Return to the Reef - 32.5g Fluval Flex

[emkovar]

We have Ammonia! (yes I used a freshwater API kit I already had, but from the info I could find that test is interchangeable between fresh and salt)

Also worked on the piece of glass that will hold the sock. My dad had glass lying around and was able to cut a piece that almost fit. So with a little work with one of my diamond bit hole saws I took 1/8 off the width. I decided to make the piece removable to make cleaning easier.

Used a 3.75" hole saw and the socks fit perfectly. Didn't need for it to be completely water tight but just have most of the flow going through the socks...

I closed up my ball valve a bit more and for the most part it's quieter. Still having variable flow from the pump, but it's working without flooding so that's a win. I do have a gate valve on order that I may replace the ball valve with later.

Let the cycle continue!

 

[InstructorMoe]

I just left it, I'm a bit upset at myself but it is what it is. I also felt like as soon as I started making 'modifications' to it, that it wasn't fair to try to return it.
I can only hope in the long run I'll actually appreciate the extra room for adding equipment and increasing the water volume.
It was $250.

The idea was it was less expensive then the acrylic pre-builts and I could get what I wanted while maximizing volume.

Ya, you know we put so much effort and time into setting up our tanks and then to have a wrench thrown into the works, when you are just trying to get the thing up and running - thats really disappointing. I feel for ya.

I get the whole maximizing volume thing. Its one reason why I'm going with my Fluval Evo for a sump as it happens to be practically made for the cabinet. If I could change anything, it would be to make it another inch in width and 5 inches in height just, as you say, to maximize the volume.

Having said all that, there is a part of me that just wishes I'd have sold it and bought a custom glass sump like you did.

Hope your doggo is on the mend.

 

[InstructorMoe]

We have Ammonia! (yes I used a freshwater API kit I already had, but from the info I could find that test is interchangeable between fresh and salt)

Also worked on the piece of glass that will hold the sock. My dad had glass lying around and was able to cut a piece that almost fit. So with a little work with one of my diamond bit hole saws I took 1/8 off the width. I decided to make the piece removable to make cleaning easier.

Used a 3.75" hole saw and the socks fit perfectly. Didn't need for it to be completely water tight but just have most of the flow going through the socks...

I closed up my ball valve a bit more and for the most part it's quieter. Still having variable flow from the pump, but it's working without flooding so that's a win. I do have a gate valve on order that I may replace the ball valve with later.

Let the cycle continue!

Holy crap..... Im surprised you were able to drill those holes without the piece cracking towards the near edge! That's a win for sure!

The gate valve is awesome. You can tune it fairly precisely!

 

[emkovar]

Ya, you know we put so much effort and time into setting up our tanks and then to have a wrench thrown into the works, when you are just trying to get the thing up and running - thats really disappointing. I feel for ya.

I get the whole maximizing volume thing. Its one reason why I'm going with my Fluval Evo for a sump as it happens to be practically made for the cabinet. If I could change anything, it would be to make it another inch in width and 5 inches in height just, as you say, to maximize the volume.

Having said all that, there is a part of me that just wishes I'd have sold it and bought a custom glass sump like you did.

Hope your doggo is on the mend.

Best laid plans.....

I know I'll be happy with the setup when it's in full swing. And I've been working on the project for 2 months to get to this point. I'm trying to be more patient.

Doggo is doing okish. Still in hospital and eating intermittently. Hopefully she'll be able to go home tomorrow. $$$

This was her last night. Stoned on Ketamine and Fentanyl, but comfortable!

 

[emkovar]

Holy crap..... Im surprised you were able to drill those holes without the piece cracking towards the near edge! That's a win for sure!

The gate valve is awesome. You can tune it fairly precisely!

Me too!

I was positive I was going to have to go back to my dad and ask for another piece of glass! I could see the look on his face when I told him my plans for it.
I used a piece of acrylic to make a hole template and just went slow and steady on the glass. Also probably helped that the piece was 5/8" thick.

 

[InstructorMoe]

Me too!

I was positive I was going to have to go back to my dad and ask for another piece of glass! I could see the look on his face when I told him my plans for it.
I used a piece of acrylic to make a hole template and just went slow and steady on the glass. Also probably helped that the piece was 5/8" thick.

Thicker than a bowl of oatmeal

 

[InstructorMoe]

Best laid plans.....

I know I'll be happy with the setup when it's in full swing. And I've been working on the project for 2 months to get to this point. I'm trying to be more patient.

Doggo is doing okish. Still in hospital and eating intermittently. Hopefully she'll be able to go home tomorrow. $$$

This was her last night. Stoned on Ketamine and Fentanyl, but comfortable!

Ah yes, good old Special K, the ultimate disassociative - not that I would know or anything.

 

[emkovar]

Finally cycled! Added a few snails (2 Trochus and 3 nassarius) and some coral - 4 zoas, 1 blasto and a mushroom.

dKa - 6.6
PO4 - 1ppb
Ca+ 405
Nitrate 75ppm - did a 25% water change

Also cleaned up under the stand a bit - organized cords and added an ATO.

I also rented a PAR meter and got some numbers to help figure out coral placement - Running Channel A (Royal) at 70%, Channel B (Cyan) at 70% and Channel C (Whites) at 10%. Not great, but they should serve the goal of softies and LPS. I can always upgrade later.

 

[InstructorMoe]

Finally cycled! Added a few snails (2 Trochus and 3 nassarius) and some coral - 4 zoas, 1 blasto and a mushroom.

dKa - 6.6
PO4 - 1ppb
Ca+ 405
Nitrate 75ppm - did a 25% water change

Also cleaned up under the stand a bit - organized cords and added an ATO.

I also rented a PAR meter and got some numbers to help figure out coral placement - Running Channel A (Royal) at 70%, Channel B (Cyan) at 70% and Channel C (Whites) at 10%. Not great, but they should serve the goal of softies and LPS. I can always upgrade later.

Looking good! I like your aquascape! ( I'm STILL not done mine. I've got a start on it though. )

I'm also eye-ballin your sump setup.

 

[emkovar]

Added my first fish!

An exquisite fire fish!

Brought him home yesterday afternoon and drip acclimated him, put him in, turned off the lights and went to bed!

Got up this morning and do you think I could find the little bugger?! NO!
Ive got a tight fitting lid so was pretty sure he didn't jump out. I made the assumption that he died overnight and my narsarrius snails cleaned up (they haven't had a ton to eat so I made the assumption that they were very hungry)

Came home from work tonight and was looking in the tank to see if I was blind this am.

I know they like hidey places but I didn't think he would be able to cram himself under the rock shelf!

Lets just say, I'm very happy he is well. Offered him some mysis and he readily munched away and came out of a bit. As you can see the snails also enjoyed the mysis.

Ive been feeling like trash all day cause I thought I had killed him.

 

[emkovar]

Things are going well, and ive added a few new inhabitants. A yellow clown goby, some cowery snails, a conch and some new coral.

My KH has been running low, even after my weekly water changes and Ive started supplementing with ReefBuilder. Nitrates are still high, down to 50 from maxing out the Hanna tester, but it doesn't seem to be affecting livestock at this point. Ill keep monitoring it. Been fighting green hair algae, so hopefully increasing my KH will help as well as having the new snails.

Possibly some new corals in the short term, otherwise its just letting things establish now.

 

[Rooles]

I would love an update!

 

[emkovar]

Things are going okish. I've been struggling with consistency with maintenance. So having some swings in parameters that are causing some coral issues.

 

[Rooles]

Keeping up with maintenance is a chore for sure. But it lays off and is worth it. I have to remind myself of that constantly