my 90g braceless build

Hey tiger, that's an awesome tank! I think you did an amazing job on the sump, too.

Only question I have so far is about the skimmer... I have an ER skimmer, too, but it isn't recirculating. It looks to me like you still need to add some sort of feed pump to the skimmer so it doesn't just keep recirculating the same water over and over. Is that correct?

Stand and "pendant" look awesome, too. I think you're really going to like the way the OM units work. I currently have the Super Squirt and love the way it moves the flow around the tank.

Keep the updates coming!

-Scott
 
Nice start! Did you get that bottle with the needle with your Weld-On? Or did you get it at a store? Cause I can't find them anywhere locally

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12812832#post12812832 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scbauer
Only question I have so far is about the skimmer... I have an ER skimmer, too, but it isn't recirculating. It looks to me like you still need to add some sort of feed pump to the skimmer so it doesn't just keep recirculating the same water over and over. Is that correct?
Click to expand...

With a recirculating skimmer... you can either add a pump, to pump water in. Or you can gravity feed it from your overflow. Each skimmer has a specific rating to how many gph you need to feed it with.
 
great build!
I just put my sump together. The bottle I got with the weld-on seemed like a joke, as it poured out like water (on the test pcs of course). After much searching, I finally got a syringe, man was that better!

I'm still learning as I go, but arent those teeth really high up in the sump?
 
Scott, thanks for the reply on the thread! Im def digging the way it is coming along...its just taking forever and I cant wait to get water in the tank.

As far as the skimmer goes you are correct. I need to figure out how Im going to feed it. Im pretty set on a gravity feed directly from one of my overflows. Im thinking I want to split one of them up to feed the fuge skimmmer and a couple phosban reactors and then have the otehr feed directly into a filter sock in the skimmer section.

Angelo at my local plastic store they offer these little bottles for like a buck...I would def stick with sk8rreefgeek on the syringe thing, this one leaked all over the place but it did the job! I could have bought some thicker weldon and not had that problem I guess...if you cant find them locally try this
http://cgi.ebay.com/Solvent-Cement-...VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247

sk8rreefgeek you should throw up some pics of yoru sump! I would love to see how it came out...I had the same problem with the weldon coming out too fast! I have a few drops and runs that you can see when up close. As far as the teeth on the fuge it will put the level at about 13" in the fuge area. I wanted to get as much volume out of the fuge as possible. I have plenty of room in the sump for power outages so there shouldnt be anything to worry about...I hope :)
 
sounds good. I was trying to decide how tall to make my baffles to get the most volume too. I'll put some pics up soon, it just passed the leak test yesterday (stoked) It's still going to be a while before I can glue in the baffles because I'm waiting to order my skimmer, and get everything dialed in.
You can tell the quality of my "welds" got much better toward the end. Also, it's a sump, so I wasn't too concerned about being perfect. but it came out nice.

the woodwork on your setup looks sweet
 
thanks man! It was my first real DIY project so I had alot of scraps when it was all said and done ;) but it came out just like I planned...I think I might take the tank off and slap a few more coats of poly on it just for the heck of it
 
Im about to order half of my plumbing and was wondering if there is anything that you guys think I may need in addition to this order. for now I am only ordering the fittings and adapters, the final stuff will come on the next order...
Qty. Price Per. Total

2x2" SCH 80 45's 2" SCH 80 45's
$5.99 $11.98

10x1" SCH 80 45's 1" SCH 80 45's
$2.49 $24.90

2x1.5" SCH 80 Threaded Male Pipe Adaptor 1.5" SCH 80 Threaded Male Pipe Adaptor
$4.99 $9.98

1x2" SCH 80 Street 90's 2" SCH 80 Street 90's
$3.99 $3.99

1x2" SCH 80 Threaded Male Pipe Adaptor 2" SCH 80 Threaded Male Pipe Adaptor
$5.99 $5.99

6x1 SCH 80 Street 90's 1 SCH 80 Street 90's
$2.25 $13.50

11x1" SCH 80 Threaded Male Pipe Adaptor 1" SCH 80 Threaded Male Pipe Adaptor
$2.49 $27.39

2x1" SCH 80 Cap 1" SCH 80 Cap
$2.99 $5.98

2x1" SCH 80 Tee's 1" SCH 80 Tee's
$2.99 $5.98

this would get everything ready for pipe and ball valves...I dont think I would need much else but I have never plumbed a tank like this and dont really know if I should be buying more 90's and 45's and couplers just in case I need them. I didnt add anything to plumb my skimmer and phosban reactors. Im planning on feeding them with one of my overflows. The same pipe that will feeds the fuge will T off and feed the skimmer and two phosban reactors but I cant find fittings that would work for this...
 
Last edited:
best bet is to draw out the run to see what you need. I personally like using a true union check valve on the return pump. a little extra flood protection. Dont buy the cheapo check valves but the clear ones with a closing flap (no ball).
 
FT9188_99.jpg

they look like this ^ . costs alittle bit of change but so nice to shut down the pump and not have the tank empty back. I know you can put ball valves to alleviate that problem but what happens when the power goes out.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12843367#post12843367 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stevedola
FT9188_99.jpg

they look like this ^ . costs alittle bit of change but so nice to shut down the pump and not have the tank empty back. I know you can put ball valves to alleviate that problem but what happens when the power goes out.
Click to expand...

Check valves - even the "good" ones will eventually fail on you. And the clear ones will develop algae on them and will fail even quicker - when you least expect it. As for what happens when the power goes out - you build your sump so that it can accomodate the back flow of the water in the pipes. And add a strategic weep hole or two to to break any siphons during the power outage that happens when you just happen to be away. Murphy rules!
 
Sweet looking set up can not wait to see it get wet. What type of wood did you use on the stand and canopy? I used to have the same footprint and kick myself for selling it everyday. Nothing like a 90 only 3 feet wide:smokin:
 
thanks, the wood is 11 ply 3/4" birch, I love all the grain and knots in it :) I love the footprint but I think my next tank will be 48x30x24 so I have a little more room for equipment under the stand
 
purple haze, I am planning on strapping it down for sure...I dont want any misshaps, what do most people use to strap them down? is there a strap made for this or do I just need to get creative? :)

afex the skimmer can be ran in or out of sump but this model er is the rc135 before there was an rc 135. Its actually a cs 6-2+rc so it doesnt have the plate on the bottom, and I just dont have the room under my stand to have it external.
 
alright folks I need some input on a few things, I started to plumb and need some guidance :)

I have two 1" drains, one will feed the fuge and skimmer section and the other will feed the skimmer and tlf phosban reactor. I just not sure that it is ok to use an entire drain to feed equipment, should it also have an outlet that dumps into the skimmer section of the sump?

Ill be using a quiet one 4000 for a return, Im not sure that there will be much flow between two drains. I think the pump will put out about 700gph after head loss so about 350 per drain...

my main concern with dedicating an entire drain to only the skimmer and phosban reactor would be the opposite drain clogging for some resaon and the skimmer and phosban getting way too much flow diverted to them. beyond that I dont see it being a problem i guess!? what do you guys think?

heres a couple pics of what I have done so far
IMG_0559.jpg



I went around the 2" drain so it wouldnt get too messy looking
IMG_0560.jpg


IMG_0561.jpg


IMG_0562.jpg
 
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