Brand new used 125G build... starting from craigslist

[191185]

I just picked up this 125G off craigslist for $250, it's the tank, stand, canopy, lights, sump tank, pump, overflows, heater, filter, EVERYTHING! I think I got a steal, what do you guys think ? The only problem, is the tank REEKS like dead baby seals ... so what's the best or safest way to clean the tank ? I think I heard vinager and water ? any ideas ?

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

Congratulations on scoring a deal! You definitely want to thoroughly clean all equipment before using it. Vinegar/ water works great. Leebca has a great article on Marine System Clean Up Recommendations. Check it out!

[Original Fin]

Very good score. A dual overflow reef ready tank to boot!

Can you elaborate on the rest of the equipment?



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[Original Fin]

Your description of the smell just about knocked me off the chair! Haha!



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[191185]

Ok, I used the vinegar, it seemed to work good. Now will that be harmful for the fish? I'm assuming yes. Do I just run the filter for a few days with water to get the vinegar out? Or... .. .Also, this will be a fowlr tank. The 55g will eventually be reef. Right now I have a 1 inch picasso trigger in a 20g. And that's the only thing in the tank, and he will be moved when the 125 is ready. After it cycles. I'll post more on the equipment tomorrow as well as a pic if my trigger. But for now I'm ready for bed.

[191185]

OK, I need some help. I for the life of me, can not get this black pipe onto the gray pipe.. this is I believe to go from the pump in the sump, back to my main tank ...

In the picture, the black flexible pipe, I can not get to go on the gray pipe in the picture. ... anyone know any tricks ? or can I buy a different kind of pipe at the LFS that would be easier ?

Thanks ! any help is appreciated. ..

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

You could use a heat gun or hair dryer to soften up the hose a little bit or you could soak the hose is hot water. It might be enough to slide it on the fitting.

Spa felx hose seems to be very popular. I use clear pvc braided tubing and it seems to work well for me.

[191185]

You could use a heat gun or hair dryer to soften up the hose a little bit or you could soak the hose is hot water. It might be enough to slide it on the fitting.

Spa felx hose seems to be very popular. I use clear pvc braided tubing and it seems to work well for me.

What would you use to hold the Spa flex hose on ? just a c clamp ?

When you used clear pvc tubing, how did that work ? what holds it on ? Have any pics ?



Also, lets say I get either the spa flex hose, or clear pvc braided tubing, what if it starts to leak in 6 months ? wouldn't I have to drain the entire tank, and put the fish and rock someplace while I fix it ?

Or is that rare and pretty much once it's on there, your set for life ?

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

What would you use to hold the Spa flex hose on ? just a c clamp ?

When you used clear pvc tubing, how did that work ? what holds it on ? Have any pics ?



Also, lets say I get either the spa flex hose, or clear pvc braided tubing, what if it starts to leak in 6 months ? wouldn't I have to drain the entire tank, and put the fish and rock someplace while I fix it ?

Or is that rare and pretty much once it's on there, your set for life ?

You should be able to fins these plastic "ratchet clamps" at a hardware store or maybe even a LFS


The tubing I used was a tight fit on the barbed fittings and probably wouldn't come off but I used those clamps to be safe.

When the tank is running, water goes over the overflow and drains into the sump. From the sump, it gets pumped back into the display. If you were to shut off the return pump, some of the water will be siphoned back into the sump through the drain and return hoses. Once the siphon breaks, the tank will no longer be draining back into the sump and both the drain and return tubing will not have water in it. IF you had to, you could remove the tubing for replacement without draining the tank/ removing livestock.

If the tubing were to fail, I imagine it would take a very long time to do so. Unless, it's rubbing/ chafing on something sharp.
The tubing I used is working well so far. I chose the clear PVC over the spa flex because I wanted to see inside of it, in case a snail or clump of algae causes a blockage. Highly unlikely but possible. Also, the spa flex tubing is ribbed and IMO, that might make it more likely to collect junk in the ribs.

Camera batteries are all dead so no pics for a while. Sorry

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

One downside of using clear tubing is that light will be available (from my refugium light over the sump) and algae can grow inside the tube. If that happens, I'll either have to replace the tubing or try to clean it out. I've only been running the clear tubing for a month and a half so I can't tell how long it would take or if that would happen.

[191185]

You should be able to fins these plastic "ratchet clamps" at a hardware store or maybe even a LFS


The tubing I used was a tight fit on the barbed fittings and probably wouldn't come off but I used those clamps to be safe.

When the tank is running, water goes over the overflow and drains into the sump. From the sump, it gets pumped back into the display. If you were to shut off the return pump, some of the water will be siphoned back into the sump through the drain and return hoses. Once the siphon breaks, the tank will no longer be draining back into the sump and both the drain and return tubing will not have water in it. IF you had to, you could remove the tubing for replacement without draining the tank/ removing livestock.

