Share my tank..help me build - Page 3

navychief · #51 12/14/2007, 02:25 PM

Blown

Unfortunetly, I cannot find a plastic check valve at my LHS. I'm thinking about using a UPS for power outages but only for the sump pump.

killagoby · #52 12/14/2007, 02:58 PM

What's the problem with your skimmer?

jcpatella · #53 12/14/2007, 03:11 PM

navychief - why do you need a check valve anyway? I realize that if the return pump loses power, a back-siphon is created. BUT, if you drilled two holes just below the water line on your pvc in the display tank, very little water would siphon back into your sump.

navychief · #54 12/14/2007, 03:12 PM

Oh. It would be working to produce skimmate in the evening when I thought I had it dialed in right, then it would b full of water the next morning.

Quick question. Looking at the pictures of my tank, would you recommend that I leave the lids off for maximum light or keep them on and just try and keep the glass clean? I figured that leaving them on would reduce evap and keep salt off of my new MH lights.

Thanks,

Tony

navychief · #55 12/14/2007, 03:15 PM

Killagoby.

I have a spray bar that I made that sits about 3" below the water's surface. I back siphons like a bad dog when the pump stops.

jcpatella · #56 12/14/2007, 03:19 PM

It's hard to tell, but is there a protective shield that covers the MH on your fixture? If so, I'd remove the glass cover currently on the display tank. Evaporation is a good thing (gas exchange, lower water temps). Even though it's a pain to top off daily, it's cheaper than running a chiller!

navychief · #57 12/14/2007, 03:26 PM

jc. Remove glass. Roger that.

jcpatella · #58 12/14/2007, 03:41 PM

Leave the cover on the MH, though - you don't want anything splashing on those! There is a cover or splashguard on the MH, right?

Rustylugnuts · #59 12/14/2007, 03:46 PM

Base rock idea: check out marcorocks.com. Very good shapes and since its dry base rock you get a lot for your money and dont get killed on shipping. About that brass fitting from earlier Might wanna grab a copper test kit before you add any inverts there might be enough left in the substrate n rocks to stir up trouble.

navychief · #60 12/14/2007, 03:55 PM

jc.

There's about a quarter inch glass plate over both MHs. I took a pic so you can see what it is. I think you can use this light without a cover. Let me tell you, I took off those tank lids and they were rather hot!

Here's a link to the light. It's model 1064

http://current-usa.com/sunpod.html

jcpatella · #61 12/14/2007, 03:59 PM

Personally, I'd leave the MH covers on if there is adequate ventilation (fan) throughout the fixture.

I bet those lids were hot! Imagine the air trapped underneath them!

killagoby · #62 12/14/2007, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by navychief
Oh. It would be working to produce skimmate in the evening when I thought I had it dialed in right, then it would b full of water the next morning.

Quick question. Looking at the pictures of my tank, would you recommend that I leave the lids off for maximum light or keep them on and just try and keep the glass clean? I figured that leaving them on would reduce evap and keep salt off of my new MH lights.

Thanks,

Tony

I'm having the same problem with my Euro-Reef skimmer. Have you tried to contact them? I had to go through Marine Depot where I bought the skimmer to try to fix the problem. Euro-Reef finally sent me a new pinwheel. It's been running for 24 hours. I'll see if it has overflowed when I get home. If it happens again I'm going to work to get a defective RMA.

navychief · #63 12/14/2007, 04:04 PM

Yea. The system has a set of fans at the top. The covers will stay on.

That live rock I bought has some neat stuff on it, but I have no idea what it is.

navychief · #64 12/14/2007, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by killagoby
I'm having the same problem with my Euro-Reef skimmer. Have you tried to contact them? I had to go through Marine Depot where I bought the skimmer to try to fix the problem. Euro-Reef finally sent me a new pinwheel. It's been running for 24 hours. I'll see if it has overflowed when I get home. If it happens again I'm going to work to get a defective RMA.

We'll see what happens. I ended up changing my water level in the sump and added the extension on for the exhaust which is angled at a less than 45 degree angle. So far no issues and smimmate is beginning to develope. The real question will be overnight!

If no joy, then I will call MD.

navychief · #65 12/14/2007, 08:38 PM

OK. This skimmer is really beginning to PMO! It was making skimmate but not quite going over the edge. I leave for 2 hours for dinner, come back home, and the damned cup is full of water!!! Why in the hell is it doing this???

navychief · #66 12/15/2007, 10:44 AM

Is 9 hours a day enough MH light for my LR?

Rustylugnuts · #67 12/15/2007, 07:19 PM

More than enough IMO you could probably get away with as little as 4 hrs/day .

navychief · #68 12/15/2007, 08:12 PM

Well, I wouldn't be able to enjoy the tank...what little of it that there is...if I went down to four hours. Only have the MH and LEDs.

EWC88 · #69 12/15/2007, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by navychief
OK. This skimmer is really beginning to PMO! It was making skimmate but not quite going over the edge. I leave for 2 hours for dinner, come back home, and the damned cup is full of water!!! Why in the hell is it doing this???

you should have a valve on you skimmer that allows the water to go so high or low...make sure that it isn't over the level line ( should have one, most do ) if its over that line that might be causing it to fill with just water..

I'm not to sure on that but it was a thought.

-Erich

navychief · #70 12/15/2007, 08:34 PM

Actually, I can control the water level two ways. Either the gate valve or the air siphon. I have the gate valve closed about a quarter of the way (estimate since I cant actually see it while it's on the skimmer, however, I base that from what it looked like the last time I cleaned it) and the air siphon almost all the way open.

Right now the water sits just about level with the bottom of the cup in the reaction chamber neck. Foam is beginning to grow! yippee

BTW. About how long does it take for water to turn crystal clear. I know it takes about a two to three weeks on fresh. Is it the same with salt? my tank is a little cloudy but not too bad.

EWC88 · #71 12/15/2007, 08:40 PM

I've seen tanks get clear over one night, as long as you have you skimmer running.

If it doesn't clear up over night give it a day and you should see some difference.

-Erich

navychief · #72 12/15/2007, 08:47 PM

What's your opinon on using a diatom filter in salt to polish the water?

reefernavy · #73 12/16/2007, 12:42 AM

Leave it to a Chief to take a great skimmer and over complicate it by always wanting to mess with it! haha

I use the same skimmer, when adjusting it you don't want to set it so that the skimate is almost to the top, that is why you are getting a cup of water! Set it so the bubble are about 1-1.5 inches from the top.

Good luck!!

navychief · #74 12/16/2007, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by reefernavy
Leave it to a Chief to take a great skimmer and over complicate it by always wanting to mess with it! haha

I use the same skimmer, when adjusting it you don't want to set it so that the skimate is almost to the top, that is why you are getting a cup of water! Set it so the bubble are about 1-1.5 inches from the top.

Good luck!!

Nahh. Leave it to the Chief to follow the directions when forgetting that they were written by some civilian. HAHA

Anyhow. I would have the water level about 2-3 inches from the top and it would seem to be working, then lo and behold, the next morning the cup is overflowed.

I think I got it now.

reefernavy, eh

jcpatella · #75 12/16/2007, 09:54 PM

Chief - thanks to your recommendation, I got a Koralia 3 and I love it! Keep the updates coming!