Monster 822 gallon (ext) aquarium build thread

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Your progress is looking good!

Here's some pics of that overflow I made as part of my auto drip system that should explain it better

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It's just a standard threaded 1" bulkhead - on the outside of the sump is a barbed insert adapter I picked up from home depot and reduced it to 5/8" with clear tubing and hose clamp. The tubing goes into the wall, through my crawlspace into the backyard.

On the inside is one of these:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+10090+8022&pcatid=8022

so if I point it straight up the water line would be at max height, but if I turn it down a little it can lower the water line. Mainly I did this because this is my first
experience with a sump and wasn't sure where I wanted the waterline. This gives me close to 2" of adjustment for the waterline.

If this isn't clear I can snap a pic when I get home tonight...

I do the same thing with a 90 elbow coming off my drain bulkhead inside my sump. I add a PVC pipe to my 90 pointing straight up to adjust the water level I cut the pipe. Your system is way better! But once you have the water level worked out there's no more adjustment needed.
 
Your progress is looking good!

Here's some pics of that overflow I made as part of my auto drip system that should explain it better

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that is awesome, I will indeed use this configuration. thanks for the pictures it really cleared up a lot of question. I will see if I can find some parts from HD or Lowes to see if i can replicate the idea first, so I cam complete the setup over the next few days to keep the progress going. If not I have to order that elbow, which is really nice.
 
I do the same thing with a 90 elbow coming off my drain bulkhead inside my sump. I add a PVC pipe to my 90 pointing straight up to adjust the water level I cut the pipe. Your system is way better! But once you have the water level worked out there's no more adjustment needed.

Ok I guess that answered my above post about going to HD or Lowes. 90deg elbow and pvc pipe does the trick..
Thanks for all the tips..
 
Well the canister are plumbed in and working well. The REeflo dart pushes all three with no problems thus far. Between the three pumps looks like I am getting about 4 times the turn over and hour, not to shabby. Also add some ammonia and turbo start to get the cycling process going. All I have to do as for plumping is to drill the holes for the auto drip system and put the UV bulbs and ballast in. I wait until the tanks cycles for that. Now it's time to find some wood and rock, oh yeah and some fish eventually...
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Did you combine the returns from the canisters and each sump? How is your external overflow box drilled? Are the holes for 1 1/2" drains and 1/2" return pipes? Also, what all came with the plumbing kit for your tank? Just bulkheads and return nozzles? (I can't get in my tank yet to retrieve whatever is in there)
 
Did you combine the returns from the canisters and each sump? How is your external overflow box drilled? Are the holes for 1 1/2" drains and 1/2" return pipes? Also, what all came with the plumbing kit for your tank? Just bulkheads and return nozzles? (I can't get in my tank yet to retrieve whatever is in there)
Good Morning
Since there where four two holes drilled per overflow box, two 1 1/2'' drains and two 1/2 return. I used one drains and return for each sump, and the other for the canister. Worked out great, and the water flow and turnover is awesome, even at the bottom and center of the tank. The difference is, as you are facing the tank the right side has the reeflo dart pump pushing a canister with a 25 micron filter and a UV sterlizer mounted right up under the tank and returns on the left side the reeflo dart is pusing two canister with a 100 and 25 micron filter. The sumps have their own independent internal pump. I actually like the NuClear cansiter and depending on how time consuming it is to change the filter I may add another one on the otther side to give me a uniformed look with two canister on each side, should make for some crystal clear water. Forgot to take pictures of the UV, I did such a good job at mounting it I forgot it was there, ha,ha,ha.
Only the bulkheads came with the tank, no nozzels, which sucks becasue I paid about $60 for those four flexible nozzles, they are nice but DAMN!
I hope I have explained it clearly if not let me knwo I will attempt it again. This had been a puzzling project with the plumbing to say the least. In fact I am thinking of ways to re-route the tubing on the canister for a cleaner look eventually, but the biggest thing was to get the tank running to stat the cycling process..
 
The pictures have me a little confused.. lol. It looks like the sumps are being drained from the center reeflo pump, but you say there are internal pumps in those sumps now? The internal pumps drain the sumps straight back up to one of the return nozzles on each side? And the reeflo is also draining both sumps, tees off and then is feeding all the canister filters and being returned to the other return nozzles?
 
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