65g Tall In-wall build - Page 2

oxbeard · 02/23/2007, 10:39 PM

Looking good!!!

I wouldn't do a water change yet. It's my understanding that if you do a change during the cycle it will just slow it down.

toddc76 · 02/24/2007, 10:17 AM

Yep, that is what I assumed. The skimmer is skimming like crazy so I assume that should take out most of the nasty bits.

Thanks.

tktodd · 02/24/2007, 12:20 PM

Looking good!! Keep the pics coming.

drummereef · 02/24/2007, 02:16 PM

The rock looks awesome. Marco rocks rule.

jecarl2 · 02/24/2007, 02:26 PM

How big were your pieces of LAlo? Im thinking of gtting some for my 35 gallon hex.

toddc76 · 02/24/2007, 02:41 PM

I think a few were about 8 inches long and 4 inches across or so. many softball sized peices also. Very little ruble in the Lalo box.

toddc76 · 03/01/2007, 09:42 AM

So, just a quick update, I will post some more pictures tonight.

The tank has been cycling for little over a week now and we are finally starting to see some nitrites. Ammonia is still through the roof but at least the cycle is starting. Looks like most of the Coraline Algae is dieing off, but this is to be expected. All of the rock in the tank is starting to grow (we think anyways) these little red polyps, we tried to get some pictures but the camera just does not have the resolution to get them. On another note the smell has pretty much gone away, that is a deffinate plus.

On a housekeeping note I have a question, how often should I clean the skimmer? The neck in the collection cup is pretty gross and so isn't the collection cup itself.

I have re-aquascaped the tank 3 times and I am still not sure I am happy with it. grrrrr...

mux11 · 03/01/2007, 10:38 AM

Todd, Looks Awsome !!!
got a 65 tall for my first tank and after blowing my cash decided i would do fresh for a bit while I learn the husbandry of it all. Am doing some breading and have added two tanks.
But Im really looking forward to doing a salt set up but need to move to a bigger house first.
Keep it comming!

I would also like to know more about how you did your overflow... Make it, buy it... how did you adhear etc.
Thanks
James

toddc76 · 03/01/2007, 12:25 PM

We made the overflow with a peice of 1/8" acrylic we had and a router. We made a jig (melevs) to cut the teeth with a router. We also made all the cuts on the acrylic with the router.

So, we measured the distance we wanted the overflow out from the back of the tank and added it to the height we wanted. We then cut that as one peice. Once that was cut we heated the center with a blow torch and bent it instead of cutting and gluing that that join. It ended up with a nicer look. We then cut square peices and glued them onto the ends and once cured we used the router to cut the ends to the same shape as the box. I now with I took more pictures of the process, but I did not.

toddc76 · 03/01/2007, 08:11 PM

Just a quick picture we took the other night before I re-did the rock work. Still al ittle cloudy, but it gets better everyday.

mux11 · 03/01/2007, 08:35 PM

todd, thanks for the info.
one last ? - How did you adhear the overflow to the tank?
Thanks

toddc76 · 03/01/2007, 09:16 PM

Well, that is an interesting answer. While we were assembling the overflow we ran into the problem of what to glue it together with. So, we tried silicone, no go. We also tried a Marine epoxy from Home Depot, no go. Now I promise I am getting to your answer here in a minute

. Now, I am generally a pretty impatient person, normally I want things now and don't like to wait for shipping. So, when planning this whole thing out I realized we would need something to assemble the overflow with, but it was too late to order some weldon at that pont. So, instead of putting off the build to the next weekend I figured we would wing it as we did it. I really did think the epoxy would work, the over flow was black so I did not think the gray epoxy would be a problem. SO, off to HD I went and picked up some the LocTite Marine Epoxy. So, in the end we wasted a day waiting for it to cure and the second we put the router to it, it broke apart. So, with out spirits broke and me now totally ****ed at my own inpatience was quite determined to make it work, but it was late and we called it a day.

The next day a friend of mine (the friend who was helping me with the overflow, he much better at all that tight-fitting delicate type of work than I am) happen to be on the phone with his mother and she just happen to ask what we were up to and he explained about the acrylic box. She then said "Well we use this special stuff when working with acrylic fingernails" she then proceeded to explain this stuff to us:

So, off to a beauty supply place not far from here and trying to explain to the woman behind the counter what I was looking for and what I was going to use it for, and before we knew it we were standing in front of the part of the store with the stuff. She then asked me what color I wanted it in, pink? I think she was serious because when I replied " Well, I am just not sure pink would go with my eyes, do you have clear?" she responded with "Well, no one ever buys that, but here it is". So, $27 later and a few swears under my breath about not ordering the $5 Weldon sooner, we were on our way home with some acrylic glue.

