Elaborate Tank Diagram...what do you think?

[Anonymous]

This is just the main tank; I'm working on the sump and associated eqpt. diagram as I write this. It ends up being about 30 gallons. It should be clear from the diagram, but the flow is from a Turbelle Stream pump model 6000 (660-1850 gph) hidden in the overflow area and a Mag 2 (250 gph) on a closed loop underneath the tank with a SCWD. The sump return will be from a Maxijet 1200 (295 gph at 0 head, so probably around 150 gph). I plan on keeping SPS corals in this tank, and maybe some LPS near the bottom. And yes, my live rock is really that pretty.

I'm still undecided on glass vs. acrylic. Both will end up being about the same price.

Soooo...what do you think? Suggestions? Any idiotic mistakes I'm making?

 

[Anonymous]

Other than spending boo koo time on diagrams, no, I think the set up looks fantastic!

 

[Anonymous]

Here's the sump. Almost forgot, the only fish I'm set on right now is a Liopoproma swalesi...

(Len took this pic!)

...and an Escenius midas.

(Someone else took this pic, but AQUACON stole this image as well!!!)

I've got to first make sure they aren't jumpers, as the tank is open topped.

 

[Anonymous]

Hey Matt, I was thinking of putting an addition on my house to put my tank in. Can you whip me up some drawings?

 

[Anonymous]

Ask and you shall receive...

I'll take my $1000 drafting fee in PayPal or personal check.

 

[Anonymous]

Wow, what a big tank I have. Time for schooling chromis!

 

[reefann]

Looks awsome matt. My only concern would be a possible heat problem because of all the pumps. Probably not if you are going with an open top though.
_________________
Mercedes Benz R Class

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I'm more concerned about the heat from the light and ballast though. The Turbelles are very low wattage for their output, and the Mag will be out of the water. The maxijet is pretty low wattage too, but I don't know if wattage is the best indicator for heat emitted by a pump. I wonder how much an IceProbe would help on this tank...

 

[Mihai]

Matt,

You may have a problem if your sump is too small (and it does look small in your drawing): in case of a power failure your water will drain in the sump up to the level of your sump return both from your main tank and the overflow. That is, the turbelle and the mag 2 will assure that the water in your overflow will have the same height as the one in your tank.

Just watch the height of your LR and the capacity of the sump. Otherwise a great design.

M.

 

[reefann]

How far off the water do you plan the MH to be and where do you plan on the ballast being located?
This tank is going to be so sweet.
_________________
Honda Life

 

[Anonymous]

Matt,

You may have a problem if your sump is too small (and it does look small in your drawing): in case of a power failure your water will drain in the sump up to the level of your sump return both from your main tank and the overflow. That is, the turbelle and the mag 2 will assure that the water in your overflow will have the same height as the one in your tank.

Just watch the height of your LR and the capacity of the sump. Otherwise a great design.

M.

OK, I got what you're saying. The height of the sump return should be a little higher, or exactly the height of the main drain. The sump is 10 gallons vs. 30 gallons, but I'm glad ya told me that!

Thanks,
Matt

 

[Mihai]

Matt, not only you want the height of the return as high as the main drain, but also you want them pretty high up: when power shuts down you need to be able to absorb the loss of water in the main tank within the sump. In your diagram it looks like you lose about 1/4 of the water in the main tank, i.e., about 7 gallons. Your sump will not be able to take it (you need more than three gallons to run the euroreef: ideally 6-8", i.e. 5-6 galons of water minimum in the sump...

M.

 

[Anonymous]

Gotcha. The standpipe is pretty high up; I want to get as close to the top as possible. The other consideration is for the Stream...the last thing I want is the return pump to go off and leave the Stream dry if it's still running.

 

[Shinken]

The Stream isnt supposed to be run dry but the controller that comes with it SHOULD shut it of if it runs dry.

It dosnt affect what your doing but i thought id add that!

 

[miston]

If the maxijet is pumping water from the sump, I'm a little confused as to what the Turbelle Stream pump is doing?

Also, if the return from the sump is so high, isn't there a chance that most of the return water is sucked right back into the overflow? Can you not have the return from the sump low and still figure out a way to safegaurd from power outage / siphoning?

 

[Anonymous]

Nope. If the return was low, the main tank would drain down all the way to the that level in a power failure. The back overflow section isn't completely sealed from the display side of the tank.

The reason I have a Stream up top and a maxijet below is because I don't want to put 1500 gph through my sump. The stream is providing flow inside the tank. One MJ 1200 is not even close to the flow I'd like in a 30 gallon tank, but it will turn over my sump fast enough.

 

[miston]

so the Stream is just for circulation in the tank, it has nothing to do with the overflow/sump?

And if it is just for circulation, is your closed loop not enough?

thanks

 

[Anonymous]

Yes, and yes. The closed loop is 250 gph...on a 30 gallon that's not even near enough for my tastes, at least for an SPS tank.

 

[Mihai]

OK then, it looks like a great setup. Please post some pictures when it's done (and let us know if we all overlooked something ).
M.

 

[GSchiemer]

My only concern is the plumbing for the SCWD and Mag pump. If there's a leak anywhere in that plumbing, your tank will completely drain. I'm not a fan of holes in the bottom of tanks, except inside overflow boxes. Why tempt fate? Did you consider having the Mag sit at the bottom of the overflow box?

Greg