Starting From Scratch....need Your Help!

[Benson112]

Just looked through some of Garys old posts on here and saw a pic of the tank with the white piping inside the tank up to the top of the water but not over the side of the tank so i think i get it now...

White pipe inside the tank to the top of the water, then conncect the bottom of the hole in the tank to the sump, then the return pipe up and over the back of the tank back into the water?

If this is correct...what is the white pipe for? To allow it to take water without disturbing the sand?

Also...what should i use for a return pipe? Im going to try and get this done tonight and fill the tank up with water (no RO yet just want to see if ive got it all right before getting RO)

 

[garybuk]

Just looked through some of Garys old posts on here and saw a pic of the tank with the white piping inside the tank up to the top of the water but not over the side of the tank so i think i get it now...

White pipe inside the tank to the top of the water, then conncect the bottom of the hole in the tank to the sump, then the return pipe up and over the back of the tank back into the water?

If this is correct...what is the white pipe for? To allow it to take water without disturbing the sand?

Also...what should i use for a return pipe? Im going to try and get this done tonight and fill the tank up with water (no RO yet just want to see if ive got it all right before getting RO)

Ohh Boy!!!! did you take out the bluck head to get it thur the door? did you get a new one i also rember i think i sent you pics of it while it was setup! cheack them pics out

 

[Benson112]

Nice one mate that pic really helps! so was i right in that i connect the bottom of the hole to the sump? If so, what did you use? And also what did you use for the return pipe? (edit: just read in a PM that you used your UV as a return pipe...what is that then? lol)

No mate, didnt need to take it out in the end just took the door off and it just about squeezed through. Ill go have a look at those pics now, i forgot about them. Nice one!

Ill give this a go tonight and let you all know how i get on. thanks again

p.s...any word on the lid? I just need that to finish it off, looks weird without it. cheers

 

[Benson112]

Quick question guys...

Im gonna head to B&Q tonight (if i can get some money) and get the piping but i have no idea what im supposed to be getting.

What do people use for return pipes?

 

[garybuk]

Quick question guys...

Im gonna head to B&Q tonight (if i can get some money) and get the piping but i have no idea what im supposed to be getting.

What do people use for return pipes?

Like i said its tubing ! hence you wont fit 1in on the the return pump! but if your chageing your return pump then it will change size!

Make sure your stuff from b&q is marine/reef safe! as you want abs not wast pvc!

 

[Benson112]

Like i said its tubing ! hence you wont fit 1in on the the return pump! but if your chageing your return pump then it will change size!

Make sure your stuff from b&q is marine/reef safe! as you want abs not wast pvc!

What do you mean "like i said its tubing" ?? I havent seen you mention tubing? or have i missed something?

And what is happening with the lid mate? Havent had a reply to the last few times ive asked?

 

[garybuk]

Like i said its tubing ! hence you wont fit 1in on the the return pump! but if your chageing your return pump then it will change size!

Make sure your stuff from b&q is marine/reef safe! as you want abs not wast pvc!

What do you mean "like i said its tubing" ?? I havent seen you mention tubing? or have i missed something?

And what is happening with the lid mate? Havent had a reply to the last few times ive asked?

When i droped it off! and it has the size ending on the pump! will reply soon

 

[Benson112]

Ah right ok thought you meant on here, i was getting confused then! lol

ok cheers mate, let me know

 

[Benson112]

Got a few more questions (Gary will probably be the best person to answer these...)

Does this look right? Should it not screw all the way in? Basically, if i put the black connector on the pipe first and then connect it to the tank, there is a gap between the tank and the black connector. If i do it the other way round, that is as far as i can screw the pipe in?

Have i got this end right (just did it from looking at the pics gary sent me)

And how the hell do i get this on?? The black connector doesnt come off (glued in by the looks of it) and there isnt enough room to screw it into the bottom of the hole in the tank, the stand is in the way. I cant lift the tank up to screw it in as it wont fit back through the hole in the stand when i put it down?? Getting rather irritated! lol

Once this is done i can start to plan what bits i need to get the rest of it plumbed in. Cheers

 

[ben1987]

Gettin there

 

[Benson112]

Also...ive just got around to checking the pump that came with it:

and it is making a horrendous noise when i plug it in. Looks like there is something missing from the front of it? I may be wrong though.

 

[Benson112]

Gettin there

Slowly but surely mate. Got a severe cash flow issue at the min so cant really move forward until payday in 2 weeks So just want to get everything planned and know what i need to buy when i have the cash.

Fancy giving me a hand with my shopping list? I kind of know what i need, just not sure which ones i need if that makes sense?

Piping and connectors to go from tank to sump inlet
Return pipe
Return pump (if this one is knackered)
Powerheads (i think thats what they are called lol) - how many will i need? Are Tunze 6045's ok?
Lighting (no idea what to go for here, im really torn as to if i should just go straight for halides? - and money is tight dont forget!)

Skimmer question coming up just uploading the pics!

 

[ben1987]

eheim flexible tube makes a good return. Ebay it, you can flexi pipe through the holes in the cabinet to normal pipe and its easier.
As for the rest, depends what you want to keep

 

[Benson112]

eheim flexible tube makes a good return. Ebay it, you can flexi pipe through the holes in the cabinet to normal pipe and its easier.
As for the rest, depends what you want to keep

Ok mate nice one. Ill look into that, so the flexible tubing goes from the return pump to where? Does it need to go into normal piping or can it go straight back into the tank? And if so, how do you do that? lol got any pics of your return pipe and how you get it back into your tank?

Ok, what i want to keep...argghhh i wanted to keep it simple and go for FOWLR...but the more i look at corals and nems...i want them! lol. So eventually i will end up going for them. Probably start off with just LR and fish then move onto corals etc. So maybe i should just get the proper lighting from the offset?

Does it effect which powerheads you get depending on what you are keeping?

Skimmer question put simple....what the fu..?? I got a V2 Skim 400 with the tank, How does this little badboy work? im guessing the smaller hole on the main unit it the inlet and the larger hole to the side of it is the outlet? And im presuming that water needs to be pumped into it:

How do i know if it is working properly? I read that you have to change the diaphragm (??) every so often...should i do this now? What pipes should i use? Would the flexipipe stuff be ok?

Cheers mate

 

[ben1987]

on the skimmer the little pipe goes to the pump and the wide ones the outlet. Its working if theres some good bubbles in the bottom chamber. Then eventaly a froth in the top cup.

Re the flexi return. You could go flexi pipe all the way up - thats what i do. Just dont let it go under the surface or the water because it will siphon back in an powercut.

Powerheads - If you want hard corals eventually you want to be aiming for 30+ X turnover. Where LPS and softies tend to be ok around the 15-30X