I had a hard time finding the glass for the baffles for my sump. I ended up going to Henderson Glass company and getting the panes cut from them so I could get the glass thick enough. Lowes and Home Depot is just way too thin!
I am debating on a different layout. I normally put the fuge in the middle with the skimmer in the first chamber and the last chamber be the top off. I have been doing a lot of reading on this and I know it is controversial but some say if you put the fuge in the end then there is a smaller chance of the pods getting chopped up in the motor of the skimmer. I am running water into the skimmer chamber to be skimmed and another inlet into the fuge. Hope it works. I can always make another sump at a later date if it turns out to be a bust. I for sure want the ATO chamber to be as large as possible since I do go out of town for up to 2 weeks at a time and my 78 year old dad is the one that comes over and helps me with my tank.
---------- Post added at 11:21 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:19 AM ----------
Finally! We worked all day on my plumbing to the basement. My poor husband is not an aquarist and really doesn't understand the whys and wherefores. He saw i was going to do the plumbing and decided he should jump in. He is just doing it how I ask him without questions for the most part since he doesn't really know what I am doing. GRIN. He's a trooper!!!
My husband also built me a stand to put my sump on and I put my baffles in today. I will do a water test tomorrow afternoon to check for leaks. Then I will plumb the pump to the sump.
Plumbing
I will think I will pick up another bulkhead and plumb a drain with a shut off valve to the drain of the sink. Then I can use gravity to do my water change. Just open the valve and let the water drain. I plan to put a 50 gallon barrel next to the stand to mix saltwater and pump it straight into the tank for water changes.
All the fittings are in place but not glued. We wanted to do a trial run to make sure everything is like we want it and tomorrow I will glue it all in place. I am so excited!!!
I will post pictures of the sump tomorrow
---------- Post added at 11:23 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:21 AM ----------
Sump baffles are in place
Plumbing behind the tank
Plumbing to the sump. You can't see the drain to the utility sink with a ball valve. The drum will be a saltwater mixing tank. I have a mag 7 pump and still need to drill the hole for the bulk head. There is also a lid to help prevent evaporation.
I have started filling the tank. I need to go pick up my live rock from a friend's house. I want to be sure the temperature is correct first.
---------- Post added at 11:24 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:23 AM ----------
I now have the tank up and running. Looks like I will need more rock. Just waiting for it all to settle and not be so cloudy. The sump is running as well. I will need to go down and drill a few holes in the pipe that the float valve is on so I can actually tie it down so it is just sitting in there.
Here is a picture of the sump.
The tank running. THe lights are temporary until I can get metal halides.
Ignore the wires by the tank. Those go to CPU in the corner that you can't see. WE are getting ready to redo that. Also the chair by the sump with the cords on it. My husband is getting ready to make me a panel on the wall for all of plugs and switches. Just needs a motivator
---------- Post added at 11:24 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:24 AM ----------
Here is the latest of my fish room. Cat doesn't belong but was very interested. The hose out of the trash bin is what the saltwater will be pumped through into the tank for water changes. We got our power strips up with drip loops. I have the main pump on a separate power strip that is plugged into the main strip so I can hit the switch to just cut off the pump in a hurry. I hope I have thought of everything.
I have put a 15G tank on the bottom shelf to use for quarantine. I have a hangon skimmer in the garage I am going to bring in and set up for when I buy fish. When you guys do quarantine do you just use pvc pipes and elbows instead of live rock and sand in case there is illness of some sort? Powerhead, skimmer, lots of water changes and heater with PVC?
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