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60 gallon darter tank build

Started by Guest_gdthom2_* , Mar 12 2012 02:06 PM

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#1 Guest_gdthom2_*

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Posted 12 March 2012 - 02:06 PM

Well after taking an eventful three years off from the hobby, I finally sold my old fish tanks and got a little seller's remorse. I started looking on Craigslist and found an awesome deal. This 48"(long)x24"(wide)X12"(high) was a saltwater frag tank and had a lot of algae and saltwater build up, but after some warm water and elbow grease and a razor blade, I brought it back to its original glory. I also like the fact that its rimless on the top. It didnt come with a stand, but I had almost enough wood in my garage that I only had to spend about 10$ in additional wood to make the stand that I have built as of right now. The stand is still in the process of being built, need to make it look nice before the wife will allow it in the house, haha.

Issues that I am running into:
How to hook up the two powerheads that are built in? I could hook up my Fluval 404 as the openings are 3/4" which is the same opening of the fluval. I bought the same customflo kit that jblaylock used in his tank, so I dont need to hook it into their, but I am not sure if I should just buy a pump and hook it into each powerhead. Any suggestions?

How to plug up/use the overflow box with a 2"opening with my Fluval? I was thinking of just plugging it up but I havent decided what is the best route to go with it or how to plug it up just yet.

Well anyways any thoughts or suggestions are welcome and I think josh and myself might be going sampling/collecting next week, which will be the first time in a long time. Looking forward to that.

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#2 Michael Wolfe

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Posted 12 March 2012 - 05:50 PM

Looks like a neat project... would make for an interesting atypical darter tank... instead of the flow moving from side to side you could use the overflow to a sump below the tank and them use a couple of pumps to return the water through the attached nozzles and just have them blast straight out. Might create a nice couple of flows... only porblem is your fish might all decide to face the back of the tank!
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin

#3 Guest_gdthom2_*

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Posted 12 March 2012 - 06:38 PM

Good point on the darters facing the back. I wonder if there is any way I could set my fluval up somehow to be the sump. I really dont want to have a huge tub/tank underneath for a sump take. Hmm I dont know, I will have to think about it more. Any other suggestions on what to do with that overflow box?

#4 Guest_frigginchi_*

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Posted 12 March 2012 - 08:34 PM

You can always plumb both of the out flows to the left or right, whichever prefer, with pvc painted black and attach the directional nozzles to the ends. I'd plumb the closer one near the bottom since it will have a stronger flow and the further one near the top to ripple the top of the water.

#5 Guest_steve_*

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Posted 12 March 2012 - 08:45 PM

I love the dimensions of that tank. I've often thought that if I built a tank or had one custom made, I would have it built to similar dimensions.
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Any other suggestions on what to do with that overflow box?


After reading a few posts about algae scrubbers for biological filtration, I've taken an interest in doing a little research on them. It looks like one would be really easy to build, and fairly cheap. I'm planning on building one for my 150, but unfortunately I don't have an overflow like your tank does, so I'll probably set it above the tank and pump the water from the tank to the algae scrubber and let it flow back in. I've added a couple links to DIY instructions if you're interested. If you scroll down to look at the numbers, it looks like a 60 gallon would only take a 6"X10" or 8"X8" screen.

http://www.livingree...ber-t32422.html

http://www.livingree...diy-t16734.html

Not sure if you're interested in that sort of thing, but, since I've been looking at them, it was the first thing I thought of when you mentioned wondering what to do with the overflow.


EDIT:my wording didn't make sense. still might not.

Edited by steve, 12 March 2012 - 08:56 PM.

#6 Guest_gdthom2_*

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Posted 13 March 2012 - 02:05 PM

You can always plumb both of the out flows to the left or right, whichever prefer, with pvc painted black and attach the directional nozzles to the ends. I'd plumb the closer one near the bottom since it will have a stronger flow and the further one near the top to ripple the top of the water.

I like this idea, im not exactly sure how i would go about doing this, but would definitely be interesting to look into to get the flow to go the way i want it to.

As for the algae scrubber, that is an interesting idea. It sounds like creating a sump might not be a terrible idea for extra filtration.

#7 Guest_jblaylock_*

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Posted 17 March 2012 - 10:25 AM

I've got to come see this thing Gus, maybe next week... I was thinking you could remove one of the nozzles and plumb that for the intake on the filter, and you can add some additional Loc-Line flex tube (I may have some extra) to the other side and make it directional going length ways down the tank.

