Custom Marine Tank Setup - need help!!

[torque]

Hi everyone,

I am new to this forum after searching for a while to find somewhere that might be able to help me.

I have kept freshwaster fish for over a year and recently decided to invest in a marine setup. After careful research of the various implications on how to keep marine fish I went in search of a "complete marine setup". I found a shop offering such a setup for a very good price so I had it delivered yesterday.

I am having major problems in setting it up though.

It came with the following:

5ft x 1.5ft x 2.5ft tank
2ft tank in the cabinet below the tank.
UV Sterlizer
6 heaters
6 powerheads
2 pumps
A cylindrical container contining some sort of filter media.
Red Sea Prizm Pro Deluxe Protein Skimmer


Now, I will try and explain this as best I can (sorry I do not have any photos).

For the purposes of this explanation imagine you are facing the tank. In the far away righthand corner of the tank it has been cornered off creating a square 'tube going from the bottom of the tank to near the top. At the bottom of this column there is a hole much like a plug hole in your bath. Inserted into this 'plughole' there is a white tube which vertically is higher than the tank. Now, underneath the 'plughole' there is a pipe running down into the cabinet and into the "sump tank" (I was told this is called a sump tank). Inside this tank there are about 5 different layers of filter media. Once the water passes through there it will eventually overflow into the left hand part of this tank. Now all of this makes sense (Except for that white pipe).

THe part I am stuck on is how the water gets from this sump tank back into the main tank. Obviously before it does this it needs to go through the UV Sterlizer AND the cylindrical filter. So this is problem number one.

My second problem is I was given a Red Sea Prizm Deluxe protein skimmer with this setup. It won't fit into the sump tank so I am assuming it goes into the main tank. The only problem with this is it wont fit onto the main tank so I am left puzzled on how or where to set it up.

If anyone can give me any sort of help with this I would be extremely appreciative.

Many Thanks,
Paul.

 

[Great Lakes]

Hi Paul, welcome to the site.

We can easily help you and make this all as easy as possible.

First though, what kind of marine ank are you shoting for? A simple fish only setup, or are you gonna have Live rock and corals to consider?

This will have a large impact on the type of lighting and filtration you will have to put together.

Looking at your tank size, is the tank itself 30" tall??? This just seems unusually tall for a tank that is only 18" front to back. It also puts you into more expensive lighting territory if you want to keep corals.

And specifically what brand and size powerheads do you have? Six seems like three too many unless a couple of them are larger than the others and intended for return pumps from the sump.

GL

 

[impur]

I'll try to help the best i can from your post. The white pipe for the drain will probably have to be cut down. This is a standpipe. There are several modifications you can do to it to help keep the gurgling/draining sound at a minimum. The best of them you can find here at www.dursostandpipes.com. It is made out of PVC which is probably what that white pipe is as well.

That filter media in the sump can be a detriment to the system. It makes it easy for organics to accumulate which in turn will give you high nitrate readings. You might consider some research about that media before you start up the system.

To get the water from the sump to the display is simple. You need a good return pump. You mention you got 2 pumps in the package. Can you post us the name brand or any info on them? My guess is they are both for the return. The powerheads go in the display as well. You will need some good flow in that tank, but with all those powerhead you should be good to go. You can plumb the UV into the return or drain lines. The canister is just another source filtration and can be installed anywhere on the tank.

That skimmer isn't the best, but I suppose its better than nothing. They simply hang on the back of the tank like a power filter.

Hope that helps, welcome to the forum also. Sounds like you have a great starting tank. I suggest you do some heavy researching and invest in a few good books. Theres an aweful lot to this reefing thing!! Check out www.reefcentral.com for pretty much all the info you will ever need. Good luck.

 

[torque]

Hi folks,

Many thanks for your replies. I have (since this post) completely set up my tank after several hours of very heavy research, liason with the people I bought the tank from and the suggestions here. *I'll answer the questions raised below*

Here is how the tank is setup now:

Main tank on cabinet standing 30" tall, 62" long and 20 inches in width (f to B).

I have installed the Red Sea skimmer on the back of the display tank and it is now drawing in water and flowing it back out.

Water is overflowing into the corner drainage area, down through a pipe, through the layers of filter media and into the sump.

An Interpet pump is pumping this water back into the top left of the tank via green ehiem tubing.

I currently have 2 large powerheads at opposite ends of the tank (with another 3 of the smaller ones to be added this weekend).

I have added 10kg's of live fiji rock and some non live stuff.

I have added 1 hermit crab and 2 blue damsels.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Now to answer your questions:

Question by "greatlakes":

First though, what kind of marine ank are you shoting for? A simple fish only setup, or are you gonna have Live rock and corals to consider?

<< I am shooting for a tank that will consist of inverts, fish and corals. >>

Looking at your tank size, is the tank itself 30" tall???

<< Yes, it is 30" tall which probably is unusual but the tank was custom made >>

And specifically what brand and size powerheads do you have? Six seems like three too many unless a couple of them are larger than the others and intended for return pumps from the sump.

