250 gallon build thread

[logiktest]

I think that's an excellent idea. You may want to place a tee between the sump and QT so that you don't have to run all your water change water through the QT. Just in case your running hypo in the QT, or something gets in the display that you don't want in the QT, etc.

Between this new QT arraignment and the water change setup, your maintenance schedule is looking better all the time.

[michealprater]

The hose that runs to the QT will be vinyl. I can just move it to the sink if I do not want it to go to the QT.

Maintenance is the primary reason tanks fail or people give up on them. I wanted to engineer as much of it out of the setup as possible.

What are your thoughts on my UV question?


Page 18 baby!

[logiktest]

Originally Posted by michealprater

I change 15 gallons every 3 days. How much could it possible fluctuate? I always top off daily, and make my water change water 1.025.

Another question.

I dont support the use of UV in a DT, but in a QT I can see some value. What size UV sterilizer would I need for a 20 gallon. Considering I have seen ich in my display, it would be nice to have something on the QT to kill the free floating stuff. May save from having to use copper as much.

You'll probably want to invest in a separate hospital tank if you plan to use copper at all. I personally wouldn't want it anywhere near my reef, even if it was plumbed down stream so to speak.

[michealprater]

Well, I do have my 46 that could be setup to be a hospital in that situation. I could just fill it half way and put a sponge filter in. All 46 gallons would just be a waste of water, and the copper dose would be larger.

Do you feel the UV would be a waste running on the QT?

[logiktest]

Yeah, I think turning that 46 into a HT would be a waste because its such a nice tank...

Is this the same space your considering for a QT?:



Can you place everything on the other side of the sink? Getting the 46 out of there may help make the whole room "flow" better.

How about building a stand for the 20L just as you described, but build it to hold two 20L? Kind of like your sump/fragtank stand. One atop the other. Plumb everything downhill and use T's and ball valves to divert flow as needed. One QT, one HT... better yet, stack the tanks three high, and have two QT (I know how you get when it comes to collecting fish ).

As for the UV, I don't use them, so I don't really feel qualified to say... I don't see anything wrong with it aside from extra electrical use and maintenance. It's a QT, keep it sterile as possible, right?

[erics3000]

100 % on using your display water for QT. I have a little 30 gal tank that i use and will breaking the dust off since I want tom get another CB since mine got stuck in a rock.

I am not sure if you were planing on this or not. Just make sure your QT water doesn't go back to your display. That is the point to look at the fish observe and treat if necessary. You wouldn't want any parasites getting back into your display. Some air and water movement for your QT. If you don't have a hang on back make sure you have plenty of top off water and try and do a 10% change everyday. With 10 gallons stuff can get worse quickly. I have a little hang on back I used for my QT. I hope I can find it when I get home. Also another point get a little heater if you don't have one. I heard people painting back and sides to keep the fish calm. I don't plan on using live rock except if I get a cb i want to try and get some aptashia in my qt to see if he is eating them or just whatever I can get him to eat. A little light is good so you can see the fish and visually inspect him. I don't plan on having strong light for coral qt. I will just put them in there and treat them for parasites and such and than put them in my display after about 12-18 hours. Thats why I don't want any of that water getting back to my display.

I am there with you too on UV. I don't think I will ever use one on my display but was hoping I could find a used little one cheap somewhere just for my QT. I guess if worse case disaster my fish got sick I would just hook it right to my display not my fuge for emergency situation.

[michealprater]

Cool, lots of questions to answer. I will just copy and paste the questions and answer them one at a time.

1.Yeah, I think turning that 46 into a HT would be a waste because its such a nice tank...

It is a corner tank. It has already been used for a hospital and quarantine tank. Considering the rigors of water changes during QT, 46 gallon was just a waste.

2.Is this the same space your considering for a QT?:
Yes that will be the space, the 10 gallon was a refugium, I broke it, so refugium stuff went in sump. Made new space for the QT.

3. Can you place everything on the other side of the sink? Getting the 46 out of there may help make the whole room "flow" better.
The other side is occupied by water change system, so it is unavailable. 46 is leaving the room, will free up some space big time.

4. How about building a stand for the 20L just as you described, but build it to hold two 20L? Kind of like your sump/fragtank stand. One atop the other. Plumb everything downhill and use T's and ball valves to divert flow as needed. One QT, one HT... better yet, stack the tanks three high, and have two QT (I know how you get when it comes to collecting fish ).
Darn you and your ideas!!! Your the devil!!!

5.As for the UV, I don't use them, so I don't really feel qualified to say... I don't see anything wrong with it aside from extra electrical use and maintenance. It's a QT, keep it sterile as possible, right?
Great point, I will have to weigh the cost vs. benefit.

6.100 % on using your display water for QT. I have a little 30 gal tank that i use and will breaking the dust off since I want tom get another CB since mine got stuck in a rock.
Coral Beauty,copper band or Coral Banded? Or some other CB?

7. I am not sure if you were planing on this or not. Just make sure your QT water doesn't go back to your display.
I understand that. It will be waste water from water changes, I would never put it back in the display regardless.

