reef fairy needed!

[volux]

OK , here's my dilemma -

I got into the salt water tank about 4 months ago- all made easy by the LFS. I did some research on the basics thought I was ready..... I was undersold in the light department - I was told the green bubble "stuff" on the live rocks was good thing (some were very "green" if only I had of known...) & my filter should "do the trick" I hand pick the bubble algae out often( green and red). The filter was crap, I upgrade to Fluval 204.

The set up : 33 Gal 30*21*18 2 aurora 50/50 (20w ea) 2 coral sun actinic 420 610 mm, 30lbs of live rock, 10lbs of base rock, crush coral bottom - My PH/ NO3/NH3/NO2 all test with in normal parameters. I use tap water and conditioner ( I know I know- but 299.$ for a RO/DI unit at CT and i still need proper lites from what i am told) I knew that was going to be a pricey project , but holy!!! - I am sure if I took my 2300$ that I put into this 33 gal - I could of done the sump- and got the 80 gal running instead.

I have a huge moss problem. I have tired the tooth brush and a siphon hose - I have removed the green rocks and manually bushed the green moss & now there's red slim growing all over my substrate. I have tons of hermit crabs, tiger & blue legged, some green crabs ( lfs suggest -to eat the green) cleaner shrimp and turbo snails. Nothing will touch the green hairy moss.
In 4 months I have come to realize the LFS is not GOD. I have read over Melev's reef - millions of times. He's my "god" for now.

What I want to do is to make the 33 Gal into the sump area- but I need to build a stand and buy lights for the 80 gal. I will have save for a bit. I wish a reef fairy would show up and wave a wand !!! ** Poof***- sump all set - plz turn on and maintain. I have looked at Melev's sump plans, but I still find myself scratching my head- weirs, units, Refugium, skimmers, wet/dry, top-off devices, pumps, plumbing, dividers, bubble traps. I would like to keep the reef as natural as possible. I want one tank to feed the other (if i can) . I would like to have fish in both ( as in the LFS )

Suggestions plz! :) should i keep the 33 G Fish only? Start a new - with the 80 ? where can i grab some second hand eqp?

Or if theres a reef fairy out there - email me!

[Wayne Sallee]

Write down on paper what you want to get, and the price,
and prioritize what direction you will go and the steps to
get there. I get the fealing you are still in too big of a
hurry to through the stuff together to make it work.
You've got to look at it long term, and think it all out,
give it some time, and then rethink it over again.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



volux wrote on 11/4/2005 4:07 PM:
> OK , here's my dilemma -
>
> I got into the salt water tank about 4 months ago- all made easy by the
> LFS. I did some research on the basics thought I was ready..... I was
> undersold in the light department - I was told the green bubble "stuff"
> on the live rocks was good thing (some were very "green" if only I had
> of known...) & my filter should "do the trick" I hand pick the bubble
> algae out often( green and red). The filter was crap, I upgrade
> to Fluval 204.
>
> The set up : 33 Gal 30*21*18 2 aurora 50/50 (20w ea) 2 coral sun
> actinic 420 610 mm, 30lbs of live rock, 10lbs of base rock, crush coral
> bottom - My PH/ NO3/NH3/NO2 all test with in normal parameters. I use
> tap water and conditioner ( I know I know- but 299.$ for a RO/DI unit at
> CT and i still need proper lites from what i am told) I knew that was
> going to be a pricey project , but holy!!! - I am sure if I took my
> 2300$ that I put into this 33 gal - I could of done the sump- and got
> the 80 gal running instead.
>
> I have a huge moss problem. I have tired the tooth brush and a
> siphon hose - I have removed the green rocks and manually bushed the
> green moss & now there's red slim growing all over my substrate. I have
> tons of hermit crabs, tiger & blue legged, some green crabs (
> lfs suggest -to eat the green) cleaner shrimp and turbo snails. Nothing
> will touch the green hairy moss.
>
> In 4 months I have come to realize the LFS is not /GOD/. I have read
> over Melev's reef - millions of times. He's my "god" for now.
>
> What I want to do is to make the 33 Gal into the sump area- but I need
> to build a stand and buy lights for the 80 gal. I will have save for a
> bit. I wish a reef fairy would show up and wave a wand !!! /** Poof***-
> sump all set - plz turn on and maintain./ I have looked at Melev's
> sump plans, but I still find myself scratching my head- weirs, units,
> Refugium, skimmers, wet/dry, top-off devices, pumps, plumbing, dividers,
> bubble traps. I would like to keep the reef as natural as possible. I
> want one tank to feed the other (if i can) . I would like to have fish
> in both ( as in the LFS )
>
> Suggestions plz! :) should i keep the 33 G Fish only? Start a new -
> with the 80 ? where can i grab some second hand eqp?
>
> Or if theres a reef fairy out there - email me!
>

