Operation Young Reef, 16 year old's 75 Gallon Build Log

[joker577]

Well my dad's helpin too...I just don't want to mess anythin up lol

 

[logiktest]

Im sure you wont mess anything up. Have faith. After you silicone the first baffle you'll see how easy it can be. If your not happy with it use a razor blade to take it off, then try again.

 

[joker577]

Well I finished the sump with only 2 minor minor leaks into the compartments that i'm not too worried about so we're good there, but check this...ironically the entire front of the tank has a leak when I went to fill it up...it was basically seeping out from under so they better give me a new tank?!

 

[logiktest]

Whats leaking, the 75, or the sump?

 

[joker577]

75 gallon

 

[Damsel13]

Hi Joker...will be tagging along. Sorry about your leak and wow I am impressed about your sump. I have no sump yet...ok I have a mini sump built into the back of my tank. It is about 3 gal..

 

[joker577]

Alright, well after getting my new tank a perfecto 75 gallon corner overflow for free I set it up today, got 50 pounds of beautiful coralline covered fiji for 260$ and went about everything. Only problem is the mag 9.5 pulls too much for the 700 GPH overflow even with the elbow and I forgot to put a t-valve so I'll have to shut it off cut a piece of the tubing and put a valve in, pics tomorrow after everything clears

 

[joker577]

Also, I have another problem that needs to be addressed...after being filled I noticed I believe because of the carpet that the tank tilts from the back forward probably .5-1 cm but not from left to right...is that very serious?

 

[logiktest]

If the back of the tank is higher than the front, you may want to place some shims under the front of the tank stand.

 

[joker577]

Shims? I tried putting cardboard but it only helped a little, is it that detrimental?

 

[logiktest]

Using a piece(s) of cardboard will crush under this kind of wieght. Wooden or composit shims are far more easy to get the level you want. If your questioning if the amount of out-of-level of the tank is bad... you probably know the answer.

 

[joker577]

How would I go about fitting them under the already filled tank? Well I know the guy with the 210 gal shark reef had his crack because it was off from side to side but i didnt know about front to back

 

[joker577]

How long would you say I have to get it taken care of?

 

[logiktest]

Shims are easy. If you dont have any, you can get a pack of them at the hardware store cheap. They are shaped like a small door wedge. Starting with the sharp end, insert under stand until you get the desired level. You may want to place a shim at each end as opposed one in the center. Check for level in both front to back and side to side. If any of the shim is sticking out after you get the desired level, cut or break the excess off.

 

[joker577]

So they can slide under with that much weight? awesome

 

[logiktest]

I would take care of it asap. Yes the shims will slide right under... though you will most likely need to lightly tap on them with a hammer or mallet.

 

[Jim Hart]

The tank stand is sitting on the carpet jam, its about 1/4 inch tall. Yuk an aguarium on carpet, hard wood under the carpet? If so it may get runied, and the carpet will eventually get saturated w/ salt water and make your room stink.

 

[joker577]

I had a stud finder and tested it to make sure it was on 3 perpendicular joints, it is on carpet and one side is up about 2-3 mm. My dad is worrying about hammering the shims under there and wondering how they'll go under if the tank weighs 800 pounds

 

[joker577]

But my question thats the biggest is, will it be able to stay where its at if there's a 2-3 mm difference from the back to front?

 

[joker577]

New problem, got the tank level and everything, but now there's a durso problem. For some reason there's a hole under the return pipe right under the locline and it shoots water out of it...it's drilled and its way above the durso pipe where it already has a siphon break so i'm confused, please help me! The bottom line is the actual water line, the thing sticking out of the durso is an air tube, there's a hole on the side of it already for a siphon break so I dunno what it's for. The blue spray coming out of the return pipe is the jet stream of water coming out. The tall black line is the overflow wall