Mode Infinity 135g Build Thread

[Viet658]

Starting up a new Mode Infinity 135g build. Going to be transferring most of my equipment from my existing 100g.
As most have mentioned communication is challenging with Mode Aquarium. For me they were most responsive via Facebook Messenger. I did local pick up.

 

[S.Pepper]

GL on the new build. I assume you know Inappropriate Reefer on youtube has a Infinity 135.

Agreed, the best way to contact Eddie is thru facebook messenger, but I did get him on the phone several times.

 

[Viet658]

Switched some pipes around to get the lower height on the emergency without having to cut anything. Removed the Dorso attachments to make a herbie setup as well. Luckily none of it was glued in advance. I’ve heard others say that the way Mode has it setup with the durso is louder.

 

[Viet658]

GL on the new build. I assume you know Inappropriate Reefer on youtube has a Infinity 135.

Agreed, the best way to contact Eddie is thru facebook messenger, but I did get him on the phone several times.

Thanks Pepper. I learned a lot from your thread that helped me get going.

 

[S.Pepper]

Switched some pipes around to get the lower height on the emergency without having to cut anything. Removed the Dorso attachments to make a herbie setup as well.

Be careful on the emergency overflow. If it's too short, water will flow into it. Inappropriate reefer did that and needed to get a new pipe for the emergency overflow. I left mine alone and it has worked out great.

I think everyone that has gotten an Infinity has taken off the dorso fitting. It doesn't work very well. Unfortunately, they decided to glue mine on. It wasn't a big deal, as i cut it off.

 

[S.Pepper]

Thanks Pepper. I learned a lot from your thread that helped me get going.

Cool. Really glad I could help. One of the reasons I did the thread.

 

[Viet658]

Dry fitted everything and bummer missing an elbow so can’t glue everything tonight. Gonna try to pick up the elbow from Mode tomorrow. As others have said Mode uses metric plumbing so you can’t just go to Home Depot.

 

[Viet658]

Be careful on the emergency overflow. If it's too short, water will flow into it. Inappropriate reefer did that and needed to get a new pipe for the emergency overflow. I left mine alone and it has worked out great.

I think everyone that has gotten an Infinity has taken off the dorso fitting. It doesn't work very well. Unfortunately, they decided to glue mine on. It wasn't a big deal, as i cut it off.

According to the website below it mentions that the emergency should be about 1/2” below the weir. The way I have it now I’m actually still above the weir by about 1”. I’m more concerned that it’s not low enough

Herbie Overflow Plumbing Guide for Quiet Reef Aquariums - gmacreef

The Herbie method can quiet down your aquarium drain and eliminate microbubbles. The guide includes helpful diagrams and explains each component.

gmacreef.com

 

[Viet658]

A friend of mine suggested I use double sided tape and attach the excess leveling pad to the doors so they don’t slide on slippery surfaces like my flooring when the doors are off. Working so far.

 

[S.Pepper]

According to the website below it mentions that the emergency should be about 1/2” below the weir. The way I have it now I’m actually still above the weir by about 1”. I’m more concerned that it’s not low enough

Herbie Overflow Plumbing Guide for Quiet Reef Aquariums - gmacreef

The Herbie method can quiet down your aquarium drain and eliminate microbubbles. The guide includes helpful diagrams and explains each component.

gmacreef.com

I would suggest seeing how it works before you make any permanent changes. Like I said, Inappropriate reefer cut his emergency overflow pipe before he had water in his tank and it ended up being too short. Do what works for you, but I personally would use the intended pvc pipe and trim it after you have the system filled with water.

Whatever u do, don't glue that pipe into the bulkhead.

 

[Viet658]

I would suggest seeing how it works before you make any permanent changes. Like I said, Inappropriate reefer cut his emergency overflow pipe before he had water in his tank and it ended up being too short. Do what works for you, but I personally would use the intended pvc pipe and trim it after you have the system filled with water.

Whatever u do, don't glue that pipe into the bulkhead.

Thanks for the tip Pepper. Yeah I don’t plan to glue anything inside of the overflow. The pipe that I switched it with is one of the last pipes for the drain into the sump so that won’t be glued either. I can easily swap the pipes back to their original configuration if needed.

 

[Viet658]

Got the missing elbow. Glue time. I used a one step primer and cement in one. Oatey Fusion. Hopefully no leaks. Used masking tape as suggested by someone on this forum to keep the glue from getting everywhere.

 

[S.Pepper]

Got the missing elbow. Glue time. I used a one step primer and cement in one. Oatey Fusion. Hopefully no leaks. Used masking tape as suggested by someone on this forum to keep the glue from getting everywhere.

Yep, that oatey fusion worked very well for me. Almost a year and no leaks. I used painter's tape, but same difference. GL with the plumbing. It was the first time I had done anything like this, but it ended up going smoothly. Remember, if this is your first time gluing pvc, to hold/push the pieces together for 5-10 seconds: they tend to separate a little--I guess it's a chemical reaction.

 

[Viet658]

First time doing plumbing. Tested with half filled to make sure no leaks. Sure enough there is a leak. Lol. As least my pvc glueing wasn’t too bad. No leaks there. Lesson I learned is to tighten bulkheads from the waterside not the outside otherwise you will get a leak.

 

[S.Pepper]

Excellent! Yeah, I had a small leak at first at the bulkhead. What helps is to use vaseline like substance on the o-rings--sorry, i forgot what it's called. lol Anyway, congrats!!

 

[Viet658]

Finished the transfer. Not much I could do with the aqua scaping since my old rocks were full of coral. Might try to tweak things later but at least the transfer is complete.

 

[S.Pepper]

Looking good. dude, u may need a bigger tank... this one's already filled. lol

I bet ur glad that's over. I know how much work was involved in getting the tank to this point.

 

[Viet658]

Looking good. dude, u may need a bigger tank... this one's already filled. lol

I bet ur glad that's over. I know how much work was involved in getting the tank to this point.

Yeah it was tiring weekend. Fun but tiring.

 

[JCM]

Looks great! Following along, the infinity series is top of my list for a new tank. The metal stand and external overflow are huge pluses.

 

[Viet658]

Be careful on the emergency overflow. If it's too short, water will flow into it. Inappropriate reefer did that and needed to get a new pipe for the emergency overflow. I left mine alone and it has worked out great.

I think everyone that has gotten an Infinity has taken off the dorso fitting. It doesn't work very well. Unfortunately, they decided to glue mine on. It wasn't a big deal, as i cut it off.

I believe the trick to getting the correct emergency pipe height is to set it to the height you want your water level in the display to be at. The overflow on this tank is different than traditional tanks so if you don’t set the height this way then you will be playing with the gate valve/return pump settings continuously. The emergency pipe is still a bit too high for my liking since it’s so close to the top of the overflow. Might lower it a small amount. The key here is to not go by the recommendation of other websites which say 1/2” below the weir. If you do that the water level in the display will be really low.