530g Tank Setup and Plumbing Help :)

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
^^Justin, now that pipe cutter makes sense since it has the correct cutter wheel for plastic pipe.

We used a Kobalt brand PVC pipe cutter/shear for doing the 2" PVC drain lines in the fish room. It's a ratchet type with long arms but unfortunately I can't find it online anywhere. I think we bought it at Lowe's.

For the 1" PVC and smaller, we used a very old Sears brand ratchet type cutter.

Awesome feedback, thanks Dee! I think N nzafi is going to love the rigid unit since it cuts accurate/evenly like butter but it’s nice to know what’s proper when recommending what to buy for others. Thanks again
 
Interesting, would love to hear what you recommend if you have a preferred brand/model. Pro advice is always welcome here

I thought what I have/recommended to N nzafi was specific to PVC.
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There are some cutter wheels that are specific for sch 80 pvc. So if you've used sch 80 on your tank, that would probably work best. I can't think of a single application for a sump that would require high pressure pipe though. But if you have purchased the pipe and cutter already, replacing the wheels as needed is cheap. So stick with what you have and has worked for you.

A simple cable saw or one of these will work just fine for sch 40 which is what I have always used. I just can't justify the cost of sch 80 for a sump myself. https://www.amazon.com/Pvc-Pipe-Cut...F8&qid=1529173026&sr=8-11&keywords=cutter+pvc
https://www.amazon.com/General-Tool...29173289&sr=1-1&keywords=cutter+pvc+cable+saw
Either of those would work just fine.
 
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I'm excited to see the progress. The plumbing is going to be really interesting.
 
Slow progress and this project dragging is getting annoying. I originally planned to be done by June 15th but between other things going on, tank delivered late, and not having folks around to help move stuff has caused a couple week delay.

Finally got the 180g dissambled and my 40g breeder up and running for my current fish. Here is a pic of the 40g and the space for the 530g. Need to finish painting the wall (you can see I painted around the 180g). Family and friends are coming over tomorrow to help me get the 530g tank and stand into place. All parts have arrived and plumbing begins Monday. Hoping to have the tank up and running by Wed/Thurs.

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Slow progress and this project dragging is getting annoying. I originally planned to be done by June 15th but between other things going on, tank delivered late, and not having folks around to help move stuff has caused a couple week delay.

Finally got the 180g dissambled and my 40g breeder up and running for my current fish. Here is a pic of the 40g and the space for the 530g. Need to finish painting the wall (you can see I painted around the 180g). Family and friends are coming over tomorrow to help me get the 530g tank and stand into place. All parts have arrived and plumbing begins Monday. Hoping to have the tank up and running by Wed/Thurs.

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Don't sweat it. It's like we're living your dream with you. Stuff comes up its life. If I was close Id pitch in....will work for beverages...
 
Slow progress and this project dragging is getting annoying. I originally planned to be done by June 15th but between other things going on, tank delivered late, and not having folks around to help move stuff has caused a couple week delay.

Finally got the 180g dissambled and my 40g breeder up and running for my current fish. Here is a pic of the 40g and the space for the 530g. Need to finish painting the wall (you can see I painted around the 180g). Family and friends are coming over tomorrow to help me get the 530g tank and stand into place. All parts have arrived and plumbing begins Monday. Hoping to have the tank up and running by Wed/Thurs.

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Exciting! Good luck with the move onto the stand. Projects take forever for all of us. Is what it is but your patience will pay off in the finished setup. You're going above and beyond what 99% of FW keeper do.
 
JK47 JK47 ive setup many tanks over the 19 years I’ve kept FW and I always took short cuts. I promised myself not this time. I’m also lucky because my job gives me 5 weeks paternity time which I was too busy to take when my daughter was born last August, so I literally took the entire month of June off with this being my priority. Luckily my wife has been extremely supportive of me which is amazing.
 
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JK47 JK47 ive setup many tanks over the 19 years I’ve kept FW and I always took short cuts. I promised myself not this time. I’m also lucky because my job gives me 5 weeks paternity time which I was too busy to take when my daughter was born last August, so I literally took the entire month of June off with this being my priority. Luckily my wife has been extremely supportive of me which is amazing.

5 weeks!!! That's awesome

Yeah this is the upper echelon of fw. It's going to pay off in the end
 
JK47 JK47 ran into another stumbling block. My floor is not perfectly level. There are low spots so not all four corners touch. Any recommendations for shims? Plastic ones ok? Also, as long as all corners touch and not the entire length of steel it’s ok right?

I read I need to make corner to corner is level. When using a level, does it need to be perfectly level or does the bubble just need to be inside the lines?
 
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