50g FOWLR Setup

[CMG]

Well I finally got my loc line in the mail from ebay after the usps jacked it all up. I got the 1/2" loc line and two Y connectors for my invisi-pump project. Since I dont run a sump or fuge I have no return which means I have pumps in my tank and I want to make them invisible hence invisi-pump project..doot do do!

Ok so My plan is to put my two maxi jets back behind my LR and then run the loc line from the pump down into the sand under the sand and out pointing in different directions (Y connectors come in here). Where the end of the loc line comes up out of the sand I will place some of the smaller pices of LR to hide them from view and wala invisi-pumps! haha. Then there are the heaters....hmmmm, thats another project. I will have to wait for a sump/fuge for that one.

Also I lost a snail...I think it was the one that got sucked up into the pump a few weeks ago. He survived for a while but I found him like this today. I thought he had just fallen over but I was wrong. These guys fall over constantly! And I got the low shell ones too, jeez! haha. Maybe he was one of the new ones and didnt acclimate? I dont know. Point is now I have 4 hoovers instead of 5.

[tbittner]

awwww, poor guy! Snails come and go pretty quick it seems though.

Instead of using locline, couldn't you have used pvc pipe and saved yourself a bunch of money to put towards a sump?

[CMG]

Originally Posted by tbittner

awwww, poor guy! Snails come and go pretty quick it seems though.

Instead of using locline, couldn't you have used pvc pipe and saved yourself a bunch of money to put towards a sump?

I really did think about that and I cant remember exactly why I didnt do that....oh yeah, I felt as though it would have been easier to manipulate the "mouth" of the lockline to where I wanted it to point at the rock. Where as with the PVC I am not soo sure how I would have done that. But I think on my 55g I might do PVC instead. I am unsure of how to calculate what sized pumps I need ahead of time for proper flow.

Today I attempted my invisi pump project. I re-aquascaped my tank also so I can clean all sides with my magnet cleaner as some of the rock was too close to the glass. I dont think this project worked exactly as I had hoped. The output at the end of the loc-line is drastically reduced and I think it may be because I used a Y connector to split it. It still works though, here are two picks. The loc-line goes from the maxi-jet behind the left most rock around the left side of that rock and up to behind the two little rocks by the front of the tank on the left.

My blue damsel kept biting me the whole time, little ass-h, now I dont feel so bad about getting rid of them when I get some "real" fish. Of course he was just protecting his area and I was intruding. I think I would like a randals goby to start off with. And a solid black and white clown (no orange face) or a copperbanded buterfly..not sure yet.

[prow]

nice, you can alway get a bigger PH to increase the flow if needed.

[tbittner]

You can buy locline fittins in 1/2" and 3/4" that connect to PVC. Just something to think about for the future.

Your tank looks GREAT! Very nice aquascaping! And don't let a poor little damsel boss you around. He was just playing with you.

[CMG]

Originally Posted by tbittner

You can buy locline fittins in 1/2" and 3/4" that connect to PVC. Just something to think about for the future.

Your tank looks GREAT! Very nice aquascaping! And don't let a poor little damsel boss you around. He was just playing with you.

Haha, thanks. He bit me again today when I was fliping a snail over. I went to the LFS's to see if any of them had a randals goby or a banggai cardinal fish but neither one did. So I just got some kitty litter and came home.

As usual I did my water change/vacuum, here are some pics...no the pink suitcase is not mine! haha. My temp is acting weird, the heaters are set at 76ish and its 82 in the tank! I used the digi thermometer and the bobbing one and they both say so. Maybe the heaters are getting stuck on or something? Been like this for about a week now. I decided to leave it after finishing reading Aquarium Corals by Erik Borneman because he stimpulates some info about 80-84 is best for reefs. They are these ones: Aquarium Heaters: Visi-Therm Stealth Heater

Anyways, that coral book was realy realy helpful for me since I a beginer. Next I am going to read: Reef Invertibrates; An essantial guide to selection care and compatibility. Its in the mail now from amazon. Ok, time for some english muffin pizza's.

[prow]

good books. on the temp. that is debatable. on the open reef in the ocean temps can have greater ranges, as our tanks lack many things like gas exchange to aid with the resulting metobolic increases. also depending on the region the coral come from matters, it might be better to say the widest variety of corals in the wild can be seen in 80-85 temp range, again this is in the wild. i keep my tank temps at 79-81. if you look around you will see there is a great debate on the best temp for a reef tank. just FYI.

[CMG]

Originally Posted by prow

good books. on the temp. that is debatable. on the open reef in the ocean temps can have greater ranges, as our tanks lack many things like gas exchange to aid with the resulting metobolic increases. also depending on the region the coral come from matters, it might be better to say the widest variety of corals in the wild can be seen in 80-85 temp range, again this is in the wild. i keep my tank temps at 79-81. if you look around you will see there is a great debate on the best temp for a reef tank. just FYI.

