130 Reef Bulid And its gone

[txmike]

New to salt tanks i got a steel on this 130 RR with custom stand/lights(2 X 400 W MH 2 X T5 and moon lights) all on timmers ,50 gal ECO Refugium ,1/2 hp chiller ,Precision Marine Bullet 1 skimmer,Precision Marine Calcium Reactor ,American Marines PINPOINT pH Controller,Co2 system,a few mag pumps, and so much more i cant even think of all of it.Right now i am staining the stand ,and planing the tank out.I want to go reef this is about all i have made up my mind on .If i go Miracle Mud do i need skimmer?I see people slam the Miracle Mud and others love the stuff.If i can get away without the Skimmer i would like to but if i need it i need it.How does CC work with a reef tank as I got about 100lb of it with tank and if i can would like to use this and not have to buy LS.I am sure I will have much more i will need help with.

TIA Mike








http://i736.photobucket.com/albums/xx7/txmike2/130.jpg

[ACE]

First of all, welcome to MAAST! Second, congrats on your new tank set-up, sounds like a nice one. Next, if this is your first reef tank, please take this advice, because it will be the best you will get, be patient and take it slow. The only things that happen when you get in a hurry are bad things. As far as the skimmer question, I say you need it. Especially while your first setting up the tank with curing live rock and what not. later, much later, you can consider taking it down. I only run mine at night. If I run it 24/7 it skims about the same as only running it at night. But that is with an established fuge, LR, ETC. There are several methods and opinions on how to accomplish the same thing, but most will agree, take it slow. Good Luck!

P.S.-I didn't see an RODI on your list, but if you don't have one buy one. You will not regret it.

[aggman]

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d112/mr_everybody/fishies/welcomesign.gif

wow that is a nice setup. could you post some more pics of the stand. front, sides, etc.

~alex

[stoneroller]

You can use crushed coral, fine sand, or go bare bottom. Lots of opinions on that.

[ErikH]

Take it slow! :)
TAKE IT SLOWWWWWWWWWWW
Takeeeeeeeeeeee ittttttttttttttt slowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww......

Welcome.

Peace,
Erik
P.S.
Take it slow. Oh, and don't buy garbage because it costs less. Buy right the first time. You probably should get a skimmer for now...
Take it slow.

[rocketeer]

Where in Texas are you? If you would like, come over and see how my plumbing works. I have most of the components you are talking about on my 240. Seeing is worth a lot of typing.

If this is your first salt venture, you'll probably have to do some reading. First, study Nitrogen cycles to see why slow is good. Find out what you need to test before stocking your tank. This'll get you started. Then, when you are stocking your tank, make sure that your species will get along with each other before you buy them. Before long, you'll need to study the Calcium end of things and get your CA reactor working. I can walk you through some of this and get you started. Don't get scared off, there's not that much you really need to know.

I think crushed coral is fine. It doesn't blow around. Some sand sifting creatures don't do too well in it though. Miracle mud is up to you. I've never used it. Expensive.

PM me if you're interested. I'm in north San Antonio.

Jack

[pepper]

This is Mike's wife, Pepper. We are still working on the stand--the staining hasn't been going well and I have had my back hurt (so I haven't been any help there), but we will get there. Thanks for all of your feedback! rocketeer, I think Mike pm'd you about going by and he definitely will before we really get started.

Right now we are just trying to get the stand the right color and I believe Mike is also trying to cycle some water in an empty 54 gallon corner bow front we have just to get a jump start on that.

However, I think I am distracting him by wanting a small nano or biocube :) I think we are going to buy Eve's tonight! :) This is our first venture into salt water--we have two freshwater tanks right now: a 72 gallon bow front with African Cichlids and a small 10 gallon that is home to our little knife fish, a ghost shrimp, and a few neons. We love the others so much that we want to try our hand at salt water and this tank was too good of a deal to pass up!

[Pennies2Cents]

Hey Pepper, :)

I hope you enjoy your nano as much as I did. :) Let me know if you need anything & I will try my best to help you guys out! Welcome to a whole new world of fish keeping. You will love it.

