CLM with a Dart pump build
- Thread starter murfman
- Start date
normanviking
New member
Can't say it enough SWEET.
murfman
New member
Well, here are some of the pix promised. Everything in the tank was moved on Friday, 10 Nov. On Thursday, I turned the heater upto 80*. When I woke up Friday AM, it was at 76.6*. I shut down the pumps and began siphoning old tank water into the new tank, downstairs. I got about 1/2 way and then stopped the siphon and began moving rocks and corals.
I placed the rocks and corals, kinda where I wanted them, and then began moving sand. Once I got most of the sand in place, I started catching livestock and moving them. I then continued with the water. Once I had the CLM inlets covered, I started up the pump to give some circulation and added two heaters to the tank, the temp had dropped to 72.8*.
I drained the sump/fuge, removed and cleaned the skimmer and old pumps and then moved it (by myself, don't ask, I'm an engineer), with rock and sand in place. Once it was full, I started the pump and found that I needed to install a ball valve to throttle it back a little so the drain could keep up with the return.
The new tank was covered with a sheet of styrofoam to keep any concrete surfers at bay.
I left the bottom 30 gallons or so in the old tank and added new water that I had brewing. (Todd, aren't you proud of me? I did a water change) Once everything was in place in the new tank.
I then used the shop vac (shop vac is the greatest tool for an aquarist!!!! If you don't have one, I suggest you ask for one for Xmas) to finish draining the scum water and remaining sand out of the old tank.
A friend and I then took the old tank and stand into the garage. I did manage to fall down the stairs while moving the old tank into the garage, spraining my left ankle. No, I did not drop the tank, I took one for the team. (as if I had a choice) The stairs I fell down are the set leading to the basement. I got to the second stair and my ankle rolled. The tank pinned me up against the wall (it was pressing against my chest with my ankle under neath my fat ***) and the guy on the other end stuck between the closet wall and stairs. After I got my ankle out, I was able to move down another few stairs so he could get to the landing and then I limped it out into the garage.
Jump ahead to Sat. I could barely walk, I was supposed to go to the Notre Dame/AFA game but chose to skip that due to the distance I'd have to walk/Stairs at the AFA stadium. I laid in bed most of the day with the foot elevated. Once I got antsy, I got up and after limping around the house, loosening up the foot etc. I managed to get the canopy out to the garage to modify the back. I added air holes and notched it for the CLM return and sump return. I got it installed and the MH light worked but the Actinics didn't. Enough now, here are pix;
Tank with canopy
Sump area
flow on the anemmonea
Intact Monti Cap
I placed the rocks and corals, kinda where I wanted them, and then began moving sand. Once I got most of the sand in place, I started catching livestock and moving them. I then continued with the water. Once I had the CLM inlets covered, I started up the pump to give some circulation and added two heaters to the tank, the temp had dropped to 72.8*.
I drained the sump/fuge, removed and cleaned the skimmer and old pumps and then moved it (by myself, don't ask, I'm an engineer), with rock and sand in place. Once it was full, I started the pump and found that I needed to install a ball valve to throttle it back a little so the drain could keep up with the return.
The new tank was covered with a sheet of styrofoam to keep any concrete surfers at bay.
I left the bottom 30 gallons or so in the old tank and added new water that I had brewing. (Todd, aren't you proud of me? I did a water change) Once everything was in place in the new tank.
I then used the shop vac (shop vac is the greatest tool for an aquarist!!!! If you don't have one, I suggest you ask for one for Xmas) to finish draining the scum water and remaining sand out of the old tank.
A friend and I then took the old tank and stand into the garage. I did manage to fall down the stairs while moving the old tank into the garage, spraining my left ankle. No, I did not drop the tank, I took one for the team. (as if I had a choice) The stairs I fell down are the set leading to the basement. I got to the second stair and my ankle rolled. The tank pinned me up against the wall (it was pressing against my chest with my ankle under neath my fat ***) and the guy on the other end stuck between the closet wall and stairs. After I got my ankle out, I was able to move down another few stairs so he could get to the landing and then I limped it out into the garage.
