Snake's 10g reef puddle

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Alright, so the tank has been going ok. The ATO system that I had with the aqualifter pump failed. I don't know why the aqualifter isn't working, even at 28" of head. The max is 30" so I think it's somehow a design flaw. Though, I am thankful for the two weeks that it worked. I'm considering buying a small 2.5g tank and setting it up on some kind of shelf beside the 10g on the side so that aqualifter pump will really work well, like it is supposed to. I just got to tweak some things. As it is now, the little sump that I have on there I have to fill it up about three or four times a day by hand to keep the return pump from running dry. But, that's ok with me for the next few days until I can figure out something better.
The little chunk of montipora that I have in the tank has started to shed some of it's skin in spots. I don't think it's the water flow going through the tank. I think it's really just new tank syndrome, so to speak. I'm going to add a little phyto to the tank each week after a water change and let it mature for a few more weeks. The monti still isn't dead or anything - it's just stressed.
Anyways, that's all for now about the tank.
I am back in school, and even though I'm not taking chemistry this semester, I think I am going to have a very difficult time. Though, the highest level course I am taking is a Jr. level course, I have to spend a lot of time outside of class reading and even observing teachers. I am taking 14 hours of credit - and they are all going towards my major at this time. I'm glad that I am not taking an extra unnecessary course like I was going to. As of right now:
Plant and Animal Form and Function
PAFF lab
Cell Biology
Genetics
Genetics lab
Curriculum and Instruction 2001
This is my last semester of Biology courses. After this semester, it's straight Curriculum and instruction courses where I get to be a lot more in the classroom and learning how to teach. I'm pretty excited, since I only have four semesters left before I walk that stage. I'm pretty excited.
 
E

eric b 125

Guest
I accidentally posted a bunch of pics here b/c I thought I was in my thread
 

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
lol, nice. Sorry my tank looks so good it emulates yours. :D I guess that's a good thing for me.
So, my montipora bleached over the course of the last couple of days. All my parameters are the same. Nothing has changed and nothing is "off" so far that I have tested. I'm thinking that the PAR 38 bulb that I have is way too much light for my little tank. At least it's way too concentrated.
Over the next couple of weeks I Am going to research more on how to build my own little DIY LED light and dim it down and have it where it's an even spread throughout the tank instead of what I have going on right now. Buying a componant a week or so isn't going to be an issue.
I'm just going to do a simple dimmable driver and use a POT to dim it... Just until I figure out how to control it through my Apex Jr. Why own a controller if you don't figure out how to use it???
--
As a side note, I'm going to sell off my photon 48 and my 75g tank, stand and sump to someone that wants to get into the hobby. Right now I think the ten gallon is all I want to fool with at least until I get out of school. I really like my 75g planted tank but it's not truly what I want and what I want to spend my money on at this time.
I'm going to be moving in a couple of months and my schedule for school has severely restricted my work hours. So, I'm having to figure out ways to make extra money besides at the taxidermy shop - and I am starting to sell off a lot of the components that I have to take care of larger reefs. I just have too much stuff, and I don't want that stuff to end up owning me. (fight club reference, for those that noticed.) Besides that, I simply wont' have the space for a large tank when we move. I figure the ten gallon salt tank will probably be all I can get away with until I get my own home.
 

2quills

Well-Known Member
Simplest way I can think of would be to raise the light a little, Seth. Drops the par a bit and at the least will give you some more coverage. In the last pic the monti does seam relatively close to the light source. I'm not sure which brand of par38 that you have but I do know that there are some that you can control with a rheostat (dimming switch).
 

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Yeah, Triac dimming switch. I know how to rig one up. I think the monti is a goner. I'm gonna flick it in a back corner and add it to the live rock rubble pile. But, $5 mistake and I know that the light I have right now is way overkill at the height it is set at.
I have my first $20 saved towards some DIY LED's... I'm going to figure out how to put a canopy on top of the tank - and of course I'm having ATO pump issues that I have to deal with sooner than later.
If it ain't one thing, it's something else, right?
 

