Looking good! Don't you just love the feeling of finally having water in it.
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MrX's 120G Build
- Thread starter MrX
- Start date
OP
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MrX
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Yeah it is nice to be past the first stage (build/prep). Now it's into cycling and a million other questions.
I wish I could figure out why one overflow is getting more water than the other. Still too noisy in my opinion; I think some of the noise might be because of the Sicce pushing water into the overflow and splashing.
OP
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MrX
Non-member
Temperature is at 73-74 degrees. Just did my first salinity check using my spiffy new refractometer. It's showing 1.027 and 35-36 PPT. Looks like I need to lower that a bit.
Need to sort out the position of the Sicce Powerstreams... if I have the left one on all the sand on the right side of the tank gets cleared away, and vice versa with the other one.
Need to sort out the position of the Sicce Powerstreams... if I have the left one on all the sand on the right side of the tank gets cleared away, and vice versa with the other one.
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MrX
Non-member
Fish-goo deployed! 
I tossed in a shrimp-sized piece of fish-goo from the meeting to kick off my cycle. The dog is watching all the pieces fly around the tank.
Goo fresh-made at the meeting:
Frozen goo about to go into my tank:
Earlier today I found that the check-valve I installed was leaking. After thinking I needed to apply more teflon paste and putting it back it started spraying out the side (top part where it threads). I took it out of the system and brought it back to the LFS. Of course the <sarcasm>oh so friendly</sarcasm> woman there doesn't listen to anything I say and immediately says "you cracked it". WTH?!? I'm about done with her crap so I start to get upset. I know enough to not over-tighten I tell her; hand-tight and then a small bit more with a wrench. She starts to lecture me on the failure point and her expert engineering skills. I ask if she's ever heard of manufacturing defects? She gives me more crap and says she'll have to talk to the owner, then she proceeds to give me more grief about a tank I brought in to be drilled (the 40B). Waiting to hear back whether or not they will replace it. If not, I think I'm done with this store. Mostly just because of sourpuss.
In other news, I've sorted out the powerstream issue. I installed the disperser that came with the Sicce Voyagers and now the flow is "wider". Still a lot of movement just not as intense at one point causing all the sand to blow back from the side(s) of the tank. I also plugged them into my Home Depot timers; one goes on for 15 minutes, then the other... just cycles back and forth. I'll tweak the timer settings as I progress.
I also had an epiphany in regards to my "quick drain" connection. When I was having the flushing issues I thought it might be because of that, so I cut the whole thing out of the drain line. When I redid the plumbing I added it back in, but this time I put unions on each side of it. That way if it really was a problem I could just take it out and pop in a straight pipe. No more flushing with it there since I angled the drains and did the reverse-dursos, so it looks like it will be staying. Today's thought was, instead of having the drain portion of it facing down, and potentially causing a vortex as the water went by, why not turn it sides/upwards some, so that the water just slides by. Hasn't made a huge change in the sound level, but it hasn't made it worse or brought back the flushing.
I tossed in a shrimp-sized piece of fish-goo from the meeting to kick off my cycle. The dog is watching all the pieces fly around the tank.Goo fresh-made at the meeting:
Frozen goo about to go into my tank:
Earlier today I found that the check-valve I installed was leaking. After thinking I needed to apply more teflon paste and putting it back it started spraying out the side (top part where it threads). I took it out of the system and brought it back to the LFS. Of course the <sarcasm>oh so friendly</sarcasm> woman there doesn't listen to anything I say and immediately says "you cracked it". WTH?!? I'm about done with her crap so I start to get upset. I know enough to not over-tighten I tell her; hand-tight and then a small bit more with a wrench. She starts to lecture me on the failure point and her expert engineering skills. I ask if she's ever heard of manufacturing defects? She gives me more crap and says she'll have to talk to the owner, then she proceeds to give me more grief about a tank I brought in to be drilled (the 40B). Waiting to hear back whether or not they will replace it. If not, I think I'm done with this store. Mostly just because of sourpuss.
In other news, I've sorted out the powerstream issue. I installed the disperser that came with the Sicce Voyagers and now the flow is "wider". Still a lot of movement just not as intense at one point causing all the sand to blow back from the side(s) of the tank. I also plugged them into my Home Depot timers; one goes on for 15 minutes, then the other... just cycles back and forth. I'll tweak the timer settings as I progress.
I also had an epiphany in regards to my "quick drain" connection. When I was having the flushing issues I thought it might be because of that, so I cut the whole thing out of the drain line. When I redid the plumbing I added it back in, but this time I put unions on each side of it. That way if it really was a problem I could just take it out and pop in a straight pipe. No more flushing with it there since I angled the drains and did the reverse-dursos, so it looks like it will be staying. Today's thought was, instead of having the drain portion of it facing down, and potentially causing a vortex as the water went by, why not turn it sides/upwards some, so that the water just slides by. Hasn't made a huge change in the sound level, but it hasn't made it worse or brought back the flushing.
