Durand tank build (1 Viewer)

[Jonty]

I have the same and it does not impede flow, I have flow meters you can borrow, it may help track down the issue.

 

[reef junkie]

I have the same and it does not impede flow, I have flow meters you can borrow, it may help track down the issue.

Thanks Jonathan thats awesome, appreciate the offer. Thats good to know about your mod. I think I can test pretty easily by just disconnecting different parts in the Co2 scrubber since the skimmer reaches almost Instantly when I allow more air in. But If I don't get it figured out I’ll reach out. I don’t remember but do you run some sort of phosphate remover on your systems?

 

[reef junkie]

I spent some time this morning removing parts on my Co2 scrubber tying to see where my restriction was. After going through it the only thing I could find was when I removed the canister and put it back skimmer bubbles would rise and lower. I noticed I had access moisture in the bottom of the canister. After dumping it out and reinstalling the canister the bubbles in the skimmer only changed by a little. I think the water in the bottom of the skimmer was reducing the air that could be pulled in. Im going to change how my lines go into my collection cup for the Co2 skimmer and see if that helps to keep my moisture down. Im curious if I maybe have the media packed in to hard also. Not much info on adding media online. I have it pretty packed.


For the PO4 I added the 5.5 size bag of Chemi Pure blue to the sump last night. It‘s to small for my system based on the recommendations on BRS but if I want to reduce slowly this might be a good way to do it as a test without shocking the system. Tested yesterday afternoon before doing anything and was at .27 This morning tested and was at .34. Hopefully with the skimmer now running what seems to be better (Looks much better in the short time it took me to write this post), Ill see what tomorrow morning looks like for results.

 

[Jonty]

I was just going to ask you about water in bottom of container I have found with recirculating the skimmer air which is very high humidity already no water is needed in the scrubber media container. Do you have a separator in line from the skimmer return to the CO2 reactor?
This one is a spare for me and yours for $10 if you want it.

 

[reef junkie]

I was just going to ask you about water in bottom of container I have found with recirculating the skimmer air which is very high humidity already no water is needed in the scrubber media container. Do you have a separator in line from the skimmer return to the CO2 reactor?
This one is a spare for me and yours for $10 if you want it.

View attachment 61011

Thanks. I do have one. But I figured out I may have the lines tied in backwards. After watching videos need to have the skimmer side going into the top and I have it gong into the side of the collection cup adapter.

 

[reef junkie]

Phosphate is at .16 this morning when I tested. Was a little nervous seeing such a fast drop. But with the skimmer working a little better now that it can breath again guess im not totally surprised. ill need to keep an eye on things to make sure we don‘t get to low. Im waiting to see if my PH will climb back to what it was. Messing around with the scrubber obviously cased ph to drop but i thinking since air is passing through faster now if it stays on the low side I will look at adding a second chamber to the Co2 scrubber. I moved the lines around as well this morning that run to the collection cup and drain the water that collected since yesterday in the scrubber so hopefully this change will be the fix I needed.

 

[reef junkie]

I dumped about 4ml of AB+ in the tank last night during the last say hour of lighting. This morning I woke early and decided to play in the tank a little. At first I thought man the favia and chalices look puffier. But it’s been awhile since I looked in the tank at 4am. But now around 8am the lights have started to come on and the favia‘s do appear to be more puffy, but the biggest diffrence is my large what I think is miami hurricane chalice is looking like it grew an 1” in diameter over night. I know this can’t be but it looks all sorts of swollen. I wont be adding every day like the bottle suggest, but maybe it’s a weekly thing. See how this phosphate situation goes. LOL

 

[reef junkie]

Picked up a Neptune Gro light today while I was out and about. Planning to add the fuge. I was looking at using some Aqua mesh 1 from BRS to try and make a chamber for the macro to grow in, or if I can find some sort of basket that might work better. I dont know if the mesh would fill up with detris quickly or not. Anyone every add a fuge to an existing sump.

I also picked up some Rowaphos to run in the sump. Looking at running it in a reactor but not totally sure what reactor to use. Sounds like that would work better then just using the mesh bag. Was thinking the BRS mini might work since it sounds like you’re not suppose to use to much of it at a time and the mini would be easy to change out. I also looked at the innovation mini. Those would be really easy to clean out and comes with the pump. Ill need to remove it to do the flush that it call out for so I need something that can be removed quickly and easily for this to work long term.

 

[spsick]

FWIW and YMMV but when I ran an in-sump fuge vs rowaphos if I had to again I’d do rowaphos 10x over. It’s easy, controllable by quantity and frequency, and doesn’t cause you to have more work. For me the tiny sump fuge was a pain to clean, yellowed the water a bit so the I had to run carbon and then also dose iron to keep the chaeto going and then bottomed out phosphate and got Dinos lol. I think on a bigger tank they become more viable.

You’re obviously already on the route but figured I’d throw it out there being your setup is similar in size to the one I had.

 

[reef junkie]

FWIW and YMMV but when I ran an in-sump fuge vs rowaphos if I had to again I’d do rowaphos 10x over. It’s easy, controllable by quantity and frequency, and doesn’t cause you to have more work. For me the tiny sump fuge was a pain to clean, yellowed the water a bit so the I had to run carbon and then also dose iron to keep the chaeto going and then bottomed out phosphate and got Dinos lol. I think on a bigger tank they become more viable.

You’re obviously already on the route but figured I’d throw it out there being your setup is similar in size to the one I had.

