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A Maiden's Voyage- town house pics, getting more organized


FlowerMama

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A Maiden's Voyage

 

I was urged by many to start another thread for this tank. So here it is!!

 

Why a Maiden's Voyage? Because I feel I've already been on quite a trip since Don passed June 1, 2012. Talk about having your life turned upside down. However, I've met many wonderful, caring, and helpful friends who I hold dear. Talking to you, learning from you, watching your tanks and just sharing in this hobby really has been beneficial for me. You don't know how much you all mean to me. Thank You, it's made getting through lonesome times easier. And I'm looking forward to meeting even more friends.

 

In archaic literary terms as a noun a maiden is a girl or young woman, especially an unmarried one.

As a verb it is being or involving the first attempt or act of its kind.

 

So, thus came about A Maiden's Voyage. I feel I've grown in confidence and in DIY skills to have a larger tank. And when I saw the wall hanging I thought, sure she's a mermaid, but she's a maiden too. My husband and I took a cruise to the Bahamas and this reminded me of that time as well.

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Thoughts of a larger tank entered quickly- My Evolve 8 started Feb 23, 2013 and already In April I bought my first piece of future equipment, a modded AC70 filter. Figured one day I'd get a 20L, a size for which I wouldn't need a skimmer. I've bought more equipment over the months. So, here we are. And as you can see by my Evolve 8 pics I'm thoroughly enjoying that little tank and will continue its upkeep and I'll move the fish and a few corals over. And buy a new little fishy for the Evolve 8. Thinking of a saddled blenny from KPA.

 

So here we are today.

Marineland 34 g "30L x 18W x 16H" with wooden and glass stand.
Kessil A350W
Lifereef overflow
Jebao WP-25.
35 lbs of live uncured rock from KP Aquatics.
30 lbs of aragonite sand btw the DT and fuge.

 

In the 10g refugium will be an:
Aquaticlife 115 Mini Skimmer
Mag7 return pump
Finnex titanium 150W heater with display/controller
AC70 with floss and chemipure elite

 

Extra Necessities-

1100 Rio pump for mixing RO/DI in 20g Brutes
A 50W and couple 100w thermometers for back-up, wouldn't want to be high and cold.

 

 

DIY

After 3 attempts the Kessil is now in the correct position on the wall.

I thought this was close enough but when I turned on the light...... I had the St. Louis arch and lots of light spillage on the sides so it can easily be done for a longer tank.

 

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Then I fixed it.

 

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So, what's next?

 

Today I added 2 pieces of glass into the fuge. Tomorrow morning I'll have to silicone the other sides.

 

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Then I have to add the 2nd higher piece of glass but I have to use the dremel, bit and oil to graze the side so it'll fit- I don't want it to be crooked. Then I'll dishwasher clean it really well; a cycle for soap and no soap. Then I'll glue it in and add the last piece of glass. Then it's leak testing and using the pump to bring the water to the 1st chamber where the skimmer will be. And slowing the pump down with a ball joint.

 

Then, Randi said she'd come by sometime and we can put together and connect up the overflow and hook up the fuge with the DT.

 

For now, though, for the cycling I'll just use the AC70, heater, Jebao and the Kessil on low. I also have to figure out how to set the light timer on the power strip. No instructions with it. Maybe I can find them online.


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Yay..new thread!!!!

 

I think all of us girls should get one of those mermaids. ;) We're all maidens on a voyage in this hobby. :happy:

 

I like this idea Gena.

 

Congrats on the new journey! Judging from the great success with the other tank, im sure this one will be no exception. Tagging along..

 

Thanks. I appreciate the compliment. Your tank is one that I love reading up on,

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Today I siliconed the other side of the glass that I didn't do yesterday on the 1st and 4th piece of glass. I've been researching on cutting glass with the dremel because of the one side that needs to be cut by 1/16. I have both a small glass dremel bit and the regular diamond cut wheel. I'll have to see which is easier. Will wear glasses and will have it going under running water.

 

Checked it and between siliconing both sides I didn't have a leak. So I'm pleased.

 

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I'm also rinsing the plain 10lb bag of aragonite. 4 buckets so far and I think it gets better and I mix it and it's as white as milk. I'll stop at the 5th bucket today and continue Mon, Tues and Wed because it seems like it's going to take this many times until it's clear. Then it'll get mixed w/ the 20lb bag of Arag Alive.

 

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Here's a pic of Hagen in the spirit of this week. Don's mom makes them- they're reversible with another pattern on the other side- he has like 1-3 for every holiday. I said "Give me a mean look and then ignore me". He does well.

 

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And then pic of my Praying Mantis on the hose this time.