[George Patterson]

volux wrote:

> I use tap water and conditioner ( I know I know- but 299.$ for a RO/DI unit at CT ...

Switch to bottled spring water for now. That did the trick for me. Of course,
the checkout clerk at the Shop-Rite gives me funny looks when I wheel up a cart
full of water, but who cares?

> where can i grab some second hand eqp?

Try Ebay and other auction sites. You also might have some luck with this post -
I would've made you a real good deal on a used Fluval. Also check local papers
and the LFSs in your area. Some will take equipment in on trade.

George Patterson
Drink is the curse of the land. It makes you quarrel with your neighbor.
It makes you shoot at your landlord. And it makes you miss him.

[Dave Stewart]

I agree with George. I reluctently switched to RO water & my big patches of green hair algae went away. The substate returned to white from red. I still have a small amount of bubble, but controllable. I bought RO unit on ebay for $100.

Dave Stewart
"volux" > wrote in message ...
OK , here's my dilemma -

I got into the salt water tank about 4 months ago- all made easy by the LFS. I did some research on the basics thought I was ready..... I was undersold in the light department - I was told the green bubble "stuff" on the live rocks was good thing (some were very "green" if only I had of known...) & my filter should "do the trick" I hand pick the bubble algae out often( green and red). The filter was crap, I upgrade to Fluval 204.

The set up : 33 Gal 30*21*18 2 aurora 50/50 (20w ea) 2 coral sun actinic 420 610 mm, 30lbs of live rock, 10lbs of base rock, crush coral bottom - My PH/ NO3/NH3/NO2 all test with in normal parameters. I use tap water and conditioner ( I know I know- but 299.$ for a RO/DI unit at CT and i still need proper lites from what i am told) I knew that was going to be a pricey project , but holy!!! - I am sure if I took my 2300$ that I put into this 33 gal - I could of done the sump- and got the 80 gal running instead.

I have a huge moss problem. I have tired the tooth brush and a siphon hose - I have removed the green rocks and manually bushed the green moss & now there's red slim growing all over my substrate. I have tons of hermit crabs, tiger & blue legged, some green crabs ( lfs suggest -to eat the green) cleaner shrimp and turbo snails. Nothing will touch the green hairy moss.
In 4 months I have come to realize the LFS is not GOD. I have read over Melev's reef - millions of times. He's my "god" for now.

What I want to do is to make the 33 Gal into the sump area- but I need to build a stand and buy lights for the 80 gal. I will have save for a bit. I wish a reef fairy would show up and wave a wand !!! ** Poof***- sump all set - plz turn on and maintain. I have looked at Melev's sump plans, but I still find myself scratching my head- weirs, units, Refugium, skimmers, wet/dry, top-off devices, pumps, plumbing, dividers, bubble traps. I would like to keep the reef as natural as possible. I want one tank to feed the other (if i can) . I would like to have fish in both ( as in the LFS )

Suggestions plz! :) should i keep the 33 G Fish only? Start a new - with the 80 ? where can i grab some second hand eqp?

Or if theres a reef fairy out there - email me!

[Pszemol]

"George Patterson" > wrote in message news:u7Waf.111$41.53@trndny04...
> volux wrote:
>
>> I use tap water and conditioner ( I know I know- but 299.$ for a RO/DI unit at CT ...
>
> Switch to bottled spring water for now. That did the trick for me. Of course,
> the checkout clerk at the Shop-Rite gives me funny looks when I wheel up
> a cart full of water, but who cares?

