[Leddy]

ok, just got home from work, swapped out the penguin 330, put the second bak-pak on. i just hooked it up, so i'm not seeing any skimmate yet, probably in the next few days. i put the collection cup even with the other one, so maybe it'll start showing skum later tonight. there are some bubbles, but i'll probably order a bubble trap if it doesnt stop, or put a piece of filter foam in the return. here are a few pics.


leddy

[Reefland]

Leddy,

Ever thought about putting your heater in one of the bak-paks? Seems to me that if your running a MJ1200 on the skimmer that it should be moving enough water to heat your tank. Maybe put a small heater in each?

Just a thought,
Scott Z.

[Calfire]

Leddy,
I have a cpr bak-pak2r and in the instructions it says to put the collection cup a bout 1\8" into the bubbles. In the pictures it looks deeper so i dont know if they are but it might help produce more scum. Just thought you might want to know that.


Jason

[Leddy]

yeah scott, i've definitly thought of putting the heater in there. the left one has the internal bubble trap, but i might put the heater in the right one for a few days, just to see how it is working. they are both running with MJ 1200's with the venturi valves. i know about the 1/8th cup thing, i just put the right one like that since the left is pulling skum that way. i mess with the left now and them, experimenting to see where i get the best performance. i think when i get the refugium, i may put a 200w heater in there. as for the skimmer, i've read that bubbles from the skimmer cause the heater to operate weird, plus since air is being drawn from outside the tank, it somewhat cools the water. i dont know, i guess the only way to find out is to do it. thanks for the replies.



leddy

[Leddy]

ok, i did it. i put my 300w heater in the right cpr bak-pak. so far, so good. no difference really, besides the fact that the tank looks cleaner without the big ol' heater in the middle. i guess the sites been having some server problems, i couldnt get on for a while. heres a pic of the tank and heater in the skimmer.


leddy

[Leddy]

the second skimmer started pulling scum today. and the heater inside of it seems to be working properly, no problems at all(yet?). i think it'll be fine. it makes my tank more appealing without having to see this huge heater right down the middle of my tank. i'm still debating about the 12 or 18 fuge, i'll probably shoot for the 18. also, was thinking of getting a few cleaner shrimp or coral banded shrimp. what would be a good detritus/sand sifter to keep my sand be looking good? this invert thing is sort of new since i once owned a trigger. any comments/suggestions would be appreciated. thanks


leddy

[Reefland]

Hi Leddy!

The CBS are very cool but I don't think I would get one. The cleaner shrimp aren't going to really keep your sand stirred so you might look at another option. Perhaps a Conch.

Scott Z.

[Leddy]

yeah, i didnt think those shrimp would really be all that great on the sand bed, just cool to have. a Conch sounds cool, i was thinking like a sand sifting star, but we'll see. i'm new to sand beds, so i'm gonna do some reading to see whats good; invert-wise. i'll probably get some more live rock next week, maybe around 15-20 lbs. thanks for the response.



leddy