My 60gal system build.

[wozza]

Hi all,
well as the title suggests im building a new 60gal system, 50 gal display tank drilled for my 20gal sump (only gonna be half filled) and 2 closed loop systems.

im having my tank custom made by these nice chaps http://acaquatics.co.uk/index.htm and it should be here in the next two weeks or so.
And in the mean time im getting as much as i can set up for when it arrives.
so far i have got my sump in the stand but i still gotta put in the baffels.
ive put in new skimmer as well, i realy like it and its the perfect hight for the stand. check it out!! my new skimmer!

my stand is an old chest of draws ive had most of my life and is just perfect, ive gutted it and im going to reinforce it just to make sure it will hold the weight.

[wozza]

UPDATE:

well today i have been doing my sump and ive finnished it all i need now is the return pump that im getting on thursday, its 3000lph New Jet NJ 3000

i cut out all the baffels useing a normal hand saw i maneged to get the cuts quite nice but they needed finnishing with a scapel blade to smooth them off.

other than that it all went very nicely and that was a big supprise!!!

[almostdiva]

looks great! Can't wait to see it once the critters move in.

Keep posting pics!

Rebecca

[jsheffel]

I'm a little concerned that you have left yourself too small of an area for your return pump. I suspect that if you are away for a weekend and don't have someone coming in and adding make-up water each day, you will find your return pump sucking air. I think you have more than enough room for "backflow" during a power outage and could probably raise the baffels on either side of the refugium section another two or three inches.

Good luck.

[wozza]

hi jsheffel this is my first time at doing a sump, so any input would be great.

so are you saying that when you have a sump and when water evaporates the level only lowers in the section were you house the return pump?

cheers james

[jsheffel]

Exactly. Because your last baffel before the return pump section is an "over," the water level before the baffel will not go down below the level of the baffel unless the system runs dry. All evaporation from the entire system will show in that last section. I have the same problem in my tank at the office (only on a smaller scale as that is a 30gal). For me a gallon of evaporation (two days worth in my system) will result in the return pump sucking air. Before I leave for the weekend, I have to overfill the system and pray that, if the power goes out, it doesn't happen until Sunday when the level has gone back down. Unfortunately, with a refugium you have to have your last baffel be an "over" or the sand from the refugium leaks into your return section. In a perfect world, you would have your return section be the big one (as you have set up your skimmer section now) and your skimmer section would be just barely big enough to hold the skimmer.

[wozza]

oh ok, wish i knew that before, i thort i had it sorted but im gonna have to do some thinking and i might just get rid of the refugium! i dunno.

thanks for the help.

james

[wozza]

UPDATE:

well i got my pump today and it seems very well built, so that nice .
also the intake is quite low so hopefully i wont need to higher the baffels, but ill see when its all set up, ill let it run for a few days and see if i have a problem if i do then ill sort it then.



And i should be getting my tank this monday or tuesday!!!
i cant wate its gonna rock, ive prepared for the move by buying two big plastic bins to put all my livestock and stuff in.

[jsheffel]

Good luck.

[wozza]

UPDATE:

At last my tank has just arrived, YEY!!!
its way heavy good job my dad was in at the time because i woudnt of been much help!!
its on the stand an it hasnt fallen down...............yet.:eek3:



all i need now is the sand and plumbing and im ready to go....

keep an eye out for updates!!!!
cheers james

[wozza]

UPDATE:

well got my sand and plumbing just filled it and it murky as hell, but my skimmer is pulling alot of crap out allready.

for sand i used 60lbs of 0.1mm-1.2mm
and 20lbs 0.5mm-2.0mm aragamax

tomarrow im putting all my livestock in yey.





cheers james

[jsheffel]

After our earlier discussion, how fast are you finding evaporation is lowering the water level in the return section of your sump?

[wozza]

i dont know yet, it only been set up for a matter hours.
and i have drained it as i need to make some adjustments to the plumbing tomarrow.

cheers james

[wozza]

UPDATE:

I have had to move my tank in to the spare room because the noise from the return pump was to much to sleep with.
as a consiquence i couldnt hang my metal halides from the celing so i had to make a stand type thing for them, and i think it looks quite cool.
how about you?

cheers james

[jsheffel]

Very functional (but I'm not sure it would pass the "significant other" test).

[wozza]

Very functional (but I'm not sure it would pass the "significant other" test).

im 21 and live at home with my dad so i dont have to worry about that.

[Reefland]

wozza,

When do you plan to tranfer your livestock?

[zhenya]

UPDATE:

I have had to move my tank in to the spare room because the noise from the return pump was to much to sleep with.
as a consiquence i couldnt hang my metal halides from the celing so i had to make a stand type thing for them, and i think it looks quite cool.
how about you?

cheers james

Great job, James! I'm thinking of doing the same thing but I may run into a problem with the boss, though. I have to see if I can modify this idea of yours with some different materials... Hmmm....;;

[wozza]

wozza,

When do you plan to tranfer your livestock?

finnished about an hour ago, and if i do say so my self i think its some of the best aquascaping i have done to date.

here are some pic for your enjoyment.

[zhenya]

Congrats James!

I think it looks wonderful and you did exellent job on the aquascaping,too!
Have fun with it and good luck with everything!