Adrienne Posted December 21, 2007 Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 I picked up my new tank (secondhand) today. 450 litres. Here are some pics but I don't know what all the bits and pieces are for. It was a marine tank but I want to use it for freshwater. Any help greatly appreciated. the full shot - my husband at the left is 6ft so gives you some idea of the size piping - uses? a are these powerheads, what is the one on the right? how does this work - it goes right to the bottom of the tank inside - looks like a filter intake, on the outside it looks like a hose can be attached. the sump - divided into three sections - the pipes are on one end only there is also a large piece of clear perspex with fairly large holes all over it, don't have a clue what it would be used for. One of the braces on the top - the centre one is broken and needs to be replaced. Suggestions, sites etc - I'm prepared to read about it but not very mechanically? minded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted December 21, 2007 Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 Is there another tank underneath this tank? That gear looks like what is needed to setup a sump.. Or you got a heap of power heads but looks like you have return piping from a sump (white stuff).. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted December 21, 2007 Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 is there a hole in the tank left hand back corner in photo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted December 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 the bottom pic is the one of the sump. I know in theory how it works but don't know how to connect it up or whether or not all the pieces are there. It also came with a heater and thermostat and inside the cabinet is a 6 pin multi plug. The cabinet is lined with polystyrene. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted December 21, 2007 Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 brown box looks like over flow box with pipe to sump tank and ryan is correct on white pipe return, red tap to regulate flow 1 of bigger pumps to return water from sump, pump on right maybe to create flow, water movement in tank in tank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted December 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 No hole, the thing in photo 3 is what is in the back left hand corner. There are no holes drilled in the tank. The lid has moon lighting (leds) attached and has enough space for this thing to sit in the back left hand corner. The lid does not have a top, is open Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted December 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 are all three of those power heads. thats not what I need though to get the flow going is it? I need a pump as well - is this correct? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted December 21, 2007 Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 looks like all the gear is there white pipe from sump to tank plastic pipe from over flow box into sump connection water will flow from overflow box to sump then pumped back to tank through white pipe, use red tap to regulate so waterflow is same in as out i think perspex with holes should sit in top of sump to create layer for water to trickle through into sump bit hard to sort from photos hopefull someone more local will read and may be able to help giant jigsaw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted December 21, 2007 Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 biggest will probablyy be one to return water from sump Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted December 21, 2007 Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 biggest will probablyy be one to return water from sump the one in the middle of photo looks like return pump one on left has clamp to fit on tank lip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted December 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 heres a pic of the end and back of the sump that has the piping Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted December 21, 2007 Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 nice looking unit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted December 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 thanks a heap, yes hopefully someone local may come to my rescue on this one. I need to clean the tank first as has quite a bit of sand in it and salt crusting over the glass. Am also going to revarnish the cabinet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted December 21, 2007 Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 now your getting tricky that is a water level float to shut down flow when water level in sump too low you could fil;l sump with water and pump up to a bucket to see how the whole thing works check pipe ends and see what fits the best on which pumps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilknieval69 Posted December 21, 2007 Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 That will be a float valve for an automatic top up (ie, you attach it to a relay and a small pump at it automatically keeps the water level at the perfect level. Something you will not need in a freshwater tank, and will be a PITA to sort out (as the rest of it is not there) Just block that one off, and all will be well. Because that is for the Auto top off, that must mean that the section it is in, is the return section of the sump (ie where the return pump sits) all of them are powerheads yes. The one on the left looks like a Sieo, the others could be anything. The right hand one has a prefilter on it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted December 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 whats a pre filter for? how do I block off the other part? Sorry to sound so thick but I have no idea. Have only had internal and external filters before but don't want to do it this time when the sump is an option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilknieval69 Posted December 21, 2007 Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 Its exactly that, a filter. Its called a pre filter because it is before something, in this case the powerhead. To block it off you should just be able to pull the float valve part out of the bulkhead and then put a cap over the bulkhead to block it P.S. incase you didn't know, the bulkhead is the fitting that goes through the hole in the glass, and seals each side Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidb Posted December 21, 2007 Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 I may be able to come around sunday to help you set it up if you want, I'm just in Mt. Eden Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted December 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 thanks i'll pm you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted December 21, 2007 Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 I may be able to come around sunday to help you set it up if you want, I'm just in Mt. Eden well done david Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AW Posted December 21, 2007 Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 Power head on the right is a Maxi Jet by Aquarium systems. Actually quite a good power head. Also looks like an Eden power head in the middle with moving nozel for wave making, not so crash hot as the mechanism clogs up (well dod for me) Pump in the left looks like a Rio, has a reputation for blowing up. The overflow looks to be a Tunze box. http://www.tunze.com/149.html?&L=1&C=AU ... zeprod_pi1[predid]=-infoxunter005 Looks to me as you do need a bid return pump, the power heads probably are not grunty enough although the RIO maybe. Actually, looking at the pipe work the original owner may had both the RIO and Maxi-Jet as return pumps. Hard to know without knowing the flows rates and head pressure. Personally I like the Eheim 1060 (think their now called 1260) pump for return, super reliable and easy to get a 2nd hand one off a marine guy. If your wanting to clean the gear off, soak it in a solution of water and white vinegar over night. Will clean it off like new. The plumbing Fittings (black ones) are Hassens and widely used for plumbing on fish tanks here http://www.hansenproducts.co.nz/ Hard to comment on the sump with put seeing the whole item and how itsd baffled. Marine sumps do tend to be a bit more customised the a freshwater sump. There's a sump set up on TradeMe at the moment that maybe more suitable (No, it's not me but worth a look at) Oh yeah, I'm on holday with a ton of time to kill :bounce: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted December 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2007 thanks for all the help so far I'll post some better pics of the sump this afternoon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockerpeller Posted December 22, 2007 Report Share Posted December 22, 2007 That will be a float valve for an automatic top up (ie, you attach it to a relay and a small pump at it automatically keeps the water level at the perfect level. Something you will not need in a freshwater tank, and will be a PITA to sort out (as the rest of it is not there) very close evil. but you do not need a relay or pump for this sort of auto-topup. it just runs off gravity from memory with the top-up/kalk water in a container feeding down a hose into the float. good call tho. The maxijet powerhead (far right pump) is also used on seaclone skimmers. good powerhead for testing small DIY protein skimmers too. just a bit of useless info i'd share with ya :lol: Good on ya Davidb for offering help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted December 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2007 heres some better shots of the sump Cleaned the inside of the tank today & just about everything came off the glass. Have filled it to check its not leaking. Will leave it for a few days to be sure. Looks great so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted December 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2007 AW, you were spot on with what the powerheads etc are in that photo. The one on the right is a maxi jet 100, the middle an Eden 208 (swivels all over the place so must be a wave maker), and the left is a rio which must have clipped onto the top lip of the tank. The box is a Tunze, I looked it up on the site and am pleased to find all the parts are there. Now just to sort out how the sump works, I don't think all the attachments are there as they don't seem to fit but its possible I'm putting them in the wrong place. :oops: Then I'll decide if I'm going sump or cannister. Would like to stick with a sump if possible as the tank will look neater. Its not leaking Most of the white specs have come off everything, still working on a few stubborn ones :-? It looks great so far and will look better as soon as I put another layer of varnish on the cabinet. Thankyou to everyone for all your advice and help Keep it coming, I'm sure going to need it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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