[pepper]

Hey Pepper, :)

I hope you enjoy your nano as much as I did. :) Let me know if you need anything & I will try my best to help you guys out! Welcome to a whole new world of fish keeping. You will love it.
Thanks, Eve! I love it! I will have to post some pics in the nano thread when we get some!

[allan]

Hey guys, I have a plethora of odds and ends pvc piping and elbows that you are welcome to pick through or take ownership of if you think it will help your plumbing woes.

Allan

[Shu]

I would love to see this thread develop keep it coming

[pepper]

Hey guys, I have a plethora of odds and ends pvc piping and elbows that you are welcome to pick through or take ownership of if you think it will help your plumbing woes.

Allan

Thanks for the offer, I will have to let the hubby know! I think he got a bunch of stuff from his brother (he owns a sprinkler system company), but I don't know if there is stuff he still needs. I will definitely have to charge up the camera to get some more pictures of this one and the nanocube I got from Eve.

I just talked to the hubby and he is going to get the 54 gallon circulating tonight so we can go and pick up some live rock this weekend! The nanocube has lit a fire for us--now I can't wait for this one! :bigsmile:

[allan]

Well if you need some chaeto let me know.

[sampsonndelila]

YES- what he said. Get the skimmer. get a big one, it helps all around.


Take it slow! :)
TAKE IT SLOWWWWWWWWWWW
Takeeeeeeeeeeee ittttttttttttttt slowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww......

Welcome.

Peace,
Erik
P.S.
Take it slow. Oh, and don't buy garbage because it costs less. Buy right the first time. You probably should get a skimmer for now...
Take it slow.

[blindside]

Man, this is going to be a really nice set up! And I would get a skimmer, and maybe a controller for all them neat items, maybe in the future. :) good luck!

[txmike]

masking tape $6.00
painters plastic $13.00
feeling like your getting somewhere with reef tank priceless.

http://i736.photobucket.com/albums/xx7/txmike2/DSC05067.jpg

http://i736.photobucket.com/albums/xx7/txmike2/DSC05069.jpg

http://i736.photobucket.com/albums/xx7/txmike2/DSC05073.jpg


Had a bit of free time so I masked off tank ready for primer and paint.Also just put tape measure to tank and stand 55" long 26" deep 80" tall.If all goes well will have painted next week.

[ErikH]

keep up the good work. It's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, sometimes you only see the light of the train. I hope you are reading up on SW, you could be a guru by now :)

[pepper]

We are really excited about this tank and the Nano we got has helped in the learning process a lot! Maast members have been so helpful and I don't know what we would have done without this forum!

[txmike]

So the race is on Paint is done .Now trying to work out the plumbing.
I have no clue how to set up the skimmer .I have a PM Bullet-1 and plan on running it with a mag 18 .what part of fuge should i pull water from for skimmer and what part do i dump the water back into .have a mag24 for return pump is this big enough?plan is to run DSB in fuge with chato .will use bio-balls in first chamber for now will replace when i have cash for more live rock.
http://i736.photobucket.com/albums/xx7/txmike2/DSC05893.jpg
http://i736.photobucket.com/albums/xx7/txmike2/DSC05894.jpg

[cowboy572]

Hey on your Bullet 1, are you planning to have it inside or outside of your sump? Also with all Bullet series skimmers you need to run a gate valve on your output side. I have mine plumbed with it outside of the sump with the intake on the far side of the sump. Then I have the return plumbed into the bubble trap area. I wish my computer didn't crash but I could show you pics of how my Bullet 1 skimmer is plumbed into my system.

Did some searching through old threads and found a pic of my set up with my bullet 1.

[txmike]

that pic helps a lot .i have the gate valve just not in pic .i want to run it on the outside of the sump.

