I have learned:

[Mavrick813]

1. The best laid plan is going to get shot to hell no matter how well you lay it out.
2. Sometimes, when filters break you aren't going to find a replacement part even if you go to 6 different stores. And sometimes the exact same filter is in stock at one of your LFS with about 35 of them to spare and the LFS won't give you the part you need out of one of them until the part you want them to order comes in.
3. An Eheim Pro II does not have the strength to act as a return pump / Filter. This filter needs the flow of water from the Intake line being high in order to get a decent Output pressure. That or the 2 Pro II I have just plain stink.
4. Lastly, I have learned that when your frustrated as hell because nothing is going right with a major tank overhaul. It might just take a fresh set of eyes to walk in the room and say "What If.." as your banging your head against the wall in order to get things to fall into place...

Did my 55G - 155G switch today. Head aches and back aches but the switch is done. Pics to come when the water clears tomorrow.

Mike

 

[CLDarnell]

lol Mike, that's awesome. I will take your word on #3, but the rest I can personally agree with. Good job getting the switch complete. I'm anxious to see those photos!

Nice job!

 

[Mavrick813]

Some Quick Shots using the Storm II. Will break out the big camera soon.

One of my overflows, I have 2 of these plumbed into 1 return that dumps into a 47 Gallon down below.

One Off Light Fixture. Runs 2 Bright Lights, 4 Day Glo lights, and 1 Blue Party light. All all wiring is soldered and heat shrinked. All pvc was glued together, and all the fixtures were then GE Siliconed II into place.

Some Before shots of the Larger Tiger O. This guy has been through some tough stuff. Between the niece pouring koolaide into his tank, and the Mother in law thinking it was OK to clean the top of the hood with Orange clean that dripped into the tank. He's still here. Also, Take notice of the Holey Rock. It's disgusting in these photos.

Now a couple of the Daylight setting on the new tank. Also notice the Holey Rock now. It soaked in a 50/50 Bleach water solution for 2 days, then I took the pressure washer to it. Then soaked it in a Severely overdosed Prime / Water solution for 2 days with an aerator. Threw it in a clean bucket with freshwater and waited 1 day then tested for chlorine. 0 ppm so it was gtg.

And now a couple with just the Moonlight.

I have since added a 500 GPH magdrive pump to the return. It bypasses the FX5 completely. But the filter sock has been catching all the mechanical duty anyway. I wasn't able to stuff my Emperor 400s on the back of the 47G underneath the way I had hoped. And as you can see the FX5 is barely under their. I am going to do some hose management this week and maybe even take the 500GPH pump out of their and put a 750 GPH pump.

More pics to come as I rethink things and tweak things.

Mike