Ada 60p - Drilled And Sumped

Andrew T

Subscriber
Jul 15, 2015
55
5
8
Seattle
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Making my way back from saltwater. Missing the plants that’s all..and taking a break from the blue light:)
ADA 60P, 16” reef synergy Shadow overflow, 1” drains - bean animal.
Dual 1/2” returns, powered by 2 Eheim classic 1250’s. About 600 gph total.

ATI Sunpower T5 light. Planning to run only 2 bulbs. Giesemann Aquaflora and Midday combo or just a couple middays. Still thinking about that.

20 gallon long DIY sump.

Hard scape done last night; maybe needs some tweaking here and there.

Plan is to do a sandy beach left of the rock structure and all the way in the back of the tank.(it’ll be a low light area because of the wood shadowing ).

Then from the tip of the rock to the right side of the tank and up behind the wood where I’ll build up some terraces up to the return nozzle I want plant Monte Carlo and various medium height plants.
In between wood nooks and crannies maybe some buces.
Moss all over the driftwood.
Hope it’ll come out looking like I envision it.

Co2 system in the works. Should have never sold my previous system.

That’s it for now. Suggestions are welcome!
 
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Andrew T

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Jul 15, 2015
55
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Seattle
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Thank you!
Running some carbon to remove as much of the tannins as I can.
Will wait 2 weeks for the Aquasoil to leach all the ammonia it wants to leach and only start planting after that.
That gives me time to finish up my CO2 system as well.
 

Andrew T

Subscriber
Jul 15, 2015
55
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Seattle
Only thing I noticed that the outputs where below the overflow box. So a back siphon can occur.

Yes you are correct. In the event of a power outage, the water will drain to the level of the return nozzles. I drilled them lower for the fear of drilling too close to either edge of the tank and cracking it so I left about 1.5” minimum on either side.

I have accounted for the extra water in the sump and I have room for 2 times as much water to drain.
However, I am planning to install a check valve on each of the return lines so water level will not drop at all if a power outage was to occur.

That is desired for plants or mosses that are near the water level stay submersed and not be exposed for hours and die. Stuff like this usually happens when you’re not home.
 

Andrew T

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Jul 15, 2015
55
5
8
Seattle
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Testing out a DSM with chopped up Fissidens moss + water/yogurt mix on the wood.
To keep everything sealed about 90% and get the humidity I want, I sealed drain lines and left return lines open.
Hooked up my kids breathalyzer to 2 of the drain lines and sealed the top of the tank with plastic.
Instant mist inside the tank.
Having this set on a timer 4-5 times a day will be perfect.
Hopefully it’ll work as planned.
 

shoggoth43

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I’d probably skip the check valves and just set the outlets at the height you want the siphon to actually break. More than likely you won’t clean the check valves often enough and they may fail to operate as hoped when needed. I’ve had new and clean valves fail. While you designed with that in mind and aren’t at risk for a flood you may as well just save the money and effort and maintenance requirement.
 

Andrew T

Subscriber
Jul 15, 2015
55
5
8
Seattle
I’d probably skip the check valves and just set the outlets at the height you want the siphon to actually break. More than likely you won’t clean the check valves often enough and they may fail to operate as hoped when needed. I’ve had new and clean valves fail. While you designed with that in mind and aren’t at risk for a flood you may as well just save the money and effort and maintenance requirement.

Thank you. I was trying to aim the nozzles down towards the bottom to get better CO2 spread.
I really don’t have a lot of play into the nozzles since I only have one locline segment and the nozzle.
To be able to move them more I’ll have to add a couple more segments which are going to probably be an eyesore.
Not sure yet. I’ll wait for the plants to fill in and then decide . It’ll be a good time to check on the co2 spread as well before I make any changes.
Thanks for the advice!
 

Andrew T

Subscriber
Jul 15, 2015
55
5
8
Seattle
A diffuser works way better, it’s dead silent and holds 500ml of water.
Now it runs 24/7 with occasional top offs and 12 hour photoperiod 3x24W T5ho.

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Andrew T

Subscriber
Jul 15, 2015
55
5
8
Seattle
Hemianthus micranthemoides
Rotala H’ra
Monte Carlo & dwarf hairgrass carpet mix

Still waiting for hydrocotyle verticillata to mix with the MC and DH carpet and to add buces after I flood the tank.
Probably 1.5 weeks out till that happens.

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Andrew T

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Jul 15, 2015
55
5
8
Seattle
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A week since being flooded.
Co2 at 5-6 bps. 3 hours before lights on. Yellow drop checker at lights on.

Sump drives minimal co2 out of the system.
70% water changes every day for the past week.
Every other day for the next week.
4x24w T5HO 14” above water, 6.5 hours photoperiod.

Plants are taking off. Rotala mini butterfly started showing more intense red when I uncovered the 4th bulb. It needed more light at the current height or it would have turned colors when higher up at the top with the 3 bulb configuration. Not sure...

Minimal algae. Not concerned yet, shrimp will take care of it when introduced and plants are still not in full growth mode.

Moss is growing pretty well and I’m pleased with the look. From now on probably the only method I’ll use with moss...looks the most natural.

Sump has 2 liters of Seachem Matrix biomedia , purigen bag in the filter sock, and some nasty bio media and sponge from one of my buddy’s tank to aid with bacteria population in mine.

That’s about it for now.
 
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