Chuck's DIY journal
- Thread starter chuckcac
- Start date
chuckcac
Member
Originally Posted by grubsnaek
haha i dont know, but ill look. just in case is there anything else i can use
instead of oyster shell you can use agagonite gravel, or chruched coral or a combination of both... i think they sell both here at SWF...
just dont use anything that is silica based - like play sand
vote for pedro...
haha i dont know, but ill look. just in case is there anything else i can use
instead of oyster shell you can use agagonite gravel, or chruched coral or a combination of both... i think they sell both here at SWF...
just dont use anything that is silica based - like play sand
vote for pedro...
chuckcac
Member
DIY base rock; still curing. water tested a solid 8.8 on sunday. that was after 3 weeks + 1 day curing in fresh water. I've been changing 100% of the water every other day.
the stand; complete
the plumbing; all hard plumbing is complete. All i have left is to buy & install loc-line tubing to direct the flow from the return.
electric; i purchased 2 GFI's. i plan to install them both this weekend.
The QT; cycle complete as of 8/03... added 2 blue-leg hermits, 1 zebra hermit, 1 nassarius snail, and a happy little tank-raised ocellaris clownfish!!!
list of items i still need to purchase;
-loc line tubes
-refugium light
-small timer for QT lights
-sand (20lbs for the fuge (4" SB) + 60 lbs for the DT 2"SB))
-5 lbs of uncured LR to start the cycle
-epoxy for the base rock
so so so close...
i figure as soon as i complete the loc-line & install the GFI's i can fill the tank with RODI & salt... add the sand and 6-7lbs of live rock (5lbs new + the existing 2-3 lbs LR from the QT) to the fuge and get the cycle started...
if all goes well the base rock will be done within 2-3 weeks and i can add them to the DT and put the rest of the sand in and complete the cycle...
chuckcac
Member
Originally Posted by DragonZim
Chuck - remind me later.. I have an extra timer that I am not using. You can have it for your QT light if you want.
fan- freakin-tastic! - anything to save a couple of bucks...
actually... all things considered, i've done really well with the budget. I got alot of stuff & money for stuff for my birthday...
i think the running total is around $850 for everything so far...(out of pocket i mean)
tank, QT set-up, DIY stand, DIY fuge, DIY rocks, DIY plumbing, pumps, powerheads, heaters, lights, skimmer, overflow, salt, refractometer, test kits, RODI filter, ground probe, buckets, tubing, mag float, net, and other misc. toys...
not too shabby... considering what it might have cost if i didn't DIY alot o' things...
Chuck - remind me later.. I have an extra timer that I am not using. You can have it for your QT light if you want.
fan- freakin-tastic! - anything to save a couple of bucks...
actually... all things considered, i've done really well with the budget. I got alot of stuff & money for stuff for my birthday...
i think the running total is around $850 for everything so far...(out of pocket i mean)
tank, QT set-up, DIY stand, DIY fuge, DIY rocks, DIY plumbing, pumps, powerheads, heaters, lights, skimmer, overflow, salt, refractometer, test kits, RODI filter, ground probe, buckets, tubing, mag float, net, and other misc. toys...
not too shabby... considering what it might have cost if i didn't DIY alot o' things...
chuckcac
Member
Originally Posted by claymc
Anyone else feel loopy after a night in the garage of heavy PVC Solvent usage??
-C
Chuck.. Nice looking setup.. I'm basing mine off yours.. will post pics here in the next few days..
between the solvent for the sump and the cement for the plumbing... i think i killed off half of my education...
sweet - cant wait to see the pics!
Anyone else feel loopy after a night in the garage of heavy PVC Solvent usage??
-C
Chuck.. Nice looking setup.. I'm basing mine off yours.. will post pics here in the next few days..
between the solvent for the sump and the cement for the plumbing... i think i killed off half of my education...
sweet - cant wait to see the pics!
chuckcac
Member
Originally Posted by grubsnaek
are you gonna upgrade your lights
yes - but probably not for a while... i know the tank needs to be well established before i can add any corals, so i figured maybe i'd ask my wife & parents to pitch in for a set of T5's for christmas... then look to start adding corals sometime next spring... i'm hoping that 8 -10 months should allow the tank to mature enough to start adding corals...
plus it gives me time to work on building a canopy...
(love that DIY stuff)
- BTW - any luck locating oystershell?
are you gonna upgrade your lights
yes - but probably not for a while... i know the tank needs to be well established before i can add any corals, so i figured maybe i'd ask my wife & parents to pitch in for a set of T5's for christmas... then look to start adding corals sometime next spring... i'm hoping that 8 -10 months should allow the tank to mature enough to start adding corals...
plus it gives me time to work on building a canopy...
