My New Marine Tank & Sump

[mantis147]

Thought I would post a few pics to show what ive been doing for the last couple of months! Its total volume is approx 45 UK Gallons.

Tank contents
Ive got 20kgs of fiji liverock
40 small blue hermits
15 turbo snails
30 small mexican ceriths
1 six line wrasse
2 Clownfish
1 Sulpher Goby.

Coral - Zoo's & green xenia.

My only problem with it at the moment is the micro bubbles getting through the sump, When i made the sump i dont seem to have put the bubbletrap baffles close enough togather. Apart from that everything is great water perameters are

Calcium 445
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 5
Ammonia 0
Phosphates 0.25
ph 8.3
s.g 1.024

Heres some pics

 

[N1z]

Coming along nicely. As for the bubble issue could u put a sponge in between the sheets of glass part u know where its 3 pieces? that would stop it for sure. Nice goby btw i can never get a good shot of mine except once lol.

 

[Mr Miagi]

Nice tank! What lighting have you got on there? As for your microbubble issue, it seems like youve got WAY too many in the first chamber. Where are they all coming from? The skimmer or the entry pipe to the sump from the overflow? IME those baffles look a regular distance apart.

 

[mantis147]

Nice tank! What lighting have you got on there? As for your microbubble issue, it seems like youve got WAY too many in the first chamber. Where are they all coming from? The skimmer or the entry pipe to the sump from the overflow? IME those baffles look a regular distance apart.

Thanks n1z, Ive tried the sponge idea but the water builds up over the top of the baffle .

Mr Miagi, ive got a 150watt arcadia halide on top but ive not done the ceiling attatchment ive just mounted it on wooden stands for the moment until i get a better idea! The bubbles are all coming from the return pipe its like niagra falls!! I put some filter sponge in there to slow it down but it only helps slightly.

 

[N1z]

Well from i can see ur skimmer is a tmc v2. So the bubble stop cld be used or instead of a sponge try poly wool thats good stuff but needs replacing often as it grows algea easily.

 

[mantis147]

Its not really the bubbles coming from the skimmer thats the problem its the water coming in from the main tank. Plus the skimmer didnt work very well with the bubble trap on, it was restricting the flow out.

 

[Matthew5664]

Could you get a stright conector on the end of the overflow pipe and lenghten the pipe to just of the bottom of the sump? this might help a bit.

Love the tank shape? what are the dimentions? looks tall!

 

[SkiFletch]

Your air might actually be being generated at the overflow, can you take a picture of the overflow parts?

 

[Mr Miagi]

Your air might actually be being generated at the overflow, can you take a picture of the overflow parts?

That was my thought, now we know where ther bubbles come from, we can help you sort the issue. More pics of the overlfow!

 

[mantis147]

Matthew, thanks for the comments the dimensions are 24" long x 24" deep x 18" wide.

The overflow is a home made durso using standard fittings. here's a pic to give you an idea.

I have changed it slightly since ive made it a bit higher to stop the water drop & put air tubing in the inlet to stop the noise coming from the small hole on the top.
I will post an upto date pic when I get in later

 

[Matthew5664]

if the air tube in the top of the durso is in the overflow water it would cause a venturi effect and draw air into the water. Might be something to look at?

 

[mantis147]

its definately something to do with air in the water but the original method with the hole in the top cap kept making a gurgling noise so that was no good

 

[SkiFletch]

Ok, standpipe looks fine, can you take a closeup of where the overflow reaches the sump?

 

[ox5477]

I like it Mantis! I always liked the cube design, makes for a nice 270 degree viewable tank with height while still being somewhat compact.

 

[mantis147]

here's a pic entering the sump