[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Well, emptied it all out-again. So we can check it out- will let you know later in the day. Baby star ate a silverside....yeah! I am so giddy about that-silly,huh?

[map95003]

Hi Michelle, nice tank, keep the pics coming as things progress. When you have a chance do you mind showing us your setup under the stand? thanx

[Jeremy0322]

I second all of that. I would like to know what you are running behind the scenes aswell.

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Yes, I will. But give me a second (or more) as I just got home, will take some good pics and load them in soon!

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

OK- here goes...not quite sure how these will turn out, going to try to do them 'side by side' fro what the tank looked like when I got it and what it looks like now.

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

[IMG]http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc32/chellespictures/copy096.jpg[/IMG]

[map95003]

not trying to put a damper in your progress but hopefully save you some trouble down the road. Everything I've read and advise I've gotten from these guys on RB says ditch the bioballs and replace them with LR...someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

ok----that didn't work very well. Seems all my pics got mingled with one another? Try again....

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

These are current shots:

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

UV sterilizer by Aquanetics / Little Giant Pump:

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

We replaced the pvc piping with clear hose...

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

above pic is recent, from leak found- took out the bio balls, and leaving them out!!! Going with thr LR rubble, but have a question- will get to that soon...

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Here is where the leak is coming from- we thought we got this fixed. But it keeps coming back. The tank was a custom build for someone, who sold it to a friend of ours, who sold it to me- so I was not aware that the actual 'drilling' of the acrylic voided the lifetime warranty.

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

What you see is the dry aquarium sealant we put all around to make it stop- and replaced the rings,etc- BUT my next step is going to replace the hole with 2 pieces of acrylic- seal them (1 on each side) to cover up the whole. Then we will run the clear hose from the pump into the filter, doing away with the piping altogether.
I know alot of you are gasping right now- but I have cleaned this baby up and am getting it to where I want it to be- so please.....be gentle with the comments.

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Ok- can't figure out why the pictures mingled together- maybe I added too many at 1 time? Anyway- don't forget to scroll your screen from left to right to get ALL the pictures......nite for now!

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Hey there---sorry was still loading when you posted. YES bio balls are bad from what I have been told as well here on RB...they are sleeping safe and sound now in a very large garbage bag!!! Never to resurface again in my tank!!!

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Ok 1 last question since we are on the topic anyway- maybe someone can get back with me before the weekend so I can go to the LFS:
For replacing my biohazzardous bioballs, haha, I am getting LR 'rubble' only...right? I am concerned about putting pieces in there and having plants, inverts, algae, whatever come out of the rock and clog up my system. Am I thinking in the wrong direction- or is this possible? Please advise, so I can get some this friday after work--thanks! Good nite for real now!

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

oh- also replaced the overflow with brand new kit and dual head nozzle (black) very nice, looks so much better than that pvc they had

[emccullough1]

You could get a piece of Plexiglas and put tank safe silicone around it on the inside. You would need to take the pluming off first the put the plex on the put the pluming back. I drilled a hole to big once and that is how I fixed it.

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Update: leak is haunting me. Still seems to come back no matter what we do. I am calling the LFS in Gainesville tomorrow to see if I can just bring the whole thing to them, maybe they can work some majic. I am feeling so depressed about not moving forward- but I keep telling myself it is all worth the end result- next post will hopefully be leak is fixed!

[dori9941]

you are right about the end result. good luck with your leak

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Thanks Amanda. Put some more acrylic cement on today with another piece of acrylic--- I am hoping this holds for now until I can locate another wet/dry later down the road.

[thelastmucci]

Does that mean the leak is fixed...hooray.

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Almost scared to say this because I don't want to jinx myself. (so I am whispering...I think it is fixed)
Hooray!!!! Well, I came home about 7:30pm and my husband had already filled it back with water, that was around 3 this afternoon- so far...still no leaks.
In the meantime while we were fixing the wet/dry, we moved the pump to the inside on the tank- far left top corner, WOW!!! what a circulation that was created!
My rock looked to me like it was going to blow away- everything on it, and more I had not seen before was 'straining' to feel the current it looked like. When I got nervous, I turned it off to give them a break- they went BACK in the rock, I turned it back on and out they come again- I have to get another pump to circulate the water more, as they seem to really like it- I am just afraid of blowing something OFF the rock That shouldn't be blown.
Keep your hopes going for me- I will post a pic of the fixed piece.

[Jeremy0322]

Cant wait to see the pictures. Shaping up to be an awesome tank.