230G Rimless Starphire AquaForest (56K!)

[nellis]

How much does that thing weigh??? You're gonna have a hernia getting it on to the stand.

[khoile]

Thanks for all the complements.

nellis, fedex list the freight as 750lbs. By my estimation it's ~500lbs.

So my schedule will be,

this week - buy wood for stand
next week - build stand
+2 weeks - do plumbing
+3 weeks - put tank on stand, finish plumbing
+4 weeks - Initial planting

Hope I can meet my personal deadline of fully planted tank by September.

[ringram]

Looks like a good plan.
Just remember that with most projects (IME) you can double or triple the time you think it'll take and that will be the actual time.

[lauraleellbp]

x3 is usually about right, IME...

[Steve Z]

I'm trying to put my model from the google sketchUp system on here ,but can't figure out how
can you tell me since you know how to

[ColeMan]

Originally Posted by ringram

Looks like a good plan.
Just remember that with most projects (IME) you can double or triple the time you think it'll take and that will be the actual time.

I'd have to agree with you here! I've been working on a tank roughly one-third this size for the last 8 weeks and i don't even have substrate! Granted I may be a bit slow, but, ya know...things come up! This is a helluva thread, though, can't wait to see some more progress.

[khoile]

Yeah look like 2x is right, cause I got the wood, but thing comes up and I have to travel for work this weekend... oh well...

[IC3D]

Holy cow man, you've got a real nice setup starting there! I'd like to own a great sized planted aquarium one day!

GO GET'M!

[khoile]

Hi all,

I did an experiment this weekend. The goal is to figure out if the Pentair modules can be hook together using only Megaloc thread compound.

Here's the setup:




I'm not sure the result is good or bad news . Up to ~15psi, no leak, but they burst apart at ~25psi.





Here to see at what psi they burst, I reconfigure the clamp to only clamp onto one of the module instead of both.



Here's the video showing no leak at ~15psi. You have to use a flash player to view these video, I use vlc player.
http://www.teamvn.com-a.googlepages.com/DSCF1248.flv

and here's the video showing they burst apart at ~25psi, I know you can't see too well from the video, but trust me, it's ~25psi. You can still see the needle moving up slowly.
http://www.teamvn.com-a.googlepages.com/DSCF1250.flv

Is 15psi good enough that's the question. My estimate is the system is only going to be ~10psi. I'm sure there are other things to consider, but this is what I got so far...

Comments?

Khoi.

[gsd78]

I know I said it before in your other thread, but I'll again advise against what your testing. Thread lock compound is intended to be used to seal threaded connections and NOT slip fit connections like your attempting. Slip fit connections must be glued. Also, were you measuring it up to 15psi with the filters clamped together? Were you planning on clamping them together in your stand?

I'd use unions between all the modules if I were you. Using thread compound on slip fittings is just asking for major leaks in my opinion.

[intermediate_noob]

I would second the idea of using unions and PVC, not the thread compound. Think about that mess under your stand. If you glue them and then use unions, you will still be able to remove them. I do not know if you have seen them before, but this is what they look like. (crappy picture that is not mine, but you can see how it works to allow you to unscrew one side and have it separate)

[khoile]

I agree union is the correct way to go, but what if I build a jig to ensure the modules stay put? My only problem with union is that they take up too much space.

Still a worth while expreriment I thought... even though it too risky to use.

[Jace]

Updates?

[khoile]

Sorry... not much so far, still building the stand. You guy were right... it take 3x longer than plan . Stand pics to come this weekend. Hopefully.

[giga]

I know how that goes. When I built mine(signature) it took a lot longer then I thought.