Tswifty's Custom 40g Rimless Build Thread

[Taqpol]

Originally posted by 2frosty4u
...I shake more than a puppy pooping peach pits...

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by Tswifty
I've seen a few threads regarding how to clean filter socks popping up lately, so I figured I would document how I clean mine.

I use the washing machine, and before I start, run a rinse cycle to clear out any soap residue that may have been left over from prior use... after that, I'm ready to get down to business:

Turn dirty filter socks inside out:


.

I soak these in a 5 gal pail with concentrated bleach for about a week before I "dare' put them in our washing machine

If I ever got caught putting those raw like that in our machine that would be the end of my harmonous and tolerant relationship with my wife and my hobby.

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by Kdocimo90
JEESH how do your filter socks get so dirty? How often do you clean them?

who said they were his filter socks

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by 2frosty4u
I shake more than a puppy pooping peach pits

Thought about Dancing with the Stars

[Tswifty]

Originally posted by 2frosty4u
Awsome pics as usuall TJ. Are your pics in a shared album on Photobucket or are they locked?
Hows that Canon A520 for image stabilization? When I take pictures I shake more than a puppy pooping peach pits and need a new inexpensive camera that will help compensate.

Thanks Harold. I think my album is locked.

As far as stabilization, I'm not really sure? Since I don't have a tripod, I try to use 2 hands, and rest either the camera or one of my arms against something to stabilize it. Then I snap the picture right after I begin to exhale.... Funny right...??? I don't know how much it helps, but it's a breathing technique I was taught when learning how to shoot a rifle.

Originally posted by OwNeD162
I will gladly become the new owner of those chalice's for you TJ

Too bad you're out of the country, or I would hook you up Mitchell.

Originally posted by capn_hylinur
I soak these in a 5 gal pail with concentrated bleach for about a week before I "dare' put them in our washing machine

If I ever got caught putting those raw like that in our machine that would be the end of my harmonous and tolerant relationship with my wife and my hobby.

Eh... what they don't know won't hurt 'em.

I don't see how it's any different then putting muddy towels in there.








^^^
(says the single guy, right)

[LAK]

Thats hilarious.

[2frosty4u]

Originally posted by Tswifty


Eh... what they don't know won't hurt 'em.

I don't see how it's any different then putting muddy towels in there.



^^^
(says the single guy, right)

I agree 110%
Filter sock washing day is the only time I ever touch the washing machine. They go in the same dirty color and then they come the same clean color.........clothes on the other hand......what do you mean you cant wash whites and colors at the same time....lol

[H.Veras]

hey Tj i'm probably going to baltimore MD next month for a national futsal championship... so i was wondering if you know good LFS around there... thx...

[Tswifty]

Originally posted by H.Veras
hey Tj i'm probably going to baltimore MD next month for a national futsal championship... so i was wondering if you know good LFS around there... thx...

I'm not from Maryland, but these guys may be able to help you out:

http://www.wamas.org/forums/index.php?autocom=home

Also, The National Aquarium is located in Baltimore:

http://www.aqua.org/

[Tswifty]

As far as tank news goes...

- Starting to notice a definite increase in bubble algae. Not sure why.
- Palys are not liking the increase in lighting, but all the other corals are LOVING it... even the chalices seem to be looking better.
- Performed a 15g water change today with buffered IO... Levels of the new water were 1.026, 440 ppm, 12.2 dKH, 1350 ppm.
- VorTech MP40w is getting a vinegar bath tonight

[Tswifty]

When cleaning the VorTech, I think I figured out what they did to silence the pump when I sent it in. On the wet side assembly, the plastic extension from the propeller was lengthened, and the drive shaft is now much smaller.

Before the drive shaft, which slipped into the ceramic bearing was much longer. You can see the original way the wet side assembly looked before I sent it in below:



Here is what it looks like now, you can see the shortened drive shaft:

[Tswifty]

Also, if anyone isn't familiar with how I clean my pumps and powerheads, here are a few pics:

I use white distilled vinegar and a small tank.

No large bottles were available, so I had to use smaller ones.



I usually clean them in 100% vinegar solution, but since I picked up smaller bottles, I added water to fill up the rest of the tank.



Let it mix for a few hours, with the pump on low. Then I scrub it with a toothbrush to get in between the grates, and any tougher coraline encrusted areas clean. Rinse and dry off... then pop it back in the tank.



Before:



After (forgot to take a pic when it was outside the tank):

[melev]

Nice job. Whenever I pull the wetside off for cleaning, I clean that circle off the inside of the tank.

[Tswifty]

Thanks... Yeah I was going to clean that off, but I couldn't find my plastic razor blades for the acrylic anywhere... LOVE the acrylic.

I'm planning on moving my VorTech up a bit higher in the tank... so I'll pick up some blades, then clean it off when I do that.

[Tswifty]

Also, an RBTA decision HAS to be made. I noticed last night when it was retracted, that it has killed away a small portion on the top of my Steel Blue Chalice.

So I may relocate the Steel Blue Chalice for the time being... which stinks, because it's obviously very happy where it is. Then figure out a plan of attack on how to remove the RBTA.

For those who follow Laura's thread as well... depending on what happens with her tank over the next few weeks... if it ends up here, then I may turn it into an RBTA/Clownfish tank. I really don't want to get rid of the RBTA since it is SO BRIGHT... but there is just nowhere safe for it in the current tank.