 

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Nice! Where do I pick up one of those iron mermaids? following the adventure. :D

 

Etsy.com, type in Haitan Metal Wall Art. Gena loved mine and she just bought the same. She feels all us women here should have one because we're all maidens in this voyage. We're certainly more of a minority in numbers but I'd say the majority in tanks that look awesome!!!

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Looking great, the mermaid decor is a nice touch. Looking forward to seeing the evolution of the tank! :)

 

Thanks. I'm excited, just having this much space instead of the 6 gallons of the Evolve 8 already gives me more possibilities. I saw a tank w/ 2 of the smaller Kessils and the shimmer was simply amazing. You could even see shadows below the fish. Hopefully on the lowest setting of the Jebao WP25 won't shimmer so much that it makes me want to convulse. But, I can turn down the intensity of the light maybe and that should help. I might unbox the Jebao and put it in my 55 freshwater and see what it can do and then rinse it really well in RO/DI. Better to be safe, predictable, and known before I put it in the 34. I can imagine it will really help with the uncured live rock cycling.

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Etsy.com, type in Haitan Metal Wall Art. Gena loved mine and she just bought the same. She feels all us women here should have one because we're all maidens in this voyage. We're certainly more of a minority in numbers but I'd say the majority in tanks that look awesome!!!

ok thanks gonna get me one

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Thanks. I'm excited, just having this much space instead of the 6 gallons of the Evolve 8 already gives me more possibilities. I saw a tank w/ 2 of the smaller Kessils and the shimmer was simply amazing. You could even see shadows below the fish. Hopefully on the lowest setting of the Jebao WP25 won't shimmer so much that it makes me want to convulse. But, I can turn down the intensity of the light maybe and that should help. I might unbox the Jebao and put it in my 55 freshwater and see what it can do and then rinse it really well in RO/DI. Better to be safe, predictable, and known before I put it in the 34. I can imagine it will really help with the uncured live rock cycling.

I donèt know wether Ièd try the jebao in the fw tank, its pretty powerful. I have mine on speed 3 (lowest) and on else mode, and my sand eventuallly moves to a mound in the middle of the tank, I just leave it, I cant keep fighting it anymore, as a result the left side is s a little bare bottom before the rock starts, but I like it. Especially now that coralline is beginning to cover the bottom pane. I aim the nozzle slightly toward the back and surface of the water. Like this it works, but beware, it very powerful, enough for a 70g I think. oh sorry for my french keyboard lol.

I like the pump a lot, btw. Its really quiet!

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Following! Changed my profile pic to the Mermaid that is hanging in my house.

 

Oh that's cool. I was thinking of changing my Avatar to the mermaid but it's be too small to make it out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I donèt know wether Ièd try the jebao in the fw tank, its pretty powerful. I have mine on speed 3 (lowest) and on else mode, and my sand eventuallly moves to a mound in the middle of the tank, I just leave it, I cant keep fighting it anymore, as a result the left side is s a little bare bottom before the rock starts, but I like it. Especially now that coralline is beginning to cover the bottom pane. I aim the nozzle slightly toward the back and surface of the water. Like this it works, but beware, it very powerful, enough for a 70g I think. oh sorry for my french keyboard lol.

I like the pump a lot, btw. Its really quiet!

 

 

 

Good point, I'd probably freak out those fish too much. So speed 3 and else mode is the slowest, good to know. Wasn't there something you could buy that would lower the wattage or something? And do you think it'd be worth getting? Rollermonkey,I know you probably know the answer to this.

 

I wasn't sure about the noise factor with the Mag7 because I heard it was powerful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

See you are popular, of course im following.

 

 

 

Ha ha. Didn't really know but now I do. Thanks everybody. I try to be nice, helpful and that's all anyone asks for, aside from wanting that back in return.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I remember when my AC115 skimmer was that clean.

 

Now it doesn't make bubbles any more.

:(

 

 

 

Did it work for you well for your needs? How long did you have it? and why doesn't it make bubbles anymore?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nice set up!

 

If it looks anything like your Evolve, it's gonna be awesome.

 

 

 

Aw. thanks. My husband felt I should always do nice things for myself which is extremely difficult for me to do in a relationship because I think of the other person. So, I said, what the hell, I'm gonna have a larger tank. It pleases me.

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No clue about Jaebos, or how to slow them down.

 

As for the AC115, I've had it a year or so, and it was very temperamental. Occasionally, I'd get some nice skimmate for a few days, then it'd stop and start again intermittently. Right now it's just pumping water into the collection cup and not making bubbles. I'm thinking about replacing it, but there's so few options for skimmers that small that actually work.

 

 

Good point, I'd probably freak out those fish too much. So speed 3 and else mode is the slowest, good to know. Wasn't there something you could buy that would lower the wattage or something? And do you think it'd be worth getting? Rollermonkey,I know you probably know the answer to this.

