Nearly Successful Build...

[mbierzyc]

I've made several threads asking for advice for my new tank setup, and it's nearly complete.

I had a bad leak issue yesterday and today, and it's close to being fixed. Besides the very slow drip of a leak, I'm very happy with how it turned out. The setup is very quiet, I guess I built the standpipe properly.

Here are a few pictures

Dry tank

Shows you the slight bow to the front

Here it is with water and rock

Same thing, but with the actinics on

Tank shot

Actinics on, with the doors open

I appreciate everyone's help so far. I'm running an aqua c ev120 and can't get it to produce the right amount of bubbles, I'll have to tweak that. I also have to program my controller and all the rest of my components.


lets hope I can get the small drops of a leak under control.

 

[SERRASOMETHING]

matt you are a badd man

 

[ostrow]

Don't worry about the skimmer. It will require some time to break in. Get those leaks dried up. You have electricity in that cabinet. Get it dry.

 

[Sullyman]

Looks real good, worth the effort, isn't it? Nice aquascaping, going to look real good when it gets going. What type tank are you starting?

 

[RRafael]

Thats some might nice rock you got there

 

[hansnfrans]

Nice looking setup. I especially like the shape of the rock and the aquascaping.

 

[hansnfrans]

Is that a drawing of mice on mount suribachi to the left of the tank ?

 

[dannieboiz]

Looking real good so far. How wide is the tank? It doesn't look like you're getting enough coverage. Try raising the fixture a little. Nice rock work as well but you're going to find that you'll need to remove some rocks as you're stocking it up. Just put them into your sump

 

[mbierzyc]

yeah there's a bit too much rock in there. i originally bought the light for a smaller tank, but came across this one and had to have it. the light is an outer orbit 24", the tank is about 35" across. the light is 150w mh, and 2x 65w actinic bulbs. if there is a good 46" fixture i'd think about selling this and getting the bigger one, just haven't seen one.

i do need to fix the leaks, but not sure how, i'll get to that soon.

oh and to the left of the tank is a smoking popes concert poster that actually has turtles on mount suribachi.

 

[ostrow]

That tonga branch is from ocean's floor, no? Looks like the stuff Dave got for me. Love it. Though I regret having so much of it and so little of the more porous Carib or Fiji. The Tonga is hard and solid, so not much life in it. On it, sure, but it isn't home to much.

You have a real nice mix. As for removing, with creative use of shells and plugs for mounting, you need not remove anything. Placing frags horizontally will encourage them to encrust and cover the rockwork. Looks nice.

Takes 2 people to tighten those bulkheads to stop the drip, if that's where it's coming from.

If its coming from the threads, one more 1/4 turn will do.

Did you put the teflon tape on correctly? If you put the tape the wrong way and are threading against it, the tape balls up, you can't get the fitting on all the way, and you get leaks. I'd bet that's the issue if the fittings are threaded.

If they are glued pvc, and the leaks are from there, you need to cut and re-do.

 

[RobChuck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7855637#post7855637 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mbierzyc
oh and to the left of the tank is a smoking popes concert poster that actually has turtles on mount suribachi.

The tank looks great!

And I LOVE the Smoking Popes! :thumbsup:
I saw them play countless times in the mid-90's.

 

[dannieboiz]

I believe they make a 2x HQI 36" wide fixture. Poke around.

 

[mbierzyc]

Ostrow, I bet you're 100% right on what you said. Tightening the one bulkhead will hopefully fix the one leak, and the other one is probably from teflon tape. I have my return plumbed in a way that there is a peice glued to a screw in peice that has the tape on it. I need to turn the screw in peice, but can't because of the glued in one.

I may need to ask your help in finding a better way to plumb my return.

The rock all came from Rish, FishFood something is his name on here. I like the tonga too.


<<Takes 2 people to tighten those bulkheads to stop the drip, if that's where it's coming from.

If its coming from the threads, one more 1/4 turn will do.

Did you put the teflon tape on correctly? If you put the tape the wrong way and are threading against it, the tape balls up, you can't get the fitting on all the way, and you get leaks. I'd bet that's the issue if the fittings are threaded.>>

 

[Sullyman]

Zoos will love that rock.

 

[mbierzyc]

i love the look of zoos all over tonga, gonna have to make that happen.

 

[RRafael]

I originally bought that tonga from Steve at Reef Plus he has it pretty regularly

 

[RobTop]

The Smoking Popes...man that brings back memories, though I was too wasted to remember much.

 

[mbierzyc]

anyone want to come out to bartlett to help me fix these leaks sometime this weekend??

thought i'd ask ...

during the weak i'm in chicago all day for work, by the time i'm home i'm too beat to work on plumbing. sounds like i made a few amateur mistakes with this and i'd really like the advice/help of a "pro".