Eight foot tank!

[AstroMelly]

Thanks for that … I’ve been wondering if I can do that and not harm the bacteria.. that’s the ideal order of things I want to move forward with. Ikr on the Tonga.. he has more too. Wants me to come get the rest. …

Got the returns done today.. need some hose clamps though. But 80% done. Need the drain PVC now.

I would lose those metal clamps (they look like they are metal in the pics). They will rust. Try and find the plastic collar clamps that click into place instead.

I used these (or something similar). 2.5 years in no problems.

Glarks 121Pcs 8 Size Heavy Duty...

https://amzn.eu/d/7oEv8n5

 

[revenant]

I’m waiting for pvc glue to dry and then the drain plumbing is going in.. this was me measuring the straight bits and staging it.. shopping live sand now.. very close to fill time.

 

[revenant]

It’s done!! Mostly.. I need that innovative marine heater (700w) and 200lbs of sand and then some larger bits of crushed coral.. but I could fill it today.. gonna leak test the overflow box and do final cleaning of the tank.. but then fill with RODI and watch for leaks.. then add salt.. probably next week.

Then I need to get my lights hung etc..

And my sailfin is super ready for a much larger habitat!!

 

[revenant]

I would lose those metal clamps (they look like they are metal in the pics). They will rust. Try and find the plastic collar clamps that click into place instead.

I used these (or something similar). 2.5 years in no problems.

Glarks 121Pcs 8 Size Heavy Duty...

https://amzn.eu/d/7oEv8n5

I got a bunch of plastic clamps to replace the clamps between the valves.. I am going to leave the stainless ones on the drain and returns at the top (tank outputs/inputs)... I have metal on my current tank in the same spots and no rust in four years. If they do start to rust I will replace them.

 

[Rappa]

I got a bunch of plastic clamps to replace the clamps between the valves.. I am going to leave the stainless ones on the drain and returns at the top (tank outputs/inputs)... I have metal on my current tank in the same spots and no rust in four years. If they do start to rust I will replace them.

If they are stainless they will be perfectly fine.

 

[revenant]

If they are stainless they will be perfectly fine.

Thanks!! …ok maybe I’ll leave them as is.. I have the plastic ones if things start to go south.

 

[AstroMelly]

Thanks!! …ok maybe I’ll leave them as is.. I have the plastic ones if things start to go south.

Looking good - I bet the fish are watching what's going on and getting excited too!

I'm interested to hear that some metal hose clamps are ok to use and that you have had success over several years - I know stainless should generally be fine but I also know all stainless steel is not the same. Do you happen to have a link to the ones you used? Might help someone else if nothing else.

I saw other threads where people were warning against using them and I just decided from the start to avoid using metal clamps so I went with the plastic ones.

Hope it continues to progress well for you!

 

[revenant]

Thanks a lot!! Yeah they're gonna jump over soon

The clamps in the middle were part of this order:

I didn't end up using the tubing as it the walls were very weak compared to some older tubing I had which ended up in the final build. I'll use the weaker tubing for water changes and stuff though.. so all good.

The clamps at the top were part of this order:

I didn't end up using the rubber sleeve as it had a loose fit and I opted for some braided vinyl tubing I found at Home Depot. I had to heat up the end of that braided stuff to get it over the nozzle... it's really on there! The clamps were super nice though so nabbed them for the top seals.

I have all plastic clamping under the water. At the pump I used the biggest nozzle they came with and heated up the hose end.. it barely made it on lol. I used large zip ties over the hose, but it's really on there well without any clamps.

I performed a final cleaning of the tank last night, got some really pesky dark green algae looking stuff off the bottom which I had been working on here and there... I soaked in water and scraped it off with an old credit card. I also leak tested the overflow box..

 

[revenant]

Fillin’ her up!!

 

[AstroMelly]

Fillin’ her up!!

At last!

Gonna take a while…

 

[revenant]

At last!

Gonna take a while…

Yeah had a lot of stuff going on but finally found a good window to get this done.. ordering sand and picking up two buckets of salt from petco tomorrow. Going to run with fresh for a couple days first though..

Wow my other tank is sooo overgrown lol. It’s gonna be 5 or 6 weeks at least before I can move stuff but should be ok..

 

[revenant]

Welp I am glad I started with fresh... good call on that.

I discovered multiple things with the new system requiring me to completely disassemble the plumbing last night late.. I had leaks in one return line and at the drain... both in the fittings which screwed into the bulkheads. Apparently the plumbers tape I used was super old and I didn't use nearly enough wraps of it.. when I pulled things out it was basically pulverized, barely there... I happened to have acquired some Oatey Fastape with the tank which I found rummaging through stuff.. that really saved the day. Much better and used 6 to 7 times around, until it looked like a good layer and bingo. No more leaks..

I also was curious how hard it would be to perform such work with the tank full.. and while a little time consuming it was very doable. I had to drain the overflow box with an external pump I seldom use but it worked perfectly.. then took stuff apart and got it all sorted out. I found if I push my return nozzles in the tank all the way up so they're against the top, I get zero back-flow.. which is handy.. anyways.. full end to end test post maintenance is working good.. I had to tweak the sump inlet a bit to quiet things down and I think it's about as dialed in as I can get it..

I could have gotten smaller return pumps, since I have two of them.. these are WAY overkill and I only will run them at the lowest level or maybe a notch or two up from that... but that'll help my batteries last in the event of a power failure.. I should get 4 hours out of each battery with the pumps at their lowest setting.

I just placed my order for salt!! Should be mixing that up tomorrow.

 

[revenant]

Salt is in… sump is done for now.. once I cycle it adding a reactor and maybe a new Ph probe for the Apex.. the one I have was dry for a while but it was very clean and sealed in a bag.. it’s reading pretty close so idk.. will keep an eye on it.

Sand arrives today … 220lb of carib sea live Fiji pink.. should be fun.. once the dust settles from that gonna scape one half this weekend! I love love love doing the scape!!

 

[exnisstech]

Just curious. Why did you go with ball valves and check valves on the returns? Check valve I get just to prevent the rush of air when turned back on but not to depend on for sump overflowing. The only time I've needed a valve on a return line (I used ball valves) was when I had a large external AC pump and I had to use the valve to throttle the pump to control flow from a basement sump. Other than that valves have been on the drains. With DC pumps is has me even more curious.

 

[revenant]

Just curious. Why did you go with ball valves and check valves on the returns? Check valve I get just to prevent the rush of air when turned back on but not to depend on for sump overflowing. The only time I've needed a valve on a return line (I used ball valves) was when I had a large external AC pump and I had to use the valve to throttle the pump to control flow from a basement sump. Other than that valves have been on the drains. With DC pumps is has me even more curious.

Hey.. I thought it was sort of standard to have check valves in the return lines.. so I went with the ball style (vs flap) sort of on a whim.. but after testing things with water in the tank seems like i don't really need them.. I can always remove them later if I want without too much pain.. I will say they work well so far.. I can hear them slam shut when I turn off the pumps lol. Once they get covered in organics they might not work as well.. as long as I test them once a week or so might keep too much stuff from growing on them..