Custom In-Wall 150 Project

[conda]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6847666#post6847666 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by smleee
Back to the top! Nice to see the rocks going in Conda, I could not find anything about the thickness of the glass for you tank, how thick is it?

The glass is 3/4" thick.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6848669#post6848669 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Jon
Anyway, could I ask you a favor? I'm getting a new tank built soon and had some concerns about how far the bulkhead connections stick out behind the tank. Could you measure how far yours stick out (glass to outside of PVC elbow) and note bulkhead size. I only have 14" behind tank to the wall and I want to get a feel if I could reasonably walk behind for service and not accidently hit/break one.

I just measured from the glass to the 1.5" intake for the CL, which is the farthest out. It is 6" from glass to the end of the Ball Valve. My ball valves are turned in, so it would be more if I had them out.

On a side note, I had to cut my flow back to almost half tonight since my Durso pipes started acting up again. One pipe was taking all the flow, leaving nothing for the other pipe. Once I cut the flow back, it seemed to be OK. Here I go again! :mad2:

 

[conda]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6852792#post6852792 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dtaranath
He's the other guy.

Well, I'm sure I'll run into you sooner or later, my family is always sick.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6852792#post6852792 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dtaranath any new pics of your current aquascaping?

Sure! The aquascaping is getting better. I think the right side is done, my wife won't let me touch it, so I am assuming it's ok. The left side needs some adjustmet to block the CL flow from moving the sand around the front glass, but it is getting there.

Not the greatest pics, but what do you think? There is a cave on the bottom right that cannot be seen in this pic, but it is there and probably the best cave of them all.

 

[bheron]

I think it looks great. Dont touch a thing!!

 

[cerreta]

It looks great, now for the corals. . . fill that thing up! If you get a piece of coral on a big rock that won't fit well with the current layout, try placing it between the two caves on the left portion of the right rock formation. Place it against the rock (keeping caves open) with the other end towards the front glass. This would have a nice effect and break up the linear portion of the rock wall. I have done this several times in my tank when adding a new colony on a big rock.

What kind of sand are you using?

 

[melev]

I just read another thread yesterday, where one drain was a Durso, and the other was a little lower in the overflow box and looked like a open funnel. This method seemingly worked and didn't cause the issues you are dealing with.

However, I have an idea that might work perhaps. See if you can get a piece of 1/4" or 3/8" acrylic, and cut it to fit exactly in the overflow box to divide it in two halves. See if that makes each Durso operate independently.

 

[Ocean Image]

Things are coming along good. Keep it up.

FYI, the glass is 1/2" thick.

 

[conda]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6862503#post6862503 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ocean Image
Things are coming along good. Keep it up.

FYI, the glass is 1/2" thick.

Ooops. Thanks for the correction. I guess 3/4" would be rather thick.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6861267#post6861267 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
I just read another thread yesterday, where one drain was a Durso, and the other was a little lower in the overflow box and looked like a open funnel. This method seemingly worked and didn't cause the issues you are dealing with.

Do you have a link to that thread? Please PM that to me, I'd like to check it out.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6861267#post6861267 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
However, I have an idea that might work perhaps. See if you can get a piece of 1/4" or 3/8" acrylic, and cut it to fit exactly in the overflow box to divide it in two halves. See if that makes each Durso operate independently.

I was thinking the same thing last night. I may try this and was thinking of emailing chris for some help. I was going to ask him for a divider with some egg crate glued in there to block jumpers.

 

[conda]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6861226#post6861226 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cerreta
It looks great, now for the corals. . . fill that thing up! If you get a piece of coral on a big rock that won't fit well with the current layout, try placing it between the two caves on the left portion of the right rock formation. Place it against the rock (keeping caves open) with the other end towards the front glass. This would have a nice effect and break up the linear portion of the rock wall. I have done this several times in my tank when adding a new colony on a big rock.

What kind of sand are you using?

I'm using Arganite sand, Aragalive in the fuge, and still have two bags of Aragalive to put in the display.

Now that I have picutures of my current rock layout, I may still change it like the person suggested on the last page. I will curve the left side of the rock wall to make a cove. Then I can move the tall rocks on the left of the tank over to block the CL from messing up my sand.

I do have a 12" long by 5" wide rock with a coral covering the top of it that the clowns like to hide in. Funny, I don't even know what kind of coral it is. It's green with very thin strands coming out of it--lol, how's that for a description. Anyway, I need to find a place for it, and your idea may just work.

Also, I got my new heater and check valve yesturday. I bought a clear check valve like the one that Jarhed used on his tank. I'm going to place this on the return so the Sea Swirl does not drain back 15 gallons when the power goes off. I know Marc hates them because they can fail, but they only fail in one direction right? Since my sump can handle the drain, if it fails, it should be no big deal.