- BTW - any luck locating oystershell?
chuckcac
Member
i ran power and installed 2 GFI's (set up on a dedicated 15amp circuit breaker)..., cemented the last piece of plumbing, drilled 2 small siphon break holes in the return line... and changed 100% of the DIY rock water...
i also ordered my loc-line parts, they should arrive tomorrow... if they do, i'll be testing the whole system this week.
forgot to test the water in the base rock though...
will test tonight
i also ordered my loc-line parts, they should arrive tomorrow... if they do, i'll be testing the whole system this week.
forgot to test the water in the base rock though...
chuckcac
Member
ok - finally there! i installed my loc-line fittings to my return plumbing last night... so now its a waiting game with the base rock. As of tomorrow (saturday) they will have been soaking for 5 weeks. i hope the pH starts to come down soon...
the last test was on wednesday night. pH = 8.8...
i know, patience, right?
anywayz... in the meantime. My clownfish is doing great in QT. Eats like a hog. I think (s)he is starting to recognize me at feeding time...
i was thinking about picking up a nano skimmer for the QT... they're only $30 or so, and i think it'd be worth it... anyone have any recommendations for one... i was looking at the fission nano skimmer, any thoughts?
the last test was on wednesday night. pH = 8.8...
i know, patience, right?
anywayz... in the meantime. My clownfish is doing great in QT. Eats like a hog. I think (s)he is starting to recognize me at feeding time...
i was thinking about picking up a nano skimmer for the QT... they're only $30 or so, and i think it'd be worth it... anyone have any recommendations for one... i was looking at the fission nano skimmer, any thoughts?
reefkprz
Active Member
Just a thought on skimmers on small tanks, I myself dont run skimmers on any of my small tanks because its far easier and cost effective to just do a Large water change one my 12g I do 5 gallons at a time, same on my ten, on my 75 with the 30g sump its not feasable to do a 50% waterchange though I would if I could everytime. I have done them but its a pain involving a couple different containers and shuffeling water back and forth to ensure all the water is the same temp and SG. I wish I had a spare 55g kicking around that was water tight.
reefkprz
Active Member
just to extrapolate on my previous post I forgot to mention that if your skimmer is running efficiently and your doing water changes in good order the skimmer is actually fighting keeping the small tank stable as skimmers are suprisingly efficient at removing calcium, which in turn can lead to all the problems associated with low cal, and in a small system stability is key, especially a QT where you want to de-stress your new occupants. just my thoughts on it though. I would love to hear some other thoughts on the scenario I have set. (not hijacking chuck just trying to get other thoughts on skimming small systems) to help you make a better informed decision. everyone knows what works well for me may not be Ideal for you.
chuckcac
Member
i hear you on the small skimmers... i just figured if i made the QT resemble a nano-system it would run smoothly while i QT my new arrivals... my thoughts were that; when i start to stock the DT i figure i'll have a new arrival going into the QT every 4-6 weeks... so the QT will actually be running for a good solid 6 months... and i know the set up i have now is a great temporary set up but it'll probably crash in the long-run if i dont upgrade the filtration somehow... i do actually change 2 gallons(20%)/week so, i know that'll help... but;
the QT is a 10gal AGA with 2lbs LR (to be removed if i need to hypo) and a whisper power filter... ya know? - not exactly ideal for saltwater... i just want to do what i can to be sure it's a good environment for new arrivals...
yeah - i cant wait either... i started to fill it with RODI this weekend... i've got 20 more gallons to make tonight and ill give it a test drive. I'm stopping on my way home to buy sand to add tomorrow.
the QT is a 10gal AGA with 2lbs LR (to be removed if i need to hypo) and a whisper power filter... ya know? - not exactly ideal for saltwater... i just want to do what i can to be sure it's a good environment for new arrivals...
yeah - i cant wait either... i started to fill it with RODI this weekend... i've got 20 more gallons to make tonight and ill give it a test drive. I'm stopping on my way home to buy sand to add tomorrow.
chuckcac
Member
Originally Posted by reefkprZ
just to extrapolate on my previous post I forgot to mention that if your skimmer is running efficiently and your doing water changes in good order the skimmer is actually fighting keeping the small tank stable as skimmers are suprisingly efficient at removing calcium, which in turn can lead to all the problems associated with low cal, and in a small system stability is key, especially a QT where you want to de-stress your new occupants. just my thoughts on it though. I would love to hear some other thoughts on the scenario I have set. (not hijacking chuck just trying to get other thoughts on skimming small systems) to help you make a better informed decision. everyone knows what works well for me may not be Ideal for you.