As for the overflow, I for sure would do the sump for extra filtration. One thing that's been key for me and my large stock of fish is over-filtration.

#8 Guest_Doug_Dame_*

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Posted 17 March 2012 - 03:42 PM

As for the overflow, I for sure would do the sump for extra filtration. One thing that's been key for me and my large stock of fish is over-filtration.

d.d.'s definition: Sump - a fish-tank sized container, in a fish-keeping environment, that is dedicated to not housing fish.

#9 Guest_gdthom2_*

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Posted 18 March 2012 - 02:19 PM

I've got to come see this thing Gus, maybe next week... I was thinking you could remove one of the nozzles and plumb that for the intake on the filter, and you can add some additional Loc-Line flex tube (I may have some extra) to the other side and make it directional going length ways down the tank.

As for the overflow, I for sure would do the sump for extra filtration. One thing that's been key for me and my large stock of fish is over-filtration.


I was thinking that was probably the best option. With the overflow, using the sump, I could almost make the other powerhead the output and us that loc-line flex tube to make the water flow in the optimal direction.

Update, I am currently working on the stand, reinforcing the middle and the sides. I like to overkill the stability aspect of a stand. Pics to come whenever I start to make it look nice.

Next Issue:

Lighting - What are some thoughts on lighting and light fixtures for a rimless tanks? My thoughts are probably to just get a cheaper fixture from Home Depot/Lowes and somehow attach it to the wall wherever I put the tank. I dont know, maybe somehow incorporate it into the stand is perhaps another option. What are your thoughts?

#10 Guest_jblaylock_*

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Posted 18 March 2012 - 04:17 PM

You could

a. make a canopy
b. hang it from the ceiling
c. hang it from the stand....like a street light, coming up from the bottom and overhanging.

#11 Guest_Yeahson421_*

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Posted 18 March 2012 - 06:11 PM

This would be nice in the sump: http://www.aquariuml...-filter/111.asp

#12 Guest_jblaylock_*

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Posted 18 March 2012 - 07:51 PM

He had something similar in a 75gal cichlid tank before, I agree we Yeahson, that would be a good use of the overflow

#13 Michael Wolfe

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Posted 18 March 2012 - 10:58 PM

I normally like the canopy idea as it is relatively eay to build and provides some "jumper prevention"... but in this case it seems like it would ruin the look of the rimless tank...

In the basement, I hang the light fixtures form the ceiling... and I knew a guy that did that in his house as well... building a nice wooden decorative cover for the shoplight... this might look very good with a rimless tank.
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin

#14 Guest_gdthom2_*

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Posted 19 March 2012 - 09:34 AM

This would be nice in the sump: http://www.aquariuml...-filter/111.asp


Yeah I had this same setup in my old 75gal and it didnt work too bad.

As far as the light fixtures go...I am debating between hanging from the ceiling like Michael Wolfe said and hanging it from the stand light street light like josh said. I like both of those ideas. Thanks for the input everyone.

#15 Guest_Yeahson421_*

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Posted 19 March 2012 - 03:45 PM

Yeah I had this same setup in my old 75gal and it didnt work too bad.

As far as the light fixtures go...I am debating between hanging from the ceiling like Michael Wolfe said and hanging it from the stand light street light like josh said. I like both of those ideas. Thanks for the input everyone.

Was it your primary filtration? I'm thinking of setting one up on my 125 to assist my FX5.

The only thing that worries me with those are, like Mr. Wolfe said, there's the threat of jumpers. Maybe you could put some clear netting over the top of the tank...

#16 Guest_schambers_*

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Posted 20 March 2012 - 02:11 PM

I have a tank with a home made light fixture that hangs over the tank. My dad took his pipe bender and bent some pipe into two "L" shapes. I spray painted them black. With some appropriate holes drilled, we screwed them to the back of the stand, one near each end. The light hangs from chains and "S" hooks. I can easily adjust the height that way, and it looks great.

Here's a picture, it doesn't really show the pipes, but you can see the light fixture hanging over the tank. There's also my answer to jumpers. I'd like to see a version of my fence made from clear acrylic, I think that would be the bomb.

http://forum.nanfa.o...__fromsearch__1

Edited by schambers, 20 March 2012 - 02:30 PM.

#17 Michael Wolfe

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Posted 20 March 2012 - 05:00 PM

Have always loved that set up... not only the hanging light... but the fish jumper screen, which also acts as the emergent vegetation area... very nice.
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin
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