Squidd.......Teach me.....DYI:Plumbing 101 on a SW Tank

leona

leona

Member

Originally posted by acrylic51
I'm not referring in anyways to to being petite, but I'm saying at times even the smallest of us have a hard time getting into things. I'm a mechanic and I'm on the small side and I have to get my hands into some tight places and only using that as a reference, and expecially if you have to fish a fishy out of there
Are you going with the 90 or 120????? I"M SO LOST!!!!!!
u wite u wite:happy:
WEll if my arm or hand won't fit. I will let one of the kids try........yeah they will defently have fun
 
leona

leona

Member
Well everyone all this typing has made me loose my voice.

come on you think it's funny you wanna laugh you just don't want anyone to know.............:jumping:
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member

Originally posted by Leona
120 if I ever get this figured out...........
Go B I G G E R !!!!!!!! and get rid of the new furniture!!!!!! LOL you don't need a couch
 
squidd

squidd

Active Member
I'm not sure where you guy's learned your math,:notsure:
But plan "B" has one "LESS" hole and 2 LESS bulkheads...:yes:
Plan A...9 holes - 7 bulkheads
Plan B....8 holes - 5 Bulkheads...
Gota be a "savings" there somewhere...:D
Locations for holes "C" are "ideal" as shown, but if he has problems building them that way,...slightly "back" on the sides, to clear the "lap joint" would be my second choice...
As far as the Euro Bracing vs. corneroverflows, you should call Tom and talk to him about this, but if you look on his site at pics of others he's done, the bracing is "cut out" over the overflow..:rolleyes:
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Squidd I never said that Tom doesn't do the euro bracing cutting out around the euro bracing..... My question then to you is the tank in the pic do you have cross bracing as well?
I had Tom go over my overflow box and avoided any cross braces!!!!!
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member

Originally posted by Squidd
I'm not sure where you guy's learned your math,:notsure:
But plan "B" has one "LESS" hole and 2 LESS bulkheads...:yes:
Plan A...9 holes - 7 bulkheads
Plan B....8 holes - 5 Bulkheads...
Gota be a "savings" there somewhere...:D
Locations for holes "C" are "ideal" as shown, but if he has problems building them that way,...slightly "back" on the sides, to clear the "lap joint" would be my second choice...
As far as the Euro Bracing vs. corneroverflows, you should call Tom and talk to him about this, but if you look on his site at pics of others he's done, the bracing is "cut out" over the overflow..:rolleyes:
Sorry Squidd my fault with the screw up on the overflow box and the hole location in the euro bracing. I don't know why I kept thinking the holes were over the overflow box..... NOT TO BRIGHT!!!!!!! There is a savings with plan B of $50.
Personally I think that pic of that overflow is poor!!!!! I wouldn't have been impressed with seeing that on my tank... Again I think that deal there will be rather tight getting into the overflow with running a standpipe and return line as well and then you have to take into account the black trim that he uses on the tank as well. The euro bracing done like that doesn't seem to appealing at all!!!!! Like I said before what about that little fishy deciding to dive over the edge??? How you gonna fish him out???? It's tight already. What are the dimensions of the overflow boxes???? I'm pretty sure she has to give Tom the dimensions??!!!???? I'd be a little happier or feel safer supplying my own dimensions for the overflows to him
 
squidd

squidd

Active Member
That's Toms tank...:rolleyes:
Are you "sure" he doesn't have "options" for people requestng Euro and Overflows...??
Are you saying Leona shouldn't get one from him...??
Do you have a better solution...??
Generally when dealing with a "custom builder"...you present your "well thought out" ideas and plans and see what he can do with them...
Then you seek "his" opinion on what is possible, practical, or un- doable...
As well as "his" options and recomendations that fit his "buiding style"..AND will meet "your" goals" and dreams...
If there are areas that "clash" (good call on the "drilling through "lapped" glass in the corner") you get his options and suggestions and ponder the "compromises" to your goal...
And see if he has "alternative ways to reach your goal...(He can probably drill each corner seperate and still lap them...it's not a bulkhead and don't have to line up "perfectly")
WE can argue this all day long, but Leona needs a "plan" to get the process started... and we need input from the builder before we go tossing ideas out..
 
squidd

squidd

Active Member
What are the dimensions of the overflow boxes???? I'm pretty sure she has to give Tom the dimensions??!!!???? I'd be a little happier or feel safer supplying my own dimensions for the overflows to him
This is "also" a possibility...
"Some" custom builders say..."I'll build what ever you want...YOU supply the drawings"
Right or wrong you'll get what you presented to him...
Others will help in the "guiding process" (based on their years of experiance) and make "suggestions" to "improve" the product...
After all it has "his" name on it...
We have the technology to calc proper overflow sizing...and can present to him...
On the other hand we need his 'input" on bracing sizes with holes as "presented"...
We also have the technology to "calc" the bracing sizes for him...
But that's what "HE'S getting paid for...:yes:
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member

