Another JBJ 45 build!

[Doob]

So this was noticed today...

That's new dry rock, so it was spotless a week ago. The brown spots are throughout the tank. Probably cyno? I added a bottle of bio-spira, not to cycle the tank instantly as they ,I'm sure falsely, claim but just to introduce the cycling bacteria. That was Wednesday. Holding a steady 82° (also for bacteria sake).

Parameters:
NH3: 0
NO2: 0
NO3: 0
ALK: 7.5 dKH
PH: 7.5
Salinity: 34PPT (1.0256 SP)

 

[Doob]

That was a week ago Wednesday*

 

[Marktheshark83]

It looks like diatoms. Usually pops up when the cycle is complete. I would bring the ph up too

 

[Doob]

It looks like diatoms. Usually pops up when the cycle is complete. I would bring the ph up too

Ya that's what I was thinking, I'm trying not to believe that my cycle is done already, it's so young! Still haven't seen any spikes, I'll keep watching for a few weeks.

As far as ph, my 10 gallon has always had borderline/low ph. Around 7.9-8.0. I question my test kit, though it is brand new. I don't know the reason for it, regular water changes and plenty of gas exchange. It's never caused a problem so I haven't done anything to correct it. With this new tank, I went with tropic Marin pro reef, which after buying I read that it's pretty consistently low on ALK, so I wonder if that's got something to do with this tank ph being even lower. It's around 7.6 for the last couple days. Id like to find the cause and correct the reason rather than just add a buffer and treat the symptom.

In other news, I ordered an Aquamaxx hob-1 skimmer, it'll be here tomorrow. I'll also be making a screen top this weekend. Things are moving along nicely.

 

[Doob]

 

[Marktheshark83]

Yea seems the cycle was fast. Mine was about a month long. I didn't add any live rock or sand either.

 

[Doob]

Got this beast installed. This is my first protein skimmer,I have a few question for you experienced.

1) I didn't think it was necessary to run these 100% of the time. Do you? When I shut the power off, the intake siphons the water out of the skimmer, raising the water level in the back area above the ATO censor.

2) The bubbles are coming right to the top of the collection cup, not much spilling over the edge, is the goal to have more spillage, or will adjusting the height only change the consistency of the waste?

3) The water from the output adds a constant trickle to an otherwise silent setup. Is this normal, any ways to avoid this?

 

[Doob]

These diatoms are spreading like mad. It's hard to watch. [emoji17]

 

[Doob]

The skimmer is running and bubbling over like crazy. The collection cup is full of water, luckily there's a drain. I read that the aquastix epoxy I used on the rock can cause this, hell maybe that's what's feeding the diatoms too. I'm a little worried that I'll wake up to water on the floor though.

 

[Marktheshark83]

I hate skimmers. They seem to give people more trouble then they help. Why I don't answer never have used one. Anyways with the diatoms, I don't remember did u upgrade pumps or add more intank circulation?

 

[Doob]

Stock pumps, added an MP10

 

[Marktheshark83]

Hmm. How much many gallons you do for waterchanges?

 

[Second Shot]

The skimmer is running and bubbling over like crazy. The collection cup is full of water, luckily there's a drain. I read that the aquastix epoxy I used on the rock can cause this, hell maybe that's what's feeding the diatoms too. I'm a little worried that I'll wake up to water on the floor though.

The epoxy usually only remains an issue for a couple of days. Your skimmer probably just needs to break in. Not sure exactly how that skimmer works but most you lower the air intake a bit until it's not overflowing the cup. Let it break in for a week or so and then try to adjust it. When you adjust it adjust in small amounts until you start to get product in the cup. If it gets too watery back of the air a little. I would also run it all the time.

Edit: looking at the picture, on this skimmer you may be adjusting the cup not air intake? In that case raise the cup for a week or so then bring it down slowly until you get skimmate.

 

[Doob]

The epoxy usually only remains an issue for a couple of days. Your skimmer probably just needs to break in. Not sure exactly how that skimmer works but most you lower the air intake a bit until it's not overflowing the cup. Let it break in for a week or so and then try to adjust it. When you adjust it adjust in small amounts until you start to get product in the cup. If it gets too watery back of the air a little. I would also run it all the time.

Edit: looking at the picture, on this skimmer you may be adjusting the cup not air intake? In that case raise the cup for a week or so then bring it down slowly until you get skimmate.

No water changes yet.

Yea, the cup is the adjustment. If I leave it alone for a few hours, it settles down, but if I take the water out of the cup (it'll be full to the overflow tube) and replace the cup, it starts going nuts again. I'm sure it's just breaking in, but I'm dumping saltwater which is being replaced by my ato, so I'll have to watch my salinity. Luckily the tank is still empty.

I'm sure the diatoms will die off soon enough too, there's only been water in this thing for 2 weeks, I just wish they disappeared when they died, I'm going to have to get some a snorkel and toothbrush and get to scrubbing. [emoji30]

 

[BoneXriffic]

Looking good. Clean build and the stand came out great

 

[Bob Escher]

Tank dimensions are 26.5" x 21". 19" tall. Here's radion estimated light coverage, this thing puts off a lot more light than I could have imagined.

I'm not looking forward to putting the sticky mount onto the glass for my MP10, but from what I've read it is necessary and I haven't found any alternative methods, so I guess I'll have to just deal with it.

No you do not need to put the piece of rubber that came with the vortech. I added my MP 10's to the tank today and didn't need them as a matter of fact with them it was too much

 

[Doob]

Oh, no. I didn't use the spacer. I was referring to the square adhesive used as an anchor for the cord above the pump.

 

[Bob Escher]

Oh Sorry. Well you may rethink that if the balance gets out of wack and it falls. I didn't want to use it either when I was running them in my freshwater systems. But it happened a couple times ( no fish were injured in the falling of the in tank side) and I didn't waste any time putting them on.thats a expensive piece of equipment

 

[Doob]

Indeed!

Tuesday update. Brown tank is brown haha. Levels are all flat. My ALK is still low, about 7.5dkh. I think that's normal with tropic Marin's pro reef. I've starting reading about kalkwasser. Any users here with advise? I need to get a calcium test before I add anything, I know.

I plan to order a CUC from reefcleaners this weekend. Probably Monday, actually.

Edit: I also added some phosguard to one of my media baskets Sunday to help deplete silicates. I wasn't aware that the media bags supplied with the carbon in the JBJs weren't meant to be reusable. I did, just ripped it open and tied it shut, what do people normally do when refreshing carbon? (I changed out the carbon in the other side too).

 

[TheEngineer]

Really nice build!

One comment before you get too far is that you need to seat your rock all the way down to the glass. It looks like it is sitting on top of the sand. The sand can (and will) shift around and you don't want to see things come tumbling down as a result.