I believe I'll buy a sump

[~reefchik~]

Yep, Pontiac, that's what I got - the big one, 300.  Thanks for the link to their site.  I just measured and the skimmer area is 12 x 15.  Plenty big.

harleyrider:    

[harleyrider]

lol Keep it in the GM family

[TechGuy]

Replacing the bio balls with live rock is an option. But Bio Balls have about 20X the surface area for anaerobic bacteria to thrive, but the important thing is the anaerobic bacteria has to be able to strip the oxygen from the nitrogen. It is true that Bio Balls will build nitrates if submerged in water and not allowed to oxygenate. But saying that, live rubble will do the same thing. Even if you have live rock rubble, or bio balls, it still has to be able to oxygenate. So with the sump that you have, if that is what it is, you will be building nitrates whether or not you have live rock rubble or bio balls. By looking at the sump thats in the thread, it looks like a nitrate builder to me.

[TechGuy]

Drip points and non exposure to light, that is very important!

[harleyrider]

No.  I didn't know if it was a good skimmer.  Of course I've been brainwashed over at RC to thinking that only a MSX, Octopus or Deltec skimmer is worth buying  

i like the msx, and i know where there is one heck of a deal on one,

[~reefchik~]

Replacing the bio balls with live rock is an option. But Bio Balls have about 20X the surface area for anaerobic bacteria to thrive, but the important thing is the anaerobic bacteria has to be able to strip the oxygen from the nitrogen. It is true that Bio Balls will build nitrates if submerged in water and not allowed to oxygenate. But saying that, live rubble will do the same thing. Even if you have live rock rubble, or bio balls, it still has to be able to oxygenate. So with the sump that you have, if that is what it is, you will be building nitrates whether or not you have live rock rubble or bio balls. By looking at the sump thats in the thread, it looks like a nitrate builder to me.

Drip points and non exposure to light, that is very important!

I've heard that said about wet/dry trickle filters, but not about sumps.  Can you expound?  What did you mean about drip points and non-exposure to light?  Do you mean that as long as the bio-balls or rubble can be partially or periodically exposed to air, they will not become nitrate-sinks?

[verper]

Its the other way around with bioballs.  Like bio-wheels, they become nitrate traps when partially exposed to air and why you want to stay away from a wet/dry system.  If they are completely submerged in water all of the time they would act more like dry rock.  Eventually they would become a type of "live rock" with beneficial bacteria growing on them.
 
http://www.vafishfreek.com/wetdrynsump.html

[~reefchik~]

i like the msx, and i know where there is one heck of a deal on one,

  And I got a PM from somebody!

[~reefchik~]

Its the other way around with bioballs.  Like bio-wheels, they become nitrate traps when partially exposed to air and why you want to stay away from a wet/dry system.  If they are completely submerged in water all of the time they would act more like dry rock.  Eventually they would become a type of "live rock" with beneficial bacteria growing on them.
 
http://www.vafishfreek.com/wetdrynsump.html

Ok, that's what I thought.  Since I haven't seen this thing in action yet (well, I did see a smaller version they are using at the store) I didn't pay close enough attention to the bio-ball end.  I wonder if they remain submerged in this design.  I'm thinking they might.  

Oh, and I talked to Aqueon on the phone today.  They confirmed that the center partition can be removed briefly on the pine stand to place the sump even with a filled tank up top. 

[Blown76mav]

Hey, Hey,

Back from Florida and seen this thread.   

I've done some acrylic work and may be able to help.  How soon, how big etc.......  Anything is possible.

If your interested you can shoot me a PM and I'll get you my phone number and we can talk.

Lonnie

[jeremyt]

Hey, Hey,

Back from Florida and seen this thread.  

I've done some acrylic work and may be able to help.  How soon, how big etc.......  Anything is possible.

If your interested you can shoot me a PM and I'll get you my phone number and we can talk.

Lonnie

think she bought one but she probably should have waited (looks like you do nice work)  

[Blown76mav]

Oh well her money not mine. 

[Reefd Up]

I would not advise moving pads as permanent placement under a tank stand in most cases.  They can cause pressure points if not placed properly.  Shims can do the same thing. 

