Let's get started! - Page 2

REEF-DADDY · 03-02-2006, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texas Bob

I'm caught! But I was born and raised there till I went to school and off to the Marines. Just got out and finishing a criminal justice degree here in Illinois.

With this base rock do I cook it same as I would with LR for cleaning purposes and how would you recommend adding ammonia? Drawing up the locations of the bulkheads now. I'll post a pic and get comments soon.
- Bob

You need to add ammonia, your really cycling the rock to build up bacteria, and cooking the rock to remove po4.

I only use a total of 5 holes in my 280.
1- return
2 for eductors
1 for cl drain

there is also 1 hole in each overflow if you count them. Heres a shot of my tank:

See the eductor on the upper right by the wavebox? There is another on of the left low behind the Ricordia. This creates a circular flow pattern and does a great job keeping crap in suspension. If the overflow was where the Wavebox is, it would be perfect.

another way to to the same thing is put your bulkheads high on the back wall, the flow will hit the glass, come across the bottom of the tank and to your overflows that way. Your aquascaping plays a huge role in either design, it needs to be open!

REEF-DADDY · 03-02-2006, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoSchwag

Nothing get's by this guy.

See thats why I look up to you.

Texas Bob · 03-02-2006, 06:33 PM

So I went and got my BH from the LFS and a 20g High tank for the sump. Let me know on the placement of these and after reading what you said REEF-DADDY I wonder if I should cut down on all these. The (2) 1.5" in the top corners are for the overflows to the sump. I plan on using a coast to coast box with the two end boxes being slightly larger. The (4) 3/4" BHs for the return of the CLS. (2) 1" one on either side mid-way down as drains for the CLS. Finally, a 1" return from the sump and this will go into a spray bar. Comments welcomed and I kept the reciept.

Bob

REEF-DADDY · 03-02-2006, 08:44 PM

What are you doing for an anti siphon on the return/spray bar?

I would buy 2 penductors, run a pcx55 to push them, and put your return up top. Lose everything else. Your flow will be unreal. trust me

www.kthsales.com

Texas Bob · 03-02-2006, 09:06 PM

Anti siphon? No clue. I've seen penductors before, what's the benifit and are you suggesting placing these up top? I'm so out of my league here. So if I could recap you think the (2) 1.5" overflows, (2) 1" returns with the penductors ran by the pcx55 will do the trick or did I misinterpret? bare with me please. I'm studying for mid terms as well.

-Bob

REEF-DADDY · 03-02-2006, 09:34 PM

Ask yourself where the water will go when your return shuts off?

Penductors use velocity to increase flow. Check out the diagram on the kth site.

Yes that WILL do the trick, more flow than you'll ever need. Noschwag uses the same set up on a 120 and has enough flow.

Swaggie care to chime in?

NoSchwag · 03-02-2006, 09:45 PM

2 penductors and a pcx-55 is more than enough flow in a 58.

Joefish had 2 penductors in his 58 on a closed loop.

Here's his thread..

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...ht=ride+AND+58

Texas Bob · 03-02-2006, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoSchwag

2 penductors and a pcx-55 is more than enough flow in a 58.

Joefish had 2 penductors in his 58 on a closed loop.

Here's his thread..

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...ht=ride+AND+58

Thanks for that thread, that gives me a better Idea on where to go with this. Back to the drawing board with the bulkheads once again. Good thing is once I return all of the unused BHs I'll have $ for the prenductors!

Texas Bob · 03-02-2006, 10:27 PM

Oh, I'll be ordering 80lbs of base rock this next week and starting the cooking process in my boa room. Yep, you read right. My other hobby which takes up a whole room is for my snakes.

- Bob

Texas Bob · 03-02-2006, 11:07 PM

REEF-DADDY and others, is this what you had in mind? 2 overflows and 2 returns. Now it sounds like your saying with the pcx-55 as my return pump this is all I need? In the pic though in case I have you wrong I've got a drain hole at the back bottom there for a CLS with the returns (you'll have to imagine) coming up and over the tank. So 4 total return pipes, 2 overflows, and 1 drain. Look like a winner?

I was planning a MRC skimmer but fitment sounds like an issue. The pcx-55 shows a 1200 gph flow rate and if this would be a return pump then if I'v read right I'll need an equally rated pump for the skimmer to keep from draining the sump. Anyone concur on this statement? I want to get all my pumps and the skimmer before drilling and plumbing so i figured I'd ask now rather than later.

-Bob

Wiskey · 03-03-2006, 12:18 AM

are the holes for the overflow at the top? If so I would not reccomend that. That is the way my tank is setup and I can't use the drains to their full potential because I can't get any weight of water ontop of them.

Old pic for refrence, if I was to do this again, I would drill the back pain at the bottom, and use a full overflow box because it works much better.

BTW, if you are planning to just use 90's on the overflows and no boxes I don't reccomend that either, that is the way my tank was origanally setup and I ran into even bigger problems then.

HTH,
Whiskey

REEF-DADDY · 03-03-2006, 08:00 AM

I think your good to go, one more question? Are your drain holes on the back wall or the sides? I would caution against making them too close to the returns. For glass strength.

P.S. Make sure you put valves on the return, you may need to turn the flow down a bit. Your are going to love it!

REEF-DADDY · 03-03-2006, 08:01 AM

P.S. Make the MRC work its worth it!

Texas Bob · 03-03-2006, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wiskey

are the holes for the overflow at the top? If so I would not reccomend that. That is the way my tank is setup and I can't use the drains to their full potential because I can't get any weight of water ontop of them.

Old pic for refrence, if I was to do this again, I would drill the back pain at the bottom, and use a full overflow box because it works much better.

BTW, if you are planning to just use 90's on the overflows and no boxes I don't reccomend that either, that is the way my tank was origanally setup and I ran into even bigger problems then.

HTH,
Whiskey

Whiskey, a you suggesting full overflowbox like joe's?

I was planning on a coast to coast style box and not 2 seperat boxes like in your pic. - Bob

REEF-DADDY · 03-03-2006, 09:49 AM

The problem is that the bottom is most likely tempered. You could always drill the hole low within the box and use a 90 so that the water flows into the top. With 2 1.5 inch overflows a little restriction won't matter much.
I am setting up my fathers tank this way, I'll snap a pic on Monday.

One more thing 80lbs is alot of rock for a BB tank, remember you want the rock work open so water can flow through. If you have the cash the extra rock will give you more options, but just be prepared to not use it all.