Setting up my first aquarium...... (1 Viewer)

[robrog]

I am in the process of setting up my first saltwater aquarium. I have started a web page so I can keep track of my progress and share it with others. Here is the link:

http://home.mindspring.com/~robrog/

I haven't done a lot yet, but it is a work in progress. Questions, comments and/or advice is always welcome!

 

[Guest]

Cool. It's a rewarding hobby. One Comment on the set up... you mention using check valves, not a good idea. They are not 100% relyable. I heard many a horror story and seen one first hand, when a tank completely drains because of a stuck check valve. Good thing is there are alternatives. The overflows will only drain to the bottom of the teeth, so they are not much of a concern. your returns, I assume run through the overflow box and out the top. when the power goes out they will start to syphon, but it will stop as soon as it starts sucking air. So if the return lines are on top, drill a hole in the plumbing a little below the water line, this is your syphon break. If the return line is at the bottom, you will want to redo it so it is up top.
Then you won't need a check valve and you can sleep at night

 

[Wildfire]

Or, put a UPS on your sump return pump. I have a UPS that will keep my return pump running for about 29 hours (the return pump is the ONLY thing on the UPS to maximize life) and the alarm that it generates would wake the dead (so even at night I am alerted) and I can hear it in the driveway so if I should ever get home and hear it I can "adjust" my priorities......

mrlimpet is right... check valves only work for a while. When you actually NEED it to work, Murphy's Law says it will definitely fail....

 

[robrog]

Thanks for the info. Not using check valves will save me some money that I'm sure I can find a way to spend on something else! I have read about drilling a hole in the returns, and yes, they are coming out of the top of my overflows. I was thinking about doing both just to be safe, but drilling is quick and easy. Combined with the extra space in the sump this looks like an easy solution and I will still have the sump space for whatever might siphon out before the siphon break. Of course a UPS would come in handy too!

 

[fins]

Robert, I'm glad to see everything was OK with the tank and sump. Looks like you have done you homework on the plumbing. Here is a great site that may give you some other ideas on plumbing. http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/tank/55sump.html

Also glad to see you could plug up the holes in the sump. Can't wait to see it up and running!!

 

[robrog]

So far so good! Thanks for the site! I'm also trying to decide if I should hard plumb or soft plumb the return pump. I have seen that soft plumbing might be better on the housing and could prevent cracking, but being submersible I haven't found the right fittings at Lowes or HD. Also all I could find was metal hose clamps and I do not want to take the chance by putting those in the water. Any ideas???

 

[AggieBrandon]

www.marinedepot.com sells the plastic hose clamps but I'm not sure if anyone around the houston area does....

Brandon

 

[fins]

You might see if any of the LFS carry any of these http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_plumbing_parts_fittings_2.asp#clamp also another alternative for your return line is flexible pvc from HD or Lowes. It will slide into your fittings and give you some flexibility as well. I believe they call it spa hose.

 

[Guest]

You did an excellent job on your plumbing! I would test the no power theory with fresh water outside before it goes in the house.

 

[Guest]

what size UPS are you using, and what size pump..just curious...