110 Gallon Discus Tank Sump w/eheims & HOTs

[Betowess]

Kind of a dumb question. But first looking great. On your GFCI bank, couldn't you have just put a GFCI on the first one from the power and all following would be GFCI protected?

[DiabloCanine]

Originally Posted by Betowess

Kind of a dumb question. But first looking great. On your GFCI bank, couldn't you have just put a GFCI on the first one from the power and all following would be GFCI protected?

Yes, one would have been sufficient, I was thinking about changing 2 of them out, but did not mainly because it was too much work and I was already overwhelmed. I do like the flexibility to trip them when it is convenient. It seems I have tripped #2 which disables #3 also several times since putting this together. The last outlet is powered by the heater controller. They now operate in this fashion:

Bank #1 top is the timer and power for the blue LED night lights, bottom is for the stand lights.

Bank #2 both outlets have eheims connected to them.

Bank #3 top is the timer and power for the tank lights, bottom is for a 300 watt jager POS heater.

Bank #4 powered by heater controller, two 400 Theo heaters.

Pretty much took the CO2 off that circuit. I installed power strips on the other side of the stand. It was a hassle turning stuff off for water changes anyway, i.e, PH controller, 2 Magnum HOTs, dual powererd sponge filters (these were removed when the 2 eheims were installed), UV pump (if it was installed), and sump pump. Now I will turn off the power strip which deenergizes the PH controller, 2 Magnum HOTs, and UV sterilizer (gonna stay on the sump cause it is now a PITA to get off the sump and out of the stand). The sump pump is connected to the battery of the UPS and gets turned off when the sump has drained. When I completely drain the sump (vacum once a month or so), I need to trip the heater GFCIs.

I also needed to move the Icecap ballast, the eheim feed lines were going there. On 2 other tanks I put it on the back of the canopy. Couldn't do it here because I lift the canopy and set it on its back to farm the tank. I secured the ballast to a board and mounted it above the heater controller. If you look closely you can see that it slides in and out like a drawer.

The big problem I have now is the power cord reaching an outlet. I figure the tank has a maximum peak of around 2000 watts. I am feeding everything from a Fireshield power strip, only thing new is the 2 eheim 2215s. I had to move the tank further into the room so the light changes from the Plasma TV wouldn't startle the Discus (had several scramble their brains whilst we were watching a movie). Now I am about 3 feet too far from the nearest outlet. I am sure I can find something at TSC, the Depot, or Lowes tomorrow.

BTW, the regulator arrived safe and sound. Thanks again, I will make mention of it when that project is done. It will control CO2 in the 55 gallon sump for a rack of drilled 20 gallon tanks....DC

[Betowess]

Good, I'm glad you can use it. If you ever try one of Rex's or Aquarium.com's new regulators, you'll be impressed. You can wait till the last of the tank is empty pretty safely with them.

Pretty funny how you started to add some Manzanita and ended up completely re-doing the tank and even moving it a few feet.

[DiabloCanine]

Originally Posted by Betowess

Good, I'm glad you can use it. If you ever try one of Rex's or Aquarium.com's new regulators, you'll be impressed. You can wait till the last of the tank is empty pretty safely with them.

Pretty funny how you started to add some Manzanita and ended up completely re-doing the tank and even moving it a few feet.

I will start building regulators soon, have too many projects going right now to track down the parts.

Yea, as if I didn't have enough projects in work. I brought a 20H RMC gave me into the house for size checks on the rack and while walking past the 110, I said hmmmm. The 110 was already empty and when the 20H fit good in the stand, the brain started envisioning an idea I had a while back of putting 2 cannister filters with a sump for the best of both worlds. Soon it will be a nice swimming pool for some Heckels......DC

[DiabloCanine]

700 views, wonder if it will hit 1000. WooHoo, red soilmaster and manzanita wood in the tank. Still a little cloudy, will diatom it after one more water change in a few days. Need to wash some more soilmaster, just a little bit deeper for the substrate. Really liking the red......DC

[RoseHawke]

DC, that is looking really cool. You know, maybe I just haven't been around long enough, but I don't think I've ever seen a 'scape using wood in quite that manner. Like a little forest? Can't wait to see the rest of it!

[b3x]

how come i cannot see the images?!

nevermind ... prolly the firewall blocking them ...

[tazcrash69]

Originally Posted by b3x

how come i cannot see the images?!

nevermind ... prolly the firewall blocking them ...

If you are browsing from work, and they have a firewall, that is excactly the reason.

[DiabloCanine]

Major setback. Woke up to wet carpet. Thought the sump tank split a seam but when I pulled it out the bottom glass was cracked in the middle. Thinking the stand floor is not supported enough or in the wrong places. I get to take everything apart again to check/fix this before I want to try another tank. So much fun DIYing.

[yoink]

At least it happened now and not when you had it full of beautiful discus. Looking forward to seeing it when done.

[Aqua Dave]

Had the same thing happen to me, but luckily I saw the crack before I buttoned everything up. This was with a 29 gal tank. It was a topfin that I had gotten from PetSmart. After comparing it against a 30 gal AllGlass I had hanging around I determined that the topfin tank was a PoS. The glass was thinner and the seams weren't as clean. I found a 29 gal AllGlass at Petco and have had no problems. So it may have just been a crappy tank. If you're like me when you setup your sump, then things get banged around a bit while you try and position everything. A crappy tank may not handle the extra jostling well.

David

[DiabloCanine]

Well I got the tank down, was quite disappointed when I turned the stand over. 1/4" plywood and a single brace was being used for support. Apparently, this was sufficient for the 30 gallon acrylic tank I was using for a sump but for a glass tank....NOT! I cut some 3/4" plywood and more braces to fit, will install them tomorrow. Tank was a PITA to get off the stand with the bulkheads and plumbing for the eheims combined. Was just barely able to get it off the stand, something to consider if you try this setup......DC

[fox]

Originally Posted by DiabloCanine

Well I got the tank down, was quite disappointed when I turned the stand over. 1/4" plywood and a single brace was being used for support.

We had the same thing happen when we first set up our tank. The LFS made good on the tank. Lucily we were in the room when we noticed water coming from the stand bottom and were able to avert a soaked floor. Needed to reinforce the bottom better adding braces each foot running front to back.

[yoink]

Let me know if you need an extra set of hands some time. I don't work on fridays or sundays.

[DiabloCanine]

Originally Posted by yoink

Let me know if you need an extra set of hands some time. I don't work on fridays or sundays.

I should have the stand ready by 5:00 P.M. Friday if you want to stop by and help put the tank back on.........DC