Why? Why? Why?????? Bottled water is sooo expensive... :-(((

Aren't you tired hauling all these bottles home ? You can get BRAND NEW
100gpd RO/DI unit for less than a $100 USD from eBay and have your own water!
The water you produce will be cleaner than the one you buy in bottles...
Bottled water has mineral additives to improve taste - it is DRINKING water.

[George Patterson]

Pszemol wrote:

> Aren't you tired hauling all these bottles home ? You can get BRAND NEW
> 100gpd RO/DI unit for less than a $100 USD from eBay and have your own
> water!

Then I have to install it in the basement and try to figure out how to store it
until I have 27 gallons ready. I also have to deal with the occasional screw-up
that dumps several gallons all over the floor, where it can do even *more*
damage to my old asphalt tile. When I'm ready, I have to haul 27 gallons of
water upstairs to dump in a can for a water change. During this entire process,
I also have to take steps to ensure that neither the cats nor the other people
in the house pollute the water.

I'll stick to the occasional run to the store, thanks.

George Patterson
Drink is the curse of the land. It makes you quarrel with your neighbor.
It makes you shoot at your landlord. And it makes you miss him.

[unclenorm]

Hi George,
That's a very defeatist answer, what's wrong with a
rubber- maid style storage bin with a lid, then when you want the water
upstairs (after mixing it in the basement in another rubber- maid with
an air stone and power head) use the power head or any suitable pump
and a hose pipe to pump it up to your tank, simple, clean, quick and no
hauling !! also you can save your energy to expend as you prefer. There
should be no "screw-up's" to soak your floor, if there are they can
only be of your own making.
regards,
unclenorm.

[Marc Levenson]

Hi Volux,

You have to get away from using tap water now. I didn't want to either,
but once I did my tank did a big turn around, and it didn't take more
than 30 days to notice the difference. You can find RO/DI units on Ebay
for less than $100 every day of the week, so go find a good deal. Get a
100gpd unit, so you don't have to wait for ever to make water. You
won't actually make 100g each day, but if you had the need, you could.
:) Instead, you'll turn it on for an hour or two, and make 5 to 7g of
water.

For algae issues, especially green hair algae:
http://www.melevsreef.com/gha.html
Btw, Emerald Crabs eat valonia (bubble algae), which I think you have
already.

And for simplicity in setting up a sump, just peruse this page once
more. It is big, and uses bigger equipment, but the layout isn't all
that complicated and it works perfectly for me. This page should
explain the different sections and how they work.
http://www.melevsreef.com/280g/280g_sump.html

The other stuff you mentioned is just icing on the cake. First you need
to bake a cake though. :)

Marc




volux wrote:
> OK , here's my dilemma -
>
> I got into the salt water tank about 4 months ago- all made easy by the
> LFS. I did some research on the basics thought I was ready..... I was
> undersold in the light department - I was told the green bubble "stuff"
> on the live rocks was good thing (some were very "green" if only I had
> of known...) & my filter should "do the trick" I hand pick the bubble
> algae out often( green and red). The filter was crap, I upgrade
> to Fluval 204.
>
> The set up : 33 Gal 30*21*18 2 aurora 50/50 (20w ea) 2 coral sun
> actinic 420 610 mm, 30lbs of live rock, 10lbs of base rock, crush coral
> bottom - My PH/ NO3/NH3/NO2 all test with in normal parameters. I use
> tap water and conditioner ( I know I know- but 299.$ for a RO/DI unit at
> CT and i still need proper lites from what i am told) I knew that was
> going to be a pricey project , but holy!!! - I am sure if I took my
> 2300$ that I put into this 33 gal - I could of done the sump- and got
> the 80 gal running instead.
>
> I have a huge moss problem. I have tired the tooth brush and a
> siphon hose - I have removed the green rocks and manually bushed the
> green moss & now there's red slim growing all over my substrate. I have
> tons of hermit crabs, tiger & blue legged, some green crabs (
> lfs suggest -to eat the green) cleaner shrimp and turbo snails. Nothing
> will touch the green hairy moss.
>
> In 4 months I have come to realize the LFS is not /GOD/. I have read
> over Melev's reef - millions of times. He's my "god" for now.
>
> What I want to do is to make the 33 Gal into the sump area- but I need
> to build a stand and buy lights for the 80 gal. I will have save for a
> bit. I wish a reef fairy would show up and wave a wand !!! /** Poof***-
> sump all set - plz turn on and maintain./ I have looked at Melev's
> sump plans, but I still find myself scratching my head- weirs, units,
> Refugium, skimmers, wet/dry, top-off devices, pumps, plumbing, dividers,
> bubble traps. I would like to keep the reef as natural as possible. I
> want one tank to feed the other (if i can) . I would like to have fish
> in both ( as in the LFS )
>
> Suggestions plz! :) should i keep the 33 G Fish only? Start a new -
> with the 80 ? where can i grab some second hand eqp?
>
> Or if theres a reef fairy out there - email me!
>

