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12-11-2006, 07:08 AM
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#1
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Admin/ Super mod
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: New Castle, Delaware
Posts: 20,364
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Bi weekly Discussion-- winterizing the tank
Since it is close to the 1st day of winter... 
i though a nice warm discussion on winterizing the tank would be good!
So grab some Hot coco and get comfy... 
What are some of the things we need to look out for now that the weather has changed? 
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Tim
need something to read? just ask me.
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12-11-2006, 07:14 AM
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#2
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Shark
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: NEW YORK
Posts: 2,072
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I never thought of officially "winterizing" my tank, but I think its a great discussion...so I'll suggest to make sure your heaters are working correctly, as the room temp will probably drop over the winter causing the tank to be a little cooler....
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12-11-2006, 07:18 AM
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#3
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Eat more PIE
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Florida Panhandle
Posts: 18,610
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Battery powered air pumps!!!!! Generators ready! 
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Double your drive space. Delete Windows
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12-11-2006, 07:28 AM
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#4
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Admin/ Super mod
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: New Castle, Delaware
Posts: 20,364
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Yes Viv,
sometimes we forget that even the change of seasons outside and have some major effects on our tanks.
casey why do you think we need battery operating pumps?( playing the D.A. here)..
Viv,
what do you think are some of the things we shoudl do and look for with our heaters?
__________________
Tim
need something to read? just ask me.
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12-11-2006, 07:33 AM
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#5
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Eat more PIE
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Florida Panhandle
Posts: 18,610
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Well in my case sometimes the stupid generator doesnt want to start so i throw in an airstone with my battery operated pumps to keep the surface of the water rolling to increase the air in the tank and allow the carbon dioxide to leave better.
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Double your drive space. Delete Windows
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12-11-2006, 07:35 AM
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#6
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Eat more PIE
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Florida Panhandle
Posts: 18,610
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oh and Tim why do we need hot cocoa?
__________________
Double your drive space. Delete Windows
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12-11-2006, 07:42 AM
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#7
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Admin/ Super mod
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: New Castle, Delaware
Posts: 20,364
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goes better with the gingerbread men cookies
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Tim
need something to read? just ask me.
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12-11-2006, 10:38 AM
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#8
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Shark
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Toledo OH
Posts: 4,978
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I basically unplug/remove and clean the chiller and then plug in a heater and plop it in the sump! Oh yeah and catch up on WC's
Where my tank is located I need a chiller in the summer (76* room temp) and a lot of heat added to the system.
and winter need heater (room 70*) and heater needs to keep it at ~79* barely! 
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They are all gone!  NOW Planning 150g+ 
TIM MADE ME DO IT, Yet Robert made him do it, yet Casey made him do it!
Yet the voices in all their heads made them do it (skeety)
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12-11-2006, 10:52 AM
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#9
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: spartanburg, south carolina
Posts: 4,960
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One thing I thought about doing was to add styrofoam sheets around my sump to help insulate it and retain heat. I'm also going to cut styrofoam sheets for the main tank so that if the power goes out, I can insulate the display and hopefully keep it from too cold before the power comes back on. I've already bought a battery powered air pump, hope I don't hafta use it.
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12-11-2006, 11:34 AM
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#10
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I've got the REEF rash!
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 34,128
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Also you top off more,because the heat is drier then the A/C is.
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12-12-2006, 10:53 AM
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#11
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Ghost of reefers past
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: Southern Oregon, Way West of Dimples ;)
Posts: 25,140
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Good time to give everything a good cleaning and test , pumps, powerheads, clean drain lines of slime and algae growth, clean deposits of heater tubes, flush top off lines, stuff like that
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Cowboy is a verb, not a noun
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12-12-2006, 11:20 AM
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#12
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Duper Mod !
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Illinois
Posts: 14,332
Reviews: 10
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I moved all my plants into the basement with the sump to try and combat PH/CO2 issues this winter
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Kelli
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12-12-2006, 01:02 PM
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#13
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Admin/ Super mod
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: New Castle, Delaware
Posts: 20,364
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Doug1
Good time to give everything a good cleaning and test , pumps, powerheads, clean drain lines of slime and algae growth, clean deposits of heater tubes, flush top off lines, stuff like that
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So what is the best way to clean off the Heaters? some tend to get a nice hard deposit around them....
Quote:
Originally Posted by dobejazz
I moved all my plants into the basement with the sump to try and combat PH/CO2 issues this winter
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Interesting Idea Kelli. is this the 1st time you have tried this?
As far as the foam to insult the tank. what about a generator?
who has one? what is the best size to get and why?
IS it really needed?
__________________
Tim
need something to read? just ask me.
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12-12-2006, 01:05 PM
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#14
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Duper Mod !
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Illinois
Posts: 14,332
Reviews: 10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tims
Interesting Idea Kelli. is this the 1st time you have tried this?
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It is Tim I had PH issues last year but no plants  after work was remodeled I brought my Plants home and they stayed outside until it got to cold. Hopefully being near the sump will help with the PH issues
We shall see
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Kelli
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12-12-2006, 02:25 PM
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#15
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Why I get nothing done...
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Beaverton
Posts: 2,967
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I now have my trailer with the 5500watt generator parked beside my house with 30 gallons of fuel. I'm ready.
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