Everything from electrical to proptank building

[scuglass]

Recently I was bored (shocking) and found something to redo.... the returns on my tank.... So i did all the planning and bought the parts, cut them and brought them down to fit them.... long story short i get it all fitted and realize there is absolutly no way im going to be able to glue it then install it while the tank is right against the wall....and of course there is no way im going to be able to just slide the full tank a few feet...

This means if im gonna drain it I might as well fix/add what i want at the same time... heres what Id like to do.

Electrical panel
Return Plumbing
Overflow Plumbing
Add larger sump and prop tank to room behind tank
Calcium Reactor
ZEOvit
And im sure ill find something else along the way....

So i guess ill start with the electrical panel.

As of right now im running all my equipment off one circuit... as well as my computer tv stereo and various other devices. This has only flipped the breaker once but I dont really want to take the chance. There are also no GFCI's on this circuit and Id rather not get fried anytime soon.

My basement is all drywall and i am unable to get another circuit run for the tank so I plan on distributing the equipment between 2 different 15a circuits in the area around my tank. I have heard some people have faulty trips every once in a while on their GFCI's and want to make sure that i dont lose all water movement and heat because of a nusance trip. Here is a design i just thought up and would like a little help revising and improving it.



The top two outlets are each on different circuits splitting the equipment up. They will each run to two GFCI outlets (which i understand will protect everything after them). Im planning to run the top row like this

R1.1- T5, T5(display) running on timers (still to be bought). I saw digital timers on oceanaquatics that have two plugins.. do these allow you to run one as 10-10 and one 11-9 for example?
R1.2- Heater (200w), DIY zeoreactor (still to be created)
R1.3- Heater (200w), Moonlights (still to be created)
R1.4- MH, Actinics

By splitting the heaters up on 2 different GFCI's and 2 different circuits I will hopefully always have at least on heater working. There is also no need to have switches on any of these items because they will rarely be turned off.

R2.1- Switch controling R3.1 which will be my Water change/top off system
R2.2- Open
R2.3- Open
R2.4- Switch controlling power to the 3 outlets following, skimmer pump

R2.1 will allow me to turn on and off the mixing pump and heater when needed for water changes. R2.2, R2.3 will both be open for future use I will need some of them for the calcium reactor. How many plugins does a calcium reactor need?

R3.1- Heater (100w), Mj1200
R3.2- Switch, and mag12 return pump
R3.3- Switch, and Prop tank return pump(not purchased yet)
R3.4- 2 open slots for recirculating pumps on skimmer if i upgrade. (planning something in my head right now)

R3.2 and R3.3 will allow me to turn off each pump and do any nessecary maintanence, having them both on seperate circuits will keep some movement in at least one of the tanks if there is a nusciance trip.

Thats about all i have so far, any help with this phase of the project is greatly appreciated.

Thanks Scott.

[michika]

Looks good to me, and I asked KrazyKuch for you as well (electrician by trade).

I'm mostly interested in your T5 set up. Have you decided on how your going to set it up? How many bulbs etc.?

[scuglass]

im thinking about getting 4bulb x 54watt 48" inch. I havent decided if im going with a fixture or retrofit kit yet. If i go retrofit ill have to design and make a new canopy as well so im leaning towards a fixture at the moment. I want to make a matching canopy and stand but the one I have planned is out of my price range at the moment :P.. tuition sucks

ill keep yopu posted when i get to that point tho... Stay tuned!!!

[Joe Reefer]

Is the ceiling in your basement drywalled?

Instead of using individual GFI receptacles you could install GFI breakers on the 2 circuits your going to tap into.

[michika]

I second your tuition comment!

[scuglass]

Yes, everything in my basement is drywalled... ive been trying to find a way to run a new circuit but no dice... How often do the outlets trip? I just dont want to lose heat or circulation. Ive heard some people complain their halides firein up trips the units, does this have to do with faulty wiring or are others experiancing this as well.

[scuglass]

I also forgot to ask... what size wire am i using for this?

[KrazyKuch]

number 14 wire will be sufficient, as for the 2 GFCI breakers, I would just go with the plugs because the breakers cost more and the plugs will do the exact same thing and will isolate the power loss to just your tank instead of the whole basement. Not to mention if you come home and see that one of the GFCI's have tripped you don't have to go runnin to your electrical panel to reset them.

[scuglass]

Picked up the materials from rona this afternoon, ill try and work on it tonight after the ultimate fighter, and hope to have it all wired up tommorow. If this is the case ill get some pics up and keep everyone posted on the next phase of this "reno"

[scuglass]

Well ive been super busy with school and have only been able to start the electrical panel here is an update with pics. hopefully i can have ti up and running shortly.