Ideas for converting Saltwater acrylic to hillstream tank..

[grizzlyone]

I've posted parts of this in the Freshwater forum but I'll do a variant here too..

I just bought a used acrylic tank with lots of crap, but don't have any idea what how all the stuff fits together. It was saltwater and I want to turn it into a hillstream freshwater. I don't know alot about saltwater tanks, but it has a hole drilled in the back, middle, bottom of the tank. I'm assuming that is for an overflow setup (its not there), just the hole.


It came with an overflow/sump/wet/dry acrylic filter box. It has an emblem "Nova max" on the box. It has 3 holes on the sides with connectors.

So, the upshot is that I have a 55 gallon acrylic with a hole drilled in the bottom. I'd like to use the sump/wet dry filter and possibly as a fry collector (seeing as Emma has been so successful )


So I'm looking for ideas


Kevin

[Martin Thoene]

Any chance of getting some decent pictures of it Kevin? It's easier to advise on hooking it all up if we can see it.

Martin.

[grizzlyone]

working on that, but you know how my pictures turn out...lol


Here's a link to the album

http://www.putfile.com/fishface1/images/123378


Cheers,

Kevin


fixed I hope....

[Martin Thoene]

Can't see the album. All I get is a login page. Is your album set so anyone can view it?

Martin.

[Diana]

Connect plumbing to the holes with bulkhead fittings.
Inside the tank make the pipe from the bottom hole tall enough so it is rather close to the water surface, do not keep it lower.
The uppermost hole(s) get the return-from-sump plumbing. This could be connected to a spray bar, or other sort of discharge part.
Measure the diameter of the holes, and go to a trusted fish store for parts. If their parts seem expensive go to a plumbing store. Just be sure the plumbing store has PVC fittings. Thin wall pipe is strong enough for this sort of work.
One of the most important (and often overlooked) parts of the system is a hole at the top of the plumbing. For more details google 'Durso Stand Pipe'
basically the plumbing will gurgle very loudly unless there is a hole in the system for air to get in. With the hole, the systems I have made work almost silently. Plug the hole and the gurgling starts.

[grizzlyone]

I saw the standpipe info when I was searching and definitely don't want the toilet flushing...lol


I understand the basic concept of the sump, but I was having trouble with all the connectors. There seem to be too many for a basic sump. It looks like it was connected in series with something else., so I'm assuming I just block the bottom pipe off?

Also, where does that white pipe thats cut go?


Also, it looks like I'm missing a baffle in the side with the two connectors? It looks like there is a place to slide it in, but nothing there. I'm not complaining, I got a excellent deal on the tank, stand and light, even if I can't use the sump/overflow.

I'm confused, but then thats a normal state...lol


I was hoping to see the complete product somewhere so that I could compare what I have with what I need to get.


I looked all around for the manufacturer, but I could only find a reference to the nova 75 and that seems to be the only one I could find.

Kevin