Finally getting around to starting my 65 gallon build. Its been about 5 years since I've had a tank set up, and this will be my first tank with an overflow. I tried to keep my rock work away from the glass on all sides, so I can clean easily and minimize dead spots. I'm about a week into the cycle and so far things seem to be working out okay. Levels are where they should be, diatoms unfortunately are in bloom, but that's just part of it. I have noticed that when I change out my filter sock it always seems to slow down the flow into the sump. Is that normal? Or should I be using a filter sock with a bigger pore size to keep this from happening? These are generic 2 micron socks off amazon.
Great scape Frank! I love it! I wouldn't think the filter sock would have any effect on flow in the sump. The return is still pumping at the same rate and the drains should be draining at the same rate. The porosity of the sock should be greatest after a change wouldn't they? I may be thinking wrong. Mine are 200 micron, are yours really 2 micron? That's very fine I hate diatoms. Going through that with my rebuild right now. Anytime you use dry rock with some silicate in it that's likely to happen. Thankfully mine seems to be subsiding on the rock but has gotten worse on the glass.
Yeah, I meant 200. I'm going to try soaking the next sock prior to installing it and see if that helps. It's not a big deal as it corrects itself in an hour or so, just hate the extra noise.
Hiya, Nice! Is that a rimless? Would love to have one of those one day. What kind of fish are you going to put in there? Kim/Benton, AR
No its not rimless, I just cropped out the top. My first tank was a rimless 30 gallon, and I really loved the clean look you get from one. I've gone back and forth on the fish thing a few times. I know I will be getting a pair of black clowns, had one in my old tank and she had a great personality. Next would be a blenny. Possibly a lawn mower, bi color, or tail spot will just depend on what's available. After that I'm up in the air. I don't want to over stock but I want something that will move about in the tank and give it some life. A wrasse seems like a better choice than a pygmy angle as I would like to add a clam some day. But I've also thought about a "school" of anthias or cardinals. So many cool fish out there and so little room for them all.
Just a small update, the drain pipe was too far under the water line in the display. That was what was causing the overfill, then darining. Simple things are sometimes the hardest to see. Thought I was finishing up with my cycle and low and behold another diatom outbreak. It seems to be an issue with my PH I think. I just can't seem to maintain it above 8.1'ish. Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0 Nitrate 2 KH 8 CA 400 Temp pretty constat 76-77. SG 1.026 (though I am having problems calibrating my APO refactometer) Those are the only tests I've been doing so far.
Hiya, I had a pygmy angel once. Had to get rid of it, it went after my corals. I loved my bi-color and the tail spots are neat. I've been told more then once don't chase your PH. If you're going to be at the meeting this month, you could probably bring your refractometer with you and I bet someone can help you get it calibrated for you. Kim/Benton, AR
Some help with the refractometer would be great. I am trying to work it out that I can make it up there, just need to get the okay from my wife. I also did a little research on the diatoms and it may be that I need to replace my media in my RODI. Apparently silicate doesn't cause conductivity so your TDS meter may still read zero, but you may still have silicates from your tap water. So I've order new media hopefully that will clean up this little mess.
Hiya, For some reason, the pictures didn't come through. Though, it could just be my computer. Kim/Benton, AR
Well, I'm not sure what happened. but here are 2 of the images i tried to post earlier. The others keep showing up upside down no matter what I do to them. Its late so I'll try again tomorrow. Full tank shot, nothing great, but hopefully it fills up some after this weekend. Tank guts, nothing too amazing, but its the heart of the system.
Here we go. I picked this blasto up off of a Facebook auction. I am really bad at auctions, I like to win. But this one came from Coral Savers, they shipped on my schedule(2 weeks after the auction) and were prompt with communication, and everything was packaged well. I have no problems recommending them. Been in the tank a little over a week and seems to be acclimating well. My little Zoa garden. Haven't got them arranged how I would like, but I hope to get them grouped up soon. Way more fun to look at under actinic. I said I wouldn't have mushrooms in this tank, but my wife loves purple. That was not an argument I was going to win. Got these at Paradise Pets in Benton, I have always had a lot of success with stuff from them. Ebony and Ivory, living in perfect harmony. My only fish for now, I just can't make a decision as to what to add next. Sorry the pictures were messed up before, I have no idea why they were so messed up the other day.
Brief update. Things are moving on pretty good. Still learning about this tank, and where to best position thing so they are happy. Also still working on lighting and light intensity to maximize my corals. My mangroves finally started leafing out, hope anyone else who got one is having some success. Playing around with a macro lens on my phone. Probably the best picture I've been able to take.
