Help with a rebuild!

novahobbies

novahobbies

Well-Known Member
Whew, well hello there! I just caught myself up on all the goings-on.....you've been one busy bee! Love the new tank, looks VERY nice where you set it. Sorry to hear about the bug problem, but yes....even the cleanest of homes can have a roach or two get in, and places like the space under the shower pan can be a haven for them. You've definitely got it under control it looks like.
I'm actually following your bathroom remodel with as much interest as the tanks! Once the new kitchen countertop is is done (our next major purchase) we're going to start looking at our crappy little bathroom area. Our house isn't big, but the master bath is just pathetic.
I can't wait to see how the new aquarium progresses! Do you have a plan for the rock layout yet?
 
rlablan

rlablan

Active Member
Acrylic- I am not sure what to say? It works the same as it would with one sump. But, this a little better? It gives me more room because I could not find a way to get a big sump in there. This way, I can have all the equipment I want and a fuge. We may also do a calcium reactor but I'm not sure. BUT- With this setup... I have options!
Quills- Yes, there are two returns. I have one that is external, because the sump I got was already drilled (the right side). The one on the left, the equipment sump, is running a submersible pump.
Nova- Welcome back!
I have been rather busy. I try to keep myself busy doing something. Everyday, a lot can be accomplished. You just have to set yourself to it. I am still lazy but I am working on not being lazy. I have gotten a lot better and now I am on my way to a bigger tank and a much better bathroom! I am glad someone is as excited about the bathroom as I am! The framing is the next stage and that should be done here in the near future. I will surely post pictures and keep you updated. This thread is a two-fer! ;-)
I am not sure about the rock lay out yet, but I am thinking of a few things. I will probably try to mock some things up...
I am thinking rock "pillars" ,':)
 
rlablan

rlablan

Active Member
MACRO SHOTS!!!!!!!!!!!
Just did a water change so the water is not that clear. But here is what I got from the Solana. Randall's Goby wouldn't come out. Oh well.
Enjoy!
duncans
mini striped fungia plate

blue scrolling something? ID?
(Professor Bean) Sprouts- Starry Blenny
Female clown
Female clown

Red Monti


Female in Rose Bubble Tip Anemone
ref="https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/data/c/ca/ca278789_IMG_8869.jpeg
Zoas- ID please?

Candy Cane corals
Pulsing xenia

Squamosa clam Mantle

Maxi mini Carpet Anemone


Squamosa Clam Mantle and Shell

Acans- ID please? They grow in a round ball, about softball sized colony.
9883" data-type="61" src="https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/data/6/6e/6e4b56b5_IMG_8954.jpegRandom star fish. Apparently, the water change sparked some kind of a spawning party. You can see whatever he is releasing here. Thats what I need... more stars.
Tube anemone.
One of the coolest things in my tank. Love this guy!
 
rlablan

rlablan

Active Member
So- We are getting to the final stages of water in the tank.
But we have discovered that the tank on the carpet... is not level. It's not terrible but it is causing an issue. The overflow on the left is lower, so the water goes down into the overflow/sump before the one on the right ever gets any... Annoying.
I have never had a tank with dual overflows, so I've never had this issue. Also, we are tweaking the drains/returns so that everything is sort of equal.
Apparently, the "big" rio return pump that we bought is not going to do squat. It's the slowest, loudest pump ever. So that is going back.
Oh the adventures I take myself on. I swear. You would think that I could just be happy with my little 60ish gallon.
But no.
I want tangs.
And a metallic fox face.
And some anthias.
And a Million dollars.
And maybe an urchin.
 
novahobbies

novahobbies

Well-Known Member
Hey, great macro shots. I really love the tube 'nem. Wife wants a purple/green tube in our tank at some point as well. I'm not sure if I should order this or wait for it to show up in stores here....they're pretty rare in my area, all they usually get in are the nondescript brown ones.
 
