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6Ft Project. Africans In Kalgoorlie

diy led 6 foot african sump k1 project bean animal

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34 replies to this topic

#21 Westie

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Posted 22 July 2013 - 10:33 PM

Ah shandy pants, that's a classic.
Term of endearment no doubt
Tank looks cool. Will be interesting to watch how the end product goes

#22 burnsy

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Posted 29 July 2013 - 09:41 PM

So I finally got back from site and got a chance to get back out to the shed. Today I got the overflow siliconed onto the back of the tank. I got some of the piping glued which turned out pretty good for a first attempt. I mocked up the return plumbing which I have designed for easy water changes. I also did a little more on the stand but will carry on with that tomorrow.

 

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Overflow glued in place.( with assistance from my one eyed pirate dog)

 

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Easy water changes. Check valve stops sump overflowing when pumps off. Connect garden hose and open tap and tank will siphon its self out.

 

 

Rich

 



#23 dazzabozza

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Posted 01 August 2013 - 06:28 PM

Nice choice with the rubber foam on the floor around the tanks. I did the same in my fish shed. Saved my knees from the harsh bitumen.

#24 burnsy

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Posted 04 August 2013 - 08:05 PM

I managed to get some more done on the tank this weekend and am starting to make some good progress.

 

I added 3 more vertical supports just for peace of mind, also put the floor inside the cabinet and the back panels in place

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I got almost all the plumbing mocked up. Just need one more trip to bunnings for a few more fittings

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I did a rough design for the sump too

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Cheers

Rich



#25 scotty81

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Posted 05 August 2013 - 11:56 AM

Looking good

#26 burnsy

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Posted 17 October 2013 - 07:48 PM

Im Back.

 

Its been a while since my last post, Same old story been busy with work and family and had not much time for myself. Good news is I just placed an order for all the gear I need bar the lighting (which will be a project in itself). I got an Eheim compact 5000+ pump to use as a return from the sump. A 500m Titanium digital heater. Eheim 100 air pump to run the K1 media. The PVC gate valve Ive been chasing for ages. 2L of ceramic noodles, 2L of cichlid matrix, 2L of Seachem matrix and some jap mat. All for $550 deliverd.

 

I love internet shopping

 

I also got some K1 from Vebas when I was in Perth last. I only got 5L tho and think I will get another 5L next time Im down there.

 

Ive been experimenting with the 3D background too. I made the rough shape out of polystyrene then covered it in expanding foam. The plan was to then cover it in layers of different coloured grout to get the right look, then spray with pond sealer. But Im not realy loving the look of the expanding foam. It doesn't really look natural.

 

Im gunna try plan B. Ive seen these light weight building blocks at bunnings and have read how people carve them for garden ornaments and stuff. Im gunna try this then coat in grout and pond sealer. Well see how it looks any way.

 

Cheers

Rich


Edited by burnsy, 17 October 2013 - 08:13 PM.


#27 MrLeifBeaver

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Posted 17 October 2013 - 11:06 PM

Looking really good. Slow but steady. Nice.

 

BTW I did an LED setup for my tank. Initially I though it was a complete failure, I had algae problems, the plants were not growing and my log was getting this weird fungus on it (the one in the tank :P ).

Anyway, now its all gone and the tank is looking awesome the lighting has worked really well, I even have new growth on my plants. One plant I put in needs high light output and thats growing really well too!

 

So keep up the research it all is relevant and it truelly feels good when it all pays off.



#28 Ronny

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Posted 18 October 2013 - 05:40 AM

Im Back.

 

Its been a while since my last post, Same old story been busy with work and family and had not much time for myself. Good news is I just placed an order for all the gear I need bar the lighting (which will be a project in itself). I got an Eheim compact 5000+ pump to use as a return from the sump. A 500m Titanium digital heater. Eheim 100 air pump to run the K1 media. The PVC gate valve Ive been chasing for ages. 2L of ceramic noodles, 2L of cichlid matrix, 2L of Seachem matrix and some jap mat. All for $550 deliverd.

