Blog Comments

OK, that's what I thought. Here's how to convert that area to an Algae scrubber http://www.algaescrubber.net/forums/...c.php?f=9&t=36

Just scroll down to see the trickle sump designs.

Hey Phil, pic is at top.

Sure, that would make a little refugium type area. Can you post a picture of the bio-ball chamber so we can see what you have to work with?

Hey, can't I take the bioballs out and put some cheeto macro algae in there with my light on top and that would decrease nitrates? Wouldn't that work? That area drains on the bottom so I don't think I can make a sand bed in there. ButnI can put some live rock and macro algae in there....hmmm. I believe ghats the way to go.

Yeah, I need to go to that forum again to get some info. ;-)

The web forum you sent me the link for shows how to convert a trickle down, or bio-ball sump to an algae scrubber. You're t5's should work great, but I think you'd need a larger screen since you'd only have light on one side. Don't really know, I'm still experimenting with my first one after all.

@ Yiyi, yeah i've read that many times and feel thatt my nitrates would go down. Since i've started this tank my Nitrates have been 10ppm. I couldn't get my 29 gallon to go down to that for nothing.

@ Phil, hey man you must really be enjoying that there daylight up in Alaska! Missed talking to ya. Thanks for the compliment on the tank. lol..I need some more liverock bad but i'm not to worried because as I add zoos and other corals it will fill out. I am thinking about how I can put a scrubber in the bioballs place. Can I use my T-5's I bought for the other tank on the scrubber?

@ Upster, thanks for the compliments on the lighting! I believe they are 110 watts each, not sure though. I have one white and one actinic. I will put the T-5 HO retrofits on the rear of the canopy. They will be 54watts each, one actinic and one white so it will be evenly lit up. I wanted the T-5's in the rear of the canopy because my SPS Acro's will be in rear and high. All my montis grow good with almost any light..heh

What kind of VHO's are running in this pic? I like the colours. Are you adding only 2 T5's? If it were me, I would alternate the VHOs and T5's so that you get even coverage if you run actinics only on 1 set at the ends of the lighting cycle.

Looks great! I've been watching Craigs list for a 75 set up at a good price myself.

I'd replace the bio balls with an algae scrubber. Mines been running for 2-1/2 weeks now and I'm already seeing improvements in the display.

It's gone! I don't have the tank any more.

Bioballs were all the rage when I first got into the hobby. If it were me I'd yank them out and replace them with as much live rock as you can fit. If I remember correctly the idea behind bioballs is to provide a place for nitrifying bacteria to grow, but in my experience they turn into big nitrate sinks that will give you way too many headaches then they are worth. Live rock on the other hand is a super efficient method of filtration and you won't have anywhere near the problems. Here at work we have a 500 gallon FOWLR that has maybe 150 lbs of live rock in the DT and another 200-250 lbs in a trickle filter under it. This tank has been running like this for close to 10 years. Just for kicks I tested for nitrate the other day and it was below 10 ppm! I wish I could get those numbers in my SPS tank at home lol.

You cannot tell by the photo but the rockwork on the right is actually an island. Also, all my critters love their new home. The poor hermits, tank so big i'll have to get them motorized carts to get around. ;-)

Lol... I would have liked to see her face when she opened the box...hahhaha. Thanks for sharing!

i also have 3 daughters. 14, 11 and 5. the 5 year old was born 1 day after me(last week) so my birthday sort of went out the window, so i get treated well on fathers day.lol
and my oldest is still mad at me from may. she's wanted a cell phone for a while now, particularly an iphone. so for her birthday we put a bathing suit in an iphone box and gave it to her. she just doesn't have a sense of humor any more.lol

Yes, and I drilled two 1/8 holes .5" down from the water line, tested for power failure at least 3 times..lol. I don't want a flood. I'm not going to put stuff in tank though till like friday. I'm going to test, test and re-test till then. I LOVE MY TANK!! I put 20 pounds of sand in tank will probably add another 20 pounds in the next few days. I want a 150g next..lol..no time sone, very happy with this one for now! I really have to mod. my skimmer because how this trickle sump is set up it doesn't have much room for anything. Do you think I can put my heater in the sump and it will work properly? Because it seems to have a fast flow and will not have time to heat fast enough. Let me know. I also have a RO/DI, my sis gave me that I will have to install soon..woooot!

I have to finish painting the canopy. I ran out of paint but now I have more. I finished painting my doors and need to get new hardware for it and the canopy. The white/white semi gloss looks great on the stand and canopy and in the house, plus wife loves it, thats a plus too. I will only have 2 lights running for a bit because I need more ballast. I really like the 660 IceCap but will have to wait..lol..maybe till my birthday in October or Christmas..hahahahah.

I will probably wait till canopy is up and the 2 lights are on before I post again and all the pics i've been taking.

HAT

Sounds like you've made good progress.

Okay, plumbing is all done!! Water is in and everything is running well. I will post some pics tomorrow. I have to finish painting and installing all the bulb and running all the electrical. I still have to see what i'm going to do about ballast for two of the bulbs. The doors are finished as far painting I need to get all matching hardware for doors and canopy.

Thanks Marc for the link! ;-)

Here's a thread with a lot of helpful links: http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=70483

Darn, I used a hammer and a 2•4 to get it in! ;-p. Thanks for the info! ;-)