My 400g build from the groud up. HAVE I LOST MY MIND?!?!

[TheBigB]

Just want to drop a quick update. I have literally been out of town for the last month for "last minute" work trips. Every time I think I will have time to knock this tank out I get a call and have to catch a plane the next day. For now, it looks like I will be here for the next few weeks. Keep your fingers crossed I can get it done before I leave again. Updates to come very soon

 

[Superbass]

i like how you are planning to use the space under the tank in your stand, and a lot of ppl say its hard to get under... how come no one uses a flexible tube/hose/piping with quick disconnects and put their sump on a roll out platform/drawer/tray so its easier to clean. you could even have an extra sump ready to replace it while you clean/exchange what needs to be done. maybe its too difficult or costly, just throwing out ideas.

 

[TheBigB]

Well I got a few hours last night to work on the overflow boxes. I have been putting this off b/c last time I tried to drill them I cracked the acrylic. I also used multiple methods on the first pieced only to find that it was all in the drill bit. The first time around I used a normal bit that I had thinking if I went slow enough it would be ok, well what do you know it caused the crack.

Here is the plastic specific bit I found


I used tape to help mark the holes and also to prevent more cracking


Here is what is looks like finished. I crunched the numbers and it should have no problem keeping up with the two 2" overflows


If your wondering why they are not set up like a normal "skimming the surface" overflow, its b/c I am using stand pipes and the box is just to hide them. It should make more sense in my next update after I install everything.

 

[TheBigB]

Well I completed the plumbing and filled the tank. Everything was going perfectly and in my head I knew today was the day the tank would finally be up and running. Well the biggest question mark I've had through this whole build went the way that in my gut I knew it would. Wish I would have followed my gut but of course I didn't. Anyway, almost immediately after starting the filter the pump sucked the chamber dry and the refugium over flowed. The one 2" pipe connecting the two filter tanks wasn't enough to keep up. I will have to undo the plumbing and drill more holes to add another 2" line. Hopefully this will be enough. Pictures to come.

 

[bassfisher91]

Interesting design on the acrylic overflows They usually have them near the top so as to not overflow your sump if the pump gives out. I suppose if your Standpipes are near the top of the tank you might be alright but make sure you have room for at least 75 gallons of extra water in the sumps. Also, I bought a tanks with two wimps off craigslist once and i ended up replacing them with one. If you follow that route, make sure you put some intake strainers on them just incase to prevent clogging and subsequent flooding...been there done that lol.

 

[Egon]

Well I completed the plumbing and filled the tank. Everything was going perfectly and in my head I knew today was the day the tank would finally be up and running. Well the biggest question mark I've had through this whole build went the way that in my gut I knew it would. Wish I would have followed my gut but of course I didn't. Anyway, almost immediately after starting the filter the pump sucked the chamber dry and the refugium over flowed. The one 2" pipe connecting the two filter tanks wasn't enough to keep up. I will have to undo the plumbing and drill more holes to add another 2" line. Hopefully this will be enough. Pictures to come.

Yeah, I have two sumps myself I completely understand what you’re going through. Unfortunately even two 2" pipes won’t be enough flow for you. I can explain if I knew the words but basically the height of both sumps is the same so you’re not going to develop a syphon. A 2” pipe flowing full syphon will easily keep up with the pump, but your setup is not a syphon because the sump levels are the same.

 

[HyPHyISM42o]

nice looking forward to the finished product.

 

[TheBigB]

Ok got alot of work done on the tank. Its very very close.


I lined the back and side of the tank and the filter tanks with insulation to help keep a more constant temperature. Since this tank is in the garage I can use all the help I can get.After all is said and done I will make removable insulating panels to cover the rest of the filters. Im still working out the best way to keep it cool in the summer, but with my other tanks in the garage I just blow a fan across the top and does a great job keeping the temp around 80-82 max. Im hoping with the insulation and the amount of water, it will be much easier to keep a constant temperature with this beast.


All the plumbing is complete. I think I talked about this earlier but I had a minor problem with a part of my filtration design. With only one 2" pipe connecting the two filter tanks the pump would suck one dry and the other would overflow before enough water could pass to the pump chamber. No big deal, I drilled a few more holes and added another 2" pipe and the problem is fixed. You can see in the pictures the stand pipes took some adjustment and thats why the paint rubbed off the tops, it is all dialed in and running smooth now. I havent installed the overflow covers yet so it would be easier to get everything running just the way I want. After a few more tweaks I will drain it one last time and install the overflow covers and begin the cycle. The outputs into the tank are missing from the pictures and video b/c I cant find them anywhere. I have torn my garage upside down looking but they are nowhere to be found. I have more locline and another 2" strainer on order.


Here is a quick video of the system running. I still need to add the filter socks and media but this was just for testing. A more complete video will follow.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnOB-SROD_o&feature=youtu.be

 

[rubigonz]

Looks great! I never could figure the sump system out. When I got my tank it came with a incomplete sump. The flow to pump ratio was not right so I couldn't trust it. So I switched to canisters. With my 720+/- I am unsure what I am going to do for filtration. Didn't want a spillover in my house. To me everything just seems to flow nicer with a sump.


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[TheBigB]

Looks great! I never could figure the sump system out. When I got my tank it came with a incomplete sump. The flow to pump ratio was not right so I couldn't trust it. So I switched to canisters. With my 720+/- I am unsure what I am going to do for filtration. Didn't want a spillover in my house. To me everything just seems to flow nicer with a sump.


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

Yeah, but to be honest, my next build will have one large sump instead of two connected. I did it this way b/c its what I had, but its been causing problems. No worries though, this is how you learn....