Upgrading to a Fluval Flex 32.5

[SaltwaterandLime]

After getting rid of the protein skimmer entirely, I started seeing higher temperatures with the completely covered hood. I've now started working on installing two computer fans into the top, controlled with an ink bird dual temperature controller. Both the fans and my heater are plugged to the controller to help hopefully keep me at a low constant temp.

 

[SaltwaterandLime]

Always so helpful

 

[SaltwaterandLime]

Generalized chaos....

 

[JReef3]

Haha! Yep, I think this is something we can all relate to. At least you have cable ties around the extra wire.

 

[SaltwaterandLime]

Today's project was installing the XP Auto ATO. It was a tight fit in the middle chamber, but I think it will work. I obviously need a better solution for my rodi container, I'll work on that tomorrow.

 

[SaltwaterandLime]

The pair of CPU fans controlled by the ink bird have been the perfect solution. No more overheating with the second light, and the temperature has stayed more stable than ever. I almost want to put one of these on my freshwater tank also.

 

[SaltwaterandLime]

Finally down to a reasonable number!!!!!

 

[JReef3]

First, glad to hear Nitrates are down. Second, OMG, that his SO much easier to read than an API test.

 

[SaltwaterandLime]

First, glad to hear Nitrates are down. Second, OMG, that his SO much easier to read than an API test.

It really is!! I could never go back to api. This does take a 3 part reagent process but super easy

 

[SaltwaterandLime]

Went to get water today and my son brought home Gary the turbo snail.

 

[SaltwaterandLime]

Finished my fancy dollar tree ATO reservoir today. It holds 1 gallon, which my tank will take months to use before the fans, I expect I'll see a little more evaporation now that the fans are working.

 

[SaltwaterandLime]

Gary enjoys long walks across the aquarium, munching on algae, and knocking over every single frag in my tank.....

 

[scattered]

All of my reservoirs are exactly like that. Works great and if you need to recut or get new, big deal.

You need more of a cleaning crew than a couple snails. I would add a half dozen turbo, at least that many cerith, and a dozen nassarius. In a lot of ways the algae cycle is much worse than waiting on a good solid nitrogen cycle. It takes a good amount of time to build up the right algae in the right amounts. Crabs are generally better for hair algae but all crustaceans are opportunists and will eat the snails whenever they can. Personally I would ditch the bio-balls, live rock should be enough biological filtration. At the moment I've got nothing in my inTank aside from rubble and foam. I do however have an UV filter in line and use a hang on back with activated charcoal occasionally to polish water occasionally. If you are going to skim, the Tunze is a much better option. Have you tested calcium? Once coralline gets a good start it will help to outcompete the nuisance algae. As with the nitrogen cycle, patience is key. It takes a while for a tank to balance and harden. You're off to a good start based on the ATO alone.

Happy reef keeping

 

[SaltwaterandLime]

All of my reservoirs are exactly like that. Works great and if you need to recut or get new, big deal.

You need more of a cleaning crew than a couple snails. I would add a half dozen turbo, at least that many cerith, and a dozen nassarius.

I've got just the one turbo, but I've got 4 nassarius and about three dozen dwarf cerith.

In a lot of ways the algae cycle is much worse than waiting on a good solid nitrogen cycle. It takes a good amount of time to build up the right algae in the right amounts. Crabs are generally better for hair algae but all crustaceans are opportunists and will eat the snails whenever they can.

I've got 5 or 6 hermit crabs.. I used to have more but Bob the diamond goby is really rough on hermit crabs. I also used to have an emerald crab but he decided he liked to eat coral so he had to go

Personally I would ditch the bio-balls, live rock should be enough biological filtration. At the moment I've got nothing in my inTank aside from rubble and foam. I do however have an UV filter in line and use a hang on back with activated charcoal occasionally to polish water occasionally.

I ditched the bioballs a while ago. I have filter floss on the top rack, chemipure in the middle, and matrix on bottom.

If you are going to skim, the Tunze is a much better option. Have you tested calcium? Once coralline gets a good start it will help to outcompete the nuisance algae. As with the nitrogen cycle, patience is key. It takes a while for a tank to balance and harden. You're off to a good start based on the ATO alone.

Happy reef keeping

. I've got the ps1 skimmer hooked up now. I bought the tunze 9001 but couldn't get it to work at all, the fit was awful and it never produced anything


Thanks!

 

[Lsuhunter]

How is the skimmer working out for you, do you have to make daily adjustments?

 

[SaltwaterandLime]

How is the skimmer working out for you, do you have to make daily adjustments?

I used to before the ATO. Since I added the ato it has run fairly well, but it still pulls really wet so I have to dump the cup almost every day

 

[SaltwaterandLime]

Better than Christmas!!!

 

[SaltwaterandLime]

Seeing definite improvement!!

 

[SaltwaterandLime]

Skimmer version 3.0 has been a success. Tool about 2 weeks to really break in, but so far has been producing wonderfully with no micro bubbles. Don't believe anyone who says it actually fits this tank though. I had to take out one entire chamber of media and kind of prop it up side ways, but it's definitely working better than my first two options.

 

[SaltwaterandLime]

Getting some really good growth on some of my corals, sadly still getting good growth on the algae too.