hugh hefner? looks like LARRY KING to me

That's awesome! Now that you mention it, I can definitely see it! That makes me even happier about the avatar choice.



I know! Ain't it something?



Two separate answers. I chose two drains to act as a redundancy in case something gets stuck in one drain (fish, snail, etc). As for why they are draining on separate sides, it's because I didn't have the right piece of PVC connection. I only had the pair of 45s, and with the angle of the pipe, it wasn't sufficient. I'm going to Lowes tomorrow to get what I need to have the two pipes drain side by side within the sump. Ideally, they will be close enough to drain into the same filter sock.



I'm not sure how I would close it off, now that I've got two holes in the back of my tank! Unless, of course, I tied the two together before they actually drained.



Almost everything I do is a continual work in progress! I've got several decent sized scrap pieces of acrylic lying around, so I'd gladly give something a shot.





vs.



Tough call. Maybe it's their mutual cousin, Larry Hefner.

First off how do you get the split up quote?

You would still have two drains just one would be the main and the 2nd would be a backup. Here is how you would do it. First off you would have to build a overflow box like this all the way across the top back of the tank. Benji is optional.
Okay on the main drain remove the 90elbow and the strainer. Under the tank your gonna have to instal a valve "gate is best" ball will work but its a bit harder to get dialed in.

Secondary drain keep the 90 installed and if you can add a piece of pipe that will be above the natural running water level in the tank, but low enough so that if a critter gets into the main drain and slows the flow that you will NOT have any water overflow out of the tank. This drain will NOT have a valve on it.

Oh. the secondary line is fine plumbed behind the tank as it is. But the main will have to have the hole that you drilled filled in. A glob of pvc cement will do it.

The way this works is. The valve on the main drain will be adjusted so that the flow of the drain matches the flow of the return pump exactaly. Not that hard to do. Just takes some time. It will have to be adjusted time to time due to the pipes getting slimed in.
If the main gets clogged the water in the overflow box will rise and them fall into the 2ndary and make the said loud noise and bubbles"natural alarm of a clog "

This help? Or is it Chinese?

It's easy! Just copy and paste the "[ quote name= ]" (without first and last spaces as I've done here) part to the start of the section you want. Then, just be sure to use the "[ /quote ]" for the end of each section.



This does help! I was hoping to avoid an overflow, but if it will reduce the microbubbles, I'm all for it! I'm going to wait on the construction until Monday, so that I can see if the correction of the plumbing for the left side drain and the addition of the filter sock makes a difference. Even now, the bubbles are starting to lessen in the DT. I think what was happening is that the original setup caused pockets of air to enter the Rpump. I used a turkey baster today to clear some of that out. Also, my making some temporary modifications and adding another acrylic baffle (just a sit in, it's not glued), I've added another step to stop the bubbles created by the two drains. It's not 100% bubble free yet though, so it needs something. If the corrections and filter sock does not create a 100% bubble free DT, I'll be doing the retro exactly as you've described!

I want the 100% free DT not only for the looks, but I've also heard that micro bubbles in the DT can cause that bubble-under-the-scales disease (whatever it's called) in fish and that it can increase the levels of CO (monoxide) in the water.

Thanks that helps me out.



Glad to help. Hey if you really wanted to do this up right. You could always go with a glass overflow box on the rear of the tank. This way you can still use the strainers as they stand. This would be alot more work but the finished product is alot nicer.




My 7 mini bow was completly silent with the stand doors open.
Fuge plumbing.


Rear overflow setup

Having the tank drilled is scary enough... I don't know how I could sleep at night with a rear overhang!

After thinking about your suggestions, I made a few extra tweaks to the setup. I turned the 90s a bit further down into the tank, to reduce the amount of air they take in. Then, I used a longer piece of pipe on the discharge for the right drain, so that it discharges further underwater. That seems to have helped break up the bubbles by causing them to strike the bottom pane of glass. For the temporary setup of the left drain, I added a pipe to the bottom of the discharge there as well, and quickly the bubbles in the sump were reduced. I just need to blow out the Rpump again to get rid of the air build up. Already, I'm starting to see even less bubbles. I think I might also drill an extra hole (as you mentioned, they can easily be filled in) to see if I can vacate more of the air.

