20g Nano Setup

[Krish]

You are making me jealous Brandon...Just kidding. Looks geat! Keep the pictures coming and good luck on the rest of your progress.

 

[Porkfat]

Update here!

Thanks for the friendly encouragement Here's a bit about what's going on atm.

Have everything in the tank and started cycling. All the live rock is in the tank and the sump below. Decided to use different sand then the old tank because it was too fine in the old one and kicked up a storm with the increased flow.

I’ve been having some temperature issues so I added a few fans, two to the sump (in/out) and one to help cool the motor.

The one for the pump was a little interesting. I had to fit a flat heat-sink on the round surface of the motor, so I used a dremel tool to carve a rounded edge into the aluminum to increase the contact area and covered it with heat-sink compound.

I'm hoping this will work so that I don't have to buy a chiller as I'm pretty broke atm.

Got a new RO/DI too!

Few Shots of the tank, Hopefully the cycle will be quick

~Brandon

 

[Porkfat]

Quick question.

I have a Poseidon PS1External Pump, I really love it because it's powerful and quiet. I do have one problem though, when I run it at full power it's super noisy because of the constant bubbling from the sump and the draining noise from the overflow.

I tried the durso I made and the stockman as well both make about the same amount of noise. I tried adjusting the amount of air that can go into it with both as well as changing the height around a bit (only a couple of inches possible), none of it helps when I run 450+ gph down a 1" drain. So I cut it about in half with the ball valve I have in line. It sounds 1/2 as loud but it's still audible in my room esp. when I sleep.

Is this bad for my pump?

Any suggestions about how I could reduce the sound?

Help please!

~Brandon

 

[Krish]

Brandon, the tank is looking good! Good job on everything so far...

 

[Al G.]

http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dar/library/coral_liverock.htm

Yo Porkfat, Check out the link on Hawaii's live rock/corals laws.
I wish I hadn't read that you were chiseling out rock. That's what the laws are trying to prevent, damage to the ocean's reef. Ouch!

One way to do a reef tank legally in Hawaii, would have been collecting dried up rocks that washed up on the beach and then seeding the tank with the Molokai'i live rock(I know that rock is not the greatest) sold at Coral Fish Hawaii.

On a sidenote there is a store in Halawa valley that sells corals "In the back."

Nice setup, just don't get caught dude.
Todd

 

[Porkfat]

Heh, ya honestly I didn't think that there were any laws about live rock till people on the forums asked. I mean jeebus, it's a freak'n dump >< I knew about corals and that there are restrictions to that, but ahh well, what's done is done and I figure the best thing I can do now is to respect what I have taken and return it after I am through.

I'm a student too and I know that there are permits available for research. I'm an avid biologist and I have nothing but respect for those laws and the people that protect our marine environments. I think I'll talk to my marine bio prof to see what the rules are if I participate in some 499+ research, heck I'll learn something and maybe I'll be able to keep the samples

Worse comes to worst, I'll keep non-stony corals that aren’t covered under these restrictions or keep inverts like I have been, maybe an anemone. Another thing too is that these laws only encompass Hawaiian species and focus on gathering not keeping. I wouldn't be opposed to a species of coral/invert that isn't a restricted species or obtaining a tonga/figi/indo-pacific species that is also found in our waters. I highly doubt that there would be any problem there.

 

[Al G.]

http://www.hawaiiag.org/hdoa/pi_pq_lists.htm

Link to Hawaii Plant Quarantine - list of restricted and approved animals - .pdf
All corals fall under the Restricted animals "For Research and Exhibition" or Restricted animals "For Private and Commercial Use" List

 

[Porkfat]

http://www.hawaiiag.org/hdoa/pi_pq_lists.htm

Link to Hawaii Plant Quarantine - list of restricted and approved animals - .pdf
All corals fall under the Restricted animals "For Research and Exhibition" or Restricted animals "For Private and Commercial Use" List

Yep, I realize this and I DO know that it was improper the way in which I took the rock but, it and the associated by-laws are far from spacific and it does not account for several things.

"It is unlawful to take, break or damage, any implement, any rock or coral to which marine life of any type is visibly attached. HAR 13-95-71"

Ok, taking coral is not allowed here and neither is

"The sale of all species of stony corals which are native to the Hawaiian Islands is prohibited. HAR 13-95-70"

(I never intended to buy any of this and it may also cover importation) But,

"The taking of sand, coral rubble or other marine deposits is permitted in certain circumstances. The material may not exceed one gallon per person per day, and may be taken only for personal, noncommercial purposes. HRS §171-58.5, §205A-44"

I take far under one gallon per day, and I would never sell or otherwise disrespect anything rock, live, or otherwise in my care.

There are also other creatures such as feather dusters that are affixed and somewhat stony, but are commonly available commercially and are exported from the state.

I also read on a web site of a University of Hawaii Professor that is also not permitted to obtain animals of any sort from the mainland (or internationally) without some or impossible difficulty (some permits take years), this is likely so because there is no guarantee that the imported animals even if found in Hawaii do not also harbor harmful ones as well. (so no premiumaquatics fish friends for me) Live and learn I suppose.

Regardless of how this is, there are only regional, size, or seasonal restrictions on fishes and inverts found in non-protected areas (there are few exceptions). If anything I'll stick to that. I know that the anemone Heteractis malu (Delicate, Sebae, or Sand Anemone) is found in our waters, it is not protected, endangered, or restricted.

I suppose in the end my outlook on my aquarium will just have to evolve into what is permitted in my state. I have no problem with that what so ever. I take this as a challenge to learn and expand my horizons, that is what life is about after all, and this is the final word I have to say on this matter.

 

[morgan]

dont know if anyone said but u shouldnt of put ur aquarium fish back in the ocean should of taken them to the lfs not good practice to return fish to the ocean escpecally if they were captive breed or any an area they are not local to nice looking nano love the nano have to get my own going but more simple

 

[Porkfat]

I didn't think anyone looked at this thread anymore :eek2:

Regardless any fish or animals that have ever entered my tank have been caught by my own hand. Sometimes it isn't pretty; I've caught some inappropriately large fish for my tanks. I usually keep them for a short period of time and release them to the area that I caught them at.

So in regards to your comment, there is no lfs to take them back to, unless you count the ocean in which case that’s exactly where they went.