55g upgrades

[OodleyBoodely]

Those last 3 pics show the empty tank with the one bulkhead hole and the newly painted blue background, the mostly assembled parts for the cls and sump drain/return spraybar, and, the glued in crushed coral bottom which has lots of holes but IMO is not too bad and should look fine from the front.

The next photos are 1. the closed loop using a Mag 700 and a SCWD. 2. a view of the back with everything in place-still missing a few things-the cap to the standpipe (I grabbed the wrong size) and zip ties to replace the bread ties. 3. Front view showing the spray bar and cls return bars. The front pane of acrylic is a real mess of scratches-it's a old very well used/abused tank- a scratch removal kit is in the future plans. 4. end shot showing the top plumbing again. 5. This is the future surface skimmer box. When finished I will glue it to the inside over the two drain bulkheads. I also plan to add an eggcrate cover to the surface skimmer to help keep critters out.

Well, that is it for now. I still have to do a leak test, and I really hate the black vinyl hose on the cls-it is so stiff and tightly coiled that it just won't lay right and is pulling the return nozzles out of alignment. Next time I get into town, I think I will look for some of the coil-type hose such as that used on the tank-to-sump drainpipe. It is much more flexible. I'm also planning to paint the stand and canopy befor this renovation is finished so it may be a while befor everything gets set back up.

[OodleyBoodely]

Here's one more of the surface skimmer box in progress (I also reposted the befor shot again for comparison). I had to cut the box in half (hightwise) then remove the back and now I am working on the slots along the top edge. In this pic have gotten as far as drilling holes for the bottom of slots. Next I will cut the tops to open them up. This has been the most difficult and time consuming part so far, mostly because I don't have the proper tools for the job. All the cutting on this has been done using a drill.

[wanareef]

On that last photo, cuttinig slots, too bad you aren't closer, I have the tools. Just need a router mounted in a table and just push that box into the teeth for the slots.

Just a fyi - on that SCWD it will take some flow away from the mag 7, a LOT of flow, you might want to use a bigger mag .

good luck on the redo - I'm re-doing ours too.

[motorslave]

Looks great Ood! So, do you have the DIY bug now? Are you going to become a fixture at the local Home Depot and Lowes?

Robert

[OodleyBoodely]

Thanks Wanareef! I'm afraid the mag7 was the biggest I could afford. How much of a decrease in flow am I likely to see? I know I am not getting much more flow than I had before with the 2-4 maxijets, HOB skimmer, and Aquaclear 300 PF on the tank, but, I thought even if the flow is about the same, it would at least eliminate 'junk' in the display, add water volume, and, help reduce heat.

LOL, Robert! I already feel like a fixture at HD! I'm sure I'll be doing DIY stuff off n on. It's the cheapest way to go-problem is, my stuff looks as amature as it is! Ha!

OK, I have a question, again. Since I have lots of superglue on hand, and have used it successfully in the past to fix broken/leaking power filters, can I use the superglue to glue the surface skimmer to the inside of the tank? I really don't want to have to buy more stuff just now if what I have will work.

[motorslave]

Ha! You want to see amature? When I get my rock and water this coming week (no comments Tim!) I am going to post progressive pics. The difference between what I started, with and what I have now, is huge! For me its been a great learning process! At first I thought a little PVC and I was set. Well, 7 or 8 sticks of PVC later and Im finaly happy with the result. (for now!)(no comments Tim!) I think its fun to try all the different ideas and see how they work. Keep us posted!

Robert

[Illusion]

I would say Using the Scwd will drop the flow of the Mag 7 about in Half.. I would guestimate that you will get about 350-400gph out of it after its done... I am in the process of planning on doing the same thing but I am running a much bigger pump on my 55g.. Right now I have a Pcx40 (1190gph) for a return pump and 2 MaxiJet 1200s and planning on trying to pipe in a Dolphin ampmaster 3600gph into a closed loop so I can remove the Maxijets.. LOL... I think I might have just bagged the Idea when I realized that I was completely Nuts for thinking I going to be able to add another 2500-3000gph to the system... LOL.. Currently I would guestimate I have about 1500gph flowing in my tank at any given time.. LOL... Thanks to Wanareef my Overflow can handle to pcx40 return pump... LOL... I have thought about Bagging the ampmaster for now until I get a bigger tank in the next couple of months... (nothing less than a 180g) LOL.. But I think I might already have a tank picked out.. Still waiting to hear LOL... Man it seems with SW its a never Ending Money pit LOL...