--
Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

[sloan]

I gave in and got RO/DI from ebey! :)
Thanks everyone.

I would still like a fairy for the 80 gal using the 33 as a sump :)



"Marc Levenson" > wrote in message
. com...
> Hi Volux,
>
> You have to get away from using tap water now. I didn't want to either,
> but once I did my tank did a big turn around, and it didn't take more than
> 30 days to notice the difference. You can find RO/DI units on Ebay for
> less than $100 every day of the week, so go find a good deal. Get a
> 100gpd unit, so you don't have to wait for ever to make water. You won't
> actually make 100g each day, but if you had the need, you could. :)
> Instead, you'll turn it on for an hour or two, and make 5 to 7g of water.
>
> For algae issues, especially green hair algae:
> http://www.melevsreef.com/gha.html
> Btw, Emerald Crabs eat valonia (bubble algae), which I think you have
> already.
>
> And for simplicity in setting up a sump, just peruse this page once more.
> It is big, and uses bigger equipment, but the layout isn't all that
> complicated and it works perfectly for me. This page should explain the
> different sections and how they work.
> http://www.melevsreef.com/280g/280g_sump.html
>
> The other stuff you mentioned is just icing on the cake. First you need
> to bake a cake though. :)
>
> Marc
>
>
>
>
> volux wrote:
>> OK , here's my dilemma -
>> I got into the salt water tank about 4 months ago- all made easy by the
>> LFS. I did some research on the basics thought I was ready..... I was
>> undersold in the light department - I was told the green bubble "stuff"
>> on the live rocks was good thing (some were very "green" if only I had
>> of known...) & my filter should "do the trick" I hand pick the bubble
>> algae out often( green and red). The filter was crap, I upgrade to Fluval
>> 204. The set up : 33 Gal 30*21*18 2 aurora 50/50 (20w ea) 2 coral
>> sun actinic 420 610 mm, 30lbs of live rock, 10lbs of base rock, crush
>> coral bottom - My PH/ NO3/NH3/NO2 all test with in normal parameters.
>> I use tap water and conditioner ( I know I know- but 299.$ for a RO/DI
>> unit at CT and i still need proper lites from what i am told) I knew
>> that was going to be a pricey project , but holy!!! - I am sure if I took
>> my 2300$ that I put into this 33 gal - I could of done the sump- and got
>> the 80 gal running instead.
>>
>> I have a huge moss problem. I have tired the tooth brush and a siphon
>> hose - I have removed the green rocks and manually bushed the green moss
>> & now there's red slim growing all over my substrate. I have tons of
>> hermit crabs, tiger & blue legged, some green crabs ( lfs suggest -to eat
>> the green) cleaner shrimp and turbo snails. Nothing will touch the green
>> hairy moss.
>>
>> In 4 months I have come to realize the LFS is not /GOD/. I have read over
>> Melev's reef - millions of times. He's my "god" for now. What I want to
>> do is to make the 33 Gal into the sump area- but I need to build a stand
>> and buy lights for the 80 gal. I will have save for a bit. I wish a reef
>> fairy would show up and wave a wand !!! /** Poof***- sump all set - plz
>> turn on and maintain./ I have looked at Melev's sump plans, but I still
>> find myself scratching my head- weirs, units, Refugium, skimmers,
>> wet/dry, top-off devices, pumps, plumbing, dividers, bubble traps. I
>> would like to keep the reef as natural as possible. I want one tank to
>> feed the other (if i can) . I would like to have fish in both ( as in the
>> LFS )
>>
>> Suggestions plz! :) should i keep the 33 G Fish only? Start a new - with
>> the 80 ? where can i grab some second hand eqp? Or if theres a reef fairy
>> out there - email me!
>>
>
> --
> Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
> Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
> Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

[Pszemol]

"unclenorm" > wrote in message ups.com...
> There should be no "screw-up's" to soak your floor, if there are they can
> only be of your own making.

