Glass lined masonary tank.

[essabee]

My order for the light fittings were deliver last evening so back to the GLMT for execution of the work at hand.

[essabee]

I did put up the MH fittings but as I am waiting for replacement of one of the bulb holders could not complete the job. I am getting impatient too.

When I was putting up the light fittings in the twin tank - Incomparable - 7 years ago, I did not realise what I was doing wrong. This time I have corrected (over corrected??) my mistake. I am posting a picture of the fittings in the Incomparable and the GLMT for comparison.

[CL]

Wow! That's one heck of a lighting system!

[lhscouchmonster]

great work. you start thinkin bout what you are going to put in the tank at all?

[gmccreedy]

Wow, this is something else. I have no idea how I missed this whole journal!??

Why do you have the metal halides pointing toward the center? Can the be rotated as needed or is that permanent?

For the life of me, I have no idea how those reactors you built are going to work. The bottom screen is the outlet I presume, but how is flow and CO2 injected into it?

[gmccreedy]

Also, not sure if these types of fittings are available to you, but these are great for directing flow and giving you the ability to adjust it to fit your scape.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...90&pcatid=4090

These would something I would consider for the discuarge outlet of those reactors which look like they could be easilty blocked up.

[Hoppy]

Originally Posted by gmccreedy

Why do you have the metal halides pointing toward the center? Can the be rotated as needed or is that permanent?

I wondered about that too, but I think it is to avoid most of the outer light fixture light from just being overspill, or being directed at the wall above the tank. I wish I had the patience to slowly build up to a filled, planted tank like this. (Typed while gritting my teeth with impatience - I want to see the tank with water, plants and fish in it - NOW!)

[essabee]

The MH fittings have a U-clamp. The bottom of the U-clamp is fixed to the wall and cannot be swiveled. The actual bulb and reflector assembly is screwed to the 2 arms of the U-clamp, by a single bolt on each side, and allows movement.

I have positioned the clamp angle so that the light is directed away from the side walls, and have the movement of the fitting to adjust the light to be contained between the long walls. This would direct most of the light (including that reflected by the fitting's interior) at the surface of the water. Could not think about anything which could be trouble free and better so ended up doing it this way.

[essabee]

Originally Posted by gmccreedy

For the life of me, I have no idea how those reactors you built are going to work. The bottom screen is the outlet I presume, but how is flow and CO2 injected into it?

It’s a normal reactor the water and the CO2 enters via the elbow shown from the top and exits through the hole at the bottom. The water flow pushes the CO2 bubbles downwards and the buoyancy of the gas resists the force till the CO2 dissolves and leaves with the water into the tank from the bottom of the reactor.

No, I don’t envisage any clogging of the screens as the water which shall be pumped into the reactor comes from the sump filter I intend to construct.

[essabee]

Originally Posted by Hoppy

I wish I had the patience to slowly build up to a filled, planted tank like this. (Typed while gritting my teeth with impatience - I want to see the tank with water, plants and fish in it - NOW!)

Hoppy were you never an angler?? I have a time table but I am behind schedule and all that because I am unable to procure what I need in time. I have been waiting for the glass for the sump and the viewing front for 3 days now even after having paid for the order.

[Hoppy]

Originally Posted by essabee

Hoppy were you never an angler?? I have a time table but I am behind schedule and all that because I am unable to procure what I need in time. I have been waiting for the glass for the sump and the viewing front for 3 days now even after having paid for the order.

Yes, years ago I used to go fishing most weekends, but I became too impatient to sit there half the day waiting for the big one to show up. But, I prefer to refer to myself as "decisive" instead of "impatient".

[essabee]

The glass ordered finally arrived, badly cut and with sharp edges. The glass for the sump after being ground to remove sharp edges has been silicone pasted and what better place to do it in but inside the tank to which it will act as the dedicated sump. There it will out of the way while I work on the plumbing, reflooring, and repainting the broom cabinet to convert it into the sump cabinet. I plan to put all the MH ballast (5 of the GLMT and 5 of the incomparable) in that cabinet. Remember I have an eight inch diameter fan connected on one side to the GLMT (and through it to the Incomparable) and the sump cabinet.

Size 42" X 18" X 18" but I intend to keep the water level at 12".

[Hoppy]

That would make a super Riparium tank! Do you do your own edge grinding, and if so, with what?

Knowing that tank is 42 inches long, 6 inches longer than my tank, I can now better appreciate how huge that GLMT is! Wow!

[essabee]

[quote=Hoppy;940589]
Do you do your own edge grinding, and if so, with what?
QUOTE]

For small jobs I use the rough side of the honing stone meant for my wood chisels. For bigger jobs I use a 4" diameter glass/stone polishing wheel with my angular grinder. I always work outdoors for this and use a lot of water and protective glasses, gloves, and dress for I have a healthy fear of flying glass.

That polishing wheel and angular grinder does a lovely job, Hoppy. Go back to the picture of the reactors and see how I managed to grind away the corner of the triangular glass.