32.5 Modified Fluval Upgrade - Bigger is Better?

[kitti-fish]

Just remember it is important to have good gas exchange. Since you are using a canister filter, the only way to do that is the water surface. Adding an acrylic top, (hopefully a screened top and not solid). You need to find out some way to disturb the surface water of your tank.

It’s hard to tell in pictures but the water surface is agitated at a good rate. No, not a solid acrylic top. It will be highly perforated. It’s mainly to be used when I’m not home.

 

[kitti-fish]

Just remember it is important to have good gas exchange. Since you are using a canister filter, the only way to do that is the water surface. Adding a acrylic top, (hopefully a screened top and not solid). You need to find out some way to disturb the surface water of your tank.

Here is a better video of surface agitation

 

[Sleeping Giant]

Your tank is looking great

 

[kitti-fish]

Your tank is looking great

Thank you! I am hoping to move everyone into it by the end of month if possible if parameters stabalize. I am hoping to do more with this tank that I failed to do with my nano such as proper testing and dosing. Doing everything on a budget is hard but it's not a race :smiling-face-with-sunglasses: I need to learn how everyone gets their corals to grow so quickly though I am a little jealous

 

[Sleeping Giant]

Thank you! I am hoping to move everyone into it by the end of month if possible if parameters stabalize. I am hoping to do more with this tank that I failed to do with my nano such as proper testing and dosing. Doing everything on a budget is hard but it's not a race :smiling-face-with-sunglasses: I need to learn how everyone gets their corals to grow so quickly though I am a little jealous

You're welcome.
You will probably find it easier to stabilize the parameters in a larger tank, I find my 20 gallon is harder than my 75 gallon.
It isn't a race, take your time and listen to your tank and the corals will grow accordingly.

 

[kitti-fish]

You're welcome.
You will probably find it easier to stabilize the parameters in a larger tank, I find my 20 gallon is harder than my 75 gallon.
It isn't a race, take your time and listen to your tank and the corals will grow accordingly.

Yes hopefully so. I have had some bad crashes over the past year with my nano which ended up killing one of my favorite encrusting coral and badly damaging my others. I am hoping it will be easier with this upgrade. I hope one day I could maybe do a 50 gallon but I will work with what I have.

 

[Sleeping Giant]

 

[aquaantelope369]

One more update! I finally was able to secure a custom lid for my fluval. Because of the extra pieces I needed someone to custom cut an acrylic top. Hoping to have that by mid February!

Who did you go with? I’m interested in going this route.

 

[kitti-fish]

Who did you go with? I’m interested in going this route.

LidPropzShop on etsy. The top will be very similar to this with lots of perferioated holes but of course with my tank size in mind. I assume he will make it 2 tops instead of one due to weight and difficulty moving it when messing with the tank and of course, shipping. It's half the price of Kraken Lids or any other manufacturer for that matter and I don't mind if it's not perfect as long as it keeps my clowns from jumping ship.

 

[aquaantelope369]

LidPropzShop on etsy. The top will be very similar to this with lots of perferioated holes but of course with my tank size in mind. I assume he will make it 2 tops instead of one due to weight and difficulty moving it when messing with the tank and of course, shipping. It's half the price of Kraken Lids or any other manufacturer for that matter and I don't mind if it's not perfect as long as it keeps my clowns from jumping ship.

Oh nice, I hadn’t heard of them. I’ll look into it. Thanks!

 

[Reefer Brent]

How is canister maintenance so far?

 

[kitti-fish]

How is canister maintenance so far?

I almost flooded my floor because I didn't understand how to unhook it :eek: but so far it's pretty easy. I think once I get the hang of it, It shouldn't be too hard to maintain. I have 5 layers; the top and bottom are coarse fiber pads and the middle section just has 3 layers if biomedia.

 

[Reefer Brent]

I almost flooded my floor because I didn't understand how to unhook it :eek: but so far it's pretty easy. I think once I get the hang of it, It shouldn't be too hard to maintain. I have 5 layers; the top and bottom are coarse fiber pads and the middle section just has 3 layers if biomedia.

Do you plan on running any carbon/chemipure bag?

 

[kitti-fish]

Do you plan on running any carbon/chemipure bag?

Yes eventually I will place a chemipure bag once I have put my livestock into the tank

 

[Reefer Brent]

Yes eventually I will place a chemipure bag once I have put my livestock into the tank

I have thought of doing the same thing with my aquatop AIO. Will be following along to see how you like it. Thanks!

 

[kitti-fish]

Question: So my reading so far are

Ammonia: 1.0PPM
Nitrite: 0PPM
Nitrate: 5.0ppm

I know API testing isn't the most accurated but it's what I have on hand. I'm impatient don't get me wrong but with what I used, should I be seeing a change sooner than later? Yes, only been 3 days but microbacter says that cycle will be complete in a week :confounded-face: im ready to dismantle and sell my nano ASAP

I'm still working on patience I promise

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

Question: So my reading so far are

Ammonia: 1.0PPM
Nitrite: 0PPM
Nitrate: 5.0ppm

I know API testing isn't the most accurated but it's what I have on hand. I'm impatient don't get me wrong but with what I used, should I be seeing a change sooner than later? Yes, only been 3 days but microbacter says that cycle will be complete in a week :confounded-face: im ready to dismantle and sell my nano ASAP

I'm still working on patience I promise

Patience... Patience... Nothing good happens quickly in reefing. Now if you bought all live rock... Then yes, things would be different. Also just so you know, corals love ammonia, Only fish are sensitive to ammonia, corals process it for food.

 

[kitti-fish]

Patience... Patience... Nothing good happens quickly in reefing. Now if you bought all live rock... Then yes, things would be different. Also just so you know, corals love ammonia, Only fish are sensitive to ammonia, corals process it for food.

So far I’m still reading the same results..I know these API checkers are the most accurate but I’m a little bewildered it’s the same. When I cycled my smaller tank numbers changed. I guess I’ll continue to be patient.

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

What ammonia source are you using?

 

[kitti-fish]

What ammonia source are you using?

Dr Tims Ammonia