Appreciate the opinion. Was more thinking the fuge would be easier in the long run but if thats not the case might need to rethink this. I dont want to add more frustration to the system. I did plan to make most of the sump I have to bae all fudge. Just leaving room for the return and skimmer. If I ended up having low nutrients I planned to add more fish LOL. That probably the cause of all this anyways. HaHAHAH.

What was your means of running Rowaphos?

 

[spsick]

Appreciate the opinion. Was more thinking the fuge would be easier in the long run but if thats not the case might need to rethink this. I dont want to add more frustration to the system. I did plan to make most of the sump I have to bae all fudge. Just leaving room for the return and skimmer. If I ended up having low nutrients I planned to add more fish LOL. That probably the cause of all this anyways. HaHAHAH.

What was your means of running Rowaphos?

Ive ran it in a mesh bag and in a phosban reactor.

 

[reef junkie]

I just added 1/4 cub in bag this morning while I search for a reactor. But figured this is better than nothing for now if it works. Will just keep it this way.




Also started working on the fudge. Think If I separate my sump into 3 chambers im left with a 12x12x7” deep fuge. Think thats a pretty goos size. If it ends up bing to much work it would be nice to have the separation in the sump anyways. The plan is to pull the sump out and glue in another piece of acrylic to make the new chamber. If I did it this way I think the curing time is fast with the acrylic glue instead of caulking that wont hold well and the mesh that will clog. I was still able to keep all the rock I had in the tank.

I pulled the rock today and set in a bucket while I moved things around. I was surprised that not 1 pod or anything came out of the rocks. I know they are there but might not be very many??? Or they are all in the display and non in the sump. Tank is still pretty new.

 

[reef junkie]

Messing around in the sump today, my Co2 scrubber continues to choke off my skimmer and I think it’s due to moisture building up in the bottom of the container. Even with the extra collection cub in between. Well for a test I took the collection cup out if its mount that sits lower then the top of the reactor but higher then the bottom of the reactor. With it siting completely lower than the reactor the moister is starting to collect in the collection cub now instead of the reactor. Im hopefully that this will fix the problem. Then if it does I need to find a new place to hang the collection cup. I want it hanging over the sump so if the skimmer ever overflows it will flow into the tank and not the floor.

Also order up some acrylic today to be cut for adding a lid to my top off caintaner I received from FIgi cube. And a piece to add a second chamber for fudge. I got the crappy Neptune Gro light mounted ( the arm is a joke). Think my plan is to pull the sump and Weldon in the new acrylic piece and then reinstall the sump same day. Im not sure what adhesive number Weldon to use or where to get it other than A1 acrylics in Osseo. Any advise?

 

[reef junkie]

Forgot to add, pick this guy up last week. Wife wanted a chevron but settle for this LOL

 

[reef junkie]

Mesh bag of Rowa seems to be helping. Po4 was down to .19 this morning. Might just continue this route and maybe not even do the reactor if this works. Planning to change out the 1/4 cup every two weeks and keep watching po4.
Acrylic pieces are cut so need to pick up later today and still find some Weldon 4. Going to call around tomorrow when places are open. Planning for next weekend since it will be time to pull the Rowan and refill as well as fill the kalk stirrer. I’m going to attempt to just drain the sump and leave in place. Glue the new baffle in and then wait about an hour and then refill. Might spray the flies area with tank water to help it cure faster. Though I read someplace that it after like super glue and hardens faster. I don’t need leak prof so not a big deal if it doesn’t seal perfect. Just needs to contain the cheto.
Wife is trying to talk me into 3-4 anthias. I know they are active fish and I’m curious if I could get away with it in the 24x24 footprint. since I’ll be adding the fuge I’m hope to go back to feeding heavier again and more often then twice a day. I know the anthias and chromis would be happier this way.
Top down while waiting for water to be pumped up from basment

 

[Fishfoo]

You could try the anthias and short term it would probably work, but will get more difficult long term as they get bigger.

Tank is looking great!

 

[reef junkie]

You could try the anthias and short term it would probably work, but will get more difficult long term as they get bigger.

Tank is looking great!

Thanks Kennan,

 

[Varig]

Did you end up finding some Weldon4 locally? I'm starting an acrylic project myself for the tank, just curious if I should be placing the order on Amazon or if you found a source here in the cities?

 

[reef junkie]

Did you end up finding some Weldon4 locally? I'm starting an acrylic project myself for the tank, just curious if I should be placing the order on Amazon or if you found a source here in the cities?

A1 acrylic has it but they are in Osseo, The other vendors I called on the north east side of town had the materils but no applicators. So I ordered it from Amazon. You are welcome to grab what I have left over when im done. I ordered a small can and an applicator of Weldon 4. Ive been told 16 is easier to work with since its thicker and a lot less runny, but takes longer to dry. 4 and 3 are like water but dry and cure much faster. One of them (3, and 4) wont leave a white haze when used and the othert will but I can’t remember which one does or does not.

 

[Varig]

Yea, I did similar reading. I think it sounded like 4 was the best bet for newbies. 3 dried faster, but in general 3/4 having the water consistency were best of edge gluing together etc.

Thanks so much for your offer. It definitely sounds like a little goes a LONG way. So for sure I'd be up for throwing you a few bucks and taking the leftovers when you're done. It sounds like the stuff needs to be sealed up super well or it goes bad anyway, so I was sort of reluctant to order a bottle, figuring 90% would go to waste. Let me know what your timing looks like!