Kind of crazy how 40 fish can disappear. It sure does not look like there is 41 fish in there
600 gallon tank build
- Thread starter Tj203
- Start date
How did the dual 3/4 return work out for you ? I have 2. 1.5 intake and 2 3/4 return for my 570 gallon Freshwater aquarium my sump will be a Tsunami RS9624 with 2 Current USA e Flux DC Pump 3170.
It didn't I'm upgrading to 2" PVC all the way to the bulkhead and then 1 1/4 through the overflow and into the tank. With a reeflo hammerhead pump. I am only getting about 1100GPM now. It's working now in keeping up with the bio load, But with me wanting to overstocking to Curb aggression I know I would not be good in the future. When I 1st place the order for this tank It started out at 240 gallons and then got bigger When the wife died on board with it lol. It's very disappointing that the tank manufacturer Did not say anything about the small returns I used acrylic creation out of Pennsylvania and I would never use them again I am not happy with the tank at all You can tell that the company is used to making smaller tanks and they don't do coast to coast overflows. I Probably coulda got away with 3/4 inch pipe if I ran two pumps but I would rather just upsize the pipe and not stress the pump and in save on electricity. 3/4 inch elbows are very restrictive I did not know that
Hope you like yours better. If it's a simple tank they could probably do it are right by the need the coast to coast overflow with braces in it so instead of everything Draining like it supposed to anything that's on the surface get stuck in one of the back chambers. My lids warped with in a week of using them They sent the tank with damaged overflow teeth and told me they didn't think I would see it. The stand was ordered with a 48" opening in the front they Weld in a bar there. I ask for holes to be drilled in the top to run wire for the wave maker they forgot to do that. And They call them recess lids but they don't recess the stick above the tank about a quarter of an inch. Also they had to remake the lids for the overflow because the first ones were cheap garbage. And it took 12 weeks to get the tank because they messed up the 1st one.
Sorry to hear about the issues you've had OP. If you dont mind, what is the overflow issue you are having with the C2C? Are your 1.5" drain not sufficient. I'm no expert but what you have should be good.
They should have used polycarbonates for the lids to reduce any warpage. It cost just a bit more but makes sense in the long run given money spent on the tank.
A picture is worth a 1000 words lol Instead of haveing 1 overflow that is connected I have 3 chambers water will flow on the bottom of the overflow but not the top so any flooting pellets or food gets caught in there and I need to scoop it out myself. They should have cut teeth in it or not put it all together. They already have bracing on the bottom of the overflow. I have all the drains offset to the right side so I can get to them so all the stuff floutibg on the top just stays in there.The 1 1/2 drains might be ok but the 3/4 returns are way to small. I have the stuff to go to to wind drains but I'm going to try inch and a 1 1/2 1st because that's what is hooked up now. But at 4000 to 5000 gph I am pushing the 1 1/2 it is only gravity so there is not that much force.
Just playing devil’s advocate here. If I was ordering a 600 gallon custom aquarium I would have done the research on what I needed before ever cutting a check to anyone. I wouldn’t blame the manufacturer for my lack of understanding on how plumping works. With that said, I understand your frustration. All acrylic bows and lids are no exception. You can absolutely change your plumbing to suit your needs. I would consider adding another 1-1/2” full syphon to your overflow box. I would also consider adding a secondary return pump for redundancy as well as making those return lines larger. That will give you the increased flow your looking for. Your tank does look amazing though and you should be proud of it.
As a tank manufacturer you should at least inform the customer that 3/4 will be tough to get the right turnover and let me make the call that's why I go to Professionals and not do it myself, Especially in this case where my tank started out at a 240 where 3/4 would be just fine and went to a 600. But I would be OK with that if it wasn't for all the all their problems. I Paid extra money for a coast to coast that does not work. Holes that were not drilled and a stand that I had to cut a brace out of to get my sump in. The lids Should be recessed into the lid of the aquarium like I order and maybe instead of for 4 big lids they could have made 8. And made it out of thicker acrylic. I can fix all the other problems except the overflow.
I already have 3 1 1/2 drains because I am running a bean animal at 2200gph per drain I am right on the edge of it being ok. I think I will have to up size attest one of them. I regret getting a tank from them I wish I went somewhere else in paid more money to get what I wanted. O well live and learn. I will have my jebao pump as a back up if this one fails that should hold me till I get a new one. Dont want to take all that space up under the tank with 2 pumps. Because they are external.
Please don’t take any of this the wrong way. I understand your frustrations. I never trust anyone to make the right choses for me. No matter what it is in life, if you assume that someone else will do something a certain way your expectations will never be met. You have to be crystal clear in your instructions. People are in it for the money, and will do whatever they have to to turn a quick profit.