OP
OP
MrX
Non-member
I wouldn't mind the speech if I thought it was my fault. In that case I would went in and said "I'm a dummy, I broke rule #1 and over-tightened it." The worst part is her refusal to shut up and listen to anything being said.
Thanks for the compliment!
OP
OP
MrX
Non-member
Doing my first ammonia test. I know it's probably too early, but I want to follow the progress of the levels/spikes/etc. Looks like it is just between the 0ppm and 0.25ppm color gradients. Some of the rock I'm using came from another tank (quite a while ago) and had some small pieces of plant/matter on them, so I imagine some of that was already "working".
Reminds me, I need to update my log.
Reminds me, I need to update my log.
OP
OP
MrX
Non-member
Ok, MrsX let me know I was slacking and hadn't updated my thread in almost 24hrs (just past that now). I think it was just the shock-n-awe of being voted TOTM. 
Anyhow, not a lot done today:
- bought some power strips and mounted one under the tank and another (temporarily) near the sump.
- moved the heater out of the DT and down into the sump with the other heater.
- bought a small step-stool to place the skimmer on; the foot-print is too big and won't fit in the sump where I want it, need to find another one
- tested the ammonia again; doesn't look much different
- salinity is still about the same
- tossed my leftover rock into the sump; arranged it for now near the drains to assist in catching any bubbles/slowing down the water
Mike (mnavick) stopped by to check out my progress and calmed some of my fears/concerns in regards to pump and overflow noise. Thanks dude!
Some new pics:
Anyhow, not a lot done today:
- bought some power strips and mounted one under the tank and another (temporarily) near the sump.
- moved the heater out of the DT and down into the sump with the other heater.
- bought a small step-stool to place the skimmer on; the foot-print is too big and won't fit in the sump where I want it, need to find another one
- tested the ammonia again; doesn't look much different
- salinity is still about the same
- tossed my leftover rock into the sump; arranged it for now near the drains to assist in catching any bubbles/slowing down the water
Mike (mnavick) stopped by to check out my progress and calmed some of my fears/concerns in regards to pump and overflow noise. Thanks dude!
Some new pics:
OP
OP
MrX
Non-member
Just had it out with the woman at the LFS in regards to the check-valve; they aren't going to replace the cracked one. They insist that I cracked it, then she says that I shouldn't have used teflon paste on it. I was shocked... I asked the owner the other day, with her standing there, if I should put teflon paste on it and he said yes, on everything with threads. I asked why and at first she wouldn't answer. Finally she said "the paste makes it too easy to overtighten". I was like "was that so hard to tell me why and teach me, as opposed to jumping all over me?" Would it have been so hard to mention that when I asked the other day?
Then she started in on me for bringing in a tank I bought from someone else to have a hole drilled. I couldn't believe it. She said I had some nerve asking all the questions I did over the last couple months and then buying stuff from another store and leaving the label on it. I forgot, not that it should have mattered, that there was a small shipping label on the cardboard protecting the tank. I told her I'd had enough of her attitude, just to give me my money back for what I pre-paid to drill the tank, and I'd leave and never come back. She said they were both "hurt" because I didn't buy from them. I told her I found REALLY good deals on the tanks and I knew they wouldn't match it. She was like, "How do you know we wouldn't?". I said, "Because you gave me a quote for a slightly bigger setup (150 vs 120) and it was no where close." I asked what she would have charged me for the 40B, she looked it up and said $103. I paid $70. I asked why on earth would I pay $35+ more for the same thing. She said "well, then we might have drilled the hole for free." I asked her if I was supposed to buy all my stuff that way, and hope the store(s) would then throw in other services for free.
This continued for a good 10 minutes. It ended with her apologizing for the attitude and me saying I hoped we could put this behind us and have a more civil relationship moving forward.
I like the store overall, but if this happens again I'm done. I'll spend my money on-line or drive a little further and deal with people that want to retain customers.
Then she started in on me for bringing in a tank I bought from someone else to have a hole drilled. I couldn't believe it. She said I had some nerve asking all the questions I did over the last couple months and then buying stuff from another store and leaving the label on it. I forgot, not that it should have mattered, that there was a small shipping label on the cardboard protecting the tank. I told her I'd had enough of her attitude, just to give me my money back for what I pre-paid to drill the tank, and I'd leave and never come back. She said they were both "hurt" because I didn't buy from them. I told her I found REALLY good deals on the tanks and I knew they wouldn't match it. She was like, "How do you know we wouldn't?". I said, "Because you gave me a quote for a slightly bigger setup (150 vs 120) and it was no where close." I asked what she would have charged me for the 40B, she looked it up and said $103. I paid $70. I asked why on earth would I pay $35+ more for the same thing. She said "well, then we might have drilled the hole for free." I asked her if I was supposed to buy all my stuff that way, and hope the store(s) would then throw in other services for free.
