My new tank (first real MONSTER)
- Thread starter koop171
- Start date
So I got ambitious tonight. I thought I would do some plumbing before I went to bed. I got a little done. But I had to stop b/c Cutting the PVC was a little loud ( Gotta love your saw zaw) And my G/F was allready in bed. All PVC is 1"ID The end of the "inlets" to the sump are not done but the touched up thrid pic gives you an idea of were that is going. I will add extra pieces to the T fitting and make a spraybar of sorts to start the trickle. I did this b/c I wanted to evenly as possible distribute water across the bio media.
The media ended up being right around the 20 Gal mark. I am not sure I am fond of this amount. I messed up cutting the plexi and it's allready starting to bite me. BUT I figure what I'll do is add bags of bio maxx or Subtrate pro to the bottom of the sump where the return water is. It's a submerged media so the trickle will not help it much anyway so it can just lay there in the bottom of the tub. Then I will just more then likly have a nice layer of media across the tub But for now I have plenty. I do however still need to get about 24 more scrubbies. I bought out both dollar stores today and only ended up getting 8 packs of 6. But the one said they can order me some in. SO I'll be making that call this comming week.
It is getting harder and harder to Not fill this tank up and just look at it. lol I was really close to doing it tonight. But I talked myself out of it.
I still have yet to decide what I am doing for the return water lines. I don't know if I want to go back up through the holes in the tank or take the short route and go up over the top. I figure if I got up over the top this should give me a little less amount of head for my pumps. and it really won't be seen anyway b/c the orentation of the tank. If I got through the tank the way it's meant to go It will look nicer but my pumps will strain more.
P.S. I hope that those hoses don't pinch like they look like theyt want to. If it does I can replace them with the braided line instead of this stuff. But b/c the way the stand pipes were It had to be hooked to a rubber hose. I didn't build the pipes it is something that came with the tank that I am still able to use.
The media ended up being right around the 20 Gal mark. I am not sure I am fond of this amount. I messed up cutting the plexi and it's allready starting to bite me. BUT I figure what I'll do is add bags of bio maxx or Subtrate pro to the bottom of the sump where the return water is. It's a submerged media so the trickle will not help it much anyway so it can just lay there in the bottom of the tub. Then I will just more then likly have a nice layer of media across the tub But for now I have plenty. I do however still need to get about 24 more scrubbies. I bought out both dollar stores today and only ended up getting 8 packs of 6. But the one said they can order me some in. SO I'll be making that call this comming week.
It is getting harder and harder to Not fill this tank up and just look at it. lol I was really close to doing it tonight. But I talked myself out of it.
I still have yet to decide what I am doing for the return water lines. I don't know if I want to go back up through the holes in the tank or take the short route and go up over the top. I figure if I got up over the top this should give me a little less amount of head for my pumps. and it really won't be seen anyway b/c the orentation of the tank. If I got through the tank the way it's meant to go It will look nicer but my pumps will strain more.
P.S. I hope that those hoses don't pinch like they look like theyt want to. If it does I can replace them with the braided line instead of this stuff. But b/c the way the stand pipes were It had to be hooked to a rubber hose. I didn't build the pipes it is something that came with the tank that I am still able to use.
I got the overflow painted. I am not going to paint the bottom. I may change my mind and do a very light layer of PF sand. I like the black ALOT better then the crappy blue. The little bit of blue you see at the base is not b/c I messed up it's b/c the box is built into the glass bottom.
The sump got it's spraybar inlet today. I have not cemented the spraybar into the PVC yet b/c if the holes are to small or to few I will still be able to take it off and redrill. I will still need to get some submerged media to layer the bottom with. And then my total bio media should be over 30 gallons.
I will test fill next weekend. If all goes well then I might just let the whole tank cycle. (I will start cycling the sump tonight) If something bad happens I have to drain it. Or If I feel it will evap to much b/c it still needs a top I will drain it then also.
Either way I am getting closer .... Can't wait till next weekend.
The sump got it's spraybar inlet today. I have not cemented the spraybar into the PVC yet b/c if the holes are to small or to few I will still be able to take it off and redrill. I will still need to get some submerged media to layer the bottom with. And then my total bio media should be over 30 gallons.
I will test fill next weekend. If all goes well then I might just let the whole tank cycle. (I will start cycling the sump tonight) If something bad happens I have to drain it. Or If I feel it will evap to much b/c it still needs a top I will drain it then also.
Either way I am getting closer .... Can't wait till next weekend.
