So we got the tank filled most of the way with water.
We are missing a part for the overflow standpipe from AGA but I called them today and they are shipping me a new one. It is the adapter to fit the standpipe into the bulkhead fitting. So right now the standpipe is useless and the water will go out the bottom.
I have a heater (got tired of sticking my arm in cold water) running and a powerhead.
Got a few connections to mate up in the sump. Think I need to make another trip to Lowe’s.
No the sump is not pretty. But hey who is really going to see it anyway.
I think it might be wishful thinking that we will start the pump tomorrow. So looks like Thursday (fingers crossed) for starting it up.
return line into bucket looks like a flood hazard. if it is not fastened stable it would jump out of sump. most people use pvc to drop into sump and could use filter sock instead of bucket
I know its a flood hazard. That is one of the connections that is not made up. I put the hose there so if we filled it up more today that it would go in the sump not the floor. THe bucket is for bioballs (and I know what most of you are going to say about them). I had that pushed out of the way while we were filling tonight but moved it back when we were done. Got to do the PVC connection tomorrow.
Any thoughts on support for the piping. It is a pretty short run but really don’t want it moving around.
Ah, yet another young tank getting ready to come to life. Save these pictures as they will be great to look back on.
As far as supporting the pipe I am sure you’ll see little need if your sump is directly below. The pipe will straighten out more and point further down when water starts flowing through it.
You might think about replacing some of the metal parts connected to you’re pump with PVC ones.
[quote=“MiniMomma, post:3, topic:801”]
Any thoughts on support for the piping. It is a pretty short run but really don’t want it moving around.[/quote]
Wire ties, if you want to support it. Like Jon said … ditch the brass … stop by and we’ll chat
you can use a 2 hole strap for this. it is a strap that fits over pipe and has screw hole on each side. some people just glue all joints and let it dump into sump if short run. they just make sure it is into lip of sump a few inches you can also make a pvc hob holder from acrylic real easy.
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l---------------- <drill hole here to hold pipe
I think some people here have small children (or had a aquarium while kids were small). Any suggestions on keeping kids out of the sump. We are planning on installing safety latches on the doors, but the back is open and he can fit behind the stand. Much easier than we can, which may be usefully when he is a little older but not so much now when he may think the sump is great for him to play in.
OK ideas short of serious bodily harm. Which is what could happen if he does stuff in the tank.
I agree with others, remove the brass fittings from the return pump.
What did you use to secure the baffles in the sump? Seems REALLY white.
Asd far as keeping the child out of the sump… wait for him to casually explore on his own…then scream and hollar like a lunatic…it will scare the hell out of him but he will never go near the tank again.
Kidding of course Saint:)
Your best bet would probably be to fabricate a wooden “shield” to prevent hin from being able to fit behind the tank, if he’s exploring back there the sump is probably one of the lesser things to be concerned with (thing electrical outlets, and hundreeds of pounds of water and glass above his head). Screwing a couple pieces of plywood (painted to match the stand) on the sides of the stand to fill the gap between the back of the stand and the wall should provide enough of a deterrent for the little guy.
yes i also was wondering what caulk you used. some caulk if not 100% silicone is unsafe. the ones with mold inhibiter ect are bad. use G E SILICONE ! or aquarium silicone made for tanks. also just use all pvc pipe and fittings or hose made of clear viynl. metals a no no if at all possible always use nylon or pvc.
Ted straightened me out with my fittings. abcd I am planning on running down to East Coast Aquatics at lunch tomorrow.
I used 100% silicone. All of the clear at antibacterial anti mold stuff in it. I can’t remember the exact details (and too lazy to go to the basement right now to check) but I did make sure it was 100% silicone and no anti mold stuff. Had a tube of clear that I was about to open and use but it did have the anti-mold. Guess we don’t need to go out and buy it for our bathroom now. lOl
[quote=“Cdangel0, post:8, topic:801”]
Asd far as keeping the child out of the sump… wait for him to casually explore on his own…then scream and hollar like a lunatic…it will scare the hell out of him but he will never go near the tank again.[/quote]
That method worked for keeping him off of the power cords (for computers, TV, cell phone charger, etc). Wasn’t the first method tried but hey it works.
I just had another thought that you may want to consider.
If you are going to use the clear vinyl drain & return lines and are going to have a fuge in the sump make sure you wrap the vinyl tubes in black electrical tape. this will prevent algae from growing inside the drain and return lines.
[quote=“Cdangel0, post:11, topic:801”]
I just had another thought that you may want to consider.
If you are going to use the clear vinyl drain & return lines and are going to have a fuge in the sump make sure you wrap the vinyl tubes in black electrical tape. this will prevent algae from growing inside the drain and return lines.[/quote]
Good call Craig. I never had problems with a line actually slowing down or stopping due to algae, but I once had a dark translucent line that would grow algae. Any time the pump went off and came on again the algae would be flushed out of the line and dumped into the tank all at once. Wasn’t horrible as my Tang always thought it was Christmas when it happened. FOOD!
We got the tank up and running last night. All the brass is removed. The only metal near the aquarium is a hose clamp on the discharge of the DT. Theorically it should never see water.
Need to move the heaters to the sump when I get home today.
So the water path is now DT to flex coupling to 1.25 PVC pipe to bioball bucket. Across baffle/weir combo under baffle to pump. Clear tubing back to DT.
We just have a short length of pipe (PVC) in place of the stand pipe until we get the missing adapter (standpipe to bulkhead) from AGA.
Will take pictures today.
So lets see my equipment (right now) is:
AGA 75 gal RR
AGA overflow accessory kit
bioballs
2 200W Visi-THerm stealth heaters
mag 5 returning water to DT
Have a Koralia 1 powerhead in tank right now.
Using RO/DI water.
I think that is about it.
Going to go and get a powerhead or two this weekend. The one I got was really for help heating/mixing water for water changes.
Oh, right now I just have the stock lighting that came with the tank and stand.
Right now wasn’t planning on lights down in the sump (shouldn’t be a problem, right?)
So future upgrades in a somewhat priority order.
ATO of some sort (not connected to RODI)
Upgrade lighting
maybe more powerheads
Protein Skimmer
If your still doing the bio balls you might want to put some kind of mesh/something that will spread the water flow evenly across the balls instead of shooting down into the center of them.
Ah the excitement of starting a new tank. One of the best things you can do right now is take your time and make sure you have everything is place and it is functioning correctly. I would make sure that you have an RODI system for making water, and a protein skimmer as your top priorities followed by adding more flow. For a 75 gallon you are going to want a least 2-3 K-3 or 4’s especially if you plan on a reef. If you aren’t going to be adding corals the lights that came with the tank will work fine. Don’t skimp on the skimmer as this is going to be removing a ton of waste and organics from your tank. You might try and leave as much of the sand surface uncovered by stacking your rock a little more. This will help prevent waste from settling under the rocks in too many places.
I was thinking I need to get pics and post an update.
We had a birthday party for our son last weekend. I felt sorry for my poor 82 year old grandmother who was trying to see the hermit crabs. The only one that wasn’t hiding as one of the red’s whose shell was covered with coraline. Of course it was on the coraline covered rock. She was looking for something bigger than they actually are.
I will try and get pics up this weekend. We got 2 perc. clowns. Have a little hair algea problem, little bits on rock which seems to be regulating self (hermit crabs and maybe some hitchhikers seem to keep that from spreading). Have more hair algea on the black overflow. Been slowly pulling that out. The clowns were playing/eating in it this morning.
