I've had 3 inches of sand bed run across the tank all leveled, that only last a few days. I don't think it matters how thick your sand bed is, they will find a way and your rocks your tumble. Just be careful!

Ya the tank has my undivided attention for a while (unless there is a poker game)

As an update I managed to get a hold of 50lbs of dry rock that is currently soaking and I will be checking in with a LFS because they have a new shipment of L.R coming in the next two days. I am going to fine tune a few things in the mean time and I will post some pics soon......

An thanks for the heads up about the rocks. I will definitely have that in mind when I do my structure

So after a fantastic meeting with reefwars this afternoon I came home and turned my 20db tank into a careless whisper!! He set me straight on how to get my overflow performing properly and I was even able to increase my flow. I also took his advise an installed a gate valve on my return. I did have to silicone around the hole in my over flow where my pump return comes out. I performed a power failure test and failed! (Of course I had a container and back up pump ready to go). Pics bellow of new set up

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/11/06/nyruzyvu.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/11/06/6e8egape.jpg

Hey Spencer,

It looks as though you've installed the gate valve on your overflow. I think Denny meant to have you put it on the return; being the return after your return pump in your sump. I'm also curious as to why a gate valve on the return? Most people do a ball valve after the return pump.

I'm also looking at the siphon line on one of your stand pipes. Are you running a beananimal overflow? I don't see a third standpipe? Maybe I just can't see it?

nope gate on drain , hes got it right;)

Why a gate on the drain? If he's setup a Herbie he wouldn't want to restrict flow. If he setup a beananimal he would only restrict flow on the main siphon. It seems a strange place to put it. How many drains does he have?

I think plumbing is my favorite part of this hobby. I've plumbed my tank 3 different times now. I may be looking at a fourth time but we'll see. :mrgreen:

I'm interested to learn something new here perhaps.

He's clearly got two drains, one with a gate valve and the other as back up, basic herbie overflow. All is normal here :biggrin:

Looking good bud!

Thanks for the clairificaiton sphelps. So with the gate valve on the main drain, would his backup drain produce a very low flow as well? Hence the reason for the siphon pipe on the top and the gate valve?

Yep looks like a standard herbie to me too, you will love it. Silent once dialed in

I am definitely finding it very very quiet but very awkward trying to dial it in. especially when my water level is fluctuating do to trying to place stock and set up. with the gate valve it becomes a hell of a lot easier

It has been a long day but this is where I am at........
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/11/07/ebypyjyp.jpg

Rock is in. Water level adjusted. Gate valve set and return pump now at max

Any one know what I can clean the filter socks with and how often. I was thinking weekly.

Tested for ammonia just to see. 2ppm

I will do a water change (10%) on Sunday. I just new to get my skimmer working then all is good and I can let the tank cycle for a while.

Looking good! Well, minus the cloudy water but that'll sort itself out :-)

I have 4 socks that I sometimes use (like when I'm doing an aggressive cleaning of sand and rock). I rinse used socks and store them in a buket. After 3 spent socks socks I will throw them in the washing machine with a bit of bleach. No detergent tho. I don't really like sock maintenance so I generally will not use my filter socks if I'm not cleaning the tank.

I rinse them out in the laundry tub with a garden sprayer. Once my bucket is full of used socks I throw them in the washer with a bit of bleach. No laundry soap.

You'll find you might have to change them out more frequently than other other times. There is no set schedule. You'll know when you have to change them out. The water will stop flowing through them and it will spill over.

I clean my filter socks the same way. Turn them inside out and fire them into the washing machine with a bit of bleach, no soap.
I did find though that sometimes there's a bit of soap residue in the washing machine from a previous load, so I usually give my washer a rinse cycle before I wash my socks.

I used to use the felt socks and the only way I could get them clean was the washing-machine-with-a-little-bleach method. I have since switched to the mesh based socks (same micron size). I only use the felt socks now if I have a particular situation that requires extra mechanical filtration. With the mesh socks I only need to rinse them well at the sink, then I sit them in a small bucket of water with a tiny bit of vinegar for a day or so. Then they're good to go again.

As for how often to clean socks ... you can't really put a schedule to it. They'll tell you when they need to be cleaned. (ie., when they're overflowing). Can be anywhere from daily to weekly or anywhere in between depending on your tank.

Ok I have 2 sets if socks and will monitor accordingly.

I am here to announce that every thing is up an running and I am calling this day 1! Had a bump in the road with my skimmer but problem solved.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/11/08/ry8uhugy.jpg
I have just performed a power failure simulation and had to adjust my pump nozzles so they didn't siphon to deep, now it passes! All water holds.

So please jump in if I am wrong but the daily schedule moving forward is:

-Test ammonia an salinity
-check for anything unwanted growing in tank
-make sure water level is maintained
-if ammonia starts to drop then start testing for nitrite

Weekly water changes 10 %???

