SaltCritters 500+gal display build - Page 4

john_waggs · 05-10-2008, 06:16 PM

I planned on marking on the rear right corner of my aquarium some typical measurements so I know how much to drain out at each water change, then fill it back up with the same amount marked on my 44 gal cans. Example: the first water change i do I'll remove the water from the aquarium manually in 5 gallon buckets. Then I will make the mark I speak of on the aquarium back side at, say 40 gallons. I already have my 44 gallon cans marked at a 40 gallon level. So the next time I do change I would set my ball valves accordingly to draw water from my aquarium. I would turn on a switch (located at my tank area that turns my pump on at the garage) and monitor the water level untill it dropped to the 40 gal mark. Then I would turn off the pump, go back to the garage and change my ball valves to supply the tank with saltwater. Go back to the tank and turn on the pump again and fill the aquarium to the "filled" level and turn off the pump.

Is your method to fill the "holding tank" (the one with the visible water level) with aquarium water to a certain level. Then mark that level, then drain that water out your drain line. Then fill it back up with saltwater to the level and then transfer that back to your aquarium? That soulds like a good plan too. Which one would work the best?

Question: Does your supply line for your aquarium set in your aquarium all the time or do you only place that line in your aquarium when it is time to remove the water and then fill it back up?

Please keep in mind my pump and plumbing has to rise 10 feet, then go 40 feet, then drop back down 7' to my aquarium when thinking of the best method of transfer.

Thanks,
John

**SaltCritters** · 05-10-2008, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john_waggs

I planned on marking on the rear right corner of my aquarium some typical measurements so I know how much to drain out at each water change, then fill it back up with the same amount marked on my 44 gal cans. Example: the first water change i do I'll remove the water from the aquarium manually in 5 gallon buckets. Then I will make the mark I speak of on the aquarium back side at, say 40 gallons. I already have my 44 gallon cans marked at a 40 gallon level. So the next time I do change I would set my ball valves accordingly to draw water from my aquarium. I would turn on a switch (located at my tank area that turns my pump on at the garage) and monitor the water level untill it dropped to the 40 gal mark. Then I would turn off the pump, go back to the garage and change my ball valves to supply the tank with saltwater. Go back to the tank and turn on the pump again and fill the aquarium to the "filled" level and turn off the pump.

Is your method to fill the "holding tank" (the one with the visible water level) with aquarium water to a certain level. Then mark that level, then drain that water out your drain line. Then fill it back up with saltwater to the level and then transfer that back to your aquarium? That soulds like a good plan too. Which one would work the best?

Question: Does your supply line for your aquarium set in your aquarium all the time or do you only place that line in your aquarium when it is time to remove the water and then fill it back up?

Please keep in mind my pump and plumbing has to rise 10 feet, then go 40 feet, then drop back down 7' to my aquarium when thinking of the best method of transfer.

Thanks,
John

The top can is just to measure the water. The bottom one has the saltwater in it and i just suck it right out of there. I would put your valves where you can get to them easily. Iv noticed with my setup that even with the pump off the water still siphons out of the sump and mixing tanks.
I have the line going to the sump and its there for good. You might want to make sure the little mag pump will be able to push the water as far as your wanting.

veriann · 05-11-2008, 12:05 AM

[quote=SaltCritters;78228]Ill work on an diagram fro you. Your idea sounds like it woudl work but i would sugest another can to measuer how much water you take out or you could put a line in the sump or something so you know how much you take out. quote]

I simple solution for you guys that have non glass or acrylic sumps.

Bulkhead & tap a 90deg angle facing up @ the bottom of your containers & insert a clear tube the hight of the container. the water line will display current hight & you can mark clearly your ranges needed. Just a suggestion.

**SaltCritters** · 05-12-2008, 11:00 AM

That would work too.

john_waggs · 05-12-2008, 11:09 AM

I was planning on purchasing the Auto Top-Off from Autotopoff.com. At their site they sell solenoids that mount in-line and can be closed when power's off. If you mounted one of those near your sump and near your water supply and had them connected with your pump, they would "close" (or turn off) when you turned the power OFF on your pump. Wouldn't that possibly stop your siphon issues?