And he can install level valve to shut off the water when the containter is full.
Very practical addition to any RO/DI system - and guarantee no srew-ups.

[George Patterson]

unclenorm wrote:

> That's a very defeatist answer, what's wrong with a
> rubber- maid style storage bin with a lid, then when you want the water
> upstairs (after mixing it in the basement in another rubber- maid with
> an air stone and power head) use the power head or any suitable pump
> and a hose pipe to pump it up to your tank, simple, clean, quick and no
> hauling !! also you can save your energy to expend as you prefer. There
> should be no "screw-up's" to soak your floor, if there are they can
> only be of your own making.

Well, no powerhead that I know of will pump water up that far. The one I use
today is doing well to pump up 5'. So now I would also need to come up with
pumping aparatus and some sort of arrangement to secure 50' of hose.

As for screw-ups, so far I've had several equipment failures, each of which
dumped 5 to 15 gallons of water through my hardwood floors to the basement floor
and furniture underneath.

As I said. I'll stick with my system for now. It works.

George Patterson
Drink is the curse of the land. It makes you quarrel with your neighbor.
It makes you shoot at your landlord. And it makes you miss him.

[Pszemol]

"George Patterson" > wrote in message news:o4zbf.3244$SV1.1233@trndny01...
> Well, no powerhead that I know of will pump water up that far. The one I use
> today is doing well to pump up 5'. So now I would also need to come up with
> pumping aparatus and some sort of arrangement to secure 50' of hose.

Well, there are many pumps which can do much better than 5'...
How high do you really need this water pumped up? Check this out:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=4604
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=12077
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=4614
and many, many others...

> As for screw-ups, so far I've had several equipment failures, each of which
> dumped 5 to 15 gallons of water through my hardwood floors to the basement
> floor and furniture underneath.

What kind of equipment failure (except cracked fish tank...) can dump
15 gallons of water on the floor ? Could you please share some of yours
experience to enrich my imagination and maybe help me to prevent
a disaster like yours in my house ?
Thanks.

[George Patterson]

Pszemol wrote:

> How high do you really need this water pumped up?

Roughly 14'. That's from the lower floor level to the next (8' ceiling plus
framing), then the height of a cabinet stand and a 125 gallon tank. There would
also be a lot of lateral hose, since things would have to be routed through a
few rooms and up a stairway. None of the apparatus could be permanent due to
multiple uses of the space in question. It's also complicated by the fact that
the basement is below the level of the main sewage line. There's only one
location with a drain pump, and that's the laundry closet. Upstairs would be
better in this regard, but God help the man that tries to install a RO filter in
my wife's kitchen (or bath, for that matter).

> What kind of equipment failure (except cracked fish tank...) can dump
> 15 gallons of water on the floor ? Could you please share some of yours
> experience to enrich my imagination and maybe help me to prevent
> a disaster like yours in my house ?

1. Protein skimmer overflowed due to powerhead malfunction.
2. Angstrom sterilizer unit developed a hole in the casing.
3. Fluval quick connect valve failed to seat completely after cleaning.
4. Main cannister gasket failed on Eheim filter.

The Angstrom failure was the most spectacular, since it sat more or less over
the electrical outlet. Luckily, I happened to be in the room when the outlet
started spitting fire and melted the 6-outlet box that was screwed into it. I
never did figure out why the breaker didn't trip, but I replaced the breaker.

The next stand I build will have a pan built in to catch leaks and an alarm
system if water collects there.

George Patterson
Drink is the curse of the land. It makes you quarrel with your neighbor.
It makes you shoot at your landlord. And it makes you miss him.