29 gal external overflow all DIY - yep another one
- Thread starter impur
- Start date
Silver_Stang
New member
impur -
your Mandarin goby is so cool........ If I only had a sand bed in my tank I could get one. LOL
I noticed you deep six hydrometer in your last picture. Do you think yours gives you accurate readings? I have one and it usually reads 1.022 or 1.023 and when the LFS tests my water they get higer readings, like 1.025 or 1.026. I think they use a refractometer, because I only bring in about 1/4 cup of water for testing but I never asked them.
your Mandarin goby is so cool........ If I only had a sand bed in my tank I could get one. LOL
I noticed you deep six hydrometer in your last picture. Do you think yours gives you accurate readings? I have one and it usually reads 1.022 or 1.023 and when the LFS tests my water they get higer readings, like 1.025 or 1.026. I think they use a refractometer, because I only bring in about 1/4 cup of water for testing but I never asked them.
cateyes
New member
hey miles,,, thanks for the link to your thread!!! i'm really impressed with your work, tank looks great!!!!!! i'll deffinatly be rereading it and taking some ideas from it..
could you post a full tank pic including the lighting set up???
i'm also in a search for a pendant style light system(no canopy) and i'm liking the looks of yours!! i'm partial to the 14k bulbs, they seem to be just the right balance for me.. and you seem to be getting good growth on your corals with it...have you had any heat issues with it???
thanks a lot,,,,,,,,,,,,lisa
i have 2 "helpers" just like yours!!!!
could you post a full tank pic including the lighting set up???
i'm also in a search for a pendant style light system(no canopy) and i'm liking the looks of yours!! i'm partial to the 14k bulbs, they seem to be just the right balance for me.. and you seem to be getting good growth on your corals with it...have you had any heat issues with it???
thanks a lot,,,,,,,,,,,,lisa
i have 2 "helpers" just like yours!!!!
impur
New member
Thanks Lisa, i worked pretty hard on the tank and its nice to get compliments! 
I'll get ya a full tank pic tonight. Its about time for some updates anyhow. I do have an older pic of the complete setup tho so here ya go. Keep an eye out in the used equip forum for a pendant and ballast combo, i see them quite often for good prices. I do have some heat issues popping up now that the weather is getting nicer. It was getting up to the mid-80s here a few weeks ago and because of the orientation of my apt, the sun just beats down on the roof all afternoon causing my tank to reach 84 with a fan on the sump. I have since installed the window AC unit and kept the fan in place, viola no more heat problems! In fact i found the tank to stay much more stable temps with the fan on permanently so i plugged it into the timer to come on with the lights each day.
I'll get ya a full tank pic tonight. Its about time for some updates anyhow. I do have an older pic of the complete setup tho so here ya go. Keep an eye out in the used equip forum for a pendant and ballast combo, i see them quite often for good prices. I do have some heat issues popping up now that the weather is getting nicer. It was getting up to the mid-80s here a few weeks ago and because of the orientation of my apt, the sun just beats down on the roof all afternoon causing my tank to reach 84 with a fan on the sump. I have since installed the window AC unit and kept the fan in place, viola no more heat problems! In fact i found the tank to stay much more stable temps with the fan on permanently so i plugged it into the timer to come on with the lights each day.
cateyes
New member
hey miles - i've reread your thread and got a few questions for you if you don't mind...sorry, i'm a few months behind with my questions..
i see you have a 10 gal for your sump..i was thinking of using it or a 15high, but there's not really enough vertical height in the stand, especially when you start plumbing.. i see a 10gal. will work so i'll go with it.
here come the questions:::
1.do you have to use an auto top off if you have a sump???
2.what do you use to "glue" the glass baffles to the glass tank??
3.what type of skimmer is that you are using??
4.were the loc-lines the cause or your MB issue?? i see you submerged them...
5.i'm planning on having the back glass double drilled and gravity flow to the sump then use a pump to pump water back up and over the top. what size bulkhead would you suggest?? and drain and return line???
