My 300 gallon acrylic tank

[steve the plumb]

No I have not done a search for one yet.Is it easy to build and my concern would be what if I didn't build it well.I will take a look on the DIY forum

 

[jnarowe]

Liek I said, it's really just a simple reactor with a glass tube in it.

 

[steve the plumb]

Since I am not a paying member I can't use the search engine.I should join up since I am on here so often.

 

[Hop]

Log onto the home screen. On the left hand side is a button for "search tools". It brings up a google screen with the option of "searching RC only". Works pretty well and I have never seen it bog down like RC does at times

 

[steve the plumb]

Thanks hop I did that but it was hard to find some good info.I will try again.I lost 2 fish my dam niger trigger killed my small clown fish and a goby.I will try to catch him and place him in the sump.I was mad because he didn't bother any fish I guess they moved slow so he ate them,or at least tried to.I have kept one before with no problems.

 

[steve the plumb]

I got the Stock man pipes and what a difference its so quiet no more splashing.I could have made this myself but I didn't want to bother.You set the water level by adjusting the pipes(up and down) I have it so that the water falls around 1/2" or so from the overflow.You do hear a little bit of splashing but its nothing compared to before.

 

[pcostanzo]

Thanks Hop. That search works good when you can't access the search page.

 

[michika]

I would be careful about the stock man pipe. I have now lost two fish because they got caught in the coupling. They jumped over my overflow guard and then got sucked in.

 

[steve the plumb]

Well my overflow goes almost to the top of my tank there is very little room for a fish to get in there.My tank is acrylic and the top goes all around.If you look in this pic there isn't enough room for a fish to get over the overflow

 

[steve the plumb]

there is less than 1/4" space between the top of the tank to the top of the overflow.

 

[michika]

Mine was like that as well. Then I put eggcrate around the top and about 0.5" out of the water. Needless to say neither worked... although my bad experiences probably won't dictate that you have similar ones.

 

[FUA]

are you saying that the bracing is over top of the overflow??? How will you get in there if you need to do anything in the overflow??? or is there a way to get in there???

 

[steve the plumb]

There is an opening for the overflow but for a fish to jump and getin there is very hard the teeth pretty much go all the way to the top I mean there is a small gap but man I would really have to be unlucky for a fish to jump(be small enough to pass threw it) and get stuck in there.I can see a small eel doing it

 

[steve the plumb]

I looked at it again there is a distance of 1/16 or 1/8 between the top of the teeth and the tank there is no way a fish can get in there its to small a gap so I don't think anything but a small snail can get in there.I took some pic of the stockman pipe installed.You can only see the top of it.The only thing I don't like is that it sticks out of the tank

 

[steve the plumb]

 

[steve the plumb]

I put a piece of plexi glass over the top and cut two squares out its not the neatest job.I don't think I need it but I cut the original cover that came with it and it cracked so I just put this for now.I will probably take it off when I add my lights

 

[michika]

When I saw the photos, there was a lightbulb that went on in my head. On the top of my single overflow pipe I don't have the lip or edge from the reducer/end cap that you do. That is where my fish get into the pipe. Then they die because they get piped shaped, and that doesn't really work for fish.

Any progress on getting your lights and your other goodies home with you?

 

[steve the plumb]

those are 3" couplings and the pipe is inside and they have notches cut out so its hard for anything to get in plus there is no room from the top of my tank so I know there won't be a fish death because of these things.I do wonder how often you have to check them for any food that might get stuck inside.The notches are pretty big I should take the thing apart to show people.The lights have arrived but my skimmer pump and cup didn't get there because they were sent to the wrong address.The body got to my cousin's house but there isn't much I can do with that.My skimmer guy contacted DHL who gave him the persons name and phone number but the guy didn't answer the phone.I am wondering how long it will take to get the stuff back.I hope he gives it back or there will be a problem.My skimmer guy won't be to happy if he has to get me another pump plus build me another cup.He has pretty much made no money from this skimmer build.

 

[michika]

I forgot, what did you pick up for lights?

I hope everything turns out with your skimmer.

 

[steve the plumb]

My skimmer guy spoke to me.The skimmer pump and cup went to someone that My friend knows.When I bought my tank I was going to have it shipped to Dexter New York.My buddy has a friend there and we were going to pick up the tank and drive it back.What happened was for $100 more the freight company found someone to bring it directly to my house.I paid $404 to ship the tank to my house(place it in the garage) instead of $300 and me having to drive 3 hrs and pick it up.The skimmer guy gave me the wrong name when he contacted me so I had no clue who this person was.He gave me the correct name today via e-mail so DHL will go pick up the parcel and deliver it to my cousin's house.I will drive there in 2 weeks(wife can get a day off)I ordered custom lights 2 x 48" units each unit has 2x 150watt MH bulbs plus 4x 54 watt T5 bulbs and moon lights.The unit has fans,individual reflectors for the T5 and separate plugs.My skimmer guy has a contact in California and he built the lights for me according to what I wanted.I am not overdriving the T5 bulbs he recommended not to.I didn't specify which ballast I wanted I mentioned I wanted a good quality ballast.I didn't see any pics of the lights so I hope they are nice.The price was very good considering all the lights that I looked at.I looked at the maristar $1000 each fixture,Guissmen $1500 per fixture,Photon $2200 per fixture.Everything was very expensive.If I had the money I would have bought the Photon(Grotech makes them) I also looked at T5 only I wanted the ATI and was on the list but I waited so long that I gave up and then they called me but I already ordered my lights ATI powermoduale was $1100 per fixture I also looked at the solar flare $800 per fixture.These were all no bulbs included.I paid $500 per fixture with bulbs.My skimmer guy got me a great deal now how good they are is another story.I do believe you get what you pay for.They are built in the USA and my skimmer guy told me this guy makes nice stuff and he owed him a few favors so he bargained with him to get me a good deal.I have to say that Shaun from ORCA has been very good to me.He is a very nice guy and went way out of his way to help me and so far he got me the tank witch i am very happy with.Built me a skimmer witch looks great for a good price and he got me the lights.I will take pics of everything when I get it.It will be an early Christmas for Steve the plumb