My 748 Gal A.G.E. Aquaillumination SOL lit Texas Dream Tank Build!

[danfeig]

Originally Posted by AJT

Thanks for the posts guys.

Everything is doing GREAT! Had a freind QT a bunch of new fish for 6 weeks & now everything is back in tank. Not a spot on blue tang in 6 weeks.
I will get some shots this weekend.

Last water test
1.025
Am,no2, & no3 = 0
PO4 = 0 Hanna
ALK 8.24 hanna
ca 450

UV is running 24 / 7 right now. I do not think pods are getting to the UV as i am sure the thick sponge keeps them from circulating. Hopefully the 8,000 that I added into the tank has them reproducing in the tank as well as the sump.

I have been adding Phyto to the water & turning off skimmer & UV for 24 hrs when added.

Still love the LED sols. Corals growing fast.

I am glad to see that everything is great again! You went through a hard battle!!! I am anxious to see the updated pics.

I have been running both my UV's 24x7 and it hasn't effected my pod population whatsoever. Every time I change my filter socks I have pods crawling up and down my arms. Both of my mandarin fish seem to be doing well and they seem to feed exclusively off my pods.

[AJT]

I have a pump feeding it & it dumps back into the other side of the sump at the same level as it comes out of the skimmer. I will take a pic tomorrow.

[fixmgood]

Any chance of seeing the pics on how your skimmer is set up.

[Osteoclast]

Have followed your build and enjoyed it. Went with AI sol blues on mine and no problems thus far. Keep up the good work.

[AJT]

I just turned it off to add some phyto.

What exactly are you looking for on set up?
This is exit gate valve. It runs to the back of the sump up to the other end & dumps near filter sock.

[AJT]

Originally Posted by Osteoclast

Have followed your build and enjoyed it. Went with AI sol blues on mine and no problems thus far. Keep up the good work.

Thanks for following.

I have no complaints on the Sols althought I wonder what a little red would look like on the corals. Heat has not been an issue & I have only had a problem with one unit & AI sent me a new board.

[AJT]

Originally Posted by danfeig

I am glad to see that everything is great again! You went through a hard battle!!! I am anxious to see the updated pics.

I have been running both my UV's 24x7 and it hasn't effected my pod population whatsoever. Every time I change my filter socks I have pods crawling up and down my arms. Both of my mandarin fish seem to be doing well and they seem to feed exclusively off my pods.

Dan,

I saw your tank the other day & all I can say is Wow. I used to have a 200 built in the wall & for some reason wall mounted tanks give that Wow factor.

I agree about the UV, my pods rarely make it thru the sponge. I am sure we are loosing something good with it but I would rather loose good stuff & bad stuff than neither.

How many socks you have on yours & how often are you changing?

[Osteoclast]

Had a problem with one of mine also and got a new board under warranty as well. Good customer service thus far. Using 10 Units with good penetration thus far.

[Newbie Aquarist]

Glad everything is back on the upswing. You know a FTS is in the future to see progress.

[danfeig]

Originally Posted by AJT

Dan,

I saw your tank the other day & all I can say is Wow. I used to have a 200 built in the wall & for some reason wall mounted tanks give that Wow factor.

I agree about the UV, my pods rarely make it thru the sponge. I am sure we are loosing something good with it but I would rather loose good stuff & bad stuff than neither.

How many socks you have on yours & how often are you changing?

Thank you! I am having fun with it!

I have 2 18" socks that I use. i am changing them every 3-4 days I suppose. 5 if I get lazy. Each time I change them my arms get covered with pods.

I am very happy that things are back looking up for you!

[AJT]

One more question for you & others with big tanks & alot of socks. How are you cleaning them out? I have 50+ socks & end up just using the hose to clean them.

I hear of others using the washing machine, but I am hesitant since I have a front loader & there is soap/fabric softner residue in the "chute" it falls thru. I know that some of that would get into the wash even after cleaned out.

It does suck to spend 3 hours washing out socks every quarter. I have been trying to wash out as soon as I change them but sometimes that is not an option.

[Newbie Aquarist]

I use the washer machine also. I use it on a quick wash and use white vinegar to wash the sock. Now if you want them white then I use a cap of bleach using the same wash cycle. I have enough socks to last me about two weeks on my present tank. Sometimes I use a normal cycle too. My new washer/dryer has a sanitizer setting and I still only use the white vinegar or bleach to wash the socks.

