The tale of a newb, a sump and a Glasscage.
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fishguy242
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nice work ,may i suggest some ball valves..on return lines ,before and after unions,take a good look ,where you may have to open line ,in future ,clogged snail,bad pump..etc flow control.etc... love spending other people's money...lol 
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dreamcatcherr9
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My budget has went out the window twice already!nice work ,may i suggest some ball valves..on return lines ,before and after unions,take a good look ,where you may have to open line ,in future ,clogged snail,bad pump..etc flow control.etc... love spending other people's money...lol
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dreamcatcherr9
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Day 10....
10 days of having my tank and no water. My wife actually asked me today when I thought I’d be done .
I think she is tired of my mess everywhere! Though, like I mentioned before, with canisters and HOB equipment I would have water in a tank in 1 day!
My original estimate was 1 week. 5-7 days. Now, realistically, I am looking at 2-3 weeks! I was hoping 2 weeks (maybe day 14) for tap water leak test. And with any luck, day 21 be completely done with all equipment installed and running.
Okay, back to Day 10. I redid and finished most of my dry fit stage (short of 1 adapter I needed to order). Once I have my missing piece I can quickly finalize the dry fit stage, and begin cutting and gluing the red pvc.
My plan, from dry fit stage, remove and replace (cutting and gluing) 1 piece at a time, or sections at a time. Starting with drains, then returns. In dry fit stage (probably over the next few days), I will add the support clamps to the areas needed / will benefit from.
Oh, I rebuilt (made a new one) my SW mixing station. I read (here) someone said; if you want it to look nice, sometimes you have to accept your mistakes and do it again, no matter what than means, time, money, etc.
I am much happier with version 2. And now, I will have 2 mixing stations to help set up. I plan to sell my original mixing station with my Nuvo 20 after this Tank is set up. So much little things to do still.
Thanks for allowing me to share!
10 days of having my tank and no water. My wife actually asked me today when I thought I’d be done .
I think she is tired of my mess everywhere! Though, like I mentioned before, with canisters and HOB equipment I would have water in a tank in 1 day!
My original estimate was 1 week. 5-7 days. Now, realistically, I am looking at 2-3 weeks! I was hoping 2 weeks (maybe day 14) for tap water leak test. And with any luck, day 21 be completely done with all equipment installed and running.
Okay, back to Day 10. I redid and finished most of my dry fit stage (short of 1 adapter I needed to order). Once I have my missing piece I can quickly finalize the dry fit stage, and begin cutting and gluing the red pvc.
My plan, from dry fit stage, remove and replace (cutting and gluing) 1 piece at a time, or sections at a time. Starting with drains, then returns. In dry fit stage (probably over the next few days), I will add the support clamps to the areas needed / will benefit from.
Oh, I rebuilt (made a new one) my SW mixing station. I read (here) someone said; if you want it to look nice, sometimes you have to accept your mistakes and do it again, no matter what than means, time, money, etc.
I am much happier with version 2. And now, I will have 2 mixing stations to help set up. I plan to sell my original mixing station with my Nuvo 20 after this Tank is set up. So much little things to do still.
Thanks for allowing me to share!
Gorgeous tank!
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dreamcatcherr9
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Thank you!! GlassCages did a great job.
fishguy242
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coming along nicely!!,even went colors on mixing station..sweeet.
@dreamcatcherr9 you have an amazing tank. I actually saw it getting built when I went to visit @Joe Glass Cages and discuss my tank that I’m “patiently” waiting to get finished. The smoked bracing is beautiful and something I had never seen before.
best of luck with the build and look forward to seeing more pics.
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Found your build via the glasscages Facebook page. Just read through and like the build. Am hoping to so a new build of my own around the beginning/middle of next year and like finding ideas from people like you.
I may have overlooked it, but why did you decide on the smoked eurobrace? I'm actually about an hour from glass cages and plan to use them for my build so always good to see more people enjoying their work
I may have overlooked it, but why did you decide on the smoked eurobrace? I'm actually about an hour from glass cages and plan to use them for my build so always good to see more people enjoying their work
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dreamcatcherr9
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Thanks for the reply and following! It’s Friday (technically Saturday morning, 2:20am. I made serious progress today on the tank. I will update the build thread tomorrow. Hope you enjoy!
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dreamcatcherr9
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Thanks for the reply and following! In short (because it’s 2am and if I don’t go to bed soon I surely will die, lol); I had no idea what I wanted!
Joe at GlassCages was great. At first I wanted rimless. Then I switched to standard frame. Then I complained I disliked the eurobracing in general. And finally, Joe (who truly is passionate about his work) offered this unique tank.