 

[melev]

You won't need eggcrate. Just enough to cause a division. Don't make it taller than the overflow box, in case one drain isn't able to keep up. I'd make it 1" taller than the current water level in your outer box, and even if it leaks a tiny bit, that doesn't matter. You just want to create a 50/50 division so each Durso has to do its job independently.

 

[conda]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6864624#post6864624 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
You won't need eggcrate. Just enough to cause a division. Don't make it taller than the overflow box, in case one drain isn't able to keep up. I'd make it 1" taller than the current water level in your outer box, and even if it leaks a tiny bit, that doesn't matter. You just want to create a 50/50 division so each Durso has to do its job independently.

The eggcrate is not for the divider, that would be for where the water enters the overflow to keep snails and fish out. See this pic below:

It's hard to see, but where the water is entering, there is alot of space where snails and fish can get into the overflow. This is where I want the eggcrate. I was going to glue some gutter guard, but could not get it to work.

Chris is coming next Saturday to do this for me. He is going to super glue an acrylic divider--so I do not have to keep the water off for long--which will split the Dursos, then add eggcrate for where the water enters the overflow--to keep snails and fish out. He also stated, like you did, that the divider needs to be kept lower than the overflow, which makes perfect sense.

By the way Marc, do you remember this post many pages back in this thread?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6053261#post6053261 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
Also, I put a piece of acrylic under my stand so that the skimmer's moisture and occasional skimmate didn't get the stand wet. You could probably put cloroplast in there quite easily. That is the stuff cheap signs are made of, and it is sold by the sheet at any hobby store in a variety of colors. One day I gotta get a piece and put some pictures on my site so I can show people what I'm talking about.

Did you ever put pictures on your site regarding this idea you were trying to explain to me?

 

[melev]

Hmm. I might have a picture. That tank was taken down and sold 1.5 years ago.

 

[melev]

Okay, this will be hard to see, but look right over the skimmer's collection cup.

 

[conda]

I see it, that should be easy. Why did you have your skimmer tube up and over the collection cup?

---------

One a totally different note: check out some of the the posts I found regarding Melev while reviewing previous pages: :lol:

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6063578#post6063578 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jarhed
... and God bless him for that!!! ......... whoever this "Melev" guy is..

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6069762#post6069762 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bheron
Conda - I agree. I have absolutely zero input in this area, so I've been keeping quiet. But, youve got two things in your favor 1) Time and 2) Melev.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6069556#post6069556 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by aural
Marc is a god among men. Mortals cannot accomplish such a feat.

What I am trying to say is, thanks again for all the help and input you provide to us not so knowledgeable folk. :thumbsup:

And finally, this is one for a signature:

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6064164#post6064164 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
Crawl back into bed, pull the covers over your head, and pray for a tomorrow.

LMAO, I love that one!

 

[melev]

:lol: When the heck did I write that one?

The reason I pointed the tubing up is because I didn't want any skimmate pouring out of the cup. It was an easy fix, without having to modify anything. As you probably know, I clean out the collection cup and riser tube daily. So it never collected too much for the cup to handle.

 

[conda]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6864978#post6864978 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
:lol: When the heck did I write that one?

All those quotes were around page 5, early on in the thread. You posted that around the time my plumbing was driving me nuts.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6864978#post6864978 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
The reason I pointed the tubing up is because I didn't want any skimmate pouring out of the cup. It was an easy fix, without having to modify anything. As you probably know, I clean out the collection cup and riser tube daily. So it never collected too much for the cup to handle.

Oh, good idea. I have mine going into a jug right now, then the jug can overflow into the intake section of the sump if it ever gets that high.

 

[conda]

Cleaning Crew Time?

Cleaning Crew Time?

Well, it's been three weeks since I added the first batch of live rock. Two weeks since the second batch. Now I have three more rocks to add from my 55 and I'm done the aquascaping--hopefully this weekend.

Any suggestions on a cleaning crew? The rock and sand have alot of matter that needs to be "cleaned/moved" that the current does not get to.

I was thinking of throwing Butch and Baker in there, those are my huge hermits that rule my 55. But I still have no light and do not know when I will get one.

Ideas? Suggestions?

 

[melev]

Lots of snails, better sooner than later.

 

[conda]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6865928#post6865928 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
Lots of snails, better sooner than later.

What do you mean by lots? What kind would you put in there?

 

[melev]

The tank is 150g, so you need 150 snails. Now before your wallet shrinks back in horror, consider a group buy rather than a trip to the LFS.

Ceriths, Astreas, and nassarius will all do a good job. A tigertail cucumber you can buy locally. Tiny hermit crabs would be good as well.

keyscritters.com - gotta spend $100 minimum, and shipping is about $60.
**************** - cheaper and geared toward individual orders
ebay - you get what you paid for

Edit = I guess you aren't allowed to post that vendor. Wierd.

 

[gkarshens]

I just did a clean up crew from liverockandmore.com I am very happy with it and the guy threw in free extras.