Jump ahead to Sat. I could barely walk, I was supposed to go to the Notre Dame/AFA game but chose to skip that due to the distance I'd have to walk/Stairs at the AFA stadium. I laid in bed most of the day with the foot elevated. Once I got antsy, I got up and after limping around the house, loosening up the foot etc. I managed to get the canopy out to the garage to modify the back. I added air holes and notched it for the CLM return and sump return. I got it installed and the MH light worked but the Actinics didn't. Enough now, here are pix;
Tank with canopy
Sump area
flow on the anemmonea
Intact Monti Cap
normanviking
New member
Looks good Paul.
murfman
New member
Sat I noticed a little water at the base of the sump/fuge. Uhh Ohhh! Did I damage the tank by moving it? I wiped it up and watched it. The edge kept getting wet, water was running along it from somewhere. I kept wiping it up, hoping that it was spill water that had run down the sump/fuge and just hadn't all run out yet. I post for someone that has a 55 gallon for sale so I can replace my leaking sump/fuge.
Sunday I get up and there is still water on the edge of the sump/fuge. I had been troubleshooting, in my mind, what might be wrong Sat night and it hit me to check for leaks at the fittings. Maybe something is dripping? (I had checked everything with 1/2 tank and then <3/4 tank with no issues) Ahhh hahhhh!! my return to the sump is dripping where I didn't glue in the pipe at the bottom 45* elbow (had to be able to remove the pipe so I could remove the sump, if need be) I pushed it all the way in and wiped it down but it still was dripping.
I looked up and schieze and according to Murphy's law, my lowest intake to the CLM is dripping at the threaded fitting into the bulkhead. *** I taped the crap out of it and tightned it as much as I could. I wiped it and sure enough, another drip. Dammmmnit, is there a sealant that workes while wet???? I will try some silicon on it, maybe that will work. NOT!!!
In come the 35 gallon trash cans, a 10 gallon hospital tank, 4 5 gallon buckets and a siphon tube. I start draining with the Boss there to supervise. (make sure I don't spill any more water on her painted concrete floor that I already damaged on Friday)
Actually, I have to be honest, she helped me a lot on Sunday, thanks Honey!!!!
We got everything drained below the intake and I had to remove the nut off the bulkhead so I could remove the bulkhead and fitting to see what was leaking. The dual threaded fitting was threaded all the way into 90* fitting at the back of the bulkhead. The only thing I could think of was to add more teflon tape over the entire threaded fitting and tighten it as much as possible. For good measure, I added a bead of silicon to the base of the 90* and bulkhead to make sure it sealed up. (water was out so no pressure on the seal now) I waited about 20 minutes and started adding water back to the tank, checking the seal for leaks. Nothing, I am good to go!!!!
But wait, Murphy's law states "If anything can go wrong, it will and, at the most in-opertune time and in the worst location and possible way!" A sleeve that I had to make to fit the 1" spa flex hose must have gotten tweaked when I was dorking around with that fitting and it had developed a leak on top. Boys and Girls, the lesson here is that when gluing PVC, there is no such thing as too much glue in your fittings, especially, if you are having to fix and earlier mistake of not measuring twice and cutting once! (Murphy would be proud).
Bring back in the buckets, garbage cans et al. I drain the tank again, by now the fish hate me and will never speak to me again! What do I do now? It's a glued PVC joint that is glued into a double Y fitting with 1" spa flex hose.........I dry the joint and since PVC glue "welds" the joints I clean it up real good, primer it and glue the schieze out of it. Hmmmm did I get enough on it? I'll add another coat, and another, just in case (Murphy is REALLY proud now) ohhhh don't forget the silicon on top of that (I'm an engineer {a bad one, but one just the same} so I build redundance into things) I let it set up and this time, I turned on the CLM as soon as the water was above the upper inlet bulkhead (no pressure on the joint, just flow, right?)
Yeahooooooo no leaks. I looked at that puppy for at least an hour checking for drips and dreading the "Law" that I knew was bound to take effect.
I am happy to report, that as of this morning, no more drips, I didn't have to repace the sump/fuge, I got all my lights working, and the fish seem to be wanting to dialog, especially since I am using food as a bribe! More pix to come once the tank clears.
Sunday I get up and there is still water on the edge of the sump/fuge. I had been troubleshooting, in my mind, what might be wrong Sat night and it hit me to check for leaks at the fittings. Maybe something is dripping? (I had checked everything with 1/2 tank and then <3/4 tank with no issues) Ahhh hahhhh!! my return to the sump is dripping where I didn't glue in the pipe at the bottom 45* elbow (had to be able to remove the pipe so I could remove the sump, if need be) I pushed it all the way in and wiped it down but it still was dripping.
I looked up and schieze and according to Murphy's law, my lowest intake to the CLM is dripping at the threaded fitting into the bulkhead. *** I taped the crap out of it and tightned it as much as I could. I wiped it and sure enough, another drip. Dammmmnit, is there a sealant that workes while wet???? I will try some silicon on it, maybe that will work. NOT!!!
In come the 35 gallon trash cans, a 10 gallon hospital tank, 4 5 gallon buckets and a siphon tube. I start draining with the Boss there to supervise. (make sure I don't spill any more water on her painted concrete floor that I already damaged on Friday)
Actually, I have to be honest, she helped me a lot on Sunday, thanks Honey!!!!
We got everything drained below the intake and I had to remove the nut off the bulkhead so I could remove the bulkhead and fitting to see what was leaking. The dual threaded fitting was threaded all the way into 90* fitting at the back of the bulkhead. The only thing I could think of was to add more teflon tape over the entire threaded fitting and tighten it as much as possible. For good measure, I added a bead of silicon to the base of the 90* and bulkhead to make sure it sealed up. (water was out so no pressure on the seal now) I waited about 20 minutes and started adding water back to the tank, checking the seal for leaks. Nothing, I am good to go!!!!
But wait, Murphy's law states "If anything can go wrong, it will and, at the most in-opertune time and in the worst location and possible way!" A sleeve that I had to make to fit the 1" spa flex hose must have gotten tweaked when I was dorking around with that fitting and it had developed a leak on top. Boys and Girls, the lesson here is that when gluing PVC, there is no such thing as too much glue in your fittings, especially, if you are having to fix and earlier mistake of not measuring twice and cutting once! (Murphy would be proud).
Bring back in the buckets, garbage cans et al. I drain the tank again, by now the fish hate me and will never speak to me again! What do I do now? It's a glued PVC joint that is glued into a double Y fitting with 1" spa flex hose.........I dry the joint and since PVC glue "welds" the joints I clean it up real good, primer it and glue the schieze out of it. Hmmmm did I get enough on it? I'll add another coat, and another, just in case (Murphy is REALLY proud now) ohhhh don't forget the silicon on top of that (I'm an engineer {a bad one, but one just the same} so I build redundance into things) I let it set up and this time, I turned on the CLM as soon as the water was above the upper inlet bulkhead (no pressure on the joint, just flow, right?)
Yeahooooooo no leaks. I looked at that puppy for at least an hour checking for drips and dreading the "Law" that I knew was bound to take effect.
I am happy to report, that as of this morning, no more drips, I didn't have to repace the sump/fuge, I got all my lights working, and the fish seem to be wanting to dialog, especially since I am using food as a bribe! More pix to come once the tank clears.
normanviking
New member
Wow that sucks. Glad you got all working though. Hows your ankle now? You can take glued PVC apart though. Just use heat. I have taken many apart with my propane torch. I too am friends with Murphy's law. lol
normanviking
New member
Works very easy. lol One of those thing I came across doing when I was getting frustrated. I was trying to take all these old fittings apart So I could use the pumps and other thing that were all glues together. After breaking alot of the fitting and a pump cover for an Iwasaki, I thought I would try heat. Heated the glued peice all over for two to three minutes and just pulled it apart. No more broken stuff. I was thrilled, lol
murfman
New member
Some actinic pix;
full tank view
right side with zoos and anemmonae
right center, more zoos and softies,
center, I think I am loosing my monti cap. Notice the white moving from the edges in.
left side with my SPS
Enchinata, Acan Lord, Orange Ric
left front with purple Monti Cap and Candy Cane
full tank view
right side with zoos and anemmonae
right center, more zoos and softies,
center, I think I am loosing my monti cap. Notice the white moving from the edges in.
left side with my SPS
Enchinata, Acan Lord, Orange Ric
left front with purple Monti Cap and Candy Cane
murfman
New member
Don't know, can't say it was because of being out of water at the purple cap was out of the water too, maybe it was out longer than the purple.
ReefKoi, there is a good amount of flow through out the tank. I wish there was a little more over the SPS but it may just be a matter of finding the pefect spot to place the nozzles.
reefkoi
Premium Member
yeah you'll have to keep tweaking those nozzles, I have too much in spots and not enough in others but there is plenty on tap its just a matter of getting them all in the right spot, and make sure none point at each other, that just about cancels out the flow from what i've researched.
C
C
IsThisNameTaken?
New member
Are those rics the ones that I gave to you? They look to have colored up a bit if so. This tank is awesome!