Just in case my plan doesn't work, I've started doing inventory on my acrylic scraps. Unfortunately, I don't have a single piece that could span the distance of the entire tank. Could I fashion multiple pieces together to length, or will I need to buy a new sheet?

Cool. Hey drill a hole big enough to hold a piece of airline tube. Then put one of those cheep air valves on it. Use the valve to change the air intake and then you dont have to change over drilling a hole. Let me check my stock. You want black or clear?

Any idea what section of Lowes I should look in to find a cheap air valve?



Whichever is easier to get / cheaper. All else fails, I've got a can of Black Krylon Fusion sitting around here somewhere.

Any pet store should have a cheep plastic one http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod...cfm?pcatid=3690

I know I have clear. How long do you need it to be. If you make it span the entire length of the tank you only need two pieces the front and bottom. Then you wouldnt have to make any teeth just have a smooth overflow.

Oh I gotta call ya a panz for fearing the outside OF. Mine did fine for 5 years. Heck look at the pic close. The bottom pane of glass was cracked between the two holes. I actually put a piece of 1/16 acrylic in there and flooded the bottom of it with superglue. Not the 1st leak. EVA!

Excellent! Thank you!



The exterior is 30" long, so minus the glass, I'd say 29 3/4"?



Haha yeah, I know. I'm just taking little steps at a time. First, I thought that a drilled tank would flood my house. Now that I'm getting over that, I might eventually move to an external OF. One small step for man, and all.

Any time my friend.


20 a piece like 30 x 6" Just shipping would kill ya. Go to lowes and get that cut. Extruded acrylic will be fine to use. I mean if it fails it still just going to go into the sump.

Come on man. You gotta ruin some base boards some time or another.

Okay, well I am cashin in man. My diy LED for my pod are calling my name. All the goodies are on the table, soldering iron hot....

I always seem to leave my own thread with the urge to buy something!



I had a feeling that was going to be the case. Looks like if the overflow is needed, there are several more trips to Lowes in my future.




I'm still working on finishing all of the baseboards, so the time for ruining them is later!



Sounds like fun! It's been a long time since I've done some serious soldering. I'm thinking of getting the DIY Reef Buddy Controller, so I might need to dig out my soldering gun (the old school kind) and get it re-broken in!

Have fun, and I'm sure I'll see ya around here soon. G'night!

Oh... and it other news, I managed to break my last decent test tube. Anyone know of a place to get some cheap replacements?

Urge or need? I dunno where to get test tubes. Got any pool supply places around. They carry that kinda stuff. Or an old skool rain guage.

LOL old kinda soldering iron. I may have ya beat. I have an old iron used for overhead utility work. It has to be heated with a butane torch. Didnt use that one for my LED's I opted for my Hakiro station.

Well, I can get my hands on some chemistry style test tubes no problem. I'm hoping for something that is graduated in ml so that I can easily get the 5ml needed to test for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, ca, alk, etc. That's where the complication comes into play. My LFS has a nice drawer of spare parts, so maybe they'll have some tubes for me.




Haha that's awesome! Maybe I should do some soldering with a bent hangar. Now that's a MacGuyver move right there!

dont 4get the car bettery.

Or the two nickels for when you need a DIY cutting torch for a break out.

For the record, I don't understand a word of your plumbing conversations, but I'm thoroughly entertained by the two of you.

Also, MJ: I read somewhere (sorry, don't remember where) that the idea of microbubbles in the tank being harmful to fish/corals was poohbah. Because I don't remember where, I can't say if it was a reputable source, I just remember thinking the logic made sense to me.

I'm glad that we could at least entertain! That's part of why I love the Barrel 'O Monkeys: there's hardly a dull moment!



I did a bit of searching on the subject, and some of the better resources do say that it's not a harmful thing. However, even some of those links cite a danger where the bubbles are constantly directed at a coral. My return bar points at both of the rock piles, so there's the potential for harm. It's still an aesthetic thing, and I'm a bit OCD about such things!

