I've got the 45g, need your help, input, advice!

I second not drilling a 10 gal.

It was the first tank I tried.... I blew the whole pane out in one shot becuase it was so thin and brittle.

Scared the hell out of me too. sounded like a bomb going off when it blew.
 
I'm confused. Where did the 10 gallon being drilled enter into this equation. I thought a 10 gallon had the wrng type of glass (plate vs. tempered or vice versa) to be drilled anyway.
My sump is a 29 gallon and the glass company who drilled it for me had a heck of a time drilling it.
Probably best being safe and just using a large fiberglass stock tank in your basement (hint, hint)
 
Jason mentioned something a few back about not doing 10gals. So, naturally, I chimed in. Plus, I think it was tempered the way it exploded.

I drilled four 29s not to long ago and had no problems. They were AGA's I picked up at petco during their sale.

Stock tanks are good for the large water capcaity at a low price. but, they are difficult to baffle properly.
 
OK boys and girls... here's where we're at...

Jessica dropped her tank off yesterday... I'm gonna try to get to it as fast as I can...But I was shocked, I thought we were still talking about a bow front here. A 46 gallon standard is like a extra hi-29... It's not going to have enough room to but my usual top to bottom overflow in, so we discussed a Calfo style with dual drains to put Jessica's mind at ease.

The box will only hang out into the tank by 3" but down about 5" and will not go quite from end to end.. I'll leave enough room for a scraper or so...

The returns will be under the overflow box, and will require a check valve. I think she should get the same one that Scooter has. He has a very good point... And I like it alot. I figure because of the extra height this tank has, the returns would be pretty uneffective getting stronger jets of water to the bottom... but I feel that by moving these down the back wall a bit... this flow would be more adequate...

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Jessica, do you want to d a spraybar down near the bottom like my tank? (Where the opt 2 box is..) I could run one line in the center, and you could use a "T" and run it just about the width of the overflow... this could also be done where it says opt 1 and then run down to your height you like and then run into a spraybar... if you didn't want it in the beginning, you could plumb it from behind and put a cap in it for now in the tank...

Everything checked out from allglass this morning, and with your approval of the drawing I can order glass and drill... you could pickup by friday...

So, to recap, incase I was unclear...

1) Approve the placement of the 4 holes as we discussed... 4 Bulkheads @~5.50 each=22.00

2) Yes or no on the hole at opt 1 or 2 in if yes, which one do you like...#1 or #2? This would add about 5$ tot he cost for another bulkhead. (I say do it and go with the one in the position #2, but it's your tank)

3) We talked berifly about (lets call them) overflow box drainage wings... After some thought I would recommend passing on these... they would bevel the bottom of the box toward the center... I think they'd be mor of a pain than thier worth, you box would need to be a inch or so deeper. Are you cool with leaving this off?

4) You mentioned you like that "shelf" for frags and stuff from the bottom lip of the overflow... should I add 1 1/4" lip for you... or just make it clean looking, no shelf for frags...

5) I was thinking... I have some scrap 1/4" black glass already. I can cut the end pcs for you... this would save a few $. I dont think you need the bottom of the box black... you could use plain clear, so that you can see live stuff better when it makes it in there... are you cool with this? This would mean glass would cost about (guestimate here) 20-25$??? wendy will call me back after lunch...

I estimate if you do it the way I was thinking (with the extra hole), 50-60$ plus a bit for an additional tube of silicone... that would include bulkheads, glass and silicone... and you could get it out by this weekend.

Jason
 
Just a thought. Why not put the returns to either side of the overflow? Maybe not enough room? Under the box won't they be dfficult to adjust as well as lowering the overll height that the rockwork can be placed at?
 
1) Approve the placement of the 4 holes as we discussed... 4 Bulkheads @~5.50 each=22.00

yes, approved.

2) Yes or no on the hole at opt 1 or 2 in if yes, which one do you like...#1 or #2? This would add about 5$ tot he cost for another bulkhead. (I say do it and go with the one in the position #2, but it's your tank)

I like spraybars, but I worry that it will blow all my sand into a heap... or if I have my rocks piled in front of the spraybar, wouldn't it reduce the effectiveness? I do like the option tho, since the tank is so deep I think that would greatly increase flow at the bottom. Yeah lets do it, you know best and I'm sure you can instruct me on how to angle the spraybar to maximize effectiveness.

3) We talked berifly about (lets call them) overflow box drainage wings... After some thought I would recommend passing on these... they would bevel the bottom of the box toward the center... I think they'd be mor of a pain than thier worth, you box would need to be a inch or so deeper. Are you cool with leaving this off?

pass on those, I'm cool with leaving them off.

4) You mentioned you like that "shelf" for frags and stuff from the bottom lip of the overflow... should I add 1 1/4" lip for you... or just make it clean looking, no shelf for frags...

you know, I think I'll pass on this, thanks.

5) I was thinking... I have some scrap 1/4" black glass already. I can cut the end pcs for you... this would save a few $. I dont think you need the bottom of the box black... you could use plain clear, so that you can see live stuff better when it makes it in there... are you cool with this? This would mean glass would cost about (guestimate here) 20-25$??? wendy will call me back after lunch...

anytime I can save $ it is a good thing, thanks! Clear bottom is fine, yes.

