What tank and equipment to use - Page 5

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gemmy 

have you checked swf.com???

I have to admit, when I searched this site for stuff, I really didnt see much that I could have used.  I just never gave it a thought to check here as i only thought of swf.com as fish and food type place.

Just got the sump + in today.  Couldnt wait to get it out the box and play with it.

I got all that for $187 + $20 for shipping.  Now for the fun.  I had to take the stand apart, well take the top off and 1 supporting section, inorder to get it into the stand on the bottom.  Its in there, but i havent set anything up so I might just have to take it apart again.  No worries though as the stand only holds up the tank.  LOL

The plan was to use that pump for the protien skimmer and the maxijet for the return.  I have not heard much positive about these pumps so putting it on the skimmer is not as bad as the return.  I know i might have to replace that pump at some point.

edit:  Part 1 of my stuff is supposed to arrive tomorrow and part 2 arrives on wednesday.  The "oh crap, what did I get myself into" thread will probably begin wednesday night as I attempt to put all this stuff together.  I think I know where everything goes and before i start the FW leak test, I will post pictures of what went where and ya'll can tell me what i did wrong.  I think its kinda neat that the shipments for arizona are stopping in my old home town before coming here according to UPS.  I do not think that the missus will have the canopy finished by wednesday night, but there isnt a real rush on it since I dont think i can add the LR and water to the tank til next week monday.  Maybe, maybe we can add it on friday.

Yea, my vaca was good and my daughter rode her first "real" rollercoaster.  She didint like the first hill, but after that, she had a blast.  My son was real disapointed that he wasnt tall enough to ride any of the real rollercoasters, but he did get on the "mine ride."  Its those typical steel coasters with lots of helix turns but no hills to go down.  I'll post pics of what i get tomorrow and then start to have too much "ohes noes" feelings on wednesday.  Excited and nervous all at the same time.

I got part 1 in today and had fun taking things out and playing with them.  The PH look tiny out of the box but since my tank is so small, I am sure they will do just fine.  As I was attempting to hook everything up, I noticed that I have to remove the shelf from my stand inorder to get the hoses in and out of the sump/refugium.  I sure hope that shelf wasnt something that the stand relied upon for stability.  It didnt look like it and it sure wasnt in there for its supporting the tank purposes.  So tomorrow, the rest of the stuff gets here.  I need to get tubing for the return line from the sump/refugium to the tank.  I am sure I can get the hose at homerdepot, but what about the part that goes into the tank?  the part that actually goes into the tank where the water comes out.  Do they make some kind of HOB return nozzles?

I got the CS50 sitting on the tank and now the tank is like 4" from the wall.  I think I put it together correctly, but I will watch the video one more time to be sure.  When my wife gets home from work, I will show her the mess I made and ask her opinion on the stand.  I will then hook up the hose from the CS50 to the filtersock in the sump.  Here is my problem.  Its actually a 2 part problem.

Part #1 - I f**^*%$&^&^#^&$%g broke the skimmer putting it in and out of the sump trying to make room for the pump.  I do not think it is fixable as the pieces that broke are the little air intake part and then there is a piece on the intake that connects to the pump broke as well.  I really doubt that krazy glue will fix these issues, and I am not sure I even want to take the chance because.......

Part #2 - the sump portion of the sump/refugium is soo small that I cant get both the pump for the protien skimmer and the protien skimmer into it with the filter sock on.  I tried hanging the protien skimmer onto the sump but then the damn thing was too long and would not fit in the stand.  Ideally I would like for the pump and skimmer to be in the "intake" portion of the sump.  I know size is an issue and the pump I have does have the ability to hang onto the side of the sump wall so there is "room" for a protien skimmer.  Anyone have suggestions for a small footprint skimmer? 

I really dont know what to do at this point, I think i am just a little screwed on the skimmer.  I broke it and have no one to blame but myself.  I look at it like this, "better to fubar it now when nothing can die, than to fubar it later."  If anyone wants to see the pics of whats broke and how as to better recomend krazy glue, feel free to ask.  It would take all of 5 seconds for me to take, upload, and then post.  I am off to look at small skimmers, be back in a little.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gemmy 

I think the skimmer was DOA. Maybe just look for replacement pieces instead of getting a new skimmer.

I screwed the skimmer not damaged in shipping.  Where might i locate replacement parts?  Manufacturer's website maybe?  I have done some research and the Aquac Urchin is the in sump skimmer that I wouldn't mind having.  Its $150 price without pump is a bit stand offish for me and will be for the missus I am sure.  AAARRGGGHHHH!!!

Manu site doesnt have a spot for replacement parts.  I called and left a message for a return call.  Nothing to do now but wait for a return call from them.

edit : The more I read about the won bros skimmer the more I dont want to fix it, LOL.  I am in a real pickle right now.  I told the wife about it.  I also told her about the urchin and had her guess the price for it.  She started at $400 and slowly went to $100.  I told her that it was $150 and she didnt seem to balk, but I cant be sure.  After more talking, I think we can get the urchin, if we wait.  I guess I will cycle the tank without the skimmer, as long as everyone thinks that that is ok.  We are going to get the replacement part, if we can, and use the skimmer at first.  If it doesnt work to our satisfaction, we will get the urchin.  Unless someone says that the urchin is a bad skimmer.

edit2 : If I do get the urchin, does anyone recomend getting the pump with it?  I have that CA-1800 that I could connect to it.  The price difference is about $13 so it is almost negligible in price difference.

mini bump, aside from all the skimmer stuff, my main concern right now is how to get the water back into the DT from the sump/refugium.  Can i just get a hose and got from the return pump and place the hose in the tank?  Use some sort of PVC and make a u shaped thing and place that into the tank?

Can someone recomend to me a moon light?  I spotted a t5 sized retro kit for around $50 and was wondering if that would be enough to light the tank?  would I need 2?  The wife and I agree that we want some kind of lights at night to better see the tank at night.

mini bump, no suggestions?