Recent content by Smitty

I have a 90g tank with a 55g sump. I have a build thread on the stand I made myself and I'll post up a link. If I were to do it over I think I would make it so I can pull my sump out from one of the ends because right now I have to remove two support posts (in the front) to take it out...

Leak testing by filling is the only option. Best done in a location that can afford to have a lot of spilled water (like a garage or outside). I have no experience with replacing a bottom or anything but I would guess the best bet if you aren't removing the bottom is to put a new piece on the...

Ok, what you are describing is a built in overflow normally listed as "reef ready" for a tank. It sounds like the previous person didn't use it as such because it is sealed. It also sounds like it wasn't sealed correctly if he put a patch piece right there, normally it would have been sealed...

Look for at least 2:1 blue to white ratio. If you are able to separately dim it would be great but some of those units aren't able to do it. I went with a bunch of 3 watt LEDs with 2:1 ration and for now, they aren't separately dimmable, but I like the color which is really close to what I...

Their website showed the single bright LED was .06 wat (wow!), the double bright was 1 watt and .06 watt LEDs, and the "reef capable" fixture was 1 watt LEDs

Could you be describing a built-in overflow? Is it leaking from cracks, or a bad silicone seal? You don't want to fill this tank if there is a leak and if there are cracks on the bottom, you are asking for trouble later on. I would drain it down immediately now that you have found a problem.

I'm not even using cement on my push in pipes and don't have any leaking. Then again, all of my piping goes over my sump so even if there is a small leak it has nowhere to go but into the sumpl

Way better to do it now than after you have it filled with fish and other stuff and end up with all that water and live stock on the floor.

I purchased one of these and it took 2 to 3 weeks before it would start producing any skimmate. Give it time. It needs a break-in period before it really starts working. I had the same thoughts and after 2 weeks was looking at returning it because I thought it was broken.

Looks good. Are you going to be putting more rock in? I know you put a lot of that into the sump but I liked it with all the rock in.

That is big but really not as big as I thought it would be. I think it would be great as a walkaround island depending on what you have in it, because leaning over 3' of tank would be difficult!

How deep is it? I should just ask how big it is overall. Looks huge!

I like it. What is going in there?

You may want to take a look at fingerlakesreef.com. It is a small web site for upstate NY or something, but they have a LOT of plywood builds. I don't think anyone has posted on that site for close to a year, but like I said, a lot of good info. What size tank are you looking at? Personally...

Nice looking setup for the cheap!