6.also should the water in the sump go over-under-over , as far as baffles go??? or under-over-under???
7.how many baffles do you need ???
8.which should be larger, the intake side or the return side???
9.and last but not least,, can you just come build one for me?!?!
it would save you from many further questions...
thanks a TON!!!!! lisa
would you rather me pm you with all of this or is going through your thread ok???
i hate to hog it with a los of after the fact questions......
i see you have a 10 gal for your sump..i was thinking of using it or a 15high, but there's not really enough vertical height in the stand, especially when you start plumbing.. i see a 10gal. will work so i'll go with it.
here come the questions:::
1.do you have to use an auto top off if you have a sump???
2.what do you use to "glue" the glass baffles to the glass tank??
3.what type of skimmer is that you are using??
4.were the loc-lines the cause or your MB issue?? i see you submerged them...
5.i'm planning on having the back glass double drilled and gravity flow to the sump then use a pump to pump water back up and over the top. what size bulkhead would you suggest?? and drain and return line???
6.also should the water in the sump go over-under-over , as far as baffles go??? or under-over-under???
7.how many baffles do you need ???
8.which should be larger, the intake side or the return side???
9.and last but not least,, can you just come build one for me?!?!
it would save you from many further questions...
thanks a TON!!!!! lisa
would you rather me pm you with all of this or is going through your thread ok???
i hate to hog it with a los of after the fact questions......
Silver_Stang
New member
i am not impur,
but an auto top off is a must, otherwise you will be refilling a pitcher a day onto your tank (I assume you too are setting up a 29g with sump)
1 inch drains work nicely, I have a 1 inch drain and a mag 5 (1/2 inch return) on mine and it works great.
the more baffels you can fit in the better, I have a MB problem in mine and it is really anoying -- in fact i am thinking about making another sump with more baffels to get rid of the problem.
good luck
but an auto top off is a must, otherwise you will be refilling a pitcher a day onto your tank (I assume you too are setting up a 29g with sump)
1 inch drains work nicely, I have a 1 inch drain and a mag 5 (1/2 inch return) on mine and it works great.
the more baffels you can fit in the better, I have a MB problem in mine and it is really anoying -- in fact i am thinking about making another sump with more baffels to get rid of the problem.
good luck
cateyes
New member
Silver_Stang --
sorry, yep it's a 29, i had PM'ed impure so he had my specs but i should ofincluded that info here too...
as far as the auto top off being a must, is it from a convience standpoint or a functional one??? i top off my 75gal. daily so one more gallon would be ok with me...would it be something that could be added later???
i've read your thread about your 29, it was very interesting also.. i see you are using a HOB overflow, that is what had thought about and may still consider if drilling proves too difficult.. have you had any problems with it???
thanks,,,,,,,,,,lisa
sorry, yep it's a 29, i had PM'ed impure so he had my specs but i should ofincluded that info here too...
as far as the auto top off being a must, is it from a convience standpoint or a functional one??? i top off my 75gal. daily so one more gallon would be ok with me...would it be something that could be added later???
i've read your thread about your 29, it was very interesting also.. i see you are using a HOB overflow, that is what had thought about and may still consider if drilling proves too difficult.. have you had any problems with it???
thanks,,,,,,,,,,lisa
impur
New member
seafan79 said:hey miles - i've reread your thread and got a few questions for you if you don't mind...sorry, i'm a few months behind with my questions..
i see you have a 10 gal for your sump..i was thinking of using it or a 15high, but there's not really enough vertical height in the stand, especially when you start plumbing.. i see a 10gal. will work so i'll go with it.
here come the questions:::
1.do you have to use an auto top off if you have a sump???
2.what do you use to "glue" the glass baffles to the glass tank??
3.what type of skimmer is that you are using??
4.were the loc-lines the cause or your MB issue?? i see you submerged them...