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
The tank is going pretty good. I have to get the ATO fixed sometime this week. I am considering just setting the ATO reservoir on something up higher and putting the aqualifter pump back on it while I'm away this coming weekend.
I was able to pick up some extra hours this weekend at work and been trying to hit it pretty hard. Sold a few more aquarium related items on Craigslist. Just been trying to make it lately.
Hopefully things will get back in the natural swing of things as time moves on .
 
E

eric b 125

Guest
Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/396018/snakes-10g-reef-puddle/80#post_3529673
The tank is going pretty good. I have to get the ATO fixed sometime this week. I am considering just setting the ATO reservoir on something up higher and putting the aqualifter pump back on it while I'm away this coming weekend.
Won't this create a siphon? Once the pump turns on it will prime the line and even when the pump turns off gravity will take over and flood your tank, no?
 

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
No. Two reasons. The airline tube that drips water in the tank is above the water line in the sump. Second reason is the gang valve attached to thr aqualifter via airline tube has a check valve on it which prevents siphoning. The way its setup it wont back siphon. The only worry i have is the ato sensor not working properly.
 
E

eric b 125

Guest
I read your post wrong. I thought you were going to set the ATO reservoir higher than the tank
 
E

eric b 125

Guest
Have fun at MACNA my dude. I'll be in Philly until Sunday for business but I'll have my computer and phone with me. Shoot me a text, eh?
 

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
SO,...
I got in from Florida this morning. It was a 22 hour drive there, and the same back. My wife and I had to take turns. We did have a couple of "scares" but we were able to get through everything unscathed. We did add an extra 100 miles to the odometer though in back tracking and turn arounds... but it was all worth it.
I have some pictures of the conference that I can share, but I don't think I want to do it on this build thread.
I got a lot of good ideas from the concepts at MACNA this year and from what I have seen, I am completely blown away. Whew. Makes all of my efforts look amateur. ANYWAYS, I think the saltwater bug has bit be big time again and I have some new plans in the works. :D
 

sweatervest13

Active Member
Are you just going to go crazy on the 10g? Or, do you have something bigger in mind?
Glad you had a chance to check out MACNA. I would have had a smile on my face the whole weekend if I attended.

I can't wait to see all the cool pics!!
 

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
I think I have sufficiently gone crazy on this 10g tank. lol. BUT, I think I am going to custom build a tank out of some thick acrylic and custom build a stand. Basically, all of the tools and equipment that is on the 10g right now will go into the custom build. I have to make it fit in the corner still, and dang it, it's going to be SPS. I think I'm fully committed to it... finally, I think I am ready. I just need to do it on a smaller scale at first. I do have the money and the time to do it, but I ALWAYS rush into a build... and since I have my little 10g tank going right now, I can concentrate on it while I am building my college dream system.

I saw all kinds of LED lighting systems for nano tanks at MACNA and they were beautiful. I took note of a lot of the brand names and I have been doing a little bit of research on them.

But, this 10g now I will keep going and get it all figured out before I really start to build what I KNOW I am capable of.
 

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Im currently planning a very long build. Lol.
20x20x20 rimless cube tank, 35g. It would be nice to get 3/8" starfire glass on three sides. Just depends on thr funds. Thinking about an overflow like yours, eric. Oversized stand with a custom sump too. It might have to sit on a back burner for a while depending on my time.
For this ten gallon, i think i am going to get a buildmyLED brand unit and keep playing around with the ten gallon. Stable parameters, water changes, etc etc. figure out how to keep sps long term and experiment. Ill be building the new tank after i sell off my 75g.
It might be a possibility that i set up my 75g instead of build. Ive been talking to my wife and she doesnt want me to get rid of it just yet. Just too expensive to maintain and too much time to maintain while im in my final semesters at school. But freshwater plants just dont excite me as much as they used to.
 
Top