[AJT]

Is it front load? Mine sends water to the soap dispenser then falls thru a chute. Under close inspection there is quite a bit of soap residue down that chute that leads to the washer tub.

[SPotter]

I run two 7x16" socks for 4 drain lines on my system. They usually need to be cleaned every 3-4 days. I thought about throwing them in the washer but there is no way my wife will let me do it. So I rinse them out after taking them down, then I let them soak in a bucket with vinegar/rodi solution for a couple of days and then I take them outside to rinse with the garden hose.

[AJT]

What does the vinegar do for a filter sock? I guess it would disenfect. I know vinegar is good for calcium buiild up....

I have 4 filter socks changed every 4 days or so... Adds up to alot of sock cleaning

[techreef]

I've never used socks before. What do you guys filter out with them? Which leads me to why do you need to wash them instead of just invert them and rinse out whatever they've caught/filtered out of your water stream? Do they clog up if you don't wash them?

[SPotter]

it just helps break things down and rinse off easier when you blast it with the hose. I dont spend more the 15-20 mins cleaning filter socks every week.

[AJT]

I do invert them & wash them out. It just takes a long time if I dont do it every week & end up doing 50 at one time.

[SPotter]

Originally Posted by techreef

I've never used socks before. What do you guys filter out with them? Which leads me to why do you need to wash them instead of just invert them and rinse out whatever they've caught/filtered out of your water stream? Do they clog up if you don't wash them?

they filter out anything and everything that makes it down the drain lines. Over time they do clog so its important to clean so water is able to flow thru them rather than up and over the top of the filter socks.

Originally Posted by AJT

I do invert them & wash them out. It just takes a long time if I dont do it every week & end up doing 50 at one time.

I can see that taking a long time and it must be very boring!

[Newbie Aquarist]

Originally Posted by AJT

Is it front load? Mine sends water to the soap dispenser then falls thru a chute. Under close inspection there is quite a bit of soap residue down that chute that leads to the washer tub.

Yes my washer is a front load. But on a side note, I usually wash my socks after I do the whites of my laundry.

Originally Posted by AJT

What does the vinegar do for a filter sock? I guess it would disinfect. I know vinegar is good for calcium build up....

I have 4 filter socks changed every 4 days or so... Adds up to a lot of sock cleaning

It disinfects and also I don't have to re rinse the socks like you do when you wash them in bleach.

[danfeig]

I throw 2-3 filter socks in the washing machine. I use a little oxy-clean in the first load. I use an extra rinse cycle on the wash. I then remove the socks and turn them inside out. I rewash them with an extra rinse cycle without any chemicals. I then hang them outside in the sun for a few days.

[techreef]

shoot, that's some clean socks Dan! LOL

[psusocr]

I wash my filter socks in the washing machine with nothign but water. I have a front load as well, i wash them on the "wool" setting which take 1 1/2 hours...by that time there CANT be any soap left in that chute, before i put them on my tank i give them a good rinse and off i go.. Ive never had any problems before..I must have done this a thousand times already..

hmm...now im wondering!

[AJT]

Originally Posted by psusocr

I wash my filter socks in the washing machine with nothign but water. I have a front load as well, i wash them on the "wool" setting which take 1 1/2 hours...by that time there CANT be any soap left in that chute, before i put them on my tank i give them a good rinse and off i go.. Ive never had any problems before..I must have done this a thousand times already..

hmm...now im wondering!

What kind of anenome is that in your avitar? Ritteri? Is it yours? How long have you had it?

Looking for a hardy type anenome. I have but loads of Rose BTA's but loooking for something different.

Front load washer- Not sure if yours is built the same as mine but pull out your soap tray & look at the chute that leads to drum. When you wash a stream of water comes in & flushes the soap out of the tray & flows down the chute. It only flows into the tray & down the chute for about a minute.

So it would not matter how long you washed something for, the water only flows into the tray for about one minute.

I have used the washer once, cleaned out the tray & chute & just rinse cycled 2 times. Just not sure how safe it is...

[TSJSREEF]

I put all my socks through a front loading washing machine with a cap of bleach. I run them on the sanitize setting which is extremely hot water. I also add one extra rinse cycle.