5.i'm planning on having the back glass double drilled and gravity flow to the sump then use a pump to pump water back up and over the top. what size bulkhead would you suggest?? and drain and return line???
6.also should the water in the sump go over-under-over , as far as baffles go??? or under-over-under???
7.how many baffles do you need ???
8.which should be larger, the intake side or the return side???
9.and last but not least,, can you just come build one for me?!?!
it would save you from many further questions...
thanks a TON!!!!! lisa
would you rather me pm you with all of this or is going through your thread ok???
i hate to hog it with a los of after the fact questions......
Hey there Lisa, its fine with me if you ask questions here. Might help other ppl along the way
1. You don't have to use an auto topoff, but i like the automation it provides. Sometimes i'll be gone all day and not get to see the tank at all with the lights on so its nice to know that the water is being topped off and SG being held constant throughout the day.
2. Glass bonds with 100% silicon, that is what i used for the baffles and external overflow box. Let it cure for 24 hours. I actually picked up the entire tank by holding just the external overflow box and it was as sturdy as can be.
3. The skimmer is a Pacific Coast Imports skimmer. They are made in Portland OR i believe and a local LFS here gets them pretty cheap. I figured 100 bucks for a needle-wheel skimmer can't be all that bad. This skimmer isn't the best out there, but i think it suits the tank nicely.
4. I think the scwd is the cause of the MB problem. It has since become just a minor nuisance. You can't even see the MB anymore unless you look at the tank from below up thru the water.
5. The drain size depends on your return pump. What pump do you plan to use? Figure out its gph then use RC's calculator on the front page to determine the best sized drain and return.
6. over-under-over IMO
7. I used 3. Some ppl incorporate a fuge into their sump, but my fuge is seperate so 3 suited me fine. If you add the fuge in the sump, you'll need 4-5.
8. Return side, this is where all your evap will occur.
9. Call my boss, book me a ticket and you got a deal!
Miles
impur
New member
Took a couple pics, of course forgot your full tank pic Lisa :sad2: Will get that tonight.
Still getting more color on this acro, looks like it will be yellow with purple tips
Yuma is producing 3 new babies, here are 2
Fragged my 2 frogspawns over the weekend, good pic of one of em
More to come tonight!
Miles
Still getting more color on this acro, looks like it will be yellow with purple tips
Yuma is producing 3 new babies, here are 2
Fragged my 2 frogspawns over the weekend, good pic of one of em
More to come tonight!
Miles
Silver_Stang
New member
seafan79 said:Silver_Stang --
sorry, yep it's a 29, i had PM'ed impure so he had my specs but i should ofincluded that info here too...
as far as the auto top off being a must, is it from a convience standpoint or a functional one??? i top off my 75gal. daily so one more gallon would be ok with me...would it be something that could be added later???
i've read your thread about your 29, it was very interesting also.. i see you are using a HOB overflow, that is what had thought about and may still consider if drilling proves too difficult.. have you had any problems with it???
thanks,,,,,,,,,,lisa
my auto top off was not working properly for the first week or so, I had to fill my tank every morning or the water level in the return would drop lower that the mag 5. I think it is a must because your tank won't be able to run for more that 24 hours without you topping off. I have not had any problems with my HOB overflow, I could not cut the back of my tank because I was adding on to an existing system. the only thing I don't like about the HOB is it takes up quite a bit of room inside my tank, if you can make an overflow like impur you should do it. This wouldn't be such an issue if I had a larger tank.
xtrstangx
Premium Member
I would say get a refractometer now. They are so much more accurate and why risk all the money you have in coral to accidently put in high salinity water and risk loosing some of your SPS?
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=11275&ref=2020&subref=AC
Theres a cheap one and it works very well, IMO.
Tank looks great, good job.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=11275&ref=2020&subref=AC
Theres a cheap one and it works very well, IMO.
Tank looks great, good job.
impur
New member
xtrstangx said:
Thanks!
