[SouthBayPhoto]

Well...just a small update. I'm currently draining the freshwater out of the 90 as I write. (the sump too, of course) I'm going to buy the gloss black Krylon Fusion tomorrow and paint the return tubes so they blend into the background.

Now I just need to buy the T5 lighting system, then some live rock and I'll be ready to start cycling. Oh, and a heater too.

I'll post up some pics once I paint the return tubes.

I'm even seriously thinking of selling off my entire Playstation 3/Blu-Ray DVD stuff (that I never use!) to help fund the lighting system.

[charlie]

I'm even seriously thinking of selling off my entire Playstation 3/Blu-Ray DVD stuff (that I never use!) to help fund the lighting system.

Just make sure to leave a change of underwear in case you get sell crazy.

[Poseidon]

LOL! That is great Charlie.

Mat, you have to be careful with this addiction.... It can take over! Congrats on getting this rolling!

[SouthBayPhoto]

Well...I'm going to leave two pair cuz I don't feel like doing laundry every night.

Well, I do draw the line with the photography equipment. That's not goin' anywhere. Sooo, see I do have limits....hopefully. :slap:

[SouthBayPhoto]

Alright...well, this is sort of an update. LOL

I finally got my 220g Super Skimmer. It does fit on the sump like I want to run it, however, since the 90 isn't ready yet, I put it on my 46g to help that along till the 90 is running.

It's been running for about 72 hrs now. According to the "directions" it can be adjusted. I believe I have the top of the bubbles going at just under the middle of the "throat" of the top of the skimmer (in the collection cup). I think you can see the pic. I'm not sure if this is correct or not, but I believe it is. I have a small about of brown liquid (maybe 1/8" or so) at the bottom of the collection cup. I'm not sure if this is good or bad yet. LOL

On the first night I put it in, there were TONS and I mean TONS of fine bubbles EVERYWHERE in the tank. I was freakin' out. Well, the next day after I got home from work, they were pretty much gone. There are still bubbles coming out of the return hose, but no where near the volume coming out the night before.

Anyway...I guess I'll run it like this and see what goes. However, at this rate, it'll take me a month to fill up the collection cup. This damn thing is HUGEEEEEEE!!!!



By the way, this isn't the foam overspilling out of the center throat. This part of foam has been there since I pretty much started it. I'm sure some comes out here and there, but I don't have the flow turned up so high that it spews foam everywhere. LOL The foam line is really about midway.




So, again, this is a semi-update. At least it's one of the parts going into the 90's system.

[scubadude]

Wooohoooo you have skimmate!

Skimmate = dark fluid in collection cup

The darker, more foul smelling, gross looking the skimmate is the better the job the skimmer is performing! Sounds like your "bubble level" is correct too. You can play with it to understand your skimmer better but if you get it set just the way you like w/out any micro bubbles back into the main tank and its skimming correctly then you move the skimmer back to your 90g then dont be surprised if you have to re-tune the skimmer again!

Your skimmate tells a story to and probably the best indicator is wether it is wet or dry. Some aquarist like to skim a bit dry, some like to skim a bit wet....I kind of like somewhere in between but I think it matters on the status of your tank too. If I know that something has recently died in my tank and I cant find it or get to it then I would probably skim a little wetter than normal.

Also you stated that it would take a month or so for your collection cup to fill up. I would not wait for it to fill up before you clean it, I would clean it as much as possible, especially if you are having prolbematic algae blooms or spikes in your nitrates.

A skimmer has to break in too....there may be unatural oils that may be accumulated from the skimmer build or for whatever reason, this can cause fluctuations in your skimmer levels. KEEP A VERY CLOSE EYE ON YOUR SKIMMER DURING YOUR BREAK IN PERIOD!!! Or else you can easily get a flood. Now is a good time to start thinking of a fail-safe plumbing method for this if your skimmer does flood

Anyways....Congrats on the new skimmer bro! You are sooo much closer now to a more successful reef tank!

[SouthBayPhoto]

Oh, I was definitely watching it during the initial break in period. Actually I look at it every day, at least a few times a day (when I'm not at work, anyway). I did notice that different things effect it differently.

