makita82 Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 Well after reading post after post after post here on NR I have finally done it and purchased my first tank. Here is a list of equipment currently on order and due to arrive over the next couple days. Cadlights 2015 50G Artisan II Cube full package Kessil A360WE with gooseneck and 90º adaptor Kessil Apex cable Jebao RW-4 with controllers X2 Jebao to Apex Controller adaptor EHEIM Jager Aquarium Thermostat Heater 150W Tunze 3155.00 ATO LED lights for DIY Kessil Moonlight project Still need to find Apex Controller Full ATO reservoir and much more for sure The plan I plan to house just a few fish: Pair of Clowns, a Fire Goby, Yellow Tang, maybe one or two others For Coral: I would like to house a variety with most of my collection being polyps with a few LPS, SPS, and mushrooms If I am lucky I would like a clam The Clean Up Crew will be the usual along with 1 peppermint shrimp and 1 hermit crab. The build time will be a long process. I have no plans on rushing things after all it has taken me 5 years to get this far. If there is anything that sounds like I am missing let me know. Link to comment
makita82 Posted January 20, 2015 Author Share Posted January 20, 2015 Craigslist pulled through today with a very nice Apex setup. So I got a Apex with a temp and ph probe, 2x PB8, 2x leak detectors, & 1 breakout box. So check off one need to find item. Ironically The one item that is currently home with me is an item that I needed to still find. Although tomorrow will be a big day. My Cadlights tank is in and I will be picking it up from California Reed Co in the evening. I also expect several UPS deliveries tomorrow as well. Link to comment
makita82 Posted January 25, 2015 Author Share Posted January 25, 2015 Well So far I have run into nothing but trouble with this build. Kessil arrived missing parts. Cadlights Artisan arrived with the wrong return pump. My Apex I bought the old owner didn't remove himself from control on Apex Fusion. I forgot to order one things so the plumbing can't be hooked up. The supplied overflow cover is not the same shape as the overflow so it won't fit. Otherwise things are starting to come along. I have ordered my RODI unit from BRS along with a filter socks, testing kits, salt, and coral RX. I am still lost as to what to get for my ATO Reservoir as there isn't much room left in the stand and I don't want it outside the stand. Link to comment
makita82 Posted January 28, 2015 Author Share Posted January 28, 2015 Ok so have a question for everyone. Looking at my stocking plans what type of black sand would you recommend? Link to comment
Coolhandreefer Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Nice tank/equipment! I'm not sure on the black sand because I never used black sand. Post some pictures of the tank when you can! Link to comment
skyscraper2290 Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Not sure if you figured out the ATO reservoir yet but I use one of the 1.5 gallon plastic cereal containers and was only a couple bucks and works great and isn't too big Link to comment
makita82 Posted January 31, 2015 Author Share Posted January 31, 2015 I did... I ordered a custom one from Melev's Reef should be a perfect fit. Cant wait for it to arrive. Nice tank/equipment! I'm not sure on the black sand because I never used black sand. Post some pictures of the tank when you can! Pics coming soon!!! Link to comment
makita82 Posted February 5, 2015 Author Share Posted February 5, 2015 Well a little behind schedule but here they are Link to comment
makita82 Posted February 5, 2015 Author Share Posted February 5, 2015 Need a little bit of help. I believe the return pump is too small. Here is the overflow to give an example of how little its pumping out. Its this the correct flow or do I need a bigger pump? If I need a bigger pump do you have any suggestions? Movie Link (I don't know how to post a video on the forums so I put a link instead.) Looks promising It would look more so today but it appears that UPS can't deliver my rock as scheduled do to weather related issues... Link to comment
fishphi784 Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Need a little bit of help. I believe the return pump is too small. Here is the overflow to give an example of how little its pumping out. Its this the correct flow or do I need a bigger pump? If I need a bigger pump do you have any suggestions? Movie Link (I don't know how to post a video on the forums so I put a link instead.) Can you take a video of the return nozzle while running? Also, I have a cad lights and the pump I have has an adjustable intake albeit a low quality one. Is that all the way open? Link to comment