 

I love internet shopping

 

I also got some K1 from Vebas when I was in Perth last. I only got 5L tho and think I will get another 5L next time Im down there.

 

Ive been experimenting with the 3D background too. I made the rough shape out of polystyrene then covered it in expanding foam. The plan was to then cover it in layers of different coloured grout to get the right look, then spray with pond sealer. But Im not realy loving the look of the expanding foam. It doesn't really look natural.

 

Im gunna try plan B. Ive seen these light weight building blocks at bunnings and have read how people carve them for garden ornaments and stuff. Im gunna try this then coat in grout and pond sealer. Well see how it looks any way.

 

Cheers

Rich

 

 

Hi,

 

Great write up :)

 

Looks like a great tank in the making :)

 

Just out of curiousity, why so many different types of bio media?

 

When doing my latest set up, I read up on a lot of different medias and found one called Marine Pure.  That and sponges is all I have in my sump and canisters.  Works a treat :)

 

Also, any updates on what you plan to stock?

If you like tropheus, go for it! 

They really aren't that hard.  All they need is stabilty. 

Keep the parameters stable adn they'll thrive!

The way I keep my tropheus would scare most people but it works for me and the big breeders of wild caughts here.

 

I use a hose to drain the tank, use same hose connected to the tap in the laundry and fill directly from there.

While it's filling, I mix the buffer and salt in a bucket and pour it in.

That once a week is all I do for my Mpulungu, duboisi and ilangi ;)

 

 

I think your set up would look great with some Tropheus in it :D



#29 burnsy

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Posted 18 October 2013 - 04:46 PM

Cheers beaver

Ronny, I was told the seachem was real good stuff and with the k1 wouldn't need anything else. But for the sake of $15 for the noodles and $25 for the cichlid media I thought why not. I will have lots of space in my sump so it can't hurt rite? I may not even end up using them.

I'm still thinking Tropheus but I got a while yet to decide for sure. Dunno what I'm gunna do with the fish I have ATM tho if I change. Don't think I'll be allowed 2 tanks lol.

What kind of overflow and return pump are you using for your sump?

Rich

#30 jeffblack

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Posted 18 October 2013 - 05:14 PM

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=I7d3aK_tX34

 

Sorry im off on a tangent and off topic once again, check this out ,  competitor perhaps ? Worth a watch.


Edited by jeffblack, 18 October 2013 - 05:21 PM.


#31 Ronny

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Posted 18 October 2013 - 05:45 PM

Cheers beaver

Ronny, I was told the seachem was real good stuff and with the k1 wouldn't need anything else. But for the sake of $15 for the noodles and $25 for the cichlid media I thought why not. I will have lots of space in my sump so it can't hurt rite? I may not even end up using them.

I'm still thinking Tropheus but I got a while yet to decide for sure. Dunno what I'm gunna do with the fish I have ATM tho if I change. Don't think I'll be allowed 2 tanks lol.

What kind of overflow and return pump are you using for your sump?

Rich

 

 

It was good stuff before but there are better things now like marine pure ;)

Does the same job just a lot better and has a lot more surface area.

 

Just be warned with Tropheus, they are addictive and if you're only allowed one, think long and hard which one you want lol.

 

For my 6x2 I have a 4 foot sump with 4 seections.  The first section where the water comes in has coarse sponges in it. There is a fine sponge in the gap between the sections. In the second section, there's 12L of Marine Pure, a bit overkill but I just wanted to fill that section. In the third section there's a breeding pair of brichardi with a butt load of fry lol.

The fourth section is where the pump is. I think it's a 6000L/H but I'd have to check it to be sure lol.

 

The overflow is a corner weir with a durso pipe.  The durso pipe is awesome!  I have the tank in the lounge room and all i can hear is the hum from the pump so no gurgling from the weir :)



#32 kassysimon

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Posted 19 October 2013 - 07:35 AM

 

 

If you like tropheus, go for it! 