I'm still waiting to buy an RO/DI machine, so I can "make" my own water, but in the mean time, I was using tap water and putting a "chlorine remover" in it. It also has some bio stuff in it too. I think it's call Aquasafe or something. Well, the skimmer was doing just fine and I put some replacement water in there (after putting this Aquasafe stuff in). WHOOOOOLLLLYYYY crap. the skimmer went nuts and filled up like 3/4 of the cup in 5 min. It took hours for it for the bubbles to go back down to normal and that was with the flow controller on the minimum setting! I eventually hooked up the drain system out of the cup so I wouldn't over flow the cup. LOL Well, I guess I learned from that. I'll at least use Purified or Distilled water from now on with none of that Aquasafe stuff in it.

I figured that when I switch it to the 90, I'm going to have to reset everything and that's fine. I'm starting to understand and watch how it works. It's pretty cool. I do clean it now and again, even if it only has an 1/8" of stuff in it. LOL Seems like after you clean the cup the bubble flow pattern is different. Almost like it's "rebreaking in", so to speak. Then it's fine again.

I believe I'm running about midway between wet & dry as well. Seems like if I run it dry (such as shown in the directions), it's too dry and the bubbles never come up over the top of the funnel. LOL So, I keep it about in between and, as you can see, I am getting something in the bottom of the cup.

When I move it to the 90, that's when I'm going to set up plumbing for it in case of a flood and all that type of stuff. Because it'll be more "permanent" when I move it over to the 90.

Oh, and it seems like my water is MUCH clearer. I think I still have tons of algae (even brown diatoms), but I'm sure that's from being an idiot and still running tap water at water changes. If I could sell off my PS3 system, then I'll be getting an RO/DI unit.

[scubadude]

Originally Posted by SouthBayPhoto

I put some replacement water in there (after putting this Aquasafe stuff in). WHOOOOOLLLLYYYY crap. the skimmer went nuts and filled up like 3/4 of the cup in 5 min.

Yup that'll do it. When you do get an RO/DI not only will it improve the quality of your tank system but if you put a float valve on it then it will very slowly add the topoff water to the system, and probably wont react your skimmer like it did.

[SouthBayPhoto]

Maybe I'll have to figure a way to run an ATO. However, I think that's going to be difficult because the tank isn't exactly positioned in a way where I can do that. Although I could put the RO/DI under the sink and drill a hole through the back to gain access to the tank (evil grin). Not that the apt complex would like that too much.

<upon moving out>
Complex: "What happened here? Why the big hole?"
Mat: "I don't know...must have been termites"

[charlie]

<upon moving out>
Complex: "What happened here? Why the big hole?"
Mat: "I don't know...must have been termites"

BIG ....................................round termites.

[scubadude]

bahh...just hang a picture over the hole ....hehe

[SouthBayPhoto]

LOL...the picture will look a little odd being UNDER the kitchen counter.

Maybe I'll just stack a box against it when I move. LOL But seriously...if I'm only going to run a 3/8" line from the RO/DI into a container/holder behind the tank (and in front of the kitchen counter wall I'm talking about) then that's not that big of a hole and I can just patch it up when/if I leave.

But first things first...need to get the RO/DI unit. LOL

[Poseidon]

You can always use toothpaste to fill the hole!

Congrats on getting everything running again... Mine is just sitting there saying- Hey YOU on the couch! Get over here and hook me UP!!!!

[SouthBayPhoto]

UH OH!!!!!!

Just sold the PS3 setup tonight....looks like it's T5 LIGHTING TIME BABY!!!!!!

Where is that evil grinning icon that I need to put in right <here>???
Evil green inserted by Zhenya
Ohhhh yaaaaa!

To me the biggest hurdle right now for my 90 build was to get the overdriven four T5 light setup. After that, I could even run BB for a bit if I wanted/needed to. <hands rubbing together with greed>

MUHAHAHAHAHHAHA!!!!

<thinkin' to myself> Hmmm....am I going just a little overboard with this hobby? NAHHHHH!

[charlie]

You are just getting started.

[SouthBayPhoto]

I know...that's what's scaring me.

[Ratpack]

Why not run BB, then it's another expense that you don't have. Could even defer that money to something else!!

[SouthBayPhoto]

True...however, there is just something about having sand and/or gravel on the bottom that I like. I'm probably weird about that. LOL But you're right, it would save me lots of cash to use for something else though.

[Poseidon]

I'm with you Mat, I have to have a DSB.... I got a good deal on the SeaChem Gray Coast stuff too, so it should be interesting! Pictures to come later tonight....

[zhenya]

Originally Posted by SouthBayPhoto

True...however, there is just something about having sand and/or gravel on the bottom that I like. I'm probably weird about that. LOL But you're right, it would save me lots of cash to use for something else though.

Mat, stick with the plan, my friend!