Tony.Bates

A bit more on the return plumbing - initially I had planned to have the 4 pipes in a sealed off "chamber" so they would be dry, but futher thinking, I will ahve them going through the tank "wet" and will attach reef rack around them, and have live rock attached to it. Make a nice rock/coral column when its finished. (I hope!)

welllll initially there will only be 1 return - but when the fish-fund is big enough the other returns will be bought online with an oceans motion 4-way in a 1-2-3-4 configuration.

couple of new photos - havent made much progress, been running around the country picking up new Rimu as I was getting a bit short in the workshop! Final plan for the tank is in-train, just waiting on some final plumbing to arrive so I can check the bulkhead hole locations, and its ready for order!

That looks awesome Chimera - well done!

Hi All, Well made a trip to Mico - to get some bulkheads and valves - Bulkheads no problem, Valves a little more complicated..... Apparently the Grey and Blue valve from plastic systems comes in 2 varieties: George Fisher Valve - Rounded handle - VGF255/032 or Technoplastic Valve - Square Handle - VSA22F400 Can anyone tell me which one I Should be getting? Cheers

These guys have some pretty nice stuff! http://www.briaquaticcabinets.com/html/ ... tos_i.html

Another question - what size should I be using for these fittings? They seem to come in a number of different sizes - I found them in 20mm, but that seems a bit small?

haha, I like the approach!

I dont know about pumps yet - I have done a little research, but have to sit down and figure out how many bends, and how many feet, and do all the sums to figure out how many weeks pay my return and closed loop pumps are going to cost me!!! I'm not very good with math so keep an eye out for the "idiot trying to figure out his flow rate" post in the near future!! hehe

I've unashamadely stolen Chimera's tank design - an Oceans motion 4 way wave maker with 2 outflows into a single pipe into the OM, then one under coral return, and 3 returns in the top of the tank. I've planned a dry chamber in the main body of the tank to run the piping from the cabinet below to the hood level for the retuns. I didnt want the tank to be out from the wall to cater for the return piping, so this seemed like a good solution. Hope that makes sense, if not I'll pull some more plans out of CAD and see if pictures do a better job of explaining!!!

haha, yes, I have been reading the "passionate" discussions regarding Durso vs full syphon with avid interest At this stage I'll be going with an overflow box, with a single durso draining through a bulkhead in the bottom of the tank.

just making a shopping list for plubming supplies (need to get some so I can plan how big the holes in my tank should be) What are you folks using for bulkheads in your tanks? I'm thinking that the hansen SFTFT fitting might be the go? http://www.hansenproducts.co.nz/product ... /SFTFT.htm (This is for a 400-500l marine tank using 10mm glass) Chimera - I think this is what you are using correct?

Hi All, Quite a bit of progress on the stand over the weekend, new photos up on my website: http://captaintramper.com/fishtank Sorry about the quality of the photos - my camera is a webcam! :roll: Still have lots of sanding to finish ready for oiling and polyurethane coats. More to come! Thanks for looking!

Thanks all - I've been in the workshop all day putting the outside shell on the cabinet - Rimu for the most part, and another timber for the centres of the doors, probably ash or another light wood to compliment the Rimu. No photos as yet as the whole stand is covered in clamps at the moment! Will hopefully have some more up on the weekend.

Got started on my new tank over the weekend, tank stand is now complete. Some photos for your to take a look at: Tank Dimensions are 1500L 500W 600D http://captaintramper.com/fishtank/ Just a few details to work out on the tank design, but should be getting that ordered in the next week or so

Haha, I wish, thats pushing the available space as it is! :roll:

Hi folks Can anyone suggest a good tank maker for a new Marine? Proposed dimensions are: 1500w x 500d x 550h I'm thinking that 10mm glass would be the story At this stage, 1 overflow box in the Right hand rear for a Durso Standpipe, 3 blukheads in the floor of the tank for drain and Closed loop flow, and 4 bulkheads in the rear wall of the tank for return and closed loop return. Anything I'm missing? :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

I wish I could say it wasn't but sadly it is. The seal between the plastic rim and the glass seems to have gaps in it, so leaks like a chocolate tea pot. I have also found (you may have discovered this) that if you dont like the power cable from the lights sticking out the side, you can feed it under the filter tray, and out the cable duct in the rear. The last bit of advice around the 980, if its sounding like a waterfall, make sure the black coarse foam is on top, this will stop it making most of the noise. Cheers Tony

Also, if you fill yours full (like mine is) be sure to take out some water BEFORE putting your arm in the tank for any reason. (your sky decoder, and television will thank you for not flooding them) :roll:

Hi All, I have several clown loaches in my tank (215l) - and they keep vanishing - for days at a time! the tank is not heavily planted, and they cant be getting out (because they turn up eventually) Do Clown Loaches bury themselves? :roll: Any thoughts appreciated!

Hi Caryl Tank is new, only about a month old. 215 litres. Hmm, well maybe they arent for me then - anything else that exterminates snails?

Hi Folks I seem to be having a snail epedemic, despite fishing about 10 out of the tank every day. I seem to have a mix of flat and cone shaped beasties. I read that getting a clown loach might be the story, because they eat snails? At present I have 28 neon tetras, 2 BN catfish, and 4 sunset platies. Will a Clown Loach be a good companion for this bunch (I dont want them eating each other) Do the Clown Loaches need to have own species company?

Hi All, I have a 200l tank which is new. The tank has had water and plants for about 20 days, and fish for about 10 days. I have 28 small Neon Tetras, and 2 BN cats. I did a 15% water change yesterday, and tested the water (again) PH of 7.2, Amonia, Nitrites, and nitrates all at 0. I also seem to have a wispy brown algae epedemic happening (it grows in long strings which fan all across the tank) and white algae growing on the suction cups for the heaters. The fish seem happy enough, very active, etc. I'm concerned that I havent seen any sign of the tank cycling yet - am I too early, of is something preventing my bacteria from getting started? :-? Cheers!

OK, so I've had this tank for a couple of weeks now, and to be honest, its %#%@%$ noisy! Sounds like a huge waterfall in the middle of a rain storm. I was at the LFS today for some bits and pieces, and saw they had an AR980 on display, WHISPER quiet! Not a gurgle! Nor a Murmor! I peeked under the filter covers, and to my surprise found that my tank at home is missing the thicker coarse black foam that covers the noodles and carbon! no wonder my tank is noisy! The water from the dispersion pipe is falling straight into more water! Yeash! :roll: Rant over! Needless to say I bought a new filter pad set and will be installing the black foam this evening!

The plants went in about a week before the fish did - I'm not sure what plants they are, I got them from The Goldfish Bowl in Hamilton - being new to the hobby I just asked for a selection of plants. The plants were in a tank of water at the Goldfish Bowl, so I'm not sure if that is the problem? Is there something I can add to the tank to supply nutrients?