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Dan's 150 Rebuild

It works when it wants to. The float will be down and the box will have the lights on but nothing will pump. Ive unhooked the lines a few times and turned it on. Worked when it wanted to. And sometimes the float will be down and the light won't be on. Dunno its weird. I wanna fix it tho bc I wanna use it for my smaller tank eventually.

EDIT: I'm an idiot. I'm thinking the float will have to go in the ATO lol disregard that post

I'm glad you figured it out. I was hoping I wouldn't have to point that out to you
 
Every fuge I've ever done was pretty lame. Usually just a few pieces of rock and a chaeto ball. Since this sump is professional looking, I was gonna try and make the fuge look good since it'll be on display front and center. What does everyone recommend?
 

kschweer

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You can do some a little bit of sand and a bit of rock. I would get some small pieces and do a simple scape so it doesn't look like you just threw the rock in there. A nice mix of macro algae would be cool. Mix colors some cheato, red gracilaria (doubles as tang food they normally love it) some ulua and possibly some dragons breath. There's a ton of different ones out there just need to find them. Add a few inverts and you're good to go.
 
You can do some a little bit of sand and a bit of rock. I would get some small pieces and do a simple scape so it doesn't look like you just threw the rock in there. A nice mix of macro algae would be cool. Mix colors some cheato, red gracilaria (doubles as tang food they normally love it) some ulua and possibly some dragons breath. There's a ton of different ones out there just need to find them. Add a few inverts and you're good to go.
That sounds perfect. I have a bunch of small pieces so I'm sure I could make something up. What kind of sand would u recommend? I actually have half a bag of live sand but its been sitting in the open bag for awhile, do u think its still OK to use?
 

kschweer

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That sounds perfect. I have a bunch of small pieces so I'm sure I could make something up. What kind of sand would u recommend? I actually have half a bag of live sand but its been sitting in the open bag for awhile, do u think its still OK to use?

I personally wouldn't use it if it's been sitting a long time open. But if you rinse it really well I would say you should be ok.
 
So yesterday I stopped at Aquarium Center for their sale and can I just say I'm so mad that this tank isn't up and running yet. They had an awesome looking Achilles Tang 3-4" for $160!!!
 
Who wants to help me with my sump??? I may attempt to do it either Monday or Weds.

Or tomorrow after work, who knows. I wanna get this puppy installed!
 
So I'm planning on starting this later on today after work, I'm off from work tomorrow so I can continue if I don't finish it.

Quick question, where my drains r going into the sump, there's an acrylic piece sitting above the sock holder with an opening. How would you guys plumb it?

I see people using bulkheads, is that recommended?
 

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horseplay

NJRC Member
That sump looks incredible. One day I will get one ...

Now here's how I plumbed the drain. I use a slip/slip join and flex pvc for this. This allows me to easily pull out the return to remove the filter socks.

IMG_0055.JPG
 
Let the drain lines drop through the hole and into the sump. I wouldn't hard plumb it. I wouldn't use bulkheads either. To avoid spray and splashing the output should go into the sump under the water line and halfway down the filter sock. This makes it hard to remove the drain for changing the socks. Leaving it flexible makes lifting the drain lines out of the sock easy.


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Let the drain lines drop through the hole and into the sump. I wouldn't hard plumb it. I wouldn't use bulkheads either. To avoid spray and splashing the output should go into the sump under the water line and halfway down the filter sock. This makes it hard to remove the drain for changing the socks. Leaving it flexible makes lifting the drain lines out of the sock easy.


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Alright so hard plumb it through the opening and then run flex? Or hard plumb it before the hole and have flex going down thru the hole?
 

horseplay

NJRC Member
Look at the one in the front. It's like this:

Tank -> bulkhead -> flex pvc -> slip/slip adapter -> hard pvc.

The hard pvc part is what's under water. no need to glue to the adapter.

the slip/slip adapter is the part above the tank.

There is an extra adapter in the picture because i cut the flex pvc too short and needed to extended. it's not necessary.

The flex pvc allows the tube easily lifted off the filter sock holder.
 
Look at the one in the front. It's like this:

Tank -> bulkhead -> flex pvc -> slip/slip adapter -> hard pvc.

The hard pvc part is what's under water. no need to glue to the adapter.

the slip/slip adapter is the part above the tank.

There is an extra adapter in the picture because i cut the flex pvc too short and needed to extended. it's not necessary.

The flex pvc allows the tube easily lifted off the filter sock holder.
Ok now I get it. Still not sure how I'm going to do it exactly. I guess I'll tinker around with it later on when I buy everything
 
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