James

[yardboy]

Ood, overflows are normally fastened to the tank with silicone. Yes, it does take quite a while to dry, but I'm not sure superglue would hold it, particularly since it has very little "gap-filling" ability. Frankly I've become jaded with superglue. The gel is a "one-time use" container, and Friday I bought some Loctite Professional Quality superglue and I have not gotten anything successfully glued down with it yet.

[OodleyBoodely]

!) I am going to post progressive pics

Can't wait!

I would say Using the Scwd will drop the flow of the Mag 7 about in Half.. I would guestimate that you will get about 350-400gph out of it after its done...

That much, huh?! I will have to go ahead with my present plan and just plan to upgrade the pump later.....come to think of it...I could use that Mag7 on my Remora Pro. I've been wanting to replace that Rio for a while....hmmm. There's always something else, isn't there, James.

Ood, overflows are normally fastened to the tank with silicone. Yes, it does take quite a while to dry, but I'm not sure superglue would hold it, particularly since it has very little "gap-filling" ability.
I didn't think silicon could be used on acrylic-can it? It would certainly fill in better than glue. Actually, I found some heavy-duty epoxy and after testing it on some scrap acrylic went ahead and used it to glue the surface skimmer on. It should work, but if I get leaks, I think I can use gel superglue to fill in.
Frankly I've become jaded with superglue. The gel is a "one-time use" container, and Friday I bought some Loctite Professional Quality superglue and I have not gotten anything successfully glued down with it yet.
Do you use the small tubes of superglue that you can get in the supermarkets? Those things really do dry up fast. I started using the stuff my Dad was getting for his model airplanes. It comes in a large bottle (thin or gel) and won't dry up if kept capped between uses. I don't recall the brand but you can get it at any hobbyshop in the model airplane section. HTH

[Illusion]

Mag 7 on the Remora pro would make it IMO not all the effective.. Very over powering for that skimmer... What i would do is use it as a waterchange mixing pump.. They work wonders... you can also use it for many other things..

James

[OodleyBoodely]

Mag 7 on the Remora pro would make it IMO not all the effective.. Very over powering for that skimmer...

Point taken. Thanks for the tips James.

[yardboy]

Yea, Ood, I've heard that about silicone not sticking to acrylic either, but then I've never seen a built-in overflow that was not glued in with silicone, so go figure where that idea got started. It seems to be holding mine together quite well.

[Illusion]

Originally Posted by OodleyBoodely

Point taken. Thanks for the tips James.

Yeah I run a Mag 7 on an Ev180 from AquaC LOL

James

[OodleyBoodely]

Originally Posted by yardboy

Yea, Ood, I've heard that about silicone not sticking to acrylic either, but then I've never seen a built-in overflow that was not glued in with silicone, so go figure where that idea got started. It seems to be holding mine together quite well.

If that epoxy doesn't work or leaks I'll just fix it up with some silicon. So, are you planning to high-tail it out of PC befor Ivan arrives? My sister and brother-in-law just moved to Tinsdale AFB on the heels of the last hurricane. They pulled thier RV back out of storage and have it prepped and ready to roll as soon as the base gives them the go ahead to evacuate. Take care and get out if you can.

Yeah I run a Mag 7 on an Ev180 from AquaC LOL

I might try my hand at a DIY skimmer later on once I have some kind of income again to fund these cheap diy projects.

[yardboy]

I really can't evacuate too far. I work for the Power Company and being on standby for work is a "condition of employment" so Genie and I will just go to the power plant and ride it out. The plant sits on North Bay, about 5 miles (as the gull flies) from where we live.