FishyFishy's 33 Gal SPS dedicated build

[kien]

Nice tank! I noticed that your "herbie" overflow only has one stand pipe. That's living on the edge! . Seriously though, if you are in fact using that one pipe as a herbie it can and likely will (down the road) block and cause your tank to overflow! Herbies should always have emergency pipes in case the main can not keep up. Also, I noticed that you are using a ball valve on your drain. Those are a royal pain to dial in your overflow water level. Gate valves are so much easier. With the combination of one stand pipe and a ball valve on that line I would be a little worried.

If you want to add an emergency overflow you can drill a hole into the side of your overflow box that is higher than the top of your main standpipe. Then run that emergency line on the outside of the tank and down to the sump.

[lastlight]

Nice start and I see a lot of my movie collection sitting there behind the tank lol.

Hard to tell from the pics but did you lay plywood down under the tank before you filled it? And is there 2x4s on end underneath your flat lying 2x4s on the stand's top?

[Myka]

Originally Posted by kien

I noticed that your "herbie" overflow only has one stand pipe...Also, I noticed that you are using a ball valve on your drain.

If you want to add an emergency overflow you can drill a hole into the side of your overflow box that is higher than the top of your main standpipe. Then run that emergency line on the outside of the tank and down to the sump.

I noticed this too! Your tank WILL overflow at some point if you use the current design. Kien has suggested a good way to fix the problem. Also you mention a "one way flap valve". I'm assuming this is a check valve. If it is, it won't work for very long. Once the tank has been running for a little while there will be some buildup in the pipes which is normal. This buildup will cause the valve to not work simply from preventing a perfect seal or even from preventing the valve from moving at all.

Btw, your tank is a 33 not a 33 long. A 33 long is 48" long, yours appears to be the standard 36" long.

It is a great looking tank though, and I am interested to see how it turns out!

[FishyFishy!]

Originally Posted by lastlight

Nice start and I see a lot of my movie collection sitting there behind the tank lol.

Hard to tell from the pics but did you lay plywood down under the tank before you filled it? And is there 2x4s on end underneath your flat lying 2x4s on the stand's top?

Yes, over 300 DVD's and counting! hehe. And yes, I have 2X4's on end underneath the flat lying ones. I did not use plywood on the bottom.

Originally Posted by kien

Nice tank! I noticed that your "herbie" overflow only has one stand pipe. That's living on the edge! . Seriously though, if you are in fact using that one pipe as a herbie it can and likely will (down the road) block and cause your tank to overflow! Herbies should always have emergency pipes in case the main can not keep up. Also, I noticed that you are using a ball valve on your drain. Those are a royal pain to dial in your overflow water level. Gate valves are so much easier. With the combination of one stand pipe and a ball valve on that line I would be a little worried.

If you want to add an emergency overflow you can drill a hole into the side of your overflow box that is higher than the top of your main standpipe. Then run that emergency line on the outside of the tank and down to the sump.

I have thought of this over and over in my sleep! haha. I just don't want to take on the idea of drilling the tank at this point. Any other ideas? I also left the standpipe loose (not glued) so that I can remove it and clean it. The holes drilled in the sides will aid as well.

As for the gate valve, I drove around to 4 different stores closest to me and could not find a 1" gate valve. The blue handled one I have is actually smooth as butter for now. Picked it up at Ocean City. Its by far the smoothest ball valve I have seen (for now!). Eventually I will upgrade to a gate valve.

Originally Posted by Myka

I noticed this too! Your tank WILL overflow at some point if you use the current design. Kien has suggested a good way to fix the problem. Also you mention a "one way flap valve". I'm assuming this is a check valve. If it is, it won't work for very long. Once the tank has been running for a little while there will be some buildup in the pipes which is normal. This buildup will cause the valve to not work simply from preventing a perfect seal or even from preventing the valve from moving at all.

Btw, your tank is a 33 not a 33 long. A 33 long is 48" long, yours appears to be the standard 36" long.

It is a great looking tank though, and I am interested to see how it turns out!

Yes, I meant check valve. However I must disagree with the valve not working after a while. I have used this same valve (only bigger) in my 110 FOWLR for 2.5 years and its still as clean as a whistle. Maybe I just got lucky? What else would you suggest I use for this type of valve?

I had no idea that a 33 long was a 48! My last 33 was 30", so I assumed it was a long. My mistake! ha consider it edited.

[FishyFishy!]

I have also noticed that there is quite a bit of what I think is algae (not diatoms). See pics and let me know what to think of it.

[lastlight]

That will go away I think you're right on the id. They're annoying because the bubbles get chewed up in the powerheads and you think there's a microbubble issue somewhere in the system. When only my T5s are on the bubbles stop being released and my water clears. I'm pretty much clear of this now on my new setup.

Good to hear about the vertical 2x4s. I was more concerned about that then the plywood.

I think the valve thing needs to be sorted out though. You can drill your emergency drain into the back or side panel and add a 90 on the end so it's above your primary.

[FishyFishy!]

Why would you suggest the plywood bottom? Just for weight dispersement?

[FishyFishy!]

Definately the weirdest cycle I have ever had. Has anyone else had this type or hair like algae in a cycle? Every time i've cycled thus far, I've only got minimal algae, and a lot of powdery diatoms.






Seems excessive to me.

[Myka]

Originally Posted by FishyFishy!

Yes, I meant check valve. However I must disagree with the valve not working after a while. I have used this same valve (only bigger) in my 110 FOWLR for 2.5 years and its still as clean as a whistle. Maybe I just got lucky? What else would you suggest I use for this type of valve?

Personally, I would simply nix the check valve and design the sump to accommodate the back flow of water during power outage and water changes. I would not want to rely on a check valve to keep my floors dry!

[FishyFishy!]

Yeah lights are off for now! (except fuge light).

And I tested the level of the over full sump... and even after the back flow had gone into the sump, and the syphon was broken, there was still and inch left at the top of the sump! So thats good news.

Now to starve away that algae, and figure out a backup strategy for the overflow....