55” x 19” x 19” begins!

[Josh24]

55” x 19” x 19” begins!

Well the planning anyway. I have sat down and thought through the process of how I want the tank to perform and look. The tank will be created to provide healthy homes for mainly LPS corals but still be able to host a small sampling of SPS.

Below I have provided a detailed tank graphic & the equipment I expect to use. Many of the pieces I have selected due to the energy efficiency.



Please feel free to comment on my equipment selections, as I would definitely like your feedback! I really only want to do this once, please help me make sure I do it right the first time.

Tank: 86 gallons - 55” x 19” x 19” – (located on main floor)
1 – 2” return to sump
1 – 2” return to closed loop pump
1 – 1 ½ ” from sump to tank
4 – ¾” from closed loop to tank
Sump: 50 gallon tank – (located in basement)
Pump (return): Sequence Reef-Flo External Water Pump - Dart (3600GPH)
After 10 ft. climb to main floor 2107 GPH
Does anyone know how many watts these things burn an hour?
Pump ( loop): Sequence Reef-Flo External Water Pump - Dart (3600GPH)
After 6 ft. climb & 4 exits 920 GPH
Heater: Ebo-Jagar 250 watt heater in sump
Lighting: Still a question mark? Either of these two
60” Hamilton Technology Deluxe MH Fixture
2 – 250 20,000 Bulbs & 2 x 96 watt PC.
OR
T5 – watts & number TBD – suggestions required
Skimmer: Suggestions required
Fish: Yellow Tang, Hippo Tang, Royal Gramma, Percula Clowns x 2, Orchid
Dottyback, Purple Firefish x 2 & Scooter Blenny = Total of 9 fish
Corals: Hammer Corals, Frogspawn, Zoos, Red Brain, Plate Coral, Candy Cane, Bubble Coral, Acropora, Devils Hand & Leathers.

Summary: Please feel free to provide feedback on equipment and more importantly the way I have setup plumbing & flow lines. All and any feedback is appreciated. I will update as I make purchases and setup the tank.

Thanks again

[Josh24]

Bump.
Just looking for some feedback from those more experienced then I.

Thanks

[Johnny Reefer]

I'm no expert, but one thing that jumps out to me is your sump feed and return are right next to each other. Personally, I would provide some separation of those so as to avoid the sump return water being taken in by the sump feed line before it gets a chance to circulate in the display tank. JMO.

Skimmer: Euro Reef. At least a RS 100 but a RS 135 would rock.

Cheers,

[Josh24]

Thanks Mark ill check out the skimmers you recomended & make some modifications to the plumbing as you mentioned.

Do you think the pumps I have outlined will provide enough flow given the size of plumbing and locations?

[Johnny Reefer]

Originally Posted by Josh24

Do you think the pumps I have outlined will provide enough flow given the size of plumbing and locations?

Well the total flow of 3,027 GPH seems adequate. That'd give you ~35x turnover per hour. The positioning looks good to me otherwise, but again, I'm no expert and have no experience with closed loops or external water pumps. Maybe some else can chime in on that. (I use a big honkin' powerhead for my sump return).

The only other thing that comes to mind is to make sure your linear overflow length is adequate to handle the 2,107 GPH sump return. There is a calculator for this on Reef Central...if your not already familiar with it.

Cheers,

[Josh24]

Thanks Mark.

I don't intend to use a traditional over flow but rather 2 - 2" 90 degree PVC pipes. 1 will feed the sump the other will feed the closed loop. Does anyone see this as being a problem?

This is what Reef Central calculator provided for the Sump Return
Using the following input parameters
Gallons per Hour = 2100

Drain and Overflow sizes are calculated as
Recommended minimum drain pipe diameter = 1.89 inches
Recommended minimum linear overflow size = 32 inches

This is what the Reef Central calculator provided for the Closed Loop Return
Using the following input parameters
Gallons per Hour = 920

Drain and Overflow sizes are calculated as
Recommended minimum drain pipe diameter = 1.25 inches
Recommended minimum linear overflow size = 14 inches

This seems werid as Im using the same type of pump for both the closed loop & the sump return and the GPH is extremely different. Can anyone explain why that is?

[mark]

Couple of things.

I've got a Dart and had the impression they are a hi volume but low head pump. Good for CL, but not return, might want to recheck the curves.
http://www.mdminc.com/Dart.htm 50g isn't that big of a sump, specially considering it won't be filled to the top, sure you would want that much flow anyway through it?

For the CL intake could have it lower to help move the water a bit more. Also the flow seems very low.

If the CL intake is below the water line (for it to be a CL) make sure you don't have any vertical head in the calculator.

Pump curves:
http://www.reefs.org/library/pumps/

[Johnny Reefer]

Originally Posted by Josh24

I don't intend to use a traditional over flow .....

Yes, of course. My bad. Time to go to bed

Cheers,

[Josh24]

Mark,

QUOTE:
For the CL intake could have it lower to help move the water a bit more. Also the flow seems very low.

Thats what I thought but thats what the calculator kicked out! The pump will be located 6' below the tank but Im suprised the the GPH is that low.

QUOTE:
I've got a Dart and had the impression they are a hi volume but low head pump. Good for CL, but not return, might want to recheck the curves.
http://www.mdminc.com/Dart.htm 50g isn't that big of a sump, specially considering it won't be filled to the top, sure you would want that much flow anyway through it?

I checked the link provided and the return pump is listed at 2000 GPH with 10 ft. of head. Should I be concerned about the sump only being 50 gallons considering the main tank is only about 86 gallons? What would be the downside to having that much flow through the sump?

[mark]

The RC calculator might have a short coming handling a CL with multiple outlets and I think I see what you did. Entering 3/4" for pipe size, calculator restricts the pump outlet to 3/4" where as more likely you'll come of 1.5" then go to a manifold to split.

I looked at the curve also and for 10' head get 1200gph. Take a look at a pressure pump something like an Iwaki RLT series from the reefs.org.

The sump size in itself isn't a problem just having a really high flow could lead to microbubbles and having the lower flow helps detritus settle.

My system is similiar to what you're planning. I have a 145g/75g sump, Dart on CL, inlet 2", connected through a OM 4way going to 4-1" outlets. I'm feeding my basement sump through 2-2" drains (conventional overflows with Dursos) and returning with an Iwaki 70RLT and 1". Off the Iwaki probably getting 1000gph and pump runs a little over 2amp. My thoughts for flow was to rely on the CL for circulation, the flow to the sump really is only to feed the skimmer, heaters and some mechanical filtration.