Starting Again

[Almondkc]

From last night to this morning there was quite a bit of evaporation. I don’t have the Neptune ATK hooked up yet, that is on the agenda for today.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Buying the right equipment was already a good start. Many things have changed in the industry, but one thing has not- Go slowly, stock slowly and feed sparingly. Nothing nicer to see than other aquarists succeeding.

 

[Almondkc]

Absolutely, I have too much time and effort (money to) to not go slowly. In the past i did not use a QT and I will not make that mistake this time. To be fare I won’t be keeping leopard wrasses in such a small tank so I won’t feel prone to directly introduce them as they were difficult to ship and acclimate. Thank you vetteguy53081.

 

[infinite0180]

The sump is not pushed all the way back in the cabinet, there is a little less than two inches of space to push back the sump a little more (see photo attached). That being said there is almost 3 inches of space from the door to the front of the sump as it sits now. I provide the attached photo so you can see that space is by necessity based on the hinge placement. I do love that they are ‘soft close’ hinges...no more slamming of the tank door and startling the tank life

Thanks! So if i wanted i could push the sump back further and have a little over 4 inches from sump to door, right?

 

[Almondkc]

Yes you can take advantage of the extra 2 inches in back and easily get 4 inches up front. FYI, the installers had to work with the plumbing and shorten one of the pvc parts...wasn’t completely plug and play, but works beautifully

 

[infinite0180]

Interesting! Im really considering the same tank but the 60.3 version so i can have a little more length... i think im going to hold off till black friday time and see what prices look like then. Got a link to that light you have on your QT tank?

 

[Almondkc]

Here is the link. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071LJC8HL/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Almondkc]

I can’t say enough good about Waterbox support. Jess has been fantastic, I had way too many bubbles in the drain compartment to the sump and she helped me dial it in and it is now silent and bubble free. I am a lot happier in that just the week I have had it, while I had so many micro bubble in the drain compartment of the sump I had a lot of salt creep. I now have the expected amount so I am really loving this system. I am ordering a lid from Safe Top Lids and Fabio has been fantastic. He has not made a Waterbox Frag lid for the reef tank I have but the quality of the lids in the photographs he has shared looks awesome. He is incredibly helpful and responsive. Will add the progress to this thread. There is a 7 week build time - Fabio is a sought after artisan when it comes to these custom tank lids. His website is www.safetoplids.com.

 

[Almondkc]

Oh, forgot to mention that in my experience the Tunze 9004 doesn’t work in this sump. The skimmer chamber water level is too low so it isn’t the skimmer that is bad just the physics of the sump don’t match. I ordered a Nyos 120 and should have it Friday. Was between the Nyos and the Vertex 130

 

[Almondkc]

Got the NYOS Quantum 120 yesterday and assembled it this am and got it into the sump. Really pays to watch YouTube videos about assembly. Looking forward to getting this dialed in but for now am astounded how quite and easy to setup and do the initial adjustments was.

For an overall tank update just starting to get the diatom bloom so I o5dered my cuc from Bluezoo and will hope they get busy. Only have a couple of hermits and 6 nassarius snails-love they way they pop up out of the sand when they sense feeding.

Not sure what to do with the Tunze since I only need 1 Protein Skimmer

 

[Almondkc]

Progress: I have the NYOS dialed in, was a very easy process. I think in the past I always tried to keep adjusting and dialing in the PS, this time I just did a rough adjustment and then let it go until a few days passed. I didn't get frustrated and the dial in process went well for me this time. I am so far, really loving the NYOS 120 PS - very straight forward and effective. Pulls out skimmate and I only have 4 fish and few corals.

I have to finish the measurements for the custom top today and send back to Fabio at Safe Top Lids - I have been a bit remiss but I am about 5 weeks out before the lid is produced, so I don't think it is an issue. I am trying to decide if I should have two spots for the AI Prime lighting or just the one, I will get the new AI Prime to replace the one that fell in the tank in a few days. Was thinking of running the second light just for coloration on the acans - blues.

 

[Almondkc]

I am trying to start an amphipods culture in the 10 gallon Waterbox AIO, seem to be going well but early days. I see more of them, just need to focus on food source for them. The ULVA sea lettuce seems to be great for them and easy to keep.

 

[Fat Sacs]

Any update on this?

 

[Almondkc]

Any update on this?

Anything specific? I have updated in the previous posts

 

[Almondkc]

Interesting! Im really considering the same tank but the 60.3 version so i can have a little more length... i think im going to hold off till black friday time and see what prices look like then. Got a link to that light you have on your QT tank?

A couple of observations. For aquascaping I wish there was a little more height than the 12 inches and in the sump would be nice to have a refugium compartment. I really like the tank, just observations

 

[Almondkc]

Here are some quick photos I took this afternoon of the tank as it looks today. I included one of the sump with the changes to the ATO and Protein Skimmer and the 'no bubbles' on the drain to the sump.

I am also sharing the new inhabitants: Neon Large two mouth Yuma, Rock Flower Anem, Several Acans, Blasto, Ricordea Florida (blue) and others.

 

[Almondkc]

I really like the clove polyps for some variety. I am going to try and find a frag of the purple/green - I believe they are sometimes called pineapple cloves.

 

[TONYLONG]

Hi there !!!

Do you guys have a problem in the overflow box level? I have a roller filter in the sump and a SICCE 3.0 @ 45% and my water level in the overflow box is always too high or too low all the time ! I have to adjust the valve many times per day !

Also I’d like to add some unions to the drain tubes and a check valve on the return but… do you happen to know the PVC size ?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi there !!!

Do you guys have a problem in the overflow box level? I have a roller filter in the sump and a SICCE 3.0 @ 45% and my water level in the overflow box is always too high or too low all the time ! I have to adjust the valve many times per day !

Also I’d like to add some unions to the drain tubes and a check valve on the return but… do you happen to know the PVC size ?

Pump may not be keeping up with water that is flowing into the overflow box