The McKay build thread.

[charlie]

This is the one I put in early October:

SWC Xtreme Cone Protein Skimmer 250 1A SWC Xtreme Cone Skimmer 250 A [Xtreme Cone 250 1A] - $749.99 : SWC - Salt Water Connection, Protein Skimmers, Calcium Reactors, Filters & Lights

[Steve McKay]

I might have to come out of retirement to get that one,how do you have it plumbed?Do you have it next to your sump at the same level?I assume you drilled your sump and have it plumbed directly.

[charlie]

I have it fed from a Mag5 pump that is set in the first set of baffles where the return water comes in.

Yes, it was a little pricey, but it does do what it is supposed to do, skim the bejesus out of my tank.

[Steve McKay]

I have a Mag5 for a return pump.Did you drill or do you feed it with a hose?

[charlie]

The skimmer is fed with 3/4" flex hose. The feed for my return pump is drilled.

[Steve McKay]

I got it now.The return is above the water I assume.

[charlie]

The return from the skimmer goes into the sump and is surrounded by a 4" piece of PVC to cut down on the microbubbles.

[Steve McKay]

If the return is below the water line,won't the skimmer flood?

[charlie]

Nope, it has a 3/4" blow hole in the return. If you want, I can take a pic later today.

[Steve McKay]

That will work,don't mean to be asking dumb questions.I would like to see it,it would give me a good idea on how to set it up.I can use the Prizm I have,it's not much but at least it works until I can spend that kind of money.Don't mind spending that much if it works.
It's only a 50 but it would help water quality a lot.

[charlie]

I will try to get some pics later tonight when the lights are on to show you what I mean. I will post them in this thread for you.

Good luck with the Prizm!!!!!!!!!!! If it will get you by until further down the road, more power to you.

[Steve McKay]

Yes I know,it's probably as good as using your hand with a coffee filter.but if I'm patient I can have a really nice skimmer and you did say and I concur that it is the most important piece of equipment.

[charlie]

Do what you gotta do man, but don't use your hand as a coffee filter, that is gonna hurt!!!

[Steve McKay]

Not as,in the tank with a coffee filter.

[charlie]

Keep smiling bro!!!!!

[Steve McKay]

Tell me though,what are reasonable nitrate levels?I know zero would be preferred.What levels do you work with?

[charlie]

<5 at the most. Gotta run man, later!!!!

[Steve McKay]

Sounds good,later.

[Steve McKay]

The Red Sea C-Skim 1200 skimmer is on its way back,good bye.Good news is that my order of animals will be here tomorrow morning.I'm getting a BYO Caribbean Reef Cleaner Kit from liveaquaria.I already have 5 Nassarius snails,5 Mexican turbo snails,2 Margarita snails,zillion baby Collonista Snails,many brittle stars and bunches of shrimp that might be either Mysis or Gammarus or something in that neighborhood.I also have bunches of Bristle worms and Micro stars.Having the shrimp means I probably have copepods and other very small animals I think.I was going to get a detritivore kit from Inland aquatics but I already have most of what is in the kit.Except Spaghetti worms and right now their out of true Spaghetti worms and only have Hair worms,so I'll wait and get all the worms.I ordered a Fighting conch,10 Cerith snails,10 Nassarius snails and 5 Scarlet hermit crabs.Not a lot of animals but I have spent a lot on this new tank.I plan to buy many different detritivore kits and other sand critters.The Fighting conch might need supplemental feeding,I have sand but will it be enough?The snails will be fine,if any of my big Mexican turbo snails expire I will not replace them.They are to big and will bulldoze things around.Scarlet hermit crabs,I don't like most hermit crabs because they will eat snails for food or for their shells.I learned this way back when I had a 125,I have read scarlets are ok we will find out that is why I only bought 5.I'm really interested in the Fighting conch,I would like to see if he really will eat detritus or will he just be another free loader.I think he will be cool though.Well I'm just about finished feeding my Sun coral,I'll put it back in the tank after it's finished its Cyclops.

[Steve McKay]

The animals are in,they have disappeared into the sand including the Fighting conch.They all survived shipping,that's good.The Fighting conch is a creamy white and light tan,looks ok.One hermit has claimed the small rock out front and is perched on it.I did forget to have my camera out,sorry,photos will be coming when the conch shows himself.I have a couple spots of sand that is covered lightly with light yellowish tan algae or diatoms,I assume this is probably normal with a new setup.So I'm not having a heart attack.I'll clean the glass tonight and take more photos tomorrow.