YHSublime

It was 3-3.5". I have been looking at the tank in the dark, but have yet to drop food in at that time. I've found all sorts of things i didn't know existed. Pods almost the size of pennies, urchins (I have never put urchins into my tank) bristle worms! It's quite a show. I have done work on the sump recently, and not seen them down there, just pods and snails in the cheeto.

I recently rehomed an orange spot tang that was in my tank to help controll some of the algae. While she was in there, I also had 15 peppermint shrimp added. I realize that peppermints usually stay out of sight, but it just dawned on me this morning that I have not seen a peppermint shrimp in my tank for months now, is it possible that the tang feasted? Granted, after adding the 15, I usually only saw 1 or 2, but my tank isn't huge...

Probably flags you after "exotic"

Wow! Lots of options and opinions! Thanks for the offer on the Dart Coral Hind, I'm going to research a little bit more before making any decisions. The DC1200 was on my list, but the long term is what troubles me. I like the waterblaster suggestions, as I think at this stage I'm looking for an internal. Long term, my sump is already plumbed for a dart, I was looking at the blowhole, but at an aditional 9", plumbing outside might be an issue. At the end of the day, this tank will be coming down in a year or two, and getting setup again somewhere else, this time, I hope with a taller stand.

So I am looking at both of these pumps for the 150 gallon. Granted, I don't need 3600 gph with two mp-40's and a jb-40 as well, but I remember (I think it was Tom) saying that he calculated the savings for the extra price of what the pump was had paid off in electric bills alone. Should I just save a little bit and go with the ReeFlo? Does anybody have some input on other appropriate options?

Interesting, I was asking because I am looking to do the same thing, but I already have it setup for a PVC return, just leaves me with four 90 degree angles on the way to the return, but it's only pumping up about 4' and over less than 2'.

I went ahead and started plumbing using PVC. The only concern I have is the only way to plumb my return is with four 90' angles off the bat, and beat on the street is 90 degree angles are not great for your return. So seeing as I could use a 5ft piece of tubing, I thought that might be the best way to go? Also, does anybody use pvc chamfers? I think this is the name for them, it's like a cone that essentially gives you a chamfered edge on the outside and inside of your PVC cuts. I just want to make sure I put this all together right and don't have leaks the first time around.

Coming along very nicely. Did you use flex tube for your returns? It looks like it! Where did you get it?

Thank you! Eh, whatever it is, it looks like it may have rooted so I'll let it be for now. My huge open brain was stung by it, and definitly was looking better, and then was down to almost base skeleton last night, expunging black strings from it's mouth. I quickly did a 20g water change, and it looked better this morning, but I'm monitoring it closely. You know I can't keep my mind made up. When you give me a call I'll let you know what's going on. I've been really busy with work as well, and trying to pump this out in between life and everything else important. I have some words of advise to those who are struggling with plumbing, or daunted by it. Think Legos. It's pretty fun, and it's really trying to figure out what best works, all the parts go together, and you just need to figure out how, and the best way to do it. It's almost like a puzzle. In this case, I've been using 1-2" pieces of PVC in between parts to hold them together. A prime example of that would be the 90 degree parts attached for my dursos. Is this an acceptable way to do it? Keep in mind I'm also heavily gluing them together as well, just using it as a middle piece. Thanks! It was very quick, and didn't take nearly as long as I thought. I've picked up some brackets to mount the 7' pieces to the back brace of the stand, that should be more than enough. I'll do once more on the left hand side of the stand, right before they come out into the sump, that should provide enough support. Good catch though!

Sticky?

Yep, I'm not kidding about wanting. I trust your coral picking choices!

Torches. Then I want one. Thanks

Tracy, I've heard of people doing a hydrogen peroxide dip mix before. Somebody on this thread mentions doing a 1:1 ratio, and using it for successfully killing bryopis. I don't know how your zoas will react, or if this is even a method that works, nor do i stand behind it... just saying, I've heard about it, and read about it...

Whoops. Meant durso!

