Luck be a Lady

[LadyMac]

I put fine sand on bottom (was planning on having more wrasses that like to bury in the sand) then course sand on top…big mistake. Anytime it sand bed is disturbed in even the slightest I get fine sand blowing everywhere Lesson learned the hard way.

I’ve thought of removing and going with something less fine but I honestly have no idea what lol. Suggestions?

 

[Mhamilton0911]

Amazon.com

Love these guys been running my 1850 jerepet since I got the tank. The 3450 is a beast too.

I'm running 2 of these, and they've been reliable. When they slow down, a little cleaning and they're back full force.

One on my 75g and one on my 29g

 

[Mhamilton0911]

Do you have any suggestions on something more course? That would be perfectly fine by me.

Once I found bimini pink I haven't gone back. Varied mix of sand and rounded rock/coral pieces. I always rinse my sand so all the really fine particles get washed away. No problems with blowing in my tanks and all the sand critters do well. It's not rough like typical crushed coral.



The larger rock pieces start as purple but over time it's darkened to "algea colored". I can wash some new in a tub so you can see if you are interested, I have an open bag I can grab some out of.

Pics all on same tank, in the front corners it's more "rocky" since it doesn't get blown, and everywhere else it's a nice mix.




Conch approved.

 

[danieyella]

I like tropic eden. I do a mix of mesoflake and reeflake sizes

 

[tbrown]

I have a mix of this and that... Aragalive is the main sand in my tank but I have used other varieties as well.

 

[MrsBugmaster]

I’ve thought of removing and going with something less fine but I honestly have no idea what lol. Suggestions?

Depends on what is available but I use CaribSea Argonite special grade
Or

Tropic Eden Live Tonga Pink Sand​

 

[907_Reefer]

I used the Arag-Alive Special Grade, more coarse stuff with the last setup here and definitely like less blowing around, would do again.

 

[LadyMac]

Awesome! In my wishlist it goes so I don’t forget lol.

 

[LadyMac]

Ok guys. What’s causing this?

The skimmate is coming out the top of the turn dial thingy. The pump is all the way in the skimmer body. I can’t seem to get this thing to skim properly. Either it’s too much or not enough and that’s without touching the dial and nothing being added to the tank. And the intake isn’t blocked either.

 

[907_Reefer]

Wouldn't the body have to be full of skimmate for it to get into the outlet adjuster? Tried different flow settings recently? Water height good? Got any full pics? Just some thoughts, I'm not an expert, nor did I stay at a holiday inn express last night..

 

[Mhamilton0911]

I'm not an expert, nor did I stay at a holiday inn express last night

 

[LadyMac]

Wouldn't the body have to be full of skimmate for it to get into the outlet adjuster? Tried different flow settings recently? Water height good? Got any full pics? Just some thoughts, I'm not an expert, nor did I stay at a holiday inn express last night..

Idk. I cleaned the whole sump, skimmer body and cup too. I didn’t need to clean the pump cause it was done not that long ago.

I have it propped up in the basket of a pond pump because the level in the sump is too high causing the cup to overflow. I have it turned off currently because of that foam. Plus it helps you see the water level isn’t that high up and the pump parts all the way in.

it’s set to “off” because even being this high up it still will overflow with too much wet skimmate. Sigh.

 

[LadyMac]

This week was my pay week, I I had decided that Sienna, my other senior betta gal would get an upgrade on her tank. She is getting up in age and the flow was a bit much. She was losing food to the current and while I could mitigate that with a nerite, she still has to eat. PSP has the Fluval betta tanks for about a buck, and I had a 30% coupon. Figured if I had enough I’d grab sand too. This is the same store my alien came from, whom I believe I spoke about up in the thread a bit. Anyhow they also had a blue one who I wanted instead, except he was swimming tail down. This is kinda common in aliens, due to stress. Many times people will see them straighten up a couple weeks after decompressing. However it can also occur from damage to the swim bladder, bacterial infections or internal parasites. So the owner took him in the back to deworm, and monitor.

Yesterday I went for my tank and sand and noticed blue boy was back in the shelves and still not swimming well. I went to the checkout and the owner saw me. She had asked how my guy at home was and I told her how he’s grown some and he’s doing really well. So she mentioned blue back there and asked if I wanted him. I told her I only had 100 on me to spend and depending on what this was I couldn’t afford the asking price. She offered him at half off.

