Close up of overflow.
Looks like I might need to add another strip or two of white LEDs.
Looks like I might need to add another strip or two of white LEDs.
New Tank Build
- Thread starter Aquadog
- Start date
Finally finished with tank, sump and nearly all the plumbing. I went with a used scratched up 180g acrylic tank. Had enough room for three 7" socks, live rock, and skimmer chamber, and room to spare for a fuge on the right side.
The drain is a Bean Animal style, with primary draining to the socks, secondary going to fuge, and emergency going to sump return chamber. Time for full water test.
Still need to finish the closed loop plumbing for the dart/snapper pump, but can do that once tank is in place. The pump is still running my current tank.
As you can see, did not go light on the Hot Blue Glue. Once this tank is in place, the plumbing will be difficult to get too unless sump is pulled out.
The drain is a Bean Animal style, with primary draining to the socks, secondary going to fuge, and emergency going to sump return chamber. Time for full water test.
Still need to finish the closed loop plumbing for the dart/snapper pump, but can do that once tank is in place. The pump is still running my current tank.
As you can see, did not go light on the Hot Blue Glue. Once this tank is in place, the plumbing will be difficult to get too unless sump is pulled out.
So what I thought would be a quiet drain into the sump sock chamber, is the loudest spot. Any suggestions on how to improve it to quiet it down?
I have a 1.5" PVC, capped at the end with a 1/2" groove cut on the side to drain. I'm thinking of having it just drain into the center sock below the water surface amd let it filter and fill, then flow into the other two socks.
I have a 1.5" PVC, capped at the end with a 1/2" groove cut on the side to drain. I'm thinking of having it just drain into the center sock below the water surface amd let it filter and fill, then flow into the other two socks.
Just freshwater in the tank now. Want to run it a week or so with fresh before doing the labor intensive swap!
Still need to skin the stand, and make a canopy.
Still need to skin the stand, and make a canopy.
I worked on my rockwork the last couple of days. Still have one final coat of epoxy on the sand covered foam joints. Overall looks pretty good with some decent size caves for when the Bamboo Shark gets bigger.
One experience I want to share is working with pond foam to secure the rocks. The Bamboo Shark I have loves to dig and slurp up bristle worms, so he pushes the rocks all around the tank to pull worms form the rocks. Well, big rocks moving in a glass tank is a bad thing.
I worked with the foam in the red can before, and found it was sticky, messy, expanded a lot and tended to have hollowed out air pockets in the foam. So I tried the Great Stuff Pond Foam. This stuff was good for the foam aspect, was nice and solid when dried. However, it didnt stick to the rocks. Not even a little bit. It was like I was making a foam mold.
So I pulled the rock work down and went to the red can. Enduring the low quality nozzle, I pushed through. Scarred a couple knuckles peeling the excess off and uses epoxy to coat the foam, dropping sand on it before it cured.
So if you want to build a very solid foam background wall, use the Great Stuff. If securing rocks, the Waterfall Foam worked best.
One experience I want to share is working with pond foam to secure the rocks. The Bamboo Shark I have loves to dig and slurp up bristle worms, so he pushes the rocks all around the tank to pull worms form the rocks. Well, big rocks moving in a glass tank is a bad thing.
I worked with the foam in the red can before, and found it was sticky, messy, expanded a lot and tended to have hollowed out air pockets in the foam. So I tried the Great Stuff Pond Foam. This stuff was good for the foam aspect, was nice and solid when dried. However, it didnt stick to the rocks. Not even a little bit. It was like I was making a foam mold.
So I pulled the rock work down and went to the red can. Enduring the low quality nozzle, I pushed through. Scarred a couple knuckles peeling the excess off and uses epoxy to coat the foam, dropping sand on it before it cured.
So if you want to build a very solid foam background wall, use the Great Stuff. If securing rocks, the Waterfall Foam worked best.
I feel your pain I've used both.
