The Journey - 300+ Gallon System Build - Picture Heavy

[bpcardona]

Okay so I am still behind in my post so let me try to catch up:

The next step was to fill it with water and leak test. Well this sort of went well. That is if you consider that I only had two small leak that were easly fixed going well. However this test provided me with a new and big challenge.

So I was watching the overflows fill along with the rest of the tank, and for some reason this didn't strike me as being a problem until I was 3/4 full! It is hard to be an "overflow" when the water does flow over! I quickly realized my issue. The previous owner of the tank thought it would be a great idea to drill the bottom of the overflows, for what reason I don't know. He place a bulk head in each of the hole, which if this were a single walled overflow might prevent water from entering. However it is not single walled. This tank is a 210g AGA with dual mega flow overflow box. Water was rushing in and filling the overflows at the equal rate as the tank. Problem!

Solution! I thought if I remove the bulkheads, and fill them with something then no more problem. But what do I use? Well I decided on a expanding foam used for ponds. This was about $15 at Home Depot. This solved the problem perfectly! However if any one needs to use this stuff I have some suggestion:

1.When the back of the can says wear glove, wear the GD gloves!
2. The suggestion that is not on the back of the can! Wear a GD hat! Why wear a hat you ask? Well if you thought it was hard getting off your finger, try getting it out of your hair! I leaned over to check the coverage, and I got it right down the middle. I had to cut it out!

[bmullikin1]

Ya that stuff doesnt come off the skin easy, even w mineral spirits. Nice build.

[worm5406]

So I guess you could not just cap it huh? I wonder if he was using for flow. Like a locline connection of something.

[bpcardona]

Okay so on to the next headache:

So with the hole filled and the overflow working properly one would think this plumbing was done. Wrong! So the next issue I had was that the right overflow was filling faster then the right. Well my first thought was I must have been un level. I checked it, and it look like I could make some improvement. I planned to shim between the tank and the stand. I did and filled it again. Nope....still filling faster. I borrowed a friends high quality level, and thought I could do a little better. Shim, shim, shim. Fill it up. Nope! @&*%$@"^!

Okay so I went and thought about this. I figure that my biggest problem was not that I was un level. I was thinking about this backwards. it wasnt that my right overflow was filling faster. My problem was that the right overflow couldn't drain fast enough. To test this out I dialed the pump back until the the overflow box could handle it. I then dailed the left overflow in. And it worked.

My problem, I have now dailed my 2600gph pump back to near nothing. My solution is a risky one but its what I am going to do. I have decided to use three of my four pipes as full siphon returns, and only have one emergency. I know I am going to get ripped apart for this, but my turn over rate with this method is wonderful. I will use a apex with a water level sensor in case of emergency. The sensor will let me turn off the pumps in case of a full clog.

I am almost caught up, a few more updates to come.

[worm5406]

Nice..... I guess you could set up an overhang box with or as an additional emergency .

[bpcardona]

So while I waited for the pond foam to dry and the tank to fill I completed some smaller projects. I drilled the sock holder for my sump. These were 95mm hole and very close together. I thought for sure I would break a few panes of glass, but I got it on the first go. This was my first time drilling glass, so I must give credit to the bit. I purchased a Bosch 95mm bit. It was much more expensive, but I guess it was worth it.

I also drilled my frag tank. I drilled 6 1" hole. There will be 2 full siphon, 2 emergencies, and 2 returns. I also painted the back panel. I included a logo just for fun. Tell me what you think.

I have also reinforced the water exchange stands and painted it. I can see the end coming soon.

[worm5406]

Ahh, nice cut job.

I do not see the logo...

6 1".. not bad... how long did all those take to get done? Same bit too?

[bpcardona]

[bpcardona]

Originally Posted by worm5406

Ahh, nice cut job.

I do not see the logo...

6 1".. not bad... how long did all those take to get done? Same bit too?

The sock holder took about 2 hours. I went very slow. The tank took about an hour and yes it was the same bit. The holes are not as clean becuase this was a cheap bit, but they will get the job done.

[owenspackman]

Originally Posted by bpcardona

The sock holder took about 2 hours. I went very slow. The tank took about an hour and yes it was the same bit. The holes are not as clean becuase this was a cheap bit, but they will get the job done.

Nice! Why the choice to work with glass on the sock holder over acrylic?

[Coddigtion]

Thanks for the post this has given me some great ideas for my own tank!

[bpcardona]

Originally Posted by owenspackman

Nice! Why the choice to work with glass on the sock holder over acrylic?

I wanted it to look consistent. I may reget that dession later but for now it looks good.

[bpcardona]

Originally Posted by Coddigtion

Thanks for the post this has given me some great ideas for my own tank!

You are more then welcome, if you have any improvement ideas let me know.

[bpcardona]

So I worked on the sump tonight. This is my results. I am happy with it for the most part, but the silicone is a bit sloppy. I am letting it dry tonight then I will water test in the morning. I had troubles siliconing the bubble trap. I hope it holds. The socks it PERFECT! I can't be happier with that.

