My Bichir Gang

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
After doing more research and figuring out my needs I decided to go with egg crate baffles which would support Poret reticulated foam.
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The mechanical filtration will be with 10 PPI foam then a fluidized K1 section and then 30 PPI foam before the pump chamber.
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Since K1 is smaller than the egg crate fenestrations I zip tied plastic mesh to the tops of the baffles to let water (but not K1) flow through in case the foam clogs.
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The foam is arriving today from Swiss tropicals and also my plastic tubing so I can plumb this thing.
 
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FishBeast said:
FX6 installed!
View attachment 1276952

Also I have put in the garnet substrate! It looks good, a dull red-brown color. Should make some lower jaw patterns pop!
View attachment 1276953

Had some leaky drain pipes so I had to use plumbers tape on 2 of the submerged seams... it’s a slow drip from the tube and thankfully not around the bulkhead. What have you guys used?
View attachment 1276951
Click to expand...

Set up looks great. Man those polys are gonna look awesome ?

How big are the bulkheads ? So if im understanding correctly the leak is with in the overflow ? But nothing under the bulkeahd on the bottom of the tank ?

Is that the return on the right ? Any emergancy drains ?

Is the plumbing threaded or slip ?
 
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jaws7777 said:
Set up looks great. Man those polys are gonna look awesome ?

How big are the bulkheads ? So if im understanding correctly the leak is with in the overflow ? But nothing under the bulkeahd on the bottom of the tank ?

Is that the return on the right ? Any emergancy drains ?

Is the plumbing threaded or slip ?
Click to expand...
Hey bro, the bulkheads are stock 1” for drain and 3/4” for return. They came with the tank! Yeah the drip is from the adjustable standpipe seam and also a small amount on the adaptor to the bulkhead... I don’t know if it’s a common thing. There is a little bit of play with how the pipes are seated. Do you think I should just silicone?

No leak around the bulkhead on bottom...

I’ve got it plumbed as 2 drains and 2 returns. Should I add emergency drain? What is it for? This is my first tank with overflow, sorry I’m a noob with plumbing... :)
 
@FishBeast, your new tank looks amazing. Unfortunately I don't know anything about sumps and building tank setups. But it looks like you are going to end up with a really cool aquarium. How did you learn how to build it? What is the purpse of the 10 PPI foam and the 30 PPI foam? Are those grates the the debri has to filter through?

The red garnet is epic. Would they ship sand from seattle? lol

Also your Koliba is a looker!
 
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If you are using the set up as is intended you don't need an e drain. If you are modifying this set up to a syphon style system you will need an e drain. Use it as intended much easier. I'm having a hard time understanding where your leak is. In the picture you posted its in the stand pipe that is in the overflow that should be submerged while running .That pipe is set up like that to provide adjustment of water level in your overflow. There is no problem there don't worry about it. If its leaking outside the tank then you have a problem. Can you show where the leak is happening outside the tank?
 
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clm08k said:
@FishBeast, your new tank looks amazing. Unfortunately I don't know anything about sumps and building tank setups. But it looks like you are going to end up with a really cool aquarium. How did you learn how to build it? What is the purpse of the 10 PPI foam and the 30 PPI foam? Are those grates the the debri has to filter through?

The red garnet is epic. Would they ship sand from seattle? lol

Also your Koliba is a looker!
Click to expand...
Thanks so much! I was going to use a traditional sump with filter socks and then over/under baffles but I was researching about mattenfilters. They are foam sheets that basically support a ton of good bacteria and also perform some denitrification in the sludge that builds up. The 10 PPI foam will give me mechanical filtration of large poop before the K1 chamber. The 30 PPI foam will give biological filtration function. The cool thing is that is *supposedly* needs zero or little (like annually) maintenance.

Germans (who I think are the aquarium masters) use it a lot. You can actually buy open cell reticulated foam from other suppliers online for a bit cheaper but I didn't want to risk possible contaminants and stuff if used for aquarium...

Here's the link where I bought it from and also the importer of this foam talks about the benefits of it...

http://www.swisstropicals.com/filtration-shop/poret-foam-shop/

With regards to the Barton Garnet abrasive, where are you located? Maybe there is a local dealer there?
 
twentyleagues said:
If you are using the set up as is intended you don't need an e drain. If you are modifying this set up to a syphon style system you will need an e drain. Use it as intended much easier. I'm having a hard time understanding where your leak is. In the picture you posted its in the stand pipe that is in the overflow that should be submerged while running .That pipe is set up like that to provide adjustment of water level in your overflow. There is no problem there don't worry about it. If its leaking outside the tank then you have a problem. Can you show where the leak is happening outside the tank?
Click to expand...

Thank you for the reply!! Yes there is a small drip/leak that I isolated in the adjustable pipe interface and also the little adaptor in the bottom. It leaks from the bulkhead valve so itll just go into my drain plumbing but now I wonder in case of power outage if I have to adjust for that extra 8-10 inches of water in the overflow box and drop my sump level accordingly...

No leak outside the tank, thankfully. Bulkhead seals are solid. :)
 
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