Acclimating Zoo's

[mikeyjer]

Update on the tank today. I borrow jugs to fill water at 8pm tonight and did it til almost mid-night. Bought Aragonite Sand, 80# of it. Bought some lace rocks too to built the bottom, got all the sand and water in. Turn on the pump, it was putting more water back into the system then it can handle. The LFS suggested on either a Mag Drive 700GPH or a 500GPH, I bought the 700's. I think that's the problem, gonna call them first thing in the morning and change it to a 500 instead. I think that should solve the problem. I'm too tired to take pictures, I'll take some after I get the new pump tomorrow.

 

[jerth6932]

Originally Posted by Mikeyjer
Update on the tank today. I borrow jugs to fill water at 8pm tonight and did it til almost mid-night. Bought Aragonite Sand, 80# of it. Bought some lace rocks too to built the bottom, got all the sand and water in. Turn on the pump, it was putting more water back into the system then it can handle. The LFS suggested on either a Mag Drive 700GPH or a 500GPH, I bought the 700's. I think that's the problem, gonna call them first thing in the morning and change it to a 500 instead. I think that should solve the problem. I'm too tired to take pictures, I'll take some after I get the new pump tomorrow.

Not a prob!! I await the pix! But I am glad to hear that you got all the water taken care of!!! The sand in and some rocks! That is alot better than where you were yesterday!!!! lol But congrats!!! That 700 should not of been to much... but mayben how you had it angled it was not the best!!! The 500 should do you fine too though!!!

 

[mikeyjer]

Originally Posted by Jerth6932
Not a prob!! I await the pix! But I am glad to hear that you got all the water taken care of!!! The sand in and some rocks! That is alot better than where you were yesterday!!!! lol But congrats!!! That 700 should not of been to much... but mayben how you had it angled it was not the best!!! The 500 should do you fine too though!!!
There's absolutely no kinks in the return line, I did not have to use a long line for return, it was only about 3ft of tubing. The intake line was one of those flexible tubings that came with the sump. It might be the angle of the intake. I'll ask my LFS tomorrow and change to a 500 instead. We'll see what happens....Can't wait to get it right, I'm having sleepless nights thinking about it. Once it's up and running, I could sleep better.

By the way, I did order a Canopy today, it was only $248, that was with shipping and all!!! Very good deal.... :happyfish

 

[mikeyjer]

I got the 500's today and it was still putting more water back into the tank, figured out the problem. Here's the tank progress pictures!!!
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/209263/new-tank-in-progress-day-1

 

[jerth6932]

looks great... just the problem of a little clouding. But that is fine..... IT looks great!! That is some good process!!!

 

[mikeyjer]

Originally Posted by Jerth6932
looks great... just the problem of a little clouding. But that is fine..... IT looks great!! That is some good process!!!
We got the lace rocks soaked in a tub right now. It's gonna storm tomorrow, it's sitting outside. So it'll get a good washup. After the tank clears up, we're gonna do the bottom landscape. Can't wait until it clears up, it'll probably take a week. I'm gonna clean out the filters tomorrow to get all that gunk outta the filters. I also installed the maxi-jet modification parts. Took pictures of'em, but forgot to put the disk back in, no pictures of it. I'll probably take it back outta the tank to take pictures of it again. It puts A LOT of flows into my tank. I was quite amazed by it. We made those parts in our local reef club to attach to maxi-jets 900's and 1200's. The one I have going right now is a 1200 and it's very powerful like a mag drive. I have two other 1200 modifications, I don't think I'll use'em cause it's putting in a lot of flow with just one. I'm gonna get my 900 modification sometime soon, I'll try that one instead. So there wouldn't be too much flow. The LPS will hate all that flow. Gonna get all the flow right before any corals gets in it. It would be GREAT for SPS though with all that flow. I only have very few SPS so I'll just place those near by the flow when I get it setup. :happyfish

 

[mikeyjer]

So much for the modification maxi-jet. It puts wayyyyyyyy too much flow in my bowfront and it's blowing sand into a mound. Can't have that, my LPS would hate all that extra flow. I'm gonna play around with it until it's just right. The water WAS clear until I move the jet around, it blew on the other side and got it all stirred up again. I cleaned out the filters tonight, they were filthy!!! Well I guess once I'm done stirring up sandbed, I'll have a very clean sandbed. I guess it'll clear up again tomorrow night. I'm gonna try to do the aquascaping Sunday night when I get home. :happyfish

 

[jerth6932]

Originally Posted by Mikeyjer
So much for the modification maxi-jet. It puts wayyyyyyyy too much flow in my bowfront and it's blowing sand into a mound. Can't have that, my LPS would hate all that extra flow. I'm gonna play around with it until it's just right. The water WAS clear until I move the jet around, it blew on the other side and got it all stirred up again. I cleaned out the filters tonight, they were filthy!!! Well I guess once I'm done stirring up sandbed, I'll have a very clean sandbed. I guess it'll clear up again tomorrow night. I'm gonna try to do the aquascaping Sunday night when I get home. :happyfish
Don't ya just hate that, something is going ok..... then we have to stick our hands in there and ruin everything!!!! LoL I do it to my self Daily!!! I cant wait to see how you decorate it!!! Did you get your LR then????

