austinsdad
Aquarium Advice Addict
You got a powerhead in there moving that water around, right?
Patrick's 55-Gal Reef Build
- Thread starter uscamaro
- Start date
The friendliest place on the web for anyone with an interest in aquariums or fish keeping!
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
My RO/DI came in today! I got it for $140 from Filter Direct on Ebay, I can't wait to hook it up. It's 100gpd.
(Jan 11, 2011)
Everything looks really clean and professional; it even came with a pressure gauge.
(Jan 11, 2011)
I have a TDS meter coming in next week, so I'll let you know the performance. So far, Filter Direct is one of the top companies on Ebay that I've worked with.
Also, some livesand from Drs. F&S came in as well; this should finish off my sandbed (100lbs).
(Jan 11, 2011)
Everything looks really clean and professional; it even came with a pressure gauge.
(Jan 11, 2011)
I have a TDS meter coming in next week, so I'll let you know the performance. So far, Filter Direct is one of the top companies on Ebay that I've worked with.
Also, some livesand from Drs. F&S came in as well; this should finish off my sandbed (100lbs).
Wow 100gpd? You can change your water twice a day. Lol. Are you going to get a large container to store the RO, and to mix SW? Hint hint.
I don't like to run the filter at just a trickle, like some do with the ato. You will get a longer life out of your membrane and DI if you run larger volumes all at once. I like to fill my 5 gallon jugs for drinking from the tap I have before the DI resin first,then fill my RO tub, and salt mix brute can all at once. Google tds creep. Make sure you recycle your waste water somehow, like for your pool or garden. I am sure wasting water is a huge nono,in Vegas.
I don't like to run the filter at just a trickle, like some do with the ato. You will get a longer life out of your membrane and DI if you run larger volumes all at once. I like to fill my 5 gallon jugs for drinking from the tap I have before the DI resin first,then fill my RO tub, and salt mix brute can all at once. Google tds creep. Make sure you recycle your waste water somehow, like for your pool or garden. I am sure wasting water is a huge nono,in Vegas.
I already picked up a 13gallon trashcan with a full-size lid. Inside I will keep a powerhead and a heater with the saltwater mixed in already. As for the waste water, I'm not sure what I'm going to do. Since the house is new, I have nothing in the back yard, and the front yard has drought tolerant plants. I'll probably end up turning off my sprinkler system and watering them individually.
I've read too many reasons why not to keep an auto-top-off, so I'm sticking with the large pre-mixed bin.
I've read too many reasons why not to keep an auto-top-off, so I'm sticking with the large pre-mixed bin.
mr_X
Aquarium Advice Addict
well, i like the jbj ATO's. they have redundant switches on them so your system is safe.
believe me when i tell you that being without an ATO is a real nuisance.
i would never be without one.
i have a feeling many of those folks you heard complaining about ATOs were the ones who skimped and did a lot of DIY stuff.
believe me when i tell you that being without an ATO is a real nuisance.
i would never be without one.
i have a feeling many of those folks you heard complaining about ATOs were the ones who skimped and did a lot of DIY stuff.
austinsdad
Aquarium Advice Addict
I too think the JBJ is good. Never had a problem with it.
I started the big move with my LR in 3 different places to their final resting places. First, I filled a new 13g trash bin with water and salt and left my water pump in there to keep it aerated.
(Jan 15, 2011)
I then started to drain about 50% of the water from the tank and added the sand.
Next, I took the LR from the main tank to the garage with the other pieces; giving them a good final scrub. After that I began bringing the rocks inside to the tank.
(Jan 15, 2011)
I then started to drain about 50% of the water from the tank and added the sand.
Next, I took the LR from the main tank to the garage with the other pieces; giving them a good final scrub. After that I began bringing the rocks inside to the tank.
I didn't take any pictures of it, but while I let the sand settle I cleaned out my wet/dry filter with a shop-vac. I had a few smaller pieces of LR in the filter which got it filthy with sand and rock rubble. The shop-vac worked amazing, getting the residual water, sand, and rocks clear out of there.
After over 4 hours of work, I wanted to setup the LR in the tank, but I couldn't see anything because of the murky water
(Jan 15, 2011)
Also, I bought 2 clay-glue-sticks from the "Drs." because I figured they were about the size of a pencil... I was WAY wrong! I read how many ounces it was on the site, but I had no idea there was so much. An empty gallon milk jug was the closest thing I had for a size comparison.
After over 4 hours of work, I wanted to setup the LR in the tank, but I couldn't see anything because of the murky water
(Jan 15, 2011)
Also, I bought 2 clay-glue-sticks from the "Drs." because I figured they were about the size of a pencil... I was WAY wrong! I read how many ounces it was on the site, but I had no idea there was so much. An empty gallon milk jug was the closest thing I had for a size comparison.
