Erin O's 75G Build

crusso1993 · Mar 5, 2020

Erin O said:
AND, he's from Nebraska! He has so many strikes against him ;Hilarious

Give him a little credit. I mean, I bet he makes a mean corn on the cob!

Erin O · Mar 5, 2020

crusso1993 said:
Give him a little credit. I mean, I bet he makes a mean corn on the cob!

Lol! Nah, he isn't in the habit of cooking anything. However, that may change, since he decided that I need a job to support my habits. If I have to work evenings, dinner will be up to him. Scary thought! My kids are going to turn into fast food junkies

Hmmm, maybe the crock pot will start getting used more regularly

Erin O · Mar 7, 2020

@crusso1993, it looks like he likes the FW sump idea lol. He's redoing the design for the stand to accommodate one and trying to decide what would be the best size of sump for our tank. It'll be a DIY, so I'm sure he'll start looking up how to put one together soon ;Smuggrin

sfin52 · Mar 7, 2020

Erin O said:
@crusso1993, it looks like he likes the FW sump idea lol. He's redoing the design for the stand to accommodate one and trying to decide what would be the best size of sump for our tank. It'll be a DIY, so I'm sure he'll start looking up how to put one together soon ;Smuggrin

One step closer to the 125 becoming a sw

crusso1993 · Mar 7, 2020

Erin O said:
@crusso1993, it looks like he likes the FW sump idea lol. He's redoing the design for the stand to accommodate one and trying to decide what would be the best size of sump for our tank. It'll be a DIY, so I'm sure he'll start looking up how to put one together soon ;Smuggrin

sfin52 said:
One step closer to the 125 becoming a sw

I'm telling you, right now, he will regret it if the 125 isn't a reef!

Erin O · Mar 11, 2020

I think that I'm going to shuffle some fish around this weekend and get the 29g cleaned up and ready to go because I'm tired of waiting. The tentative plan was to get started on the stands this weekend, but my F-i-L's sister-in-law died, so they're going to be out of town for the funeral, and I have Influenza B, strep throat, ear infection, and pneumonia to deal with in my house right now (not me, yet, thankfully, but I'm sure its just a matter of time). I was talking with @DownSouthBandit, and we had discussed going bare bottom in the 29. Then, once its fairly well established, getting some gsp and setting it to grow on the floor of the tank. I know that I want sand in the 75, so I thought this might be a fun way to set the two tanks apart, looks-wise. What does everyone else think?

Erin O · Mar 15, 2020

Ok all, I've got the babies moved out of the 29 and into the 75. What would you suggest to get the tank cleaned up? How about the canister?

Erin O · Mar 16, 2020

Coral that "branches" tend to be SPS, right?

JoshH · Mar 16, 2020

Erin O said:
Coral that "branches" tend to be SPS, right?

You're correct

As for your ATO questions earlier, I have a Tunze 3155 and I'll never have another tank without one. Had it for 4 years now and it's performed flawlessly.

Erin O · Mar 16, 2020

JoshH said:
You're correct As for your ATO questions earlier, I have a Tunze 3155 and I'll never have another tank without one. Had it for 4 years now and it's performed flawlessly.

Thank you! What is the maintenance like with this one? Is it as simple as wiping the eye sensor clean every time you add water to it? How about the backup float sensor? Does that need anything special to keep it functioning properly?

I think I've seen branching dry rock. Could I use that instead of the branching SPS for a clown goby?

JoshH · Mar 16, 2020

Erin O said:
What is the maintenance like with this one? Is it as simple as wiping the eye sensor clean every time you add water to it? How about the backup float sensor? Does that need anything special to keep it functioning properly?

