Be careful with that auto feeder, you don't want to add too many nutrients to the system.
Specifically, if the Auto Feeder deposits food mainly on the surface, then an overflow may draw all the food to the sump (when you get one) where it may collect and decompose. The best practice is to turn off the sump's return pump when feeding.
Likewise, it may be advisable to turn off your skimmer & filter for 15 minutes when you feed, so the food doesn't get sucked up in either...
Be careful with that auto feeder, you don't want to add too many nutrients to the system.
Thanks!
I have it set to the lowest setting and I have already tested it out. it seems to work fine, but I will keep a look our for the change in nutrients.
The feeder is positioned right near a powerhead, so it blows the flake food across the tank. I have tested it and I am pretty comportable with it's use.
I purchased the chromis, feeder and "cleanup" crew at Vivid in Canoga park. really nice store and I probabl will be purchasing corals from them eventually. They are well worth the hour drive.
purchased the chromis, feeder and "cleanup" crew at Vivid in Canoga park. really nice store and I probabl will be purchasing corals from them eventually. They are well worth the hour drive.
John
I was just there last weekend...Their LR prices seem to be a bit more expensive than I remember. I hope the prices aren't raised to pay for that fancy 800g DT they are installing.
Regardless, Vivid has the nicest (and biggest and cleanest) frag tank and coral specimens I have seen in L.A. Their invert selection is pretty nice as well. Fish and dry goods inventory is somewhat limited, however.
I have it set to the lowest setting and I have already tested it out. it seems to work fine, but I will keep a look our for the change in nutrients.
The feeder is positioned right near a powerhead, so it blows the flake food across the tank. I have tested it and I am pretty comportable with it's use.
There is the danger of food getting sucked right out of the tank and into the sump, and increasing nutrients in this way. But what I was thinking was that you will now be feeding more; more in means more out; more out means more nutrients. We all have different philosophies about how often to feed. Some successful reef keepers feed every other day, some feed a couple times each day. I personally believe that far more fish die form the effects of overfeeding than from starvation.
There is the danger of food getting sucked right out of the tank and into the sump, and increasing nutrients in this way. But what I was thinking was that you will now be feeding more; more in means more out; more out means more nutrients. We all have different philosophies about how often to feed. Some successful reef keepers feed every other day, some feed a couple times each day. I personally believe that far more fish die form the effects of overfeeding than from starvation.
I used to feed once a day as well, but i have read that chromis are constantly searching for food as their metabolisms are quite high. Is this incorrect? I have been told by a couple of LFS that chromis are often underfed.
And, as far as all the books and websites that say chromis are "shy and peaceful" HAHA.
These 3 are maniacs. Its fun casue it really added a lot of lilke to the tank, but man are they crazy. Maybe they are still sorting out their place in the world.
I don't know if their metabolism is any different than any other fish's. Chromis viridis, Blue green damselfish: aquarium says they are plankton feeders. I think that most all fish are constantly searching for food. On the reef they are never sure where their next meal will come from and have to get it while the getting is good. I do know that sometimes the LFS is not all the knowledgeable. I have a single chromis that came with my nano. I feed every day and sometimes every other day and he looks nice and fat. He loves Cyclopeze and I guess this goes along with bring a planktivore.
So I am putting together the recipe for my sump. Its pretty basic really, but I would like you all to review it before I start buying things.
I am going to use the CPR CS90 overflow box. This is rated to 600gph. I will use an air pump to secure that I do not lose siphon. I will use 1 flex tube to drain directly into an Aquamedic T1000 skimmer. I have been pretty happy with the performance of my Remora, which I believe is a venturi style skimmer, but the needle wheel makes a lot of sense in my head, so I will try the Aquamed. I have heard good things about it and I like the idea of draining all the water directly to the skimmer. Also, there is a small slot for a foam bubble catcher at the output of the skimmer, but I think that I can replace the foam with a small media bag filled with carbon.
The tank will most likely be a 29g tall. I believe the dims are 30 x 12 x ?? High, but this should give me enough height to have approx 20g of water plus enough height to catch and overflow in the event of a power out.
I am going to use a MAG 7 for my return pump. I figure, I have a 17 tank and a 30 tall stand, but the pump will be suction cupped ½ up the waterline, just in case I lose siphon. So I am figuring a return head of approx 3. Now I have heard that you need to add approx 12 for every 90 bend in the line. I am using a return U tube that has 3 90deg bends, so I need to add about 3 feet to my head, which gives me a total of 6. The MAG 7 is rated at 420 ghp at 5 and 400 6.
The sump itself will be filled with live rock rubble.
I am not sure that I understand why you want to suction cup it 1/2 way up in case you loose siphon. But, I don't think I would trust suction cups on a biggish pump like that.
I am not sure that I understand why you want to suction cup it 1/2 way up in case you loose siphon. But, I don't think I would trust suction cups on a biggish pump like that.
I was just thinking that is for some reason I lost siohon in the overflo box, I coudl minimize the flood on the display tank by not placing the tankl at the bottom of the sump.
I have never used an overflow box. I understand that the air pump should make sure that siphon doesn't break, but just in case.
Do you think that it is best that I secure the pump at the bottom on the sump? The mag will be used submerged and not in line.
OK. I guess that makes sense. If you are going to do this I think I would use something besides suction cups. They are notorious for letting go and dropping things. There are acrylic holders that can be made or bought and Bobby, lReeflKeeper, glues his pumps to MagFloats. My tank is drilled so every thing is kind of in balance. As long as I don't overfill the system if the power goes out my sump won't flood. BTW, make sure you drill siphon break holes to avoid flooding in power failures. My pumps are in the bottom of the sump and just lay there.
i haven't update my own thread in a while. I guess cause everything is runnung smoothly. Livestock is settled down with
1-perulca
3 - green reef chromis
1 - blue yellowtail Damsel.
Tank parameters are perfect, including phosphate, which is strange cause I have been fighting a winning battle agains a small outbreak of cyno, but I think that it is mostly a flow problem as the cyno is only on the sandbed and only at the very far front corners of the tank. I have a new PH on order and it should arrive tomorrow.
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