Author Topic: 46 Galon Bowfront build (Read 8072 times)

lightningfront · « **on:** December 12, 2008, 17:32:16 »

Thought I'd start a thread on the build of my first reef tank. Standard 46 gallon bowfront with an aquatic fundamentals stand that will fit a 20 tall as a sump.

Stated the build today with drilling the holes for the 3 1" bulkheads that will be my overflow.

Started by making a template in a piece of wood to drill the holes.

Holes drilled, and I didn't break the tank!

I finally got someone who know hows to cut glass at lowes so I have the galss to build the overflow box and the baffles for the sump.

jake · « **Reply #1 on:** December 12, 2008, 23:05:55 »

nice now you can breathe the tank didn't break.

Revaltion131 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 13, 2008, 09:15:47 »

Looks good so far. It'll be nice to see this completed, when you get there. You don't see many bowfronts anymore.

Joel · « **Reply #3 on:** December 13, 2008, 09:35:50 »

Looks good, interested in seeing the over flow box installed.

What did you put under the face of the tank while you drilled it - to prevent it from rocking back and forth?

Joel

jake · « **Reply #4 on:** December 13, 2008, 11:48:39 »

ya thats what we had been discussing at work was how to get it level and not pressure pointed when drilling it. I suggested a sofa ,but I doubt any wives would have that

lightningfront · « **Reply #5 on:** December 13, 2008, 13:09:28 »

Quote from: Joel on December 13, 2008, 09:35:50

Looks good, interested in seeing the over flow box installed.

What did you put under the face of the tank while you drilled it - to prevent it from rocking back and forth?

Joel

I had it laying on a folded up thick moving blanket, and put 2x4's under the blanket on both sides to keep it from rocking.

lightningfront · « **Reply #6 on:** December 13, 2008, 17:53:31 »

Got the baffles installed in the sump last night and let them dry over night. Filled with water today and tested with tap water, no leaks from compartment to compartment so thats good.

Baffles installed.

Wet Test. I just ran the return line back over into the drain chamber to run the sump. No bubbles in the pump/skimmer section so thats good. The center section will be filled with sand, live rock rubble, and cheato.

Here is the layout of the pump/skimmer section. Thanks joel.

lazylivin · « **Reply #7 on:** December 13, 2008, 22:52:04 »

Looking good

UD Flyer · « **Reply #8 on:** December 13, 2008, 23:13:42 »

If you put sand in the middle, will that restrict the flow since the middle baffle is not all the way to the bottom of the aquarium?

It looks good and you planned it out perfectly to fit a lot of stuff in a little space.

lightningfront · « **Reply #9 on:** December 13, 2008, 23:51:09 »

Quote from: UD Flyer on December 13, 2008, 23:13:42

If you put sand in the middle, will that restrict the flow since the middle baffle is not all the way to the bottom of the aquarium?

It looks good and you planned it out perfectly to fit a lot of stuff in a little space.

I put the baffle 3.5" from the bottom of the tank and plan on running a 1.5-2" sand bed so it won't obstruct the flow. That baffle it just a bubble trap to keep bubbles out of the pump chamber

Joel · « **Reply #10 on:** December 14, 2008, 07:39:21 »

A sand bed that shallow won't do much beneficial for the aquarium. Closer to 6 inches will be thick enough to have the benefits that a RDSB will do. If it's an option, a minor modification to accommodate this would make a major differance for your aquarium in the long run.

Joel

lightningfront · « **Reply #11 on:** December 14, 2008, 10:09:49 »

I'm planning on running a 6" DSB in the main tank. I didn't think you needed a DSB in the sump.

So unless you run a DSB there is no point in sand in the sump?

Joel · « **Reply #12 on:** December 14, 2008, 13:33:00 »

A deep sand bed in the display tank can become a problem in time. Debris over time can settle into the sand and in some cases become a nutrient sink. This can cause major algae issues. Also, the fine sand can get blown around by recirculation pumps.

A RDSB typically does not develop these problems because we have more control over debris getting to it.

lightningfront · « **Reply #13 on:** December 14, 2008, 14:28:42 »

So even with the proper clean up crew of sand sifting stars, snails, and fish a deep sand bed in the display tank is bad?

My skimmer is designed to run in 6-8 inches of water. If I raise the water level in the sump I would have to raise the skimmer, but I only have 6" with it at this level before it contacts the bottom of the stand.