 

Did it work for you well for your needs? How long did you have it? and why doesn't it make bubbles anymore?

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There is a led dimmer that can slow the old controller down but if you have the new controller, it has variable voltage. 12-24 I believe, so just by turning the control knob to the left you can lower the strength. Wave mode was enough to rock my tank and stand, lol Wave 1 on h1. Apparently the speeds are s1 s2 s3 with 3 being lowest.

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Etsy.com, type in Haitan Metal Wall Art. Gena loved mine and she just bought the same. She feels all us women here should have one because we're all maidens in this voyage. We're certainly more of a minority in numbers but I'd say the majority in tanks that look awesome!!!

When I get mine, everytime I look at it, I'll think of you and yours hanging in your house. :)

 

You got yours pretty fast, huh? Looks like it says it could take 4 weeks to ship since it's coming from Haiti.

 

The sump looks great!!!! :happydance:

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When I get mine, everytime I look at it, I'll think of you and yours hanging in your house. :)

 

You got yours pretty fast, huh? Looks like it says it could take 4 weeks to ship since it's coming from Haiti.

 

The sump looks great!!!! :happydance:

 

I got it fast. It won't take that long. I ordered it on a Fri the 18th and I got it the following week.

 

Oh, looked in Google today and I found someone that was on a different reefing community site - Asheville City Water had a tds of 26 Nov 2011. So, maybe that's why if it already started low I've never had any hair algae, bryopsis, cyano? Assuming it's right still doesn't help me understand why the meter on the BRS RO/DI is reading zero today all day going IN. I'm going to have my friend from work bring me in their handheld on Tues so I can check it.

 

So far I'm liking the sump. Once the high part of the baffle is in there will be an INCH of space left. Boy I hope that's enough, THAT is the part that worries me. I know that the pump chamber is never full when I've viewed other fuges, so if there's any flow back down, which shouldn't be much because this Lifereef promises no loss in suction then I assume that means there shouldn't be much falling back in, then at least there's room in there, right?

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I got it fast. It won't take that long. I ordered it on a Fri the 18th and I got it the following week.

 

Oh, looked in Google today and I found someone that was on a different reefing community site - Asheville City Water had a tds of 26 Nov 2011. So, maybe that's why if it already started low I've never had any hair algae, bryopsis, cyano? Assuming it's right still doesn't help me understand why the meter on the BRS RO/DI is reading zero today all day going IN. I'm going to have my friend from work bring me in their handheld on Tues so I can check it.

 

So far I'm liking the sump. Once the high part of the baffle is in there will be an INCH of space left. Boy I hope that's enough, THAT is the part that worries me. I know that the pump chamber is never full when I've viewed other fuges, so if there's any flow back down, which shouldn't be much because this Lifereef promises no loss in suction then I assume that means there shouldn't be much falling back in, then at least there's room in there, right?

Yes...you should be fine. You can also get those...dang, I forgot the name. But it's a contraption with a plug thingy that closes when the power goes out. The weight of the water closes the little flap.

 

I also have my return nozzles facing up, in the tank, to break the surface, but also to keep much water from draining back down into the sump.

 

It all sounds so confusing, I know. :lol:

 

That's great news that it won't actually take 4+ weeks to get the art. :)

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There is a led dimmer that can slow the old controller down but if you have the new controller, it has variable voltage. 12-24 I believe, so just by turning the control knob to the left you can lower the strength. Wave mode was enough to rock my tank and stand, lol Wave 1 on h1. Apparently the speeds are s1 s2 s3 with 3 being lowest.

 

This is my controller, the pump says passed inspection July 2013 so it's a new one. So, it must be the big round knob I take it?

 

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Yes...you should be fine. You can also get those...dang, I forgot the name. But it's a contraption with a plug thingy that closes when the power goes out. The weight of the water closes the little flap.

 

I also have my return nozzles facing up, in the tank, to break the surface, but also to keep much water from draining back down into the sump.

 

It all sounds so confusing, I know. :lol:

 

That's great news that it won't actually take 4+ weeks to get the art. :)

 

 

 

I just love mine. It's so very beautiful, just like this hobby, AND ALL OF US GIRLS!!!.

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Yes thats mine too, the big round dude controls the strength. the blue button can suspend the pump for feeding, Has a ten minute lock. The speeds are s1 s2 s3 The red button is the speed lock. I like the else mode, its a gentle back and forth pulsating wave, gives nice random movement. My birdnest polyps flow every direction which seems to be the requirement.

 

I have the little chip for the night sensor but havenèt used it. I hear it doesnèt respond well to led and can burn out. Its supposed to slow the flow for a night rest, but I have not tried it and probably will not use it. Maybe I will try it out but I forgot about it and all is well, the fish find a place to snuggle at night and no complaints from this end.

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