Zeek's 29g (1 Viewer)

[zeek]

So Here it is finally, I finally took the time to upload pictures and start my jornal for my actual tank. I know I could have gone bigger but I wanted something smaller with enough room for stuff.

I moved the 8 now and built my own DIY stand for my light fixture with plenty of opening for air and help with the temp, these PC's get pretty hot im starting to think I shoulda gone MH... lol.

Anyway enough jibber jabber, Here is the final set-up I just need time and livestock now

 

[zeek]

Livestock here Coming soon

Camera doesn't do It any justice the colors on this guy are AMAZING.

 

[zeek]

Took an old dresser that has a 2x2 frame and a 3/4in top and turned it into my stand, I removed the drawers and drawer support beams and reinforced the middle on the front and back side for extra support even tho it didn't seem to need it.

I made a custom frame to support my lights with 1/2in aluminum angle, I will be spray painting it with heat resistant paint eventually, right now im just happy my light is finally in place instead of the mess I had before.

Plans:

For the light thats a 2 64w PC light and there is a 20 light LED moonlight/actinic on the workbench at the moment. I will righ them like so:


Front view.

I-2---------2---------2---------2---------2-I


The bolded out number represents the LED's that will be on 24/7 and act as moonlights and the rest will just help as spotlights accenting colors in the tank. These guys are regular brigt LED's but do put out about 10 lumens so they should be enough to just make colors jump out. Why the trouble? I had the crap laying around from my RC building hobby so why the heck not


More DIY stand/light fixture here coming soon.

 

[soymilk]

nice job. Looking good

 

[gabe_j]

Oh snap it's coming along!!

 

[r_jay]

Nice! is that a sebae nem?

 

[zeek]

Nice! is that a sebae nem?

Yup finaly broke down and got it lol, I made sure to place my powerheads as far from it and got ones I could put the grill guard thingies on them

It has awesome colors and the clown has not left it for anything lol, also she took that spot there and has not moved for a week now and seems rather happy, also its dead on center of the tank LMAO, I love it

You know you want one...

Also question My phospates are high, how do I lower them? I did several quick water changes but they are still on the high side what is causing this?

 

[soymilk]

Phosphate is usually added either from water. If you're using tap water for water changes.

Or from fish/coral food. Frozen foods usually have a ton of phosphate. Make sure you rinse it well. Usually on the back of the package they will list phosphate content.

 

[gabe_j]

yup yup rinse everything except rods food. you want everything in that stuff. +1 from me. have you tried micro bacter 7 and reef biofuel it got my levels much lower. that is if your not down with vodka dosing. but with your skimmer i wouldn't recomend it. 1 overdose and bye bye O2 and bye bye fishy stuff.

 

[zeek]

Yes I am using Tap water, I know im evil...

I have a torn disk on my back so carrying the jugs upstairs isn't exactly "happy time" That's why I got a small-er tank. I am in the process of getting an RO/DI for my sink tho.

Also can you elaborate on the why would my skimmer would prompt an overdose?

 

[gabe_j]

biocube skimmers aren't all that great when your vodka dosing you need to remove the extra bacteria and funk outta your water it also serves a purpose to add o2 to the water because as the bacteria feed on the trates/po4/vodka they use up o2. so its critical to have a good skimmer. (pulling the junk excess bac. and adding extra o2 to the water.

so the skimmer wouldn't really promt an od. but if you make a mistake your going to want a skimmer that can keep up and ime biocube skimmers arent' all that efficient/reliable.

 

[HorseyStripe]

Yes I am using Tap water, I know im evil...

I have a torn disk on my back so carrying the jugs upstairs isn't exactly "happy time" That's why I got a small-er tank. I am in the process of getting an RO/DI for my sink tho.

if you need help...lemme know hell i'll even help you carry jugs once a week if you need it...i can't live that far from you...like 5 mins drive and 10-15 minutes of my time, 5 mins drive home...not that big of a deal to drop a 1/2 hour on helping keep your reef happy

 

[soymilk]

Yes I am using Tap water, I know im evil...

I have a torn disk on my back so carrying the jugs upstairs isn't exactly "happy time" That's why I got a small-er tank. I am in the process of getting an RO/DI for my sink tho.

Also can you elaborate on the why would my skimmer would prompt an overdose?

Depending on where you live and how old the water mains feeding your house is, there could be a lot of phosphate/heavy metals in your tap water.

A lot of the older water systems around houston lead pipes. After a few decades the lining in the lead pipes wore away and lead was directly being leeched into the water system. So Houston pumped some sorta polyphosphate epoxy thru the pipes to coat and seal the lead. Worked great in refurbishing the pipes.

Only problem now is phosphate leaks into the tap water now. I can't speak for new development area but older parts of town yes.

 

[zeek]

biocube skimmers aren't all that great when your vodka dosing you need to remove the extra bacteria and funk outta your water it also serves a purpose to add o2 to the water because as the bacteria feed on the trates/po4/vodka they use up o2. so its critical to have a good skimmer. (pulling the junk excess bac. and adding extra o2 to the water.

so the skimmer wouldn't really promt an od. but if you make a mistake your going to want a skimmer that can keep up and ime biocube skimmers arent' all that efficient/reliable.

Gotcha, Thanks man I understand, it was free so I figured it can't hurt to trow it in there

I am going to get an RO/DI system "soon" right now thats my main concern as I got my light and stand in order.

Also horsey I apreciate it man but its a pride thing I guess. Im not just gonna call ya to carry my water altho if you wanna come hang out drink a beer and then maybe "assist" me with a water jug or two then we can talk I absolutely apreciate it man, I am glad to have you guys.

Also im starting to research sumps, if anyone has any links/hints to share they will be appreciated I want to get my water issue fixed first but in the meantime I want to research as much about a sump as possible, is it worth it or am I overthinking here?

 

[r_jay]

Horseystripe has some skill drinking beer for sure... oh and building sumps, lol!

 

[gabe_j]

Horseystripe has some skill drinking beer for sure... oh and building sumps, lol!

good stuff!

 

[zeek]

Guys check this out, I can get gallon juggs from this place, is this allright to use before my RO/DI unit gets here?

http://watermillexpress.com/our_proc.html

It should be better then tap right? just for the week or two til my stuff comes in? this is at the kroger by my house so the wife can pick up gallon juggs of this stuff when she shops for groceries

 

[RR-MAN]

Looking good Z.

Yes, that water is way better than tap.

 

[zeek]

so th is weekend I got busy...

Built my own sump with a 20gal tank I got an eshopps overflow and a RIO 1700 for the return.

I have a skimmer coming in and its running ok so far cept for the noisy flushing sound that now fills my apt. lol

I keep getting air on my utube I read that it was a lack of flow, I do notice my sump looks kinda dead I have the pump open all the way with a spray bar, I used the hose/spray bar that my XP2 used as a return, could it be reducing my flow that bad?

I am at about 4-5ft head and according to the box it says I should get around 350gph.

Also there was no paperwork in the box, the box inside the tank that skims water into the overflow, what height should I have that at?

I'll post pics soon, thanks in advance.

-Z

 

[soymilk]

Height of the box doesn't matter, its up to you where you want the water line.

I'm sorry I don't understand your current return set up. Are you using a rio 1700 or the output for the canister filter?

A pic would be great. Theres different ways of getting rid of the gurgling noise or the flushing sound.