So, this stuff was kinda strange, ( I am getting there, give another minute!) it is a powder that you mix with the liquid and it makes a paste-ish. Anyways we pour some powder into a shot glass and then some liquid to a elmers-glue consistency and attempted to glue together a few pieces of scrap. Well, we learned 3 things from that first test. 1. It starts setting the second they are mixed and starts to get very thick VERY fast. 2. It hardened and held like stone! 3. We needed more shot glasses because it stuck to the shot glass as well as the acrylic.

To actually get to the answer to your question, we used the acrylic glue in about 5 places and glued it to the glass while it was held with clamps. Once the Glue was set we sealed the whole thing with a healthy bead of silicone. We were quite happy with the results.

Sorry I made that so long, but I felt it was an interesting story, and well its my thread dammit!

Thanks for all the compliments and thanks for tagging along.

oxbeard · 03/02/2007, 04:57 AM

Interesting story indeed. I like seeing stories like that, lets me know that I'm not the only one who suffers from that hindsight syndrome. LOL

Rockwork's looking great.

mux11 · 03/02/2007, 10:32 AM

Yeah, Great story! I appreciate it.
no worries of chem leach into the tank from this stuff??

I was asking because I attempted to do the same thing. My only difference is I dont have a router and for $10 the plastic place built the box for me (minus the teeth which I have to cut)
Figured that was a good deal

I glued mine to the tank using just silicone as many posts and what not i had read mentioned that it was strong enough and non toxic.
Well after a couple months with weekly water changes below the box I noticed it was pulling away from the tank. and back to Sq1 to find a good bonding solution.

Thanks for the info and story
James

toddc76 · 03/02/2007, 01:06 PM

Well, the ingredients are all the same as weldon for the most part. But we did think about that, that is one of the reasons we covered everything with silicone.

rooroo · 03/02/2007, 02:48 PM

Ha, thats pretty cool. I got the gel tips (thats what the nail salons call them) when I got married and even though I knew they were acrylic, I never thought to use it in an aquarium application. Pretty expensive for that application, but I'm glad to hear it works.

So I have a 65 and a 20H for my sump. I'm limited by the stand opening size as to what I can have for a sump, but I managed to squeeze my skimmer and a small refugium into it. I used to run a panworld pump too, one that does about 750 GPH. I decided against using it as the return pump due to a few members of my local aquarium club saying it may over time weaken and crack the glass on the sump tank due to vibrations. And that the cheap 20H that I bought has thin glass. I went with a submersible instead, and honestly have never looked back. I have less flow now but I can always increase that inside the tank with powerheads. But I have far fewer microbubbles than before.

Anyway, just wanted to share with you. I think my refugium is plenty big foir the tank, but I also don't have a high load.

toddc76 · 03/02/2007, 02:52 PM

I agree with your sump cracking assessment with the pump. With that in mind I plumbed the intake to the pump from the sump with Spa-Flex pipe. I do not feel much of anything in the way of vibrations, but trust me I am keeping my eye on it.

I am considering also going to a submersible for the return pump and using the pan-world for a closed loop. I have all the loc-line fittings in the tank now and they are wicked sweet. My problem is that I just can't leave well enough alone. I guess that is part of the fun.

zach0660 · 03/02/2007, 03:14 PM

what are you using for lighting?

toddc76 · 03/02/2007, 03:15 PM

Nova Extreme 4x39 T5's. (2) 10k's and (2) actinics. But I am always open to suggestions here.

rooroo · 03/02/2007, 04:08 PM

The panworld would be a great pump for a closed loop. I kind of wish I did that with my tank, but I was too scared to drill the tank so I went with powerheads instead.

I use a Mag 7 for the return. Its about 500 gph to the tank. And then I use a couple really small Hagen powerheads right now, but I plan to get some of those new Koralin(?) powerheads as soon as I can convince my husband to spend more money on my tank.

toddc76 · 03/03/2007, 03:14 PM

Well, it looks like the brown algae has started growing. My understanding is that this is a normal bloom and is to be exptected. So I am not overly concerned. Is there anything I should do minimize its effect?

