Scott's DIY 10 Gallon Nano Build

[scottayy]

LPS on the sand bed? Do you mean SPS?

My tank is evaporating out of the DT. I marked the sump water line with tape. Granted, it's got an auto top off, but the water level in the DT has dropped about a half an inch over the past week. Why is this happening? Should I not have a ball valve on the drain line?

 

[needmorecowbell]

Well, I dint know what's happening with the evaporation, but I do know that it can be dangerous to have a ball valve on the valves. If it is closed a little too much, algae will grow over it and eventually clog the pipe entirely.

 

[Ibrahim]

LPS on the sand bed? Do you mean SPS?

My tank is evaporating out of the DT. I marked the sump water line with tape. Granted, it's got an auto top off, but the water level in the DT has dropped about a half an inch over the past week. Why is this happening? Should I not have a ball valve on the drain line?

No I mean LPS. SPS can be grown at the med top level

 

[scottayy]

So confusing, I should just switch to t5's on this.. I know what I'm doing with those lol.

So 18W 10000k and 3W 453nm (the fixture I have now) probably isn't going to do much for corals?

And I have to figure out this problem with the evaporation. I have to have a ball valve on the drain line. It's a 3/4" line in a 10g tank. Can't have that running full force.

 

[Ibrahim]

So confusing, I should just switch to t5's on this.. I know what I'm doing with those lol.

So 18W 10000k and 3W 453nm (the fixture I have now) probably isn't going to do much for corals?

And I have to figure out this problem with the evaporation. I have to have a ball valve on the drain line. It's a 3/4" line in a 10g tank. Can't have that running full force.

No it will.... You can grow LPS under it

 

[scottayy]

Will the 445nm royal blue stimulate coral growth as well? I like that color better than the 453nm.

 

[scottayy]

it's been a week. ammonia 4, nitrites .5 :L
so impatient, this is torture

 

[needmorecowbell]

Lol I know how you feel, I hated my wait also. It's kinda fun though. Just do a lot of planning in the meantime.

 

[scottayy]

I am thinking that water is evaporating from my DT because my drain pipe is about 2" underwater. I suspect water would evaporate until it was just at this level. If I bring my drain pipe up to water level, it should stop evaporation in the DT, correct?

 

[needmorecowbell]

I would think so but you might have to add some water. You wont need to restart the siphon though.

 

[scottayy]

This is a drilled tank.. don't have a siphon. Unless you meant something different?

 

[scottayy]

I'm pretty sure that's the problem.. only one way to find out though.

I'm going to take this time while cycling to build me a new stand. I hate this one. I rushed it and it's too bulky.

 

[needmorecowbell]

Oh thought you had an overflow. Lucky!

 

[scottayy]

I do have an internal overflow to skim the surface of the water and keep critters out of my drain tube, but I drilled the tank. It's so much quieter than an HOB overflow.

Started on my new stand today. Building it out of 1x6's. Coming along quite nicely. I like it much better.

No change in water parameters.

 

[needmorecowbell]

I have a Hob overflow and its pretty annoying.. But that's what I get for not drilling the tank.

 

[scottayy]

Well, an update finally! Have good amount of nitrites.

Ammonia: 4
Nitrite: 2
Nitrate: 20

Getting there!

Also painting and clearcoating my new stand I build today.

 

[spoonman]

Pics please!!!

 

[needmorecowbell]

Nice! I might make a 10 gallon tank and stand some day too. I don't think it will be salty though..

 

[scottayy]

No pictures yet.. paint takes a long time to dry lol. I just put the first coat of clear coat on and should be able to do the second coat in 3 or 4 hours. And then 3 or 4 hours of drying.. and then hinging the canopy and the door. So hopefully by tonight!

 

[needmorecowbell]

Are you going to waterproof it? I heard that you need to.