rlablan

rlablan

Active Member
Once we got everything done...
Some things are leaking. The little giant pump is quite noisy and it leaks. I can't figure out from where but I don't care, I can take everything back so it's no biggy, just annoying.
I would love to stick with the 2 sumps method because it seems great, I have seen some really cool tank run this way. Alas, I think I will just be getting a tank and making the sump myself. There is a glass cutting place around. They have cut some baffles for me before and the sump that I put them in (the previous 150, peninsula) worked well. I never had any issues with it.
The only other option is that we know a guy who makes acrylic sumps and tanks here in Az. We have worked with him years ago. He put an overflow in a tank for me. I lost track of him and didn't even know he was still in business. Well, turns out, My boyfriend's cousin is dating this man's son! Small world, eh?
So apparently her BF works for his dad in the acrylic shop. He says that we can come down and look around and hang out a bit. I have always been curious about this stuff, so I am wanting to go down there and watch them make tanks. Sounds like a cool trip. :)
We may go down there today, if not, then sometime in the near future.
I have some other things going on too. I was hoping to get this tank "running" so that I could get to other projects. Still have the shower stuff and bathroom stuff going on. Nothing happened this week because I need the BF's help and he has been sick. I also have a pregnant GF I want to make some quilts and bibs for. Too many projects.
 
rlablan

rlablan

Active Member
Happy Saturday!!
Just finished draining the tank and removing the pump and sumps. We are taking them back as we speak, and are going to get some different equipment. I found an interesting sump I wanna go look at. It's an eshopps I believe. It's built for dual over flows, instead of Y-Ing them into 1 drain. I am not sure whAt I wanna do, I guess we will see what we come back with today :)
 
rlablan

rlablan

Active Member
It's getting there.
I will say, AFTER we have plumbed in this eshopps fuge/sump, the thing splashes everywhere. We will have to figure out a way to combat this. The little "handles" inside of the filter sock that assist in removing the soc (I assume) will be the first to go. That will help the splashing. Other than that, I dunno.
Does anyone have a sump/fuge combo from Eshopps? Did any of you mod yours to not splash?
Pictures to come, as soon as there is enough water to get the pump running. We're only about 10 gallons short. :)
Cycle, here we come!!! Excited! (jk...cycling sucks. :-( lol )
 
S

smallreef

Guest
I dont have an Eshopps per-say but i did have a very bad splashing problem.. i ended up extending my pvc to hit just below the water line so there is NO splashing... it does make it a tad harder to take the sock off but no gurgling and no splashing...
 
rlablan

rlablan

Active Member
That is a thought. Mine goes right into a bulk head then into the sock. Even just sticking the pipe in to the bulk head to "extend" it and not gluing it would probably work! then I could just remove it if needed! Good idea, Smallreef! Thanks!
 
S

smallreef

Guest
Thats exactly what I did... I also took the bulkhead piece off of the sump to make it easier to put another 45 on my pvc so the water would be going straight down instead of at an angle...
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by smallreef http:///t/392624/help-with-a-rebuild/240#post_3510679
I dont have an Eshopps per-say but i did have a very bad splashing problem.. i ended up extending my pvc to hit just below the water line so there is NO splashing... it does make it a tad harder to take the sock off but no gurgling and no splashing...
Excellent idea....That's exactly what I did on my sump setup and 1 it does minimize splashing, but also quiets the system down.....You could extend the PVC pipe down to just above your water line or just touching, but drill it with a relief hole to bleed off any air as well incase it would become submerged.....Works like a charm........ To make it easier to get the socks off, don't glue the PVC extension piece into the elbow or bulkhead.....sand it down a bit with sand paper which will allow you to reach and and twist it to remove it and put the sock in place and then the extension piece.....
Quote:
Originally Posted by rlablan http:///t/392624/help-with-a-rebuild/240#post_3510678
It's getting there.
I will say, AFTER we have plumbed in this eshopps fuge/sump, the thing splashes everywhere. We will have to figure out a way to combat this. The little "handles" inside of the filter sock that assist in removing the soc (I assume) will be the first to go. That will help the splashing. Other than that, I dunno.
Does anyone have a sump/fuge combo from Eshopps? Did any of you mod yours to not splash?
Pictures to come, as soon as there is enough water to get the pump running. We're only about 10 gallons short. :)
Cycle, here we come!!! Excited! (jk...cycling sucks. :-( lol )
I have the 4" socks that have those dumb little handles......Well it got in the way of me adding my extension PVC pieces, so I just whacked them out on all my socks, 14 to be exact, and the socks are perfectly fine.....they still have the round plastic color to hold them up........
 
rlablan

rlablan

Active Member
O.M.G.
Finally got enough water to fire this baby up. I was so excited to get it going.
I think I might CRY.

