baloo6969
Member
Ok, well I guess I’ll do a dairy since everyone else has one.I’d like to say that I have been at this for little while (4 years or so) but not nearly as long as some others. I think we all have learned from our own mistakes or from others’ mistakes…so first thing I’d like to do is list my issues, failures and solutions to my current system. Hopefully others can learn from my MANNYY mistakes.My original tank I started was in college it was a 55. It was basic, some fish and some corals; nothing like some of you “pros” have…the filtration was a Fluval can filter, 2 sea clones, and the sump was a tide pool (trays and a bio wheel) with some rock, cheato in the sump and an inline heater. Lighting was a Odysea 4x96watts PC…that was on a college budget bouncing at a bar to pay for it…now I’m in the real world working 40+ a week, living with the GF, truck payment…needless to say I have less money now than I ever did. Anyway, I’ve got the OK from the old lady to spend the money and do things right, the apartment looks great, minus a ugly stand with all kinds of things hanging everywhere.
I want to list the problems I’ve had in the past 4 years with my 55 due to budget constraints and laziness. Also listing the solutions that hopefully will be resolved with the “New tank”…this time I’m doing things right…no more cutting corners…
1. Protein Skimmer – I used 2 Sea clones for 2 years (cheep and all I could afford)…not bad after the mods were done. Then I got a Berlin HO turbo not bad, but should be in sump…I couldn’t get the bubbles to stop…after 6 months of fiddling I unplugged it and got a Prizm Pro Deluxe… IT’S AWSOME! It skims like a champ. I know there’s 249821974 better ones, but I’m happy with it….so this problem has been rectified. I will be using the prizm pro on the DT skimming, and use the Berlin ho on my sump.
2 Sump/Fuge – the bio-wheel was a nitrate-wheel, and the trays (though perfect for using ANY type of filter media in it) was still a pain, and the flow couldn’t be too high. So after is saw regoew’s design for a 29gal fuge, I made a copy of it…payment pending…and will be putting ~30lbs of sand in it for a DSB, and keep the 56watt PC 10k/Blue bulb above it…should be good enough for the time being.
3 Heat – in the past I had a hydor inline heater…it didn’t do a very good job of keeping the heat constant (probably the size tank I had, and the low temps my apartment is). So I’m going with 3 smaller heaters. 2 in fuge 1 in DT(maybe another inline heater). My apartment is never above 75 and never below 68…I’m fat and like a big bear, I don’t like to sweet, and I like the cold. At anyrate,
4. Tanks background – the background was just the black plastic, salt water gets behind it, what a bear to keep it clean. The new tank will be sprayed black in the back.
5. Lighting – I’ve always used PC lighting…for the time being I will still use my 4x96 watt bulbs, but I will be buying MH’s this week. I will have a new hood made.
6 Hood (lack there of) – once the tank is in place the “Oak guy” will come and take measurement for me, and build me a hood, this will be completed in a month or 2. He will put in filtered fans on each side to lower heat from the MH’s
7. Filter – I have 80lbs of LR and ~50lbs live sand…I will be getting more. For the time being I will continue to use the can filter…possibly removing it once the tank “clears up” I will possibly getting a new one…but in reality, I’ll just use it to run carbon or chemi-pure…once things get going I think the fuge, LR, and skimmers will be enough filtration.
8. Wires everywhere – I have surge strips hooked to surge strips. Wires are laying everywhere…it’s unsightly and dangerous. If I had a dime for every time I zapped myself I’d be able to buy a nice size frag. Anyway, I want a combination of switches and outlets so I can shut off each item individually, and be able to unplug them to service. I also don’t want to see any wires and switches.9. Water top off – there’s many ATO systems out there, but +100$ seams like quite a lot for just a float switches and mounts…I will be building float switches into the fuge.
