First DIY Build, Please Help

[hng]

Ryan, it looks like you have a ball valve on the input side of the cls pump. You can use that to turn off the water to clean your pump, but during regular use, leave it wide open. You usually don't want to restrict the input of a pump, it may cause it to cavitate, overheat, or fail prematurely. You may want to consider a ball valve on the outlet side so you can turn down the flow and be able to remove the pump for maintenance (right now, it would drain the tank half way if you removed it). BTW, is that Mag pump floating in the air without support?

[Geoff]

Hoang- that is what i thought at first, but if you look really closely you can see that the base for the Mag is screwed into the stand.

G~

[coraln'fish]

Yeah it's screwed into the stand, I hope I would never be that dumb!

[hng]

Originally Posted by coraln'fish

Yeah it's screwed into the stand

[jwm32068]

Absolutely not, it is designed to shatter under extreme stress.

[DaveTheReefGeek]

Just a concern...
do you plan on primer/painting the inside of your stand?
As the sump to stand clearance is quite tight. When the system is running, if the stand is not sealed it will absorbe moisture and expand and possibly crush your sump!
Just FYI if you are not painting or staining and sealing.

[hng]

DO you have some kind of union that will allow you to remove the Mag once the plumbing is glued up?

[coraln'fish]

Yeah, I do have a union, I was just lazy and din't feel like puting it in yet.

I'll be sealing the inside of the satand with epoxy maybe. What would you guys suggest? I still have some exhaust fans as well. I'm wandering If I should go to a 10g tank. Thanks.

~Ryan

[coraln'fish]

The OM 2-way came in today, I'm going to start finishing everything now!

[Geoff]

now the fun begins.

G~

[coraln'fish]

Yes, I'm so freakin' excited, the new bulb came in today as well. I'll be going to Home Depot tomorrow to get the trim and stain to finish the stand along with the epoxy sealer. What are your opinions on sealing the stand with epoxy?

Once the tank is up and running my sister got me a $50 gift card to my favorite LFS so I'll be able to start stocking pretty quik as well. Peace.

~Ryan

[kcress]

ah Ah AH!!
Stock s l o w l y.
Patience glasshopper.

Or you will have to stock twice!

[coraln'fish]

There's going to be no cycle time as I already have the liverock and I don't have live sand. I'm not introducing any new fish and I have a plenty big skimmer.

Now, does anyone have an oppinion on the epoxy sealant? Thanks.

~Ryan

[jamessp01]

Originally Posted by coraln'fish

Now, does anyone have an oppinion on the epoxy sealant? Thanks.
~Ryan

IMO epoxy is overkill for the inside of your stand. oil or water based poly should seal it well enoph, or you can paint it.

[hng]

I agree, epoxy sealer is not needed. If using something like latex paint (which is what I used), you can use a couple of layers of exterior grade primer, then another couple of layers of exterior grade latex. I'd recommend a "glossy" finish which makes it easier to clean.