet. I want my sump done first.

I am gonna ride my bike to tanning, therapy, then to store for lemon juice for the Aptasia, I hope I get them.

Thanks for following, remember any advice is appreciated. I like when I have options (other's advice) to think about and decide which will work for me. Ya'll have been great.

Final note...I hope I don't have to get rid of all my SW stuff after getting this far. Keep fingers crossed, I need 7 1/2 years to stay to retire.

Ok,...my two cents worth,... 1. Keep the koralia's right where they are 2. Do whatever it takes to keep your job,,.you don't have to kiss butt but just maintain and bite your tongue whenever possible ( you'll go much farther and get in much less trouble ).

 

[Buffy]

Ok,...my two cents worth,... 1. Keep the koralia's right where they are 2. Do whatever it takes to keep your job,,.you don't have to kiss butt but just maintain and bite your tongue whenever possible ( you'll go much farther and get in much less trouble ).

Thanks,

Uhmm I have kept my mouth shut, seems I can get in "trouble" without even being there. Maybe it's time I opened my mouth, IDK.

No sump work last night. Tonite will be busy so no tank major tank work. Hopefully Friday night I can get back to it.

Wish me luck today, see if when I get to work that my badge still works. LOL

 

[Krocky12]

Thanks,

Uhmm I have kept my mouth shut, seems I can get in "trouble" without even being there. Maybe it's time I opened my mouth, IDK.

No sump work last night. Tonite will be busy so no tank major tank work. Hopefully Friday night I can get back to it.

Wish me luck today, see if when I get to work that my badge still works. LOL

Good luck

 

[Buffy]

Question

I have a question:


How far down should the return line from the sump go down in the display tank?

I have a line across the top then an elbow down, need another line to connect another elbow to connect the flow accellerator to but don't know how far down to put the accellerator or should the accellerator be close to the water level line?

Got 3 zoas and a ric in today , they are doing good, I know I didn't mention I bought them. I wasn't sure I was going to. Got them from CM so ya'll know how pretty they are. 3 color variances of the vice zoa and a green/orange rainbow florida ricordia.

They are in the tank and all have opened and doing well so far. woohoo.

As soon as my sump is done, I'm going on a fishing expedition.....online or local I haven't decided yet. More than likely will be online. Got suggestions???? Of course reef friendly AND my reason that I always wanted a saltwater tank was the beautiful colors of the fish.

Salt and butter already added, byb though.

 

[Krocky12]

I think a report wrasse would be cool in your tank

 

[needmorecowbell]

You don't want it to far, almost at the surface is best. If the power goes out, it will create a reverse siphon and will stop whenever the water is below the pipe, causing air to go in. You could put a hole in the pipe near the surface and have it wherever you like, you just need some way to stop the siphon so your sump doesnt flood.

Who's cm? Sounds like some great frags, Ive started to become addicted to zoas lol.

 

[Krocky12]

I think a report wrasse would be cool in your tank

Sorry I meant leopard wrasse

 

[Buffy]

You don't want it to far, almost at the surface is best. If the power goes out, it will create a reverse siphon and will stop whenever the water is below the pipe, causing air to go in. You could put a hole in the pipe near the surface and have it wherever you like, you just need some way to stop the siphon so your sump doesnt flood.

Who's cm? Sounds like some great frags, Ive started to become addicted to zoas lol.

Better keep reminding me about that siphon lol, I flood the bathroom but I don't want to flood my living room too.

cm = Coral Morphlogic, I've ordered twice from them and both times my experiences with them have been great. LOL

Coral Morphologic - Your source for live corals including zoanthids, discosoma, and ricordea.

Sorry I meant leopard wrasse

I'll have to check it out, I thought that was on my oohh pretty list at one time.

Both return lines to sump are almost complete (minus cementing), tomorrow I am finishing the siliconing on the sump. The overflow is done (minus cementing down to about where I need to bring it under the tank. I haven't done that yet cause I don't have the tank in there yet.

Dang it I keep forgetting to look for a top off pail. The sump will be shifted under the stand to the left and the top off pail will be to the right of the sump (pickle bucket fits perfect but I don't trust it), I want a safe food grade pail. Ideas where to get maybe a small rectangular food grade container?