OK, new question! I have chance to get two new frags! One will be a ORA German Blue Polyp Digitata (I can get a multi-branch piece for $10 to $15!). The second is what I need help with.

1) Green w/ blue tip acro frag - $10

OR

2) Green Pocillopora frag - $15

What do ya'll think? I can't decide!

Green Pocci!! it is by far one of my faves so far...the polyps just sway in the current

Why not both?

I love my green poci!!!!!!! Mine was bleached and mostly dead when I got it, now one of my favorite pieces in the tank.

Darn! I got a message from my 'source' and he wanted to meet today. If I had known this, I'dda gotten it.



Well, I did end up getting two things... but not the Pocci. See below.



Luckily, this guy has a huge colony, so I might get some next time I have reef cash.

Ok, so here's what I got:

The green acro with blue tips
A huge frag of ORA German Blue Polyp Digitata (it's now three frags from breaking during cutting and transport)

AND


A HUGE FRAG (if you can even call it that) of Green Montipora Spongodes!

Grand total: $40.

Pictures to come.

Cool, can't wait to see pics! You'll get the poci another time.

The only problem is now you have me itching for new frags.

Don't you just hate it? I can't wait until I can frag and sell some of my stuff though! This is also my first ORA frag.

Pix MJ pix!!

OK!

There are more in my 20L thread (since that's the tank they are in ) but I'll put some here too!

UPS: In Transit - Rescheduled


GRRR..... That means that my filter sock and other cool new things won't be here until tomorrow! I had been expecting to find a nice new package on my front door step. ('hiding' under the welcome mat )

Today, I met CM's dad and picked up the glass to build a 7.5g and a 15g tank. Now I'm just trying to think of what to do with them! Suggestions appreciated!

In other news, I have my first trial tomorrow! I found out on short notice, but it's a legal and factual scenario with which I'm well aware. The attorney I work with recently won an appeal on a very similar question, so I'm hoping to ride the wave of momentum! If all goes well, I'll be able to stick it to the government tomorrow.

My new filter socks have arrived, and what a difference! There are virtually no bubbles in the sump (although the skimmer is still offline) and the mini-bubbles in the DT are gone!!!!

So, here's the rub. I did another ammonia and nitrite test today. The nitrite is 0 (down from its high of more than 5 fifteen days ago) but the ammonia is still showing .25. Could it be that the test kit is starting to go bad, and that .25=0?

I know, I know.... patience, patience, patience. However, I don't want to be sitting around here without a CUC on order if I don't need to be! I want to order from John by Priority Mail, so the sooner the better with respect to Ohio weather. No diatoms yet though. However, I didn't have all that much LR, and this tank is rather old, so I don't know if it still should suffer from 'new tank syndrome.'

Hmm, I'm not strong on the chemistry behind these things, I'd say be patient; if you're anxious take a sample to your LFS this weekend. I really think you'll see a diatom bloom, even if it isn't huge.

Glad your filter socks came and are doing their job.

How'd your case go today? Dja win?

I think I might do just that. I've had this kit for about a year and a half, and I don't know how old it was before that, because it was an ebay purchase. It would be nice to know how accurate it still is. I just find it strange that the nitrites spiked and lowered, and the nitrates have gone up pretty well, but the dern ammonia won't go away, according to the test.

This will drive me bonkers until I figure out what's up with my test kits!



Me too! I was worried it wouldn't do enough, but they are working like magic. I still have a few slight modifications to make to the sump, but I'm very happy with how it's shaping up.




My case went well today! It's hard to tell how the hearing officer will rule, but I had the law on my side, and the facts seemed to be on my side as well. Unfortunately, I won't know for sure for a few weeks. On the upside, the clients were happy with my performance, and the hearing officer complimented me on a job well done. Not bad for a 3rd year law student / certified legal intern going up against a career prosecutor, if I do say so myself.

Woo Hoo!!! Not too shabby at all. Great news on your case! I bet it felt amazing to be recognized for a job well done.

I imagine being a lawyer to be much like teaching; being seasoned is important for perspective and depth of knowledge, but being fresh and energetic can carry you pretty far.

Thanks! Yeah, it's always nice.

