First time with salt, 90g

[ChathamONCraig.]

Hello everyone, I'm way out of my element trying this saltwater reef thing.... but here goes.

I've always enjoyed looking at reef tanks over the past few decades, and now that I'm an old guy I've decided to give it a try. Purchased a very well kept 90g Seapora tank with part of my Christmas bonus from work. It came with lots of things that I've been trying to figure out. I'm a bit overwhelmed at it all, but coming to grips with controllers, sumps, skimmers, pumps and lighting programs. Heck, there is even a small set of speakers that hook up to one of the controllers to play seascape sounds.

I have all this stuff...

90 gallon reef ready Seapora tank
Custom stand and top cover.
Eshopps ADV-100 sump
Eshopps PSK-100 protein skimmer
Eflux #6009 1050gph return pump
Current USA Orbit 48" light
And a box full of controllers for everything.

For the last few days I've been struggling to get the Current USA Bluetooth Loop controller working. Couldn't get it to pair with any of my phones no matter how many times I followed the directions. Got frustrated with the thing and put it back in the box. Going to use the regular Loop controllers to run everything. Ya, it would be interesting to have the seascape sounds on the little speakers that plug into it but... whatever. Had enough of futzing with it.

Spent this evening deciding where I want the mount the hubs and controllers. The previous owner had them on the back wall, and up at the top of the bottom cabinet. Doesn't seem convenient to me. I'm going to mount them on the right side wall, and put the displays on the back of the right side door. By mounting them there, or will be easier for me to see I think.

I'll have to get a small bit of wood to mount the hubs to the frame. I'll take a look around tomorrow to see what I can find.

Here's a picture of the tank and what looks like what the police would probably call "signs of a struggle" lol.

More at a later date.

 

[Brisk]

Looking great so far!

 

[ChathamONCraig.]

Looking great so far!

Thank you Brisk.
Spent a few days playing with rocks on my kitchen table with cardboard lining.
Think I have enough caves and pass through bits for the future residents.

 

[B&CinB.C.]

Looks good . Remember patience is key . Take it slow you'll figure it out . I suggest leak testing if you haven't done so .

 

[ChathamONCraig.]

Looks good . Remember patience is key . Take it slow you'll figure it out . I suggest leak testing if you haven't done so .

Thank you B&C.

I'm in no rush just keeping myself busy at nights after work. I did have a few drips from the bottom drilled bulkheads that I sorted out. Put new sealing rubbers on both drain and return, even though only one dripped.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Hello everyone, I'm way out of my element trying this saltwater reef thing.... but here goes.

I've always enjoyed looking at reef tanks over the past few decades, and now that I'm an old guy I've decided to give it a try. Purchased a very well kept 90g Seapora tank with part of my Christmas bonus from work. It came with lots of things that I've been trying to figure out. I'm a bit overwhelmed at it all, but coming to grips with controllers, sumps, skimmers, pumps and lighting programs. Heck, there is even a small set of speakers that hook up to one of the controllers to play seascape sounds.

I have all this stuff...

90 gallon reef ready Seapora tank
Custom stand and top cover.
Eshopps ADV-100 sump
Eshopps PSK-100 protein skimmer
Eflux #6009 1050gph return pump
Jerepet 3400gph wave pump
Current USA Orbit 48" light
And a box full of controllers for everything.

For the last few days I've been struggling to get the Current USA Bluetooth Loop controller working. Couldn't get it to pair with any of my phones no matter how many times I followed the directions. Got frustrated with the thing and put it back in the box. Going to use the regular Loop controllers to run everything. Ya, it would be interesting to have the seascape sounds on the little speakers that plug into it but... whatever. Had enough of futzing with it.

Spent this evening deciding where I want the mount the hubs and controllers. The previous owner had them on the back wall, and up at the top of the bottom cabinet. Doesn't seem convenient to me. I'm going to mount them on the right side wall, and put the displays on the back of the right side door. By mounting them there, or will be easier for me to see I think.

I'll have to get a small bit of wood to mount the hubs to the frame. I'll take a look around tomorrow to see what I can find.

Here's a picture of the tank and what looks like what the police would probably call "signs of a struggle" lol.

More at a later date.

Love the aquascape!

 

[ChathamONCraig.]

Love the aquascape!

Thank you Gumby.
Its all base rock so far. Might add some other rock when I'm ready to get the tank wet.

 

[ChathamONCraig.]

As the experts say... "take it slow".

