First Tank

[jrossjr79]

Thought I create a journal on getting and setting up my first tank.

This is the tank I just picked up for my main display. Measurements are 51.5 x 22 x 28.5. 139.82 gallons, glass tank, already pre-drilled for bulkheads. Only paid $50 for it. There is a glass shelf inside I need to take out, since that is broken and cracked in some places, have not noticed any other damage. Will be doing a leak test sometime this weekend and getting it cleaned up.

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Currently sitting in my garage till I get a stand for it.

[allan]

What are those white caps on the end in the second pic?

[jrossjr79]

It is where the glass was drilled and capped for attachments of bulkheads. There are a total of 6 different holes. 4 on the very topin the back , then those two on the side.

What are your thoughts, I was thinking of using the four top ones for overflow to the sump/refuge, and the two on the side for a return, or is this to low for a return?

[allan]

Man, don't know.

I do know that if you use those two as returns you're going to have to build a box or something to prevent fish from swimming in and down.

Can you take a pic of the inside tank where the back walls are?

[Reefer madness92]

Nice first tank btw

[jrossjr79]

ya here you go, I even took pictures of the broken shelf I need to remove. As far as building a box, that is no problem, since more than likely I will be building the sump/refuge.
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Thanks Reefer madness92

[Reefer madness92]

I would keep the shelf just silicone a small square piece of glass on top of the peice that is missing unless you want a really clean look but it won't matter when there's coralline everywhere

[jrossjr79]

Naw, I am just going to remove it, dont think it would be a good idea to have sharp edges or glass that can be flaked off into the tank. But who knows maybe I will add a shelf in there later.

[Reefer madness92]

The glass is flaky? Yeah forget that, last u want is a fish dying with gass in it's tract. I was thinking about adding a shelf in the corner of next tank. I built my stand to fit a 75 so I can upgrade without a rebuild. IMO corner shelves look awesome and are great for shy fish with some rock

[allan]

Hey joe,

That shelf where the pipes come out? That can be the bottom of your calflow overflow.

Here is a picture of mine in the frag tank.

http://img.tapatalk.com/a6cd0b88-89d2-5372.jpg

[jrossjr79]

Im looking up calflow now, not sure if I am understanding exactly what I am reading though. What is it exactly?

NVM, couldnt see examples of what it was doing till I decided to google images of it.

[allan]

Someone may jump in, I hope they do.

It's my understanding that there is an overflow driven by siphon, overflow where the bulkheads are on the bottom, and then the calflow which is basically a box built around the return pipes that keeps things in the tank, out of the sump.

[jrossjr79]

Well if this helps any, since I think it was made this way from the manufacturer, there is an emblem on the bottom corner of the tank, D.A.S., only thing I could find out is it stands for dutch aquarium systems and they were made here in San Antonio. Found a post with one that resembles mine very much http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/f6/anyone-know-about-das-aquariums-185653.html

[Big_Pun]

yup looks like it was a calflo at one time, it doesn't seem structural. you can have a acrylic one made.

[Big_Pun]

actually now that I see it has a piece on both sides it may have been to keep the tank from bowing kinda like a euro brace. where's the old guys they need to chime in lol. the link you put shows it with a piece connecting both sides.

[kkiel02]

We bought a DAS tank awhile back for my parents. The overflow was inside the tank like the one you posted, the skimmer was also in there. I am not too sure about how yours would work but I think I would set it up where those four holes on the back are returns and put an overflow box around the two on the side for two drains. And like Chris said it should have a glass piece connecting those two glass pieces together. They are unique tanks. Maybe someone else can chime in though as we only had ours a couple days.

Edit- Looking at it better I think thats the only way you could set it up as you wont want the water overflowing into the 4 higher holes that are drilled as there doesn't look to be glass there. Unless Im seeing it wrong.

[jrossjr79]

Ya its a glass piece, when from one glass shelf to the other glass shelf across from it, found the remnants on my tank that it use to be there. It also use to have a box in the left hand side on the back. But that has since been removed before I bought it.

Im going to be re-working this tank before I do a leak test, when taking the broken shelf off I noticed where the box used to be has a crap job of silicone, so I am thinking that it leaked after the box was removed. So going to clean out the old silicone and redo that in the corner, also going to cover up both of the holes that are in the corners, to me that dont seem water tight with the glass missing there, but I will still have 4 holes.

