chimera

left side top frags, just awaiting growth...

Cheers all. Thanks, not how I would have done it either but still works well enough. I would, if I had more knowledge prior to designing the tank, gone with 2 x 32mm outlets on the bottom of the tank to a single intake rather than 4 outlets. Would have also had a one-to-one outlet/inlet on the bottom of the tank for an additional spray bar run via a single Eheim. Anyways, it's hard to know how the 'randomness' of the current will take effect yet as the OM 4-way isn't actually running yet (because of the capacitor) As soon as that is plugged in, the "randomness" of water flow will be alot better because only 2 of the 4 outlets are currently working At least I now have just over 31 times turnover (13,500lph via closed loop and 3,500 lph via overflow) Would be looking at about 75 times per hour if I went with a TS24 stream kit!!!

a couple of quick pic's before I head out tonight! will get some better shots later. Closed loop plumbing complete: The right side of tank can be aquascaped now that the closed loops are done - hopefully sometime this week. the inlet's into the tanks are temporary though - still sourcing something adequate for here (like lin-lock plumbing)

i dont have the power captain! whoo hooo, like hell i dont. took me another 10 minutes to have the courage to turn on the power switch. wicked water movement, unreal in fact. no leaks,... yet,... touch wood. not you steve dolphin is quiet, still not as quiet as i'd like. dont think it's the pump though, just vibration off the timber it's sitting on. i think getting an old school mouse mat under it will quieten it down. i'll get pic's up as soon as i can

fay - i think you're just showing off!!!!!!! nice!

:lol: dont start!!!

I already have 2 pairs of those! they weren't big enough. needed to expand to 60mm.

Replying to my own post here... I searched EVERYWHERE today for a tool to do this, Mico's, Chesters, Humes, Bunnings, Carters, even went to Supercheap Auto's. No one had anything. Last of all, I tried LG Carder and wow, they had the ultimate tool. It's called a 'Boa Contrictor Strap Wrench' and it was on Trade special for $20. This is the love daddy of plumbing tools. It undid the thread in seconds. I've added more teflon tape to the thread and tightened it back up with the strap wrench. So, the parts will be plumbed back up tonight and hopefully this time we'll be all go! Here's the Boa Contrictor tool. I bought the aluminium version on the right: Oh, and being a 'strap', it undoes irregular shaped pipes too! Way cool.

ok, now that we're over 30-odd views, how many of you put mandarin or orange peels in your tanks? Hahaaaaa, what date is it today????

I read that if you cant get a Mandarin fish to fatten up, you can, strangely enough, feed it skin from a mandarin (hence how it got it's name) I didnt have mandarins so put a small piece of sliced up orange peel on the bottom of the tank. Wow, he actually started to eat it! All the other fish weren't interested though. Apparently they need a large amount of vitamin C in their diet and the roughage from the skin does wonder for their digestive system. Trying to find the link I read now...

Yup, well cool! 8)

Pic's dude, PIC's!!!!

havent got the capacitor yet. it's arriving soon. i was going to turn it on (as in the ampmaster pump) and manually rotate the OM motor to see the water flow. of course, plumbing issues have stopped me doing even THAT. :evil:

:evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: The plumbing is testing my patience somewhat, all is good in terms of fit but the thread on either side of the 50mm ball valve didnt have enough plumbers tape so started to leak. I disassembled the plumbing and added heaps of teflon tape to the thread. I put it back on and went to test again, this time the OTHER end of the ball valve started to leak, again, not enough teflon tape :evil: Problem with this side though is I cant get the threaded part off the pipe. So, have to wait til tomorrow when I can either go buy, hire or borrow some plumbers pipe grips (know what they look like, dont know the name!) to remove it. Damn and I was so looking forward to turning it on tonight... arghhhh!!!

that's what im after steve, where did you get it?

more money! plus they are designed for plumbing coming down into the tank, not out from bulkheads! they are way cool though!

blackwoods and paykels had a pathetically small collection of loc-line. i will try the "rotating flow nozzles" but i honestly think the ampmaster 3000 will rip the ends off the cogs! if it does, they will be up for sale. i have 4 of them. ($30 each) will put them on private t&e section tonight if the ampmaster is too much for them. certainly hope not!

:lol: nope. the squirt is basically a smaller version of the 4-way and 8-way and used predominantely for lower flow/smaller tanks. here's a squirt sitting on top of a pump: i think you are thinking of oceans motions 'revolutions'. like this: here's there web site: http://www.oceansmotions.com/

I'm using the OM 4-way to provide flow to the tank. Just need something on the bulkheads inside the tank to direct flow.

After talking to JoeBlog about tank inlet's from a closed loop, he suggested "loc-line". Just curious to know if anyone else has used this stuff? Benefit is you can twist it to adjust the flow very easily. REF: http://www.loc-line.com/products/ It's available from Blackwoods and Paykel's I believe. http://www.blackwoodspaykels.co.nz/indexbp.asp I might go get some this arvo and try it tonight on the new closed loop system. Considering adding a 'Y' on each outlet to provide 8 directions of flow within the tank. Anyone with any better ideas/suggestions?

RIP off I think he means

The reason I asked is I saw it on similar forums and thought it was a good idea. The thing being that sometimes you just want to look at pic's, not read text or the like. The members tanks section is just a 'this is my tank' section - no replies and needs authorising before it goes live. DIY is DIY, not always pictures here. I remember before we had DIY and Members tanks sections, it was always hard to find or discuss various topics as there were so many posts in just the fresh or saltwater sections. If there is a section dedicated to photo's, I think it would be very popular as it is with other sites! Why dont we have a vote? Actually, how do you create a poll on here now? Has it been taken off?

gotta start somewhere! post before pic's then layton

Yeah! Finished my plumbing!!! So stoked that is out the way. What a tedious time consuming job that was. Here's a pic of all my plumbing bits that fit together somewhat like a jigsaw puzzle... sorry about the poor photo, not enough battery life left for flash to work!... Will clean out the pipes tomorrow with seawater then switch it on tomorrow night. Can't wait... Hmmm, just noticed the large ball valve is missing from the photo, oh well.

I PM'd Cees about a week ago asking for a 'Photography' section be added to the site. He agreed which was cool. It's for people to do exactly what you're asking here Pies, hopefully Cees hasn't forgotton Will be good to have a section dedicated to pic's of tank's and there contents! Just for you Bruce :lol: