Squire's 90 Gallon Build, Now With Salt Water

[ensquire]

I just realized that I have been subjecting anyone looking in to a lot of really blue pics. My lights have been sitting there and not really programmed. I will get on that tomorrow for some more natural coloration.
But till then, here are the last of the blue pics. Maybe. for now.

Brought out all the buckets, jugs, rubbermaids, and garbage cans and drained most of my day old salt water and started my least favorite part of this tank. If I could pay someone to aquascape the tank, I WOULD.






Added about 50 lbs of Special grade reef sand. Have over 2" of sand and thinking that it's alot
See how that goes.



Total time for draining tank, aquascape, and returning water. 4 Hours.
I know it shows, not totally happy with it. Would have been nice to have a better selection of rock to work with but......



So far the only problem is my skimmer. Having an overflow problem with it.
Took it apart and cleaned it up. Raised it up about an 1 1/2" . Seemed to help and then as I was leaving for work it was spewing skimmate out the lid again. Unplugged it and will play tomorrow.

Thats it for now.

Wow , just noticed that it's almost quitting time. A nice productive night all around ...

[gregzz4]

I'd suggest you turn off your pumps for a few hours while the sand settles, so you don't sand-blast your impellers
I changed socks for over 12 hours after I added sand, and I hate to think what I did to my return pump

Skimmer may be spewing due to the LR being out of water for a bit, or the oils from your arms and such
Once the sand settles, turn you skimmer back on and let it overflow for a bit to get rid of any oils you may have left behind ... just a thought

[ensquire]

Originally Posted by gregzz4

I'd suggest you turn off your pumps for a few hours while the sand settles, so you don't sand-blast your impellers
I changed socks for over 12 hours after I added sand, and I hate to think what I did to my return pump

Skimmer may be spewing due to the LR being out of water for a bit, or the oils from your arms and such
Once the sand settles, let your skimmer overflow for a bit to get rid of any oils you may have left behind ... just a thought

Thanks again. will make it dark and still when i get home.

[ensquire]

This was right after the sand settled, Deep sand bed. LOL

Dumped in the box of Prodibio Startup and waited 2 days. Added first goodie.



SWC 160 cone wouldn't stop with the major micro bubbles, so I switched in an old skimmer. Same results.



Put SWC back in and let it run for awhile and it stopped producing so many bubbles. At least none that were making it to the DT. But it is sensitive, any little disturbance and the bubbles start to flow through entire system. Not sure if its to much flow through the sump or another flaw in design but I will keep playing till it works better. Bubble trap doesn't seem to be doing it's job though.

This is a bubble storm picture after disturbing skimmer.




This is non bubble storm.


Starting to like the aquascape a bit more .

Side view..



Good turbulence on top Sicce moves lots of water.

[fishytime]

It's alive..... ALIVE...... Looking good mang..... I used "start" too..... I thought I was really putting a lot a faith in a bottle (I added six fish after moving a ton of rock) and the product seems to do as advertised

[ensquire]

I know what you mean about the prodibio, I was thinking that 30 vials for 90 was excessive but why not . getting a bit of algae now so things must be coming to life. Waiting for a couple of new test kits to make it up and then I will check it .

How you liking Edmonton? I doubt I could live in any big city after spending so many years up here. Rush minute is only 15 minutes usually
Plus if I had a real LFS that was salty, I would be broke all the time.

Originally Posted by fishytime

It's alive..... ALIVE...... Looking good mang..... I used "start" too..... I thought I was really putting a lot a faith in a bottle (I added six fish after moving a ton of rock) and the product seems to do as advertised

[lockrookie]

i too used prodibio startup and so far im impressed but 30 vials on a 90..... are yuo sure thats right i used 30 vials on my 180.. not thaat it will hurt it it says you cant overdose