Little problems...Big solutions
 

When you have a big tank, even little problems require BIG tools! It cost me $20 to fix a nagging leak. I would have purchased a larger wrench, but couldn't find one. (If you know of a better place than KMS, let me know)

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...n/100_0102.jpg

Wow that's a big wrench. Whatcha using it on??

...troublesome threaded fitting on a true union valve. I needed a 1-11/16" wrench for a 1" valve. I wouldn't mind finding one for a 1.5" and even a 2".

I looked at an adjustable wrench of that size..$250!!! Awesome tool, though.

There's no doubt that warm SW finds a way out where cold FW can't.

Man I see myself just busting the fitting if I tried using something like that. Also broke far too many tanks overtightening bulkheads too (mind you smaller tanks with 1/4 glass .. maybe 1/2" and up is not so delicate). Just a thought, if it's a union that's not sealing, could you see about a new O-ring maybe? (as an alternative)

hahaha that wrench is enormous! you could probably knock out a bear with that bad boy.

It's the threaded connection on the union, not the union portion itself. I was concerned about over tightening it, though. This enabled me to give it another 1/4 turn.

In most cases, I've found hand-tightening bulkheads to be sufficient as long as you have a nice smooth, flat surface to seal against. (Use good quality bulkheads!)

Oh ok, not the union itself, I see.

And yes, FWIW I agree, hand-tightening bulkheads should be all you need. :) I was just saying, you can crack glass by overtightening those.

However ....

You can still crack open a FNPT to MNPT connection if you overtighten. I was doing the exact same thing as you about a week ago on 1.5" pipe, I just used a pipe wrench, and that "extra 1/4 turn" was all it needed to crack open. Just sharing some experiences... trust me I've found lots of creative ways to break things. :)

Rock and Sand
 

Yesterday was a good day. My first shipment of LR and sand arrived in Seattle at about 8PM last night (shipped from Tampa Bay Saltwater). A quick zip down to Seattle and back got the rock into the sump and sand in the tank by midnight.

150lbs of sand...250lbs of rock... Yes, I'm in the tank at this point...
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...n/100_0103.jpg
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...n/100_0184.jpg

I threw one particularly large rock into the tank and 2 mantis sprang out. By the time I'm done, I bet there are 12 or more mantis in the main tank. My intention is to keep the mantis, but I may hunt down the crabs. (then again, the mantis might do that for me...)
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...n/100_0104.jpg

thats awesome. feels good to finally get stuff in the tank hey. i hated waiting

sweet! something other than people are finally in there!

by the way in case you were curious about an ID of the mantids you have, my guess is almost definitely Neogonodactylus Wennerae. They are very common on LR shipments from tampabaysaltwater for some reason. I can't be surea bout your other mantis(es) but the one in the pic is a classic red morph of an N. wennerae.

Do you have any experience with these guys? I would give each mantis a separate tank. If you don't have room, please sell them, don't kill em.