Help building a 60gl system

[ac7av]

Hay Loke
Just drilled my first two 2 ½ in glass holes in a piece of test glass. The holes look prity good. A little bit if chipping around the exit side. I did it two ways with and with out tape on the back. Both look about the same. Drilled the second one in ¼ the time. I’m still un sure of my self in actually drilling the side of the two 20 gallon tanks I want to drill. I’m using a bench top drill press but would like to use a cordless drill so I can feel the pressure better. How did you get the hole started by hand?

 

[Loke]

i did it by hand. i placed the bit flat on the glass and held it in place until it started making the hole. I suggest you make a template and then start drilling that way you know exactly where the hole will be.

 

[Loke]

I'll take some new pics soon

 

[Loke]

full tank shot.

couple of tester frags

a

 

[ac7av]

Very nice. Looks like you’ve been putting saltwater tanks together for years. That’s certainly a beast of a skimmer for that system. The frags look happy. What did you use for sand?

 

[Loke]

i bought some of the bio sand from petco. i only put 1 20lbs bag. just enough to cover the bottom. I have to do the aquascaping still but that wont take too much work.

 

[NaTe R]

hey joseph you should take that filter sock out of there and ony use that thing when you need too. like when cleaning the glass ect. let your protien skimmer do the water cleaning.

 

[Loke]

ok its out. thanx nate. Ill bring that frag to you today. i have been doing things around the house all day.

 

[Loke]

so the first sump didnt work the way i wanted. So i put the 20 long on. I think it came out good. i have enough room for a bigger skimmer, and a bigger return pump.

This is the bubble trap.

 

[NaTe R]

hows everything going?

 

[Loke]

tank is doind ok. I was haveing some issues with the temp. it was cause the heaters wernt turning on when they were supposed too. so i bought a new one. I am having some algee issues. I think its cause of the bulbs. but other then that its going good. water param are good. I cant wait for this thing to be fully cycled.

 

[NaTe R]

well expect the algea thats part of the cylce your waiting for. If you take a pro active aproach to removing it as much as you can you will help the process along. Have you got any fish in there yet?

 

[hank187]

looks good how do you like the swc?

 

[Loke]

i like it alot accually. it pulls alot of skimm.

 

[hank187]

I thank I might get one for this build.

 

[ac7av]

I thank I might get one for this build.

Well worth the money. I don’t think it’s the best thing available but certainly the best bang for your money. Keep an eye on the for sale forum, there has been some amazing steels on some used swc skimmers, I mean really smoking deals.


Hey Loke
How’s the tank doing? Updates, updates?

 

[Loke]

hey ac7av. tank in doing good. just letting it cycle and taking my time with it. but here is some pics.

 

[ac7av]

That’s a big fan blowing across the top of the tank. Are you having a heat issue? What’s the black round thing on the right side of the tank?

 

[Loke]

the fan is there so when i have both 250 hqi it dosnt heat up the water too much. and the big round thind is the votex power head.

 

[ac7av]

WoW!
That’s some serious light over that tank.
How does that vortex work? It doesn’t look like I see any wires to it, that must be one of the threw the glass things. Are you able to aim it or does it just stay flat on the glass?