do i need to be concerned with calcium in a QT? i didn't think that was necessary... i don't test for it... should I?
i think the scenario is great... must be a PITA to carry buckets all over the place though...
just to extrapolate on my previous post I forgot to mention that if your skimmer is running efficiently and your doing water changes in good order the skimmer is actually fighting keeping the small tank stable as skimmers are suprisingly efficient at removing calcium, which in turn can lead to all the problems associated with low cal, and in a small system stability is key, especially a QT where you want to de-stress your new occupants. just my thoughts on it though. I would love to hear some other thoughts on the scenario I have set. (not hijacking chuck just trying to get other thoughts on skimming small systems) to help you make a better informed decision. everyone knows what works well for me may not be Ideal for you.
do i need to be concerned with calcium in a QT? i didn't think that was necessary... i don't test for it... should I?
i think the scenario is great... must be a PITA to carry buckets all over the place though...
chuckcac
Member
well i made it this far... for the past few days i've been making RODI. and as of last night i finally filled the whole system with water. I primed my 'u'tube on my overflow and started the return pump...
it works.
then one minute later, i reallized it works too well...
the problem(s);
at first i thought the return pump was way too fast for the overflow, luckily i have the ability to return some of the water to the sump, so i opened the valve to allow some water back into the sump... the overflow is still desperatly trying to keep up... and its sucking alot of air, gurgling, making noise & bubbles all over the sump & fuge...
after alot of tinkering with the valve that returns water to the sump i figured out that the problem is not with the pump working too well... the problem is that the overflow is trying to drain too fast and it cant keep up (even if i only 'trickle the water back up to the DT from the return...
so on a hunch i closed the valve on the supply line a little at a time untill it stopped running too fast... it worked perfectly to get rid of the gurgling, bubbles & noise.... this is when i realized my supply plumbing works too fast for the drain pipe in the overflow...
the dilemma;
in order for the system to work i need to return about 1/2 the water from the return-pump back to the sump, and close the valve on the supply line (coming from the overflow) about a 1/3...
this really inhibits the full capacity of the system... it was really my hope to obtain as much gph from this system as possible. (i calculated around 600) This scenario cuts the gph almost in half (roughly 350)
possible solutions; (here's where i'm hoping to hear from some of the experts)
1. i'll try to add a second 'u' tube to the overflow to try to increase the water going from the tank into the overflow.
if that doesn't work,
2. i'll build a stand pipe to try to keep air out of the supply pipe.
if that doesn't work,
3. i'll try both together. the new stand pipe + a second 'u' tube.
any suggestions would rock...
i'm going to go try to research how to build a 'straght' standpipe b/c i dont have room in the overflow for a 'durso' stand pipe...
it works.
then one minute later, i reallized it works too well...
the problem(s);
at first i thought the return pump was way too fast for the overflow, luckily i have the ability to return some of the water to the sump, so i opened the valve to allow some water back into the sump... the overflow is still desperatly trying to keep up... and its sucking alot of air, gurgling, making noise & bubbles all over the sump & fuge...
after alot of tinkering with the valve that returns water to the sump i figured out that the problem is not with the pump working too well... the problem is that the overflow is trying to drain too fast and it cant keep up (even if i only 'trickle the water back up to the DT from the return...
so on a hunch i closed the valve on the supply line a little at a time untill it stopped running too fast... it worked perfectly to get rid of the gurgling, bubbles & noise.... this is when i realized my supply plumbing works too fast for the drain pipe in the overflow...
the dilemma;
in order for the system to work i need to return about 1/2 the water from the return-pump back to the sump, and close the valve on the supply line (coming from the overflow) about a 1/3...
this really inhibits the full capacity of the system... it was really my hope to obtain as much gph from this system as possible. (i calculated around 600) This scenario cuts the gph almost in half (roughly 350)
possible solutions; (here's where i'm hoping to hear from some of the experts)
1. i'll try to add a second 'u' tube to the overflow to try to increase the water going from the tank into the overflow.
if that doesn't work,
2. i'll build a stand pipe to try to keep air out of the supply pipe.
if that doesn't work,
3. i'll try both together. the new stand pipe + a second 'u' tube.
any suggestions would rock...
i'm going to go try to research how to build a 'straght' standpipe b/c i dont have room in the overflow for a 'durso' stand pipe...