If it is bacterial, am I going to be able to resolve it with wet skimming or are all my attempts at resolution worthless without a UV?
08TRDOFFROAD's 45 Gallon Build
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If it is bacterial, am I going to be able to resolve it with wet skimming or are all my attempts at resolution worthless without a UV?
Well, I have a bit of an update! I was looking at the BRS filter socks and thought to myself....hmm my wife could teach me how to sew and make these really easily (she happens to work at a fabric store too so we get a discount!). So I asked her if she would be willing to help me learn to make some...she was, so Monday we will head to her work and I am (with a lot of help from my wife) going to DIY my own version of the BRS 4"x8" nano felt drawstring filter socks! We will be able to make them for pennies on the dollar of what it would cost to buy them!
Hopefully these will be the nail in the coffin for our green water problem!!!
Hopefully these will be the nail in the coffin for our green water problem!!!
How much you sellin filter socks for? 
Wet skimming should help...I have never used UV but when you have suspended bacteria or algae it is always a good way to go.
Wet skimming should help...I have never used UV but when you have suspended bacteria or algae it is always a good way to go.
Ha ha! I am going to use about ten of them. We went and purchased the material, I got 1 yard of Felt (100% polyester), 250 yards of thread, and 4 yards of nylon cord for $7.00! I couldn't have bought one and had it shipped for that price...I have enough material (felt) to make at least 20 (very conservative estimate)!
We purchased a new travel trailer so we haven't had time to get to sewing them yet, but it is on the list for this weekend.
In other news, since I was able to adjust my skimmer I have seen a noticable improvement in my water clarity daily. The proof is in the pictures....
As of 7/13/2011....
This morning!!!
It is much better! I still have a bit of milkiness, but I am sure that will be resolved with my filter socks.
This is what the skimmer has been pulling out daily since I tuned it.
And since I can see my corals again, I thought I should post some updates.
The Toadstool coming along nicely
Xenia
Kenya Tree
Birdsnest...which has bleached considerably. I don't know if it is due to the water quality issues or too much light, but I have lowered it about eight inches in the tank to see if I can get it to color up again. It still has good PE though.
I also have about half a dozen new polyps from my zoa frag, but they hadn't opened yet when I was taking pics, so those will have to be another day.
All in all I am starting to see progress in the right direction!!!!
We purchased a new travel trailer so we haven't had time to get to sewing them yet, but it is on the list for this weekend.
In other news, since I was able to adjust my skimmer I have seen a noticable improvement in my water clarity daily. The proof is in the pictures....
As of 7/13/2011....
This morning!!!
It is much better! I still have a bit of milkiness, but I am sure that will be resolved with my filter socks.
This is what the skimmer has been pulling out daily since I tuned it.
And since I can see my corals again, I thought I should post some updates.
The Toadstool coming along nicely
Xenia
Kenya Tree
Birdsnest...which has bleached considerably. I don't know if it is due to the water quality issues or too much light, but I have lowered it about eight inches in the tank to see if I can get it to color up again. It still has good PE though.
I also have about half a dozen new polyps from my zoa frag, but they hadn't opened yet when I was taking pics, so those will have to be another day.
All in all I am starting to see progress in the right direction!!!!
Glad to hear it's clearing up - nice rock pile (j/k) - I remember not too long ago stareing at rocks myself thinkin' dang - that's one big expensive pile of rocks. Looks like you got plenty of circulation, at least enuff that water born algae shouldn't survive. Maybe you had one nasty Nitrate spike and the spores came in via something simple like dirty hands....... you got me - anywas - progress in the right direction.
My wife and I were able to sew a filter sock late last night after I got home from work. It turned out a bit smaller than we anticipated, but it seems to be working just fine. I have so much fabric we can experiment until we get the size just right!
Here is our DIY'ed filter sock in action!
Here is our DIY'ed filter sock in action!
Well, I though since the tank is looking so much better I would throw up a few updated pictures!
Here is a reminder of just how far the tank has come, this picture was taken on 7/13/2011.
This is as of this morning 7/29/2011...
There is just a hint of cloudiness that can still be seen when looking into the tank from the side.
Here is a more upclose and personal shot of the tank!
Also I washed my DIY filter socks and just wanted to show you guys what they looked like after the wash...they held up great!
Here is a reminder of just how far the tank has come, this picture was taken on 7/13/2011.
This is as of this morning 7/29/2011...
There is just a hint of cloudiness that can still be seen when looking into the tank from the side.
Here is a more upclose and personal shot of the tank!
Also I washed my DIY filter socks and just wanted to show you guys what they looked like after the wash...they held up great!
Okay, I have been trying to figure out my auto top off system, I have been looking at parts on autotopoff.com. I think I have figured out a system that is very similar to the level loc system that is no longer available.
Here is a diagram of my planned wiring so you know what I have going on in my head. (pardon my crappy paint program skills...hopefully they give you the idea!)
The solenoid is normally closed (open when powered). My goal is to have the solenoid open (powered) all the time (allowing water to flow freely when the float valve drops low enough to open), but close if the float valve fails and the water level raises enough to trigger the float swith that will be mounted an inch or two above the water line.
Here is what I am invisioning for my float valve/switch setup in the sump.
Am I on the right track here?
Here is a diagram of my planned wiring so you know what I have going on in my head. (pardon my crappy paint program skills...hopefully they give you the idea!)
The solenoid is normally closed (open when powered). My goal is to have the solenoid open (powered) all the time (allowing water to flow freely when the float valve drops low enough to open), but close if the float valve fails and the water level raises enough to trigger the float swith that will be mounted an inch or two above the water line.
Here is what I am invisioning for my float valve/switch setup in the sump.
Am I on the right track here?
Well, the tank has finally made it to the point I have been working toward! The water is crystal clear and I am finally starting to see coraline growth!
Here is a close-up of the coraline growth
Some of my fish enjoying the sparkling clean water!
And I thought I would throw in one of my hammer, it has been looking great the last week or so.
Here is a close-up of the coraline growth
Some of my fish enjoying the sparkling clean water!
And I thought I would throw in one of my hammer, it has been looking great the last week or so.
Well, I ordered the very beginnings of my top off system. I can't say enough good things about autotopoff.com so far. I ordered a sump bracket, float valve, and stock piece of plastic to cut and bend to attach my float valve to the sump bracket, the company charges a flat rate $10 for shipping. Well, as it turns out, the shipping was only $4 so the company refunded me $6 of my shipping charges! How cool is that!? Usually I would expect a company to just pocket the overage and chalk it up to added profits, but not autotopoff.com! As far as I am concerned their company is top notch! I ordered on Wednesday, and my order has already been shipped today! I will update again once I receive my items.
I am just going to install the bare minimum I need to right now to get by and keep the tank full while I am gone on vacation, but I will add the additional fail safes I mentioned earlier in the thread in the near future.
In other new, I boosted my CUC. I picked up 10 Cerith Snails and 5 more Hermit Crabs....this is just a start, but I am taking baby steps now so I don't have a repeat of the swamp doom (and money is kind of tight).
I am just going to install the bare minimum I need to right now to get by and keep the tank full while I am gone on vacation, but I will add the additional fail safes I mentioned earlier in the thread in the near future.
In other new, I boosted my CUC. I picked up 10 Cerith Snails and 5 more Hermit Crabs....this is just a start, but I am taking baby steps now so I don't have a repeat of the swamp doom (and money is kind of tight).
