journal Need More Room - It's Rack Time!

[JohnH]

The tanks take up all the shelf footprint so I can't add vertical supports. Hopefully what I've done will be plenty enough.

[JohnH]

Ok, shelves are all reinforced. Clark Rubber was open today so I was able to get some 25mm foam as well.

So if there is some sag, the tanks should be safe.

[Robert]

Looks much more sturdy now. Youve also lost a lot of top space to put your hands in so make sure whatever you use to cover up the sides is removable (clips on off, slides on off etc)

[KiwiBigD]

What size is that stand? I'm looking for a similar one myself at present.

[JohnH]

Its 1800 tall x 900 wide x 600 deep

[JohnH]

Looks much more sturdy now. Youve also lost a lot of top space to put your hands in so make sure whatever you use to cover up the sides is removable (clips on off' date=' slides on off etc)[/quote']

Yeah, I'm thinking a hinged flap along the top of the tanks

[Squiggle]

Those shelves look awesome now, the extra beams are a bit of overkill cause the front & back beams from the rack support it laterally but it's done & the shelves will never move, also it will be a good support for your lights. With your side plates, get some double sided sticky Velcro so they will be easy to remove if needed :encouragement:

[Matty]

Looking great :), its good to see someone thinking about things and not rushing everything :), cant wait to see the finished product.

[JohnH]

My stainless steel strainers that will cover the drain on each tank arrived today. The mesh isn't as fine as I thought it would be. I'm thinking that some shrimplets may get through. Although as the drain is at the top of the tank, perhaps there will be less chance?

[Squiggle]

Cool dude, where did you get them from? :encouragement:

[torface]

You'll have to let me know how they go, I need one of these and was going to order one in the next few days.

I can't speak for JohnH but they sell them at most irrigation stores :)

[JohnH]

I got them from here http://www.duralirrigation.com.au/Product/Stainless-Steel-Strainers.html

I hope this link is allowed? Let me know if it isn't Dean and I can edit it out.

[KillieOrCory]

Hi John,

This is looking really good. How about you make me 50 of those shelves :p I was thinking about doing something similar to add extra support.

Serkan

[JohnH]

After seeing your fish room Serkan, I thought you would be the Jedi Master of these Racks lol

[Squiggle]

+1 Agree, Serkan your fish room is epic, you have to post a thread about it & update those who have seen it on the new houses progress :encouragement:

[JohnH]

A question on air vents for my drain pipes.

The red line is where I am planing to run the drain pipes from the bulkhead outlets. Above each bulkhead outlet is an air vent (green dots). Do I need to run an additional air vent (yellow line) to allow the best flow or will the ones I already have be enough?

[Squiggle]

Personally I would cause it won't really cost much extra or be hard to fit but I've been told I'm over cautious :encouragement:

[JohnH]

Yeah, it's not going to take much to add it so I will.

[BlueBolts]

Why not...won't hurt, and if you're using 20/25mm PVC pipe, you can easily just cap it off anyway....but theoritically, I don't think it's necessary.....

[JohnH]

I spent the afternoon doing the plumbing and this where I am at.

I ended up grabbing a 4800L/h pump while I got all the irrigation fittings

The pump diverts back to the input side of the sump where the K1 media will go. So the drain pipe plus the diverted pump hose should keep the K1 swirling around. I think Dean or Bluebolts mentioned this method in another thread - it's a good idea.

I have my spray bars about half way down the tank and pointing up. I did it this way as that's how it worked out with the fitting I have. Any comments on having them like this?

I also added a tap and hose fitting to the drain so I can feed fresh water into the sump and collect water from the drain when doing water changes.

Next step is to fill it all up with water and test it all out.

[Squiggle]

Wow dude, your setup is looking awesome. I like the water change tap, very cool addition & I like the way you've put the spray bar, it will create great surface agitation. I could see in your pics but have you got a tap on the inlet of each tank so you can adjust the flow so each tank is even? :encouragement:

[ineke]

I am in awe of you!!!! I would love to have that done for my tank setup but I was lost after you made the rack LOL. Looks great can't comment on the technical stuff but well done you.

Cheers

Ineke:encouragement:

[OzShrimp]

lookin good, i am dreading when it comes to doing plumbing on my rack when i get to build it

[JohnH]

There are seven taps on the pump side of the plumbing.

Tap 1 - Diverter to Sump K1

Tap 2 - Level one hose

Tap 3 - Tank 1 spray bar

Tap 4 - Tank 2 spray bar

Tap 5 - Level two hose

Tap 6 - Tank 3 spray bar

Tap 7 - Tank 4 spray bar

Filling it via the garden hose now for a test out. Fingers crossed.

[Squiggle]

Just an idea, you can fill the little section to the left of the bio balls with matrix, more surface are for bio filtration, IMO you can never have too much bio filtration. Also I'd put a couple of Purigen bags on top of the matrix for that extra polishing & also to suck up any rogue organic compounds :encouragement: