180 g Acrylic set up

[DN328]

BTW, I find it's worth using a quality valve. The gate-valves if you can find at big box stores are decent, but the ball valves tend to lock up. On my current tank, I ended up buying Spears brand and would not think twice about doing it again.

 

[clm08k]

BTW, I find it's worth using a quality valve. The gate-valves if you can find at big box stores are decent, but the ball valves tend to lock up. On my current tank, I ended up buying Spears brand and would not think twice about doing it again.

Thank you so much for helping. I will definitely purchase a Spears gate valve. I do have a few questions:


1. With purchasing a Spears gate valve: would I buy a 1inch valve for a 1inch pipe?
2. How long/what type of PVC pipe would I need to connect underneath the gate valve?
3. Does it matter how close the gate valve is to the bulkhead? Obviously, I don't want to put any torque on the acrylic.
5. My main concern is the flooding with the addition of the gate valve due to the small size of the sump. Is there anything I can do to prevent this besides buying a brand new sump? I would definitely do an E drain if there was a third hole.

 

[clm08k]

Hao
J jaws7777
Josh's Fish

 

[clm08k]

clm08k , we should be able to correct the drain issues no problem. To do so can you remind how you have it plumbed? I see that you have a full siphon drain in each overflow? Do you have gate valves or at least ball valves connected to each siphon drain? This is essentially the only way that you will be able to balance the return rate with the drain rate to control the water level in the overflow and eliminate the noise. Straight pipes you have are fine and no need to change.

The original height you had was actually preferred to the current higher level as you want the full siphon. However you want the water level to be only an inch or less lower than the weir so there is no splashing. Let's start with this.

I just received my 2 Spears slipX slip gate valves! They fit perfectly with the 1 inch PVC.

Should I glue them to pvc or is it better to buy unions and attach the gate valve in the middle of those?

 

[Randys]

You can never have too many unions.
?

 

[DN328]

I just received my 2 Spears slipX slip gate valves! They fit perfectly with the 1 inch PVC.

Should I glue them to pvc or is it better to buy unions and attach the gate valve in the middle of those?

Somehow, I stopped getting notified on updates :-(. You're probably done by now, but yes if you didn't get gate valves with unions, then gluing separate unions is a good idea. You can a least remove the gate value when needed. I would use unions that are easily replaceable in case you needed to replumb.

Also, your #5 question above; I'm not falling why adding a gate valve would overflow your sump? If anything it will help control / balance the rate that is draining to the sump compared to the return pump.

 

[clm08k]

Somehow, I stopped getting notified on updates :-(. You're probably done by now, but yes if you didn't get gate valves with unions, then gluing separate unions is a good idea. You can a least remove the gate value when needed. I would use unions that are easily replaceable in case you needed to replumb.

Also, your #5 question above; I'm not falling why adding a gate valve would overflow your sump? If anything it will help control / balance the rate that is draining to the sump compared to the return pump.

Thanks for answering. I greatly appreciate your instructions and guidance. Recently have been watching some videos by bulkreefsupplies, which Inspired me to purchase unions, pvc cement and primer. Hoping to get that done by the end of the week.

In regards to #5, I read that somewhere doing internet “research” and got worried it was a concern. Thanks for helping me learn and being patient. This is one of the many reasons I love this forum: getting to learn from experts and sharing our love for monster fish.

Here’s a pic of the hardscape. Doing a big WC once a week until the tannins are gone. Wasn’t allowed to soak the wood in the tub

 

[clm08k]

Some weird biofilm/fungus is forming on the bottom 75% of my Mopani wood. Does this mean the flow rate is too low? Sand grains too small? Do I need a wave maker? Pump is at 75% There is nothing in the tank yet except sand and driftwood. Thank you.

 

[deeda]

It is common for that stuff to grow on wood in a new tank, not harmful, can either wait it out or siphon it off the wood.

 

[Fguinan]

Here’s a pic of the hardscape. Doing a big WC once a week until the tannins are gone. Wasn’t allowed to soak the wood in the tub

If you want to get rid of the tannins Seachem Purigen will do it in about 24 hours!