Too scared to start.

[widowmaker]

I have all the stuff bought and delivered, to start running the plumbing and getting the tank ready for rock and sand to start the cycle process. I need to mount the RI/DO unit, run all the hoses, get all the equipment plugged in, get the sump all ready to go and get the water flowing. My problem is that I keep telling myself that something is missing and I can't start yet, but that's not true. I'm just telling myself that in order to talk myself out of starting, because I'm a big scaredy cat, and don't want to get everything ran all wrong. Anybody else find themselves procrastinating in the beginning, due to the overwhelming amount of stuff that has to be done, and the scariness of it all? :scared:
Also, anybody in the lower AL/GA/upper Fl tristate area, that would like a free meal at a great steakhouse, for say 8-10 hours of labor......get in touch with me for sure.....I can make that happen.

 

[lion_crazz]

Back when I got my first aquarum years ago, I did the same thing you are doing right now. Once you start though, as long as you take it slow, it is quite easy and enjoyable. It always helps to set the tank up with another person that you trust and get along with.

 

[f14peter]

I say go for it. As Lion_Crazz so sagely suggested take it slow, and work on one element at a time.
As our pile of stuff accumulated, I'm sure the wife was getting a bit antsy over the progress I was making (Or rather, lack of progress!), but I insisted on thinking things through, planning, anticipating problems, and proceeding with caution . . . so far, so good!
While some skills are helpful, you don't have to be a licensed contractor/plumber to do these things.
There will be a snowball effect here . . . you'll buckle down and do a task, and it will come out just fine. With your new-found confidence, you'll tackle the next one and the next one. Soon, you'll look and see that it's 3:30 in the freakin' AM, but you don't want to stop because you're on a roll.

 

[who dey]

don't worry. Just think... when i started my first tank al gore didn't even invent the internet yet!!!!

so help was at a minimal!!!

 

[northreef]

I agree with all above, I was also waiting for something (Money)

seriously once you start it gets easier. I have now done the plumbing, sump, refugium, and even a little electrical, and have all the equipment except for 6 pieces of loc-line that are back ordered. I too am a little hesitant as now I get to learn how to mix the water this weekend

Just read alot and take the plunge! Good Luck

 

[mikede]

Darn widowmaker,
please get out of my head. I have the new tank, stand, sump and am getiing the ro/di and skimmer for xmas. I am still too scared to rinse out the tank in fear of messing that up. So what stage are you at? Maybe we can compare notes and learn from and with each other? I have a 90 aga, I borrowed a sump/fuge design from another site and had one made at a local plastics company. I hope santa is bringing me an ASM g-2 skimmer and kent 4 stage ro/di unit for xmas. I am currently researching lights. I am trying to be patient because I know the lights I need will be expensive for what I plan to keep in my display. I have a plastic center brace issue to dance around. Well, I guess maybe it's time we get going and keep us(me) posted and best of luck.

 

[widowmaker]

Mikede,
I have a 240gal tank, with a 30 gal wet/dry. It came with the tank as a kit, or else I'd have a refugium. I have the typhoon ri/do unit, and the ASM-4 skimmer (with no instructions....actually, I don't even know how it's suppose to be hooked up...hahaha. still researching that, I do know which end is up, but that's it). I have the 72" coralife aqualight pro with the 3 250w's. I have 2 300w heaters, lucky for me, they're the ones that folks keep saying will short out and fry everything WOOHOO! Believe me, it might sound like I know what I'm talking about by listing all that stuff, but really, all I did was research each item before I bought it, asked a few questions from those in the "know", price compared, and bought. The stage I'm at is this:
I have the tank, in the wall and all mounted up. I have the light hung on a pulley system so I can raise it off the tank for access to the top openings. I have the skimmer out of the box, I have the plumbing fixture bag open, have the refrac., test kits, and heaters sitting on the wet/dry tank all collecting dust. I routinely go into the fishroom (hidden room behind tank where the ugly stuff lives) stand in the doorway and stare at everything. After about 10 minutes of that, I'm ready to curl into a ball and suck my thumb. I leave and move on to getting beat up by my 2 & 5 year old, thinking I'll "tackle" that project "maybe tomorrow"......

