Ok I need your Ideas

[StirCrazy]

Ok I have the opertunity to buy a tank for about the same price as getting one cusyome made but instead of holes on the back like I was wanting it has holes in the bottom. the bonus is it is a 24" tall tank instead of a 18" tall. the problem is I am not sure how to plum this tank so I need ideas. here is a drawing of the bottom of the tank so you can see what I am talking about.


thanks
Steve

[Troy F]

Hey Steve.

If those holes for the return are dead center and you are going to have a DSB then plug them and plumb your return over the back of the tank.

[StirCrazy]

Ok I have come up with one possability. have pipes come throught the bulkheads and go to the back corners under the sand bed and then have risers with nozzles on them.

I would hate to plug them up Troy as now this opens up the possability to have no external pluming. and I could maby put a small end against the wall.. who know though....


Steve

[ 09 December 2001: Message edited by: StirCrazy ]

[ 09 December 2001: Message edited by: StirCrazy ]

[canadawest]

I think that your idea looks great Steve.

Also consider one of those mechanized 180degree flow valves. (I forget what they are called)

You could put it where the 'Y' is on your return diagram. It would cause oscillating return to the two sides of your tank, thereby simulating more random water currents and tidal flow.

If my tank was drilled and plumbed, that's the route I would take.

[Gordoe]

What if you built a rack for your rock out of PVC pipe and plumbed the rack into your return. This would give you the flow from the bottom of your rock up to the top of the tank.. Similar to a reverse flow UGF.
Just a quick suggestion, good luck.

Gord

[StirCrazy]

Ya I thought about that spining port valve that I was wanting tomake but I think there might be a easyer way to do it.. I just haven't found it yet hehe..
beside that I something that I could always add later as long as I use a couple ball valves.

Steve

[ldzielak]

Well I see 1 problem, when you return pump fails or turns off, you drain your entire tank to the lowest hole in the return line. What I did is have the return line come all the way up above the surface of the water and then go back down. I also have a small bleed above the surface to break the vaccum when the pump shuts down. Also I have been told that you should have lots of surface movement toward you overflow(s) to get the best protein skiming action.

Return lines from tank level:


Return Lines from top:


Over flow towers:


Tank on the adjustable stand during construction:


My sump and refugium:


[ 09 December 2001: Message edited by: Lee ]

[StirCrazy]

Cool good catch.. that was a desaster waiting to happen.. so I guess i should run the pipes to the surface and back down andhave the nozzles on the down leg with one right at the top just under the surface.

Steve

[Reefmaster]

why not just use a flapper check valve? van-isle has em and we've had one in service for over two years and still works fine -- had a power outage last week and still works great. shane

[StirCrazy]

ya that would be a idea also.. thanks

Steve