Here in Ontario we have many "Bins" stores that buy pallets of Amazon US returns. The stores then dump everything into big long bins. Buyers then can dig through the bins to find treasures at a fixed price per piece / item depending upon the day, and that is based on the day the bins sere last filled. At one of them here in Chatham Ontario, I was digging through bins and spotted a Jerepet 3400gph sine wave pump. Unused, and it appeared to have never been opened. It was $20 dollar day, so I now have one. Tried it out in the well cleaned kitchen sink at home and it works fine.

I had been looking for a ro/di system to buy new, but spotted a really good deal on a used one on Marketplace. It was an hour drive away, but with all new filters and resin, I couldn't resist the deal. The seller is just starting a family and was cleaning up his saltwater operations and converting over to raising a newly hatched human.
He also gave me a refractometer, a few bottles of nutrients and two new mag-scrapers. All in all, not a bad deal for $200cdn.

I've been running the system today, taking things slowly... as the experts say... lol

 

[ChathamONCraig.]

Just an update for anyone that may come across my 'build thread'. I know there are thousands of threads to follow here on R2R, if you've discovered mine... congratulations and welcome to my build.

The tank is now full, and everything is up and running. Salinity is running at acceptable levels, using Fritz RPM, for now with the refractometer that I received in that super sale from the gentleman in London ON, and temperature is coming up to a desirable level.

Bought a Salifert Ammonia test today from the LFS. It's a small town generic pet store in Chatham Ontario, but did have one in stock. Tested both the tank and the rodi. Both seem to be stellar. The tank, a little bit higher. The tank, I'm aware, will need to ramp up and decay before I can even think of stocking the tank.
I'll keep testing over the next few weeks. Having read of those that have dropped a partly shredded raw grocery store shrimp into the tank is intriguing to me. There are shrimp in my freezer lol...

When I filled the sump, an Eshopps ADV-100, I did so with everything off so as not to overflow anything if, for some reason, the power goes out here in my apartment. The back flow from the pump will be just a quarter of an inch from overflowing the sump.

How can I make this sump to work a bit quieter?

Cleaning up the cable routing is my next adventure.

 

[tbrown]

Just an update for anyone that may come across my 'build thread'. I know there are thousands of threads to follow here on R2R, if you've discovered mine... congratulations and welcome to my build.

The tank is now full, and everything is up and running. Salinity is running at acceptable levels, using Fritz RPM, for now with the refractometer that I received in that super sale from the gentleman in London ON, and temperature is coming up to a desirable level.

Bought a Salifert Ammonia test today from the LFS. It's a small town generic pet store in Chatham Ontario, but did have one in stock. Tested both the tank and the rodi. Both seem to be stellar. The tank, a little bit higher. The tank, I'm aware, will need to ramp up and decay before I can even think of stocking the tank.
I'll keep testing over the next few weeks. Having read of those that have dropped a partly shredded raw grocery store shrimp into the tank is intriguing to me. There are shrimp in my freezer lol...

When I filled the sump, an Eshopps ADV-100, I did so with everything off so as not to overflow anything if, for some reason, the power goes out here in my apartment. The back flow from the pump will be just a quarter of an inch from overflowing the sump.

How can I make this sump to work a bit quieter?

Cleaning up the cable routing is my next adventure.

I assume you are referring to the gurgling? Is it the sump or overflow making the noise?

For the sump it's going to be hard to do with the way you have it plumbed - you want to "slow" the flow into the sump a little so it's not pulling as much air with it but that requires a gate valve on the drain line.

For the overflow (and it should help the sump some) try sticking a foot or two of airline tubing into the drain from the top. Don't drop it in the drain all the way, just stick it in there and let it hang out the top some.

 

[ChathamONCraig.]

I'm thinking, so far, that it is the tank drain into the sump.
I'd have to see if I can put the drain lower into the sump so that it is not dropping water the inch or so into the sock chamber.
Would a narrower diameter drain work better? I'm currently using the drain hose, a ribbed affair, that came with the sump. The ribs might also be responsible for some of the noise. Perhaps a smooth interior hose?

 

[tbrown]

I'm thinking, so far, that it is the tank drain into the sump.
I'd have to see if I can put the drain lower into the sump so that it is not dropping water the inch or so into the sock chamber.
Would a narrower diameter drain work better? I'm currently using the drain hose, a ribbed affair, that came with the sump. The ribs might also be responsible for some of the noise. Perhaps a smooth interior hose?

The ribbed hose can make a trickling sound in my experience, yes.

A smaller diameter tubing might make it gulp more air rather than less air potentially since the water would speed up through the tubing.

