[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Ok....you who have seen me here are aware I had to wait for tile to be laid in my house before I could get my tank home.
FINALLY it came home tonight!!!! It was at a friends house who sold it to me. Come to find out, when they took it down, they put it in the garage. So I have been cleaning since it came home. I know I have to buy some stuff. I am wanting all new bio-balls. Just because they have been sitting for a while. I am needing to redo some of the piping. And thought if I posted pictures- that some of you can give your opinions?
I will post underneath.
180gallon, corner filter
aquanetics uv sterilizer model 25 IL
sealife systems plastic housing for bio media
and a little giant pump- all came with tank, stand/hood
I have to buy lights, heaters, power heads, biomedia, etc.
So please check out what it is so far - remember this is the beginning..........
Thanks !

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Why can't I get my pictures on this site? I give up- it is 12:17 in the morning, I am going to bed. If anyone can tell me WHY my pics aren't loading, I would be happy to try something different. Night to all!

[jvharding]

Try Image hosting, free photo sharing & video sharing at Photobucket Much easier to put IMG link in thread also Toss the BIO Balls and put live rock rubble in the sump. Oh Yeah please get the picture up. PM me if you need to Good luck with your new system!

[blind1993]

ohhh yay another large tank.

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Thanks! I will try photobucket this weekend and see if I can get it to work.....definitely live rock in the tank....but in the sump? Really? What is wrong with the bio-balls? Do they not filter enough for a large tank? I am going to have a lot of work ahead of me---so have no fear there will be pictures!

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Ok....first picture to try and see if I did photobucket the right way. This is me (and our Old English Bulldog,Neiko) late last night when tank was delivered by hubby & friend! I am going to try to take inside pics of what came with tank (as you can see, alot of cleaning to do first. Came with leftover sand/salt in tank. My camera is dying on me ---hint hint hint ---I really need a new camera if the contest gods are listening!! OK, give me until tonight and I will load more pics.

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Problem- have tried. It keeps saying invalid url. Who has done this before. I am a former Yahoo! groupie and never had a problem with my photos before. Thanks for info.

[blind1993]

bioballs are nitrate facotries since they catch detirus and turn them in to nitrates. (unless you would prefer to wash them ever 3 days).

[Lowej82]

did you get your photobucket up? if so ppl can go there search your username and find your pics that away,
I just upload my pics to there, then copy and paste the url here and it works fine.

[Lowej82]

and yes dump the bio-balls and put in some LR rubble to fill that area

[jvharding]

When you Upload to Photobucket there is IMG Code under your photo click on it. it copy's a link and you paste it in your post. Very easy and picture displays in your post after posting to RB. Good luck

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

ok......starting to feel really rejected right about now..... I have been trying that $#@$ photobucket for awhile now. (now it is 12:10 in the morning!) I either get invalid url or told invalid size! It shows a little box that states (copied) but then..... I am so frustrated!!!! But I am determined as well.....so hold on to your fins! I will get it eventually. Thanks for the heads up on the bio balls vs the rock. Questions on that to follow, right now I am going to defeat this photobucket !!!

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

ok- it is now 12:36am and screw photobucket! Sorry- but this is getting ridiculous. I 'think' I found a way to get around this. Let's see if my plan works...funny the things you think of when you really should be sleeping.....please let this work!!!

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

think that worked---never mind the camera was out of focus! And I am dog tired, but this is my tank! Hope you can see it. Now next question: how do I get this on RB without having them 'attached'? But there for simple viewing like others?

[Tonz of fun]

I go to photobucket. Its the easiest way...

