Salt Water Start Up, Darbex style!

[Darbex]

I didnt finish reading all the threads but good info. I think the LED is cool but cost at this moment is a high and I can plumb and install stuff but I am not good at electrical except wiring two wires together. So unless you want to build me one then this will be shelved for a while.

[Darbex]

On the refug, ATO, and chiller. I see the setup you have in mind for the rear chambers. I think in an effort to increase water volume I am going to try and do the 5G refug under the tank with a light system that will run at night so I can get O2 levels up at night and reduce risk of pH crash. I cannot have lights on at night in my bedroom so this will allow me to do such. I will also put the ATO on the shelf above the refug. I want to keep the back chambers as I will put bags of purigen and carbon in them. I think I will rig a fan similar to computer fans to the back chambers to cool the water down as it filters through and one on the refug too. These will be set up to the timer that the lights are on. What are yalls thoughts on my ideas?

[Darbex]

Here is my ugly diagram of the rear chambers

[thekarens]

A little off the current topic, but if you plan on keeping a sun coral keep in mind you will probably need to feed it by hand daily to really keep it healthy. Myjohnson has given good info and if you research all that and research the corals and the care they require you should do well.

My only other suggestion is I'd go slow. It's hard, but in the long run worth it. If we had it all to do again I'd cycle the tank, add the corals and allow them to grow for several months before adding any fish. Let them get well established.

I'd also go with myjohnson's suggestion of waiting for some of the nicer zoas. Just about everyone starts with the basic stuff like gsp, etc and then eventually most end up selling it or killing it and move onto higher quality stuff.

[Darbex]

I was planning on starting with just a coral tank for a few months and then adding the clowns later

[myjohnson]

I didnt finish reading all the threads but good info. I think the LED is cool but cost at this moment is a high and I can plumb and install stuff but I am not good at electrical except wiring two wires together. So unless you want to build me one then this will be shelved for a while.

I might make an LED light for my tank now that will fix over the ADA 60p when I upgrade. If I find time from work then I wouldn't mind helping you make yours.

[myjohnson]

So I can fit 2 5 gallon tanks in the stand with a max footprint of 15x10. Wouldnt this allow me to both have a refug and a ATO resevoir?

Yeah, I don't see why not. Having the extra water will help too. Plus you can stuff extra LR down there for more filtration.

Only draw back I see is it's going to make noise when the water flows down. Might not want all that when you sleeping. Also, I don't know what you have to mod to get the return line back into the main tank. If it looks clean then go for it. I'm picky about my equipment like that.

[Darbex]

I was going to let gravity take it to the tank below but I am not sure that there will be any noise as the tube will be just over the water line. I was planning on splicing the return tube so that I dont have to attach a new tube to the return and extend the tubing down with HD supplies. For now I was going to use the stock pump to return it but I will probably need to get a more powerful pump as the head height will significantly reduce its flow and may require me to put in my Koralia nano in but we will see.

[Darbex]

Any ideas on where I can get acrylic to silicone in the tank to create chambers so that my pump does get and small frags in it?

[myjohnson]

Check the specs on the elos mini tank. It basically has what you want to do. Elos runs an eheim pump to move water from the sump back to the main tank. I forgot which one. They may also have it mounted a certain way.

From what I read, it's dead silent how they got it set up. Might just want to copy their design for the return part.

[Darbex]

Wait what elos mini tank?

[Darbex]

I am going to use the magic beans every time I can now you got me hooked its like crack. My monster is super clear.

[myjohnson]

Elos is the ADA of SW tanks. Google it foo.

I be tryin to tell people about them magic beans. Can't really explain why they work so well, they just do.

[Darbex]

Your not a chemical engineer. Your asian though so you should be you all concoct all kinds of crazy stuff over there.

[myjohnson]

Bad logic. I'm dumb as a bag of rocks and can't figure out math. What respectable Asian person can't do math?