Here is a pic, it is right along the glass in this pic, kinda hard to see. But it is also growing in other places as well.

Eric55 · 03/04/2007, 03:08 PM

Todd,
Your tank looks great. By the way, I live in Chicopee as well.
Eric

toddc76 · 03/04/2007, 09:01 PM

That's awesome! Never thought I would find someone else so close! Well, now I know who to call if I need something babysat..

toddc76 · 03/04/2007, 09:14 PM

So Eric, mind if I ask what stores locally you frequent?

Eric55 · 03/05/2007, 06:34 PM

Ask me anything you want.

My favorite store is Greenwich Aquaria. They have a fantastic selection of corals. I think I'll be ready to buy my first in a few weeks.

Aqua Dreams is good for supplies. I think their fish selection is limited. There is another store a few miles away from there (in Southwick) but I was not impressed at all.

Puppy Center in West Hartford is also good for supplies, and they have the best cleaner shrimp around. I picked up 2 a few weeks ago.

I bought my clean up crew at eTropicals.com and I highly recommend them.

Here are a few pictures of my 30 gallon tank.

02/23/2007, 10:39 PM	#26
oxbeard Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 80	Looking good!!! I wouldn't do a water change yet. It's my understanding that if you do a change during the cycle it will just slow it down. __________________ You seem somewhat familiar. Have I threatened you before? Current Tank Info: not enough, planning for 500g expansion

02/24/2007, 10:17 AM	#27
toddc76 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chicopee, MA Posts: 102	Yep, that is what I assumed. The skimmer is skimming like crazy so I assume that should take out most of the nasty bits. Thanks. __________________ -=Todd C Current Tank Info: 14g Bio Cube, just getting started

02/24/2007, 02:16 PM	#29
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	The rock looks awesome. Marco rocks rule. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

02/24/2007, 02:41 PM	#31
toddc76 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chicopee, MA Posts: 102	I think a few were about 8 inches long and 4 inches across or so. many softball sized peices also. Very little ruble in the Lalo box. __________________ -=Todd C Current Tank Info: 14g Bio Cube, just getting started

03/01/2007, 09:42 AM	#32
toddc76 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chicopee, MA Posts: 102	So, just a quick update, I will post some more pictures tonight. The tank has been cycling for little over a week now and we are finally starting to see some nitrites. Ammonia is still through the roof but at least the cycle is starting. Looks like most of the Coraline Algae is dieing off, but this is to be expected. All of the rock in the tank is starting to grow (we think anyways) these little red polyps, we tried to get some pictures but the camera just does not have the resolution to get them. On another note the smell has pretty much gone away, that is a deffinate plus. On a housekeeping note I have a question, how often should I clean the skimmer? The neck in the collection cup is pretty gross and so isn't the collection cup itself. I have re-aquascaped the tank 3 times and I am still not sure I am happy with it. grrrrr... __________________ -=Todd C Current Tank Info: 14g Bio Cube, just getting started

02/24/2007, 12:20 PM	#28
tktodd Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 216	Looking good!! Keep the pics coming.

02/24/2007, 02:26 PM	#30
jecarl2 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Near Memphis Posts: 121	How big were your pieces of LAlo? Im thinking of gtting some for my 35 gallon hex.

03/01/2007, 10:38 AM	#33
mux11 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Davenport IA Posts: 186	Todd, Looks Awsome !!! got a 65 tall for my first tank and after blowing my cash decided i would do fresh for a bit while I learn the husbandry of it all. Am doing some breading and have added two tanks. But Im really looking forward to doing a salt set up but need to move to a bigger house first. Keep it comming! I would also like to know more about how you did your overflow... Make it, buy it... how did you adhear etc. Thanks James

03/01/2007, 12:25 PM	#34
toddc76 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chicopee, MA Posts: 102	We made the overflow with a peice of 1/8" acrylic we had and a router. We made a jig (melevs) to cut the teeth with a router. We also made all the cuts on the acrylic with the router. So, we measured the distance we wanted the overflow out from the back of the tank and added it to the height we wanted. We then cut that as one peice. Once that was cut we heated the center with a blow torch and bent it instead of cutting and gluing that that join. It ended up with a nicer look. We then cut square peices and glued them onto the ends and once cured we used the router to cut the ends to the same shape as the box. I now with I took more pictures of the process, but I did not. __________________ -=Todd C Current Tank Info: 14g Bio Cube, just getting started