I've performed 0 maintenance on mine over the last 4 years, I did give it a bath in hydrogen peroxide and scrubbed it when I swapped Nuvo 10's but that was to kill off any potential Aptasia hitchhikers. You don't want to wipe down the optical sensor once it has a flim coating on it. IME When you first set it up it can be a little all over the place with overfilling till the float sensor trips the shut off. It's pretty common and it seems once a film develops over the optical sensor the issue goes away. To avoid this, before setting it up you can toss the optical sensor in your tank for a week or two first and let the film develop. Then set it up afterwards

I have no experience with gobies so I can't be of much help there unfortunately

Erin O · Mar 16, 2020

JoshH said:
I've performed 0 maintenance on mine over the last 4 years, I did give it a bath in hydrogen peroxide and scrubbed it when I swapped Nuvo 10's but that was to kill off any potential Aptasia hitchhikers. You don't want to wipe down the optical sensor once it has a flim coating on it. IME When you first set it up it can be a little all over the place with overfilling till the float sensor trips the shut off. It's pretty common and it seems once a film develops over the optical sensor the issue goes away. To avoid this, before setting it up you can toss the optical sensor in your tank for a week or two first and let the film develop. Then set it up afterwards

I have no experience with gobies so I can't be of much help there unfortunately

Thank you for the info

Erin O · Apr 6, 2020

Hey guys! It's been a while, at least for this thread. I have read that when I'm placing my rock, I'll want to put it directly on the glass to prevent tipping if any of my critters try to dig underneath. Would I be able to place slate under the rock to prevent scratching the glass? Or are scratches not really a concern? With everything that's been going on, I'm just now getting the 29g and it's canister cleaned. Right now, I'm using vinegar (running the canister just as if I had the tank stocked) and I hope to switch to bleach solution tomorrow or Wednesday. I'll probably get my rock, sand and water Thursday or Friday, and start setting everything up this weekend. I've been putting off getting the rock and stuff because of the virus, but I think that getting the tank started will give my family a little excitement and something to look forward to. This will also give me some experience, so when the 75g FINALLY get set up, I'll have more confidence. I guess that's a good thing, right? Lol. Even though It's so frustrating having to wait!

Why-Me · Apr 6, 2020

Erin O said:
Hey guys! It's been a while, at least for this thread. I have read that when I'm placing my rock, I'll want to put it directly on the glass to prevent tipping if any of my critters try to dig underneath. Would I be able to place slate under the rock to prevent scratching the glass? Or are scratches not really a concern? With everything that's been going on, I'm just now getting the 29g and it's canister cleaned. Right now, I'm using vinegar (running the canister just as if I had the tank stocked) and I hope to switch to bleach solution tomorrow or Wednesday. I'll probably get my rock, sand and water Thursday or Friday, and start setting everything up this weekend. I've been putting off getting the rock and stuff because of the virus, but I think that getting the tank started will give my family a little excitement and something to look forward to. This will also give me some experience, so when the 75g FINALLY get set up, I'll have more confidence. I guess that's a good thing, right? Lol. Even though It's so frustrating having to wait!

Scratches aren't much of a concern and adding a false bottom will just add space for detritus and stuff to build up where you won't be able to get it out again without removal of the entire scape.
I'd just set it on the glass, you won't see any scratches as the sand will cover that up.
Also practice is definitely a good thing!

Erin O · Apr 6, 2020

Why-Me said:
Scratches aren't much of a concern and adding a false bottom will just add space for detritus and stuff to build up where you won't be able to get it out again without removal of the entire scape.
I'd just set it on the glass, you won't see any scratches as the sand will cover that up.
Also practice is definitely a good thing!

Makes perfect sense! I hadn't thought about the detritus build up aspect of it. Thanks!

Erin O · Apr 7, 2020

I need your opinions. I know I asked about sand before, but I'm finally going to get sand and rock in the next couple of days, and I still have no idea what to get. I have settled on the stocking for the 29g, so maybe that will affect your opinions? I'm going to get a clown goby, a blue neon goby, and 2 clowns (NOT added all at once), along with various CUC. Since I'm not getting a shrimp/goby pair anymore, should I look for a sand that is more coarse? Will I still need the finer stuff if I want a shrimp as part of my CUC? Also, how much would you recommend I get?