Son of Kahuna (56K!)

[scolley]

Originally Posted by monkeyruler90

oh and i love your high quality pictures. they make great backgrounds

Dude, you make me laugh! My pictures are crap! I REALLY want a better camera. Would have been a good Father's day present, but we are on an austerity plan around my house, so I guess that's got to wait.

Speaking of waiting...

I've been saying forever that I would post my final stand diagram. Well here it is. Tank's been up a year now, and it took me this long to finish it. It really needs an accompanying electrical diagram to make real sense. The two together really would tell the whole story. This is just plumbing.

It looks complicated, but I just spent a leak free year - with a big kitten and a ferret using my stand as their personal playground. It's nearly (but not completely) bullet proof.

As for the full explanation, I know that a lot of you will just look at it and just "get it". For everyone else I've posted an explanation elsewhere. I'll provide a link later. But for now, this is the long promised diagram. And for those "keep it simple stupid" cynics... yes, it actually works. Rather well IMO.





If you click it you'll get a bigger pic.

[travis]

That's excellent Steve. You've probably got the most well-documented (and easily the most interesting) tank plumbing in the history of personal freshwater aquariums. It looks like you used Visio or something similar for the diagram. Very nice work!

[scolley]

Thanks Travis! I suppose more documentation would have been possible. But somehow this seemed like enough.

And yes. That is indeed Visio. I'm not too good at it, but you don't have to be real clever or very practiced to get it to do something simple for you... making it my tool of choice.

[lekyiscool]

any particular reasons you decided to have then inflows come through tubes at the top rather then the two bulkheads, other then for circulation? The two bulkheads that serve for oxygen pumping and water pressure, could they have been integrated into the main intake? thanks

[scolley]

Great questions!

I definitely could have plumbed the inflows through bulkhead holes. I have extra holes drilled both for aquascape flexibility and to keep that option open. I know Tom Barr has his new tank set up with inflows coming in the bottom, and I'm looking forward to seeing how that works out. I discussed that option at length with a different, but highly experience planted tank luminary. But after listening to how the good circulation from high inflow, and low (bulkheaded) outflows, had proven itself over and over, I decided to compromise on my "eliminate visible equipment" hang-up and err on the side of caution. If, over time, people demonstrate that through the bottom returns work well, I'm ready to make the switch!

The air could been possibly been plumbed straight into the return flow. But I didn't want to see all the bubbles, and it also carried the possibility that the little bubbles could combine to become large bubbles as they returned to the tank. Having the bulkhead just let me not have to f*rt around with something that might - or might not - work. And finally... I've got a battery powered air pump that I'll hook up to this if I ever lose power for a long time.

That said, I am flirting with eliminating that air pump anyway, and putting a 2nd venturi in to just suck in air - no pump required. And it would make nice tiny bubbles. But that's just a maybe, someday, sort of thing.

As for the water pressure in-line... sorry. That does not work. Wish it did. Those lines are pressurized. I could put it in from of the pumps, where the only pressure is from the tank. But I've been told by a mechanical engineer that the rapid flow of the water - even if I created some sort of still water alcove to mount it in - will mess up the pressure readings. Please let me know if that's incorrect, as it would free up bulkhead, and reduce the things I have to hide in the tank.

Again - great questions! Right on the mark.

[khoile]

Thanks for the diagram Steve!, I'll be printing it out for further study

Couple questions,
How's the Ocean Clear 340 working out for you? What's the height needed the filter for media change? I'm thinking of taking the advice to ditch the Pentair mechs and use ocean clear or Nu-clear.

Thanks.
Khoi

[scolley]

Khoi, I think everyone with an OC pretty much loves them - from what I've seen. My initial problem with leaking seemed to be a break-in issue. Once I got my first filter sealed the first time, I've never had a lick of trouble. But now I know to get out the hammer!

The vertical clearance you need to change a cartridge is about 11". Maybe a shade less.

