Well I broke down and bought a stand rather than build one and am working on getting things set up and plumbed in. Its a slow process but only bad things happen fast in this hobby. Im up in the air as far as what to do for the substrate, this is going to be a starter tank for now and once i get my big tank set up it will be used exclusively as a frag tank. Any suggestions for substrate? I need to modify the over flow tube as well, someone said something about snails entering into it and go me thinking that if i have an accident with this tank the wife wont let me ever set up another, but i have a fool proof “hopefully” way to keep them out.
Oh well here is a starter pic, more to come as things go along…
Medium sized argonite, better for pH buffering. Low level, around 1-2 inches max. Avoid a deeper sand bed, too much of a risk for detrius buildup (unless you’re planning on a plenum or a legit deep sand bed, but you’d have to do your research). Also, avoid very fine sand . . . it looks pretty, but it is hard to vacuum when you’re cleaning (the sand gets sucked up with the waste). I have about a 2 inch fine sand bed, wished I would have gone with a coarser sand . . . oh well, too late to do anything about it now.
Best of luck to you!
Boy it will be fun to look at this pics in the future. Always fun to look at before and after pics. Keep taking them often.
Nice looking stand btw. Where did you end up picking that one at?
[quote=“dajohnson02, post:2, topic:4772”]
Medium sized argonite, better for pH buffering. [/quote]
Have a source or article to quote on that? From my understanding if you run a freshwater aquarium using aragonite can help buffer the pH slightly, but then again try keeping corals in a freshwater aquarium…
Another note, it isn’t always necessary to vacuum a substrate. With proper biological stirring a sand bed can be left alone. Mixture of different sized Nassarius snails, Strombus “fighting” conchs, and other natural hitchikers in a healthy aquarium with live rock should help turn things over and prevent you from having to vacuum much if it all.
Anyways, best of luck to the aonemarine.
Nice start Dave :
: good thinking, keep the 40 dry, or you’ll never get the 125 on the property ::hitsthefan::
The “big” substrate question… bare, shallow or deep sand and plenum… do your research, and whichever you decide, just make sure the grain sizes are correct, and the proper maintenance gets performed accordingly.
Each type can be a success from what i’ve seen. i’ve only used a ssd with “sea floor special” and a bb tank that will be getting switched to a plenum soon (thanks Kapt).
Im working on it, just finished up the ss2kag, thats snail stopper 2000 with anti gurgle ;D
Just have to pick up another protine skimmer this weekend and then i can start putting the fuge together.
Must be nice to have machine to do DIYs.
power tools and progress ::
Nice looking mill work ::
Good job! Problem found, problem fixed, great DIYS.
Little more progress, got it all plumbed up and im currently installing the divider in the fuge. Another 24 hrs and im going to tap water test it ;D
Looking real good Dave :: nice work!
Ok got the tank all filled up this morning, no leaks, and my diy overflow is very very quiet and works better than I could have hope for. The bad news is my 12 yr old little giant mag drive pump is way way to noisey, the wife would most certainly bitch. So I have to do a little re work and swap to a different pump. Oh well atleast im getting close to adding the salt…
Almost there :: glad the sskag is quiet GolfC what size is that pipe btw? is it the only drain?
John unfortunatly the over flow is only 1" wish it was 1.5" but oh well it was all ready drilled when i got the tank “free”. I got my salt today and i am switching out pumps right now, wont be long…
[quote=“aonemarine, post:15, topic:4772”]
John unfortunatly the over flow is only 1" wish it was 1.5" but oh well it was all ready drilled when i got the tank “free”. I got my salt today and i am switching out pumps right now, wont be long…[/quote]
cool, nuttin better then free ::
Pumps in, salts in, and i found evry paper cut i had on my hands! Now its time to beer up! :BEER
[quote=“aonemarine, post:17, topic:4772”]
Pumps in, salts in, and i found evry paper cut i had on my hands! Now its time to beer up! :BEER[/quote]
:BEER
thx… i was wondering about the screeching earlier, i thought for sure it was a little girl being tortured. I’m relieved it was just your papercuts! :
:
[quote=“saltcreep, post:18, topic:4772”]
[quote=“aonemarine, post:17, topic:4772”]
Pumps in, salts in, and i found evry paper cut i had on my hands! Now its time to beer up! :BEER[/quote]
:BEER
thx… i was wondering about the screeching earlier, i thought for sure it was a little girl being tortured. I’m relieved it was just your papercuts! ::[/quote]
oh ok its on now, im coming over with 500 sheets of paper and half a bucket of salt slap-stick
:-)lol
>LOCO<