Tank Photos Posted. ***UPDATE*** Finally, more pictures...

[dow]

Well, I finally remembered to borrow a digital camera and took a few shots of my tanks, and I've uploaded them to my gallery. It's still showing to be hidden, so I'm not sure if it is available to the other charter members or not. Would someone take a quick look and let me know if it's available? In the mean time, I'll try posting IMG links in this thread.

Thanks!

[CD]

Don't see anything yet...

W.

Actually, meant to say I didn't see anything in the gallery yet...oopsie :P

[dow]

http://www.maast.org/albums/dow/aai.jpg
This is my current tank. Please excuse the way it looks, I didn't think to clean the front glass until after I shot the pictures, lol.

http://www.maast.org/albums/dow/aac.jpg
Mushroom rock with cleaner shrimp.

http://www.maast.org/albums/dow/aad.jpg
Side by side comparison of my current tank (45 breeder) and the new tank (65 tall).

http://www.maast.org/albums/dow/aae.jpg
Front shot of new tank. Note the outlet for the closed loop and the calfo overflow box in the upper back. I suspended the piece of pvc in there to monitor the amount of water movement.

http://www.maast.org/albums/dow/aaf.jpg
Back of the new tank showing plumbing and a nifty place to store your PVC cleaner and glue.

http://www.maast.org/albums/dow/aag.jpg
Overhead shot of the new tank showing the return manifold, calfo overflow box, one of the DIY bulkheads, and the closed loop intake, also DIY.

[dan]

not yet. still looking

[dow]

Well, I guess that Chris will open it up when he gets time. Meanwhile, can you see the images in this thread?

[CD]

Nice tank, but the pic of the full tank shot is very dark.
BTW...DUDE, clean that glass...LOL (JK) :P

Wendy

[dow]

BTW...DUDE, clean that glass...LOL (JK) :P

Wendy

I'll do that, Dudett. :lol :D

BTW, In order to enhance your viewing pleasure, the photo of the current tank has been lightened. We now return you to your regularly scheduled MAAST thread.

(Edited for pure foolishness.)

[alexwolf]

i like that plumbing!!!!! makes me want to get a small tank so i can do stuff like that!!! Nice job

[dow]

Thanks, Alex. but don't you have a whole bunch of small tanks? BTW, I really like the way you've got your flow set up in the new shop.

[CD]

like that plumbing!!!!!


Me too! Between ~pete~ and dow's tidy plumbing pics, it is inspirational! I just love the "behind the scenes" pics AND tank pics. Keep 'em coming, dow! :D

Wendy

[alexwolf]

yeah, but no show tanks!!!!

im thinkin of making a SPS smaller tank for show......doing cool plumbing like that

[CD]

One that really stuck in my mind was that clam tank that one of the members posted a month or two ago...where the water flowed over the edges? I would LOVE to have a tank like that for SPSs. TOO cool!

Wendy

[JimD]

Hey! That 65 looks familiar! lol, needs an eductor or two. Lookin good!

[::pete::]

Looks good ... A tank + A camera = A TOTM submittal!!! ;)

Its as easy as posting here!!

[eric]

Dow,

Is there a reason to go from the smaller diameter pipe (3/4"?) to the much larger and then back (pump return)? That a Mag 9? On the four returns, does the flow remain fairly constant between them? Any noticable difference between the two sides? Just curious to how that all reacts in reality.

What happens if you open the valve on the return all the way?

[dow]

Dow,

Is there a reason to go from the smaller diameter pipe (3/4"?) to the much larger and then back (pump return)?

Well, according to the manufacturer, the pump is designed to achieve the greatest flow with lines twice the diameter of the outlet. That'd be 1-1/2" in this case. However, since I didn't want 1-1/2 PVC for my whole manifold, I choked it back down to 3/4", but left as much of the riser as I could at 1-1/2 to hopefully get some benefit out of the larger line. The 1-1/2" section would be much longer except that 3/4"ball vallves are much cheaper than 1-1/2" ball valves. This could be part of the cause of the pump noise (see below).


That a Mag 9?

No, it's a MAG 18.


On the four returns, does the flow remain fairly constant between them? Any noticable difference between the two sides? Just curious to how that all reacts in reality.

Seems to be fairly constant between the four outlets.



What happens if you open the valve on the return all the way?

Water flow is better, but the pump makes a weird hissing sound similar to a protein skimmer. See this thread (http://www.maast.org/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=10983).

[dow]

Well, I got the pvc put together and the eggcrate cut and installed for the rockwork. The plan right now is to put a few big rocks on the sand and then some on the first shelf and then transition to the top shelf. Here's a pic:

By the way, I also redid the plumbing around the pump. Removed the 3/4" unions and valves and went straight 1-1/2". The sound is better, but still a little annoying. Guess I'll have to put something around the pump.

I think that we're about ready to do the swap. I need to round up two or three large tubs and find a couple of gullible volunteers, and then it should go pretty quick.

Speaking of which, is anybody feeling gullible tomorrow afternoon? :innocent :D :shades

[dow]

Well, I've finally had time to get back to this thread. Last Saturday, John (Falcondob) came over and helped me swap the tanks and get everything ready for placement in the new tank.

John, you were a life saver, and I would probably still be working on getting things started if you hadn't been able to help. THANKS!!!

Anyway, when he left, it looked like this:
http://www.maast.org/albums/dow/aak.jpg

Pretty scary, huh?

Anyway, after things settled down some, I added rock and the fish back in. It's had a few days to settle down, and I've moved things around a bit. Anyway, here's what it looks like tonight:

http://www.maast.org/albums/dow/aal.jpg

I'm sure that things will be moved around a little bit as I try different things, but overall, I'm very happy with the results. I'm now looking forward to having coraline grow over the pvc in the tank, but I know that will take a while.

[dow]

Back with a few more pictures. I'm trying to get the most out of this camera before I have to give it back :D.


Below is a shot taken from the same basic angle, but different tanks. It's amazing how much difference a little height and some substructure can make. The first shot is of the old 45 breeder. The second is the new 65:

http://www.maast.org/albums/dow/aam.jpg

http://www.maast.org/albums/dow/aan.jpg

BTW, the tank lighting is the same for both tanks (one SE 10K 175W MH), although I MAY have used flash on the 45. 65 is tank light only.

Here's a decent shot of my Hector's Goby. They're very entertaining fish, always busy, although they do tend to coat most everything with very fine sand, lol

http://www.maast.org/albums/dow/aao.jpg

This is a shot of a single mushroom. When the shot was taken, the shroom was about 2" in diameter. I've seen this particular one spread out to 3" earlier in the day.

http://www.maast.org/albums/dow/aap.jpg

And here's most of one of my mushroom rocks:

http://www.maast.org/albums/dow/aaq.jpg

[gjuarez]

very nice dow. Did you place pvc racks to help with the dead spots? If not, what was the reason for it? I like the way it looks. I might copy your idea for my 30g long tank.

[dow]

I put the racks in because it would give me a little more freedom as far as aquascaping goes.

[dwdenny]

The photos are great but it looks way better in person. The shrooms are huge and a great color too. Kepp up the great work dow and thanks for the tips on the tank.

[Thunderkat]

Wow those are big mushrooms. It all looks very nice :)