First Saltwater build

[Catchemall]

I found with my skimmer like that one at first it overflowed like crazy no matter what so I cleaned with vinegar same thing then decided I'd let it do its thing and pull out what it wanted and let it overflow instead of back into my sump this time into a bucket. Once it pulled a gallon of clear water it settled down and started its thing.

 

[saltrookie53]

well I'm thinking now that I may want to raise it off the bottom of my sump about three inches to allow for that out of the catch cups plug.

 

[saltrookie53]

this is how I'm currently thinking of setting it up with the matrix and skimmer all in one compartment. and everything in the middle will be refugium... Am I thinking about it correctly?

 

[Nibejeebies]

skimmer will go crazy for the first couple of days to weeks... "break in" period

 

[saltrookie53]

Isn't the most Eye catching one I've ever seen but it cost a whole lot less. And I didn't it myself.

 

[Mark75]

I would not put the matrix in the first compartment with the skimmer, I would put it in the second chamber or refuge.

The first chamber typically houses course filtration in the form of a filter sock/foam pad/floss and the protein skimmer. You want to mechanically clean out the chunks before they enter your sump and decay and you want the skimmer feed with the next dirtiest water so it goes in the first chamber as well. The water flowing into the next chamber should be filtered and ready for biological break down with your "surface area" of choice, in this case Matrix which is what I use as well.

 

[saltrookie53]

well stand and hood are both done.... now time to stain and trim them both out. hoping to be getting the tank wet by next weekend or the one after!!!!

 

[saltrookie53]

 

[saltrookie53]

Finally to its permanent home!!!! Now it's time to run new electrical..

 

[Germ42]

That's so exciting! Congrats! That is one nice sump!! It looks to be glass which is awesome because it doesn't warp and bend over time! Quality investment! Exciting! I'll be following along!

 

[saltrookie53]

DIY sump out of a 40 breeder. I messed up the acrylic on the first three baffles. the last three went so much easier.

 

[saltrookie53]

That's so exciting! Congrats! That is one nice sump!! It looks to be glass which is awesome because it doesn't warp and bend over time! Quality investment! Exciting! I'll be following along!

thank you

 

[saltrookie53]

Here is another question I have. Will a GFO reactor help keep cyno and other fungus out of my tank on a fresh startup??

 

[Mark75]

Here is another question I have. Will a GFO reactor help keep cyno and other fungus out of my tank on a fresh startup??

I don't continually run GFO but I have a reactor running with carbon I can add GFO if my phosphates climb. I would not run GFO unless testing shows it elevated but I would plan on having the ability. [emoji3]

 

[BlueDevil]

+1 to what Mark said. If you have SPS, they will appreciate trace amount of PO4. As long as it remains trace (I prefer no more than 0.04) you should be fine with leaving the GFO reactor offline. Like Mark I have a dual reactor but only run carbon. I do still have the capability of running GFO in case the PO4 gets out of hand.

 

[saltrookie53]

it's always a good morning when you wake up to a Marine Depot box sitting by the door!!!

 

[saltrookie53]

Leak check done!!! Thanks @purkey!!

 

[Mark75]

Like the old dog that fell asleep with his tail across the railroad tracks said ...."won't be long now!" [emoji16]

 

[saltrookie53]

Like the old dog that fell asleep with his tail across the railroad tracks said ...."won't be long now!" [emoji16]

Now that's something my late grandfather would say!!! I got a kick out of it.

 

[saltrookie53]

she'll get wet for good Wednesday morning.