[Coddigtion]

Great looking project! I wish that I had the talent to do something that nice.

[bpcardona]

Originally Posted by Coddigtion

Great looking project! I wish that I had the talent to do something that nice.

No talent here, just a willingness to make mistakes and learn.

[worm5406]

Brian,

WOW...
That is nice!

What is abc?

The ro/NSW barrels... Where did you get them?

The Sump.. Is that a 50g breeder?



Nice job on the sock holder. At least glass will hold up to any cleaning and scrubbing you have.

Real good job on the sump so far. Lets see how that bubble trap holds.

How far apart are the sections?

How high is each section?

I lowered mine as it went toward the return pump.

[bpcardona]

Originally Posted by worm5406

Brian,

WOW...
That is nice!

What is abc?

The ro/NSW barrels... Where did you get them?

The Sump.. Is that a 50g breeder?



Nice job on the sock holder. At least glass will hold up to any cleaning and scrubbing you have.

Real good job on the sump so far. Lets see how that bubble trap holds.

How far apart are the sections?

How high is each section?

I lowered mine as it went toward the return pump.

The ABC stands for Andrea (my Wife), Brian (me) Cardona (our last name). It was just a fun simple addition.

The barrels came from a local guy, they were used to carry hops. These are a little special because they have removable lids. Only cost $20 each.

The first open area in the sump is for a small refuge, it is 13". The next is a equipment/refuge at 10". This area will likely contain all my probes, addition skimmer (I have a tunze 9011 that I made run in addition to external as a dry skimmer). As for height, the socks are at 16" high, followed by the baffles at 14" high. The bubble trap is space at 1" apart.

The tank is a standard 55g aquaeon from petco $1 a gallon sale.

[worm5406]

Not bad at all... I made sure mine has about 3-4 inches free when running. That gives me enough for power failure and the skimmer draining down also. (had one yesterday while I was standing in front of it) I just watched it and wondered..... It ran perfectly!

[Newbie Aquarist]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/90102096@N03/8567334212/

Dont mean to be a bubble breaker here but I think I see a flaw in the design.

Going from left to right, the first section I assume is a entry section from the tank. The second section is the filter sock. The third and fourth section is either fuge/equipment section. Then baffles then exit with return pump correct?

Here is the problem I see. When the water goes into the filter socks, where does it go? I see the lip after the filter socks to let water continue to move. But there is no open space for the water to leave after it enters the sock. From the picture the water will fill up out the socks and over the lip into the next section.

[worm5406]

If you look just after the filter sock on the back wall you will see a break in the glass. About 1" below the filter sock lip/edge. It runs all the way across.

Look at a few of the other pictures in that photo stream and you will see the break better.

[mpierce]

Nice looking build. Not trying to pick at your progress, but you shouldn't shim between the tank and the stand. Only the Stand and the floor. Creates pressure points on the tank and may crack it.

[bpcardona]

Originally Posted by mpierce

Nice looking build. Not trying to pick at your progress, but you shouldn't shim between the tank and the stand. Only the Stand and the floor. Creates pressure points on the tank and may crack it.

No worries friend. It's not picking it apart just constructive criticism. When I drian the tank, I will see how hard it is to left the stand.

Originally Posted by Newbie Aquarist

http://www.flickr.com/photos/90102096@N03/8567334212/

Dont mean to be a bubble breaker here but I think I see a flaw in the design.

Going from left to right, the first section I assume is a entry section from the tank. The second section is the filter sock. The third and fourth section is either fuge/equipment section. Then baffles then exit with return pump correct?

Here is the problem I see. When the water goes into the filter socks, where does it go? I see the lip after the filter socks to let water continue to move. But there is no open space for the water to leave after it enters the sock. From the picture the water will fill up out the socks and over the lip into the next section.

Worm is correct. I know that my original design showed a box under the socks, but this was a simple mistake made when connecting the lines. Thank you very much for picking sort my design, that's the kind of help I need.

Originally Posted by worm5406

Not bad at all... I made sure mine has about 3-4 inches free when running. That gives me enough for power failure and the skimmer draining down also. (had one yesterday while I was standing in front of it) I just watched it and wondered..... It ran perfectly!

I shut the power down and the sump handled the overflow just fine. Thanks of the advice.

[bpcardona]

This is the sump in action. Hopefully this well clear up any confusion of how it works. The problem I see is that I should have made the baffles a little smaller then the first. Also the last baffle needs to be shorter. This one I may cut, the others I will leave alone. If I fill the sump past the last baffle I don't have any problems, but if it gets low I get bubbles.

[worm5406]

What are you going to do if something drops/lives below the socks?

Was just thinking about getting in there to do any maintenance.

I would cut it down some also. The way it is flowing there is no separation between those center to areas because of the height of the last section.