Murdoch's 160G Tank Build

Dez · #1 07-12-2011, 07:09 PM

Drains always have bubbles, unless you have your WC tank outfitted with a Herbie. Bubbles will rise and splash, causing salt creep. Does this make any sense? I think you'll be happier with a separate feed and overflow.

doch · #2 07-12-2011, 09:27 PM

Ok... but wouldn't I end up with the same problem in the sump... x2? That said... the level in the sump is lower... which is probably where you're going with this.

Dez · #3 07-12-2011, 09:33 PM

Sumps are designed with baffles etc so that bubbles don't end up back in your display tank. Think of your frag tank as a display tank - you probably don't want to see bubbles while inspecting or viewing your frags. That's where probably most of the salt creep in a tank happens - in a sump. A lot of people have covers over the drain area of the sump to try and reduce this. The use of filter socks helps (I don't use em). But if your think of your frag tank as a secondary display tank, you probably don't want to see bubbles. It will work the way you have it planned, but I'm just giving you an option that I would go for if I had the choice.

doch · #4 07-12-2011, 10:05 PM

You might be onto something here Dez. Fortunately for me, I found out that Rona in Fort Mac has PVC fittings. Wish I would have known that before running around the entire city on Sunday! hahaha

doch · #5 07-13-2011, 04:33 AM

Well... the stand is built The old tank is temporarily relocated to the bathroom The new tank is on the stand. The waveboxes are tucked neatly into their new holes. The lights are on top of the tank (and going to fit PERFECTLY)..... and the RO water is trickling (that might be overstating the matter) into the tank. I'm BEAT. Movie time. I'll see about pics tomorrow.

doch · #6 07-14-2011, 02:06 AM

PICS! First one's a test... the new tank in transport:

doch · #7 07-14-2011, 02:17 AM

SUCCESS!!!! WAHOO!

Here's the progress so far:

Kindly excuse the half arsed stand... the stucture is complete, pretty will come once me and my wife decide on a design.

top view of the back side:

The lights... you know, in case you haven't seen tek lights before! lol

The gear and piping which all make my basement look like a war zone.

Side view of the wave box... needs a little tweaking. Unfortunately that tweaking may involve 2 new motors. Damn.

And the last pic of the old tank (after the move into the bathroom). Unfortunately, this is not at it's prime. I'll see what I can do about getting a good shot of it when it looked nice.

doch · #8 07-16-2011, 03:18 AM

FINALLY the plumbing is done! I now have all of my livestock in thhe new tank, and the old 55 is tucked neatly in the bottom of that stand. Encountered a new little problem though... the IN 250 that I bought will not fit under the frag tank as is. GAH!!! I'll have to do a little thinking on this one. Also... one of my wave boxes is no longer working. It's just on full time (doesn't pulse). No good.

Anyways... here's a few pics. Don't mind the aqua scaping.... that's for tomorrow.

doch · #9 07-16-2011, 03:19 AM

BTW... WOW! Is this ever a lot of work!! I didn't think it was going to be this labour intensive!! lol

doch · #10 07-17-2011, 03:28 PM

Haha! No, not yet. Basement has been in pretty rough shape, and no time for foos lately. I actually found an unopened bottle of lube with the spare handles though!