Tank almost done... Finally

[Ding2daDong]

Well for the past 2 months I have been upgrading from my current 18g via aqua to this 33g long w/ 20gL sump. I just got the tek fixture up on the legs properly and almost finished the plumbing. It should be done tomorrow but I thought I would share some pictures. Any comments or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Some specs. 48"x13"12"
Tek 4 bulb fixture t5-ho
red sea berlin skimmer
Mag 12 teed off for the return and skimmer


-Matt

 

[bckane]

Matt looks good dude......The only thing I would have did different is. make the drain hole a little bit higher. Looks like you may have a bit of water splashing. ( I could be wrong)
BTW keeps us posted with your project..
Brian

 

[jessp]

i agree w/ brian you may have some water splashing w/ the drain so low. otherwise looks great, good looking setup. i like the overfow. did you drill the tank yourself? was it difficult?

 

[45commando]

Hi Matt,nice looking setup,but I think you're going to need some type of baffle set up,for the drain line.It looks like you will have a bunch of micro bubbles being allowed to flow around in the sump,if not.These will then get sucked into the return pump & end up in the display.A filter sock or maybe adding some 90 elbows to the drain & facing it up to the water surface may help with the bubbles.Also you may want to add a PVC threaded coupling right after the pump outlet,it will allow you to remove the pump for cleaning,without having to take apart a bunch of plumbing.You'll be able to tinker around,once you've got the water in it & see what works best-I'm forever trying new things with the plumbing side of things.What ever you can do now,to make maintenance easier,is worth doing.Good luck & keep us posted.Regards,Darcy

 

[Ding2daDong]

When I got the hole drilled I was planning on putting bio balls in that pre filter area. After reading and researching they seems to be enormous nitrate factories. Alot of people have done tests and nitrates were up with only 2 bio balls in the tank and when taken out the nitrates went to 0. So thats my only real concern right now.

So what do you guys think I should do to solve the pre filter box dilema?

Any ideas or help would be greatly appreciated.

Darcy: On the pump its threaded so later I can take it off. I am not sure if thats exactly what you mean.

Jessp: I had Davie glass off of university and griffen cut the hole. Only $15 and very friendly.

Thanks again

-Matt

 

[gregbot9000]

for the overflow.. can you add a standpipe into that bulkhead? itll raise the water level ..making less noise.

 

[45commando]

Hey Matt,yeah it's basically the same,except a coupling allows you to remove the pump without having to literally unthread it from the housing.

 

[bckane]

-Matt
I agree with gregbot.......make ya a standpipe to the water level.
This way the water dont have to fall so far....less water splashing
Standpipe is very easy to install at this point
Matt look here
http://www.dursostandpipes.com/

Brian

 

[ek9vboi]

might want to add some water in it. lol

 

[Ding2daDong]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9211951#post9211951 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ek9vboi
might want to add some water in it. lol

\

Water will be here tomorrow. I havnt finished the plumbing yet and now I am glad a waited and posted some pictures up. I am heading over to home depot to see what I can do at this point.

Thanks

-Matt

 

[Ding2daDong]

I went to home depot with not much luck. I found out its not possible to turn my plumbing around the pump for regular cleaning anyways. I will keep this setup until I have to clean the pump and have to throw away most of the plumbing I already glued together and start over the right way.

On another note, I am confused on what to do with the pre filter area. The bulkhead is 1 1/2" so all I could do is put a 90 degree elbow on there and plumb it higher but couldnt turn it again without hitting the glass.

Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

-Matt

 

[Ding2daDong]

I am about to do the return and before glueing I wanted to make sure that there wasnt anything wrong with my plan . Heres a picture.

Thanks

-Matt

 

[Ding2daDong]

The only possible configuration I can think of at this time is to do this,

Any ideas if that would work without making a slurping noise?

Any ideas or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks

-Matt

 

[bckane]

Matt did you read the part from the link I posted...
"Build Your Own Durso Standpipe "
Brian
BTW the only thing different you would have to do is put a 90 going it to the blukhead

 

[REDDAWG43]

Hey Matt...
Where did you get that tank from? I find the dimensions
of your tank interesting...I think I might be interested in getting one.

 

[instrance]

Looking good..

 

[Ding2daDong]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9220807#post9220807 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bckane
Matt did you read the part from the link I posted...
"Build Your Own Durso Standpipe "
Brian
BTW the only thing different you would have to do is put a 90 going it to the blukhead

See the problem is theres not enough room in the pre filter box to make a durso standpipe. There is barley enough room to do what I designed.

I am guess the return line is fine since no one had anything to say about it? ....

I think I am going to set up the tank "as is" and once problems arise I will try new things. My main problem is I dont have enough room in the prefilter box to make a 90 degree turn or it will hit the glass. Thats why I cant make the durso standpipe.

I knew this was going to happen but was kinda reared toward bio balls and now all I hear is bad things about them.

My original plan was to fill the pre filter box with bio balls because I am not going to have alot of live rock and a few fish.

Any comments or suggestions are always welcome.

Thanks

-Matt

 

[macawmagic]

this is just an opinion and people can criticize it or not but just like you planned filling it with bioballs...fill it with live rock rubble...just a suggestion

 

[jessp]

i agree fill w/ rock rubble

 

[Ding2daDong]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9223896#post9223896 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by macawmagic
this is just an opinion and people can criticize it or not but just like you planned filling it with bioballs...fill it with live rock rubble...just a suggestion

Dang what a great idea! I cant beleive I didnt think of that.

But...

Wont that be the same as adding bio balls? Since the LR will never be completely under water wont it serve the same purpose as a nitrate factory over time?

If not then thats what I am going to do. Great ideas everyone! Keep them coming

-Matt