My slow 135g build

[JoJo]

The teeth on my overflow are 2" below the rim of the tank so I figure when the pumps are off 2" of water will drain back into the sump using this calculator Aquarium Calculators that equals out to about 12 gallons, and if i make the baffle in the 55g sump 6" from the top it will allow 15 gallons to drain when power is off. so i will be heading to the glass shop to get those baffles cut later.

[tbittner]

Sounds like you thought it all out and are planning accordingly.

Don't be surprised if you get surprised about something though.

It never fails....

[JoJo]

Tell me about it, i never get things right out the first try. its atleast two attempts before its 90% right. oh well, heading to the glass shop

[JoJo]

back from the glass shop with 4 pieces of 1/4" 12 x 11 3/4 glass. i'm doing the final measurements and then it will be off to HD for the plumbing. I've been really congested due to a cold so maybe some PVC glue fumes will open my nasal passages!

[JoJo]

I may have made a mistake, after check out Meleves site I notice the baffles closest to the return pump are shorter than the rest. all my baffles were cut to the same height, with the one being 1" of the floor of the sump. Is this going to create a problem?

[tbittner]

No, it won't cause a problem. But I'm a little confused. Are ALL the baffles cut to the same length? And then when you mount the baffles, the bubble trap baffles will stick up an inch above the rest. Right?

[JoJo]

right, that should give me the same result right? I figured as long as the water had to job into the last baffle column, it would serve the same purpose. My other question is there will be three baffle on the drain side and only one on the return side but it should be enough to keep the bubble from the return pump right?

[tbittner]

You want the water to flow through the 3 baffles after leaving the skimmer. That will eliminate all (most) bubbles from leaving the skimmer compartment. Your first diagram doesn't show which compartment is the skimmer section.

[JoJo]

Ok, after an arguement with the clerk, calling Dap & another arguement with the same clerk I got it. This is what will be used on the baffles of the sump.

[JoJo]

yea that was just a rough sketch of which side the fuge would be. The skimmer/DT drain will be opposite the fuge side.

[JoJo]

I have to go up into the loft and bring that skimmer down so i have an exact footprint before i start setting the baffles in place. I think I may be more nervous about this build than I was about anything else i've done to my house

[tbittner]

And with good reason! Fortunately, all of my mini disasters occurred in the basement. I DO have carpet in the basement and now I'm in the process of ripping it out and laying down tile. I already did the hard part, pulling up the carpet under the 150g and replacing it with tile. I used a 3 ton floor jack to lift the tank, pull the carpet, lay down the tile, and gently lower the tank back onto it. Worked like a charm.

[JoJo]

been there, fat @ss cat over turned the 40 plant tank in our condo, THATS how it ended up being tile through out it. Luckily the carpet acted as a sponge, to keep from soaking my down stairs neighbors. I cannot afford that in our new house, i have to triple check myself before I get the tank wet. I'm still expecting flaw & surprised but hopefully I can catch them quickly

[tbittner]

That's the beauty of having well placed ball valves that are easy to get to.

[JoJo]

quick skimmer shot, its a generic version of the Coralife superskimmer 220-$100, the black pump is the one that came with it. The Surge (660gph) will be used in the ATO tub.