Originally posted by Squidd
This is "also" a possibility...
"Some" custom builders say..."I'll build what ever you want...YOU supply the drawings"
Right or wrong you'll get what you presented to him...
Others will help in the "guiding process" (based on their years of experiance) and make "suggestions" to "improve" the product...
After all it has "his" name on it...
We have the technology to calc proper overflow sizing...and can present to him...
On the other hand we need his 'input" on bracing sizes with holes as "presented"...
We also have the technology to "calc" the bracing sizes for him...
But that's what "HE'S getting paid for...:yes:
I agree with what your saying..... I was just stating that the pic shown is very poor as far as the quality that I would want done on my tank.... Again when I was designing my tank I had seen that pic and it did turn me off... That is why I opted to run my overflow differently.
Yes we do have the ability or technology to calc are own bracing but the bottom line with Tom if he feels the bracing isn't sound he won't build the tank..... If you tell him you don't want the tank to have cross bracing and no euro over the overflows I'm almost certain he wouldn't build the tank??? He has to meet certain guidelines his insurance company puts on him as well, not just what we dictate.
What I'm suggesting is to actually lay out the dimensions of the overflow boxes from scratch and then actually contact Tom and ask a brief general question as to how wide the euro bracing would be all around the tank, and with the euro bracing being notched out around the overflows how much wider if at all it would have to be made...... I had to have my bracing done wider due to no cross bracing, but again my overflow was made slightly wider to accomodate that.
I think what really needs to be done is to draw out a layout of the top looking down on the tank and draw up a pic with sizing off overflows and fax it to Tom and right after the fax goes through to get on the phone and have him talk you through the plan and see what changes and recommendations he has. What might he see as problems.....
Again that is why I said that the holes in the euro bracing are pretty straight forward... I know first hand you will need to supply him with the information as far as what size plumbing or hose you are planning to run through the hole. As far as the bulkheads on his tanks, he will advise to use sched 80 and sched 80 bulkheads do require a different size hole than using a sched 40 bulkhead.
I have just gone back and looked at my very, very detailed notes with Tom and euro bracing standard on his tanks is 3/8" thick and on my tank the euro bracing is 3" wide due to no cross bracing....I do know he runs his overflows 1 1/2" from the top of the tank.... He will also ask if you want acrylic covers for the overflows as well.... That is an additional charge I think it's $20.00 per cover......
Your exactly right Squidd.... That is why I keep saying you have to draw it all out and sit and pinch and squeeze your drawing till you tweak it and at the end you will get what you draw out on paper.... I was so anal, that when I went to pick up the tank I took a tape measure and machinist rule to double check the measurements and if they were off I wasn't going to accept it and could find anything off. I said I wanted the center of the holes at a certain measurement, and guess what??? They were on, so no

[hr]
there!!!!!!!!
In my opinion I still don't think the corner overflows are the way to go!!!!!! It was mentioned to me about eating up less space or ease of laying out the rockwork!!!! Has anyone toyed with center overflow or overflow along one end of the tank??? I think your losing more room by doing 2 corner overflows than just 1 overflow in either of the other 2 areas.....JMO......You could do this and cut cost and still get the same flow wanted on the tank..
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Sorry to wonder off, but doing some figuring I came up with doing a center overflow that could be hidden easily within your rock work and you would save money by possibly sizing the overflow at 6"Wx12"Lx6"W. With this design you have 3 surface areas skimming water as opposed to running 2 overflow boxes in the corner where each overflow box only has 2 surface skimming areas..... IMO it isn't easier to hide the corner overflows........With using the center overflow and using 2 drains sized at roughly 1 1/2" using durso pipes you would easily reach your 1650 flow rate and then some if needed..... Again with Tom you have to specify where you want your holes located at in the overflow box... Meaning do you want them centered inside the overflow box???? How far from the sides of the overflow box etc..... YOU MUST SPELL IT OUT, so there is no MISTAKES!!!!!!!!!
 
squidd

squidd

Active Member
Has anyone toyed with center overflow or overflow along one end of the tank???........JMO......You could do this and cut cost and still get the same flow wanted on the tank...
Center overflow was discussed... center of "side" would be visable in the room...
Either option would change flow patterns (sump return vs. C/L) and
the "big picture" would have to be looked into (no biggie)...
I'm sure (in fact I "know" ) there are as many ways to run a tank as there are "opinions" out there...
There is no "Best" way that will please "everyone"...
What's "important' is for Leona to be comfortable with what she ends up with Visually as well as mechanically "functional"...
Perhaps we should ask "Her" what she wants...before we go and "re-design" her "whole "system" behind her back...:D
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
True very true..... Just toying with ideas..... The side overflow could be hidden from view as well!!!!! Not questioning your abilities Squidd!!!!! Again the reason I brought it up was the issue about the cost or expense of all the holes being drilled!!!!!!
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Do you find it easier to drill the air hole in the pipe and keep adjusting the hole size or would it just be easier to add an air valve and be able to adjust the air flow that way????:notsure:
 
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