Jiddy's 220g MASTERPIECE!

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bradreef said:
with the rock I would look at either using pvc racks under it or drilling and using acrylic rod to hold them together. That way you can make crazy shapes and allow more flow through the tank. looking good ..
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Like making little shelves? Does anyone have a picture or can explain?

-Jidz
 
Beeba said:
Good luck! When my husband and I work together on the rock we never agree. He is a little less CREATIVE than I am. :)
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I know what you mean :badgrin:

Thanks for the hiz-elp too!

-Jidz
 
Its just a pain in the ass to mess with all this little rock, why would i have just gotten nice big pieces (boo-hoo)
 
Another option is to take it out of the tank and let it dry. Then try to take some of these small pieces and create what you want and then put it in the tank. I'm sure you could work with it better if it were out and dry.
 
I was curious if i could put the rock up against my back wall or if i should keep some distance away from it for cleanin purposes
 
Yes. You could glue, zip tie, or use rods and fix several pieces together so when you put it in the tank it is more like one piece instead of several small pieces. This could give you more open spaces in your tank. I have a some of mine against the back wall but if you can avoid it then it would make life easier because as soon as you build it up you will have something fall down in the back or something will die back there and you will have to dig it out.
 
i've got the rock in my tank touching the back in a couple of spots. what i've figured out is that leaning the rock against the back wall creates cleaning problems as well as water flow problems. but as long as you don't go too crazy with it, it shouldn't break the glass, if that's your concern.
 
Im just goin to leave it the way it is for now and turn the rock pyramid into a zoo frag heaven, use that money for nicer hand-picked pieces.

Questions:

1. Since i dont have LR, how should i get my cycle started?

2. How do i connect my 1" PVC CL manifold to the MAG12 pump physically?

3. Should i buy some garf junk or similar item to seed the tank?

4. What month it is?

I will be buyin a few small pieces of LR from my LFS to help the coraline spread, and im the sucker who bought purple up, so ill tell you if that works

-Jidzo
 
1. The easiest way would be to buy a small amount of uncured rock. Just let it cure in the tank and that will get your cycle going. Dead sea creatures rotting in the tank is always the best way to cycle.

2. If memory serves (doesn't always) the Mag 12 uses a male 3/4" outlet. You should be able to get an adapter at the hardware store that reduces 1" pipe to 3/4". Depending on availability you might have to use a 3/4" female threaded to 3/4" female slip; then get an adapter from 3/4 to 1" slip.

3. Uncured rock will seed the tank with everything you want (and don't want for that matter).

4. It's late, that's all I know.

Clayton
 
I agree with Clayton - you can buy a small amount of uncured rock for the seeding and also to kick start the cycle.

You can also stick some raw shrimp from the grocery store and stick it in the end of a leg of panty hose. As the shrimp begin to decay they will fuel the cycle process. When they start to look gross, simply pull the panty hose out of the tank and throw away.
 
awesome, now let me go take a pic of my manifold so i can ask some real questions!

Thanks for the help you to!
 
Heres my CL manifold questions:

1. What should i use to connect the manifold to the pump, can you use a hose material or is PVC better?

2. Should i put the pumps in the stand or build i shelf for them to sit on?

3. See any obvious flaws in the design thusfar?

TIA
 
Pictures:

1. PVC CL Manifold, will sit inside the trim of tank, barely noticeable

2. This part will be drilled with holes and will be pump intake.

3. This is a side shot for you picture lovers!

-Jidzo
 
I used the shrimp method and worked well. Make sure you use the pantyhose! No one told that part and shrimp melted away into my main tank! Diatom in full bloom. I imagine this was due to the shrimp. Cooked shrimp work as well.

I was told not to skim during the cycle until I started to see nitrites. Not sure how good this advise was, it took eight weeks for my 100 gal tank.
 
Hey Jidz Just something I have finally learned after much hassle. Make sure that a clenched fist can fit between the rock and the glass all the way around the tank. Why you ask. When your kick butt new frag is broken off by a fish it always falls where it cant be got, when you just need a extra 1/4" to get that stinkin one spot of algae, you already have it. When your feather duster gets pulled loose by a stinking bicolor angel that will not be captured for anything. you can reach it. Its kinda nice. Just thought I would throw that out for you there. LOL Steve
 
That makes way too much sense Steve; he's supposed to learn these things the hard way, lol

As for hose or hard pipe; I've always preferred hard pipes. Flexible hose gets brittle with age, and it happens really fast in saltwater. Sometimes you'll have a hard time finding high-quality stainless hose clamps too. Most lower-grade stainless will rust away quick in saltwater. Pipe is durable, doesn't breakdown, and is easy to work with. Let the glue cure for a couple hours and you're good to go. Just don't glue any fittings with threads.

The shrimp method does work, but in my opinion it's not an ideal fix. You have to keep shrimp in the tank completely through the cycle until you begin adding livestock; or else the ammonia level will drop off and starve the bacteria. Curing rock provides a steady supply of ammonia that will last through the cycle. When the curing process is done so is the cycle. As I said before, it will also give your tank a huge array of life as well; more so than precured rock will give.

You can run your skimmer through the cycle if you want. The argument against it is you're removing wastes that will breakdown and supply ammonia to your bacteria. While this is technically true, there's bound to be more than enough junk breaking down to feed your rock. Skimming will make the water more tolerable to live around and can help eliminate phosphates before they become a nuisance and start an algae bloom.

Clayton
 
Your CL looks good, drill some holes in the suction & glue hard PVC to the pump, there you can use a threaded fitting but remember to add ball valves on the loop, you will need them from time to time, also a half-union ball valve in the right place is even better in case you need to take things apart. You can put the pump on a little stand directly behind the tank to free up space underneath, it isn't necessary though as head pressure loss on a CL is minimal, so man get that water moving.
 
First let me say, WELCOME BACK Scooter! I knew you missed the circus (this thread) and thank you for the help on the design. I will be puttin water in it very soon, but i am currently playin war and workin 12hr days, so i have no time since i have to SLEEP. But soon enough i will have time again!

And Steve thanks for the info, i will just keep the rock the way it is for now, i will be buyin some LR to seed anyways, but i will just keep the rock off the wall for good anyways, I can barely reach the bottom of the tank anyways, and im a pretty long-armed guy!

Thanks Guys, and if you see MOJO tell him to stop by!

-Jid Jid
 
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