Setting up a new 300 gallon tank need some advice
- Thread starter rhamilton
- Start date
Sure, just be gentle I'm new to all this sump and plumbing stuff lol, no go ahead and critic it you notice something. A few weeks ago I had no clue had to do this, but with some help from people here and especially greech I'd say my knowledge has doubled in the past couple weeks lol.
Like I said it's not complete, just yet. My strainers will get here tomorrow to complete my Herbie drain, I have put in new bulkheads and I've glued the pvc in them, the 1 inch is my emergency drain and the 3/4 inch will be my main drain, I did plumb the 3/4 to 1 inch for the siphon above and below the 3/4 inch Bulkhead.
I did have to ditch my 50 gallon aquarium sump, it would fit underneath but it was just too tall no way I could get my hand inside to fix anything if I had too, so I bought a Rubbermaid 50 Gallon Rough Neck tote.
I did have to ditch my 50 gallon aquarium sump, it would fit underneath but it was just too tall no way I could get my hand inside to fix anything if I had too, so I bought a Rubbermaid 50 Gallon Rough Neck tote.
Dang, that's a big tank! 
Looking good. Only concern with the rubbermaid is keeping the water level consistent without a baffle.
Looking good. Only concern with the rubbermaid is keeping the water level consistent without a baffle.
Right Greech, I still wasnt sure if I was going to do some baffles or not with this tote, be kinda hard I guess.
How about my cycle though? Would 1 rock from my other tank get it going, plus the live sand and the bacteria it came with, I'm getting anxious to finish it and get the fish in but I want it to be safe first.
How about my cycle though? Would 1 rock from my other tank get it going, plus the live sand and the bacteria it came with, I'm getting anxious to finish it and get the fish in but I want it to be safe first.
A piece of curd LR will help seed the tank but unless the rock has some die off, it won't start a cycle. You need an ammonia source of some kind. What other rock are you using? Dry rock? If you are using o.d sand that you have not somehow cleaned, there will likely be some organically in that will get things started. If not a cocktail shrimp will.
I've got it filled with water finally, thank god!!! lol I made several trips to pickup some RO Water, I counted 239 gallons in my system, seems kinda low to me, I've got a few rocks in there but they are small but also 200 pounds of sand so I guess that can take up a lot of water volume. I've got the temperature in a good range, PH levels are good, salinity is good, did ammonia check and it's good.
The ocean direct live sand said it would be ok to add a few fish slowly instantly but I haven't done this yet, I sent them an email just to confirm, it's been full and running water for 2 days now. I thought about buying 1 chromis fish just to make sure it's ok, I think it is but I want to be sure before my other livestock is moved over.
I still don't have my gate valves in, should be here tomorrow, I've just got the return running wide open with it soft plumped no glue, everything seems pretty good.
I did have 1 rookie mistake with the tote sump, I hit the feed button on the pump, it will shutoff for 10 minutes then restart for feeding time, I did this just to make sure I had enough room to hold the water in my sump. Well it starts filling up and then it starts leaking out of the sides, I thought the tote had busted, I yelled out a few choice words lol, I then realized the tote handles on each side had littles vent holes on each side lmao, I quickly turned the pump back on and got some silicone to fill in those vent holes.
The ocean direct live sand said it would be ok to add a few fish slowly instantly but I haven't done this yet, I sent them an email just to confirm, it's been full and running water for 2 days now. I thought about buying 1 chromis fish just to make sure it's ok, I think it is but I want to be sure before my other livestock is moved over.
I still don't have my gate valves in, should be here tomorrow, I've just got the return running wide open with it soft plumped no glue, everything seems pretty good.
I did have 1 rookie mistake with the tote sump, I hit the feed button on the pump, it will shutoff for 10 minutes then restart for feeding time, I did this just to make sure I had enough room to hold the water in my sump. Well it starts filling up and then it starts leaking out of the sides, I thought the tote had busted, I yelled out a few choice words lol, I then realized the tote handles on each side had littles vent holes on each side lmao, I quickly turned the pump back on and got some silicone to fill in those vent holes.
Update on my tank.
Caribsea said it would be ok to put fish in, I wanted to put a chromis in, local fish store didn't have one so I got a blue damsel, hope that doesn't bite me in the rear when I add the others, as they can be territorial and aggressive, if so I hope I can catch him and return him. So far fish is doing good and levels in tank are good. Want tank to be a little more mature before I move mine over, maybe wait another week.
I do have 1 minor issue, when I hit feed on my pump and it shuts down for 10 minutes my sump starts to fill, I've got enough room to hold the water but then I guess water from the locline is traveling back down to my pump and if I don't kick my pump back on the sump will overflow, so should I put a check valve on the pump to hold the water back? It seems to only travel down the left side tubing of the pump and not the right, as I have a Tee on the pump and pumping water to 2 loclines in the tank. Any suggestions?
Caribsea said it would be ok to put fish in, I wanted to put a chromis in, local fish store didn't have one so I got a blue damsel, hope that doesn't bite me in the rear when I add the others, as they can be territorial and aggressive, if so I hope I can catch him and return him. So far fish is doing good and levels in tank are good. Want tank to be a little more mature before I move mine over, maybe wait another week.
I do have 1 minor issue, when I hit feed on my pump and it shuts down for 10 minutes my sump starts to fill, I've got enough room to hold the water but then I guess water from the locline is traveling back down to my pump and if I don't kick my pump back on the sump will overflow, so should I put a check valve on the pump to hold the water back? It seems to only travel down the left side tubing of the pump and not the right, as I have a Tee on the pump and pumping water to 2 loclines in the tank. Any suggestions?
That shouldn't be happening unless feed shuts the pump down completely? Will your sump handle the back siphon when the pump is completely off? I wouldn't trust a check valve if it doesn't. The locline should enable you to piston the return outputs higher near the water line. Once the water falls below the outputs, the siphon will break.
Good luck with the damsel. I would not add anything else until your tank is cycled. Don't listen to Caribsea!!!!
Good luck with the damsel. I would not add anything else until your tank is cycled. Don't listen to Caribsea!!!!
