My 400g room divider system (photo essay) - Page 11

gregt · #**251** 04/21/2004, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JB NY
Hey Greg,

Just wanted to throw a a big the systyem came out great. The tank size and shape is very similar to what I want to do if I upgrade from my 180. I have a basement, so there would have to be a support system installed to hold the weight.

I'm still not in love with the starboard BB look, but your setup is definitely looking sweet. All very well thought out.

On the overflows, The only bad thing I see, is it is a fish death trap. I have had more than my share of fish jumping in the overflow, even a 6" Regal Tang once. IMO by having the eggcrate there placed horizontal, the fish could jump the gutter guard and land on the eggcrate eventually to die. In my case I had to extend the gutter guard almost 8" above the overflow so now any fish that takes a leap just bounces off and lands back in the tank. Of course the splash will scare the pants off ya, but no fishies in my overflow.

Anyway, my 2cents.

Again sweet job on the setup.

Oh yeah, so where do you have those prop tanks setup, that I was looking at a few months ago?

I don't anticipate any problems with jumpers with my fish. I can always extend the gaurd if need be.

The prop tanks are still running, but right now they are empty except for some live rock.

gregt · #**252** 04/21/2004, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by npaden
Greg,

VERY NICE!! I wish I had done something like that with my tank instead of pushing it back up against the wall. 600lbs seems awfully light for that sized tank, how thick is the glass?

Another question I have is how are you going to keep the overflows clean?

I have a problem with algae building up on the eggcrate on my overflow boxes since the snails can't really get to it and I periodically have to scrub them with a toothbrush. The gutter guard looks difficult to take apart to clean it if necessary.

(Or maybe I just have a crappy tank if algae is growing on the eggcrate!)

Thanks, Nathan

The tank is 600+ lbs. I don't know the actual weight. It is 1/2" thick.

I take the grate out to the pool and give it a nasty rinse every couple weeks.

Keeps it sparkly white. If I have to down the road, I'll put together a second one and swap them out and soak the spare in bleach for a day or two....

I don't think that'll be necessary.

gregt · #**253** 04/21/2004, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Flatlander

Greg, I was also wondering why gutter guard and a horizontal eggcrate section was used, instead of just a vertical eggcrate?

Also wondered why a pump such as the Iwaki, instead of one of the direct drive pumps, that I assume run at a much lower power consumption level and produce similar flow?

Eggcrate isn't small enough to keep some of the gobies I plan to keep out of the overflow. Even the gutter guard will be iffy in that respect.

The Iwaki moves more water under pressure. Simple as that. Run one side by side a low pressure pump and you'll see a big difference.

Sardaukar · #**254** 04/21/2004, 05:04 PM

Gobies! An 8 ft tank and he stocks fish that sit on their butts all day... j/k :P

gregt · #**255** 04/21/2004, 05:21 PM

gumbybc · #**256** 04/21/2004, 05:45 PM

more pictures! We want more pictures!

gregt · #**257** 04/21/2004, 06:02 PM

Yes sir!

Well, next the new skimmer arrived.

It's just a tad bigger.

It's an MR-6 with a few alterations.

Sardaukar · #**258** 04/21/2004, 06:30 PM

You gotta have at least ONE tang. Come on man! Get a Powder Blue - they are uhhh.... from the ahhh...*cough*...carribean as well....

Travis · #**259** 04/21/2004, 06:44 PM

I decided to go with the same skimmer for my new setup too.

I want to see some pictures of that BEAST in action.

I see it only has 1 injector. Will you just be running a single injector or adding the one from your MR-3? Also, what pump will you be using for it?

gregt · #**260** 04/21/2004, 06:46 PM

No way. I think tangs are the most overrated, pains in the you know what you could put in a reef tank. They're heavy load on the biofilter and most of them have horrible temperments. I'll never put another one in my tank

The last thing I hope to do with this tank is trying to catch a PITA fish to get him back out again.

I also believe in light bioloads just because it makes life so much easier on you and your inhabitants.

