Mine is on the tank bottom, I used a 3 T fitting arangement and screens on the sides of the T's Your tank may just need one T. Hidden easily behind rockwork so you cant see it :D which I like

I agree, you can drill through the back and install a tee long leg going horizontal, install elbows on the ends of the tee pointing up to encourage the water to move in the same pattern.

OK here we go.

The returns will be constant flow from the sump, The closed loop will alternate from left to right, across the bottom of the tank. The drain for the closed loop will be just under the overflow. I dont want to place and tee in the tank as i dont want to see it. The aquascape im looking for will allow a Tee to be seen!:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2778/...4486f0d6_o.jpg

Let me know what you think!

Think you nailed it. That'll direct poop perfectly.

Yup, I like it.


PS what program you draw that in and how long did it take you?? I wouldnt even bother in Autocad with my 'skils' LOL

This is Google sketchup. Its free to download and there are quite a few demo videos out there. Once you get the hang of it, it works great. This design took me about 2 hours

You'll of course need some true union valves in the mix to allow for cleaning of the OM and your pump.

Crap i knew i forgot something!!! lol

Nice ummm, shoret's Bret LOL

Bandit,
Do you have any pics of your plumbing and returns setup??? I would like to see if you have!!

Also, do you not find that having the returns facing the sand, it creates huge holes in the sand bed from the flow???

VR

My outlets are on the tank bottom, the fronts are 45, so they shoot up and back, towards rear overflow. The rears shoot fwd, and are about 7" above the sand surface. A little bit of sand blew around at first, took me a bit to get the rocks and such in there to divert/lesen the main impact zones. Also, I'm slowly switching my sugar sand out for a touch more coarser. Well, My Checkerboard wrasse is mostly doing the sand removal LOL Atleast I;m getting a good build in my sump hahaha. But there is some spots behind the rockwork that has like 0 sand. and other spots that built to like 6" depth of sand. Don;t really have any pics, and I'm out of town at work right now.

Ok so after lots of great input from many people here is what ive come up with for the final design:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2676/...1892eb11_o.jpg

The Tank:

1.5" return from sump, splits at the TEE into 1" to go into the top of the tank. 2 elbows direct the water toward the base to start the rotation of the water.

3/4" closed loop system utilising a 2 way Oceans Motion. It draws water from just under the overflow, through the OM and then directs the water acorss the sand bed from back to front to keep detritus from settling on the bed and send it up towards the overflow.

Herbie style overflow
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2537/...14c1f355_o.jpg


The Sump:

Central return with skimmer section and fuge on either side. Drains placed side by side for more room for a skimmer and addition of a filter sock.

Return manifold feeding frag tank with expansion for future additions.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2762/...3f5b2278_o.jpg

Let me know what you think!!

VR

WOW, looks cool. But I think you need a haircut. Lookin a little ragged on the sides there LOL

looks cool, but one more input. I am not a fan of overflows with teeth, I find them loud and hard to clean. what I have been foing laitly is just having a area that is 1/2" lower than the tank walls out of plexy and rounding it over so it is smooth. I find this makes a more laminer flow which makes less noise, is more simple to keep clean, and doesn't plug up like teeth do.

Steve

I too don't run teeth. I like the smooth solid flow without them.

No teeth it is!!! Smooth is the way to go!!!!

Brazilian... :mrgreen: