New 75gal Reef Tank Step-By-Step Setup DIY - Page 18

skeety · 04-19-2006, 08:23 AM

Robert...took the words right out of my mouth! hahaha

Very nice...neat...awesome...etc.

Jeremy1973 · 04-19-2006, 08:32 AM

Hey Jeff, anyway you can create a drawing or put arrows on your pics to help me see how your surge tank is working.. I think I am following it, but a little extra help for this poor tierd brain would be great.

PowerManJ316 · 04-24-2006, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy1973

Hey Jeff, anyway you can create a drawing or put arrows on your pics to help me see how your surge tank is working.. I think I am following it, but a little extra help for this poor tierd brain would be great.

No problem!
Here is a picture with some arrows and the CSD disassembled. Basically once the water level goes over the top of the inner tube, a syphon is created that sucks the water back down to the openings at the base of the outter tube. Pretty simple.

Jeremy1973 · 04-24-2006, 02:20 PM

How is that functioning as a surge tank? Looks like it would be a constant flow back in to the tank. Or am I missing something obvious here. heh heh Remember..I am slow.

As for the drawing, is there anything from preventing that covering piece to floating up once the water level reaches a certain height?

PowerManJ316 · 04-25-2006, 11:56 AM

I will show you some updated pics tonight. With the inner tube the water will not start flowing till the level gets above that tube. and then the flow rate into the surge tank must be greater than the 1.5" PVC can drain (~700gph). Thus the initial surge pulls all of the air out from between the inner pipe and outter pipe creating a syphon. then I shut off the pump filling the surge tank and let it drain until the syphon breaks at the base of the device. Then start all over again. I have some updated pics because I actually run the Mag-7 into the surge device all the time, but I divert some of it directly back into the tank. I then use an additional Mag 3 to start the surge and create the syphon I talked about previously.
HTH,
Jeff

PowerManJ316 · 04-25-2006, 12:01 PM

I am going to be filling the tank up with water Thursday so now I get to start thinking about LR. I am kinda picky when it comes to this stuff because I have seen LR that totally doesn't look alive at all! I am looking to get LR that is full of coralline and a bunch of other stuff when I get it. My tank will run with just the LR for at least 6 months so I am not worried about hitchhikers, as I will have plenty of time to pick them out.

Does anyone have any place that they were absolutely impressed with the LR they recieved. I can get it cheap from a PetSmart around here ($4/lb), but again, it pretty much looks like base rock. I would rather dish out a little more $$$ to get much "prettier" LR. If anyone has any dealer they have been very impressed with, or on the other hand, not impressed with, please let me know.

Loverotties · 04-25-2006, 07:12 PM

Welcome to TRT!

PowerManJ316 · 04-27-2006, 11:05 PM

I am filling the tank up as we speak... I have a 75gpd RO/DI unit and I am using an Aquatec 8800 booster pump to up the water pressure to 100+ psi. The unit is working very efficiently (1-1 ratio for good water to rejection water). The water going into the unit is at about 200 ppm and the water out at 0 ppm. Good Stuff. I recommend a booster pump to anyone with city water. The pump was about $100 and it will save that much in water costs in prolly the first six months - year. Plus I have read that RO/DI units produce more pure water with higher inlet pressures. I am certainly not disappointed.

Jeremy1973 · 04-28-2006, 08:35 AM

I thought I read somewhere that it was harmful to the RO/DI unit's filters when ran at a 1:1 ratio. Can someone confirm this? If I could conserver on the water loss, that would be great!

So, J..when are you posting pics of the water test? heh heh If nothing is going in your surge tank besides water..can we talk you in to putting in a "Diver Dan" decoration piece for entertainment?! heh

PowerManJ316 · 04-28-2006, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy1973

I thought I read somewhere that it was harmful to the RO/DI unit's filters when ran at a 1:1 ratio. Can someone confirm this? If I could conserver on the water loss, that would be great!

I am not sure if it is harmful...but i would think that if it was running too fast, the water would start tearing the membrane and thus the ppm of the good water would increase. I am not real worried about the RO/DI unit as long as it is still putting out 0ppm water

skeety · 04-28-2006, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PowerManJ316

I am not sure if it is harmful...but i would think that if it was running too fast, the water would start tearing the membrane and thus the ppm of the good water would increase. I am not real worried about the RO/DI unit as long as it is still putting out 0ppm water

I'm fairly sure that that is exactly what will happen. The added pressure is not good for the membrane. And if that membrane tears...you won't be getting 0 ppm for long.

But congrats on the RO unit anyways...AWESOME purchase. You'll see!

PowerManJ316 · 04-29-2006, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skeety

I'm fairly sure that that is exactly what will happen. The added pressure is not good for the membrane. And if that membrane tears...you won't be getting 0 ppm for long.

But congrats on the RO unit anyways...AWESOME purchase. You'll see!

The pump I have is rated specifically for 75gpd RO/DI units. I have had it running for about 30 hours now and it has made a little over 85 gallons. I think it is running exactly the way it was intended. Still putting out 0ppm.

PowerManJ316 · 04-30-2006, 10:49 PM

The tank is completely full of water. I am planning on getting salt tomorrow. I have decided to go with Instant Ocean Reef Crystals. I am hoping to get my salinity levels stable so that this weekend I can possibly go and get my LR.

I know I have asked similar questions before, but do I need anything else before putting my LR in the tank??? I have a regular NO fluorescent light, heaters, and a turbelle stream in the tank for flow. I will have my protein skimmer running by this weekend as well. Do I need anything else to maintain the Live Rock? The stuff I am getting is loaded with corraline, sponges, and even some small coral colonies. I am hoping to keep all of this live and well.

ski1297 · 04-30-2006, 10:58 PM

Looks very good! Just get the skimmer on the tank to help the LR. Are you going to get other lights than the NOs? Where are you going to get the live rock?

Jeremy1973 · 05-01-2006, 08:19 AM

Are you placing the rock directly on the bottom glass? Or will you have a substrate or glass covering?