125g bulid thread

[goalieman59]

So here is my craigslist find, it was a 125g tall. I got the whole set for $120 It used to be a saltwater tank. It had a sump system setup. But I will have cap all the holes in it. And do a major cleaning. Can someone telll me how to cap the holes. The tank came with a stand in canopy, the canopy has what looks like two metal halide ballast in it. So here are some pics.

 

[Blown 346]

You can cap the holes with Plastic bulkheads. Why cap them? Why not use a sump and the tank since it is drilled. You can hide all your equipment in there.

 

[goalieman59]

You can cap the holes with Plastic bulkheads. Why cap them? Why not use a sump and the tank since it is drilled. You can hide all your equipment in there.

I was told not to sump a planted tank. is this wrong to think this?

 

[Blown 346]

I was told not to sump a planted tank. is this wrong to think this?

I dont see what the problem would be, I have my planted tank sumped. Th eonly reason I can think of as to why you were told that is because of C02 being lost. But that will only happen if you have alot of surface agaitation. You can control the water returning to the tank to not have that issue.
If you plan on using pressurized Co2, you could place the co2 line next to the return pump (which retunrs water from the sump to the tank) and let the pumps impellar chop up the c02 and bring it to the tank. That will also let you not have a co2 line in the tank.

Here is my planted sumped tank. Its still new which is the reason for not heavily planted yet.

Sump setup.

 

[goalieman59]

I am worried about gasing off the co2, I had to cut one of the pvc tubes off on the right hand side of the tank cause the person had glued it in and I had no way to clean the tank. But I think I have decided to cap all of the holes and use the back as where i can put my input and outputs for the canisters , I can also have my heaters in the back part of the tank. Does this picture look like it would work for where I want things.

 

[goalieman59]

Ok so the canopy that came with the tank looks like it metal halide lights, but the wires have been cut. So I ask is there any way to check to see if they are good, and how would I re wire them.

 

[jm1212]

good luck

 

[Blown 346]

Ok so the canopy that came with the tank looks like it metal halide lights, but the wires have been cut. So I ask is there any way to check to see if they are good, and how would I re wire them.

If you have the ballasts, you will have to see what style plug the ballasts accepts. But a cord that will plug into the ballasts, and just rewire them together with solder and then electrical tape the wires.

 

[goalieman59]

Started to plug all the holes tonight, will get pics when I get a chance. I had to resilcone some of the caps to make sure they didnt leak, after one of them started to leak. 48 then off to water testing.

 

[goalieman59]

So went to screw in all the bulkheads last night to find out the on of the bulkhead nuts was not set right so I had to start the silicone process all over. I will be cleaning the tank tonight, will it be ok to use a steam cleaner? I have to some mod to the tank and the grid the guy i bought it from was using to stop thing from coming into his sump.