03/01/2007, 08:11 PM	#35
toddc76 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chicopee, MA Posts: 102	Just a quick picture we took the other night before I re-did the rock work. Still al ittle cloudy, but it gets better everyday. __________________ -=Todd C Current Tank Info: 14g Bio Cube, just getting started

03/01/2007, 08:35 PM	#36
mux11 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Davenport IA Posts: 186	todd, thanks for the info. one last ? - How did you adhear the overflow to the tank? Thanks

03/01/2007, 09:16 PM	#37
toddc76 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chicopee, MA Posts: 102	Well, that is an interesting answer. While we were assembling the overflow we ran into the problem of what to glue it together with. So, we tried silicone, no go. We also tried a Marine epoxy from Home Depot, no go. Now I promise I am getting to your answer here in a minute . Now, I am generally a pretty impatient person, normally I want things now and don't like to wait for shipping. So, when planning this whole thing out I realized we would need something to assemble the overflow with, but it was too late to order some weldon at that pont. So, instead of putting off the build to the next weekend I figured we would wing it as we did it. I really did think the epoxy would work, the over flow was black so I did not think the gray epoxy would be a problem. SO, off to HD I went and picked up some the LocTite Marine Epoxy. So, in the end we wasted a day waiting for it to cure and the second we put the router to it, it broke apart. So, with out spirits broke and me now totally ****ed at my own inpatience was quite determined to make it work, but it was late and we called it a day. The next day a friend of mine (the friend who was helping me with the overflow, he much better at all that tight-fitting delicate type of work than I am) happen to be on the phone with his mother and she just happen to ask what we were up to and he explained about the acrylic box. She then said "Well we use this special stuff when working with acrylic fingernails" she then proceeded to explain this stuff to us: So, off to a beauty supply place not far from here and trying to explain to the woman behind the counter what I was looking for and what I was going to use it for, and before we knew it we were standing in front of the part of the store with the stuff. She then asked me what color I wanted it in, pink? I think she was serious because when I replied " Well, I am just not sure pink would go with my eyes, do you have clear?" she responded with "Well, no one ever buys that, but here it is". So, $27 later and a few swears under my breath about not ordering the $5 Weldon sooner, we were on our way home with some acrylic glue. So, this stuff was kinda strange, ( I am getting there, give another minute!) it is a powder that you mix with the liquid and it makes a paste-ish. Anyways we pour some powder into a shot glass and then some liquid to a elmers-glue consistency and attempted to glue together a few pieces of scrap. Well, we learned 3 things from that first test. 1. It starts setting the second they are mixed and starts to get very thick VERY fast. 2. It hardened and held like stone! 3. We needed more shot glasses because it stuck to the shot glass as well as the acrylic. To actually get to the answer to your question, we used the acrylic glue in about 5 places and glued it to the glass while it was held with clamps. Once the Glue was set we sealed the whole thing with a healthy bead of silicone. We were quite happy with the results. Sorry I made that so long, but I felt it was an interesting story, and well its my thread dammit! Thanks for all the compliments and thanks for tagging along. __________________ -=Todd C Current Tank Info: 14g Bio Cube, just getting started

03/02/2007, 04:57 AM	#38
oxbeard Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 80	Interesting story indeed. I like seeing stories like that, lets me know that I'm not the only one who suffers from that hindsight syndrome. LOL Rockwork's looking great. __________________ You seem somewhat familiar. Have I threatened you before? Current Tank Info: not enough, planning for 500g expansion

03/02/2007, 10:32 AM	#39
mux11 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Davenport IA Posts: 186	Yeah, Great story! I appreciate it. no worries of chem leach into the tank from this stuff?? I was asking because I attempted to do the same thing. My only difference is I dont have a router and for $10 the plastic place built the box for me (minus the teeth which I have to cut) Figured that was a good deal I glued mine to the tank using just silicone as many posts and what not i had read mentioned that it was strong enough and non toxic. Well after a couple months with weekly water changes below the box I noticed it was pulling away from the tank. and back to Sq1 to find a good bonding solution. Thanks for the info and story James

