Blog Comments

Can't speak for yours, but I drilled a couple of them on the sides and never had a problem. I've drilled 19 holes in aquaria successfully and only one unsuccessfully so far.

Usually only the bottom of tanks are tempered...55's for sure in my experience.

My understanding is that most manufacturers only temper the bottom. The sides are generally not. If you know the tanks manufacturer, I would contact them before drilling. I have drilled a standard 55 in the side panels and not had any issues.

I am pretty sure than typically all 55G tanks are tempered on all sides.

Once you get your Ca and Alk to where you want them remember its important to dose evenly. Ca and Alk have a mutal relationship. Also, if your Mg is low your going to have a tough time maintaining those parameters so Mg is just as important to dose as the other two, although you have to dose it much less frequently.

Tests this morning show that alkalinity is down to 13.8 DKH and calcium is at 320ppm. So for the next two days I guess I am going to just dose part A and test nightly to see where I am at.

Awesome job Midnight! I went to that site and checked it out. I will hopefully do that soon - I need too. I know how much you enjoyed doing the aCrylic work so if you feel like having more fun and making me one of those brackets well okay. ;-p. Good and simply DIY, thank you!

Thanks Marc, tomorrow I will take a photo of the finished product and get it posted for everyone to see.

That's great! Good job. FYI, Aquahub sells this special material that you can put in boiling water to melt it into a hanger bracket. It's neat stuff, developed for NASA. So if someone else wants to copy you, they can do that and order that stuff from the site while getting their float switches.

Or hold a bigger piece and after it has been bent and cooled, cut it down to size.

I did the same thing with 1/4" acrylic using a heat gun. With a propane torch you have to be very careful not to bubble it, or light it on fire. A welding glove helps too when bending it.

Thanks! ;-)

He's talking about www.aquahub.com - great company.

I ordered my float switches and aqualifter pump from the site marc has linked in the ATO article on his site. I will link it when I get home.

Hey Midnight, which kit did you get? Where ya get it from? I've been looking into them because if I don't remember to add water my returns start to spit out air. I raised my water-line by 3 to 4 inches to prevent this from happening, but don't want my salinity to fluctuate too much.

Hold the torch about 4-6 inchs away an move back and forth along the area you want to bend slowly. As you heat it it will start to curl up, thats when its time to heat the other side, after a few times it will be ready to bend. Be careful not to get it too hot or you will get little bubbles in the acrylic.

Cool thank you, I actually have it mid tank of 30". I have it facing up thinking that it will create more undertow and keep less stuff from settling on the bottom. One day when I can talk my wife into it, I will be getting a second one; as I can't quite make a wish wash throughout the tank. I do get a little bit of swirling, dust devil like movement at the sand but not enough for the sand to make it to the pump.

Melev is absolutely correct.

Yes, up for surface to avoid a vortex, or down to prevent drawing in sand.

if up by the surface water, I would think that the solid side should go up to help prevent a vortex drawing air in through the impellar... I don't own one though and that's just my rational thought on it