Reef Tank Plan

55G NewB · 06-04-2005, 01:10 PM

Ok,

In an earlier thread (which I didn't subscribe to - can't find it now), someone stated that if I posted my plan for a new system, I could get some comments and thoughts. So, after quite a bit of reading, here is what I have come up with:

- 90 gal AGA reef tank on a custom stand w/ at least 100# live rock and requisite sand for a DSB

- I plan to take my 55 gal and convert it into a refugium/sump by adding some acrylic dividers and live mud and about 10# live rock. This will be placed under the display tank

- Heaters will be placed in the sump

- Plan to use at least a Max 9.5 and hopefully a Max 12 submerged in the sump to cycle water

- Pump discharge will "Y" with some going back to the sump and the rest back to the tank

- Piping will have isolation valves and unions for ease of maintenance/replacement

- Lighting will be a combination of MH's and Actinic's (still trying to determine the wattage I want)

- 'Fuge will not have any bioballs

- I plan to add as many fans to the canopy as needed to keep the temp reasonable

- Plan is to have zoo's, some hard and soft coral's, cleaner crew, and a handful of fish. Maybe a clam as well.

- Future plans include a DIY calk reactor and protein skimmer in the basement with the appropriate pump and plumbing.

I definitely appreciate any and all thoughts, ideas, and comments.

Thanks,

Mike

wharyat · 06-04-2005, 01:38 PM

Sounds great so far, keep us updated.

VWD · 06-04-2005, 02:20 PM

keep us posted,

55G NewB · 06-04-2005, 02:42 PM

Wharyat/Vince,

I take it that you both feel that this is a workable plan then? I plan to build the stand frame on Tuesday out of 4x4 posts, 2x4 rails, and plywood decking. I will shim the legs as necessary to ensure the decking is perfectly level.

I will then pick up the 90g reef tank, transfer the live rock and sand that is currently curing in the 55g to it, and then start adding the acrylic dividers to the 55g. Once that is done I plan to get the refugium going, and give it a good 4 - 8 weeks to get chemistry settled prior to adding any livestock.

I can't wait until that point, but from reading I know that I need to go slow, and make changes slowly.

Thanks for the quick responses.

VWD · 06-04-2005, 03:06 PM

You need to have the correct tank size and then build the stand. sometimes it makes it easy to have the tank before You start to build the tank and canopy. that way You can go back check and recheck as You go.

yousuredo · 06-04-2005, 03:27 PM

i would also 'Y' the drain not the return...because your pumps aren't all that much flow with head calc. lost in the equasion...

55G NewB · 06-04-2005, 03:49 PM

Vince,

I plan on recessing the tank into a 50" wide alcove, so the stand will be 50" wide (I do not want small gaps on either side that may allow small items to fall into and be a pain to retrieve). The alcove is 12" deep so the tank will protude 6" into the room.

Yousuredo,

I can not picture what you mean about the "Y" on the return. Do you mean that a portion of the overflow would go to the refugium, and the other leg to the pump suction?

Thanks

55G NewB · 06-04-2005, 04:38 PM

I have a question if y'all don't mind. What exactly is a closed loop system? I see it mentioned, I checked the plumbing forum, but I have yet to find anything that explains what the system is or exactly what it does.

Thanks

mapster · 06-05-2005, 12:52 AM

Quote:

- Pump discharge will "Y" with some going back to the sump and the rest back to the tank

I dont understand this part, could you elaborate.

CLS (closed loop system) is a external pump which pulls water directly from the tank through a drilled intake and and is returned to the tank through your choice of plumbing (over the top manifold, wavemaking device, additional holes, etc). Its only purpose it to add flow to the tank, without cluttering the interior of the tank with powerheads. If set up correctly it can be the main source of flow for the tank, letting you use a less powerful return pump and no powerheads.

Loverotties · 06-05-2005, 01:05 AM

Sounds good to me!

tims · 06-05-2005, 09:22 AM

not a bad plan over all.
but you will fine tune it as you go along. We all end up doing that!
have you thought about external pumps for the return?
also maybe Casey will chime in, but i think he had a little trouble with Zoa's and hard coral togather..( cannton recall the exact wording).
make sure you use plenty of sealant for the baffles.
SInce the Refuge / miricle mud is build into the sump, will that area be a high water area? if not will you be able to slow the water down some?
going to do an auto top off?

55G NewB · 06-06-2005, 06:45 PM

Tims,

Thanks for the input. I have thought about using an external pump for returning water to the tank, but I was thinking about using internal so that I don't have to get the 55 gal drilled. If external pumps are that much better, I guess I can get the tank drilled at the local glass shop. A bonus is that an external pump won't add as much heat to the water.

Thanks also for the explanation of a closed loop system. Since the 90 gal only has 2 holes drilled in the overflow, is it possible to install "Y" 's in the drain and return? One leg of the drain 'Y' would go to the CLS, the other leg to the refugium/sump. Additionally the return 'Y' would collect from the CLS and the refugium/sump and return it to the tank. Does this work, or do I need to get the 90 gal drilled for an additional overflow?

As to the question about a "high water area", I am not exactly sure what you mean. My plan is to have a narrow, tall refugium, so that the sump can be as large as possible.

An auto-topoff system is in the long term plans, as are the calc reactor and skimmer. But, I am trying to minimize the size of the coronary the wife will have when she sees the final bill. So some things must wait.

I really appreciate everyone's patience and help with questions that I am sure have been asked many times. I did search through the plumbing forum, but I didn't see anything close to this.

Thanks,

Mike

55G NewB · 06-07-2005, 08:53 PM

Any help out there on my questions about the CLS and the refugium in my last post?

Thanks

tims · 06-07-2005, 09:01 PM

mike,
i woudl not "y" off the return or over flow for the CLS, run its own piping.
the refuge should have the longest amount of time with the water.IMO.
thats what i mean as high water ( flow area).
dont get me wrong. a lot of people have a mix of sump /refuges. What do you want the refuge to do?.

55G NewB · 06-09-2005, 07:29 AM

So,

I have decided to follow the consensus here and add a CLS to the tank. Currently the tank has two holes in the overflow box. They appear to be a 1" and a 1.5". From reading a few other threads I gather that the 1" should be used as the drain to the fuge/sump. Then using the 1.5" for the return, it seems that I need to add another overflow box and drain/return holes for a CLS?

I do not want powerheads in the tank, in fact I do not really want anything in the tank other than rock/sand/livestock, but I guess I have to live with some things.

I would appreciate a quick reply if possible so I can send the tank out to get drilled if necessary.

Also, the 90 AGA has a tempered glass bottom, should I have holes drilled low in the back instead of going through the bottom?

Thanks all for the great information.