After I take care of those then I will do a leak test, correct what needs to be corrected then, as well as make two new boxes to cover both the overflow and the return. What can I use to attach acrylic boxes to glass? I know I have to use non-toxic silicone, anybody have a particular preference?

[jrossjr79]

Been thinking about doing some DIY LED lights. But after doing the math of my tanks width times its length then diving it by 20, leaves me assume that I need 58 LEDs. Just LEDs alone I am figuring it would cost me $232, this is figuring it would be $4 for each LED. Am I correct with this math, as far as the formula to come up with is width x length divide by 20?

Also with my tank being 28" deep, what angle lens would I be looking for? And which type of Cree lights are the best for corals?

[randomfish]

hope this helps found this on my old forum this guy is good and a friend of mine http://www.thescmas.com/forums/showthread.php?11300-Here-s-the-research-supporting-my-next-DIY-LED-project

[jrossjr79]

Thanks for the link, it has alot of background information for my project, but really still doesnt answer the question on what angle the optics should be. But I guess it really depends on a number of factors. Which that link pretty much confirms it. What type of corals, the number of LEDs, depth of overall tank, and how far above the LEDs are above the tank. So I would assume after I make the build I will be needing a PAR Meter.

[jroescher]

I would only use the bulkheads on the side as part of a closed loop. As returns, you would need a very large reserve capacity in your sump for water that siphons off during a power outage.

[jrossjr79]

Long overdue update, I had performed the leak test, and sure enough, it does leak, not to bad. So I removed all the odl silicone from that corner, bought the silicone I need, although, Home Depot was not very helpful as to it being marine safe or not. So sometime tomorrow I will be posting again with the type I got. All of this was done months ago, but before I started to do any sealing, I had alot of things come up.

[jrossjr79]

I would only use the bulkheads on the side as part of a closed loop. As returns, you would need a very large reserve capacity in your sump for water that siphons off during a power outage.

What if I placed a valve that would only let water go in one direction, forget what it is called, but I remember a valve just for that purpose?

[jrossjr79]

Ok, as far as the silicone I picked up, its GE Waterproof silicone, kitchen/bath/plumbing. No where does it say marine safe, but also does not state if it will do marine life harm. Only kind of warning is that UNCURED product causes irritation.

So before I use it, can anyone verify whether or not this silicone would be safe in my tank? If not safe, can you recommend a silicone brand?

Thanks

[Big_Pun]

i wouldnt use anything that doesnt state aquarium safe or sold by a lfs

[Scutterborn]

As long as its 100% silicone it fine. As long as it doesn't contain any algaecide. Also. The corner silicone seams aren't the structural portion of the tank. They just smooth the corners with it. If your experiencing any leaks, you need to reseal it properly or else your just tempting fate and taking a real gamble on when its going to fail.


-Ben-

[jrossjr79]

Well it says its 100% silicone, Looking at the label, I dont see what it contains, so I checked it out on the website product information. Does not mention anything to do with algaecide. Guessing it is good news that it says it is Green Approved.

http://www.caulkyourhome.com/ge-silicone-I-kitchen-and-bath.php (http://www.caulkyourhome.com/ge-silicone-I-kitchen-and-bath.php)

Also wanted to say thank you, for the heads up, I did not realize this. SO I googled it real quick on proper way to reseal it. Guess I am going to need a few more bottles of silicone. Found a article here on it:
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f20/diy-tank-re-seal-full-instructions-15621.html

[Scutterborn]

I would use a structural silicone for this reseal. Not all silicones are the same. The shear and tensile strengths vary greatly.

Personally, I recommend Dow Corning 795.


-Ben-

[jrossjr79]

Do you know if HD or Lowes has Dow Corning 795, or will I need to go to a LPS?

[Scutterborn]

I doubt you would find it at a general store. Try here:
SILICONE SPECIALTIES INC
GSA Approved Distributor TEL: +1 210 930 6360
2104 MANNIX
SAN ANTONIO TEXAS 78217


-Ben-

[jrossjr79]

Thank you very much Scutterborn

[Scutterborn]

No problem at all. :)


-Ben-

[jrossjr79]

I have yet worked on this tank, just sitting in my garage waiting for me to do something with it. Mostly time and money have me cornered at not doing it. Also looking at it closely last night, I do not think I would be capable of reselling it myself, lots of plastic pieces are siliconed on it. Can anyone refer me to a place or a person that will reseal it for me?