Brian builds a tank! Megan posts the thread!

[aquawolf]

Is there any way you could get the dimensions on his old sump? At least then you would know what will fit under that stand.

If you had another $20 or so, some food and possibly adult beverages you might be surprised at how willing he would be to help you get it set up properly. If he still has any love for the hobby at all he will want you to be successful and see his old setup being put to good use.

[shaggy52282]

I think the more I look at this stuff...and the more I learn about it...the more I feel like I am in over my head and should start listing the pieces 1 at a time on craigslist.

I just looked at the tank again..and there are 2 holes in each overflow on the back. Why would there be 2 holes in each overflow?

[MedicMike]

A drain and return for each overflow

[shaggy52282]

But I can't just run a pipe straight to the return right? Cause if power fails I flood my house. So the return in the overflow has to go up as high as the top of the tank before going back down to the return bulkhead, right?

[aquawolf]

The larger hole, normally 1" diameter is for the drain line to the sump and the smaller 3/4" hole is where the return plumbing goes. Some people actually make both of those drain lines and then run the returns back over the top of the tank. The question would be, since you have the 4 way is that the way he had it plumbed originally.

Don't give up and start posting stuff for sale yet. You got a ton of equipment in a matter of an afternoon. It will take some time, but the people on here should be able to walk you through setting up most everything. Just going to take some patience and in this hobby that is one of the most important things you can have, so you might as well start learning it now.

[aquawolf]

The drain line may look something like this:



The return will go up and over the corner overflow and back into the tank. There is more than likely a pin hole in the black loc line tubing that will break the siphon in case of a power failure and keep it from flooding.

[OneDummHikk]

Originally Posted by shaggy52282

I think the more I look at this stuff...and the more I learn about it...the more I feel like I am in over my head and should start listing the pieces 1 at a time on craigslist.

Call the guy you bought the setup from. Ask him what his favorite food is and favorite drink. Tell him you will offer him all he can eat and drink in an afternoon to help you set it up. Have him set it up, running either RO/DI water (no salt) or just plain tap water in the system. What it will do is allow you to see how everything should be when its running. The skimmer won't adjust right and the Ca reactor won't do anything but it will be plumbed for you and circulating water. Then, you can simply pick one piece of equipment at a time (as you want) and learn about them.

If I weren't so far away, I would offer to come set it up for you. If that fails, take a look at some other peoples tanks near you. Go in the LFS' and look at the plumbing. Tell them why you are wanting to look. You can figure it out. Then, you get the satisfaction of conquering the project instead of the project conquering you.

BTW, she WAS complaining

[wolfe4372]

Originally Posted by OneDummHikk

Call the guy you bought the setup from. Ask him what his favorite food is and favorite drink. Tell him you will offer him all he can eat and drink in an afternoon to help you set it up. Have him set it up, running either RO/DI water (no salt) or just plain tap water in the system. What it will do is allow you to see how everything should be when its running. The skimmer won't adjust right and the Ca reactor won't do anything but it will be plumbed for you and circulating water. Then, you can simply pick one piece of equipment at a time (as you want) and learn about them.

If I weren't so far away, I would offer to come set it up for you. If that fails, take a look at some other peoples tanks near you. Go in the LFS' and look at the plumbing. Tell them why you are wanting to look. You can figure it out. Then, you get the satisfaction of conquering the project instead of the project conquering you.

BTW, she WAS complaining

i was not!

but i should say that we kind of have that figured out he likes the expensive crown royal stuff.

brian we can figure it out im sure

[wolfe4372]

and i have dibs on the refractometer! if you do start selling things.

[shaggy52282]

All the piping and hoses were cut to get it out...so it would be more then an afternoon thing I think. And...I am not even certain where it will go when setup. I have a decent idea since the shear size limits my options...but I am not 100% sold that I want to move my TV to the basement.

I suppose I could always see if I could get him to come over long enough to tell me what goes where...and I can worry about making it happen on my own time. Each time I dig into the "misc" box, or "misc" bag I find more stuff that seems excessive, but that looks like it was used.

[wolfe4372]

Originally Posted by shaggy52282

All the piping and hoses were cut to get it out...so it would be more then an afternoon thing I think. And...I am not even certain where it will go when setup. I have a decent idea since the shear size limits my options...but I am not 100% sold that I want to move my TV to the basement.

I suppose I could always see if I could get him to come over long enough to tell me what goes where...and I can worry about making it happen on my own time. Each time I dig into the "misc" box, or "misc" bag I find more stuff that seems excessive, but that looks like it was used.

remember that dude had spoiled fishes so he had a little more then needed
they had their own food processor!

[jenglish]

Originally Posted by shaggy52282

All the piping and hoses were cut to get it out...so it would be more then an afternoon thing I think. And...I am not even certain where it will go when setup. I have a decent idea since the shear size limits my options...but I am not 100% sold that I want to move my TV to the basement.

I suppose I could always see if I could get him to come over long enough to tell me what goes where...and I can worry about making it happen on my own time. Each time I dig into the "misc" box, or "misc" bag I find more stuff that seems excessive, but that looks like it was used.

Start w/ the simplest setup that will work and figure out doo hickeys later . Plumbing is intimidating but its really no differnt than plumbing in your house w/ the exception that instead of water pressure from city lines you are making your own w/ a pump. Are you going to have to buy all new piping?

[Fat Tony]

Here ya go... here is my build thread. It will walk you through all the basics of doing the plumbing and building a sump..HTH

http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/f2...ld-120774.html

[OneDummHikk]

I had a reply typed out and I have no clue where it went. But, as said, start with the most basic setup which would be a return pump and a tank for a sump. It will let you get the plumbing setup with a basic setup. Then, the tank can start cycling while you figure the rest out. The sump can be as simple as an 18G tote from Walmart if nothing else. Just something to sit in the sump to catch the water so the pump can pump it back to the tank. Then, you can start figuring out the rest.

Go through your pumps and make a post of the name on the pump and the gph rating. If you can't figure it out, just post a picture of the data plate on them. Then, someone can tell you which one would work best for your setup.

With this being your first setup, I wouldn't worry with the Ca reactor any time soon as its not really needed in a softie tank and definitely wouldn't be needed in the next few months until the cycle is finished.

And, while the tank is cycling you can figure out the sump setup you want to have under the tank and it will give you time to get it together while the tank is already cycling. And cycling it and then swapping out the sumps won't make it mini-cycle.

[OneDummHikk]

Originally Posted by wolfe4372

i was not!

She's complaining about whether she was complaining or not! I told you, I was .