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/11/08/ymynybe9.jpg


Am I missing any thing

Step #1 is actually: Set up a separate saltwater bank account and start funnelling money into that account.

Account already started. Future vacation plans put on hold.

Next step! Lol

Already told the wife that her plans of going some where warm have been changed to "crank up the fire place and use a scuba mask in the tank to get your snoring fix"

While she is in the tank snoring...check and see how much the life insurance policy is for her.

Do you have an ATO? I would say that would probably be the next step.

I have the float switches and cable to make my switch box orders off eBay. Just awaiting there arrival and I will plumb in an ATO

ok day 2 and as i read some threads on cycling my tank i came across a a thread stating measure your ammonia and if it is over 2ppm to do a complete water change...... well i measure mine today and i see about 3 to 4 ppm ammonia.....

instantly got up and performed a 25% water change, started making RO water and heading to LFS for salt.

I also read not to start with sand in the tank, of course i have seen other posts that say you can start with sand in the tank.

what is the general consensus? I have 3.5 inches of sand in the bottom.

I've always started with sand in the tank. Can't really see any benefit to not having the sand in there to start, because when you end up putting it in, there will have to be another mini-cycle all over again.

+1 what would be the reason for adding sand after?

If I'm starting a tank from scratch I don't bother with a water change until after ammonia and nitrite read zero. For that matter I don't even bother testing ammonia ... I would test nitrite. The initial cycle is complete when nitrite reads zero.

The way I understand this ... the bacteria that feed on ammonia (and nitrite) grow in population proportional to the amount of resources that they feed on. The more food, the more they reproduce producing more bacteria to eat more ammonia. So reducing ammonia by doing a water change doesn't really help speed the cycle along, in fact it might even slow it down some. Of course, once they reach critical mass (the point at which they consume it faster than it is produced, giving you a zero reading), unless there is a continued source for the resources, they will start to die off so you need to ramp up the ammonia production by getting some life into the tank at that point.

You can add before or after, with after being a lot tougher and messier. No reason not to add it before, then try to not disturb it too much adding water.

Sand in IMO , your sand needs to start building up beneficial bacteria etc.

quick update... Tank is cycling away. Ammonia is spiking hard. Skimmer is working awesome, pulling out about 1.5 cups of ugly brown stuff every day. set up an ATO of sorts, pre filled a container with 6 gal of RO/DI water put a small maxi jet pump in the container and plumbed a 3/8 tube into my sump. Made 2 marks on the side of my sump showing min. water level and where to fill to...... Now the wife just plugs in the pump and watches the level and unplugs when it is at the max. mark......... my new ATO (at least until my switches arrive :lol:

on another note I have changed to running the lights only 2 hours a day to minimize algae growth if possible.

let the waiting game begin :biggrin:

Haha......I love it. Your wife is your ATO. Nice work.

You're trying to combat algea growth right off the bat. All I can say is Brutha, the algea is going to come. I dealt with green hair algea and it was BAD. It was like that for like three months. I'll send you a picture of how bad my tank looked. Today I don't have a spot of GH algea but got another kind of unknown algea. It's all but gone now as well but it is frustrating. it's best to brace for it and expect it and in time it will all go away.

When your ready drop me a PM and I'll give you some Cheato. That will help.

Just an update.....

Ammonia slowing coming down. Nitrites are climbing. Watching, testing and waiting. All good for now

Had one snail must have hitched a ride in the live rock.

Ammonia - 0 ppm
Nitrites - 0.5 ppm
Nitrates - 80 ppm

It is getting there. Lots of brown growth in the tank

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/11/20/tyvarute.jpg

are you using anything to cycle the tank? like prodibio or zeobak?

No, I just used live rock from a fresh shipment. 50 lbs worth

Day 21. Ammonia 0, nitrites .25ppm, nitrates 50ppm. Lots of diatoms in the tank. What looks like a bristle worm seems to have hitched a ride in the live rock (the wife doesn't like it) from what I read there seems to be mixed emotions when it comes to if the bristle worm is good or bad.

The snail that came wih the live rock is now named "Gary"

My new lunar module and LEDs for the Apex arrived at home. I will install next week. Also have to hook up and calibrate new Ph probe for Apex

almost there :-) I admire your patience. I've heard so many stories of people being impatient with their cycling and trying to speed it up by dumping all sorts of concoctions into their tanks during the cycle LOL.

hey , this is coming along great man i knew you would do well with it :)

once you think your cycle is done you can do a large water change to bring everything in range , then you can start to work on your water parameters:)

get to thinking about how your going to handle phosphates and nitrates export, read up on them and find what you think is your best option:)


as your finding, patience is the key and while its easy to try to rush it with a bit of time it will all come together:)

cheers and good job!!



denny:)

Nice build, love the snails name! Sponge Bob fan? lol