This continued for a good 10 minutes. It ended with her apologizing for the attitude and me saying I hoped we could put this behind us and have a more civil relationship moving forward.
I like the store overall, but if this happens again I'm done. I'll spend my money on-line or drive a little further and deal with people that want to retain customers.
^ I get a feeling I know what store and what employee you're talking about... However, I like the store so much as a whole (plus it's only a few minutes away from me) that I just avoid dealing with her and try to get all my help from the owner and the tall kid (forget his name) that works there. They've been wonderful to me.
Really nice build so far. Wish I had the room (and a house with the structural integrity) for something like that!
Really nice build so far. Wish I had the room (and a house with the structural integrity) for something like that!
OP
OP
MrX
Non-member
Yes, you know exactly where I mean. The kid you're referring to and the younger/shorter one both have the same name. I think the younger one is the nicer/politer of the two. But both are far more pleasant than "she who shall not be named".
Thanks for the compliment. You're welcome to drop by and check it out any time you'd like. Just let me know.
Yes, you know exactly where I mean. The kid you're referring to and the younger/shorter one both have the same name. I think the younger one is the nicer/politer of the two. But both are far more pleasant than "she who shall not be named".
Thanks for the compliment. You're welcome to drop by and check it out any time you'd like. Just let me know.
Haven't had much experience with the shorter one... He's rarely there when I go (usually Saturday afternoons), but he's been helpful too the few times he was there. I think I actually went to high school with him...
I'd definitely love to come check out your setup sometime... And you're more than welcome to check mine out when you come get the sand. It's still very much a work in progress though... Some of it is kind of thrown together for the moment until I can afford my LEDs so I can finish the canopy
"she who shall not be named".
Hmmmmmm...........rhymes with grEEN,splEEN,tEEN
She was a little brash when I first started going a few years back but now I know to engage her in conversation and she warms right up. Hopefully you 2 can play nice in the sandbox.
Great build to check out in person!! Cant wait till the LED's come in.
OP
OP
MrX
Non-member
Me too man! Biting at the chomp for them to come in. hehe.
I bought a plastic container today (see through file-folder thing) and cut some holes in it. The skimmer fits perfectly on it; it's even recessed a little on the top (bottom when you flip it over) and sits in there very well. I think I have it adjusted right, just waiting for the break-in period to complete and start foaming.
While I was at the LFS I bought about 4lbs of live rock to toss in the sump. Not large boulders but not rubble either. Figure this and the sand donations will give me a good kick-start.
Still trying to resolve the Typhon RODI issues; going back and forth in emails with them. Wish they'd just answer the phone.
I'll post some new pics later tonight.
OP
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MrX
Non-member
I shall do that now. I did ask in my last email to them and she said as long as it was less than 20ft across and 10ft up I should be fine. I'll get some more tubing from HD tomorrow and try a test out the window to see.
OP
OP
MrX
Non-member
Today I got a new container to put the skimmer on. Turned out a clear file-folder thing from Walmart was the perfect size. The cover went into the recycle bin and I drilled a bunch of holes in all four sides. The bottom of the thing had a little recess/indent which was perfect for holding the skimmer when flipped over.
I adjusted the skimmer intake pump and got the water level at the right point. Turned on the aerator pump and let it run for a while. Once my cycle gets going I'll turn it back on and let it break in properly.
The rock in the sump was rearranged slightly so that my bigger pieces act as a bit of a wall between the drains/skimmer output and the input to the return pump. This should help with any bubble issues (of which I don't have any right now). I also tossed in the rest of my smaller rock pieces and two cups of rock rubble (under the drains/skimmer outputs). The 4lbs of live rock I bought today are on the opposite side of the sump.
I adjusted the skimmer intake pump and got the water level at the right point. Turned on the aerator pump and let it run for a while. Once my cycle gets going I'll turn it back on and let it break in properly.
The rock in the sump was rearranged slightly so that my bigger pieces act as a bit of a wall between the drains/skimmer output and the input to the return pump. This should help with any bubble issues (of which I don't have any right now). I also tossed in the rest of my smaller rock pieces and two cups of rock rubble (under the drains/skimmer outputs). The 4lbs of live rock I bought today are on the opposite side of the sump.
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