10. Algae on glass – phosphate levels have always remained 0, though once a month for a week I run phosphate sponge, just to be sure. Also…
11. Nitrates – this is an issue with all aquarists. Though levels are normally raised for 2 big reasons all due to ammonia; over feeding and die off. Of course people will say fix the cause of the ammonia raising…yes I agree. Some will say do more water changes; use nitrate sponge…everyone always has a solution to the nitrate issue. I’d like to nip nitrates in the butt…while still doing weekly water changes. Basically I’d like to be proactive. Well I’m attempting to use a DIY dentirator. It has been cycling for 2 weeks, and of course there has been no change yet.
I want to list the problems I’ve had in the past 4 years with my 55 due to budget constraints and laziness. Also listing the solutions that hopefully will be resolved with the “New tank”…this time I’m doing things right…no more cutting corners…
1. Protein Skimmer – I used 2 Sea clones for 2 years (cheep and all I could afford)…not bad after the mods were done. Then I got a Berlin HO turbo not bad, but should be in sump…I couldn’t get the bubbles to stop…after 6 months of fiddling I unplugged it and got a Prizm Pro Deluxe… IT’S AWSOME! It skims like a champ. I know there’s 249821974 better ones, but I’m happy with it….so this problem has been rectified. I will be using the prizm pro on the DT skimming, and use the Berlin ho on my sump.
2 Sump/Fuge – the bio-wheel was a nitrate-wheel, and the trays (though perfect for using ANY type of filter media in it) was still a pain, and the flow couldn’t be too high. So after is saw regoew’s design for a 29gal fuge, I made a copy of it…payment pending…and will be putting ~30lbs of sand in it for a DSB, and keep the 56watt PC 10k/Blue bulb above it…should be good enough for the time being.
3 Heat – in the past I had a hydor inline heater…it didn’t do a very good job of keeping the heat constant (probably the size tank I had, and the low temps my apartment is). So I’m going with 3 smaller heaters. 2 in fuge 1 in DT(maybe another inline heater). My apartment is never above 75 and never below 68…I’m fat and like a big bear, I don’t like to sweet, and I like the cold. At anyrate,
4. Tanks background – the background was just the black plastic, salt water gets behind it, what a bear to keep it clean. The new tank will be sprayed black in the back.
5. Lighting – I’ve always used PC lighting…for the time being I will still use my 4x96 watt bulbs, but I will be buying MH’s this week. I will have a new hood made.
6 Hood (lack there of) – once the tank is in place the “Oak guy” will come and take measurement for me, and build me a hood, this will be completed in a month or 2. He will put in filtered fans on each side to lower heat from the MH’s
7. Filter – I have 80lbs of LR and ~50lbs live sand…I will be getting more. For the time being I will continue to use the can filter…possibly removing it once the tank “clears up” I will possibly getting a new one…but in reality, I’ll just use it to run carbon or chemi-pure…once things get going I think the fuge, LR, and skimmers will be enough filtration.
8. Wires everywhere – I have surge strips hooked to surge strips. Wires are laying everywhere…it’s unsightly and dangerous. If I had a dime for every time I zapped myself I’d be able to buy a nice size frag. Anyway, I want a combination of switches and outlets so I can shut off each item individually, and be able to unplug them to service. I also don’t want to see any wires and switches.9. Water top off – there’s many ATO systems out there, but +100$ seams like quite a lot for just a float switches and mounts…I will be building float switches into the fuge.
10. Algae on glass – phosphate levels have always remained 0, though once a month for a week I run phosphate sponge, just to be sure. Also…
11. Nitrates – this is an issue with all aquarists. Though levels are normally raised for 2 big reasons all due to ammonia; over feeding and die off. Of course people will say fix the cause of the ammonia raising…yes I agree. Some will say do more water changes; use nitrate sponge…everyone always has a solution to the nitrate issue. I’d like to nip nitrates in the butt…while still doing weekly water changes. Basically I’d like to be proactive. Well I’m attempting to use a DIY dentirator. It has been cycling for 2 weeks, and of course there has been no change yet.