That's a pretty good comparison. The thing with the law is that experience teaches you how to address procedural issues or some of the more practical things, but sometimes it's the younger attorneys that have the better knowledge in addition to the energy. For example, the attorney I work with is fairly young, but very knowledgeable about constitutional issues, such that usually the opposing side has to play catch up. With my hearing today, I think I actually knew more about the case law on the subject than the prosecutor, although it's largely due to the fact that I've been working on appellate work on this issue for the last 3 or 4 months! Not only was it my first trial, but it was also my first solo proceeding. The hearing officer and client said that they would report back to the attorney I work for about my good performance, so hopefully that means more solo hearings and trials are in my future!

Interesting to hear an insider perspective of the balance needed. I have an aquaintance who works for the appellate court here. She loves it, I think my eyeballs would bleed.

Fantastic that the client and the hearing officer are going to give positive feedback. Sounds like the beginning of a long and fruitful career.

Working for a court can drive a person nuts sometimes. Judges and their clerks tend to deal with a wide variety of issues and areas of law, so it's hard sometimes to develop a thorough understanding. A lot of people in law school make a big deal out of clerking with a judge, but I've decided to pass.



I can't wait to hear what the attorney ends up thinking. I've been his law clerk for about a year, and this is the first hearing I've conducted for him. I've done others through my law school's clinic, though. The non-profit I work with is actually two separate entities: the overall group and the legal center. I think the legal center may be independent by the end of the year, and the attorney I work with is the center's director. Hopefully, he'll be able to hire me after I get my J.D. in January, so this feedback, in addition to all of the work I've done already, will hopefully be able to help my cause! He's the only attorney for the legal center at the moment, and he's been treating me as if I were the second attorney, so it's looking good for me.

The fact that I love and really know this area of law doesn't hurt either.

MJ: Taking names and kicking ass since 2009.

I've been on a roll lately. I just hope that it continues into my two appellate cases!

And into my tanks.


Speaking of tanks, I just enough materials from CM this week to build both a 7.5g and a 15g aquarium. Thoughts on what I should do with it? Part of me is tempted to add the 7.5g into this system as a display fuge or a macro DT.

I decided that I could perform a test of my test kit here at home! I used water from my established 20L system and put it side by side with water from my 29g.

Here are the results (the 20L water is on the right):



To me, they seem indistinguishable. So that means that either my 20L system with no fish and a lot of LR has an ammonia problem, or my test kit is off, and the 29g system has 0 ammonia.

Whatcha think?

Bring it in to the LFS. I'm squinting, and can't tell much of a difference.

How old is the kit?

I'm glad I wasn't the only one staring and squinting at it! I need to run to the store anyways today, so I might as well swing by the LFS today and see what they say. Ok, I guess I'd better get off my arse then!



I've had it for about a year and a half, and I bought it from ebay, so who knows how old it was.

Way expired, bro. You need to get a new one. Those API kits only last a year.

That would explain things then!

Do the reef master ones expire quickly too? I use that kit to test for Ca and Alk in my 20L.

Good thing is, if you're going to the store, you can pick one up. And, the API Ammonia kit is cheap.

Not sure on the reef master.

I don't think the LFS I go to carries API. They only carry the top shelf stuff. I don't usually test for ammonia or nitrite other than while cycling, so if I get a clean bill of health from them, I'll just not worry about it!

good call

Well, the LFS tested my water with one of their top shelf kits, and I have 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, and around 10 to 15ppm nitrates. I've also got no phosphates and a pH of 8.0.

Now I know that the ammonia kit really is off! Phew, that makes me feel better.

why not use salifert instead of API?
oh yeah and.
MOAR PICTARS PLEASH!

It's because I bought the sw and reef master kits back when I started my budget 10g tank.

I think that I might get the sali Ca and Alk tests. Hopefully they are good for longer than a year?




Well, while I was at the LFS, I saw a pretty cheap zoa frag that looked awesome. Since my tank had a clean bill of health and zoas are like zombies, I caved in. Pictures to come in a few minutes!

well first of all, im pretty sure Salifert has exp. dates on em.

secondly. YAY!!!