I've been researching, and you know what, you may be right, Jenn. I think it may have settled, but if not, I'll try the sand. It doesn't look like a BTA, but it was advertised as one when I got it. Hmmm. Let me tell you a little secret. 5 months ago I canceled our cable. 8 months ago was probably the last time that tv was on. I have a 60"that is just way to big for the living room, and everything we watch is either streamed through Amazon Prime or Netflix. I hate those Zebra chairs. The only decor I get to choose is the aquariums, which I'm OK with. I just don't understand buying a couch because it looks nice, but it's not comfortable.... Just put the bulkheads in, I'm a lot more confident in them now they are tightened. I have the tank filled with 1.025 saltwater, and an MP40 churning away. I'm about 2-5 gallons shy of hitting the overflows, and tomorrow I'll be grabbing 30' of 1" flex pvc from home depot, enough PVC to make my herbies, and some clamps. Sans a pump this thing should be tossing water around tomorrow night!

Beautiful tank! Nice pictures! Are those sun corals, do you feed them individually?

Womp womp. I tried to tell you! What's your footprint?

Not sure. I've given it an option for just about everywhere in the tank, and it keeps moving about. Don't get it. I'm learning quickly. Fingers crossed...? lol.

...tomorrow, aka. today.

Very structured, but I like it!

You've been gunning for a while, congrats!

I've already PM'd Jack about the changes I'd like to make. Oh, and I'm not talking about the stand. :P Sorry I didn't rescue man, I was having a come to Jesus moment with the miss. That looks really nice, but also kind of crowded as well, trying to go even more minimalistic. Oh man, I hate to disappoint... and no, it's not pressure treated. So this morning I got the whole "if you're keeping that tank in here, you're keeping that stand and hood" talk. She's none to happy with my stand, although she doesn't understand that once I cover it up, paint and add trim, it's going to be freaking awesome. I explained to her how sumps work, and my dilemma with such a low stand, and we compromised with letting me plumb the sump outside and to the left. This is probably the best solution, as now I can work on the sump no problem, just makes plumbing a little bit harder. So this is what I don't have to deal with anymore. Draining 150 gallons of water, removing 350lb aquarium, removing sump. This happened once to get it in, and it happened once to get it out. I'm done! I do like the stand and the hood, but I can't help but feel like it was built for somebody who planned to plumb behind the wall. This way I can actually stand on the ground, and reach into the back of the tank all the way if need be, which is nice. I mounted my battery backup for the MP40's and finally added some salt. And by added some salt, I mean I added 5lbs of salt. Bulkheads are on standby, and dursos will be built tomorrow. Once the salt is all mixed up and my salinity is good, I've got some live rock that is going in, and I'll be letting er' ride. Some of you might remember, I still have a 57. My new favorite activity it coming back an hour after lights out and using a flashlight to see what's in my tank. Thus far, I have rekindled my relationship with my pistol shrimp, seen how many pods are in my tank (A LOT) and found a sea urchin who hides under a rock, who I have NO idea how it hitchhiked into my tank. Some shots from this evening: Sun Coral (tubestrea) The pic isn't too hot. I feed it every day with a dropper, and it's polyps are usually always out. It's in the shade, and gets a moderate flow. Took about 24 hours till I saw it extend all the way out.. beautiful, I hope to catch up with Pez and Huly's collection My cleaner shrimp, is by far one of the coolest things in the aquarium. My clowns have a pretty good gig with him, as there is an RBTA right below his "spot." I often catch them getting a good cleaning while they chill in their nem. Finally, an in focus shot of my Rastas Dragon eyes Frogspawn that Tom kindly gave me after my tank crash, by my ever expanding golden torch: The wandering GBTA that might get rehomed if it can't find a spot soon: 50% open brain, after getting stung by the GBTA: I thought this was gone, but it's slowly overridden again. It will go in the sump when I tank swap.

Richard. Please slow down until I get the 150 setup. my frag racks are already overflowing, and the tank is stuffed.