Connecting Mag 7 to drilled aquarium

[RSS]

I am setting up a 90g drilled aquarium. It's seems like the return adapter is 3/4" and my Mag 7 output is 1/2", what size tubing do I need to connect the pump to return adapter. Do I need some kind of adapter? I am planning on putting flexible tube. Thanks!

[tsunderl]

Home Depot or Lowes should be able to fix ya up. Sounds like you will need a reducer and they have the flexible hose too. Plumbing department. :)

[rolloffhill]

Yup, I would get a threaded adapter to take if from 1/2" to 3/4" then go with a barbed fitting and run 3/4" hose. But that is me...:)

[biggin]

Keep in mind you will need a bulkhead.... HD will not have one. There are DIY ideas but IMO just spend the $10ish and get one it is not worth the headache if it fails.

[RSS]

Thanks for the ideas. I will go the HD and get a convertor. Also, I see lots of these setups where they have ball valves connected. Do I need one?

[rolloffhill]

Not really, I have one but don't use it. Only if you need to cut the flow down

[RSS]

Keep in mind you will need a bulkhead.... HD will not have one. There are DIY ideas but IMO just spend the $10ish and get one it is not worth the headache if it fails.

Sorry I don't know much about plumbing. What's the purpose of a bulkhead? Where do I need to connect it (output of mag 7?) btw the mag 7 had a 2" PVC attached to it which has threads inside is that a bulkhead?

[rolloffhill]

http://www.aquariumpros.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/P1BHSX.jpg

It makes the connection for the drilled tank.

[biggin]

Bulkhead connects your pipe to your aquaruim to avoid any leaking.

This site has some good pics of a bulkhead in action.

http://www.petsforum.com/personal/trevor-jones/bulkhead_modifications.html

Your location says Carrollton if you want to come by I can show you the plumbing for my 180g yours will be basically the same thing.

[RSS]

It makes the connection for the drilled tank.


Thanks a lot! now I have a clear picture of the setup in my mind. Can't wait to get the aquarium up and running. I love this forum. thanks once again.

[RSS]

Bulkhead connects your pipe to your aquaruim to avoid any leaking.

This site has some good pics of a bulkhead in action.

http://www.petsforum.com/personal/trevor-jones/bulkhead_modifications.html

Your location says Carrollton if you want to come by I can show you the plumbing for my 180g yours will be basically the same thing.


Thanks!! I think I got the picture of how to connect the tubing. I will certainly contact you if I need to look at a setup. I really appreciate the offer.

[tsunderl]

Word of advice... Make sure you have the gaskets in the correct place before adding water. It goes on the inner side of the tank, not the outter side. And no, I'm not telling how I discovered that there is a freakin' difference!!! http://www.pushupstairs.com/images/emoticon/neptune/Animated/Angry/angry044.gif

[RSS]

Word of advice... Make sure you have the gaskets in the correct place before adding water. It goes on the inner side of the tank, not the outter side. And no, I'm not telling how I discovered that there is a freakin' difference!!! http://www.pushupstairs.com/images/emoticon/neptune/Animated/Angry/angry044.gif


"no, I'm not telling how I discovered that there is a freakin' difference!!! " that's funny :) thanks for the heads up.

[tsunderl]

Let's just say there's a lot of water that goes into the overflow box when the tank gets full enough to start filling it. http://www.pushupstairs.com/images/emoticon/neptune/Animated/Stunned/stunned012.gif (Yeah, next time I'll fill the overflow first and see if Niagra Falls ensues.)

[biggin]

roflmao

I knew there was a reason I did that...

Clean surfaces also help when putting in a bulk head. that was my problem... crap getting stuck between the gasket and the tank surface....

Let's just say there's a lot of water that goes into the overflow box when the tank gets full enough to start filling it. http://www.pushupstairs.com/images/emoticon/neptune/Animated/Stunned/stunned012.gif (Yeah, next time I'll fill the overflow first and see if Niagra Falls ensues.)

[AndrewH]

Also, I'd recommend getting the threaded bulkheads if you have the option over slip fit.

[RSS]

Thanks everyone for the great tips, hopefully I fill finish hooking it up by this weekend and will update how things went.

btw I bought a used utility pump from my LFS just as a precaution :)

[RSS]

I was finally able to connect the intake and return to the drilled aquarium and everything went smoothly. The idea of filling the overflox box first was a great one.
One issue that I observed was the noise from the Mag 7, I have it submerged in the wet/dry filter, and was expecting it to be as quiet as my XP3 canister. I bought the pump used. Are they usually a bit loud?

[biggin]

Actually it seems that they get a little quieter over a couple of days..... but not as quiet as a canister.

[RSS]

That's good to know. I am planning on transferring my fishes on sunday. I was thinking of running the canister filter from my established 55g for a week or so in the new aquarium in conjunction with the wet/dry and also moving some of the ceramic rings from my HOB and some lava rocks to the wet/dry. Do I need to worry about cycling?

[tsunderl]

Glad everything went together smoothly for you. I have an external pump on my 180 that sounds like a refridgerator running all the time. Annoyed us at first, but we got used to it.

How many fish are you planning to transfer at once? And what kind? Cycling a tank is one of those subjective things that everybody does different. I cycled my 180 for 10 days and my 135 for two weeks.

[AndrewH]

I cycled my 90 for 2 days after upgrading from an established 55 (everything in the 55 went into the 90, added 35 gallons of water, then put all of the fish in 2 days later).

[RSS]

I have around 21 African cichlids (malawian & victorians), I was thinking once the 90g tank temperature and ph level is close to my 55g I can start running my canister filter and then transfer the fishes and then after a few days remove the canister and let the wet/dry take over. The guys at the LFS told me that since I have my old filter plus the lava rocks, I don't have to worry about cycling as long as I use the old stuff for a while in the new tank. I am trying to play it safe and making sure that there are no risk.

[biggin]

I brought mine up to temperature and moved the filter material and moved fish.... no cycle time as long as your water is good and well conditioned I think you will be fine.

[RSS]

I brought mine up to temperature and moved the filter material and moved fish.... no cycle time as long as your water is good and well conditioned I think you will be fine.

Did you transfer any of the water from your old aquarium?

[biggin]

No, I did not feel it was necessary, basically just did a real good job with Chloram-x(sp) to make sure there would not be any or very little ammonia got it up to temp and let everyone loose.

Did you transfer any of the water from your old aquarium?

[biggin]

One thing to keep in mind I seasoned my filter media a head of time and I hooked up a XP3 that is well seasoned....

[RSS]

One thing to keep in mind I seasoned my filter media a head of time and I hooked up a XP3 that is well seasoned....

Thanks for the tip. I am giong to hook up my xp3 today and let it run. I will probably transfer all it's media in the wet/dry filter and also the media from my aqua clear hob.

[biggin]

What are you going to do with the Xp3?

[RSS]

What are you going to do with the Xp3?

Initially I was planning to keep it as a backup, but since my tank is in the wall and has a wood cabinet on the top I can't hook it up. I will most likely sell it. It's only 1 year old.

[RSS]

I was planning on transferring mish fishes over today, but my ammonia level still seems to be at 0.5ppm. I did 25% water change yesterday, and just did 50% water change. I squeezed the sponge from my HOB filter and also transfered the media from xp3 into my wet/dry. Should I wait a few more day?

[biggin]

How are the fish doing?