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eric b 125
Guest
sorry about the fuzzy pictures. i'll have to go get a new camera tomorrow while whatever sand-cloud i experience dies down.
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eric b 125
Guest
off to HD for GFCI. here's to hoping i remember how to switch out a recepticle!
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eric b 125
Guest
GFCI installed, tested, and working properly. when doing the wiring i discovered that the recepticle for my tank is a dedicated line. it's not connected to any other recepticles in the house, which is nice considering that i rent so i'm limited in what i can do around here to make things work out. luckily i have a pretty decent land-lord who lets me make any improvements to the house (not that it really needs any) and pays for the materials. (this one's for you, bob
)
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eric b 125
Guest
Gfci
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eric b 125
Guest
now comes the fun of the aquascape. today is starting out pretty good. lets hope it progresses in my favor.
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eric b 125
Guest
HOT DOG!!! the tank is up and running. i like the new aquascape and i was able to fill er up w/o too much of a sandstorm. i can see the back of the tank. i used roughly 50 gallons of old water (that was in the LR holding tank) and filled the rest up w/ new water. i had just enough salt to fill it up and still have some left for a few water changes. everything is running nice and dry, but i'll be doing regular 'leak checks'. i got the skimmer running. obviously there will be a break-in period but i have good feelings about it.
all that's left to do is attach the loc-line, plug everything in nice and clean and acclimate once the water clears a bit. i have to go get some timers while the water settles and i'm going to look at some cameras. i probably ought to get some pods to seed the fuge even though i have a modified HOB aquaclear that is full of them.
all that's left to do is attach the loc-line, plug everything in nice and clean and acclimate once the water clears a bit. i have to go get some timers while the water settles and i'm going to look at some cameras. i probably ought to get some pods to seed the fuge even though i have a modified HOB aquaclear that is full of them.
fishfry101
Member
awsome build - keep the posts comming. Can you take and post some more photo's of your sump?
Thanks
Thanks
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eric b 125
Guest
thanks fishfry. i'll take some pictures in a little bit and post them. anything in particular?
i finished up the return plumbing. drilled and tested the siphon breaks. i didnt get a chance to get out to get timers yet. its cold here in pgh, and i'm trying to square things up around here. really, i wouldnt be able to use them today anyways since i'll have to light-acclimate some things so the photo-period wont be regular enough to bother with timers. i'll get them later today or tomorrow just so they're here.
i'm acclimating everything now. all the livestock is in a 55 right next to the 125, so i have airline tubing siphoning from the DT into the 55. next to the 55 i have a 5 gallon bucket that i'm siphoning water into periodically. once i fill it 2 or 3 times i'll put everything back into the 125 and start cleaning up.
i dont like having to acclimate on the same day as set up, but i have a sebae anemone that isnt looking too hot. i have some new water mixing now for any water changes i might need to do. it will be a nice long 2-3 hr acclimation.
once everything is in the DT i'll run actinics for an hour, then halides for a few hours, then actinics for another hour.
i finished up the return plumbing. drilled and tested the siphon breaks. i didnt get a chance to get out to get timers yet. its cold here in pgh, and i'm trying to square things up around here. really, i wouldnt be able to use them today anyways since i'll have to light-acclimate some things so the photo-period wont be regular enough to bother with timers. i'll get them later today or tomorrow just so they're here.
i'm acclimating everything now. all the livestock is in a 55 right next to the 125, so i have airline tubing siphoning from the DT into the 55. next to the 55 i have a 5 gallon bucket that i'm siphoning water into periodically. once i fill it 2 or 3 times i'll put everything back into the 125 and start cleaning up.
i dont like having to acclimate on the same day as set up, but i have a sebae anemone that isnt looking too hot. i have some new water mixing now for any water changes i might need to do. it will be a nice long 2-3 hr acclimation.
once everything is in the DT i'll run actinics for an hour, then halides for a few hours, then actinics for another hour.
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eric b 125
Guest
did a 2.5 hour acclimation and got everything into the tank. i really have to find my camera, because all the pictures i've taken thus far have been from my phone. my lighting looks yellow and un-even in these pictures, but it doesnt look that way at all. either way, here are some more pics of where i'm at tonight.
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eric b 125
Guest
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eric b 125
Guest
..
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eric b 125
Guest
i lost a clownfish. its nowhere to be found. i'm not too worried about it though.
i also figured out why the sebae looked like hell earlier today: it was resting against the heater. it looks 10X better than it did earlier. it was all 'foot' and the tentacles were really wierd looking, like they were burned (which they were). it wasnt a water exchange, or any digestive process. i know that nems constantly change their appearance, and i've NEVER seen anything like it.
i also figured out why the sebae looked like hell earlier today: it was resting against the heater. it looks 10X better than it did earlier. it was all 'foot' and the tentacles were really wierd looking, like they were burned (which they were). it wasnt a water exchange, or any digestive process. i know that nems constantly change their appearance, and i've NEVER seen anything like it.
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eric b 125
Guest
everything made it through the first night just fine. my brain coral, which i was having problems with for about a month, is looking better than ever. this is an indication to me that i need to be more diligent on my water changes.
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eric b 125
Guest
hopefully the sebae finds it's place tonight. i'd like to get some more coral tomorrow. today i figured out what i have to look forward to as far as top-offs. about 2 gallons a day. i could go 2 days w/ out having to add to the sump, but i'll just do it everyday anyways.
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eric b 125
Guest
here's a quick run-down on what it cost me to add the sump to my system:
asm g-2 = $250
40 Long + mag 18 = $240
glass-holes order = $180
plumbing + misc home depot things = $130
glass for baffles = $56
round about total = $856
my suggestion to anyone doing this: dont try and figure out the total cost.
asm g-2 = $250
40 Long + mag 18 = $240
glass-holes order = $180
plumbing + misc home depot things = $130
glass for baffles = $56
round about total = $856
my suggestion to anyone doing this: dont try and figure out the total cost.
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eric b 125
Guest
^ as much as it sucks to look at those figures, i think a rational next step would be to add an ATO. i've been sinking my teeth into 'marine chemistry' by brightwell, and i'm starting to really understand the importance of stable water chemistry. i always knew it was important, but i'm beginning to understand the why of it.
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eric b 125
Guest
after having to do a few water changes, i've come to realize the importance of good plug placement. i would really like this setup to be as user-friendly as possible, so when i go on vacation whoever is tank sitting can understand the system. so along with an ATO, i'm going to invest in some dj powerstrips. i have a ton of them upstairs that proved to be priceless when moving my turntables from spot to spot. i have books to buy for school, and bills coming up, so these wont be immediate purchases. i'd like to have this done in a month or so.
the skimmer is starting to pull out a little skimmate. i dont know if it isnt fully broken-in yet, or if i have it adjusted wrong. hoping to see some nasty stuff this week.
the skimmer is starting to pull out a little skimmate. i dont know if it isnt fully broken-in yet, or if i have it adjusted wrong. hoping to see some nasty stuff this week.
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eric b 125
Guest
havent posted in a while, i've been real busy with work and school and all my money has recently gone to upgrading my sailboard equipment.
today i finally gave up on the sebae and took it out. it was looking real shifty for some time now. in the next few weeks i'd like to get a few new corals and the powerstrips and work on the ATO.
today i finally gave up on the sebae and took it out. it was looking real shifty for some time now. in the next few weeks i'd like to get a few new corals and the powerstrips and work on the ATO.