New guy with new tank build log!

[WoodRight]

I have only heard good things about that skimmer. Why do you not like it? I have only so much room in my sump. As for the level of the water in the sump there is a overflow that will not let it overflow. I was thinking of putting another overflow in the fuge just in case anything were to happen to the first one but I don't think I need it. I'm going to put a peace of the filter that came with my MagDrive 9 in the end of the overflow so nothing can get down the pipe that could clog it.

 

[masterswimmer]

Very nice job with your build, documenting with pix and your willingness to listen to some voices of experience. I notice you've got your picture with the filter sock running in two different ways. The first pic with the sock hanging from the ball valve is a recipe for a major flood. With so much of the sock above the rim of the sump you stand a VERY good chance of overflowing onto the floor. No part of the filter sock should be above the rim of the tank. As the pores of the sock clog (normal and expected) the water level in the sock will rise (again, normal and expected). If the water level in the sock rises above the rim of the sump, there will most probably be a flood.

Have you done a precautionary power outage test? When the electric shuts off, water from your display will continue to run into your sump until the displays water level reaches the lowest point of any overflow/return plumbing. You want to make sure your sump has enough capacity to hold all the water from the tank that will overflow. This is just a test of the power outage emergency.

One more thing, the shrimp in the bag.....are there holes in the bag? Tough to tell from the pix.

Great job so far. Looking forward to seeing it progress.

Russ

 

[WoodRight]

Very nice job with your build, documenting with pix and your willingness to listen to some voices of experience. I notice you've got your picture with the filter sock running in two different ways. The first pic with the sock hanging from the ball valve is a recipe for a major flood. With so much of the sock above the rim of the sump you stand a VERY good chance of overflowing onto the floor. No part of the filter sock should be above the rim of the tank. As the pores of the sock clog (normal and expected) the water level in the sock will rise (again, normal and expected). If the water level in the sock rises above the rim of the sump, there will most probably be a flood.

I had the sock on there just to get rid of the sand dust and I was cleaning it every few hours. I had it on the ball valve to keep it from falling in but noticed that i was stiff enough to just let sit in there. I took it off so that the whole thing would sit in the water with the rim just above to use the whole filter. The water never raised in the sock seeing that I was cleaning it all the time. If I left it to long it would let some of what it filtered out back in to the display. the sock is no longer in the sump and was only to clear up the tank after installing the sand and setting up the aqua scape.

Have you done a precautionary power outage test? When the electric shuts off, water from your display will continue to run into your sump until the displays water level reaches the lowest point of any overflow/return plumbing. You want to make sure your sump has enough capacity to hold all the water from the tank that will overflow. This is just a test of the power outage emergency.

I did a power out test when I did the fresh water test. when you turn the power off it fills the whole sump but not enough to overflow. I did allot of figuring before building the sump. If the setup is running and I fill it up to the top of the center peace of plexy in the bubble trap that is the most I ca put in the sump to keep it from overflowing. I guess my figures were right. The water gets to about .5" from the top of the sump with power off.

One more thing, the shrimp in the bag.....are there holes in the bag? Tough to tell from the pix.

Yes there are holes in the bag. I didn't have anything else at the time to use so I just punched so holes in the bag with a tooth pick and hung it on the glass with some earth magnets. If you can find some of these magnets they are great for hanging things in the tank anywhere you want them. You just have o be careful not to just let them slap together because they might brake the glass. they are that Strong. You just put the one on the inside against the glass and put the other one on the outside of the glass but not in line with the inside one, and then just slide them together. that way they wont slap together and brake the glass. They are so Strong that if put together you can not pull them apart. You have to slide them apart. They will not rust. They are the same magnets that they use in the Mag Floats.
Great job so far. Looking forward to seeing it progress.

Russ

Thanks for the post and let me know if there are any other questions you have.

 

[Awibrandy]

I second Russ on the sock issue!!! Happened to me a few times! I finally just got rid of the socks, and have seen no ill effects upon doing so.

Shutting down my tanks is a possibility, but not a definite. Getting older with some medical problems that make maintenance a problem thats all!

 

[WoodRight]

OK I have a question. I'm on the 6th day of the cycle and I can't get the ammonia to rise over 1.50ppm. It was climming at a rate of .25 a day and now it is droping. I was told that I had to get it up to 4ppm. I guess I'm wondering if the tank has past the ammonia part of the cycle and is on the nitrite part already.

Here are what the readings were yesterday and then today.

Yesterday
SG 1.024
ph 8.2
Am 1.50
rites 0.5
rates 0.25
Cal 420
temp 77

Today
SG 1.024
ph 8.2
Am 1.0
rites 1
rates .50
Cal 440
temp 77

 

[WoodRight]

The shrimp is still in the tank but there isn't much left to it at all. I wonderif I should just take it out? What do you guys think?

 

[masterswimmer]

You could very well be on the other side of the ammonia end of the cycle. See what your readings are tomorrow. All you're going to do is test daily and wait. Six days is short. When your 'trites spike and then retreat, then you'll be on your way. Just get your 'trates below .20 and you should be good to go (assuming your ammonia and 'trites are at zero).

Hurry up and wait is the name of the game.

Russ

 

[WoodRight]

Yeah I don't care about the waiting I'm just surprised that the tank might be this far along already. Also was wondering if I should take the shrimp out of the tank if you can still call it that?

 

[masterswimmer]

I'd leave the shrimp in there at this point. You'll have more biological colonies growing with it there. If you take it out, the bacteria will have less to chow down on. The bacteria colonies will only multiply up to the amount of 'food' they have to devour. That's why when you have an established tank and it's stocked with fish, inverts and coral, you still don't want to add 6 large fish simultaneously for instance. Adding a large bioload all at once can actually cause a mini cycle. You'll have a finite bacteria colony in the tank and the added load will be in excess of the 'processing capabilities' of that colony. The bacteria colony will increase in numbers to handle the increased load, after it goes through that mini cycle. Adding one or two large fish at once allows the colony to expand with less impact on the cycle.

Hope that was clear. Confused the heck out of me :banghead:

Russ

 

[suntzu]

Nice setup. All your hardwork is paying off.

 

[WoodRight]

I have taken out the shrimp if u can still call it that. I did it before I read your post butI figure I will be throwing in fish food to keep the ammonia up.

Todays readings are

SG 1.024
ph 8.2
Am 1.0
rites 1
rates 50
Cal 460
Temp 77

Suntzu thanks.

 

[gunn55]

Nice work,
Any updates?