I think I'm now hosting October if anyone is interested in seeing my 30g sump (designed by me and Will...taught acrylic by Lonnie) under our 48" 150g tank.  The sump area also houses a 5g top-off bucket.  Joel also gave a very informative sump discussion at the meeting he hosted a while back.

[Grunk08]

Beautiful stand.  Too bad mine isn't anything like it.  Mine's just a cheap pine AGA stand.  It's clear that blown76mav does nice work!
Is that two separate tanks under there, connected?

Yea, two tanks. Works great. No problems yet. Hope I didnt just jinx myself.

[Blown76mav]

You shouldn't have any trouble Tony, I was standing on mine the other day without thinking.   It seemed to hold ok.

[TechGuy]

Yea, two tanks. Works great. No problems yet. Hope I didnt just jinx myself.

Tony,

I seen your setup in person. Beautiful. Very solid. I think you said it was a custom built stand? Send me a PM! I want to know who built it.

[~reefchik~]

think she bought one but she probably should have waited (looks like you do nice work)  

Yes, I did - bought a Reef Master.  But you sure come highly recommended, blown76mav!  And didn't I see a seahorse tank build on the DIY section that you did?  That was very cool. 

What can I say, I had the extra $$ and was getting befuddled with all the various ideas and advice.  Hope you had a nice trip to Fla.  If you don't mind my asking, what part?  I'm from Venice.

[Grunk08]

J.D Poling... Elite Custom Cabinets. 100% quality. Solid Maple. Charges material X 2.

[~reefchik~]

Well, DH popped off the center piece before I got back from my daughter's baby shower, and had the stand empty waiting for me this afternoon.

I'd hoped to have that sump/refugium up and going by now, but guess what.  Wrong size overflow sent.   Now it won't be til next weekend. 

[jungliztkruger]

yikes

[TechGuy]

Bummer, I was hoping to see it setup! What return pump did you get? Did you get an aqua lifter for the overflow?

[~reefchik~]

Bummer, I was hoping to see it setup! What return pump did you get? Did you get an aqua lifter for the overflow?

The return pump is a CA-4000 and I don't know what an aqua lifter is, but I don't think the Eshopps has it. 

[~reefchik~]

Oh brother    No overflow this past Friday either.  Now they can't get one.
I ordered one from Drs. Foster & Smith which should get here today or tomorrow. 

Someone asked me to post my tank and light photos here (I posted them in my welcome thread, probably not the best place)
so here they are again:

  I need to remember to close the drapes on the window next to the tank.  I always get reflections.


Yes, I see it's time to wipe more salt creep off.  I just did that a week ago.  Still getting used to the timing of maintenance on this tank.
Those are (IIRC) 96w 10,000K daylight PCs and 5100K actinics.  I will probably get replacements for them soon as I'm sure they are older than a year by now. 





And yes, I did order some legs for the lights!   

[Aquatic Specialists]

Let me know when you are ready for some lights. I can currently get a great deal on lighting, not sure for how much longer though.

All T-5 bulbs mix and match (available in 6700k, 15k, 20k, and 420nm)
SPS T-5 (normal output)  14w/24" $12.00
                                   21w/36" $16.00
                                   28w/48" $17.50
SPS T-5 (high output)     24w/24" $17.00
                                  39w/36"  $18.25
                                  54w/48"  $18.50

Metal Halides  Mogul/Double Ended HQI available (10k, 14k, or 20k) mix and match
SPS Metal Halide Bulb 175w(mogul) or 150w (HQI) $59.00
                                                   250w (HQI) $62.00
                                                   400w (HQI) $64.00

SPS Power Compact (available in: 6700k, 10k, 6700k/10k, Actinic 03, 10k/Actinic 03, or 420nm/460nm)
      available in square or straight pin
                                   65w/ $19.00
                                   96w/ $28.00

If you are interested in this let me know by Weds. at 6:00pm they would be here Friday.
Thanks,
Justin

[rayviv]

The return pump is a CA-4000 and I don't know what an aqua lifter is, but I don't think the Eshopps has it. 

I have a ca3000 for my skimmer and a ca4000 as a return and I'm not pleased w/either of them. I have used the 4000 about 7mos and the flow slowed down so I put the 3000 in till I can get a different/better pump.
the CA pumps dont seem to hold up very long.