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Hey to everyone! Am loading some pics for help. This is my tank. And as I said earlier, when it was taken down, it was put away in garage (of previous owner) so add to that humidity, salt creep, leftover coral sand- this meant I cleaned it ALL weekend. Went over it with a toothbrush and warm water. Yeah, my husband thought that was goofy too. But I wanted to see what could be cleaned up as opposed to what I have to replace.
QUESTION: In the pics you see the uv sterilizer. (aquanetics 25 IL) Which is hooked to the little giant pump (model 4-MDQX-SC) Which is hooked to the wet dry (sealife systems 200). (1) "HOW" do I take the pump apart to make sure it is cleaned before plugging it in? Is it as simple as unscrewing it- or is there something I should know? (2) UV: when do I know if the bulb needs to be replaced? Already found out aquanetics is no more- and that qualityuvlamps.com is who can replace- but when? How often? Any ideas / opinions are welcomed- thanks....and cross your fingers in hopes me and photobucket have become friends

[Tonz of fun]

AHHHHHHHH BIO BALLS! O sorry relexes. Im glad to see you finally got your picture thing worked out. Two big things I noticed right off the bat is that huge algea-heater window of death and the bio balls. Is that the perminate home for the tank? Your planning on removing the bioballs right?

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Hey ! Thanks for the info on photobucket. (actually I cheated, emailed the pics to myself, and downloaded them in a smaller version.) Me and photobucket just weren't seeing eye-to-eye at that time in the morning!
Bio balls are to be replaced with rock, and the window..... my husband has agreed to tint the windows- VERY DARK- I am not opening the blinds at all, and that room stays pretty cool. Yes, it is the new home for my tank, as my husband wouldn't agree on the dining room- it is a rather large tank (6 1/2 feet across). I have read much on the effect heat / sunlight have on algae growth...thanks for noticing BECAUSE that means you also know what you are doing, and I appreciate that- will be doing ALOT of chats on here, nice to know you guys are there for help!!

[e_baer]

also, i nitices a sump that you have under the tank, you may want to consider getting something a bit larger. get the larges container/tank/whatever that will fit under the tank in the stand. the more water volume, the better!

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Any answers to the pump cleanin g question?
Or changing the uv bulb?

[RyanG]

Generally you can replace your bulb every 1 year, or a little bit longer. The biggest thing is to keep it clean every 8 months and check it, to make sure it is working correctly.

On the pump you can easily take it apart and clean it, just soak it in vinegar overnight and then put it back together. Just remember how to put it back together, lol.

And that is one nice tank, along with a super nice stand. I see a great build thread in the works.

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Thanks Ryan! Going to get that started so I can move on...I have been waiting for this for so long.... I feel like a kid on xmas morning...aaarrrggghhh I want to get it done now!!! BUT I am going to be VERY disciplined and go VERY slow until I get to the point where I can say...ahhh, I created that!
How do I do the uv bulb? I'm sure I can figure it out now, but when everything is up and running...how do i check it?

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Morning all! Ok, under this same forum.....titled: "my new 600 gallon display" by Goodwin9, if you scroll down to the pictures, under (...partial photo of refugium section of sump)- that is what you meant by adding rock and tossing the bioballs, right? I would add a sand bed, live rock pieces ---also another posting I read said the member puts his heater 'in' the sump, so the water is heated AND filtered thru at the same time. Who else has tried this? Can I do that instead of hanging in the tank? Also have to buy the heaters, who likes what brand? So far have not found anything for my tank size- so I am thinking 1 on each side-sound wrong? Also need a skimmer too. Looking at a few different styles. Not really liking EVERYTHING hanging in the tank. Looking to hide most of it under the stand. Let me know- thanks!

[thelastmucci]

I personally haven't tried the heater in the sump becuase A)I don't have a tank yet and B)I don't plan on having a sump LOL but from everything I've read (not just here but in literature as well) this is an acceptable practice. The only situation that two heaters would be necessary would be if the tank is in a really cold room and you wanted heaters that would equal the same amount of heat. IE for every 50 gallons it is recommened to have 5 watts per gallon then after that water retains more heat so only 3 watts per gallon is necessary. So a 30 gallon tank would use a 150 heater while a 60 gallon would use 180. Also when placing your heater you should put it in a area that is well circualted (hence why some people use the sump) so the water heat distributes evenly. Your best bet for a heater is a digital immersable heater. They may cost a bit more but there're well worth it for your little critters. Hope this helps

Tony

[Tonz of fun]

I put my heater in my sump because the less eye sores that are in the tank the better. I use Jager brand of a heater.

Tony the reason why most people go with two smaller heaters is because one the heaters have to work less and two if one of the heaters should malfunction and not work your tank wont crash.