PLanning New System

[wespastor]

Pictires are worth a thousand words. I have no system equipment yet only drawings and ideas.

There are several areas of concern for me. I say this so that some don't think I have all the answers ... I don't. I may not even be able to explain way I am doing a particular thing beyond that's the way I have seen other systems built.

This is a master plan of live stock and items to be in the system. It is a master plan not a final plan, not everything listed will actually be in the system but is under ivestigation or consideration:
Live Stock:
Dwarf Sea Horses (DSH) Hippocampus zosterae
Clean-up Crew:
Sand Sifter Crabs
Asteras (Astera sp)
Ceriths (Cerithium strercusmuscarum)
Nassarius snails(Nassarius variegates)
Halocaridina rubra (Tiny Red Shrimp)
Plants/Macro Algae
Cheteo?? (Sump) (Definately will want to keep)
Shaving Brush
Sea Cactus
Sea Fan
Sea Lettuce
Caulerpa prolifera
Sea Cabbage
Red Galaxaura.
Gracilaria verrucosa.
Dead Mans Fingers (Codium isthmocladum).
Manatee grass (Definately wiil want to keep)
How will this system fair in the long run? Where will it most likely fail. What are the pit falls of the individual parts.
Note: the piping will most likely be a flexible vinyl tubing like than of plain airline. While the diagram shows a variety of turns and bend etc., the runs will be as direct and straight as possible. They will be some bends at the top of the display tank where the return line conects with the spraybar.


Need advice on inexpensive light both for the main tank and the sump (Sump will be lit 24/7)

 

[cali_reef]

1. HOT overflow box will fail on you one day. It WILL..
2. There is no "cheap" lights that will support a reef tank well. at least in my definition of "cheap".
3. I don't think you will need baffles in the sump, you can't get much of a turn over thrugh the sump for a sea horse set up.

 

[meschaefer]

The only reason to have hang on the tank skimmer is when you don't have a sump. Since you have a sump planned in there already, get an in sump model.


I don't think you will need much light, as your stocking list does not appear to be heavily light dependent. What where you thinking of in terms of lighting and perhaps we could make suggestions from there.

 

[boardryder]

How is the water going to flow through the sand between your skimmer and refugium section? That part doesn't look like a good idea to me. Also I don't think you will need all those bubble trap baffles.

 

[wespastor]

... I don't think you will need much light, as your stocking list does not appear to be heavily light dependent. What where you thinking of in terms of lighting and perhaps we could make suggestions from there.

These are the Lights I plan to use:

2 Tropic Sun 48" T-8 32 Watt 5500K
2 Power Glow 48" T-8 40 watt

I need to figureout the fixtures. If I go with generic shop lights then I'll need to build a cover to hide them. This will be in my living room and I entertain very frequently and don't want it to look like clutter.

 

[fernandokng]

Ditto. You can definitely find better skimmers out there (unless you already have that specific model).

Drill the tank. Better safe than sorry.

You also don't need all those baffles.

The only reason to have hang on the tank skimmer is when you don't have a sump. Since you have a sump planned in there already, get an in sump model.


I don't think you will need much light, as your stocking list does not appear to be heavily light dependent. What where you thinking of in terms of lighting and perhaps we could make suggestions from there.

 

[wespastor]

How is the water going to flow through the sand between your skimmer and refugium section? That part doesn't look like a good idea to me. Also I don't think you will need all those bubble trap baffles.

OOps error. No sand ... no deep sand bed ....

This drawing changes somewhat faster than I can keep up with sometimes and I have family so there's another distraction

There will be some ceramic bio-media tubes for a smaller population of copepods. I want to direct the water to flow though them and not create a dead spot there. I'll want the current to flow from the bottom across to the top where there is the bubble baffle.

The protein skimmer is in the first of the chambers of the sump. At the top of the system there is an HOT Surface Skimmer. Too bad that these items have similar names but they perform very different functions. Many times as I read different posts, it's hard to determine which they are talking about. Which is why I almost always differntiate between "Surface Skimmer" and "Protein Skimmer" and not just use the term "skimmer".