[maroun.c]

Nice pics of the MP40.
Now is it perfectly safe to open it up for cleaning ? or should one only dip it in vinegar and brush it?
Also are those shorter shafts shipping with new wet assemblies or are they only installed on louder units that get sent in for service?

[OwNeD162]

Originally posted by Tswifty
Also, an RBTA decision HAS to be made. I noticed last night when it was retracted, that it has killed away a small portion on the top of my Steel Blue Chalice.

So I may relocate the Steel Blue Chalice for the time being... which stinks, because it's obviously very happy where it is. Then figure out a plan of attack on how to remove the RBTA.

For those who follow Laura's thread as well... depending on what happens with her tank over the next few weeks... if it ends up here, then I may turn it into an RBTA/Clownfish tank. I really don't want to get rid of the RBTA since it is SO BRIGHT... but there is just nowhere safe for it in the current tank.

Setting up an RBTA/Clownfish tank sounds awesome !
It would be so cool to see those two tanks sitting side by side !

[Tswifty]

Originally posted by maroun.c
Nice pics of the MP40.
Now is it perfectly safe to open it up for cleaning ? or should one only dip it in vinegar and brush it?
Also are those shorter shafts shipping with new wet assemblies or are they only installed on louder units that get sent in for service?

I opened up the wet side when I was cleaning, and cleaned all the individual parts. There's a nice tutorial video on EcoTech Marine's website which shows you how to disassemble and reassemble the pump.

As far as the new shafts... I don't know if it's a new change in the pump or not. I would contact EcoTech Marine and ask... they would be able to provide better information.

Originally posted by OwNeD162
Setting up an RBTA/Clownfish tank sounds awesome !
It would be so cool to see those two tanks sitting side by side !

Yeah we'll see what happens. Like I mentioned, I really like the RBTA and would rather not get rid of it completely.

[2farNorth]

I got a pair of Vortechs in March, and they came with the short shafts. The way I understand it this is the new version.....

Not sure if it was a good move going with the short shaft, but I seem to go through bearings/shafts like crazy, at least once a month I need to install new ones.........

You'll have to keep us informed on how they work out!!

[jamierk]

Your supply of awesome corals never ceases to amaze! Its so hard to find variety and quality like that over here in Oz.

Keep up the good work

Jamie

[BigJay]

Originally posted by Tswifty
As far as tank news goes...

- Starting to notice a definite increase in bubble algae. Not sure why.
- Palys are not liking the increase in lighting, but all the other corals are LOVING it... even the chalices seem to be looking better.
- Performed a 15g water change today with buffered IO... Levels of the new water were 1.026, 440 ppm, 12.2 dKH, 1350 ppm.
- VorTech MP40w is getting a vinegar bath tonight

I hate bubble algae too. It's capable of sequestering its own nutrients inside of the bubble, so water changes and skimming won't necessarily starve it. I've just stepped up manual removal to every week rather than once per month.

[Tswifty]

Originally posted by 2farNorth
I got a pair of Vortechs in March, and they came with the short shafts. The way I understand it this is the new version.....

Not sure if it was a good move going with the short shaft, but I seem to go through bearings/shafts like crazy, at least once a month I need to install new ones.........

You'll have to keep us informed on how they work out!!

Interesting... I forget when I sent them in to get looked at... I think it was in March or April... I haven't had any problems since.

Originally posted by jamierk
Your supply of awesome corals never ceases to amaze! Its so hard to find variety and quality like that over here in Oz.

Keep up the good work

Jamie

Thank you, all my colored sticks seem to really be responding well to the lighting upgrade, but my Palythoas look like they are suffering (especially my VDM's and now my Nightmare's), so I'm going to need to do some rearranging in the tank tomorrow.

Also, my Blue Hornets, have slowly but surely been melting away little by little. I have about half of my original colony left now, and am considering pulling them out of the tank completely. Laura's frag also melted away.

Originally posted by BigJay
I hate bubble algae too. It's capable of sequestering its own nutrients inside of the bubble, so water changes and skimming won't necessarily starve it. I've just stepped up manual removal to every week rather than once per month.

Yeah that's what I've been doing... just a major PITA. I've also got some short red nuisance algae as well creeping up in a few areas.

[Tswifty]

Noticed something odd yesterday when feeding the tank. One of my Bangaii Cardinals was hanging near the surface of the water, and was ripped up pretty bad.

Not sure what happened, but sure enough... didn't make it through the night.





Quick shot of my ORA Bird's of Paradise:





Also, in an effort to help out my Palythoas... which have been slowly but surely declining in appearance since I upped the lighting. I rearranged the tank a little to make a Paly corner, down on the sand bed in the lower left side of the tank. Hopefully the lighting won't be as intense, and they will go back to flourishing again. So here's a quick FTS to show the current status:

[Bill14]

Sorry about the cardinal.

Nice Birds of Paradise. I just picked up one myself, but yours looks much nicer.

[OwNeD162]

Sorry to hear about the cardinal too TJ
I just picked one up myself yesterday
But he won't come out of the back corner of the tank during the day... At night he will, but as soon as the lights come on here's back there... I know its early days, but any suggestions?