220G Tank Takeover and Remodel!

Vitaminz · #1 07-04-2018, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DKoKoMan

Sweet! Amazing what a little TLC can do for a tank. I found there are a lot of new skimmers on the market which makes replacing the entire unit more affordable. That being said if you have a vertex or other high end you may want to source out a pump that is compatible.

Looking forward to see more updates

Thanks for the advice, it is appreciated! I will let you know how it goes after clean up!

chizerbunoi · #2 07-05-2018, 02:57 AM

Wow good score. I'm surprised that Laguna pond pump can work as your main return.

Vitaminz · #3 07-05-2018, 03:00 AM

Yeah should have seen the confused look on my face when I saw it for the first time. Probably end up replacing it. Any suggestions for a return pump for this bad boy?

kyl · #4 07-05-2018, 03:33 AM

Agreed, great work on getting that display spiffed up. Looks like you have some nice fish to work with going forward

albert_dao · #5 07-05-2018, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vitaminz

Yeah should have seen the confused look on my face when I saw it for the first time. Probably end up replacing it. Any suggestions for a return pump for this bad boy?

You won't need to. Laguna pumps have an Askoll motorblock. Roll back a few years and these were considered some of the finest motorblock in the industry (still are, IMO, but I've never put a lot of stock into the current DC return pump offerings).

Vitaminz · #6 07-05-2018, 02:48 PM

So after spending 2 hours breaking down the skimmer and cleaning what seemed like a one-inch film of sludge from the skimmer...just nasty. Think I dry heaved a tad bit and that is saying a lot coming from somebody with 5 kids!
Found the issue with the skimmer, bunch of snails inside the pump.

Threw that bad boy back into the sump and BAM it fired right back up! Mission accomplished!

Next on the list, cleaning the powerheads.

Vitaminz · #7 07-19-2018, 03:22 PM

So looking at building a mixing station for the tank and came up with the following design. Any comments or suggestions? Anybody know where a guy could pick up the parts locally?

WarDog · #8 07-19-2018, 04:13 PM

Corix Water Products in Edmonton NW for the PVC, but not sure if they will have the bulkheads.

Vitaminz · #9 08-07-2018, 07:27 PM

So finally got all my supplies in and the design finalized. Ended up going another route with the bins. Zeebest wanted $350 all in for the 2 bins. Ended up finding these blue ones for $50 each:

Got the bulkheads and gate valves from Big Al's and the rest of the plumbing from Bartlett and Gibson:

Got busy drilling the holes for the bulkheads:

I left water in the bins over the weekend in the garage to make sure they wouldn't leak, and they didn't!

Tonight will start the plumbing, stay tuned!

Jeff