thanks istrahd
for the warm welcome:D
are you using live rock/sand to cycle your tank ??
are you running a sump system and what you plan on keeping in there
cheers
I am using Dry Rock & Dry Sand in my tank... I did a long soak in RODI then mixed my salt in tank... I put two raw shrimp in to start the cycle.
I am running a 30 gallon sump. I am planning on using Rock, Sand and Chaeto in the sump. I will be putting a Reef Octopus Protein Skimmer in the sump as soon as I can spare the $200 for one. I am looking into some small mangroves to run in the sump... I don't think I will though. It's a bit small for that.
I have a heater/chiller inline on my sump return pump. I have about 30' of extra tubing on the return line in case I need extra chilling power, I can run it in a cooler full of "Blue Ice" or run it through two holes drilled into an old mini-fridge then to my tank. My tank & sump sit in my Living Room, which I do not run the AC in. I only use the Attic fan & open windows out in that part of the house so it gets very hot out there this time of year.
When the sump return gets to my tank, it Tees into two downspouts 2 feet apart so there isn't one strong cold current pouring in at one point. It is a weaker current coming in at two points. My tank is 6 feet long, so they sit 1/3 of the tank away from each other. I drilled a 1/32: Siphon break into both arms of the Tee to prevent backflow if the pump loses power. I have tested it by simulating power outages... Since adding the two siphon breaks, I have had no problems.
I need to take some pics and put them in the tank build section...
My sump wouldn't fit under my stand. It is too long to get under the stand because of the doors on the stand so I have it sitting on it's own stand next to the Display Tank. The chiller/heater sits under the DT stand with it's coil of extra tubing and cooler.
I am considering building a PVC overflow system for my sump & my DT, in case something goes wrong. They will drain through a hole in the floor and drain under the house.. The only thing I can see going wrong plumbing wise is one of my critters getting into my overflow and blocking the tubes... I have 2 siphon tubes in my HOB overflow and two 1.25" outlets on my HOB overflow box, so it would be hard for one critter to block up my whole system.
Hoping my cycle finishes soon. I am so ready to see some critters in my tank. Going to put a CUC of snails, crabs and maybe a Starfish in with a pair of black clownfish as my first live stock. I am researching some corals to add as well, but I need a better test kit to test more water parameters for the corals.