Thank for the help

[txmike]

I am trying to decide if i need to add chamber to my fuge.I would like to run DSB will run a MAG 24 as Return and a Mag 18 to power the PM-1 skimmer .I have a eco systems 3616 fuge(made to run with Miracle Mud )I will be running LRR in place of the bio-balls .Should my skimmer pump be in a chamber right after LRR?
http://i736.photobucket.com/albums/xx7/txmike2/fugeskech.jpg

[roscozman]

I would put your skimmer before the LRR. Somethin' like:
Two 1" drians --> Skimmer -->LRR/Deep Sand Bed--> Mag 24 Return

[txmike]

That is what I was thinking after reading lots of old post about fuges.So it will be like this
http://i736.photobucket.com/albums/xx7/txmike2/NEWFUGE.jpg

Thanks for the help

[txmike]

well it is wet with no leaks as of yet..has been running for 2 hrs or so still not in the house but will be soon.I plan on running for a week or so in garage to make sure all is well with plumbing and all.I dont think the SWCD wave maker is working quite right never seams to switch from one side to the other.

http://i736.photobucket.com/albums/xx7/txmike2/4.jpg

http://i736.photobucket.com/albums/xx7/txmike2/3.jpg

http://i736.photobucket.com/albums/xx7/txmike2/2.jpg

http://i736.photobucket.com/albums/xx7/txmike2/1.jpg

[ismvel]

Looking good, what you have around those timers? Is that one of those light switch covers?

[txmike]

they are in wall timmers so they are all set in a j-box with a switch for main pump .so what you are seeing is a std wall plate.

[JLiu]

they are in wall timmers so they are all set in a j-box with a switch for main pump .so what you are seeing is a std wall plate.

Check and see if your wall timers have batteries the ones that I have running my outdoor lighting stop working once the batteries run out until the batteries are replaced.

[txmike]

yes that is the same kind i have and in fact one is not working and i am sure it is due to fact that batteries are out .That and the wave maker not working are all i have left to fix before I can move tank and get going with it.

[jlh81]

Great looking tank. I really like the stand.

[txmike]

well update time

before
http://i736.photobucket.com/albums/xx7/txmike2/prerodo.jpg

after

http://i736.photobucket.com/albums/xx7/txmike2/rodi.jpg

No more hauling buckets to Gabes for water.If all goes well tank will be moved in next weekend.

[neogenix]

Really excited to see it going, any complaints about your RO/DI?

[txmike]

no complaints about it at all.

[Mr Cob]

Mike, it really looks great. I just browsed through your thread.

[txmike]

thanks Rob

[txmike]

We finally got the tank inside the house! That thing is a beast. We had to remove the plumbing and take the tank out of the stand. Now that it is in, I have to re-do the plumbing, but I made sure to make it easy to take apart just in case and I am glad that I did! Pictures to come soon.

[pepper]

Here are some pictures of the beast inside. Mike has decided that he wants to take the tank out and clean it again before he does the plumbing. Guess what he and I will be doing this evening??? :)
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p279/pepperhodge/postings/maast/DSC07285.jpg
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p279/pepperhodge/postings/maast/DSC07284.jpg
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p279/pepperhodge/postings/maast/DSC07288.jpg
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p279/pepperhodge/postings/maast/DSC07283.jpg
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p279/pepperhodge/postings/maast/DSC07289.jpg

[pepper]

We moved the tank last night and Mike cleaned it out again. Now it is dried and back on the stand. He started the plumbing last night, but hasn't finished it yet. We have cub scouts tonight and soccer tomorrow so hopefully on Friday the plumbing will be ready to test! :)

[roscozman]

Looking good.

[hobogato]

i agree ross - that cabinet turned out very nice

[txmike]

Thanks guys it is i think now 8 months in the works i need this thing cycling real bad now.

[Ping]

Throw out the CC sand, It will help loosen the Texas soil if you spread it around your yard. CC sand is too fine and will eventually campact too tightly, thus lowering the amount of the good bacteria as well as the plankton production produced from a proper sand bed. The best option for a new reef keeper is one inch of special grade Aragonite.

Live sand is a waste of money. Many members here will trade you a cup of sand to jump start your sandbed and add some biodiversity, however this is not necessary.

