Glb's hacks, tips, and other useful information

[glb]

For storage of small items, I waterproofed a small wood box and used low pile velcro to attach it to the side of the stand. To the left you can see one of those 3M hooks that adhere and can be removed without any residue. Both can only manage lightweight items so I use the box for a small measuring cup and a toothbrush for cleaning the sump. I use the hook for an extra filter sock.

 

[glb]

Lego-Rama. I use legos wherever I can. The duplo blocks (the bigger ones for preschoolers) are about 1/2" tall and the regular ones are about 1/4". One helpful tip-legos float! If you build a stand for a pump, etc, I'd suggest building it upside down underwater if you can. That will keep your stand from becoming a raft which floats your equipment away.

 

[glb]

I used clear label maker tape to mark off the water levels when the return pump is on and off. I underlined the text to make it super easy to check levels.

 

[glb]

Rufus the nassarius snail likes to hide in the sand most of the time. I can usually find him by looking up at the bottom of my tank.

 

[Gmj4409]

I use the Koehler "gravel filter" for cleaning up sump and qt tanks (separate devices!). I toss the the bottom serrated attachment & use the flat end to suck up all small nasties. Rinse the small catch-all cloth bag each time and it will last. They are cheap on amazon (10/12$) so I keep a few on hand. Just need to be sure you have the right length- can't put batteries under water.

 

[glb]

I use the Koehler "gravel filter" for cleaning up sump and qt tanks (separate devices!). I toss the the bottom serrated attachment & use the flat end to suck up all small nasties. Rinse the small catch-all cloth bag each time and it will last. They are cheap on amazon (10/12$) so I keep a few on hand. Just need to be sure you have the right length- can't put batteries under water.

Is that the same thing I have? Do you have a pic?

 

[Seaflowerkitty]

Marvellous! Great ideas! You've inspired me to do better with my tank

 

[Reefer Obsessed]

Thanks everyone! Here's another one. I make all my RODI manually (one waste water 5g and one for RODI). The setup is plumbed through the water valve in my laundry room. The waste water of course fills up quicker. I figured out how long it takes to make 5g of RODI which is about 55 minutes for my setup. So I set a timer for 11 minutes. Everytime it goes off I pour out the waste water before it is full and very heavy. I have 2 waste water jugs that I swap out. I know after the 5th time the timer goes off the rodi will be full. It may sound tedious but I've forgotten the unit was on more times than I can count and got tired of cleaning up the resulting mess. When it starts to take longer to make the water, I can easily tell and know it's time to look at my cartridges.

I have my RODI water in the laundry room but I run my waste water into the washing machine. The waste water is good to wash clothes in, just not good for the tank. I have a valve on the intake water to the washing machine. I turn the valve to either direct the water to the RODI or to the washing machine. The waste water tube extends into the washing machine. When the washing machine is full or I have completed making RODI water, I just turn the valve & start the washing machine. Viola! Clean clothes & clean water.

 

[Gmj4409]

Is that the same thing I have? Do you have a pic?

Yes it is - amazon link ...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003OYOPNW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[glb]

DIY veggie clip. I took an old suction cup from a sponge holder and hooked on a clothes clip from a kid's plastic hanger. The clip is all plastic with no metal to rust.

 

[glb]

Today I trimmed off the excess threads on my mesh filter sock. They were trapping debris like crazy. The ends are serged and won't unravel as long as you only cut off the excess (I hope)!

 

[glb]

DIY moonlight. I don't have lights yet and my room is pretty dark at night. I put this LED light next to the tank. The outlet is at tank level.

 

[glb]

I had a leftover 1/4” glass panel when I was building my sump. It sits perfectly on the rim of the sump and I use it as a shelf when I’m working on the tank. I don’t put anything on it that would cause a problem if it fell in (like testing reagents). It’s great for holding testing water, brushes, or other things that need to dry off after use. Plus if tank water drips while I’m pouring it into test vials, it falls into the sump instead of on the floor. It comes in handy!

 

[Brew12]

This thread is too good to have been neglected so long. I'll add another.

Use the camera on your phone as a magnifying glass. Need to find out if the algae you are dealing with is bryopsis? Put a small piece in a dish with a little water and take a close look using the zoom function on your phone camera! If it has the fern frond look, you will easily see it.

I also use my phone to inspect new coral for pests and eggs. Great resolution and can pick up much more detail than I can with just my eyes. No extra app required.

 

[William Buchanan]

What a great thread! I am just getting started and these have been very helpful! Thanks!

 

[Mike1995]

Bathtub storage. I keep all my buckets in the bathtub close to the tank. Anything wet after I use it can drain easily. I use a hanging shower rack for smaller stuff. It's super convenient and everything is hidden by the shower curtain.

My gf would give me hell and a half if she found all my fish stuff in the tub

 

[glb]

My gf would give me hell and a half if she found all my fish stuff in the tub

Luckily I’m a chick and my husband doesn’t care.

 

[glb]

I wrote dosing guidelines with a dry erase marker on my plexiglass divider in the sump. Now it’s super easy to update weekly after I test the water.

 

[glb]

DIY Co2 scrubber: I took an old TLF 150 phosban reactor and filled it with Co2 media from BRS. The intake tube is to the right and I drilled a larger hole in the skimmer lid so it would draw from the moist air in the skimmer cup. The left tubing leads down to the skimmer air inlet. I just installed it and in 30 minutes the ph has gone from 7.6 to 7.74. I bought adapters for the difference in tubing size from BRS too. Cheapest diy I’ve ever done! My house is sealed so this was a long time coming. I’ll keep everyone posted.

 

[glb]

I used silicone caulk to attach a 1/2” piece of pvc to my AWC new water bucket. I threaded the tubing through the pipe to keep it on the bottom of the bucket. It works great!