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02-25-2012, 09:23 PM
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#1
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Aquarium Advice FINatic
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Gastonia, NC
Posts: 738
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Jim's 90 gallon tall build
I picked up a used 90 gallon tank back in January. I strted working on the system and started by repairing the stand. It was made from the pressed chipboard and had gotten wet. Naturally, the wood started swelling and deteriorating to the point I didnt want to set the tank on it for fear of it collapsing. I replaced the damaged pieces with birch plywood. that thing is SO strong now.
More to come...
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Jim
Why do I love fish? Because every time I stare into the little world I have created for them, every problem I have just floats away.... 
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02-25-2012, 09:23 PM
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#2
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Aquarium Advice FINatic
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Gastonia, NC
Posts: 738
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After the repairs...
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Jim
Why do I love fish? Because every time I stare into the little world I have created for them, every problem I have just floats away....
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02-25-2012, 09:32 PM
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#3
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Aquarium Advice FINatic
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Gastonia, NC
Posts: 738
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I got a wet/dry filter with the unit. It wasn't adequate for my needs because it wouldnt allow me to use my new Reef Octopus protein skimmer. I disassembled it...
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Jim
Why do I love fish? Because every time I stare into the little world I have created for them, every problem I have just floats away....
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02-25-2012, 09:38 PM
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#4
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Aquarium Advice FINatic
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Gastonia, NC
Posts: 738
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I rebuilt the sump, following the advice of several of the forum members...
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Jim
Why do I love fish? Because every time I stare into the little world I have created for them, every problem I have just floats away....
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02-25-2012, 09:53 PM
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#5
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Aquarium Advice FINatic
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Gastonia, NC
Posts: 738
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More later on putting the sump and plumbing in... I'm having trouble loading more pics...
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Jim
Why do I love fish? Because every time I stare into the little world I have created for them, every problem I have just floats away....
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02-25-2012, 09:55 PM
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#6
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Aquarium Advice Addict
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Howell, MI
Posts: 2,123
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I'll be following - looks good so far!
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02-26-2012, 12:51 PM
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#7
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Aquarium Advice Freak
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 380
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Looking good. Can tell you have done your research and planned well. I'm all in on this build.
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02-26-2012, 01:03 PM
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#8
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Aquarium Advice FINatic
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Gastonia, NC
Posts: 738
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Placed the tank on the stand, then painted the back cobalt blue... oops, pics are reversed...
__________________
Jim
Why do I love fish? Because every time I stare into the little world I have created for them, every problem I have just floats away....
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02-26-2012, 01:07 PM
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#9
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Aquarium Advice FINatic
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Gastonia, NC
Posts: 738
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Made some return pipes from some PVC that was already here from another project... Just had to get the bayonette connections and the adapter to connect it to...
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Jim
Why do I love fish? Because every time I stare into the little world I have created for them, every problem I have just floats away....
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02-26-2012, 01:10 PM
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#10
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Aquarium Advice FINatic
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Gastonia, NC
Posts: 738
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Assembled the pump, adding a ball valve in case (when) the pump fails, then manufactured a top for and finished assembling the sump...
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Jim
Why do I love fish? Because every time I stare into the little world I have created for them, every problem I have just floats away....
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02-26-2012, 01:12 PM
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#11
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Aquarium Advice FINatic
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Gastonia, NC
Posts: 738
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Installed the sump and pump in the stand...
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Jim
Why do I love fish? Because every time I stare into the little world I have created for them, every problem I have just floats away....
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02-26-2012, 01:14 PM
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#12
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Aquarium Advice FINatic
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Gastonia, NC
Posts: 738
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having trouble uploading pics again.... 
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Jim
Why do I love fish? Because every time I stare into the little world I have created for them, every problem I have just floats away....
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02-26-2012, 01:17 PM
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#13
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Aquarium Advice FINatic
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Gastonia, NC
Posts: 738
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Finished hooking up the plumbing. Just need to put all hte hose clamps on and silicone sealing the return pipes I made... Then a leak check...
That is as far as I have finished... hopefully I will be able to leak test later this week...
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Jim
Why do I love fish? Because every time I stare into the little world I have created for them, every problem I have just floats away....
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02-26-2012, 01:32 PM
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#14
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Aquarium Advice Freak
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 380
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One thing im seeing is your skimmer water level will be too deep. Baffle is too high. Or to can build a stand out of PVC and egg crate. I think water level needs to be between 8" and 10" inches. Water should be right about where skimmer output is.
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02-26-2012, 01:51 PM
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#15
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Aquarium Advice Addict
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Durham, NC
Posts: 1,689
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I'll be watching this as well. I like your installation of the return pump. Never thought about that. Good space saving location.
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125 gal mixed REEF
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02-26-2012, 04:22 PM
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#16
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Aquarium Advice FINatic
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Gastonia, NC
Posts: 738
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mpfaff77
One thing im seeing is your skimmer water level will be too deep. Baffle is too high. Or to can build a stand out of PVC and egg crate. I think water level needs to be between 8" and 10" inches. Water should be right about where skimmer output is. |
Thats one area I wasnt sure about. I have plenty of PVC and egg crate, so I can lift it up. I'm a little confused about placement of the skimmer. There are water level marks on the unit at 10 and 14 inches. I'm not sure if thats supposed to be inside or outside the unit. I built the baffles at 12. I wrote to the company asking about this but didnt get an answer. I guess this will be one of those trial-and-error things, adding more under the unit until it starts working properly.
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Jim
Why do I love fish? Because every time I stare into the little world I have created for them, every problem I have just floats away....
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02-26-2012, 04:28 PM
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#17
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Aquarium Advice FINatic
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Gastonia, NC
Posts: 738
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PrettyFishies
I'll be watching this as well. I like your installation of the return pump. Never thought about that. Good space saving location.
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I didnt have much choice...  The sump HAS to sit where it is because of the width of the unit. It actually hangs over the edge of the back. When I started to attach the pump I found that there was no way it would fit on the floor. That seemed to be the best way to mount it and leave the cutoff valve in place. I had to mount the pump to a board and then screw the board inside the stand. Looking at it, I think that I will have more pressure going into the tank.
__________________
Jim
Why do I love fish? Because every time I stare into the little world I have created for them, every problem I have just floats away....
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02-26-2012, 04:52 PM
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#18
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Aquarium Advice FINatic
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Gastonia, NC
Posts: 738
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Today I built screen covers for the tank using screeening and framing bought at a local home store.
__________________
Jim
Why do I love fish? Because every time I stare into the little world I have created for them, every problem I have just floats away....
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02-26-2012, 04:53 PM
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#19
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Aquarium Advice FINatic
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Gastonia, NC
Posts: 738
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The screen covers in place... Hopefully it will keep my future fish from 'carpet surfing'.
__________________
Jim
Why do I love fish? Because every time I stare into the little world I have created for them, every problem I have just floats away....
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02-26-2012, 05:15 PM
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#20
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Aquarium Advice Freak
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 380
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Retired_AF
Thats one area I wasnt sure about. I have plenty of PVC and egg crate, so I can lift it up. I'm a little confused about placement of the skimmer. There are water level marks on the unit at 10 and 14 inches. I'm not sure if thats supposed to be inside or outside the unit. I built the baffles at 12. I wrote to the company asking about this but didnt get an answer. I guess this will be one of those trial-and-error things, adding more under the unit until it starts working properly. |
I have my reef octopus in 9" of water. I built eggcrate stand with some PVC elbows with threads on them s I can adjust if need be. My water level is right about in center of skimmer output tube
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