They really aren't that hard.  All they need is stabilty. 

Keep the parameters stable adn they'll thrive!

The way I keep my tropheus would scare most people but it works for me and the big breeders of wild caughts here.

 

 

Hey Ronny.

 

Im interested in keeping Tropheus. My tank is fully automated so stability isnt an issue here.

 

How do you keep your Tropheus?

What parameters do you keep?

 

And you add salt to your water? Like proper salt?



#33 Ronny

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Posted 19 October 2013 - 07:46 AM

Hey Ronny.

 

Im interested in keeping Tropheus. My tank is fully automated so stability isnt an issue here.

 

How do you keep your Tropheus?

What parameters do you keep?

 

And you add salt to your water? Like proper salt?

 

 

Hi Kassysimon,

 

I keep my maintenance simple. 

50% water change weekly.

I use a hose to drain and the same hose to fill from the laundry. As it's filling, I add Safe, Aquasonic KH Generator and Epsom salt.

I won't go into dosages as it will vary with tank volume and the parameters of your tap water.

But I dose the Epsom at 1 Tbsp per 40L.

 

This routine keeps my water clean, nasties low and my PH at 8.4 and KH at 16-18 using an API kit.

 

At the moment, I am feeding a combo of NLS Thera A and HBH Vegie8 flake twice a day.

 

Hope that helps :)



#34 burnsy

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Posted 10 November 2013 - 08:52 AM

So here I am with another update.

 

Over the last few weeks Ive been doing a few hours here and there. I had to re-mock up some of the plumbing as it wasn't quite going to work.  

I wasn't able to use the pvc gate valve I got online as I couldn't find anything to adapt sch80(black pvc) to standard white stuff. I just got a threaded brass one for now and its working a treat. This will be fine until I change to marine in the future.

I glued it all together and only had one stuff up (cost me 2 90 deg bends, but ahwell could have been worse).

 

I hooked up the pump and test ran it today. I had a leak straight away so had to dismantle all threaded joints and use thread sealant. Now no more leaks.

So far Ive had it running about 3 hours and all is well. 

I Cant say enough how impressed I am with my overflow setup. The BeanAnimal style really does what they say it does.

Ive calculated it to be running at 2300L per hour and TOTALY silent. No slurping, gargaling or running water sound at all, Just the faint hum of the pump.

The overflow seams to be working very well also. No leaks and it is taking only a very fine layer of water from the surface. There is no sound at all from the water falling into the box.

The auto syphon setup also works great. Just hook up a garden hose with standard fittings and it will drain with the opening of 1 valve. Once drained down to the correct level turn off the valve then plug the other end into the tap outside and turn it on. Open the valve under the tank and fill until the water level in the tank just starts to overflow into the weir. Simple so my wife will do it more often when Im away ;) .

 

Il get some glass cut for the sump next and glue in the baffles.

 

Thanks for reading

Rich



#35 burnsy

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Posted 26 November 2013 - 07:56 PM

So here's another update with some pics of progress from the last few weeks.

Ive been doing an hour here and there when I can and am making steady progress.

I had the system running for a few days with no problems at all.

I drained the tank via the auto syphon so I could work on the stand. The tank drained to about an inch from the bottem. I could walk around the garden with the other end of the hose watering plants as it drained.

Last weekend I cut the panels to enclose the stand and also cut out the door holes then screwed them into place.

Today after work I started to fit all the flashing/skirting to the outside. Im pleased with how its looking and it also covers up my rough cuts on the panels.

 

Heres the pics

 

The pump compact 5000+, check valve and syphon drain tap

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The jets running as the tank filled

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System full and running (2300L/Hr)

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The panels covering the frame work

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Door on the end after all flashing/skirting fitted

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Sorry the pics are sideways but I cant get them to work vertically for some reason.

 

Cheers

Rich

Attached Files


Edited by burnsy, 26 November 2013 - 07:57 PM.






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