Finally, getting my 75 gallon started

[Pheeshes]

yeah, that's probably what i'll do if they don't want to replace them, i just hope they won't try to accuse me of telling them the wrong thing and say that it's my fault.

[Pheeshes]

well, the new pieces pf glass are being cut i should be able to pick them up tomorrow after work and i'm going to try to start sticking them in tomorrow or thursday...hopefully tomorrow.

[jb61264]

Just curious as to why you decided to use glass?...I just finished building my sump/refugium (I think we pretty much had the exact same design)...I used 3/16" acrylic and cut it myself using my dads tablesaw...I cut it at exactly the width I needed and then was able to sand it down a bit so it would fit snug just perfectly...seems like with glass there's no real room for adjustment.

[Pheeshes]

well, i don't have any means of cutting it and this glass company is one that i go by on my way home from work and they do work for our company. i don't really need adjustment. i measured before i gave them the sizes i need and any gap that's left i'll fill in with the silicone.

[jb61264]

Originally Posted by Pheeshes

well, i don't have any means of cutting it and this glass company is one that i go by on my way home from work and they do work for our company. i don't really need adjustment. i measured before i gave them the sizes i need and any gap that's left i'll fill in with the silicone.

cool...i was just wondering if there were any "technical" reasons for choosing glass over acrylic...after building mine and thinking about using glass, i'm glad i didn't...with the acrylic I was able to "wedge" it in just right (especially the second microbuble eliminating baffle piece that allows water to flow under it...the one that 'hangs' a bit)...being able to wedge them in snug and then tap them bottom to top with a little rubber mallet to get them perfectly straight was a big bonus of using acrylic in my mind

anyway...i hope yours goes well...post some pics when you get it finished

[Pheeshes]

yeah, hopefully everything will go well getting them i'm. i need to find a couple of things that are the same size i can use for spacer while the silicone sets up.

the plumbing stuff should be here wednesday and i'll hopefully be getting water in it by this weekend(finally get a saturday off.)

[jb61264]

Something that helped me after siliconing my first baffle in was to cut the nozzle (or whatever you call the thing that you screw into the top of the silicone tube after you open it) at a 45 degree angle...I didn't do this on the first baffle and then actually read the instructions that said to do this...it really helps run the angled cut along your seam and it makes it really easy to keep a good bead of silicone going all the way along the seam.

[Pheeshes]

it does make it much easier to cut the nozzle at a 45 degree angle. i got the sump finished, and ready to go





the only thing i'm waiting on is a couple more plumbing items. they should get here tuesday or wednesday. i'm hoping to order the live rock by friday or so. we decided to go with rock from saltycritter.com they are about a 2 hour drive from me and it seems like really good quality.

we also got the tank filled partially with water(about 2/3) and i think i've even got the salt mix right. i've gotta make sure my refractometer is calibrated correctly. is there a good easy way to do it or do i need to buy some solution that is a sercific salinity to match to?

Anyway, here's one more pic of our cloudy tank i've got both power heads running and the heater and the thermometer. the heater will be moved to the sump once the rest of the plumbing stuff gets here.



if anyone has tips about live rock and curing and stuff they would be more than welcome

[yote]

To calibrate your refractometer,just use some RO water and check to make sure that its reading 0.If its not on the 0 line,just adjust it so that it does.

You got it going your way now.
Good luck with it.

[yote]

Since your picking your rock up instead of shipping it,you probably wont have to worry a whole lot about curing it.Just add it to your tank and do the aquascaping,and set back and watch your paremeters.
Also,give it the ole sniff test while your picking it out.As long as it smells fresh and not like dead fish,it will be good and cured.