lastlight's 34g solana

[Delphinus]

Doesn't have to be a sealed reservoir, just a reservoir. Rain barrell, plastic stock tank, or just another aquarium you can get a good deal on ...

[abcha0s]

Originally Posted by Delphinus

Doesn't have to be a sealed reservoir, just a reservoir. Rain barrell, plastic stock tank, or just another aquarium you can get a good deal on ...

I bought two of the blue 55g food grade (new) barrels here in Calgary. They have a removable lid but are completely air and water tight. The lid has two standard FPT fittings, so plumbing is easy. I forget what I paid, but I think it was something like $80 each.

http://www.calgaryplastic.ca/Barrels.htm

I would trust these not to leak more than my tank.

[lastlight]

This will be in my basement and has to be a closed loop as my tank isn't drilled. To my understanding it MUST be sealed in the basement because there will be a full siphon establish for the loop to function. If power was lost to the pump that's down there the tank would siphon my display.

[Dez]

Ack, let the heat creep. Shut the lights off or set your controller to have the lights come off if it hits 82 degrees. Let the tank have a few cloudy days if the weather is hot outside. Shouldn't hurt it. Simple is best.

[lastlight]

Yeah I can't really do it that way with just the Ranco as my controller.

Someone has pm'd me regarding a used chiller and if that doesn't pan out I may grab that J&L one. I've spent 2 days fiddling with this oven/light and it's really ticking me off.

[Delphinus]

Originally Posted by lastlight

This will be in my basement and has to be a closed loop as my tank isn't drilled. To my understanding it MUST be sealed in the basement because there will be a full siphon establish for the loop to function. If power was lost to the pump that's down there the tank would siphon my display.

It might be more trouble than what you were hoping to do so I meant it more academically if nothing else. I was thinking an overflow in your mini sump and then pump from the secondary tank back into the mini sump. That would effectively make it your real sump and you'd have no overflow issues short of draining your mini sump which is a tiny volume comparatively. If you used a float switch or valve based topoff you'd have to switch it to the basement tank since the level in the mini sump would no longer deviate.

A sealed container would have poor (well, nonexistent, really) gas exchange and presumably less ability to shed heat as well. I imagine some heat would be lost through the tank walls but nowhere near the same as an open water surface. Plus the pressurized lines, the pressurized vessel and the lack of ease of cleaning would make a sealed closed loop idea a total non-starter if it was me considering it.

[lastlight]

Tony why the deuce are you not on msn? I'm confused and need you to explain this magical setup you speak of.

[Delphinus]

Originally Posted by lastlight

Tony why the deuce are you not on msn? I'm confused and need you to explain this magical setup you speak of.

InsomniacWife(tm) hijacked the pooter. Canreefin'/MSN'in by bb is le
suck.

Think of a gravity fed refugium that the DT drains into, and it drains into the sump. Except it has a pumps that also pumps back into the DT.

Your current sump becomes like that. This basement tank becomes the 'new' sump.

Hope this makes some sense. My thumbs are about to fall off.

[lastlight]

My current sump? We'll catch up tomorrow maybe =) My brain is sleepy.