 

[wespastor]

1. HOT overflow box will fail on you one day. It WILL..
2. There is no "cheap" lights that will support a reef tank well. at least in my definition of "cheap".
3. I don't think you will need baffles in the sump, you can't get much of a turn over thrugh the sump for a sea horse set up.

Well for number 1:
The siphon will be separated with a mod that will prevent the siphon break. There is one I can buy for about $119 plus shipping. It's out there somewhere I just cannot find the link right now to show what I'm talking about. I'm not going to buy it so there was no sense in keeping the link. The one I will use will cost under 50 with mods.

Number 2:
I guess what I really mean is that I need suggestions that will provide sufficient light for the Macro algae and plants but not streesout the Dwarf Sea Horses (DSH).

Number 3:
There's a protein skimmer in the sump and an HOT Surface skimmer on the DT. The flow will be about 200 gph overall.

 

[wespastor]

Redesign

OK here's is the new drawings minus error (I hope) I'm only human therefore am prone to er.

 

[meschaefer]

Forget the overflow box (surface skimmer). It is much cheaper, and easier to have the tank drilled. Once you have a drilled tank, you will never think of using a overflow box again.

 

[ming]

Forget the overflow box (surface skimmer). It is much cheaper, and easier to have the tank drilled. Once you have a drilled tank, you will never think of using a overflow box again.

I agree

 

[masterswimmer]

Forget the overflow box (surface skimmer). It is much cheaper, and easier to have the tank drilled. Once you have a drilled tank, you will never think of using a overflow box again.

You say you don't have any of the equipment yet. This is a good thing. You're doing the research first and then making the purchases. I applaud you for this.

With this said, Matt's statement above is an even better idea because it won't cost you any more to do it right (as stated above) than to do it wrong, with the overflow box (what you're referring to as a surface skimmer).

Go with the drilled tank and build your own overflow box right onto the tank. If you don't know how to do this, just ask. There are oodles of websites offering instruction on how to do these things very easily as a DIY project.

swimmer

 

[duke62]

is that poly filter to catch the detrius from the tank.if it is i would also get rid of that and use a filter sock instead

 

[wespastor]

Go with the drilled tank and build your own overflow box right onto the tank. If you don't know how to do this, just ask. There are oodles of websites offering instruction on how to do these things very easily as a DIY project.

swimmer

Would be great but the $$$
I am not able to do it my self. Not physically able.
I have Muscular Dystrophy.

Many will not assume the responsiblity in doing it for me should the tank break and I cannot afford another one. not to mention the emotional side of my tank being broken by some who might say no problem. And the list goes on.

May when I am actuall readt to buy a 55 RR will be avalable that I can afford. Bur when the time comes to act I don't want to wait weeks and weeks for a good deal or even availability. I'd rather just go for it. So, HOB Surface skimmer it is for now.

 

[wespastor]

is that poly filter to catch the detrius from the tank.if it is i would also get rid of that and use a filter sock instead

Filter Sock ... Hhhhmmmmm. Good Idea. I'll run it up the flagpole and see who'll salute it.

 

[masterswimmer]

Filter Sock ... Hhhhmmmmm. Good Idea. I'll run it up the flagpole and see who'll salute it.

Consider it done!!!

 

[cali_reef]

Would be great but the $$$
I am not able to do it my self. Not physically able.
I have Muscular Dystrophy.

Many will not assume the responsiblity in doing it for me should the tank break and I cannot afford another one. not to mention the emotional side of my tank being broken by some who might say no problem. And the list goes on.

May when I am actuall readt to buy a 55 RR will be avalable that I can afford. Bur when the time comes to act I don't want to wait weeks and weeks for a good deal or even availability. I'd rather just go for it. So, HOB Surface skimmer it is for now.

More reason to design a system with less failure points and maintenance requirements.

 

[Killerdrgn]

May when I am actuall readt to buy a 55 RR will be avalable that I can afford. Bur when the time comes to act I don't want to wait weeks and weeks for a good deal or even availability. I'd rather just go for it. So, HOB Surface skimmer it is for now.

Or you could just buy a 55 gallon tank and have it drilled by one of the many people that offer their services here on this site.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Or you could just buy a 55 gallon tank and have it drilled by one of the many people that offer their services here on this site.

:shhh: Look at his location