makita82 Posted February 6, 2015 Author Share Posted February 6, 2015 Can you take a video of the return nozzle while running? Also, I have a cad lights and the pump I have has an adjustable intake albeit a low quality one. Is that all the way open? Here is that video. Video Link Link to comment
makita82 Posted February 6, 2015 Author Share Posted February 6, 2015 I have also checked the return pump there is no adjustment. Link to comment
fishphi784 Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 I would say that looks about the same as mine. I have a 50 gallon long. Link to comment
makita82 Posted February 6, 2015 Author Share Posted February 6, 2015 I guess the real thing to do is try to fill a 1 gallon bucket and see how fast it fills. my understanding is you want 10x the flow through the sump as the tank capacity. With a 50 Gallon tank that should be 500 gallons per hour. That flow doesn't look more then 2-3 gallons per minute. Link to comment
makita82 Posted February 6, 2015 Author Share Posted February 6, 2015 Of course now I read that some are saying 5x might be better. I'm so confused Link to comment
makita82 Posted February 12, 2015 Author Share Posted February 12, 2015 I have finally received my rock and have settled on my aquascape. I have begun to cycle my tank and am using the ghost feeding method. The one question I have is how often should I be feeding the tank? Currently I am feeding 1 cube every 2-3 days of Mysis Shrimp does this sound about right or do I need to increase the feedings. I am not running any filtration at the moment other then my sock filter and that will allow the food to still break down. Ammonia levels are slowly beginning to rise 3 days ago they were at .2 and last night they were .3 or .4. I am also dosing Bactiv8 to aid with the cycle process. Once the tank has fully cycled I will be adding a piece of rubble from my buddies tank to help seed the coralline. If I am missing anything let me know. Link to comment
michaelrzachmann Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 scape looks great Link to comment
makita82 Posted February 20, 2015 Author Share Posted February 20, 2015 So I feel like an idiot tonight. I went to make some RODI to top off the tank with and fell asleep. I live in a condo on the top floor. Well the system was running for 3 hours and it overflowed my 5 gallon bucket and made its way to my neighbors place downstairs. Need some suggestions to prevent this from happening again. Link to comment
CronicReefer Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 So I feel like an idiot tonight. I went to make some RODI to top off the tank with and fell asleep. I live in a condo on the top floor. Well the system was running for 3 hours and it overflowed my 5 gallon bucket and made its way to my neighbors place downstairs. Need some suggestions to prevent this from happening again. Alarm clocks work wonders. I used to overflow my bucket all the time till I started setting a timer to remind myself to check. If you place the bucket inside the sink it will only overflow down the drain as well. Link to comment
makita82 Posted February 20, 2015 Author Share Posted February 20, 2015 Alarm clocks work wonders. I used to overflow my bucket all the time till I started setting a timer to remind myself to check. If you place the bucket inside the sink it will only overflow down the drain as well. Ya I was thinking along the same lines Link to comment
makita82 Posted March 1, 2015 Author Share Posted March 1, 2015 Ammonia is basically at 0 Nitrates were sky high. Did a 8 gallon water change today. Lights got turned on last week and I am now starting to see a little bit of brown algae. If this all keeps up I will add my first inhabitants (cuc) next week. Link to comment
makita82 Posted March 26, 2015 Author Share Posted March 26, 2015 Well I would like to introduce my two latests additions. Meet Fuego and Berta. Fuego stayed in hiding for a week before she finally came out. She is still hiding most of the time but is coming out more and more. Link to comment
makita82 Posted April 10, 2015 Author Share Posted April 10, 2015 So does anyone know where I can get some designer micro algae? The one place I know that has it online has been out of stock for 3 months. Also any suggestions for getting my firefish to come out of hiding? Link to comment
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