Loco's 59g rimless tank build

[lnevo]

The openings are pretty small. Maybe 1/2". Its also pretty rigid. Its holding itself in place pretty good..

[londonloco]

OK, so then the egg crate has the same size openings.  Let me throw this thing together, I'll post pics if it works....thanks again. 

[londonloco]

Ok, done.  Looks horrible.  But I'm thinking if I get black egg crate, or gutter guard, and size it to hang down about 1/2 of what it is now, it will look a little better....

 

 

It also raises my screen top about 1/8" in back, which is not the end of the world I guess.

 

Here's a pic of the nem in a cup:

 

 

 

Let's see what today brings......

 

 

[YHSublime]

I have had nems slip through things tinier than eggcrate holes, you would be surprised! I would still be wary if it makes its way to the top there.

[londonloco]

Thinking the same thing....but this will stop fish from finding it's way to the overflow, needed to be done since my clown slipped down to my sump.  

 

Sigh...let's see what today brings. 

[Jason Rhoads]

You could also use some flat black spray paint on the egg crate. Krylon makes on that is safe for use in SW aquariums after curing for a day. 

[londonloco]

Yeah, I know that def works for fw spraybars, but I've read that if that painted plastic is exposed to an overflow, it will flake off over time.  I def don't want that.  I guess the water flowing over the plastic makes it flake?  Anyone here have any experience with that?

[epleeds]

you could have Adam make you a cover out of black acrylic and put some "teeth" into it for the water flow.  That way you could just pop it off and clean it when you need too.

[monkiboy]

yeah, i think maybe covering the overflow isn't a good idea. it kind of defeats the efficiency of your design and really isn't going to keep your nem from getting through. if you have a nem that is reaching higher and higher like that and making moves for the overflow it's going to get down there. i think i rather get down in one piece into a filter sock then get chopped in pieces by slicing itself through the gutter guard. i think you had a good idea of putting it in the cup/bowl and hopefully it gets comfortable there and stops moving. in the right environment they will move less and stay situated but you know this. nems love to have their foot deep into rock crevices with their oral disc exposed during the day. so if it moves again towards the pump or overflow and you know you have adequate lighting for it, then try to get it's foot deep into a rock crevice that would be ideal for it in your tank. you don't want to be constantly pestering it and touching it but you don't want to lose it either so it's a bit of a dance when they go into a system they are not content with and are moving about. g'ulck!

Edited October 29, 2013 by monkiboy

[londonloco]

you could have Adam make you a cover out of black acrylic and put some "teeth" into it for the water flow.  That way you could just pop it off and clean it when you need too.

Your a genius!  Make two, so I can clean one and not have the tank exposed.....done.  TYVM

[londonloco]

yeah, i think maybe covering the overflow isn't a good idea. it kind of defeats the efficiency of your design and really isn't going to keep your nem from getting through. if you have a nem that is reaching higher and higher like that and making moves for the overflow it's going to get down there. i think i rather get down in one piece into a filter sock then get chopped in pieces by slicing itself through the gutter guard. i think you had a good idea of putting it in the cup/bowl and hopefully it gets comfortable there and stops moving. in the right environment they will move less and stay situated but you know this. nems love to have their foot deep into rock crevices with their oral disc exposed during the day. so if it moves again towards the pump or overflow and you know you have adequate lighting for it, then try to get it's foot deep into a rock crevice that would be ideal for it in your tank. you don't want to be constantly pestering it and touching it but you don't want to lose it either so it's a bit of a dance when they go into a system they are not content with and are moving about. g'ulck!

I actually have an order in with Adam for 2 smoke black covers for the overflow, this just changes the build a little  

[londonloco]

double post.....

Edited October 29, 2013 by londonloco

[londonloco]

I spent most of the morning cleaning up the egg crate and adding sides to the cover.  This is how it looks now:

 

My white lights are ramping up, nem is staying put:

 

 

This is not my first time doing this.  My 120g had a nem that wouldn't leave it's bowl either.....

[Jason Rhoads]

Yeah, I know that def works for fw spraybars, but I've read that if that painted plastic is exposed to an overflow, it will flake off over time.  I def don't want that.  I guess the water flowing over the plastic makes it flake?  Anyone here have any experience with that?