That's interesting about your shark, mine never did that that I ever noticed. They loved mussels though. I miss them. When I took my system down I shoulda kept them, the 300g, and the skimmer I would have been good.
Started emptying the 300g tank today. All water, rocks and fish were transfered to a poly stock tank. I found 1" PVC rollers, floor jack and 2x4s work best for moving and centering a 1k+ lb tank/stand.
Should have the new tank up and running tomorrow.
Should have the new tank up and running tomorrow.
Well, swap is done. Had one fatality (Lookdown) that took a flying leap out of the round pond tank in the garage. Wife was pretty bummed. Now the remaining two look depressed...
I kept having problems with a Sch 80 1.5" bulkhead that kept leaking around the outer thread and ring. Swapped in a different one and hopefully no continued issues because its the closed loop bulkhead and goes to the main tank.
Now I can slow down, tune the overflow pipe heights to lessen the noise and cover the stand.
I was thinking of using the 1/2" 8'x4' sound board from Home Depot. I want to minimize the main pump and skimmer noise. Anyone use the stuff before? It says its mixed with was to resist moisture.
I kept having problems with a Sch 80 1.5" bulkhead that kept leaking around the outer thread and ring. Swapped in a different one and hopefully no continued issues because its the closed loop bulkhead and goes to the main tank.
Now I can slow down, tune the overflow pipe heights to lessen the noise and cover the stand.
I was thinking of using the 1/2" 8'x4' sound board from Home Depot. I want to minimize the main pump and skimmer noise. Anyone use the stuff before? It says its mixed with was to resist moisture.
I'm glad I didn't paint the back glass. It allows a lot of the natural evening sunlight in.
It turned out better than I expected. There is so much swim space. The stringray glides back to front in the same path over and over.
The Bamboo loves swimming all over at all times throughout the day and night.
The Coral Cat Sharks are hiding of course and are typically only coming out when all the lights are off including room lights. I'm sure when they get more confortable in they tank they will venture out.
My wife is really upset about the loss of 2 of her Lookdowns.
*** (Please keep an eye out for me, I need to find 2 or 3 more Lookdowns for her ASAP. I'm willing to drive anywhere in Central or SoCal for them. )***
Other additions I'm going to add if I can find them are a few Blue Lined Snappers, and a few Red Squirrel Fish.
Also need about a 100 hermit crabs, and a 15-20 turbo snails.
I have a 160 watt UV Sterilizer that I need to install with the closed loop system. Once the closed loop is set up, I can pull out the powerheads.
My next step is to skin the tank stand with some sound panels and stained wood paneling. An 18" L shaped marble/granite counter is going to be placed on the front and right side of the tank.
My tank is turning out as I pictured it, with a few improvements along the way.
Thanks for the advice I was given from a a few of you.
It turned out better than I expected. There is so much swim space. The stringray glides back to front in the same path over and over.
The Bamboo loves swimming all over at all times throughout the day and night.
The Coral Cat Sharks are hiding of course and are typically only coming out when all the lights are off including room lights. I'm sure when they get more confortable in they tank they will venture out.
My wife is really upset about the loss of 2 of her Lookdowns.
*** (Please keep an eye out for me, I need to find 2 or 3 more Lookdowns for her ASAP. I'm willing to drive anywhere in Central or SoCal for them. )***
Other additions I'm going to add if I can find them are a few Blue Lined Snappers, and a few Red Squirrel Fish.
Also need about a 100 hermit crabs, and a 15-20 turbo snails.
I have a 160 watt UV Sterilizer that I need to install with the closed loop system. Once the closed loop is set up, I can pull out the powerheads.
My next step is to skin the tank stand with some sound panels and stained wood paneling. An 18" L shaped marble/granite counter is going to be placed on the front and right side of the tank.
My tank is turning out as I pictured it, with a few improvements along the way.
Thanks for the advice I was given from a a few of you.