<< I'm at work at the moment so i'm not 100% sure of brands/sizes but let me explain as best I can. The pumps are both defiitely INTERPET and are quite large in size. They weigh about 2kgs each. THe powerheads are 2 different sizes. 2 are large and the other 4 are half the size. They are all black/blue with Powerhead written on them and I suspect they are INTERPET too. >>

I do have one final question:

I have chucked in ALOT of salt into this aquarium yet my hydrometer still only shows the salinity as being 1.020. By alot I added specifically: 1 x largest 'bag' of Instant Ocean 240ltrs + 1 large box of Instant Ocean 100ltrs and 1 bag of Kent Salt which was half the size of the Instant Ocean salt. I know the salinity needs to be more in the region of 1.024 - should I be adding more Salt ? The Hydrometer I have is solid plastic and is made by Instant Ocean.

Thanks,
Paul.

 

[Navarre]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

I would like to jump back to the UV filter if i may.. It was suggested to plumb the UV into the return flow or drainage flows. this "can" be done but be very careful. UV filters are only effective if they hve the correct amount of water flowing through them, too fast and it simply will not have enough time to kill organisms passing through the filter which renders it useless. Look closely at the packaging as it should tell you the flow rate it needs then check the flow rates of the pump that is going to work with it and make sure its the same value.


As for the hydrometer, wash it thourougly each time you use it as this can build up layers of slat and make the reading innacurate. also.. if its the swimg arm type them make sure the arm is completly free from air bublles as this also will effect it. As soon as you have the spare cash i strongly recomend the puchase of a refractometer. much more accurate.

If the hyrdometer still reads low then add more salt. if you can aim for 1.023 then even with the innacuracy of the hydrometer (they really are very innacurat.. TMC use about 100 hydrometers ech time they do a salt change and simply take an average of all the readings so i have been told). it should fall within acceptable fields for keeping marines (1.022 - 1.026)

 

[leon]

Hi torque,
Your system sounds nearly the same as mine, apart from sizes. The box in the corner is the overflow or weir, if you have what i think you have, get rid and get a durso standpipe in there, if anything goes over then it will die, with the durso, it gives you somewhere for a fish/crab to go, even if it get sucked into the durso it'll survive in the sump, so you dont have to remove all the wet filter media (which is a pain), you'll also get a little more water volume. It may take abit of modifying to get it to fit ( it took me a while, cause it wouldnt fit, so in the end i had to have a 45 degree extension to fit) but it will be cheaper, quieter, and well worth it.
leon

 

[Aquascaper]

Hi & welcome

I would just like to add that while reading your posts it seems you are using salts from various different manafacturers (Instant Ocaean & Kent). I would suggest sticking to one manafacturer as this will help you to achieve stability easier in the tank as different manafacturers salt can be slightly different with regards to the chemical makeup. Sticking to one will mean one less variable in the tank

HTH

 

[torque]

Hi Folks,

Thanks for the replies.

Since my last post my system has been up and running (and fully working!!0 for a while now. I've added several fish (which I've listed below) and a lot of liverock. The UVS was being a pain in the A* so I removed it. I'm also losing patience with the skimmer. I've had it on almost every setting possible and it either just sucks up wet foam into the collection cup which enevitably overflows and makes a puddle on the floor or if turned down the opposite way (no air flow) just sucks in water and spurts it back out at a ridiculous rate.

LIVESTOCK IN MY TANK NOW:

1 x Common Crab (soon to go as he ate my starfish )
1 x Blueleg Hermit Crab
1 x LT Malu Anemone
2 x Blue Damsel
1 x Domino Damsel
1 x Neon Blue Damsel
1 x Porcupine puffer (8 inch in size)
1 x Tassel Filefish (moved to sump tank as he is getting bullied)
1 x Moorish Idol
1 x Panther Grouper
1 x Dwarf Fuzzy Lionfish
2 x Small Voltan Lions (2 inch)


Water is testing 0ppm for everything. Salinity is now at 1.023. I'm suffering quite heavily from brown algae though

Paul.

 

[blout]

good luck with the moorish idol there alot of money for a fish that does not do well in captivity and your volitans will not stay 2" for long in fact most of your fish are going to get HUGE

 

[torque]

Thanks.

I know, I have a passion for fish that are inevitably going to get very large. I have staved off a craving for a moray eel based on the size it will get and the fact it will eat everything in my tank.

I've generally broken some of the "rules" with this tank - namely being things like it is not recommended to keep this mix of damsels due to territory but they have been fine.

The puffer is also a fish known for eating almost anything so i've been told so it may seem odd to some that I've popped one into such a varied tank. Again, he has been fine and in fact, very timid. He reminds me of my freshwater oscars with his personality.

I know that the day will come when several of the fish I have chosen will outgrow this tank and it is my intention to move them to my 8ft tank when that time comes. I'm passionate about my little guys and the last thing I want is to keep them in an environment they are going to feel claustraphobic.

I really have put a lot of money into this system and have sidelined more to make sure they have the best of the best.

cheers,
Paul.