I estimate if you do it the way I was thinking (with the extra hole), 50-60$ plus a bit for an additional tube of silicone... that would include bulkheads, glass and silicone... and you could get it out by this weekend.

that's fine. I assume you found that silly cone in the 20g? Whether it's good or not, I don't know, but I figured I'd bring it.

Thank you so much Jason for all of your time, your work and your PATIENCE with me!!! :D
 
J

what are the adv./dissadv. of having an overflow that runs from the top to the bottom of the tank? Personally, looks wise the Calfo seems to be better giving increased floor space. Does the longer water travel path of the top to bottome style buy you anything?
 
Logically Speaking.... The increased overflow linel inch of skimming power of the Calfo is more desireable.... The only advantage I can come up with on having it go to the bottom is either more time for the water to fall and build up in the case of jessica's worried backup of water and flooding... mine can run plugged for almost 2 weeks. So, I guess it'll buy you some time and "wiggle room".

Jon, I thought of that, but if we use the "snakey stuff..." (LOC-LINE) we could work the exhaust vents out thru or rocks around them... I dreamed up the additional spray bar last night... Thought it was a great idea to get flow behind the rock work in such a deep tank. It doesn't have to be just a straight bar either, some creativity could be used.... I really like the idea a the sqwd, for alternating right and left flow, and excess water flow (constant) could be bled off thru the spray bar.

I ordered the glass, should be in wed/thur.... if I can get it done this week Jessica, can you or your husband pick it up by this weekend? (ie: before I leave - I'm affraid my garage is croweded and I don't want it to get broke..)



J
 
Well, Setback #1... The doofs at Fleet Farm show 8 each of the fittings in stock, but none on the shelf....

I have a standing order... and won't put hole 1 in untill I can garuntee putting a fitting in it...

J
 
take your time Jason, Fleet, that's what they do! Somehow they know ahead of time the one item you're going in there for, and that's the one thing they won't have... works every time.

Just put the tank in the Prix and I'll take the whole thing... lol! I can run in saturday morning if that would be ok? Otherwise friday after work is my only other option. :)
 
STOP!

Setback #1... I cannot proceed untill I have another approval and decision... My standard practice is to clean the tank spotless with iisopropl Alchohol. The same stuff I used this weekend while you were over... I choose the worst side and that becomes your back... well, you have a decision to make... I wont drill till I hear from you on this one. You are a photo geek like me, and this will drive you nuts... not to mention I don't wanna put all that time and money into it and tick you off when it's done... bit this is what you brought me...After I spent an hour and a half cleaning the adheasive tape off the glass, (packing tape and scotch tape...)

We'll call this Side A - this covers 2/3rds to 3/4 of the bottom front.... just immagine this centered and up about 4.5-5.5" accross the first large side... Pretty much could slide your hand with your thumb along that plastic rail, and your palm would cover these. If your going DSB, this wont be tooooo bad... but forget trying to take an award winning photo of something like my frags in the bottom front of the glass..
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The rest of pannel A above this is relatively blemish free.

Lets Call this guy Pannel B. This bad boy is littered with about 1/2 dozen small blemishes... nothing in the lower belt like the opposite side, but it does have these...
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About the size of a dollar folded in half... relatively IN THE CENTER of the viewing plane... and 2-3 of these guys...
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That just gets us warmed up... you have your short ends with these guys...
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and the other side with this...
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So, pick a side.... to be your front or back. go with the future DSB and cover most of the scratches with a 4" sand bed... or do you want to work around the scratches in the pannel B as your taking photos...?


Well, Setback #2... The doofs at Fleet Farm show 8 each of the fittings in stock, but none on the shelf....

I have a standing order... and won't put hole 1 in untill I can garuntee putting a fitting in it...

Sorry. I know this fudges up everything... I expect a call from Fleet by mid day tomorrow or I'm calling the mgr... his people have been looking for 3 days now... I may have to drive accross town... but I wont even do that till you eyeball the above a and b pannels, cuz I can't afford to get stck folding the bag on this one.

J
 
holy fright! I'm thinking side B would be the better choice for the front... but that mess on the bottom on side A, that won't cause any trouble when drilling, will it?
If not then I choose side B for the front.
 
No, the drill will pound right thru, you just get to look at all that... Or thru it.

I think that b should be the front to, but thought you needed to know, your gonna wrestle with your camera and those scratches...

ok?

J
 
that's fine, thanks for being so detailed! My 38g has some scratches too, and as much as I move my corals around I'm sure it'll be fine. ;) nite!
 
I wish I could get one of those old blinking cursers to do this but oh well... I found bulkheads, drilling tonight...


Please stand by....
 
Ever have that weird erie feeling that your gut's trying to tell you something... like.... hey... there's no tag on this tank tant says your drilling into an ALL GLASS tank or Perfecto tank... thats how I ended up with a 55 gallon fuge...


Drilling now, everyone hold their breath for Jessica... Cuz I dont wanna vac up glass in my garage....
 
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