hypertech January 12, 2012 January 12, 2012 You need to cut the first one and the third one. If you were to look at my sump closely, you might notice that I had to lower the water level about an inch. I just went at the baffle with the dremel. I cut to about an inch from the edge and then made a veritical cut from there to remove the material from the baffle. While it may have looked nicer if I had remove it and cut it down with the saw, etc. This solution was fast and easy.
.OptimusPrime. January 12, 2012 Author January 12, 2012 Wil leaving the 3rd baffle alone cause problems? If I cut out to 7 inches or so I'm concerned it will have problems and run dry
hypertech January 12, 2012 January 12, 2012 Think about it. The water will pool up until it is as deep as the highest baffle it has to go over to get to the next chamber. If you are worried about running dry, get an ATO. You can also probably remove the right two baffles and increase the size of the next chamber.
.OptimusPrime. January 14, 2012 Author January 14, 2012 Was cutting the baffles inside the sump when the bottom cracked....FML.... Is petco still have their $1/gal sale??? The dimensions on the tank look to be a 20L.
.OptimusPrime. January 17, 2012 Author January 17, 2012 Got around to working on the sump again today. While I wait for the baffle silicone to finish curing, I played around with rock work. Which option is best? Option 1: Option 2: Option 3:
smallreef January 18, 2012 January 18, 2012 I prefer # 2 or #3,,, 1 just looks not as firm? plus I think its to close to the top...
.OptimusPrime. January 20, 2012 Author January 20, 2012 (edited) Went with #3 and since its one giant rock I can move it out if I ever don't like the look. After getting the skimmer up and running for 2 days now tested water parameters and everything was in check except nitrates. The color on the test said 100ppm. Filling up my 20G brute for a water change. Will 20G be enough? Should I wait a few days after the water change to add fish? Edited January 20, 2012 by .OptimusPrime.
onux20 January 21, 2012 January 21, 2012 20 is a good start. Do it and test again. Dilution is the solution! <still liked aquascape #2 better!>
smallreef January 21, 2012 January 21, 2012 you could do you water change and then wait for nitrates to get down to atleast 20, are you checking nitirites and ammonia? you really dont want to put fish in too soon.
.OptimusPrime. January 22, 2012 Author January 22, 2012 20 is a good start. Do it and test again. Dilution is the solution! <still liked aquascape #2 better!> LOL...I like it too for the open space but then I think I dont have enough room for fish to hide and coral placement in the future. Since its just one giant piece I can always remove it later you could do you water change and then wait for nitrates to get down to atleast 20, are you checking nitirites and ammonia? you really dont want to put fish in too soon. I changed the water on Early saturday morning 20G of fresh mixed water at 1.025 (heated /mixed overnight). Checked the water parameters again today and nitrates are still showing at 100ppm. Far right on my salifert test kit. I'd say it looks even more of a dark purple than whats on the chart. Does it take longer for the nitrates to go down? All other parameters are in check. No ammonia. no phosphates. pH is in check. Don't have a nitrite kit.
surf&turf January 22, 2012 January 22, 2012 May take longer since you went with dry rock. Live rock has areas inside the rock where anaerobic bacteria grow, thus helping to reduce nitrates faster.
.OptimusPrime. January 24, 2012 Author January 24, 2012 Checked again this morning before leaving for work. Everything was normal except the nitrates. still off the charts based on the salifert test kit. I'll wait a few more days and see if there are any changes. I have another 20G of mixed saltwater ready to go. I was reading that Davelin was having nitrate trouble as well that he cant get it to settle and it was mentioned to vodka/vinegar/sugar dose. So I decided to read up on it and it seems like its fairly easy to do, but also to overdose. Since I'm just starting out, don't have any fish or coral, would it be beneficial for me to try this method. I read the articles over at Melevs reef and reefkeeping. Only other option might be doing a water change this way: http://www.melevsreef.com/reducing_nitrates.html
onux20 January 24, 2012 January 24, 2012 Checked again this morning before leaving for work. Everything was normal except the nitrates. still off the charts based on the salifert test kit.I'll wait a few more days and see if there are any changes. I have another 20G of mixed saltwater ready to go. Still 100ppm? Or less than 100ppm but still high? Do you have your sump back on line? Skimming? Macro? I would do another change and see where you are. If the numbers arent budging, I would double check with another test kit. If kit proves accurate, I would try to find the culprit. I dont know if 'trates can leach from dry rock? Did you check your water change water for 'trates?
