Will the fish/CUC/Corals be OK for a 6 hour to overnight stay while I soak and scrub pumps if I'm running a couple small powerhead for circulation?You have a skimmer? Even though both the corals you mention are fairly hardy as corals go, I'd try to fix the skimmer if you want corals. And if you already have a RSM tank, might as well use it/fix it then go all out on a new tank IMHO. Cleaning all pumps every 6-8 months is good for them to keep them running efficiently and effectively (even a HOB's filter should have regular maintenance done on it).
THANKS OXY!!!As long as you have circulation in the tank, that should be fine.
Make sure to rinse the pump really well of all vinegar solution prior to putting it back in the tank.
I usually use a 50:50 mix of white vinegar and water. Soak for a couple of hours, run the pump in the solution for about an hour and then soak in RODI and run in RODI with a little PRIME to neutralize everything (this might be over kill, but it has worked for me for many years now).
You might find that the noise is from something lodged in the pump. Hopefully a little cleaning will fix it for you.
Could I just place the heater in the main tank for a few hours and position a powerhead to push through it?Thinking about this a little more and the RSM set-up -- Make sure the replacement powerheads reach where ever the heater is. I'm not really sure how you are setting up the replacement pumps, but if you are cleaning all tank pumps at once and the heater is in the back of the RSM tank, make sure the backup pumps are circulating the water where the heat from the heater is still heating the tank.
Running a tank for a few days w/o a skimmer shouldn't be a problem as long as you aren't over feeding.
With spring and summer pretty much upon us here on the west coast, I would say the temp would probably hover in the mid 60s..How cold do You think the water will be with out the heater ? Might not need it.
Intetesting link. Thanks. I'm going to look into some of those possible solutions. The bubbles seem to be subsiding a bit but still rocking.on the microbubbles... check out this thread... on 130D the key is consistent high water levels, skimmer cup height
http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forum/index.php?threads/microbubbles-in-your-rsm-check-here.38826/
The corals I have now are a Xenia and Zoa. Both small.
I wasn't sure if they could hang without a skimmer. But you say possibly.
I would not. The skimmer will do a better job than the HOB. Lees makes one that is about $30 that will do well for a small tank like this. Check on e-bay. The HOB can build up waste that it cannot filter out of the water. I would only use that until the tank is established.
76-82 is best. The fish might acclimate, but the shrimp and corals wont like it cooler than that.With spring and summer pretty much upon us here on the west coast, I would say the temp would probably hover in the mid 60s..
The heater was set on 80. But the water is NOT that warm.
Ideas on temp I should shoot for?
I'm housing 2 clowns, a blue damsel, a pajama, a pep shrimp, a mex turbo and some hermits.
Also a small Xenia and small zoa.