Miracle Mud (MM) is an excellent product and if used according to the manufacturers recomendations (mud bed size to display size ratio) you do not need a skimmer after the live rock has been cured. It is expensive, and in your case will require a large fuge containing a lot of MM and a large quantity of Caulerpa that is lit 24 hours a day.

If the amount of MM required for a 130g tank is cost prohibitive, another proven alternative is to run a smaller fuge containing one inch of sugar fine sand bed with cheatomorpha algae on a 12 to 18 hour lighting cycle. Without the MM you should run a skimmer until you have more experience and can make an educated decision on when and if the skimmer can be removed.

[pepper]

Thanks for the input! We were planning on throwing out the CC sand because I don't really like the looks of it and going with just a regular sand bed. The person who had this set-up before us used the MM, but Mike has done some research and I don't think he wants to go that route. We do have a skimmer so that is a plus and all of the live rock for the tank was purchased about 6 monthes ago and has been running in a 55 gallon tank we have set-up along with a clean up crew. Mike was working hard on the plumbing last night, but with boy scouts and then the sudden raging wind (we had to fortify all of the stuff on our patio) I don't know how much he was able to get done.

[txmike]

Thanks for input ,I love MAAST .By CC i was talking about Crushed Coral and we have decide to go with live sand .I have a PM-1 skimmer I will be running .all rock is cured and ready to go .I plan on moving over some rock to get cycle going and then more as tank is ready for it.

I may be mixing lots o salt water this weekend .

[Ping]

After I re-read the post, I realize you meant Crushed Coral. The only problem free use of crushed coral is in home made rock.

[txmike]

Ro/DI is going widde open need 150 gal or so should start mixing water tonight .Just got home from Gabes with few bags of sand and a 200gal box of salt .Thanks Gabe for the great deal.tank should start getting wet after work on monday.Will update with pic soon.

[pepper]

Got the tank almost filled now and Mike noticed a problem with one of the bulkheads :( He was working late last night trying to get it fixed.

[Europhyllia]

eek. that's no good. hopefully it was fixable?

[txmike]

yep got it fixed around midnight.and i was up to come to work at 3 .this is lunch time for me today.

[Europhyllia]

you will need to take a nap when you get home :)
glad it's fixed though!

[pepper]

I told him just go go and buy a couple of new ones so we would have them--second time one of those went out. He was being cheap and has resused all of the old ones!

[txmike]

and let the cycle start now

[txmike]

http://i736.photobucket.com/albums/xx7/txmike2/DSC07374.jpg

[pepper]

I'm sooo excited!!!!!!!! We need more sand from Gabe!

[txmike]

when to skim??so cycle has started .When do I start to skim?I added 130 lb sand 40 lb dry and 90 lb live (fiji pink) 10 gal water from my established 55 gal tank.Will start to add live rock from the 55 soon 1 pc at a time.

[pepper]

The dust on the sand has finally settled! It is already starting to look great!

[neogenix]

Hey Mike, What'd you use to finish the wood?

[txmike]

just a black paint got at the home deopt i think it was called Painters touch made by rustoleum

[txmike]

way past due for update i let tank cycle nice and slow and its done .I moved more rock over today going for the stonehenge look need one more long rock to do the left side.

http://i736.photobucket.com/albums/xx7/txmike2/rock.jpg

[Europhyllia]

let's see what happens now... :)

[txmike]

So i dont like my sump it is made to run miracle mud and does not work well for me so i am playing with idea of a new one down the road .what do yall think ?i have to make it in 3 pc to get into my stand so this is what i came up with.Let me know what you think


http://i736.photobucket.com/albums/xx7/txmike2/2upa.jpg

[txmike]

and its gone

[Europhyllia]

to where?

[txmike]

A new home i think you will see it on maast by its new owner.

[Europhyllia]

wow. so do you have any tanks left? or going to give it a break?

[txmike]

I have a 30 gal bow-front set up now .But I have had a tank stuck in my head for a few months now that i would like to setup it will be a shallow cube with close loop and auto water change and a custom LED light .We have been real busy with other things and just need to simplify things to free up time.