Squire's 80 Gallon Rebuild ** UPDATED new pics**

[ensquire]

At this point I decided to try the first simplest option of replumbing system as it was with updated pipes. Which lead to this post....

Originally Posted by ensquire

Thanks and now the next series of questions. LOL
Drain is a 1" bulkhead with a 3/4" straight pipe and the drain has 3/4" pipe with 2 elbows draining into sump. Return is a 320 GPH pump hooked to a short piece of hose into a 1/2" run about 3' long with 2 elbows attached to a 1/2" bulkhead with a 1/2" pipe into a Locline nozzle. I don't like the open drain, and have experimented with several types of drains, but whenever I change from the straight open end I have to throttle back my pump. I would like and need more than 320 GPH flow, which brings me to
My questions about my options.
Is there any effect on the drainage if I make the pipes bigger before and after the bulkhead? It is still a 1" opening.
I see several options but would like to get some opinions and feedback on them.
My first thought was to order some glass bits and bore out the openings inside the overflow box but my concerns are about how close the boles will be and the space underneath would be tight but might be an option.
Option 2) Use both lines in overflow box az drains (Herbie, or other).Increase pipe to 1 1 1/2 before bulkhead and 1" after. Run an exterior line up the back thAt would tee off into 2 returns drilled thru back of the tank and use nozzles to have some flow behind the reef. in the tank. If this is best option, should the return be a single line or double and should it be 1/2, 3/4, or 1" based on the size of the drain?
Option 2) use 1' bulkhead in overflow box as 1' return line and use second pipe as emergency overflow. Then build either an interior or an exterior overflow box on the back of the tank?

I would like to increase my pump to a Quiet One pushing 800 GPH if I can work out this plumbing problem, and I am really stuck here. My tank has been running for a month now with only the liverock in it and I am dying to start stocking it, but I feel that this will be a mistake until I address this plumbing/flow situation.

Thanks.

Mike


Or option 3) I am overreacting and I should be happy with present situation?

Here are a couple pics of tank at that point, Taken with Iphone so not the best pics:

[ensquire]

Thought about just going with it as it was, but luckily this happened:





Here is the rest of that thread....
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=72026

Lucky only because at this point I was ready to finish it up and start stocking it.

Some pics of the second attempt to make the overflow work to my satisfaction:
New Pump





Original plumbing




Rocks stored with heater and Koralia 4 , plus a carbon filter and frequent water changes to combat the Cyano

[ensquire]

Took a month to get all the fittings together if you can believe that

Quiet One 4000






TOOL TIME WOO HOO





New Diamond hole bits


Newly redesigned overflow box





Over the top return pipe





all assembled and ready to fill

[ensquire]

New Drains



Hmm need to put Xmas decorations away









Filling it up....

Running



Was very happy with the flow at this point. Only one minor flaw . Use ball valve on drain line and wasn't as easy to dial in flow to maintain water height in overflow but easily changed. So I am quite happy at this point.
Now it was time to test emergency line, so I blocked the main drain and watched as the tank very slowly began to fill. PROBLEM .
which takes me to this thread:
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=73494

[ensquire]

water was a little higher in sump than normal and Yellowknife has a semi monthly subscription to power outages, so I thought it might be a good idea to test and see if sump could handle a power outage . Turned off pump and watched as the sump very very quickly began to overflow.
DOOOOOOOOOOO
turned pump back on with no immediate effect , closed drain line and slowly began to slow the flood. HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
Grab shop vac and try and figure this one out..

Then I remember the thread about back siphoning return lines.
Another one of those AHHH HAAA moments that take place in this hobby for me.Lucky for me it was fresh water and on lino,

So for now we are ordering up a few new fittings, a gate valve, painting and sealing the stand. Drilling a hole in the back for my return line because I don't like the overtop at all.

For now the only question I have for everyone is about check valves.
As I said earlier, we get a lot of power outages, and as I haven't finalized my return. I was going to plumb in a backflow behind the bulkhead.
Is this effective or is the small hole drilled in the line just below the water level a good enough solution to the back siphon problem??

Thanks for reading

[outacontrol]

So the drain pipe is larger than the emergency drain?
Why not raise the drain pipe up closer to the height of the overflow, should be quieter and maybe even drain less water into sump on a powerfailure.
The back siphon on the return is an easy fix just drill and 1/8" hole in the return line just below the tank water level. The hole will allow air into the return line and break the siphon.

[ensquire]

Yes the drain is bigger
As soon as my parts arrive I'm going to drill my return thru the back, going to add a 3/4" above and below the 1/2" emergency bulkhead and give it a test.

[ensquire]

Time for an update, been busy lately and haven't had much time to post up some pics.

Cleaning gunk off the back of tank from the old background glue.
Going through back office looking for something to use and guess what worked best. Yup Overproof Rum took care of the glue in short order.




Masked it off and used Acrylic spray paint, may need another coat but we shall see when setup.



Touch up the stand with some filler



Drill a few holes to run cords out to Powerbar.