8.If you don't have a hang on back make sure you have plenty of top off water and try and do a 10% change everyday. With 10 gallons stuff can get worse quickly. I have a little hang on back I used for my QT. I hope I can find it when I get home. Also another point get a little heater if you don't have one.
I have a filter, heater and top off water. Water changes will be done in conjunction with the 5% changes that are done every 3 days in the display. 5% of the display will equal a 75% change in the QT.

9.I heard people painting back and sides to keep the fish calm.
I disagree, part of the QT process is the fish adjusting to the owners presence, not possible if they cant see you.

Thanks for the participation guys!

[erics3000]

5. Cost vs. Benifit Greta point. Might be why I still don't have one.

6. Cooper Band. I lost mine a year ago and thing have got out of control.

7. I figured you were just figured couldn't hurt to make sure. I remember sometime back I had a 20 gal and was top off with mixed sw.. Big rookie mistake.

9. I agree with you 100% you want your new fish to see who is feeding them so it also helps them get acclimated. That is why I agree with the back and sides blocked but not the front. Really with out having all the data it is hard to share what we all have learned. Not having any idea where your qt is setup made me want to bring up that point. My friend had a qt in his living room by a heavy traffic area. So there was always stuff going on. His fish would never come out when I was there, even when he feed. I am going to be wiping the dust off my QT when I get back. I think it would be cool to have plenty of aptashia in there for him to start.

Keep the pics coming

[michealprater]

Here is a good time waster. All midwest regional fish stores. I was bored so I made this.

Heres what I have so far.
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en...,19.753418&z=6

[michealprater]

Picked up a nice counter top for a good price. Thought I would do a 360 degree of the fish room for you guys!

[michealprater]

Here the dude that lives in the frag tank. Picked him up then decided I dont want him in the display because I wanna get some shrimp. I may try to trade him locally for another angel.

[erics3000]

Nice..I love the sink.

[kraash]

I would like a shot of Prime reef with a vodka chaser lol! That counter top looks just like the stuff I used.

[michealprater]

Ya I am vodka dosing. It does look funny there!

[michealprater]

Regal Angel added to display 3/28/10

[michealprater]

Latest and greatest video. Features all my fish including the new regal!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8vBnCrbXr4

[michealprater]

Newly revamped QT setup!

[michealprater]

Regal #2 in QT now. Will be pairing with the other regal after QT is completed.

[CaptainFlyingFishGuts]

Originally Posted by michealprater

Newly revamped QT setup!

That's a pretty expensive shim you've got there. I like it.

[michealprater]

LOL. Thanks for pointing that out! JERK! Just kidding! I havent had time to stop by the hardware store, LOL.

[michealprater]

Originally Posted by CaptainFlyingFishGuts

That's a pretty expensive shim you've got there. I like it.

Proper shims added to the QT stand last night, thank you very much!

Any way, today is the completion of week #1 for Regal #2 in QT. He is doing well, being treated with Cupramine and Prazipro to clear up some issues he is having. Eating much better each day. I have seen him eat several types of flake, and frozen. No Nori what so ever. I have made the decition to attempt to pair the Regals in the display once #2 has completed QT. I will be video taping some of the interaction at first to share it with those of you who follow my thread. I do appreciate it and always appreciate the feedback and comments.

[michealprater]

Regal #2 passed on to the ocean in the sky on April 14th. Regal #1 is doing well. She/he has acclimated well into the display and eats anything I put in the tank. Seems fatter all the time. LOL.

As far as the build goes, I am not sure when I will have the jack to do anything else new. The items I really need to consider next are.

Cabinet doors for front tank access

Trim on the front of the display

prehung door for the fish room.

calcium reactor setup

paint outside of fish room.

As soon as all that is done, I will basically be done with all the major stuff on the tank, and I will start on the rest of the basement. The rest of the basement will feature a wet bar and a 100"+ screen TV provided by a projection system. I figure I will have it all done within 5 yrs or so.

[michealprater]

Dont know if I have listed it in awhile. Here is the current fish list.
In the Display.
Blueface Angel
Regal Angel
Majestic Angel
Flameback Angel
Coral Beauty Angel
Regal Tang
Purple Tang
Yellow Tang
Naso Tang
Cleaner Wrasse

In the frag tank
Ocellaris Clownfish
Harlequin Tuskfish (This guy is supposedly sold, not sure when they will come get it)

Fish I plan on adding.
Emporer Angel
Flame Angel
Potters Angel(if I ever find an eating specimen, will have to add at same time as Flame)
Powder Blue Tang
Achilles Tang (if I ever find an eating specimen, will have to add at same time as PBT)
Possibly a group of royal grammas or neon gobies.
May add some cleaner, fire and harlequin shrimp also.
I will always be adding new sps frags.

Thats about it for now.

[NexDog]

You posted on the 10th that teh regal was doing well, how fast did it decline and what finished it off?

You going to put the Blueface in a coral tank? I want to but hear they generally eat everything....

[michealprater]

The blueface has been in there for months, I am not sure exactly when he went in, but if you read the thread, it is in there somewhere. He likes some LPS and some Zoas, but I have never had any issues with SPS with any of my angels other than the occational nip.

As far as the regal, you guess is as good as mine. I believe it was lymphocystis that developed a secondary infection, and the infection took the fish when I did not get antibiotic treatment in time, but I am far from an expert in fish disease.