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KathyC

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Location
Barnum Island
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will the sump support my tank? i know the sump needs to be half of my main tank.

No it doesn't need to he half of your main tank. The sump should be the largest size you can fit under your tank. There is no rule on the size of it except it needs to be able to hold whatever water drains from the DT if the power fails. (which is not all of the water from the DT)
 

KathyC

Moderator
Location
Barnum Island
Rating - 100%
200   0   0
hey guys.

can i build my ro/di unit into my sump area? my laundry hose is in the basement and i want to set up the tank in my living room which is on the first floor is there anyway for me to do this?

can i place the float valve in my sump and have the water top off as needed?

Not really a good plan. You would lose a lot of pressure trying to flow the water from the laundry sink upstairs to an RO in the living room (can't say I have ever heard of putting the RO in the sump area...)

If the float valve sticks, do you really want to flood your living room AND your basement? :( Not a good plan.

Did you plan to mix the new SW in the living room too??

You might be better off just hauling the 12 gallons up the stairs to do the water change after you have made/mixed the water in the basement.
 
Last edited:

dannyny

Advanced Reefer
Location
Queens
Rating - 80%
12   3   0
No it doesn't need to he half of your main tank. The sump should be the largest size you can fit under your tank. There is no rule on the size of it except it needs to be able to hold whatever water drains from the DT if the power fails. (which is not all of the water from the DT)

great. i have a 29 and a 30 gallon tank in the house which i can turn into a sump. or i'll look for a pre-made on in the marketplace.
 

dannyny

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Location
Queens
Rating - 80%
12   3   0
Not really a good plan. You would lose a lot of pressure trying to flow the water from the laundry sink upstairs to an RO in the living room (can't say I have ever heard of putting the RO in the sump area...)

If the float valve sticks, do you really want to flood your living room AND your basement? :( Not a good plan.

Did you plan to mix the new SW in the living room too??

You might be better off just hauling the 12 gallons up the stairs to do the water change after you have made/mixed the water in the basement.

hauling 12 gallons is alot of weight LOL i have issues with 5 gallons. but you guys are right i will do it in my basement.

no shortcuts...
 

KathyC

Moderator
Location
Barnum Island
Rating - 100%
200   0   0
hauling 12 gallons is alot of weight LOL i have issues with 5 gallons. but you guys are right i will do it in my basement.

no shortcuts...

Do it in 2 or 3 trips with buckets :)

Another suggestion wuld be to buy a Python (my absolute, favorite thing that makes my life SO much easier) to do your water changes.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=848

When it is time to do a water change - this will remove the water from the tank for you without any spills or mess. You can usually attach them to your kitchen sink (you may need an adapter if it doesn't fit your faucet)
 

dannyny

Advanced Reefer
Location
Queens
Rating - 80%
12   3   0
Do it in 2 or 3 trips with buckets :)

Another suggestion wuld be to buy a Python (my absolute, favorite thing that makes my life SO much easier) to do your water changes.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=848

When it is time to do a water change - this will remove the water from the tank for you without any spills or mess. You can usually attach them to your kitchen sink (you may need an adapter if it doesn't fit your faucet)

i already have 2 of these things in the house. i was going to keep one for saltwater and one for freshwater. the only issue is getting the water back to the tank as i have to use ro/di water.
 

dannyny

Advanced Reefer
Location
Queens
Rating - 80%
12   3   0
The 57 deep blue rimless is great.

you also need

A light TEK 6bulb t5 would be good and is affordable.
A protein skimmer , Bubble magus nac7 great value.
About 50lbs of live rock min. id figure on 200$
Heater you can use a cheap one. also reutrn pump..
Also set up an RODI water filter for maing fresh water to keep your tank topped off, and for making salt water. go 5 stages
Automatic top off should be high on the list of xtra's also a GFO reactor.

I cant help ya with the electricity bills I refuse to look at mine :P

im looking for a reactor now and i found one for a good price but the hoses are 1/2" but my return pump is 3/4" is there a way for me to fit this into my return pump with little modification?
 

CHEMCHEF

PERMANOOB
Location
westbury ny
Rating - 100%
79   0   0
Yea Just use a mxi jet pump. With having 7 FW tanks in the past. I,m sure you have some old pumps and power heads lying around. As long as it is around 70-200 gph. You will be fine. The reactor has a ball vavle to control the flow.
Running phosphate media will save you some headaches down the line.
Change it ever 4 weeks.
P.S. Rinse it 20 times longer than you think would be sufficient. LOL
 

dannyny

Advanced Reefer
Location
Queens
Rating - 80%
12   3   0
Yea Just use a mxi jet pump. With having 7 FW tanks in the past. I,m sure you have some old pumps and power heads lying around. As long as it is around 70-200 gph. You will be fine. The reactor has a ball vavle to control the flow.
Running phosphate media will save you some headaches down the line.
Change it ever 4 weeks.
P.S. Rinse it 20 times longer than you think would be sufficient. LOL

LOL i will wash everything very carefully like OCD.

honestly i do not have any maxijets left. either i sold them all or gave them away but i swore i had one left in the house but cant find it. i will go and buy the lowest wattage/gph one i can find. i think the hydro pico one is 3.5watts
 

dannyny

Advanced Reefer
Location
Queens
Rating - 80%
12   3   0
how many pounds of rock would i need in order to have my tank aquascaped...

40/50g breeder

50 pounds
100 pounds
200 pounds

i know it depends on what i do and how i do it but is there an general guideline so i can go ahead and order my rock soon?
 

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