New Tank cycle

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
By the residue are we talking S/W?

Did you get the bulkheads to stop leaking? ;)

Dr Joe

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Yeah the bulkheads stopped leaking, what you are actually seeing is salt build up from the previous owner. I never really scrubbed the back of the tank.
 
We're not getting any action on your thread so I mored it the Marine section.

Ok Salties help him out...

Dr Joe

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Dr Joe;899295; said:
By the residue are we talking S/W?

Did you get the bulkheads to stop leaking? ;)

Dr Joe

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Click to expand...

If you are talking about the salt build up I would run a couple of gallons of vinigar through that along with your water. More vinigar the faster the salt build up will melt away. If you are worried about anything that was left over you can also run some bleach through your system. Bleach is also good becase you can be sure it is gone by flushing out your system with freshwater untill the smell is gone.
 
Actually the new setup will be fresh water for SA/CA cichlids. The previous owner ran salt, but damn I wish I knew the vinegar trick a few weeks ago, I scrubbed like a mad man to get that stuff off. My main concern is the newness of the plumbing. Im worried that the new PVC, acrylic, glue, silicone and paint will leech toxins into the water and kill the fish if I dont let it "soak" long enough.

BTW, thanks for moving it for more hits. This is something Im really worried about.
 
All this should have been in the original post, it does belong in the other forum but I think everybody thought it was for S/W.

If you used all the normal pvc & solvent, they potable and ready once cured or dry. Just rinse well and your ready to go.

What silicone & paint did you use?

And if the bulkheads stopped leaking on their own I would be concerned.

And yes, vinegar is great for removing those calcium/salt deposits.

Dr Joe

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For the most part everything looks ok. I would have done a few thing different. I would check and double check those bulkheads. I would replace the hose clamps with plastic ones. I will supply a link. They will just rust up and look ugly. I would have both drains draining separately into the sump. I usually wait 24 hours before I run water through a fresh PVC Joint. Good Luck!

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=8999&N=2004+113833
 
I let the glue cure for 72 hours before putting any water through it. In the sump I used Plumbers Goop for potable water, and GE Silicone I for Windows/Doors (Made sure no BioSeal). As for the bulkheads, I had to find a large pair of channel locks, to tighten them down all the way. So they didnt fix them selves. The paint was made for plastics and bonds to it, majority of it is on the out side of the pvc, how ever A little go inside the return pipe.
 
how long has the tank been cycling for already now? get a test kit and you will have a more accurate reading of when the tank is fully cycled. usually takes a month for a whole tank to cycle completely. get some old media to rush the cycle. or go to a LFS that you trust and ask for some water in their tank. if anything, just throw a couple of cichlids, usually cichlids are pretty hardy.
 
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