Sardaukar · #**261** 04/21/2004, 06:53 PM

Hey man its your tank, do what ya want

Maybe a Genicanthus angel or pair as your focal point fishes? Maybe its cause I only have an 18 gallon so all I can keep are gobiers and clowns :P

gumbybc · #**262** 04/21/2004, 07:00 PM

I absolutely love my orangespotted shrimp gobie. He is the most interesting fish I have watched. My bro had a blue tang and he has a foxface, not nearly as entertaining as my orangespotted, or even my firefish. Just my observation....

gregt · #**263** 04/21/2004, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Travis
I decided to go with the same skimmer for my new setup too. I want to see some pictures of that BEAST in action. I see it only has 1 injector. Will you just be running a single injector or adding the one from your MR-3? Also, what pump will you be using for it?

I was planning on adding the second injector but honestly if you put a big enough pump on it one injector puts more air in it than it can handle. I'm running it with a Gen-x PCX100 right now, but I may upgrade that to an iwaki 70 if I'm not happy with the performance. So far I don't think the extra injector or the bigger pump is needed.

gregt · #**264** 04/21/2004, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sardaukar
Hey man its your tank, do what ya want Maybe a Genicanthus angel or pair as your focal point fishes? Maybe its cause I only have an 18 gallon so all I can keep are gobiers and clowns :P

I might be tempted to put a Pomacanthus in there (carribean), but I plan on resisting the urge.

This is a coral tank, not a fish tank.

gregt · #**265** 04/21/2004, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gumbybc
I absolutely love my orangespotted shrimp gobie. He is the most interesting fish I have watched. My bro had a blue tang and he has a foxface, not nearly as entertaining as my orangespotted, or even my firefish. Just my observation....

I agree gumby.

steve68 · #**266** 04/21/2004, 07:57 PM

greg i run an iwaki 70rlt on my mr-2 & it works awesome.
u will love it.

Sardaukar · #**267** 04/21/2004, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gregt
I might be tempted to put a Pomacanthus in there (carribean), but I plan on resisting the urge.

This is a coral tank, not a fish tank.

Give in to temptation! I hear a blue girdled angel calling your name! *quiet, bubbly voice calls* "The flow, the room - come to me! I belong!"
:P

gregt · #**268** 04/22/2004, 04:56 AM

If I did add an angel it would be a little bitty baby one. I'm pretty good at resisting temptation at this point.

gregt · #**269** 04/22/2004, 07:17 AM

Ok, this is one of my favorite things I built for this tank. I pull out about 1 1/2 to 2 gallons a day from my skimmer, so the standard collection cups just don't cut it for me. So I came up with this DIY collection cup that works great, took less than an hour to build and costs all of about $15 or $20.

It consists of a five gallon bucket with a toilet flush valve mounted upside down in the lid.

Top view when full (Flush valve closed)

The flush valve closes (which shuts down the skimmer) while the skimate level is still 4 or 5 inches down in the bucket which makes disposal easy.

Skimmer when cup is full

Flush valve when cup is not full

Flush valve assembly. The foam provides more than enough floatation to clamp the float shut very tight.

The chain prevents the flapper from swinging to far

I used silicon to plug the flush valve standpipe. This is necessary so that there is back pressure on the skimmer when the cup is full. The cup must be air-tight when it is full.

tang_man_montreal · #**270** 04/22/2004, 07:48 AM

Hehehe That's great! Yet another use for all the empty salt containers I have lying around.

JB NY · #**271** 04/22/2004, 08:15 AM

That's a great idea!

Bet that smells wonderful when it's full!

Flatlander · #**272** 04/22/2004, 08:22 AM

, now thats a great idea Greg. Good thinking.

Do you guys never have problems running the skimmer water level so far above the injector & air intake? I raised the injector on my MR3, up near cup level.

SPC · #**273** 04/22/2004, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by gumbybc
I absolutely love my orangespotted shrimp gobie. He is the most interesting fish I have watched. My bro had a blue tang and he has a foxface, not nearly as entertaining as my orangespotted, or even my firefish. Just my observation....

I'm with you, gumby, its hard to beat the behavior and temperament of the various gobies and blennies.

Nice collection container Greg!

Steve

Travis · #**274** 04/22/2004, 08:39 AM

Greg awesome idea on the GregT jumbo collection cup.

Quote:

Do you guys never have problems running the skimmer water level so far above the injector & air intake? I raised the injector on my MR3, up near cup level.

I run my MR-2 above the air intake and have never had a problem.

Mexican Hermit · #**275** 04/22/2004, 09:02 AM

Tag....

Very Nice Greg!