My 150 Build - Waters in, but need advice.

[rabendr2]

I purchased a 150 Acrylic off craigslist almost a year ago and finally have it buffed up and full of water. Here are some before and after pictures.

Before

After

Front

Back

Here is the stand, its pretty unique. Built to span a air duct.


I have never had a tank this large, an acrylic tank, or a tank with a built in filter and overflow system. So I have some questions.

1) How do you keep fish from jumping out the top. I will be building a canopy to match the stand (and updating the lighting), but even then the fish could land on the acrylic top brace.

2)The intake to the filter is to the right side of the tank. Two power heads pump water back to the front (I think rated at 550gph each). I need some help with how the back should work and what the water level ends up being at.

Entry

Middle

Exit

I am planning mechanical pads or floss of some type (open to suggestions for the first compartment (maybe first two). I will leave the compartment that is built for a skimmer empty. The middle portion will be filled with 100-150 pot scrubbies. I was planning on leaving the next section empty (is this correct or should I do something more here?).

Has anyone had any luck finding black eggcrate as in the pictures. It isn't painted and is black throughout. So far, I can only find white.

I am sure some more questions will arise, but for the meantime, anyone want to come over and wash 100lbs of black 3m color quartz?

Thanks for your time.

 

[dead wait]

I think it did'nt work out for ya. Try again.

 

[prober]

The water level in the tank is determined by the hight of the overflow. The water level in the sump needs to be high enough that the return pump is not sucking air and the pump housing is covered so it stays cool. Then you add a couple inches to allow for evaporation. You don't want it too full or it may overflow if the power fails. Remeber that some water will flow back to the sump and your return may syphen the tank if you don't have a oneway valve.

 

[rabendr2]

I shouldn't have to worry about overflowing as the sump portion is attached to the back of the tank. The one problem I am having is the water level. I do not believe it is working right. The water level in the sump portion high across the back instead of flowing up and down. There is an array of holes drilled under the overflow, which is leveling out the water levels. I believe the tank may have been used half full at some point and so the holes were added. It is late tonight, but I will try and cover them tomorrow and see what happens.

Also, 1/2 the color quartz is washed and I have all the scrubbies and filter media in. The cycle has begun...