8x2x3 Acrylic Double Bow Setup Thread

[FishOnCampus]

I did all the planning today, and will begin construction tomorrow. Will try to post pics every evening that I do work. Goal is to have the tank running and stocked by the 12th
The tank leaks on the 2 sides in the overflow boxes, I will document the repairs here. I paid $200 for the tank and $115 in transportation. The pint of weld-on 40 was ~$35.

We picked up a fridge at the same time. That's my buddy tying it down.



Not pictured but he stand will have 3/4" ply on top and 1/2" foam. The corners are funny because it is going in between 2 posts. The front posts are 4x4s because I have one lying around.
The stand will be lagged into a brick wall. It's going on the second floor of a 150 year old house in Hoboken. Old construction uses much thicker joists, so the lag is not really necessary, the floor can easily support the weight without additional reinforcement. Lumber Used: 14: 2x4, 1: 2x8, 1:4x4


I am making the sump out of a hideous 135g oceanic tank. The far ends will hold 8" filter socks, the left chamber will hold a k1 moving bed, and the right will hold plants and small grow-out fish. Bags of ceramic rings and lava rock will occupy empty spaces. The thick checkered pattern represents eggcrate and the fine one guttergaurd glued to eggcrate

 

[DIDYSIS]

Nice looking tank you got. Just my ideas looking over everything, Sump looked far too complicated, honestly leave it more open or all open, forget all the lava rock and ceramic rings since you are doing a moving bed filter setup in the sump. Simple will make maintence easier and over all you will be much happier with it. And it will do the same or better as you wont be cleaning the lava rock or rings at all. Also just a thought but purchasing a 4x4 usaully costs allot of money and you can always double up 2 2x4s and get the same results more or less at a bit cheaper cost.

 

[Inglorious]

 

[FishOnCampus]

Nice looking tank you got. Just my ideas looking over everything, Sump looked far too complicated, honestly leave it more open or all open, forget all the lava rock and ceramic rings since you are doing a moving bed filter setup in the sump. Simple will make maintence easier and over all you will be much happier with it. And it will do the same or better as you wont be cleaning the lava rock or rings at all. Also just a thought but purchasing a 4x4 usaully costs allot of money and you can always double up 2 2x4s and get the same results more or less at a bit cheaper cost.

I agree with you on the 4x4, it's not so much for structure, I just have one laying around. lol I actually had all the wood laying around except for the longer 2x4s
You will see what I'm doing with the sump when it's together. Keep in mind the scale. Most of my sumps are very simple as you suggested and they are certainly great.
A 20g moving bed filter can only handle 1/2 pound of food per day I thought? Correct me if I'm wrong here, I know you have a lot of experience with these things. I bought 50 liter of the k1 media

 

[DIDYSIS]

The rating for food you can feed is low, in tests they found it could do 2-3 times the amount they recommend. I need to look up the study that was done and look at it again for the exact numbers. Like all companies they are playing it extra safe. I will try to find that info again and share it here, give me a little time.


Here is what I read which is being quoted from the testing I just cant find the test right now. But this gives you a really good idea at what it can accomplish.

Kaldnes K1 has been proven in fish farming with feed rates up to 0.75kgs of 40% protein food per 50 litres of media per day. Evolution Aqua is rating it at a maximum of 0.25kgs of food per 50 litres used, in order to ensure the best possible water parameters are achieved.

I agree with you on the 4x4, it's not so much for structure, I just have one laying around. lol I actually had all the wood laying around except for the longer 2x4s
You will see what I'm doing with the sump when it's together. Keep in mind the scale. Most of my sumps are very simple as you suggested and they are certainly great.
A 20g moving bed filter can only handle 1/2 pound of food per day I thought? Correct me if I'm wrong here, I know you have a lot of experience with these things. I bought 50 liter of the k1 media

 

[DB junkie]

Don't make the same mistake most people do and back out of the bio chips.... These are a very important part. They cost a bit, but so do all the fish we keep.....

How do you plan on keeping the K1 in the sump in the event you need to use a specific gravity altering med? IF it's open top it'll likely end up on the floor. IF this is your only means of bio it's not going to end well.

Maybe do 2 plates with the gutter guard instead of just 1?

And you already know my thoughts on moving beds with no air.....

It'll "work" however you build it, as long as you drop your standards accordingly, but optimum means lots of air, and chips with the K1.......

 

[jsodwi]

Looking forward to the build. Are you going to match the radius of the bowfront tank to the stand?

 

[FishOnCampus]

The rating for food you can feed is low, in tests they found it could do 2-3 times the amount they recommend. I need to look up the study that was done and look at it again for the exact numbers. Like all companies they are playing it extra safe. I will try to find that info again and share it here, give me a little time.
Here is what I read which is being quoted from the testing I just cant find the test right now. But this gives you a really good idea at what it can accomplish.
Kaldnes K1 has been proven in fish farming with feed rates up to 0.75kgs of 40% protein food per 50 litres of media per day. Evolution Aqua is rating it at a maximum of 0.25kgs of food per 50 litres used, in order to ensure the best possible water parameters are achieved.

Thank you for that info! It sounds like I will be able to handle about 1 lb / day. The ceramic rings are going to be a must

Don't make the same mistake most people do and back out of the bio chips.... These are a very important part. They cost a bit, but so do all the fish we keep.....
How do you plan on keeping the K1 in the sump in the event you need to use a specific gravity altering med? IF it's open top it'll likely end up on the floor. IF this is your only means of bio it's not going to end well.
Maybe do 2 plates with the gutter guard instead of just 1?
And you already know my thoughts on moving beds with no air.....
It'll "work" however you build it, as long as you drop your standards accordingly, but optimum means lots of air, and chips with the K1.......

I like how you call salt a specific gravity altering med. lol The media flying out is something I didn't even consider, I will incorporate a second sheet for sure. I will buy the coralife sl-65 luft pump seeing how you recommend having it in addition to the pumps flow. For $60 bucks why the heck not?!
The manufacturer recommends the chips only for a huge volume. Did you have just k1, than add chips and observe a difference? I understand the chips "do something different," what exactly is it that they do? Maybe I will have to buy them too.

Looking forward to the build. Are you going to match the radius of the bowfront tank to the stand?

Too much work. I need a place too keep my drinks anyway
I was going to ask you to build me another steel stand, but I didn't want to plague you with the complications of the room.

 

[FishOnCampus]

 

[FishOnCampus]

Ran into a snag. I cannot clean the bottom of the overflow boxes because the tank is so deep and the overflows so narrow. Any ideas on how to remove the gunk?