Red_Beard's 75 Tank Build

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Oh of course, quite easily. These pipe straps come in plastic. My reluctance is with how well they will actually hold the pipe from slipping down. I have a couple orded, i guess we will find out.
1000009377.jpg
If you're worried about it slipping, you can put a coupler right above the strap.
 

That Crusso Kid

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Oh of course, quite easily. These pipe straps come in plastic. My reluctance is with how well they will actually hold the pipe from slipping down. I have a couple orded, i guess we will find out.
1000009377.jpg
Wait just a minute. Wait, I think, yes, yes it is... it's an idea.

There's a way for you to hold those lines using a 3D printed holder and having it go under the union. I believe this would provide better support than the plastic clips. I'd explain it but it would probably be too confusing. I'll get a screenshot of your pic and mark it up for reference. That is, of course, if you would like. Otherwise, have at it with the plastic clips and we'll see how it goes.
 
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Easy solution would be to add double sided tape inside the plastic holders then they wont slip... btw awesome tank 👍
That... That might just work. Also thank you :)
If you're worried about it slipping, you can put a coupler right above the strap.
I thought about that, too late did that thought cross my mind though as i had already installed the other coupler below the clamp. I would like to not have to cut it out, for now at least.
Wait just a minute. Wait, I think, yes, yes it is... it's an idea.

There's a way for you to hold those lines using a 3D printed holder and having it go under the union. I believe this would provide better support than the plastic clips. I'd explain it but it would probably be too confusing. I'll get a screenshot of your pic and mark it up for reference. That is, of course, if you would like. Otherwise, have at it with the plastic clips and we'll see how it goes.
I would love to see it! Now you have my mind churning on possibilities with that too, that may be a better option.
What size pipe? I may have some extra plastic zip tie clamps.
1000044463.jpg
Yeah, those! Those are what i have ordered (1 inch pipe though to answer you question), but was worried about the pipe being able to slip down. Is that what you are using? how sturdily does it hold the pipe? Thank you for the offer to though Becky, i do appreciate it!
 

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That... That might just work. Also thank you :)

I thought about that, too late did that thought cross my mind though as i had already installed the other coupler below the clamp. I would like to not have to cut it out, for now at least.

I would love to see it! Now you have my mind churning on possibilities with that too, that may be a better option.

Yeah, those! Those are what i have ordered (1 inch pipe though to answer you question), but was worried about the pipe being able to slip down. Is that what you are using? how sturdily does it hold the pipe? Thank you for the offer to though Becky, i do appreciate it!
I haven't had any slippage that im aware of. I am not at home atm but ill get you some pix on how I used them later tonight ot tomorrow.
 

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That... That might just work. Also thank you :)

I thought about that, too late did that thought cross my mind though as i had already installed the other coupler below the clamp. I would like to not have to cut it out, for now at least.

I would love to see it! Now you have my mind churning on possibilities with that too, that may be a better option.

Yeah, those! Those are what i have ordered (1 inch pipe though to answer you question), but was worried about the pipe being able to slip down. Is that what you are using? how sturdily does it hold the pipe? Thank you for the offer to though Becky, i do appreciate it!
Maybe better: some command strip double adhesive pads. When you clamp it, should make a tight contact. Maybe double sided tape will, too, though. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
 
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Maybe better: some command strip double adhesive pads. When you clamp it, should make a tight contact. Maybe double sided tape will, too, though. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
That would definitely up the friction game of those clips. I might have to try that.
 
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Mad Work GIF

humbug.

AI has ruined yet another dream... for now. Although, silver lining here is that I looked it up before having a literal meltdown and pumping a bunch of dissolved plastic into my tank.

I was printing some seals out of TPU for my kalk stirrer and was curious how it would hold up in the highly basic environment, so i asked AI. It said it would get hard and brittle over time, sucky, but i could replace seals. Just print a bunch and move on with life right? But no, it doesn't end there. I had to ask about PETG. Apparently there is such a thing as "alkaline hydrolysis" which would melt all my PETG parts :/
"""
The "PET" in PETG stands for Polyethylene Terephthalate. Like almost all polyesters, it is highly susceptible to alkaline hydrolysis.

When PETG sits in a solution with a pH of 12+, the hydroxide ions ($OH^-$) don't just sit on the surface; they actively attack and "unzip" the polymer chains. This process is essentially chemical recycling—the lime water is trying to turn your printed part back into its liquid raw materials.

