Here goes. The project took a LOT longer than expected but I am very happy. Would I do things differently? Hell yes, but live and learn and learn I did in a big way. Wish I had kept accurate details of daily progress (mostly regress). Keep a large quantity of alcohol on hand. After building this the only hurdle I would see in my DIY future would be a very large basement tank and filtration system. If I were to do it over again, I would have tried my hand at a smaller sump to get the kinks out, as I am still having small issues with my return. I am hoping I will have that worked out by the end of the long weekend. Alas, having 3 little ones to wrestle from jumpin into the tank keeps my time limited.
A) 210gal Tank, hoods, compact lights, and crappy stand got from Craigs list for under $400 if memory serves me correct. First the stand would barely hold the damn tank EMPTY it was pitiful. It also came with a HOB overflow that was 3/4" pvc connections which I did try but it couldn't keep up with anything.
B) Built a stand that would definitely be overbuilt as I figured total weight would easily surpass 1 Ton or 1.5 tons. 2x10, 2x8, 2x4, pre-finished maple 3/4" plys, etc. All finish trim, doors, hardware are birch which I think match up well with the maple and a clear coat waterbased eurethane. Thing that bothers me most is the clear coat didn't build the way I wanted it to, but the project really started to drag and had to push to finish.
C) 55gal sump was made out of another craigslist find. $25, plus I got this small 20 gal (looks like overflow tank for saltwater?). Did my best plexiglass re-do impersonation (like 3x) to get it to were I thought I wanted it. Got bio-balls cheap off ebay (1,000 balls for under $20) and then added about 50 scrubbies to top off. 8" filter sock a few times. Make sure when you add your sand you wash first or just by like 2 socks - pool filter sand discharge kills socks. I am using 2 quiet ones (4000 & 3000). You may notice I have a spray bar at one end (4000) and a drop about mid way (3000). My reasoning is I wanted to have two pumps less chance of total crash and because I will have other external pumps (canister and HOB). The 3000 will also be my turn down adjustable pump to dial in flows. Issues I am having with the sump so far is evap rates, getting full flow, water levels, sucking fish out (more on this), and worst power outage restarts.
D) The Sump return is 1.5" pvc, which going through the info debates on whether it works or not. Well it does, and LIKE CRAZY. A ***** to start - I used a shop vac - heehehehe. My only problem now is that I think the air lock valve my not be working. Since I decided to put an 'elbow' on the return end I need to screen it. I managed to suck down a LOT of fish through a 1.5" pvc (feeders, buenos Aires tets, arrow
, 5inch catfish that actually almost made the jump to the far end of the sump and safety, and more). I will be working on a screen tomorrow, in the mean time i have wedged some plant material in front to screen.
D) Driftwood & Wires. The drift wood was a good deal from a fellow MFK member here who I got my Crench sp. Cobra from. He was getting rid of everything and had to "AMAZING" peices. Only problem they dont sink!!! I could only manage to get in the large tree trunk and wedge it floating. The other I am hacking appart to sink, as it is long and think but just as large as the one in the picture. Wire, well thank god there in the sump otherwise it would make that tank look like crap.
So far though it has definitely made for a nice home for the boys and as long as I keep the Cobra away from anything small I should have it for a very long time. The arrow will definitely outgrow it and move on to something 300+, and I have a while to plan.
A) 210gal Tank, hoods, compact lights, and crappy stand got from Craigs list for under $400 if memory serves me correct. First the stand would barely hold the damn tank EMPTY it was pitiful. It also came with a HOB overflow that was 3/4" pvc connections which I did try but it couldn't keep up with anything.
B) Built a stand that would definitely be overbuilt as I figured total weight would easily surpass 1 Ton or 1.5 tons. 2x10, 2x8, 2x4, pre-finished maple 3/4" plys, etc. All finish trim, doors, hardware are birch which I think match up well with the maple and a clear coat waterbased eurethane. Thing that bothers me most is the clear coat didn't build the way I wanted it to, but the project really started to drag and had to push to finish.
C) 55gal sump was made out of another craigslist find. $25, plus I got this small 20 gal (looks like overflow tank for saltwater?). Did my best plexiglass re-do impersonation (like 3x) to get it to were I thought I wanted it. Got bio-balls cheap off ebay (1,000 balls for under $20) and then added about 50 scrubbies to top off. 8" filter sock a few times. Make sure when you add your sand you wash first or just by like 2 socks - pool filter sand discharge kills socks. I am using 2 quiet ones (4000 & 3000). You may notice I have a spray bar at one end (4000) and a drop about mid way (3000). My reasoning is I wanted to have two pumps less chance of total crash and because I will have other external pumps (canister and HOB). The 3000 will also be my turn down adjustable pump to dial in flows. Issues I am having with the sump so far is evap rates, getting full flow, water levels, sucking fish out (more on this), and worst power outage restarts.
D) The Sump return is 1.5" pvc, which going through the info debates on whether it works or not. Well it does, and LIKE CRAZY. A ***** to start - I used a shop vac - heehehehe. My only problem now is that I think the air lock valve my not be working. Since I decided to put an 'elbow' on the return end I need to screen it. I managed to suck down a LOT of fish through a 1.5" pvc (feeders, buenos Aires tets, arrow
, 5inch catfish that actually almost made the jump to the far end of the sump and safety, and more). I will be working on a screen tomorrow, in the mean time i have wedged some plant material in front to screen.D) Driftwood & Wires. The drift wood was a good deal from a fellow MFK member here who I got my Crench sp. Cobra from. He was getting rid of everything and had to "AMAZING" peices. Only problem they dont sink!!! I could only manage to get in the large tree trunk and wedge it floating. The other I am hacking appart to sink, as it is long and think but just as large as the one in the picture. Wire, well thank god there in the sump otherwise it would make that tank look like crap.
So far though it has definitely made for a nice home for the boys and as long as I keep the Cobra away from anything small I should have it for a very long time. The arrow will definitely outgrow it and move on to something 300+, and I have a while to plan.