If the tubing were to fail, I imagine it would take a very long time to do so. Unless, it's rubbing/ chafing on something sharp.
The tubing I used is working well so far. I chose the clear PVC over the spa flex because I wanted to see inside of it, in case a snail or clump of algae causes a blockage. Highly unlikely but possible. Also, the spa flex tubing is ribbed and IMO, that might make it more likely to collect junk in the ribs.

Camera batteries are all dead so no pics for a while. Sorry

thanks, I guess now it doesn't sound so scary ... I finally got on side hooked up, I'm taking a break, and will do the other side after lunch ...

Once I get all the plumbing. I thInk I'll have tons of questions about how to set it so if the power goes out it won't flood the house ... we'll see ..

Thanks for explaining how the siphon works ..

[191185]

Well, I was filling my tank up after I finally got the plumbing done underneath, and it leaks! If you look in the picture, right where the purple stuff is on the larger whit PVC pipe, it's dripping there. What should I do? Drain the whole thing, unscrew it somehow, and re seal it? I don't even know where to start. What is that purple stuff even called?

[Original Fin]

The purple stuff is PVC primer. It prepares the surfaces before bonding with PVC cement.

First, check to make sure it isn't leaking from the bulkhead. If there was a slow leak at the bulkhead, it would probably run down the PVC and look like it was coming from that joint.

If you can rule out a leaky bulkhead, then you'll need to redo that slip joint. Did you cut that PVC and slip fit it together, or was that already put together from the previous owner?

Either way, you shouldn't need to drain the tank for that repair.


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[Original Fin]

On closer inspection, the large white PVC pipe seems to exit the tank from some weird kind of homemade bulkhead. Look at the black return line...that one enters the tank from a standard black aquarium bulkhead. I don't know what that other one is, and I'm not sure I'd trust it. Can you get a closer pic of that area?


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[191185]

Well, here's something I didn't know, when I fill the tank with water, the corners do not get water in them .. it looks to be sealed off.. I did not know this, and am assuming everyone knows this already ? So basically, I do not want to deal with this leak .. . plumbing is not my forte' , I spent about 8 hours today just trying to run some simple flex pipes to my tank and sump ..

Can I just buy a canister filter, or two of them, and use those, along with a hang on the bank protein skimmer ? I know it won't look as nice, but will it work ?

can I buy a "overflow box" that hangs on the back, and just bypass my two "corner overflows?" alltogether ? and if so, how does that work ?

I have a pump for the sump, a sump tank that looks to have three seperate sections.. .. can I make use of any of this ?


This will always be a FOTWLR, I have a 55G that i'll post a pic of, that I will eventually try corals and reefs with, this winter .. and the 125g, is for the fish that will never fit in the 55g, such as a picasso trigger, lion fish etc etc ...

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

You could do that, but you probably have to seal off the bulkhead holes to prevent accidental leakage when you top off or perform water changes. Even then, you'll have saltwater just sitting in the overflows, not circulating. Plumbing can be a bit overwhelming to some but I assure you, it's not all that hard. YouTube has some how to videos on plumbing a tank. Do you know what brand tank it is? If it's AGA, you could order two megaflow kits as they come with new bulkheads, return and drain standpipes, a tool to install them, and a set of clear instructions. It looks like you're missing the standpipes (unless you havent put them in yet.) IMO, using built in overflows are much better than add on ones and having a sump is much better than running canister filters alone. If you want to attempt the plumbing again, take pictures of everything you got with the tank, post them here and we'll be happy to walk you through it.

[191185]

I think I want to try some of that flex PVC. But what will hold it on? There's got to be something better than a c clip? Because the first 5 times in tried it, it was too loose and sprayed everywhere

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

In retrospect, I could see how using a plastic ratchet clamp would cause sealing issues with ribbed tubing. Because of the ribs, not enough clamp force can be applied to create a decent seal. You could use a metal hose clamp but I advise against that for two main reasons. They can rust and it's possible for the rust to get into the tanks water, if corroded enough, they can fail and the hose could pop off and they are easily overtightned ( could tear/cut the hose and cause a leak). If you use flex PVC tubing, make sure it's sized right. It should be a real tight fit on the barbed bulkhead fitting. To make things easier, place the tubing in hot water for a while ( or in the sun) to soften it for installation. If it's a tight fit, the ratchet clamp's job is more to keep the hose from sliding off, rather than sealing it to the fitting.

[191185]

I bought some clear PVC, and that seemed to work. However, I still have the leak in the corner of the tank, where the huge white pipe is. Under close inspection, is seems to be leaking between the tank and outside of the white PVC. Can I just use a deice of actic and caulk it shut permanently? Or will that leak too eventually? I'm ready to just throw this tank in the trash and buy a brand new one

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

If it's leaking between the glass and the bulkhead fitting, it's either loose or the seal is damaged. If it's not loose, call around to your local fish stores and try to find a replacement bulkhead or bulkhead seal.