 

[mikeyjer]

Originally Posted by Jerth6932
Don't ya just hate that, something is going ok..... then we have to stick our hands in there and ruin everything!!!! LoL I do it to my self Daily!!! I cant wait to see how you decorate it!!! Did you get your LR then????
No I haven't gotten any LR yet. Budget is tight right now. I'm just gonna put in Lace rocks for bottom and Hawaiian Base Rocks over top of it for now then stack the very top with LR. I'm gonna work on it tomorrow. :happyfish

 

[jerth6932]

Originally Posted by Mikeyjer
No I haven't gotten any LR yet. Budget is tight right now. I'm just gonna put in Lace rocks for bottom and Hawaiian Base Rocks over top of it for now then stack the very top with LR. I'm gonna work on it tomorrow. :happyfish
Nice, so your club buddys didn't hook ya up like you had hoped huh? That is a bummer!!!

 

[mikeyjer]

Originally Posted by Jerth6932
Nice, so your club buddys didn't hook ya up like you had hoped huh? That is a bummer!!!
They did hook me up, but it's for $5/lb of live rock. I need quite a bit! My budget would allow me to do 40 lbs of it by next month. :happyfish

 

[jerth6932]

Originally Posted by Mikeyjer
They did hook me up, but it's for $5/lb of live rock. I need quite a bit! My budget would allow me to do 40 lbs of it by next month. :happyfish
yeah that is unforinate that it is so expensive....... But glad to hear that you have a plan!!!!!

 

[mikeyjer]

We bought a J-B Stik to attach the rocks together. I think it's the same as a Marine Epoxy Stick. This is what it says on the package:
Easy to use
Cures under water
Applications:
Heavy Duty, Automotive, Home, Industrial, Farm, Marine
Make Repairs on:
Steel, Aluminum, Copper, Wood, Fiberglass, Ceramic, PVC, Concrete and many more
Sets in 5 minutes cures in 1 hour
Non Rusting, Non Shrinking, Non Toxic, Solvent Free, USDA-Authorized, NSF Certified for Drinking Water Systems
You can:
Drill it, Tap it, File it, Sand it, Mold it, Paint it
I'm gonna do a little bit more research on it before I use the stuff!!! :happyfish

 

[mikeyjer]

Here's my progress on Day 3, today....Going to wash those lace & base rocks right now...

 

[jerth6932]

Originally Posted by Mikeyjer
Here's my progress on Day 3, today....Going to wash those lace & base rocks right now...

Thats cleared up and looking really nice!!! Very good!!!!! Did you get you lace rock done? What exactly is lace rock... I guess I can stop preteding I know... and ask!!!

 

[mikeyjer]

Originally Posted by Jerth6932
Thats cleared up and looking really nice!!! Very good!!!!! Did you get you lace rock done? What exactly is lace rock... I guess I can stop preteding I know... and ask!!!

Volcanic rock pretty much....I got'em in tonight, but it's a cloudy mess again. It's already starting to clear up a little bit. Once it clears up, I can start stacking on top of it. :happyfish

 

[jerth6932]

Originally Posted by Mikeyjer
Volcanic rock pretty much....I got'em in tonight, but it's a cloudy mess again. It's already starting to clear up a little bit. Once it clears up, I can start stacking on top of it. :happyfish
What is the pourpous for it?

 

[mikeyjer]

Originally Posted by Jerth6932
What is the pourpous for it?
To act like base rock. I have'em in my reef right now, they work just fine, cheap too!!! I've made an offer for 120lbs of kaelini/tonga branch rocks. Along with some corals and cooling fans, it would be around $275 for everything, that's if someone drops out on the offer for the rocks. I really want'em for my newly setup tank. I hope those folks backs out.

 

[jerth6932]

Originally Posted by Mikeyjer
To act like base rock. I have'em in my reef right now, they work just fine, cheap too!!! I've made an offer for 120lbs of kaelini/tonga branch rocks. Along with some corals and cooling fans, it would be around $275 for everything, that's if someone drops out on the offer for the rocks. I really want'em for my newly setup tank. I hope those folks backs out.

I hope they do to! That would be a STEAL on that much rock and other stuff!!!!!!! For just the rock that would be only 2.29 LB That is NUTZ!!! That would be agreat deal!!!!!! What are the chances that they will drop out of the running for it?

 

[mikeyjer]

Originally Posted by Jerth6932
I hope they do to! That would be a STEAL on that much rock and other stuff!!!!!!! For just the rock that would be only 2.29 LB That is NUTZ!!! That would be agreat deal!!!!!! What are the chances that they will drop out of the running for it?
The only part is that I have to drive 4 hours away to pick it up, but it's still worth it. It's a slim chance for me to get it cause there's two others ahead of me. I'm working extra shifts at work to pay for all of this. My partner says the canopy and the rocks & corals are out of the other budget, I'll have to do that on my own....lol....By working these extra shifts, I can make it happen, I get paid enough to pay for the canopy all at once and all the rocks & corals. I hope I can last through this month and hope my hard work would pay off. It's just this month, next month I go back to my regular schedule, maybe...I have a large Life Insurance bill coming....Here's the lace rocks being put in my tank.
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/209263/new-tank-in-progress-day-1#post_1593545