Kevin's Tank!!!

kevin34

kevin34

Active Member
Im probably getting my lights within the next month or so and was wondering how many hours I should have my lights on for. I was thinking:
8 a.m.- actinics on
12 p.m.- 11Ks on
6 p.m.- 11Ks off
8 p.m.- actinics off
10 p.m.- moonlights on
somewhere really early in the morning- moonlights off
Does that schedule look alright?
 
kevin34

kevin34

Active Member
Got a quick question. Since the top of the overflow boxes are open should they be covered somehow to fish cant swim inside and get caught in the tubing?
 
wangotango

wangotango

Active Member
you dont have to cover the overflows, as the water will only be about at the center of the top grille, so the water will be an inch or less lower than the top of the megaflow. but if you want to cover it id use eggcrate.
your lighting schedule sounds good, but why not turn the moonlights on right when the actinics turn off?
-Justin
 
azfishgal

azfishgal

Active Member
Originally Posted by Kevin34
Got a quick question. Since the top of the overflow boxes are open should they be covered somehow to fish cant swim inside and get caught in the tubing?
I havn't had any issues with fish going over the side. The water level is 1/2" below the top of my overflow box. I suppose my clowns are small enough to go between the grids and maybe my royal gramma, but they have been in there for months and don't even get close to the top of the box.
I too think you should have your moon lights come on when your actinics go off. At least that's the way I'll be doing it. More of a suddle change instead of going from blue to DARK!
 
kevin34

kevin34

Active Member
Ok I will turn the moonlights on right away. And dont worry there will be updates
. And when they come they will probably all be in 1 big wave.
 
kevin34

kevin34

Active Member
I am getting ready to order some stuff and I got an idea. If I got the lighting, pump, salt, and testing kits my tank would be fish ready. So just so things move a little quicker I was thinking I get those things plus an RO unit and sand and slowly add in the live rock. I would have to hold off on the skimmer for a bit. Would that effect the tanks cycle or water quality without a skimmer for a while? Also is it safe to slowly add in live rock as I get the money for it while the tank is full? The rock would be cured.
 
azfishgal

azfishgal

Active Member
You really don't need a skimmer until there is something to skim. If your first batch of live rock is curring in your tank then yes, I would get a skimmer. I had 100 lbs of live rock that was shipped so it had to re-cure in my tank and the skimmer did pull out a lot of junk, but once the rock was done curring it didn't pull anything out until I started to add things. You can add live rock later, just make sure it's completely curred before adding it to your DT.
Can't wait to see your tank up and running!!!
 
kevin34

kevin34

Active Member
I got a new protein skimmer today and I have no idea how to assemble it. Its an octopus skimmer and the directions are very unclear. Here are some pics of all the parts that I recived. Can anyone help me out? The main questions I have are where the silencer goes and how do I attach the airtube to the pump? Do I need to pop the square off the pump?




 
mbnum2

mbnum2

Member
Originally Posted by Kevin34
Im probably getting my lights within the next month or so and was wondering how many hours I should have my lights on for. I was thinking:
8 a.m.- actinics on
12 p.m.- 11Ks on
6 p.m.- 11Ks off
8 p.m.- actinics off
10 p.m.- moonlights on
somewhere really early in the morning- moonlights off
Does that schedule look alright?
noob question here, how would you go about timing all of those lights. I have two sets of lights (antics and PC). They are both on the same timer. Would you get more timers or what?
 
kevin34

kevin34

Active Member
Ya just plug each one (actinics, daylights, and moonlights if you have them) into their own timer.
 
wangotango

wangotango

Active Member
In the assembled picture it looks like the pre-filter has been removed. I'm guessing that that is where the venturi and air tube go in (in the pump intake).
I usually don't follow the instructions that come with things; if it looks like it fits, put it in
.
-Justin
 
kevin34

kevin34

Active Member
Does anyone know where the silencer goes? Its not even pictured in the assembled picture so Im thinking that its optional. Its the small black tube that I posted with 2 stubs on the end.
 
wangotango

wangotango

Active Member
Originally Posted by Kevin34
Does anyone know where the silencer goes? Its not even pictured in the assembled picture so Im thinking that its optional. Its the small black tube that I posted with 2 stubs on the end.
It would go at the top of the air tube, if you wanted to use it.
-Justin
 
azfishgal

azfishgal

Active Member
Originally Posted by Kevin34
Does it matter the direction the skimmer and pump face in the sump?
No, just put it in the best way it will fit. I actually have a lot of room in my sump and I've turned my skimmer around a few times to draw the salt splash away from my doors.
 
kevin34

kevin34

Active Member
Ya its all together and in the sump now. I need to get a T tubing to hook of the new mag drive next. How can I hook up the pump out of the sump though? I would rather have it out than in to keep the temp down. Once everything is hooked up I'll post some pics. I just need an RO unit and lighting and I should be ready to fill it.
 
wangotango

wangotango

Active Member
Mag-drives aren't designed to be used externally with saltwater. What model are you running? With such a large tank I wouldn't be too worried with it heating up the water to a point where it would be a concern.
-Justin
 
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