It turned out amazing! More pics to follow tomorrow.....Thanks again!
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dreamcatcherr9
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It’s 2:30am. I could have almost done it (finished gluing); but ugh, I ran out of glue.
It took a whole can (little) to do my 2 mixing stations (version 1 and version 2). I should have known 1 little can was not enough.
I got all my drain lines plumbed and glued (x3). But as I stated return lines I knew it was to close to risk, and at 2:00am, it was time to draw the line (dang it!).
Ok, Lowe’s at 7:00am for me. 4 hours of sleep is enough right?
Seriously, the glue can states 2 hours dry time. Would I be safe to fresh water leak test after 4 hours? BRS recommends 24 hrs (?), but if the can says 2hrs, I should be safe with 4hrs?
Bed time now....thanks for reading!
It took a whole can (little) to do my 2 mixing stations (version 1 and version 2). I should have known 1 little can was not enough.
I got all my drain lines plumbed and glued (x3). But as I stated return lines I knew it was to close to risk, and at 2:00am, it was time to draw the line (dang it!).
Ok, Lowe’s at 7:00am for me. 4 hours of sleep is enough right?
Seriously, the glue can states 2 hours dry time. Would I be safe to fresh water leak test after 4 hours? BRS recommends 24 hrs (?), but if the can says 2hrs, I should be safe with 4hrs?
Bed time now....thanks for reading!
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dreamcatcherr9
Well-Known Member
I am beat! Feeling good (accomplished), but definitely exhausted. I never plumbed a tank before (or used a sump). The end result (esthetically) is acceptable. I give myself a B+. Not perfect, but for a first time, not to bad.
Now let’s hope it’s functionally sound and holds water (cross fingers please, no leaks!?). So I was up till 3am last night. Spent the day with 4 hours of sleep under my belt (obviously not working on tank all day), but as of 3pm, the last pvc fitting was glued in place.
I made one annoying mistake, I had been triple checking as I went, but this morning, my first pcs I did not triple check, and I paid the price. If you notice in one of my pics, a white coupler, used basically as a bandaid. I cut a pvc pipe to short, and needed to connect.
Thankfully I’ve learned enough about basic plumbing I figured out and went out to purchase a coupler to connect the two pvc. I would have preferred a sch 80 gray, would have looked more intentional, but I wasn’t going to wait a week for that, so white it is! It’s also behind the tank, no one will see, but I will know .
Hopefully my only issues are my own esthetics, if it holds water with no leaks, I will be super happy and live with myself and the end results!
So pvc glue says 2 hours. I read some people recommending 24hrs, but I think they are referring to repairs on tanks with live stock in them (?)..
I am going to give it 6 hours to be safe (but I’m to impatient to wait the full 24). So last glue was laid at 3pm, at 9pm I hope to be flowing water down the drains for the first time!!
If you read this, with me luck!
Now let’s hope it’s functionally sound and holds water (cross fingers please, no leaks!?). So I was up till 3am last night. Spent the day with 4 hours of sleep under my belt (obviously not working on tank all day), but as of 3pm, the last pvc fitting was glued in place.
I made one annoying mistake, I had been triple checking as I went, but this morning, my first pcs I did not triple check, and I paid the price. If you notice in one of my pics, a white coupler, used basically as a bandaid. I cut a pvc pipe to short, and needed to connect.
Thankfully I’ve learned enough about basic plumbing I figured out and went out to purchase a coupler to connect the two pvc. I would have preferred a sch 80 gray, would have looked more intentional, but I wasn’t going to wait a week for that, so white it is! It’s also behind the tank, no one will see, but I will know .
Hopefully my only issues are my own esthetics, if it holds water with no leaks, I will be super happy and live with myself and the end results!
So pvc glue says 2 hours. I read some people recommending 24hrs, but I think they are referring to repairs on tanks with live stock in them (?)..
I am going to give it 6 hours to be safe (but I’m to impatient to wait the full 24). So last glue was laid at 3pm, at 9pm I hope to be flowing water down the drains for the first time!!
If you read this, with me luck!
fishguy242
Cronies..... INSERT BUILD THREAD BADGE HERE !!
Partner Member 2024
Reef Tank 365
Hospitality Award
Midwest Reefer
Fish Medic
R2R Secret Santa 2023
didn't miss a beat ,no leaks,that's what we will hear ...
@dreamcatcherr9, thanks for the inspiration that created this very unique tank. You have great vision. Thanks for the opportunity for Glass Cages to be a part of your journey.
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