Tank upgrade

[Jez1992]

Not technically tank,but sump upgrade.

I've got a 7.5 x 3x 2.5 but got fed up having to keep dividing it in half for when the male got too aggressive etc and needed separating. However I can't fit any more tanks in my house

Solution...get a rid of the old 4x 2 sump and replace with a 7x3x1.5 sump underneath.

This means have a sponges/ ceramic chamber, then big k1 chamber, then still leaves a 4x3 holding tank. I also crammed in a big UV.

Isn't the biggest of set ups, but made most of space I have!! And is a bigger footprint and they would have got in main tank when divided so best of a cramped situation I think! Lol.

 

[Jez1992]

Struggling to get photos to work. Old tank and sump.

 

[Jez1992]

New sump. Used corrugated plastic for the lids and has auto drip installed with a 1" overflow in sump.

Cabinet doors are just from Ikea cut down to fit. All on magnets and lift off completely for maintenance and feeding. And whilst on hide the noise from the k1 media and air pump!


The rays in the bottom tank are around 12" to give a perspective of size!!

 

[Capt_Rick_Dixie]

That's awesome! Way to make due!

 

[Just Toby]

Looks great, I like how you have done it.

 

[jim barry]

Looks great mate. How do you find the UV, any good?

 

[Jez1992]

Looks great mate. How do you find the UV, any good?

Cheers.

Yeah really good, had no issues since started using it. I have the return pump tee'd off with a very slow flow going through it. Although it's a clarifier, the rep told me with a very slow flow it'll do the job of a sterliser

 

[jim barry]

Yes that's what I heard, slow flow will mean it becomes a UV rather than a clarifier but I was unsure as to what exactly a slow flow would mean. I ended up with a APS one and run a 6000 lph pump through it. Do you think this would be too much flow?
I need to upgrade the UV on my other tank and I am tempted by the unit you have.

 

[Jez1992]

Yes that's what I heard, slow flow will mean it becomes a UV rather than a clarifier but I was unsure as to what exactly a slow flow would mean. I ended up with a APS one and run a 6000 lph pump through it. Do you think this would be too much flow?
I need to upgrade the UV on my other tank and I am tempted by the unit you have.

Yeah the analagy he used was if you walk quickly past a fire then you don't get burnt, but if you walk very slowly then you will get burnt. I reckon mine is around 1/2000 lph and it's a 55 uv. But then the maximum flow you can put through my unit Is ridiculous like 20000lph or something as meant for ponds! Lol

I highly recommend it, is a few quid, but works out cheaper than a couple of them vectron units and easier to change out bulbs etc as just the one unit. I just wanted to buy a 'branded' one as had a bad time with other jecod and APS stuff, but the only 55w UVS I could find were silly money like the helix ones!

Had no parasites or algae issues since having it and rays been beaten up badly from mating and recovered well!

 

[jim barry]

Yeah the analagy he used was if you walk quickly past a fire then you don't get burnt, but if you walk very slowly then you will get burnt. I reckon mine is around 1/2000 lph and it's a 55 uv. But then the maximum flow you can put through my unit Is ridiculous like 20000lph or something as meant for ponds! Lol

I highly recommend it, is a few quid, but works out cheaper than a couple of them vectron units and easier to change out bulbs etc as just the one unit. I just wanted to buy a 'branded' one as had a bad time with other jecod and APS stuff, but the only 55w UVS I could find were silly money like the helix ones!

Had no parasites or algae issues since having it and rays been beaten up badly from mating and recovered well!

Sounds good to me then mate. I have 2 of the biggest Vectron units on my older tank and I hate bulb changing time as it's a ball ache. The APS units are good for changing bulbs but my brand new unit leaked out of the box!!