03/02/2007, 01:06 PM	#40
toddc76 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chicopee, MA Posts: 102	Well, the ingredients are all the same as weldon for the most part. But we did think about that, that is one of the reasons we covered everything with silicone. __________________ -=Todd C Current Tank Info: 14g Bio Cube, just getting started

03/02/2007, 02:48 PM	#41
rooroo Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New Market, MD Posts: 406	Ha, thats pretty cool. I got the gel tips (thats what the nail salons call them) when I got married and even though I knew they were acrylic, I never thought to use it in an aquarium application. Pretty expensive for that application, but I'm glad to hear it works. So I have a 65 and a 20H for my sump. I'm limited by the stand opening size as to what I can have for a sump, but I managed to squeeze my skimmer and a small refugium into it. I used to run a panworld pump too, one that does about 750 GPH. I decided against using it as the return pump due to a few members of my local aquarium club saying it may over time weaken and crack the glass on the sump tank due to vibrations. And that the cheap 20H that I bought has thin glass. I went with a submersible instead, and honestly have never looked back. I have less flow now but I can always increase that inside the tank with powerheads. But I have far fewer microbubbles than before. Anyway, just wanted to share with you. I think my refugium is plenty big foir the tank, but I also don't have a high load.

03/02/2007, 02:52 PM	#42
toddc76 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chicopee, MA Posts: 102	I agree with your sump cracking assessment with the pump. With that in mind I plumbed the intake to the pump from the sump with Spa-Flex pipe. I do not feel much of anything in the way of vibrations, but trust me I am keeping my eye on it. I am considering also going to a submersible for the return pump and using the pan-world for a closed loop. I have all the loc-line fittings in the tank now and they are wicked sweet. My problem is that I just can't leave well enough alone. I guess that is part of the fun. __________________ -=Todd C Current Tank Info: 14g Bio Cube, just getting started

03/02/2007, 03:14 PM	#43
zach0660 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NE Posts: 549	what are you using for lighting?

03/02/2007, 03:15 PM	#44
toddc76 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chicopee, MA Posts: 102	Nova Extreme 4x39 T5's. (2) 10k's and (2) actinics. But I am always open to suggestions here. __________________ -=Todd C Current Tank Info: 14g Bio Cube, just getting started

03/02/2007, 04:08 PM	#45
rooroo Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New Market, MD Posts: 406	The panworld would be a great pump for a closed loop. I kind of wish I did that with my tank, but I was too scared to drill the tank so I went with powerheads instead. I use a Mag 7 for the return. Its about 500 gph to the tank. And then I use a couple really small Hagen powerheads right now, but I plan to get some of those new Koralin(?) powerheads as soon as I can convince my husband to spend more money on my tank.

03/03/2007, 03:14 PM	#46
toddc76 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chicopee, MA Posts: 102	Let the brown algae cometh Well, it looks like the brown algae has started growing. My understanding is that this is a normal bloom and is to be exptected. So I am not overly concerned. Is there anything I should do minimize its effect? Here is a pic, it is right along the glass in this pic, kinda hard to see. But it is also growing in other places as well. __________________ -=Todd C Current Tank Info: 14g Bio Cube, just getting started

03/04/2007, 03:08 PM	#47
Eric55 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Western Massachusetts Posts: 490	Todd, Your tank looks great. By the way, I live in Chicopee as well. Eric

03/04/2007, 09:01 PM	#48
toddc76 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chicopee, MA Posts: 102	That's awesome! Never thought I would find someone else so close! Well, now I know who to call if I need something babysat.. __________________ -=Todd C Current Tank Info: 14g Bio Cube, just getting started

03/04/2007, 09:14 PM	#49
toddc76 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chicopee, MA Posts: 102	So Eric, mind if I ask what stores locally you frequent? __________________ -=Todd C Current Tank Info: 14g Bio Cube, just getting started

03/05/2007, 06:34 PM	#50
Eric55 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Western Massachusetts Posts: 490	Ask me anything you want. My favorite store is Greenwich Aquaria. They have a fantastic selection of corals. I think I'll be ready to buy my first in a few weeks. Aqua Dreams is good for supplies. I think their fish selection is limited. There is another store a few miles away from there (in Southwick) but I was not impressed at all. Puppy Center in West Hartford is also good for supplies, and they have the best cleaner shrimp around. I picked up 2 a few weeks ago. I bought my clean up crew at eTropicals.com and I highly recommend them. Here are a few pictures of my 30 gallon tank.