Yes I defenetly noticed that. There is a poll in the poll section about what people on here do too. I would like to keep my tank at 78 or 79 but it seems depending on the time of day that my tank is usually between 77 and 80. Early morning which is the coldest ant then afternoon-mid afternoon is the warmest. I may try and use different heaters or something, I have the heaters from my 55g thats empty right now. Perhaps next water change I will switch them out and watch the fluxuation with those.

[CMG]

Guess what I got in the mail today? My ro/di unit. I am going to post a little step by step of how I set it up in my apartment since its not a permament set-up.

Its by Abundant Flow Water Systems Inc. abundantflowwater.com. I bought this on ebay with free shipping for I think $135ish.

It came in good packaging and easy to use instructions.


Here is the system with water bottle for reference:


Here is the sink adapter it came with. The peice on the left goes onto your sink faucet and into the top of the peice on the right. The peice on the right comes on and off for easy removal:


First unscrew your current sinks faucet tip:


Replace it with the new faucet adapter (that peice that was on the left):


Now we unscrew the cap from the nozzle and put the red hose through it:


Attach the red hose to the quick connect and then screw on the nozzle cap:


Then connect the quick snap connector:


Thats it! Then you turn on your water and whamo! The nozzle that replaces the one I already had makes the water have more pressure.

Here is a pic with everything attached:


Also there are two switches. One is black and one blue. The black is for flushing the system once a month for 5 minutes and the blue is for I have no idea??!!? If anyone knows let me know. Thanks here is a pic.:


Its suposed to make 1gallon of good water for every 3 gallons of bad. Seems like a lot of wasted water! Can I use this waste water for anything. I think I read maybe dishes or laundry? I am in an apt. so I cant hook up anything permanent style though. I just feel bad for wasting! Yikes.

[prow]

you can hook it up permanent, just buy the a new pipe to replace any drilled ones. the pieces will only be a couple bucks. my friend hooked his up using the toilet water source in his apt. the pipe cost him $5 or something.

[CMG]

Ok, so there seems to be a minor leek in my ro/di unit and they are sending me a replacement part but no big deal. I got to do my first water change with non-tap water today. That felt good.

I got some cardinal fish today too. I read that they are not aggresive and that they may not get a long after they get used to their surroundings but I am hoping 40g will be big enough for them to not get in each others way. Today was also the first day that my shrimp actually came out at feeding time. He "swam" over to a piece of food and ate it even faster than the fish do! I was like holly crap batman!

Here are some acclimation/pics of the new fish. This guy stayed at the bottom like he was sick but as soon as I turned off the light he was out and about. I read that they are nocturnal though...

[CMG]

Well the one little guy didnt make it. I thought I might be able to get him to eat and healthy outside of a fish store tank but no go.

[tbittner]

awww man. I'm sorry to hear that. They really are beautiful fish.

[CMG]

Well I finally took my first leap into reefing!!!!! I feel like a little kid. I am so nervous that I am not going to get them to stay alive!! haha. Like a new parent. So I went to the LFS hoping to get a randal goby and they didnt have much selection for fishy's but they did have a bunch of frags (I think thats what they are called?). So I took about 20 minutes deciding if I wanted a rock full of bright green zoas or a rock with some mushrooms and zoanthids. I decided on the latter! Here are some pics of acclimation and afterwards.

But first here is a shot of my little cardinal that wedged himself into a rock to die. Very interesting. Can you spot him?

Also, from what I have read PC lighting is fine for mushrooms and zoas, is this correct? Books + reefsanctuary should be enough to be sure but just incase! haha.



Placement on bottom right of tank...

All shriveled up from transportation. Notice that one looks greena nd one blue....




All Opened up next day! Now notice one is red and one is purple-ish??

[CMG]

Today was an intersting day. I went to the LFS just to look around since they supposedly get shipments on Fridays. I signed up for a randal goby request since I doubt they will ever get one unless I ask.

Then I saw something quite interesting. It was a purple dart fish. I thought it was much more beautiful than the regular dart fish I am used to seeing. It was quite a bt more $ to though! Yikes! But I really liked it and decided I wanted it. So I came home and proceeded to atempt to catch my two blue yellow tailed damsels. What a nightmare. I finally ended up taking some of the LR out and catching them eventually. Now they are at the LFS and I have this new guy.



Look at this beautiful coloration! Orange, purple and green at the bottom. Also above you can see green in the yee area too.


Poor little guy is flicking his top fin. I think that means he is calling his school doesnt it? Thats what I heard somewhere I will have to look into it. My book says this is the most aggressive dartfish though and not to keep it with others unless mated...



Here are some randoms I also took today earlier.

Spot the cardinal fish aka Mr. Picky Eater Pain in the Tail Fin ...