What will happen to the part?​

  • Surface "Chalking": Within a few days, the surface will turn dull and white.
  • Loss of Strength: The part will become extremely brittle. A part that used to be tough will eventually snap like a dry cracker.
  • Disintegration: In concentrated, warm lime water, thin-walled PETG parts can completely lose structural integrity and crumble into a "sludge" or fine powder over time
"""

So, now I am wondering. Do i get a bunch of polypropylene and try and re-print everything? Or take my lumps and buy an Avast kalk reactor? I dunno. Maybe I will sleep on it.
 

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So, now I am wondering. Do i get a bunch of polypropylene and try and re-print everything? Or take my lumps and buy an Avast kalk reactor? I dunno. Maybe I will sleep on it.
I tried asking AI the same question, possibly in a different way, and got a very different result!


Best bet would be reading the reference material for these claims!
 
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I tried asking AI the same question, possibly in a different way, and got a very different result!


Best bet would be reading the reference material for these claims!

Wild, thank you for that. I did ask about a 'concentrated lime water environment' vs 'kalk reactor'. Gemini was pretty harsh about it:
1771912247779.png


Grok responded more like your google query, 1-2 years, no wholesale disintegration only general degradation and brittleness.
More research is definitely warranted. 1-2 years may not sound too bad, but, knowing my maintenance habits (or lack thereof) I would like something more in the 5-10 year lifespan.
 

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I would like something more in the 5-10 year lifespan.
How about High Impact PolyStyrene (HIPS)? —It might actually fit the bill perfectly here!

(In fact, the local plastic fabrication shop here keeps it in stock by the sheet for various marine research project needs! [such as scuba diver’s clipboards, for example])
 

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Mad Work GIF

humbug.

AI has ruined yet another dream... for now. Although, silver lining here is that I looked it up before having a literal meltdown and pumping a bunch of dissolved plastic into my tank.

I was printing some seals out of TPU for my kalk stirrer and was curious how it would hold up in the highly basic environment, so i asked AI. It said it would get hard and brittle over time, sucky, but i could replace seals. Just print a bunch and move on with life right? But no, it doesn't end there. I had to ask about PETG. Apparently there is such a thing as "alkaline hydrolysis" which would melt all my PETG parts :/
"""
The "PET" in PETG stands for Polyethylene Terephthalate. Like almost all polyesters, it is highly susceptible to alkaline hydrolysis.

When PETG sits in a solution with a pH of 12+, the hydroxide ions ($OH^-$) don't just sit on the surface; they actively attack and "unzip" the polymer chains. This process is essentially chemical recycling—the lime water is trying to turn your printed part back into its liquid raw materials.

What will happen to the part?​

  • Surface "Chalking": Within a few days, the surface will turn dull and white.
  • Loss of Strength: The part will become extremely brittle. A part that used to be tough will eventually snap like a dry cracker.
  • Disintegration: In concentrated, warm lime water, thin-walled PETG parts can completely lose structural integrity and crumble into a "sludge" or fine powder over time
"""

So, now I am wondering. Do i get a bunch of polypropylene and try and re-print everything? Or take my lumps and buy an Avast kalk reactor? I dunno. Maybe I will sleep on it.
This one is your friend...

 

Nor'easter Reefer

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1771718945677.png


The plot, like a good roux, thickens.

I have been having some very odd stuff lately. My acros are starting to 'bounce'(blister),
1771719287098.png

my bryopsis/GHA has become untenable, and other assorted ridiculousness. I did a 25 gallon water change yesterday to try and alleviate some of that and decided to hose down my mixing drum. I let the pump and heater soak in citric acid overnight and while cleaning the pump, found that the housing had cracked :\ I really only found it because there was a white line of calcium i couldn't get scrubbed off. Thought it was a seam but it was kinda jaggedy. At least i found it i guess. Still need to replace some steel fasteners above my sump that are rusting pretty hard, hopefully that gets things straightened out.

Anyways... I have been reprinting some of the stuff for my kalk stirrer today, maybe i will post some pics of that when it is done. That second place finish really motivated me to bam it up a notch!
I have one acro "bouncing" or blistering as you call it as well.. should I consider this a warning of something more sinister in my tank?
1000011897.jpg
 

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Sweet! Those are exactly what I was after, thank you! No slippage issues? It looks like they are pretty solid.
In the electrical field, when I go to buy em at the supply house, we call them "click its" and they work great and work slip. They have multiple teeth so as you tighten them you can adjust tension of the "bite"
 

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