The only downside is that the jury seems to be out on the 340 filters. They are expensive and the big question is how long you will get out of a used, "cleaned" one. Cleaning them is a pain, and they just don't go as long without replacement or repeated cleaning. Only a few months vs. 6 months on a new one. But I haven't tanken mine out for a powerwash at the car wash yet. That might make a difference. And do keep in mind - neither 340 nor the 318 can be backwashed. I believe Tom Barr has the backwash model, which may be the way to go. I don't think it will filter as pristinely as a 340, but backwashing vs. filter cleaning would be great!

Even still, I'm real happy with my choice. They are rock solid, and go a long time between cleaning. It only takes 6-8 minutes to swap in a new (cleaned) cartridge. And they even seem to do a pretty good job filtering.

[monkeyruler90]

when are you gonna point some pics???? i can't wait to get an update

[George]

Originally Posted by scolley

If, over time, people demonstrate that through the bottom returns work well, I'm ready to make the switch!

It works well.

Hagen (Fluval) produce off-the-shelf systems with pre-drilled bottoms and supplied plumbing etc.

I set up a tank 18 months ago for a client. Works great.

Super set up BTW. Most complex hobbyist FW system I've ever seen. Beats a lot of reef-nuts!

[scolley]

Originally Posted by George

It works well.

Hagen (Fluval) produce off-the-shelf systems with pre-drilled bottoms and supplied plumbing etc.

I set up a tank 18 months ago for a client. Works great.

Thanks George! But let's be clear... I've got no doubts about tanks drilled through the bottom. Nobody that I've ever seen has tanks MORE drilled/plumbed though the bottom than mine.

What I'm waiting on SPECIFICALLY is RETURNS drilled through the bottom that are not just pipes coming from the bottom to (or near) the top of the water. LOTS of people have returns that are just pipe coming up to the top (through the bottom) rather than over the side. Then you have a big "hide the pipe" problem.

Tom Barr, on the other hand - along with a few other people that I've seen before him - is bringing the return up through the bottom, but pretty much terminating the return plumbing VERY close to the bottom - so hiding pipes is not such an issue.

What remains to be seen is the circulation... and if it is sufficient that way.

It that is what you were referring to George - apologies. But it seemed best to be clear. I've got no problem with returns through the bottom. What I'm waiting to see good documented - over time - results on is through the bottom returns that terminate near the bottom.

[scolley]

Originally Posted by monkeyruler90

when are you gonna point some pics???? i can't wait to get an update

How's now?

Tank looks like crap. Or the aquascape does anyway. I've got a good grip on the GDA problem, but I'm experimenting with growth, shadows, and proper levels of carbonate hardness at the moment. So it ain't going to be a "satisfying" aquascape. Sorry.

But I'm not good enough to have it look at it's best all the time. Sometime it's a work in progress.

I passed the 1-year anniversary on this tank a couple of weeks ago. Here's a shot from that landmark.

[lekyiscool]

wouldint circulation not be a problem maybe even better when its at the bottom the biggest thing is probably astrong pump to push it up here what i am thinking. Again i could be 100% its just me messing around but hey.

[Chrisinator]

You think your tank looks like crap? Think again! It looks awesome!

[scolley]

Originally Posted by lekyiscool

wouldint circulation not be a problem maybe even better when its at the bottom

Well, I can't say that I've got experience with it, but pushing water up to the top is the biggest issue that I can see... getting it up to the top without making all kind of splashing at the surface. The problem seems like it would be getting it high enough without being too high.

Again, I'm looking forward to what Tom Barr finds out about this. Thanks.

Originally Posted by Chrisinator

You think your tank looks like crap?

Thanks. I don't really think it looks like crap. It's just not what I would call a proper aquascape. And as always, you kinda have to take my word for the fact that my pictures just make it look flat. I need a better camera, because in person there's all sorts of depth that just does not come out in my pics.

Just because this is a photo thread, here are a few casual pics from yesterday...














As usual, clicking will bring up another picture.

And BTW, I finished my plumbing and electrical diagrams. I've started a small blog where I'm posting them. Following the link in my sig will show you, if you are interested.

[Chrisinator]

Awesome Discus! What do you call a "proper aquascape"?