Brand New 8 gallon bio cube

[LadyMac]

Ok, here ya go... she ate 3-4 pieces that size. Yes those are bigger than her head. Yes she eats like that every night. Downed almost a whole cube of mysis last night.

Her little glowy mouf

 

[Why-Me]

Ok, grey and red it is. Now the confusing complicated part begins. Threaded, slip, yada yada. I need help! I'm clueless in this department. The only thing that I'm sure of is SPEARS.

SlipxSlip glue everything together and use a bunch of unions for disassembly for cleaning/clogs/emergency

 

[Why-Me]

Grey gate valves. HD or Lowe's have those? I'd prefer grey handles too. I guess if they matched, we could be ok with another color.

You don't have to buy from BRS but this is what you want...Spears gate valve

Gate Valve Slip x Slip

Schedule 80 Spears Gate Valves will provide smooth, lasting operation while giving your aquarium a professional look. Gate valves are used for any application that requires precise control such as skimmers or silent overflows. Slip x Slip Smooth long term operation Precise tuning More...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[Why-Me]

@Katrina71
Personally I'm running one of these True Union Check Valves on both tanks, right after the return pump.

True Union Check Valve

Spears makes the highest quality True Union check valves. Use them to add a last line of defense against overflows. Check valves allow one directional water flow and are used to prevent back siphoning. They are commonly used on return pump outputs to prevent water overflowing the sump in the...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[Katrina71]

@Katrina71
Personally I'm running one of these True Union Check Valves on both tanks, right after the return pump.

True Union Check Valve

Spears makes the highest quality True Union check valves. Use them to add a last line of defense against overflows. Check valves allow one directional water flow and are used to prevent back siphoning. They are commonly used on return pump outputs to prevent water overflowing the sump in the...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

I was planning that.

 

[Katrina71]

Why doesn't plumbing just come in a box with instructions like Legos? Somebody needs to do that.

 

[Katrina71]

Clear primer and clear PVC glue? I don't want purple bleed.

 

[JoshH]

Personally I'd skip the check valve... your sump should have enough room to handle any overflow that will come down. Check valves add another layer of maintenance which can be really difficult as they usually are placed in difficult spots to access. If the aren't maintained regularly they fail, even if you do maintain them they can still fail, if you look at them funny, they can fail (Joking on that last part, Kinda...).

Alot of arguements are made they are nice to have as a backup, but if your sump is big enough to hold all the water that will drain down. Well then there really isn't a need for a backup. The only arguement worth really entertaining atleast IMO is they can maintain the level in your sump to keep the skimmer from freaking out with the change in water height.

 

[JoshH]

Clear primer and clear PVC glue? I don't want purple bleed.

Oatley makes a nice Clear primer and glue, great to work with

 

[Dixon B]

Just keep it simple for now, it sounds like this hobby isn't something you want to pump mega cash into. Just something for the kids. I'd suggest you find a matching pair of clowns, as clowns are damsel fish and at times can kill each other. Keeping low numbers and fish of similar look can help reduce that. my local fish store keeps bonded pairs, and i'm sure yours will also. As for hermit crabs and shrimp you can try a hermit and a couple shrimp. I wouldn't have too many creatures as that will raise nutrients in your tank and require water changes as a means of export more often. As it seems you don't want this hobby to become all consuming the need for less frequent water changes is probably something that will interest you....

 

[Magellan]

Just keep it simple for now, it sounds like this hobby isn't something you want to pump mega cash into. Just something for the kids. I'd suggest you find a matching pair of clowns, as clowns are damsel fish and at times can kill each other. Keeping low numbers and fish of similar look can help reduce that. my local fish store keeps bonded pairs, and i'm sure yours will also. As for hermit crabs and shrimp you can try a hermit and a couple shrimp. I wouldn't have too many creatures as that will raise nutrients in your tank and require water changes as a means of export more often. As it seems you don't want this hobby to become all consuming the need for less frequent water changes is probably something that will interest you....

This is honestly great advice! @Katrina71 remember you don’t want this hobby to become all consuming

@Dixon B this thread is perhaps incorrectly titled, but you are welcome to join! Just be prepared, the conversations don’t always revolve around saltwater

 

[Katrina71]

Oatley makes a nice Clear primer and glue, great to work with

That was my plan.

 

[Katrina71]

Personally I'd skip the check valve... your sump should have enough room to handle any overflow that will come down. Check valves add another layer of maintenance which can be really difficult as they usually are placed in difficult spots to access. If the aren't maintained regularly they fail, even if you do maintain them they can still fail, if you look at them funny, they can fail (Joking on that last part, Kinda...).

Alot of arguements are made they are nice to have as a backup, but if your sump is big enough to hold all the water that will drain down. Well then there really isn't a need for a backup. The only arguement worth really entertaining atleast IMO is they can maintain the level in your sump to keep the skimmer from freaking out with the change in water height.

You guys will have to help me literally piece by piece when I buy plumbing.

 

[Katrina71]

I want to make sure I have everything right.

 

[Fin]

What Josh said on the check valve. Even if they seem to stop the backflow, it can leak down gradually and let a lot of water past it over time. I had one of the Wye valves in mine and it would do that. I am not using one on my new tank.

I am also using the Oatey 2-1 primer and cement on my tank.

 

[Katrina71]

Sump plumbing and Google are not my friend. So many different opinions and plans and pipes and unions and...see what I mean!

 

[Katrina71]

What Josh said on the check valve. Even if they seem to stop the backflow, it can leak down gradually and let a lot of water past it over time. I had one of the Wye valves in mine and it would do that. I am not using one on my new tank.

I am also using the Oatey 2-1 primer and cement on my tank.

I didn't know they had 2-in1!

 

[Fin]

I didn't know they had 2-in1!

Yep. Solves the argument of primer or no primer.

 

[sfin52]

Just keep it simple for now, it sounds like this hobby isn't something you want to pump mega cash into. Just something for the kids. I'd suggest you find a matching pair of clowns, as clowns are damsel fish and at times can kill each other. Keeping low numbers and fish of similar look can help reduce that. my local fish store keeps bonded pairs, and i'm sure yours will also. As for hermit crabs and shrimp you can try a hermit and a couple shrimp. I wouldn't have too many creatures as that will raise nutrients in your tank and require water changes as a means of export more often. As it seems you don't want this hobby to become all consuming the need for less frequent water changes is probably something that will interest you....

Welcome to the new upgrade. We are working on a 90 cube. So much for not being all consuming. Which is sound advice.

 

[Fin]

I didn't know they had 2-in1!

It is called Fusion.