 

[turningtim]

WM, I thought you said you had a handle on things? J/K!

No worries, just make a plan and measure twice cut once. Don't glue anything until you are sure its right. Buy extra fittings that you may need to cut back on running out for more.
As they say "Just do it" we're here to help. Start a thread, get the camera out and take it slow. Need some diagrams just let me know.
Go for it!

Tim
On the other hand...... Had some friends from Dothan..... real nice down there....... I could use a vaca........ :thinking:

 

[widowmaker]

yea tim, i have a handle on things, in my mind. it's funny that i see it all laid out in my head, but looking in the room and at the stuff, i can't see how to get the stuff stacked there, into position to be the finely tuned system i see in my mind. last night, i was super close, to starting. carried my drill with the paddle bit on it, to drill the holes in the bench for the drain and return holes. my wife hollered to me about what i wanted for supper, so instead of just yelling back, i went into the kitchen, got out all the ingredients, cooked the whole meal, washed the dishes, and cleaned the kitchen. then blamed her (jokingly) that she made me miss working on the tank.

what a retard.....i know.

 

[turningtim]

OK chicken! where would you like to start?

 

[widowmaker]

one problem i'm having is the skimmer. here is the wet/dry i have. the skimmer is an in sump type, that that monster won't fit into the wet dry, the way it's setup, plus.....i aint never used no stink'n skiimer so i don't even know what hole goes where. i have to figure out how to make it an external skimmer, pull water from the wet/dry, then return it back.....or something. plus there's a tube on it that moves up and down, and a ring filter on the outside.....i think if i had a better plan the the one i have i might make a move. especially since i got no takers on the free steak.

 

[turningtim]

OK well I don't think the skimmer will work externally. Google ASM. There is a site with all kinds of mods and things for these skimmers.
The sliding pipe is the outlet no need to mess with that. The reason it slides is to adjust the water level in the skimmer. The pump hooks up to the reaction chamber. the pump sucks in water from the sump, pushes it in the reaction chamber with air sucked in by the small hose acttached to the inlet (in between the skimmer and pump).
Are you going to use LR and LS? You may be able to dump the Bio-balls and put the skimmer in there. Just use the WD for a sump.
With me?

 

[widowmaker]

planning on using rock and sand. i have been told i can dump the balls, but i'm not sure what consequences there might be in doing that. i guess what i don't understand is the fact that with an in tank skimmer it seems like it would not treat all the water, and that some of the untreated water would just get sent back into the tank. i may be wrong on that thought though.

 

[turningtim]

The BB's will not be nessasary if you use the correct amount of LR (1-2lbs per gal) and LS (2" bed) no need for more than that. So that takes care of the bio-filtration.
The skimmer will have some "blow by" which is exactly what you said but with proper flow and proper drain set-up it will get more out of the water than you think.
What I've read suggested amount to feed the skimmer is 1.5x the pump GPH to the skimmer. This will allow some blow by but will have enough flow to run effiently.
Whats the skimmer pump rated for? Any chance of placing a fuge in the fish room?

 

[widowmaker]

the pump is a sendra 5000 rated to 350, i think. the room is 5 x 10, with the tank flush with the outside wall. the tank sits on a 2' deep bench that 9' long. i don't think there is enough room in there for the wet/dry that came, and another 30+ gal tank for a fuge. there is also a drain (like those in the bathrooms) in the floor that i don't want to cover up.
here is a picture from the front. got fish room pictures coming later.

 

[turningtim]

Way COOL! Get that set-up already would you!

Where are you planing on putting the sump? I don't see why a fuge won't fit.
Post the fish room pic!
Awesome set up, good job!

 

[widowmaker]

okie dokie.....here are some childish pictures of the fish room. you can see that the tank takes up a good bit of space. the w/d and the skimmer will also take up space. plus i'm going to toss in a plastic container in there to the auto top off equipment i have.

 

[widowmaker]

um.....hello?

 

[ryanhayes9]

lookin good

 

[turningtim]

Sorry! Be crazy today!
Where is the sump going? To the left of the door? Is this a RR tank or HOB overflow?
I'm thinking stacked system with fuge on top and sump on the bottom. Would something like that work?
Tim