Starting with a 40 Breeder Build

[Philly Reefer]

Very clean! Nice work!

Thank you

 

[Philly Reefer]

So.. was watching Reef Automation livestream because I am interested in Apex system. And... I won the giveaway. An ApexEL.

This might be destiny in the works.

Won an Aquaforest Starter Pack and an ApexEL.

Hopefully I will be able to produce a beautiful reef tank

Reef Automation

Talking about Reef Automation! This includes programming, wire management, plumbing, and any automation topic! Live Streams weekly with giveaways! Facebook G...

www.youtube.com

 

[btmedic04]

That's awesome! Congrats bud!

 

[Philly Reefer]

@btmedic04 ty. I was totally surprised when my name was called. Had to fumble around to get my phone because I only had 1 minutes to comment on the livestream. Was watching on TV. Fortunately, it loaded fast enough.

And today.. I am not patient enough. I think my sump is ready.

Chamber all sealed up.

 

[Philly Reefer]

Sump is done.

I should have paint the back of the sump black...

This is going to be the night light. Fortunately this is in the basement. My aquarium room. Somehow it look way brighter in the picture than in person.

 

[Philly Reefer]

Ps: I should move the bio balls before filming.... LoL

Btw... That stupid heater is way too frickin long

 

[Philly Reefer]

ATO is set up.

Finally this tank is somewhat complete. Just need to finish cycling and I can start adding livestock.

Couple things I need to work on though:

1. Cable Management (waiting for ApexEL)
2. Need to buy another light (Black AI Prime 16HD)
3. Setting up the T return pump for future use. Need to buy the valve and barb adapter.

 

[Tokash23]

Sweet setup makes me miss my 40. Although mine wasnt nearly as cleanly setup as yours is.

 

[Philly Reefer]

Sweet setup makes me miss my 40. Although mine wasnt nearly as cleanly setup as yours is.

Hey @Tokash23 , thank you. Your setup looked good. Its unfortunate that your tank broke down. Maybe you will be back in the future.

I am still early on this build so hopefully I continue your 40B build.

 

[Tokash23]

Hey @Tokash23 , thank you. Your setup looked good. Its unfortunate that your tank broke down. Maybe you will be back in the future.

I am still early on this build so hopefully I continue your 40B build.

Yea for sure im looking forward to see where it takes you. I was so bummed when mine broke i took what livestock i had to a buddy (he promptly killed everything because hes an idiot) and threw most everything away. I just started a pico tank to kind of dip my toes back into the water so to speak.

 

[Philly Reefer]

So.... Turned on my skimmer yesterday morning (22h ish running) because I read that it will need to break in. I guess this is normal?

Currently sitting at around 9" water depth.
The manual said 9.5 to 11. I cant raise the water anymore though. I wonder how long should I wait before trying to lower the water or raise the skimmer.

 

[btmedic04]

So.... Turned on my skimmer yesterday morning (22h ish running) because I read that it will need to break in. I guess this is normal?

Currently sitting at around 9" water depth.
The manual said 9.5 to 11. I cant raise the water anymore though. I wonder how long should I wait before trying to lower the water or raise the skimmer.

Its perfectly normal for a brand new skimmer to do that while the gate is wide open for a while. Ive also found that running a skimmer in a 50/50 mix of water and vinegar in a bucket for a while sometimes helps as it remove any manufacturing oils that may be on the body. From what I remember, mine took about 4 days to a week to break in, so give it a week or so

 

[Philly Reefer]

Thank you @btmedic04. I will wait for a week before I play around with it then

 

[Philly Reefer]

So I added 2ppm ammonia last week on the tank prior having the sump. And everyday since then I drip the Bio S from Aquaforest. 2 drop per day per instruction. ( Seems small amount to me)

I am not sure if I should have done that without putting in the Life Bio Fil.

I checked ammonia, nitrite and ph everyday. To no changes except ammonia going up. 2 to 4ppm. Did some partial water change once every 2-3 days.

Sump was done Sunday. More water volume! Ammonia dropped to 2ppm and I put in the Aquaforest Life Bio Fil.

On Monday I added Dr. Tims one and only. Just because...

Finally today I start seeing nitrite!

I really wish this cycling is faster... LoL

BTW.. my ph seems to be steady at 7.8. I might need to research more about raising it. I am thinking because the tank is in the basement without much air circulation making it more CO2 in this room. I do have a small window but I don't know how much that help. And that window would be closed on winter.

That ApexEL would help me bunch with monitoring the pH levels.

 

[Philly Reefer]

So.. after futher research, I decided to drill a siphon break hole.

Without that hole, my sump is still capable of containing the back siphon. But it did filled it almost to the top. 1 inch more and it would touch the top bracket of the 20g long.

I was afraid it will produce bubbles. But it doesnt seem the case.

From this picture that hole seems to be in the water line. But its not. Its about 1/4 inch below the water line. I might drill another one on the other side of it.

Another observation for today.

This container rated 7 gallon. I filled this up monday to the 1st line of the top.. so I dont know if it was 7 gallon. LoL.

I am thinking if this last for a week before I need to fill it up, I would be happy. Just add it on the weekly water change schedule.

Btw with the Apex coming, I already thinking of getting the breakout box and LDK kit. Then I can add water sensor that I can put in the ATO container to give me alert when its low.

 

[Philly Reefer]

Well... Hello there... Nitrate(left vial)

 

[Philly Reefer]

Exciting day today. Just got pods and chaeto from @AlgaeBarn. It was 2 days late. But fortunately they seems to be ok.

The more exciting stuff is this:

Now to set it up

 

[Philly Reefer]

Apex is up and running.

As I guess, the pH is kinda low. I have to figure out how to increase that.

 

[Philly Reefer]

Cycle coming along. Nitrate is high now. So I decided to throw in my chaeto.

My skimmer still overflowing. I think its a bit less today.

I also connect the air intake for the skimmer with an airline to my small basement window. It worked to increase my ph for now. But I don't know about winter.

 

[Philly Reefer]

So... The age old question... Is the flow from my return pump too high?

And if it is... Is the flow on my refugium too low?