Tank troubles :/

[USMC4Life]

So this is a post for me to vent and ask for suggestions and ideas how to make this better lol.

I am bad at doing posts like this so if it seems all over the place I am sorry.

So the troubles started when we moved to a new house and water quality was not as good even with RO water. Then the light burnt out (LED) I switched back to MH with CFL and LED. The problem with that is that it put out so much heat that at some point it cracked the center brace.

So at that point I rush out and get a new tank and stand. So I went from 75g bow front to a 65g tall. That unfortunately reduced the space under the tank by so much that my skimmer and sump would not fit.

So to the now... running two canisters rated for 80g and 100g, reactor with phosban. I finally found a sump / refugium that will fit and a skimmer that fits. Working on that. Had a good light for a bit (SB-Reeflights) had to give that back as it was on lone. Now I am down to a crappy marineland and 1 t8.

Having problems with the sump because of the size and now need to find light that I can afford and that will sustain the corals.

I still have my MH if anyone is interested in a trade.

Any and all suggestions are welcome, just keep in mind that I am on a budget that is a joke lol.

I am actually thinking of closing down my tank. It's a bit depressing. But hey that's first word problems lol.

 

[mcarroll]

That is one heck of a story!!! :(

For The New
Did you consider just using an in-tank skimmer like the Tunze DOC Skimmer 9004 DC or Comline® Skimmer 9012?

Might be better that what you're getting ready for.....definitely simpler. (Simpler = better?)

For lights, there are a ton of options, including DIY. What's your actual budget?

For The Old
Looks like that sump has a giant hole in the side of it...what are you planning to do about that?

I assume you're removing that Cascade thing and replacing it with that sump?

What kind/size of skimmer is that?

Also it looks like you have only one lonely flow pump in the tank.....do you plan to add a second or otherwise upgrade?

 

[USMC4Life]

Thanks. It has not been fun this year.
So the sump / refugium is plumed so that thug you see is actually capped. The skimmer is rated for a 100 gallon tank. It's a marineland MSPS 100.

I have 2 canister that are pushing water and 1 flow pump.

As for my budget, well that's a joke. I can only spend $50. I have a newborn at the house. So that takes priority and I have a 3 year old.

I am interested in the DIY if some one can point me in the right direction.

 

[mcarroll]

I'm pretty much in the same boat, only you have a HUGE budget. ;)

65 Gallon is 36x18x24"H?

Try to stick to used gear where possible....you'll tend to get higher quality stuff and MUCH better prices all at once.

Consider selling/trading the canisters for some more flow pumps. Don't need any canisters, but you will need more flow. Try to keep it an even trade so your budget doesn't get touched.

For the light, consider a very simple DIY based on GU10 bulbs. In theory you can build one for for about $50.

Sockets = 50¢
Bulbs = $1-$2
You would need 17 bulbs and sockets.

Depending what you have around the house already, you might need 22 gauge wire, an extension cord, wire nuts or level nuts and something to mount the sockets to. That can be as basic as a 1x2" piece of wood, or as fancy as you want it.

 

[mcarroll]

This is the old thread that I used as a guide.....lotsa photos are missing now thanks to folks using photobucket, but the basic instructions and the video are still legit. And there's a huge list of builds in there.....again, lotsa photos missing, but surf until you get one that's still up. And google for more!! People have done these tons of ways.

GU10 build link

 

[USMC4Life]

Thanks you. I will look in to it.
This is how the tank was just few days ago.

Now this is what it looks like with crappy lights.

 

[USMC4Life]

The picture is better than what it actually looks like in person.

 

[USMC4Life]

So more venting lol. Now the new 900 + gph pump I got 3 days ago decided to get hot and make so much noise that it woke me up. So now I must sit around with out a lifter pump.l until the new one comes in. At least I still have my canister that's still running. :/ not been my year when it comes to the hobby.

 

[mcarroll]

Which pump did that? (Make and model.) Most of the time that should be fixable....at least on the pumps I'm thinking of.

 

[USMC4Life]

Homasy 920GP USAA1-VTGECD045AB

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Arrgg.

 

[USMC4Life]

Got a new pump. Working well so far.

SongJoy 792 GPH Multi-function Submersible Pump

 

[USMC4Life]

More update.

So far ok. The overflow is working nicely and so is the new pump. This pump is rated for less but it looks like the old pump was a joke and ether it was not accurately rated or the one I got was just bad right from the start. The new pump is dial down all the way and yet pushes more water then the other one.

Now for the lights. Working on that. Some one graciously offered for me to use his lights. And that is extremely appreciated. I hope the corals survive.

Sump, reactor and skimmer are working. The skimmer is already producing nasty stuff. I found an old LED strip that I will use for the refugium. It has some burn outs but it's almost 10 years old and stunningly bright. Now I just got to get some ruble and algae to throw in there.

 

[USMC4Life]

It just doesn't stop. Now this is happening mind you the skimmer is off and this is just from the water that's coming down from the overflow. I can't win lol.

 

[ludnix]

All that foam is from your overflow? Did you get any epoxy or other chemicals in the tank? Seems pretty excessive for an overflow to make that much foam.

 

[USMC4Life]

All that foam is from your overflow? Did you get any epoxy or other chemicals in the tank? Seems pretty excessive for an overflow to make that much foam.

I put in the filter sock. And that's when it started so I'm assuming there was something in the filter sock. I pulled it out immediately.

 

[USMC4Life]

On top of that my clown and a tang had a fight as a pretty bad one look at the pictures.

 

[USMC4Life]

Hope they make it.

 

[vertigo01]

Sorry to hear of your troubles so far this year.
You may have done so, but did you wash the filter sock first, before you put it into use?

 

[Maritimer]

I put in the filter sock. And that's when it started so I'm assuming there was something in the filter sock. I pulled it out immediately.

This is pretty common with new socks ...

~Bruce