Ultimately, the goal of this thread for me, is this will be my aquarium log. I will tell the story of the trials and tribulations of my tank in this public forum to get feedback from my fellow aquarists. I have 16 month story to tell so it will take me sometime to catch up to the current status of my tank. As with all aquariums I ask for your patience as I tell the story of my tank.
And what a tank it is, I can't wait to regale you with goings on of this tank, nothing like I have ever experienced before.
Well, after nearly a year and four months, my tank is finally coming into its own. Where do I begin??? I guess with the dimensions of the tank.
60" X 24" X 30". Wanted a nice big viewing window!
I have placed a heat and mold piece of plastic to attach to the primary internal over flow above the filter socks to create a cascading slide at approximate 65 degree angle for the water to slide into the 2nd chamber. Now the water just slides out of the chamber above the socks into the 2nd chamber along the angled piece of plastic without a sound.
To attach the plastic slide I had to drill three holes in the wall that separates the filter socks from chamber #2 and put three plastic bolts and wing nuts to hold the slide in place.
Took out the sock mount which housed two 4" diameter filter socks. Only to measure the 4" X 3.5" diameter OVAL holes, which is why the 4" diameter ROUND filter socks are such a bear to get in and out. I replaced the filter socks with filter flax and two new 4" by 4.75" plexiglass plates with 12 qty 5/32" holes in each plate to simulate the back up and subsequent overflow caused by the filter socks. The sock chamber is 4" X 9 1/2". 1st attempt with 1/4" holes was not sufficient back up to create an overflow into the second chamber. The smaller holes did the trick.
Construction is sturdy But overall an average sump.
I am going to steal an idea from a video I saw that takes a piece of, don't know the proper term, but large squared needle point mesh, and attach it to the plastic waterfall l created and install a light and I will have an instant algae scrubber. A simple and easy modification.
Well that is all for now. I have some more modifications to describe but that is for another time. Wife & daughter are out of town, just me and my son!, Awesome!
And what a tank it is, I can't wait to regale you with goings on of this tank, nothing like I have ever experienced before.
Well, after nearly a year and four months, my tank is finally coming into its own. Where do I begin??? I guess with the dimensions of the tank.
60" X 24" X 30". Wanted a nice big viewing window!
The stand is 36" inches tall with plenty of room underneath so with the canopy on top it is just a hair under 6' tall. I spend a lot of time on a Gorilla step ladder with a 3' grabber in hand. I have had some challenges getting to the bottom with the hood on, but once it is removed I have access to the depths of the aquarium with ease.
I purchased a Sapphire 34 Sump.
I have had to modify the sump to make it quieter. The distance from the outflow of the sock chamber to the water level of 2nd chamber is approximately 5-6" a lot of room for the outflow to build up sufficient head way to make a lot of noise.I have placed a heat and mold piece of plastic to attach to the primary internal over flow above the filter socks to create a cascading slide at approximate 65 degree angle for the water to slide into the 2nd chamber. Now the water just slides out of the chamber above the socks into the 2nd chamber along the angled piece of plastic without a sound.
To attach the plastic slide I had to drill three holes in the wall that separates the filter socks from chamber #2 and put three plastic bolts and wing nuts to hold the slide in place.
Took out the sock mount which housed two 4" diameter filter socks. Only to measure the 4" X 3.5" diameter OVAL holes, which is why the 4" diameter ROUND filter socks are such a bear to get in and out. I replaced the filter socks with filter flax and two new 4" by 4.75" plexiglass plates with 12 qty 5/32" holes in each plate to simulate the back up and subsequent overflow caused by the filter socks. The sock chamber is 4" X 9 1/2". 1st attempt with 1/4" holes was not sufficient back up to create an overflow into the second chamber. The smaller holes did the trick.
Construction is sturdy But overall an average sump.
I am going to steal an idea from a video I saw that takes a piece of, don't know the proper term, but large squared needle point mesh, and attach it to the plastic waterfall l created and install a light and I will have an instant algae scrubber. A simple and easy modification.
Well that is all for now. I have some more modifications to describe but that is for another time. Wife & daughter are out of town, just me and my son!, Awesome!
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