My fist saltwater tank!

[Pv1191]

Hello All,

I just wanted to say HI. You will be hearing alot from me about the progress of my new (used) set-up. It is a 50g Tru Vu. This tank is in the process of being completed. I picked it up on 01-18-07. Pumps, skimmer, chiller, Hydors, test equipment, live sand, and various plumbing parts will be here by 01-22-07. 100+lbs of cured live rock came with the tank. It is in a tub with a power head and a heater. Plumbing has started but until the other parts arrive I'm stuck. I'm going to construck a live rock wall covering the back of the tank. Egg crate is cut and ready to install. I should have everything put together and cycling by 01-24-07 or 01-25-07.

[zhenya]

Hi Pv 1191,



Congrats on your purchase and good luck on the building it into a beautiful reeftank.
Keep us updated and if you have any questions don't be shy, we are here to help if you need us.

[Pv1191]

Thanks! I'm sure I will have ALOT of questions. I am lucky because I have a friend helping me that majored in marine biology in college.

[RHINO13]

Hello Pv1191,

Good luck with your new tank(if its your first your new life, lol)

I was wondering what # Hydors you have coming?

I have a 46 Bow and I tried out a #2 and removed one of my Maxi Jet 1200's.Just wondering what your getting, and how you like it when you get them going.

[Pv1191]

Well it has been a journey to say the least. I finished the plumbing on Sat. Today I leak checked. Once I turned on the pumps and I have too much flow in and not enough out. I have a 1 1/4" bulk head going to a 1" tube to the sump. I was only able to keep about three inches of water in the sump. When I added more to the sump the tank level would rise. I am running a mag 12 (1250 GPH) for the return split with a y fitting and going to each side of the tank with Hydors. So tomorrow I'm going to get a 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 and go with a larger overflow. I hope this will solve the problem. any other suggestions? I could put a ball valve in the return but I want a good flow. That is why I went with the mag 12.

[zhenya]

Well it has been a journey to say the least. I finished the plumbing on Sat. Today I leak checked. Once I turned on the pumps and I have too much flow in and not enough out. I have a 1 1/4" bulk head going to a 1" tube to the sump. I was only able to keep about three inches of water in the sump. When I added more to the sump the tank level would rise. I am running a mag 12 (1250 GPH) for the return split with a y fitting and going to each side of the tank with Hydors. So tomorrow I'm going to get a 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 and go with a larger overflow. I hope this will solve the problem. any other suggestions? I could put a ball valve in the return but I want a good flow. That is why I went with the mag 12.

Yes, it is definately overflow problem. What type of overflow is it? Is your tank predrilled with just one 1.25" bulk head? If that is all you got than your pump is simply too much for that one drain. I think the best thing to do in a situations like this is to go with the smaller pump and either use power heads for extra flow internally, or, alternatively you can design a closed loop yourself or use one that is available online. Like this one for example.

[Pv1191]

The bulk head I drilled myself. The plumbing is 1.5 going down to a 1 in braded hose. I thought I had 1.25 but I just looked at it and it's 1.5. I'm going to try and open it up by putting on a 1.5 hose. I am not too far off and I think the added 1/2 inch will solve the problem. I am just hoping the overflow will not be too much. If so I can install a ball valve, in or out, to control it. I just don't want to reduce the flow inside the tank. I thought the Hydor's would reduce it enough so I wouldn't have this problem. Oh well live and learn. I'll keep you posted. I'm off to Lowe's for the supplies.

[zhenya]

The bulk head I drilled myself. The plumbing is 1.5 going down to a 1 in braded hose. I thought I had 1.25 but I just looked at it and it's 1.5. I'm going to try and open it up by putting on a 1.5 hose. I am not too far off and I think the added 1/2 inch will solve the problem. I am just hoping the overflow will not be too much. If so I can install a ball valve, in or out, to control it. I just don't want to reduce the flow inside the tank. I thought the Hydor's would reduce it enough so I wouldn't have this problem. Oh well live and learn. I'll keep you posted. I'm off to Lowe's for the supplies.

