[WILLIAM1]

Hi my name is william and I'm kinda new here! I bought my first saltwater tank recently, and have a few questions about my megaflow filter system? There are two filters in my megaflow and I was wondering how often to clean them if at all. I was also cerious about the resevour with my sump in it I'm having a hard time regulating how much water stays in their. It seems to be rising and then falling every other day. The sales people at the fish store can only tell me so much if I can get ahold of them you know what I mean????? Also is a scimmer really nessasary???

Thanks for your time everyone

William

[RyanG]

William, how big is your tank? Do you have any pictures?

[WILLIAM1]

The tank I purchased is a 90 gallon marineland tank with 1 corner overflow side. I could take a few pics of the tank just got it set up thow. Its the first week of cycling, and I am just trying to gain as much info as possible.I dont have anything inside the tank just yet the total setup was quite exspensive as I'm learning.I have a friend that has a 250 gallon tank for sale canopy bottom the whole setup for $1000. He has all the reef rock and coral included. After he moved he never set it back up! I dont think he had any bacteria problems or disease in the tank. Could I use some of these things in our tank we just purchased. Is there a cleaner that can be used to say disenfect things before use. The setup is worth about $6000 150 pounds of reef rock plus coral, skimmer to megaflows ec.
Let be know if you need a couple of pics and thanks

WILL

[RyanG]

I would get the rock from the 250 gallon your friend has, that will save you some money. Then you can just buy a few pieces of live rock to seed the dead rock. You would need to clean your filters at least one a month, if not more.

Buy a good quality skimmer, it will make your life easier and prevent less water changes. Are you having problems with your sump and main tank with water levels? I need you to describe what is happening.

[WILLIAM1]

The tank where the sump is the water level stays just above the sump! I mean right above!!! I dont think any air is in the lines or getting in the lines. And is it better to mount the skimmer in the megaflow or just hang it on the back of the tank? I only used live sand in the tank and some regular sand theres not reef rock or coral. If I add fish know will it be harder to add the rock later after I have fish?

Will

[tyoung]

First thing first. I believe your overflow is rated at 600 gallons per hr. I would make sure your return pump is rated higher than that for the flow issues. Second, I would get a skimmer that either sits in the sump or is ran outside the sump using it's own pumps. Next, it will be atleast 4-6 weeks for your tank to fully cycle, until then, it will not be a good idea to introduce any livestock. You should add your liverock now, while your tank is cycling. If you wait and add it after your tank cycles, it could put it into another cycle due to high nutrients and ammonia. Are you checking your water peramaters?

[WILLIAM1]

I just got my testing drops and checked out my tank for the first time!1st I checked my Phosphate it was at 0.0 then my PH that was in between 8.2 and 8.4 my nitrate test was at 10 and nitrite test was 0 and no amonia my salt to water ratio is high but im going to handle that with my first water change. I think I have all the ends covered. That what I thought about adding my rock first! is there a specific company that I can get the skimmer for inside by my sump. Ive seen a skimmer built in by the megaflow other places. I might be able to congure up some type of rig. thanks for all the help so far.

Will

[DEWAYNE]

I Do Not Know What Kind Of Sump That You Have. I Actually Tied A Control Valve Into My Return Pump, This Is A Very Easy Way To Control Your Water Return To The Tank, It Is Just A Simple Pvc Water Valve And It Is Working Great. I Also Like It Because The Wet & Dry System That I Have Tends To Get Air Bubbles In The Siphon Tube, When This Happens I Just Adjust My Return Valve And Force More Water Into The Tank, Thus Eliminating The Air Bubbles By Having More Water Added To The Tank Forcing The Bubbles Out Of The Siphon Tube. I Will Turn It Back Down And Watch The Water Level Inside The Sump, This Only Takes About 15 Seconds To Do.

[WILLIAM1]

You Know That Sounds Like A Great Idea With The Valve I'll Have To Give It A Shot. I'm Not Sure What Kind Of Sump It Is I Was So Excited I Just Well Never Mind But I'll Tell You This It Really Blows Alot Out Of The Return.were I'm Getting Some Air Bubbles In The Intake Part Of My Overflow.

Thanks
Will

[tyoung]

Make sure if you use a control valve, you use it on the return side of the pump and not the intake side. On the intake side could cause your pump to work harder and overheat leading to faliure and overheating. Try Lifereef Filter Systems for a nice in sump or out of sump skimmer. Best of luck and keep us posted.

[WILLIAM1]

Thanks for the info the sump I have is a magdrive 12/1200gph. I'm going to get the valve and install it. Is there a cetain amout of evaporation each week on an average? Becuase I added some water to the tank andit seemed to help. I guess I'm trying to work out all the bugs before I start on the fish and reef rock. Is my orbit lighting system going to be enough light I set it up to run 24 hours. I posted a couple of pics in the photo section I will try to get some better ones soon as I progress

Thanks for all the help
William

[RyanG]

William, there is no "certain" amount. This can be a factor of many different reasons. I suggest looking for an auto top off device. It pumps water into your sump when its sensors detect that the water level is down. This prevents you from having to add water to your aquairum daily and will save you a lot of work. I have a Tunze Osmolator, which uses a Optical Sensor. You can read more about it here:
Reef Builders Blog about saltwater fish, Marine Hobby & Aquarium » Blog Archive » REVIEW: Tunze Osmolator Auto Top off Device

[WILLIAM1]

That sounds good I will have to look into it!I starting to realize that I'm running out of space for the equipment I need in my cabnet. I called Jeff @ life reef systems and we are working on a sump to put in my main reservoir of my megaflow3. And I'm trying to figure out a place to set up a quarintine tank just in case. I really dont want to lose anything I buy. Today I'm going to order some reef rock get it in and start to cure it.