Now y’all know I’m a sucker. It’s written all over my face. So meet Tank. He, the tank and sand came to just over the 100 lol. She told me she was very happy someone who knew how to care for him was along him home.

In other news Sienna is happy with her upgrade and Tank is in her old setup with some places on all levels to rest. I’m hoping he recovers. If he doesn’t then he is in the perfect place to live out his handicap.

 

[LadyMac]

So, I’m a dummy lol.

I decided to tear the Eflux pump down to show most of what I have to get them listed on marketplace. Me being a hoarder, I wanted to make sure that it was still not running. It wasn’t. I checked to see if the impeller would spin. It didn’t. So I took the screws back out. As I was unscrewing the first one I noticed a gasket. Which, I shouldn’t because it’s supposed to be covered by what I’m removing. So I finish and take the entire front back off. The o ring gasket that seals it (since it an internal or external) was out and it was clearly wrapped up in the impeller causing it to not move.

So I put it back where it belonged, finished reassembling and plugged it up. It’s now working lol. I’ll muster the energy to get it hooked back up in a bit. At least it’s working. And I’m still going to work in going to something else.

 

[MrsBugmaster]

So, I’m a dummy lol.

I decided to tear the Eflux pump down to show most of what I have to get them listed on marketplace. Me being a hoarder, I wanted to make sure that it was still not running. It wasn’t. I checked to see if the impeller would spin. It didn’t. So I took the screws back out. As I was unscrewing the first one I noticed a gasket. Which, I shouldn’t because it’s supposed to be covered by what I’m removing. So I finish and take the entire front back off. The o ring gasket that seals it (since it an internal or external) was out and it was clearly wrapped up in the impeller causing it to not move.

So I put it back where it belonged, finished reassembling and plugged it up. It’s now working lol. I’ll muster the energy to get it hooked back up in a bit. At least it’s working. And I’m still going to work in going to something else.

Don’t feel so bad, I did a really bone head thing. I got a blue ridge coral for Frank , never had one before, didn’t know anything about it. But it was a pretty blue color. Glued it to a frag plug and put in my tank and before long it was not looking good. Fast forward to today when I was at Jason’s and he had same coral but didn’t look anything like mine. I showed him the picture of mine. He says : the blue is the bottom of the coral not the top. I glued it upside down. No wonder it’s not doing well. I fixed it as soon as got back home. Hopefully it recovers.

 

[LadyMac]

Don’t feel so bad, I did a really bone head thing. I got a blue ridge coral for Frank , never had one before, didn’t know anything about it. But it was a pretty blue color. Glued it to a frag plug and put in my tank and before long it was not looking good. Fast forward to today when I was at Jason’s and he had same coral but didn’t look anything like mine. I showed him the picture of mine. He says : the blue is the bottom of the coral not the top. I glued it upside down. No wonder it’s not doing well. I fixed it as soon as got back home. Hopefully it recovers.

Oh nooooo! that sounds like something I’d do for sure. I hope it recovers

 

[LadyMac]

Today I’m going to hunt down an stl for a skimmer rack lol.

Can I use PLA in the reef until I get a better filament? @Projects with Sam

 

[fishguy242]

Don’t feel so bad, I did a really bone head thing. I got a blue ridge coral for Frank , never had one before, didn’t know anything about it. But it was a pretty blue color. Glued it to a frag plug and put in my tank and before long it was not looking good. Fast forward to today when I was at Jason’s and he had same coral but didn’t look anything like mine. I showed him the picture of mine. He says : the blue is the bottom of the coral not the top. I glued it upside down. No wonder it’s not doing well. I fixed it as soon as got back home. Hopefully it recovers.

I really laughed at this...

 

[Mhamilton0911]

Today I’m going to hunt down an stl for a skimmer rack lol.

Can I use PLA in the reef until I get a better filament? @Projects with Sam

Did you get yourself a 3d printer?


I have read many accounts of people using PLA in their reef, even long term. I would think for a short period, I would use it myself, until I got petg ordered. Pick a plain solid color to minimize ingredients for colorants.

 

[MrsBugmaster]

I really laughed at this...

What can I say? Never even heard of this coral before. It was a thin flat frag like a potato chip and I figured the pretty blue side must be the top. Now I now.