You see, you lost me there. Why are you using one inch braided hose for a drain when you have 1.5" bulk head installed? I'm thinking it should accept 1.5" PVC that should be just fine with the mag12 in the sump, split into two outlets for return. Having said that, from the pictures that you posted I didn;t see any overflows in the tank. Can you post a picture showing how you have it set up?

[Pv1191]

I was thinking the the 1 inch overflow would be more than enough. I did not want to have the opposite problem. too much out and not enough in. I didn't get a chance to get the 1.5 hose. I'll pick it up tomorrow. Just so you know the overflow is on the back of the tank in the top center. I'll post some pics tomorrow. There is much more to do. The 12 gal sump temporary until my other one arrives. I just want to get the water flow correct so I can add the salt, sand and rock.

[jsheffel]

You cannot have "too much out." No matter how big the overflow is, only the amount of water that goes over the wier will flow out of it. The amount going over the wier is limited to the amount pumped back in to the aquarium by the sump return pump.

[Pv1191]

Sorry its been a while. My flow problems are sloved. I threw a 1.5 hose over the back of the overflow and down to the new sump (25G). I installed a ball valve in the return to control the flow. I was still getting too much in. It is not limited by very much and the flow in the tank is quite nice. Aquascaping is done and it has been running and stable for the last 8 days. The sand and rock was cured and all my levels are dead on. I'm stocking tomorrow.

[Pv1191]

Here is a pic

[wozza]

nice aquascaping, what are you adding 2marow?

[zhenya]

nice aquascaping...

I agree.., and not to be picky but I have just one question regarding your aquascape. It appears, judging from the pictures, that the rocks are leaning on the side glass on one side of the tank. Do you have enough space there to get into the tank for maintanance if need arises? Just something that kind of struck me looking at your aqascape design, aside from that it looks great!

[Pv1191]

I agree.., and not to be picky but I have just one question regarding your aquascape. It appears, judging from the pictures, that the rocks are leaning on the side glass on one side of the tank. Do you have enough space there to get into the tank for maintanance if need arises? Just something that kind of struck me looking at your aqascape design, aside from that it looks great!

Most of the right side is zip tied to egg crate. It can be removed as one unit if the need comes. I'm just going to let the holes fill up with coroline and keep the easily accessible areas of the back panel clean. I just got back from the wholesale reef store and picked up most of my clean up crew, 20 red hermits, 20+ turbo snails and a few others, two green emerald crabs, two cleaner shrimp, one arrow crab, a blue tang, true perc, and 5 cardinals. They are bagged and waiting to be dropped in. I'll post pics later when they are settled.

[Pv1191]

Some pics. Sorry for the poor quality my camera sucks

[wozza]

didnt fancy QTing them then?

[Pv1191]

All of the fish are in very good shape and healthy. Fed them last night and they all ate well. I used fortified brine shrimp and phytoplankton. There was nothing in the system but the live rock and sand. Both cured and ready to go. I figured that setting up my QT tank would be a moot point. There are no corals yet so if I do get an outbreak I'll just treat the whole tank. I'm going to monitor everything daily for about two weeks. If all is good then I'll start to add my coral stock. Right now they are all getting settled and figuring out their pecking order. As of now the tang has marked his/her territory and keeps the others out.

[wozza]

There are no corals yet so if I do get an outbreak I'll just treat the whole tank.

if you did that it would kill the live rock as well, assuming that you would use eather hypo or copper.

[rjs5134]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I didn't read much about the cycling of the tank. I did see that on March 8 the tank had been running for 8+/- days. Wouldn't that be a bit much to add so soon to such a new, smallish tank? I'm sure the tank is too small for the tang. As far as the QT being a moot point, you should read Leebca's sticky thread on QT, definately not a moot point.

On another note, I too like the aquascaping. Eventually I'll be happy enough with my own to post a pic.

Good luck.