 

I realize you are not going this route anymore (the professional overflow covers will look much better, good call), but I have my return line painted in this manner and have not seen any paint flaking off from the water. Granted, I have only had it up for 7 months, but I don't see any reason for it to start now. 

[londonloco]

I realize you are not going this route anymore (the professional overflow covers will look much better, good call), but I have my return line painted in this manner and have not seen any paint flaking off from the water. Granted, I have only had it up for 7 months, but I don't see any reason for it to start now. 

Actually, I think if I could paint this one, then I would only have to have Adam make me one, using this one during cleaning times.  Which saves me $$, so TY Jason.  Would you tell me how you painted your return lines....did you take sandpaper to them before?  Do you remember which Kryon you used exactly?  How many days did you let them dry out?

[BowieReefer84]

Here is a good mod for the skimmer you have:

skimmer 2 by mteske1, on Flickr

skimmer 3 by mteske1, on Flickr

[londonloco]

I saw that once before, maybe on a thread you posted.  So...how does the pump stay on the protein skimmer?  Did you leave anything at all stucking up?  Def will try this soon.....Thanks!

[BowieReefer84]

Yea, there will still be a small lip for it to rest on the pump.  I just used a fine blade hack saw, and finished with some sand paper.  I think it works well, and seems to lessen the microbubbles.

[Jason Rhoads]

Actually, I think if I could paint this one, then I would only have to have Adam make me one, using this one during cleaning times.  Which saves me $$, so TY Jason.  Would you tell me how you painted your return lines....did you take sandpaper to them before?  Do you remember which Kryon you used exactly?  How many days did you let them dry out?

I did take some fine sand paper to them, but I don't think it is totally necessary. Today, the places on the PVC that I did not rough up are just as coated as those that I did. 

 

The brand I used was Krylon Fusion and I let it cure for months before I put it into the tank. This was only because I did the lines well in advance of moving to the area, so time was not an issue. From what I saw while painting, I would guess a week would be more than enough time (depending on how thick you paint it that is). 

 

People have actually used pink/purple Krylon Fusion on rock to instantly give them the appearance of being covered with coralline algae. 

[londonloco]

Yea, there will still be a small lip for it to rest on the pump.  I just used a fine blade hack saw, and finished with some sand paper.  I think it works well, and seems to lessen the microbubbles.

Did it, not sure I like it.  The skimmer doesn't seem to be pulling as much skimmate as before I cut it.  Meh, I'll play with it. 

[londonloco]

I did take some fine sand paper to them, but I don't think it is totally necessary. Today, the places on the PVC that I did not rough up are just as coated as those that I did. 

 

The brand I used was Krylon Fusion and I let it cure for months before I put it into the tank. This was only because I did the lines well in advance of moving to the area, so time was not an issue. From what I saw while painting, I would guess a week would be more than enough time (depending on how thick you paint it that is). 

 

People have actually used pink/purple Krylon Fusion on rock to instantly give them the appearance of being covered with coralline algae. 

Thanks Jason, I'm going to try this....

[londonloco]

red bugs are back

 

 

FML

[wangspeed]

Erm, so are you actually 100% sure they are red bugs?  Also, FWE isn't going to do anything if they are red bugs.  You basically need to keep dipping your corals until they're dead.  Given how few you have, this should be easy.

[londonloco]

They are red, look like bugs, and are on my glass.  I have no idea what they are.  I don't want to dip my corals unless I see them on them, and I have looked.  Sigh, guess I'll just watch them and make sure they don't harm anything.....

[BowieReefer84]

Erm, so are you actually 100% sure they are red bugs?  Also, FWE isn't going to do anything if they are red bugs.  You basically need to keep dipping your corals until they're dead.  Given how few you have, this should be easy.

Not if you take out inverts and use http://www.vetproductsdirect.com.au/Vetprods/index.asp?FSCat=33&url=IND&iFromFeatured=1

 

They are red, look like bugs, and are on my glass.  I have no idea what they are.  I don't want to dip my corals unless I see them on them, and I have looked.  Sigh, guess I'll just watch them and make sure they don't harm anything.....

Picture?