Custom 160 Build Thread - Finally!!
- Thread starter Jgoal55
- Start date
Jgoal55
Active member
haha, thats the funny part. between the skimmer and the bottom of the display tank there is actually about 20". I can pretty much crawl into the left side open space and then almost completely sit up (i am short
)As for the skimmer stand, thats what that acrylic you see is for. I am going to build a stand at 5" which will sit the skimmer in 9" of water. I'll still have plenty of room to remove the skimmer cup from the side, but not from the front. The bigger worry is every having to service/clean the return pump.....
Jgoal55
Active member
Hopefully minor! thanks.
Jgoal55
Active member
Hey guys.....
Im thinking about cutting the sump as shown in the pics below. Basically I would cut along the red line in the images. Im thinking this would minimize cutting (as opposed to doing the whole perimeter) and I would also avoid cutting the bracing.
It would of course give me much better access to the sump through the front. The sides and back of the sump can stay at 24"
What do you guys think?
Im thinking about cutting the sump as shown in the pics below. Basically I would cut along the red line in the images. Im thinking this would minimize cutting (as opposed to doing the whole perimeter) and I would also avoid cutting the bracing.
It would of course give me much better access to the sump through the front. The sides and back of the sump can stay at 24"
What do you guys think?
Jgoal55
Active member
As of now im running an internal pump. Im too worried about the noise level of an external with the tank being so close to my TV.
Luckily, because the back of the sump is right up against the back of the stand, and because the stand is 6 inches off the wall I can actually reach the return pump section quite easily from the back.
Luckily, because the back of the sump is right up against the back of the stand, and because the stand is 6 inches off the wall I can actually reach the return pump section quite easily from the back.
Jgoal55
Active member
talk to the builder today and he said itd be no problem to cut those two openings on the front panel. Its pretty incredible what a difference 3 inches will make as far as room to work goes.
Other thing I figured out is that because one side of the sump is now going to be shorter, IF for whatever reason a sump overflow occurs (which I really think will be impossible in my tank w/ 3 1.5" drains) the water is only going to come out one side of the sump. Now you might think not a big deal, but I would definitely prefer that water only flow out one side than 4. If you catch it in time it's definitely an easier clean up job.
Other thing I figured out is that because one side of the sump is now going to be shorter, IF for whatever reason a sump overflow occurs (which I really think will be impossible in my tank w/ 3 1.5" drains) the water is only going to come out one side of the sump. Now you might think not a big deal, but I would definitely prefer that water only flow out one side than 4. If you catch it in time it's definitely an easier clean up job.
Jgoal55
Active member
lol..thanks. been there done that. Its horrible.
What I am most concerned with when it comes to a sump overflowing is not the sump filling up with DT water (especially in my tank since I have 3 1.5" drain pipes), its the ATO overflowing the sump if the float switch fails.
Of course I have a dual float switch so Id have to have some real bad luck for both of them to go but it still worries me. I could obviously make my ATO no bigger than what the sump can hold but then I'll be refilling every 3 days and that doesn't sound like fun either especially when I go on a trip.
Im going to add a leak alarm to this system that makes an audible sound and also that emails me if there is a problem. And Im going to see if I can add a 3rd fail safe to the ATO.
I thinkif you do a 3 stage fail safe you should pretty much cover yourself but I have to agree with Murphys Law because that is what happens to me also. You know when you are doing something and you say in your head what will happen and you do it anyway because you think the chances are to slim of it happening and it happens anyway, that's me.
Jgoal55
Active member
LOL....thats exactly how my first flood in my apartment last year happened. I had a float valve on my ATO container and I would always connect the Ro/DI to it and then set a timer so I would remember to check it so the float valve was more of a fail safe.
Well one night i was so low on water that I said to myself ill juts plug it and go to sleep. The float valve has worked every time why would it work now? sure enough I woke up in the morning to about 12 gallons of water all over my carpet. Luckily it was FW.
Well one night i was so low on water that I said to myself ill juts plug it and go to sleep. The float valve has worked every time why would it work now? sure enough I woke up in the morning to about 12 gallons of water all over my carpet. Luckily it was FW.
Jgoal55
Active member
I was finally able o go pick up the sump today with the modification. It's amazing how much more room 3 inches gives you.
Manny at Aquarama did an awesome job and made it look like it was designed just like that.
I put a pic for comparison so you can see how much more room I have with the 3 inches.
Also, the last pic s the doors that we finally got done. I still haven't bought the hinges so its not permanently on there yet.
Enjoy!
Old
New - More Room
Door
Manny at Aquarama did an awesome job and made it look like it was designed just like that.
I put a pic for comparison so you can see how much more room I have with the 3 inches.
Also, the last pic s the doors that we finally got done. I still haven't bought the hinges so its not permanently on there yet.
Enjoy!
Old
New - More Room
Door
Jgoal55
Active member
Another small update (im trying to keep up with Elisa here ...lol)
I just finished putting together this little skimmer stand with some left over acrylic. Its my first acrylic gluing job and after one little mishap using way too much of the Weld-On, it went well the rest of the way. Thanks to Brett for the pointers on how to work with that stuff. Oh yeah, and even though the pics make it look that way, its not a solid box.....it's open on two sides but still thinking of drilling some holes in it for fun.
Skimmer Stand:
Skimmer on Stand:
I just finished putting together this little skimmer stand with some left over acrylic. Its my first acrylic gluing job and after one little mishap using way too much of the Weld-On, it went well the rest of the way. Thanks to Brett for the pointers on how to work with that stuff. Oh yeah, and even though the pics make it look that way, its not a solid box.....it's open on two sides but still thinking of drilling some holes in it for fun.
Skimmer Stand:
Skimmer on Stand:
gasman059
The OG mad scientist
Jorge yes . The regular one to fix and use them 16 to run a bead thru secure it.
nice going!
