Finally joining the club

[rokit_armor]

Yay more pics








I removed the right-hand overflow box, since there is only inflow on the right-hand side.
I also plugged the 3/4" bulkhead that is there- the sand should be deep enough to cover it. I didn't want to weld-on a piece of acrylic and make it permanent.
I made my 1" herbie full-siphon pipe about 4" lower than tank water level, and the 3/4" emergency drain about 1" higher than that. I will be using a sponge pre-filter over the herbie pipe to keep dead leaves and stuff, since it will be a planted tank, from clogging the ball-valve.

 

[rokit_armor]

Now for the part where I find out whether my landlord kills me or not *crosses fingers*
I hope this holds together....

 

[rokit_armor]

Daughter likes it, she wants to swim in it lol!

I have a problem though, well a few.
Despite my best efforts to save the pump, it's loud as all hell, leaks a tiny bit, and pumps WAY too much water for my overflow to handle(kept running the sump dry) I used the ball valve to decrease the flow, which did help, but I'd rather not have to throttle it down that much.
SO, what pump should I get for a 1" overflow drain? I figure with sand, big rocks, etc displacing water, I'll end up having 165g of water in the tank. 5x turnover is 825gph. According to pump head loss calculator, with my current setup I am pushing ~994gph @7.34 ft loss. Mag9 is just over 700gph, mag12 890gph.

I'm going to the pool place tomorrow for PFS, then to the LFS for python kit and more prime. I'd like to convince the wife we need a new pump while we are there.

 

[rokit_armor]

so I found this

size __GPM __GPH
1/2 = 2.50 = 150
3/4 = 5.63 = 337.5
1.0 = 10.0 = 600
1.25=15.6 = 937.5
1.5 = 22.5 = 1350
2.0 = 40.0 = 2400

My single 1" drain can handle only 600gph.
That's 3.5x turnover....
I do have almost 10 gallons of bioballs in that trickle filter, as well as I plan on adding supplimental mech filtration.
I don't think my current fish load would really stress out at 3.5x.

Ugh, brain hurts.

 

[rokit_armor]

ok SO. I went and bought some stuff today.
300lbs of PFS from the pool place today- probably too much but oh-well, it cost me less than 50lbs of 'specialty sand'.
LFS wanted $239 for a mag12pm- way overpriced- so I ordered one from drs f&s. I ordered the classic, is there really any difference between the two?

Filling that tank with a 5gal bucket was a PITA so I got the aqueon version of python. Much easier, but WAY SLOWER.

Going to clean up the rest of the rocks and driftwood and put them in. Hopefully I can get my pump before the weekend so I can start cycling then.

 

[Calvin Klein]

Looks fantastic! Great score for the $$$.

 

[rokit_armor]

thanks!
Put some stuff in it.








Luckly wife didn't see this

 

[OscarMan0315]

Nice tank! The fish are going to love it.

Is that a four line cat in the bowfront?

Keep us updated

 

[rokit_armor]

Nah, he's just a pictus. I might add a few more after they get re-homed, i like this guy and I guess they are social cats.

 

[OscarMan0315]

Nah, he's just a pictus. I might add a few more after they get re-homed, i like this guy and I guess they are social cats.

Nice, ive got a fourline. Hes a cool dude. haha