I am getting some diatom bloom on the sand bed now. I haven't added any hermits or snails yet because I anticipated an ammonia spike and didn't want to kill them all off. The stuff coming out of the skimmer is pretty rank and the smell coming out of the sump is musty, but not all that bad. I guess I am just going to leave it alone for now and keep monitoring it.
IF you really want ammonia in it then I'll tell ya what to do. Drink a couple of beers till you're good an blooted, then stand on a ladder and ...................
Well, I do drink a lot of beer. But, I am more apt to fall in after lots of beer than to accomplish what you are referring to.
Don't laugh but I dropped my cell phone in the tank the other day had to go buy a new one. Gary with the plumbing in the tank under the sand did you use a check valve to prevent a back siphon in case of lost power?
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I would give it a week just to be safe, perhaps you have enough bacteria right now, but as more things dissolve out of the cracks and crevices of the rock, you will get ammonia.
Cuddle sent me back with some oysters or clams on a rock and they died, and I have an ammonia reading of 0 but if I pull that rock out of the fuge, we need to evacuate the house!
Gary with the plumbing in the tank under the sand did you use a check valve to prevent a back siphon in case of lost power?
No, that is part of the closed loop. No need for a check valve on those.
Since you brought it up, I remember a tank that Albert Thiel set up at my LFS when he worked for Dupla. The tank had a corner overflow that drained into the sump and a single hole in the bottom glass in the right front corner for the return. Nothing stood between draining that tank all over the floor, except an old style check valve with a plastic ball in it that rattled all the time. The tank never failed (it really wasn't set up that long though), but man that was scary when I think back on it.
Yeah, I am in no hurry. I was really just surprised at the low ammonia reading. It may still shoot up there. I was going to let it run for two to three weeks without doing anything to it. Then I will maybe get some snails and hermits from Reeftopia.
Still haven't set up a lot of the equipment. I am not sure I am going to use this sump. It's pretty, but I am not sure I like the way it works. I may make my own out of glass. I could use a good DIY project for my thread anyway. Right Chuck?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick™
I would give it a week just to be safe, perhaps you have enough bacteria right now, but as more things dissolve out of the cracks and crevices of the rock, you will get ammonia.
Cuddle sent me back with some oysters or clams on a rock and they died, and I have an ammonia reading of 0 but if I pull that rock out of the fuge, we need to evacuate the house!
Ok that answers my question but raises another one. If I run my return out the side of the overflow box and along the bottom would a check valve on that line (under the tank to reach it if need to) will that work? The reason I ask is I have really taken to the idea of the clean water coming in at the bottom and pointed upward toward the structure for better circulation. I have the 3 1200 maxi jets with the mods on them ( they work like a charm) with a wave timer for the rest of the flow. I plan on getting the Wave Master Pro in the near future so the wave timer will have to do for now.
Man I have been away from RAG too long!!! I forgot how much fun this site is Just been soooooo busy with work and getting the house landscaped and the wife being pregnant and what not.
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John
RAG Moderator
STAFF: Ask Me! I Can Help!
I personally wouldn't trust a check valve that much. I do have one on my main return just in front of the pump, but it really isn't necessary. The sump will hold the drain down. The kind I have seems to work pretty well and it comes apart easily for cleaning - but it cost $40. I wouldn't put returns on the bottom of the tank if they are not part of a closed loop. JMO. You could do a closed loop like that, even if you have to go over the side or through the side of the overflow box to tap into the tank water for the intake side.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JTMAC
Ok that answers my question but raises another one. If I run my return out the side of the overflow box and along the bottom would a check valve on that line (under the tank to reach it if need to) will that work? The reason I ask is I have really taken to the idea of the clean water coming in at the bottom and pointed upward toward the structure for better circulation. I have the 3 1200 maxi jets with the mods on them ( they work like a charm) with a wave timer for the rest of the flow. I plan on getting the Wave Master Pro in the near future so the wave timer will have to do for now.
Man I have been away from RAG too long!!! I forgot how much fun this site is Just been soooooo busy with work and getting the house landscaped and the wife being pregnant and what not.
I hope mine goes as well
had to go buy a new one. Gary with the plumbing in the tank under the sand did you use a check valve to prevent a back siphon in case of lost power?
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