Pushing the tubing end under the water will eliminate the sound of the splashing but if it's gulping air, those big bubbles make fun noises in the sump.

Also to consider - the sock is made to be removed and cleaned so if the tubing goes into the filter sock you want it to be able to still remove the sock.

 

[ChathamONCraig.]

The ribbed hose can make a trickling sound in my experience, yes.

A smaller diameter tubing might make it gulp more air rather than less air potentially since the water would speed up through the tubing.

Pushing the tubing end under the water will eliminate the sound of the splashing but if it's gulping air, those big bubbles make fun noises in the sump.

Also to consider - the sock is made to be removed and cleaned so if the tubing goes into the filter sock you want it to be able to still remove the sock.

Ha!
I think I've narrowed it down to the bio-ball / carbon chamber. If I pull out the three partion shelf thingie, about 4 inches square, it gets noticeably quieter.

Eventually I'll need to get bio balls and a bag of carbon in there I guess.

 

[ChathamONCraig.]

Ha!
I think I've narrowed it down to the bio-ball / carbon chamber. If I pull out the three partion shelf thingie, about 4 inches square, it gets noticeably quieter.

Eventually I'll need to get bio balls and a bag of carbon in there I guess.

Oh dang tbrown... Just subbed to your build thread. 128 pages! Looks like my evening is planned now.
Listening to HBS Glasgow (closed circuit hospital radio from Glasgow Scotland) on the stereo while reading up about your Eshopps set up.

 

[tbrown]

Oh dang tbrown... Just subbed to your build thread. 128 pages! Looks like my evening is planned now.
Listening to HBS Glasgow (closed circuit hospital radio from Glasgow Scotland) on the stereo while reading up about your Eshopps set up.

Enjoy! There's a lot of nonsense on most of my build threads but there's some good stuff buried in there occasionally.

 

[Jay_Turbo]

Your build looks good and is a bit more involved than my AIO 65 build. I was afraid to do what you’re doing as this is my first build as well, so kudos to you for jumping into the deep end right off the bat.

I also had a current USA setup and had some issues with the BT controller. I’ve since dumped the light setup and am only using their wave makers, switched to AI prime hd’s and AI axis pumps to keep everything in the same app for the most part. I’ll be switching to AI Nero 5 pumps at some point as well, I’m still recovering from what I’ve switched/replaced/added over the past month lol.

I’ll keep an eye on your build, as it’s what I hope to “evolve” into later on. Will make a good reference point to follow as you build.

 

[gbroadbridge]

When I filled the sump, an Eshopps ADV-100, I did so with everything off so as not to overflow anything if, for some reason, the power goes out here in my apartment. The back flow from the pump will be just a quarter of an inch from overflowing the sump.

You want to turn the power off for 30 mins and sit and watch to make sure that the sump does not overflow.

Mine is 5 inches from the top of the sump when first turned off, but after 30 mins gets up to less than 2 inches from the top. I wouldn't go any closer than that.

You don't want an overflow while you're not home if the power goes off.

 

[ChathamONCraig.]

Good point gbroadbridge. I'll do that tonight after work.

 

[ChathamONCraig.]

There's a thunderstorm going on in my fish tank ... lol. Playing with lighting programs today.

Manually using the lighting controllers for the Current US Orbit lights because I've given up hope of running this system on their Bluetooth controller. Can't get either one of my phones to connect to it. I have my main phone, a Samsung A5, and my audio streaming slave, a Samsung S4, won't connect. It's back to the handheld remote control little doofer thingy.

The salinity is a bit too high for now that I've brought the temperature up to where is should be. I'll change out some of the water with unsalted rodi to bring it down to normal range.

 

[ChathamONCraig.]

So, things are happening here in the apartment with my 90g tank.

Since my last update, I've cycled the tank using, as suggested from others, half a shrimp and a 16oz bottle of Fritz Zyme 9.

The Salifert testing kits for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and Ph were all showing the up and down of a cycle throughout the many days and are now stable.

I'm sitting here on my couch watching two Oscellaris Clownfish making the most of their new home. Also picked up a Ochid Dottyback that is poking around the rockwork checking out all the caves that it can call home. One of the caves has been claimed by the Porcelain crab. The fish have been in for the days now, and my test numbers are still coming out good.

I have a friend in London ON that is going to frag out some of his corals for me when I'm ready. I'll have to get some dipping sauce for them.

Not much luck taking close up pictures of the fish yet, they move too much for me lol. I'm used to taking architecture pictures. Buildings don't move as much.

More another day.