.OptimusPrime. January 24, 2012 Author January 24, 2012 (edited) Still 100ppm? Or less than 100ppm but still high? Do you have your sump back on line? Skimming? Macro? I would do another change and see where you are. If the numbers arent budging, I would double check with another test kit. If kit proves accurate, I would try to find the culprit. I dont know if 'trates can leach from dry rock? Did you check your water change water for 'trates? Yup still 100ppm. that deep dark purple. all the way to right of the scale. Sump is back in and has been for about a week. No macro or fuge. Skimmer is on, but hasn't been pulling anything. I have set on a dry skim. The bubbles are right below the neck of the skimmer (between the min/max water level signs on the skimmer) with no bubbles flowing into the collection cup. ....should I open the valve up more and try for wetter skim? Hopefully that isn't my issue or else Im going to bang my head against the wall I haven't checked the water coming out of the RO/DI unit, will do so when I get home. Edited January 24, 2012 by .OptimusPrime.
trockafella January 24, 2012 January 24, 2012 Glad to see you got things going.!! I know its late, but I liked #2 aquascape.. Btw, let me know when youre ready for corals, Ill have some corals ready for you start off with.!
onux20 January 24, 2012 January 24, 2012 Skimmer pulls out dissolved organics. If you have no fish and no feeding, i dont think wetter skim will help. Unless...Did you use 100% dry rock or did you use some other live rock (wet). If you used wet then you may want to skim wetter due to die off from the live rock while cycling. GL
.OptimusPrime. January 24, 2012 Author January 24, 2012 Glad to see you got things going.!! I know its late, but I liked #2 aquascape.. Btw, let me know when youre ready for corals, Ill have some corals ready for you start off with.! LOL..man does everyone like 2 better?? I might end up changing it. Thanks for offer. I'll hold ya to it once I get this nitrate thing down. Skimmer pulls out dissolved organics. If you have no fish and no feeding, i dont think wetter skim will help. Unless...Did you use 100% dry rock or did you use some other live rock (wet). If you used wet then you may want to skim wetter due to die off from the live rock while cycling. GL Nope it was all 100 % dry reef saver from BRS. Guess I'll wait it out and see what happens.
trockafella January 24, 2012 January 24, 2012 Good call on all dry rock.!! Give the skimmer a little time, it may not have anything at all to really pull yet.. You let me know when your ready, we can talk corals and transformers.!
.OptimusPrime. January 24, 2012 Author January 24, 2012 Sounds good to me. Maybe I can pick up a few more trockisms Water still reads 100ppm. My RO/DI water reads what looks to be 0-2ppm. a very slight hue. I give it a day or two more before i do another 20G on Friday.
.OptimusPrime. January 25, 2012 Author January 25, 2012 there seems to be a film on top of the water that I cant seem to get rid of as well as massive amounts of small particles. Do I not have enough skimming of the surface of the water? I already have 2 - evo 750s at opposite ends of the tank I figured that would be enough. I have 200 micron felt socks that I swap out every couple of days but nothing seems to get rid of them. I know I used all dry rock and should expect particles to come of the rock, but dang this is just ridiculous.
.OptimusPrime. January 25, 2012 Author January 25, 2012 Ok, so it might not be debris off the rocks and stuff since it looks like its coming out of the returns, which would mean I have microbubble problems. Could it be caused by the skimmer? I don't remember having such a problem when I didn't have my skimmer up and running. Might pick up some filter pad/floss and stick it inside the bubble trap and see if it does anything.
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