This external pump is so LOUD. It sounds like a battery powered leaf blower. In my living room.
And the "awesome drains" that some guy sold my BF on are total junk!!! They whistle like a worker in a field, not to mention, they gurgle a TON!!!
I said "Lets just make durso drains like we always do out of PVC fittings... Do it ourselves... they aren't fancy like those things but they work and the tank is quiet." oh no... 10 bucks a pop times two and we have terrible, loud, awful, useless drains.
This thing is impossibly loud.
This is the second time we have plumbed this stupid tank. The second pump we have tried. The second large sum of money we have spent on plumbing parts... The second time we have made the 1 hour drive (one way) to the (not) local fish store.
I am seriously bummed right now.
 
rlablan

rlablan

Active Member
I will say this... the filter sock idea worked wonderfully. There is no more splashing. I would take splashing over this any day. All the salt creep could take over my cabinet. At least it's "creeping" and not "whooshing".
Ugh.
<- - - This is me right now.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Relax....I know easier said than done.....I feel your pain....I had an issue during leak testing firing up brand new pumps and the son of a guns leaked before ever plugging them in......I know your frustrations.....
What brand of return pump......Is it actually the pump or is it possible it's the pump vibrating off the bottom of the stand......What type of drains did your BF buy......Sometimes homemade DIY is just better than anything you can buy in the store......
Head up you'll work through the little bumps........
 
rlablan

rlablan

Active Member
Well the pump in an iwaki pump. I dont remember the model but we were told the "american" made models were junk, so we bought the japanese models. They are supposed to be so good and quiet. It's external... It's not vibrating at all. There is a piece of foam under it. It's just the fan and pump noise. Mostly, it's the fan. We took the thing apart and there appears to be nothing wrong. It's just loud.
I dunno what the drains that we bought are called. They are black, and they are kind of shaped like bells? they just sit on top of the pipe like a durso would, but it's just one piece... They are junk. He cut a corner and he knows he did... He didn't want to spend the extra 10 minutes plumbing the drains and such. Oh well...
I am going to try one more pump. I heard that you will get a temp increase with them but I believe they are called dolphin titanium or something. I found one, and I guess they are so quiet, you'll never know they are there. I think I will be getting very little GPH but Whatever, I don't know what else to do. More Powerheads I guess. This particular pump is not fan cooled, it's water cooled. They are extremely small, good pumps but they do make some heat.
I will take heat over noise. I can solve heat. I can't stop noise.
Here is another problem-
The MH fixture that we have is a dual light fixture. And the two MH lights are right. above. the. brace. This tank is a 72'' aqueon tank. The bracing on the outside is one continuous lip around the top edge. It has these two VERY flimsy, skinny, plastic pieces across the top of the tank. At this point, with water in the tank, If I press on the piece with my finger, they box. They are clearly really strong.
Now that the light is mounted, I can already tell that they are going to get melted. No way around that. So- I have read that some people cut the bracing in the middle, careful not the break the outside brace and then they basically made their own euro bracing with glass or acrylic and marine epoxy.
I know that screwing with the tank is not a good idea, however, I am certain that the plastic will end up brittle and warped.
What can I do about this? Any one else tank off the bracing or mod theirs?
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Odd the issue with Iwaki pump.... Never saw fit to buy the Japanese motors though and not the quietest of pumps were never super loud IMO, but these pumps can take a beating though. You can honestly mod the pump removing the fan though, but must have good air flow around the pump if you do.
As far as the Dolphin pump no idea. I wouldn't sacrifice flow because its quick an easy though. If its not the right fit don't do it!!!! More heat and the problem to solve the heat issue is a no win situation in my book. It will cost you long term depending on your solution to the heat issue an undersized pump....why in such a mad rush??? Order a good;correctly sized pump....
 
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