 

[needmorecowbell]

Ooh, I like the corals on the site :O

Pickle containers are food grade, why don't you trust it? You can find pretty much any size at walmart.

 

[Buffy]

Small Update

So after a week or so, I finally saw the goby. I though he was a goner but I caught him darting under a rock in the back of the tank through the reflection in the glass. Woohoo he's still here.

Everyone in tank still doing ok, still have aptasia.

2 Baffles are siliconed in and 2 more to go.

The ends of my return to dt from sump should be here any day.

Been a month since I smoked
Kept my job so far.

Been filing alot of plexiglass to get it to fit into sump. Doesn't cut exactly for me and my measurements seem off enough to have to file a little. However that little bit takes a long time.

Fish Wish list
3 Blue Chromis
Royal Gamma
Tailspot Blennie or Yellow Jawhead.
A pair of Gold Striped Maroon Clownfish
Lubbock's Fairy Wrasse
One Spot Foxface

This would probably overstock my tank so I'll have to narrow it down. Suggestions???

 

[Krocky12]

What size is it again

 

[Buffy]

What size is it again

75 Gallon with a soon to be 20 Gallon Sump.

Since I have "95" Gallons does that mean I can get fish for that size? I thought it was based on length of tank, size of fish, activity level of fish and such. But I've read that some people have used the 95G as the size tank for the gallons...like when they say minimum 125 tank. I always figured that "125 tank" was 1 tank NOT including sump.

Sorry I rambled, was sure how to put what I was saying/asking.

I guess if you can use the "2 tanks" for total flow then fine but I'm thinking I have a 75 DT and that's it, sump is extra. I want my fish to have room and be happy, not get them just because "they fit".

I don't recall but Foxface was added to my fish list. I have a 55 gallon that may become fish only I'm not sure yet but that will use a fluval and not have a sump.

I'm thinking 40 Gallon Breeder is gonna be for the sea apples and such that can wipe a tank with no fish. That will be a slowwwwwwwwwww moving tank as I want parameters perfect before ANYTHING is added. I want the rock established and all. So my tank will be "sitting" for a few months with nothing but what comes out of the rocks.

Oh and LOL I was gonna do a 10 Gallon with DSB and Rock and nothing else and see what grows LOL. Just let nature take its course I think it would be interesting. Think I'll start that one this week and put it in my kitchen. I would need as natural light as possible, because I don't want to "encourage" anything, I want to be natural. Lights on 12 hours in summer and 8 in winter. Make sense? Any suggestions for this "experiment"?

Last thing.....How does the output of the skimmer work, does it just dump right back in and flow over the baffle? I'm wondering before I put that final baffle in because I don't know if I would need more than one at that end.

If you answer anything...please answer the last one with the skimmer.

Thanks for following.... Partying with....Plenty to go around. When sump is done I'm buying

 

[Buffy]

Video

I have a video of my Fire Shrimp on Photobucket I want to share here, can someone tell me how to do it please?

Thank you

 

[scottayy]

Just use the img code like you would a picture.

 

[Buffy]

Just use the img code like you would a picture.

Thanks but looks like I'm not going to upload it, he passed away not long after the video and about 10 snails were all over him. Grrrrr and he came to me for feeding time too. He had been doing that for a couple days now. I have no clue where the other one is, he was hiding for the longest time though and I saw him the other day. Guess I'll just wait and see if he shows up.

 

[Buffy]

The other Fire Shrimp has made himself know, he is doing ok.

 

[Buffy]

Video

Here is a video of my fire shrimp that passed away today. We'll see if this works.

 

[Ibrahim]

Here is a video of my fire shrimp that passed away today. We'll see if this works.

http://s1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb463/MeHuman2/?action=view&current=6d218d1b.mp4

Are you sure it wasn't a molt?

 

[Buffy]

Are you sure it wasn't a molt?

I thought so at first but no I'm 100% positive as I watched him go. Then the snails covered him.

 

[Buffy]

Yay for me

Yay for me, finally quit procrastinating and have finished putting the silicone on the sump

I water tested the 3 baffles on the return side and all is good. Now to wait for the final baffle to dry and test that, if it passes I start cementing pvc.

I'm thinking this sump will definitely be done sometime this year. woohoot!!!