Eb0la11's 165G Reef Tank Build

[Eb0la11]

Alright so I've managed to cut into my error in my plumbing and have replumbed my main drain from below my gate valve down. I originally T'd off into me refugium in a bad spot and also didnt have a valve after the t to force water into the refugium. Thats done!

Now Im basically fine tuning my used skimmer, which has been a headache so far, and think Im literally real close to mixing salt and putting some LR into the DT. Ive also plumbed in an emergency emergency drain that will prevent flooding completely should power go out or whatever.

[Eb0la11]

Basically everything on my tank is now working except I cant get my stupid skimmer to stop leaking. I might be in the market for a new one. Anyone got a good skimmer than WONT LEAK, is out of sump and will be big enough for a 165G DT?

[kien]

Originally Posted by Eb0la11

Basically everything on my tank is now working except I cant get my stupid skimmer to stop leaking. I might be in the market for a new one. Anyone got a good skimmer than WONT LEAK, is out of sump and will be big enough for a 165G DT?

Where is it leaking out of, do you know? You could save yourself some money by locating the fault and trying to repair with silicon, epoxy or plumber's glue?

[Eb0la11]

Yeah Im likely to that moreso than buy a new skimmer but as of right now Im draining my tank of all the tap water I was using to test out the system and Im making up a batch of RODI. So I'm going to start my cycle while I work with this skimmer problem. I think I'll make it work one way or another. Worst case scenario I rig up some kind of trough it can sit in that flows back into the sump if I have to. Im going to move where my skimmer is too cause right now its pretty hard to get to and thats partially causing the problems.

With it moved to the right side of my stand I'll be able to fine tune it easier. I should for sure be mixing salt this weekend one way or another which is super exciting. Been a slow process for my first ever build - made a few smallish errors, but thats part of the process and I think I have a pretty kick ass first ever SW tank so we'll see how I do.

[Eb0la11]

Just wondering, once I mix the salt into my RODI water (I'll do this in the tank after its 100% full and I can get it circulating to mix nicely), should I acclimatize the 30 lbs or so of live rock I already have sitting in a tub heating/circulating?

[BlueAbyss]

If the salinity is different (and there are any hitchhikers you may want to retain), it wouldn't hurt. May not be necessary if the rock is bare.

[Eb0la11]

Ok, so when should I add my salt? Ive got the tank filled with RODI, its running. Sand has been added as it was sand from an old system that was running about a year ago and has absolutely no life in it (though probably some stuff thats gonna give a big ammonia spike which should help the cycle)

Right now I have some cloudy-ish water. Not super bad, but definitely cloudy. Im also raising the temp of the water now - aiming for 79 degrees. So should I wait until the temp is up and/or the cloudiness dissipates or should I get it in now?