The dust finally settled; I am so happy how it turned out! When I was moving things around the dust kicked back up making it very hard to see where I was putting the rocks. I left it overnight and was amazed at how many caves there were after it cleared up.
(Jan 16, 2011)
My fiance preferred the blue background, but I'm partial to the black. I didn't tape it down so we can flip it later.
(Jan 17, 2011)
Here's a good shot from the left side:
(Jan 16, 2011)
My fiance preferred the blue background, but I'm partial to the black. I didn't tape it down so we can flip it later.
(Jan 17, 2011)
Here's a good shot from the left side:
mr_X
Aquarium Advice Addict
looking good.
austinsdad
Aquarium Advice Addict
I'm betting you're gonna wanna clean the side glass after a while. Room for a hand and scraper will do.
My mag-float fits perfectly behind the LR on the left side (that faces the room). I'm not sure if I want to keep scraping the back/right side of the glass or just let the coraline grow.
Fish are here! I received a 30gal CUC, 2 Percula Clown, and 1 Yellowhead Jawfish. So it's been a few days but I wanted to make sure that the fish were going to make it. I got them through LiveAquaria.com and I was very impressed with the packaging. I tried to stay up and wait for the delivery but I ended up falling asleep, and woke up to them waiting outside (thankfully the temperature that day was 74°F). They were packed snug and even had a heat pack on top of them.
Before I opened the box, I setup my acclimation chambers in front of the tank. A bucket for each fish and the last for the CUC. Then I cut a 25ft airline tube into 4 pieces and tied a knot at the end to regulate the flow. I had I kept the bar lights on really low while I acclimated the fish (only lights in the room).
(Jan 19, 2011)
I did just as the instructions, um... instructed. The whole acclimation process, from floating them in the water to putting them into the tank took about 2 hours; which was about 7pm.
The snails/hermit crabs and clown fish took right off looking around the buckets and seemed excited once in the tank. However, the Jawfish looked almost dead in the bucket and was curled up like a horseshoe, which made me nervous. He was the last member added to the tank and when I tried to catch him he swam furiously away from the cup (which made me feel better because he felt strong and healthy, just didn't look it). When I placed him into the tank he stayed in his "horseshoe" form and just floated into the back corner of the tank.
Before I opened the box, I setup my acclimation chambers in front of the tank. A bucket for each fish and the last for the CUC. Then I cut a 25ft airline tube into 4 pieces and tied a knot at the end to regulate the flow. I had I kept the bar lights on really low while I acclimated the fish (only lights in the room).
(Jan 19, 2011)
I did just as the instructions, um... instructed. The whole acclimation process, from floating them in the water to putting them into the tank took about 2 hours; which was about 7pm.
The snails/hermit crabs and clown fish took right off looking around the buckets and seemed excited once in the tank. However, the Jawfish looked almost dead in the bucket and was curled up like a horseshoe, which made me nervous. He was the last member added to the tank and when I tried to catch him he swam furiously away from the cup (which made me feel better because he felt strong and healthy, just didn't look it). When I placed him into the tank he stayed in his "horseshoe" form and just floated into the back corner of the tank.
Next morning comes and everyone is happy, except I can't find the Jawfish! I seriously looked all over the tank, using the reflection from the glass to see on the other side of the liverock and he's nowhere to be found... seriously. Some of you may have noticed I made a panic post because I couldn't see him anywhere. Well I give him a few more hours with the lights on and sure enough he pokes out from under my largest piece of LR (almost 20lbs). I thought he moved around too much under a piece and it shifted on top of him.
What an awesome fish. I watched him build his little cave, spitting out mouthfuls of sand and moving a few pieces of rock to support his den. This fish has so much personality, moving his head around at anything that moves in his area.
(Jan 21, 2011)
What an awesome fish. I watched him build his little cave, spitting out mouthfuls of sand and moving a few pieces of rock to support his den. This fish has so much personality, moving his head around at anything that moves in his area.
(Jan 21, 2011)
I am happy to report all animals are happy and in great condition. Everyone is eating, the Clowns are swimming together, and I even watched the Jawfish wander to the complete other side of the tank. I know this picture isn't the best, but I tried to get a shot of them together (obviously not all the snails and hermits).
(Jan 21, 2011)
(Jan 21, 2011)
mr_X
Aquarium Advice Addict
awesome update. excellent acclimation job too. every jawfish i've ever kept ended up jumping out of the tank on me. i hope you have a good cover to prevent this little guy from doing so.
Thanks! He almost jumped out of the bucket with only a few inches of water, he was so determined. I have the stock lid on there for now, but when I get my Nova T5 I'll replace it with glass tops.