I recently picked up a glass hydrometer. This is much more accurate, i have also calibrated it against a refractometer so i know for sure how much its off. I guess i'm just cheap! I really don't want to drop 40 bucks on one now. I am in the middle of planning a wedding which is big money, so any extra money goes to that.
cateyes
New member
hey Miles,, thanks for the help,, i actually think i'm gonna get this sump thing figured out!!! your thread has be especially helpful!!! the pics are a great help,, i'm a visual type of person, they help me immensly!!
ok -- so the auto top off isn't an immediate project for me..
will any silicon be ok?? is it all reef safe??
that skimmer looks a lot like the new coralife super-skimmer i've been eyeballing, do you have it in your sump?? i saw one pic where it was kinda scrunched in a compartment.
as far as the pump i will be using , i don't know yet. i see you're using a mag 9.5.. would that be what you would recommend for me??? on a 29 i will need about 5-600 gph flow, i would guess..
if i use a sqwd or om squirt i'm guessing i'll lose some flow, so a powerhead or possiably another pump on a CL might be in order..
i had to order a new 29 today,, the one i had planned on using was just too scratched up!! the last thing i wanted to do was have a neat set up and a lot of pretty corals in there, then the only thing i would manage to see would be the scratches!!!!
it'll be here in about a week , then the LFS will drill it for me. so i have about a week to decide on exactly where i want the drain(s) and if i want the return drilled or just come over the back..
i was leaning towards 2 drains in case 1 clogged for whatever reason but they didn't seem to think it was necessary.. what would you advise?? 1 or 2 drains?? and would it be better for the return to be drilled or just come over the back??
i'll also need to be working on the sump plans, spacing, baffles, etc.
i'm sure to have numerous questions to come yet!!!.
thanks for posting all of those pics, your tank looks great!! i love your clowns having the 2 different colors makes them very eyecatching!!! and your manderin looks very fat and happy, i'm working on getting one of those in my 75g. just need to build up the pods... my wrasse keeps them on the run...
if you get time would you mind posting a pic or two of your sump? one with the skimmer and all hooked up...
remember,, i'm very visual!!!!!
thanks a TON!!!!!!!!!!! lisa
oh, i almost forgot... your boss said no way!! you're much to valuable!!!!
ok -- so the auto top off isn't an immediate project for me..
will any silicon be ok?? is it all reef safe??
that skimmer looks a lot like the new coralife super-skimmer i've been eyeballing, do you have it in your sump?? i saw one pic where it was kinda scrunched in a compartment.
as far as the pump i will be using , i don't know yet. i see you're using a mag 9.5.. would that be what you would recommend for me??? on a 29 i will need about 5-600 gph flow, i would guess..
if i use a sqwd or om squirt i'm guessing i'll lose some flow, so a powerhead or possiably another pump on a CL might be in order..
i had to order a new 29 today,, the one i had planned on using was just too scratched up!! the last thing i wanted to do was have a neat set up and a lot of pretty corals in there, then the only thing i would manage to see would be the scratches!!!!
it'll be here in about a week , then the LFS will drill it for me. so i have about a week to decide on exactly where i want the drain(s) and if i want the return drilled or just come over the back..
i was leaning towards 2 drains in case 1 clogged for whatever reason but they didn't seem to think it was necessary.. what would you advise?? 1 or 2 drains?? and would it be better for the return to be drilled or just come over the back??
i'll also need to be working on the sump plans, spacing, baffles, etc.
i'm sure to have numerous questions to come yet!!!.
thanks for posting all of those pics, your tank looks great!! i love your clowns having the 2 different colors makes them very eyecatching!!! and your manderin looks very fat and happy, i'm working on getting one of those in my 75g. just need to build up the pods... my wrasse keeps them on the run...
if you get time would you mind posting a pic or two of your sump? one with the skimmer and all hooked up...
remember,, i'm very visual!!!!!
thanks a TON!!!!!!!!!!! lisa
oh, i almost forgot... your boss said no way!! you're much to valuable!!!!