**SaltCritters** · 05-12-2008, 01:00 PM

Probably. But im not to worried about it. As long as i close all the valves when im done doing whatever im doing ill be fine. IU don't really have far to go with my setup because everything is in that little room.

john_waggs · 05-12-2008, 01:36 PM

question about your pvc setup. What is that black cylindrical item coming out of your saltwater storage, and there's also a clear tube going upward out of it as well?

Also, the green nozzle on your drain tube, did you build that?

What type of glue/primer did you use on your PVC piping? I don't see any "purple" primer markings anywhere. Also how did you secure your fittings to your brute garbage cans?

FYI - It looks like I'm going to stop the PVC in my garage and have a garden hose hookup that I'll attach at the doorway into my house and then just carry the house to my aquarium. I'll also take along an extension cord and plug it in at my aquarium to turn the pump on at the garage and just unplug it when the water level is where it needs to be, cover the end of my hose and carry it back to the garage.

I wanted to take PVC all the way from my garage to the aquarium (as mentioned in earlier posts) but I just don't want to deal with leak issues in my attic or figuring out how to pump water up and over that far.

Thanks in advance.

**SaltCritters** · 05-24-2008, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john_waggs

question about your pvc setup. What is that black cylindrical item coming out of your saltwater storage, and there's also a clear tube going upward out of it as well?

Also, the green nozzle on your drain tube, did you build that?

What type of glue/primer did you use on your PVC piping? I don't see any "purple" primer markings anywhere. Also how did you secure your fittings to your brute garbage cans?

FYI - It looks like I'm going to stop the PVC in my garage and have a garden hose hookup that I'll attach at the doorway into my house and then just carry the house to my aquarium. I'll also take along an extension cord and plug it in at my aquarium to turn the pump on at the garage and just unplug it when the water level is where it needs to be, cover the end of my hose and carry it back to the garage.

I wanted to take PVC all the way from my garage to the aquarium (as mentioned in earlier posts) but I just don't want to deal with leak issues in my attic or figuring out how to pump water up and over that far.

Thanks in advance.

Sorry it took me so long to reply. The site didn't email me to let me know there was a new post for somereason like it normally does.

The clear tube is just so i can see how much water is in the container since i can't see it it.

The Green nozzle on the drain hose is just a valve. It was one of those Gravel cleaning setups that used to hook up to the sink to do water changes. I used it back when i had my 220gal Fresh tank.

I just used Clear PVC glue. Didn't use any primer. Just used normal bulkheads for the Brute containers.

**SaltCritters** · 06-05-2008, 07:15 PM

UPDATE!
Well i got working on the Exhaust fan today because the fish room was about 92!!! I was just going to vent the exhaust right out the side of the house but i wasn't liking the idea of having a big vent on the side of the house. So i figured out how to put it in the overhang. You cant see it unless your really looking for it. I still have to put the cover on it and hook the fan up and make it all neat looking again. But its a start lol.

My cat Mo takes after me. Sleeping in his hamock lol.

espocrespo · 06-06-2008, 10:53 AM

That's a monster set up i'm loving it. How long did it take to do all that?

**SaltCritters** · 06-06-2008, 01:44 PM

Good question. I moved in last july. So it probably wasnt until around september when i started seting up all the fish stuff.

**CarmieJo** · 06-07-2008, 09:50 PM

I love the idea of the vent for the fan in the overhang! Very clever.

**SaltCritters** · 06-08-2008, 08:02 PM

Got the fan hooked up today. This unit blows an impressive amount of air. Blows 800cfm! Feels good when you go outside and stand under the vent

Now i just got to figure out where to set my controller at. I have a controller that will turn the fan on it the humidity gets to high and if the temp gets to high. I have the temp set at 80 but not sure where to set the humidity at tho. Any ideas??

dillan · 06-08-2008, 10:22 PM

i would set it around 50 or 60 percent humidity and also i would make sure to put a baffle or a spring loaded door on the vent to keep the cold air from coming back inside in the winter

**SaltCritters** · 06-09-2008, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dillan

i would set it around 50 or 60 percent humidity and also i would make sure to put a baffle or a spring loaded door on the vent to keep the cold air from coming back inside in the winter

Ok cool thanks. Im working on the Flapper door dodad.