plumbing layout...

[nisom88]

so, i've never posted anything like this before, but after reading and reading forever i have decided to throw it all out there. this board has some really intelligent people with a heck of a lot more experience with reefs than i have and i'm hoping for some of that constructive criticism...

this is a project i've been researching for months now while the empty tank has sat in my garage. i'm finally getting close to putting everything together. it's a 100g plexi that i'm hoping to turn into a mixed lps softy tank (i know this isn't an ideal situtation, but i've seen a lot of people do it successfully and i love the way it turns out).

i've got almost 200 lbs. of fine aragonite for a DSB (no plenum). i've got the 2 20g plexi tanks, one for the sump and one for the refug. the canopy has two 175W mh and 2 55W actinic pc's.

i guess i'm looking for pump reccomendations for the return and the closed loop as well as general comments on the setup...

what do you guys think?

[Minnreefer]

I would say that since you have a acrylic tank I would get a big pump for a closed loop and just about any pump to pump into your refugium and for a return. I like Mag pumps and I also have an ampmaster for our closed loop.

HTH

Jon

[nisom88]

talk about bad timing...
i got cut off last night when the forum was shut down right as i was uploading my diagram.

the post didn't make much sense without it i guess...so here goes

[Minnreefer]

That looks good, the only thing that I would change would be to move the intakes for the closed loop lower in the tank. I would also see what kind of pumps you will use before you buy the stuff. I would go to www.premiumaquatics.com and look at their pumps and try to figure out what would work the best for you. Remeber it generally is better to get the right pump the first time then to get a cheaper pump and upgrade later. I would maybe recomend a mag 9 for the internal pump and maybe a ampmaster 24 for the closed loop.

HTH

Jon

[Doug1]

For the Closed loop, I would consider a Mag 18 or 24 depending on how fast you want it and wherther or not you use the CL pump at near the same level as the intakes and returns or locate it farther down, in which case head ht will factor in
Sump to Fuge, maybe a Hagen 802 or tee the drain from the Durso and shunt some off that way eliminating the pump
As to the Skimmer, I think the ETSS prolly needs around 1200 gph? Again I'm thinking mailorder Mags, I have used the Sen 900 but they are huge compared to Mag , FWIW

[nisom88]

thanks guys...

so, i think i will go with a mag 9 to the seaswirl for the return. it should put out 700gph at 6 foot of head, which should be ample, right?

as far as the skimmer, ETSS finally emailed me back and reccomends an iwaki 40RLT with a valve on the output to run the skimmer...i'm guessing we're looking for around 600-800 gph as the 40RLT puts out a little over 800 at 1 foot of head. could i use a mag here too to save some cash or would it be wiser to invest in the external iwaki? I know the mags add heat to the water, but they are quieter and cheaper...

kind of the same situation with the closed loop. i could build a narrow shelf at the top of the stand (the base of the tank) to hold a mag or two to avoid head. i could also invest in an iwaki or an ampmaster (seem like the two most popular on the board) and run it at the bottom of the stand by the sump.

decisions, decisions.....

i need to get these ordered and start putting this thing together before i go nuts.........

[Doug1]

I doubt yo will get 700 out of MAg 9 at 6 feet prolly closer to 400-500 depending on the elbows and what not. Thats OK
Use the closed loop for the main flow

[nisom88]

you're probably right doug...i was just going by the flow chart...at 6 foot of head it's supposed to put out 700gph...probably not.

how do manufacturers get away with the flow ratings on some of these pumps? i know for sure that the rios don't put out near what they're rated at.

4-500 would still be okay...

[grazhopr]

Most pumps are rated for a straight column of water, and i would say, for fresh water. You have to account for other losses, like saltwater hydrostatic, which is slightly higher than fresh, plus other plumbing extras like elbows, valves (different type valves have different loss coeficients), pipe roughness, etc. So efficiency of a pump is very specific for its application and setup. If your plumbing is going to be long, i would suggest you get the best pumps possible, for sake of longevity. I have used Mags and they seem to work well. If you want to avoid the water heat problem, you can also plumb these as external pumps.

[nisom88]

we got a vote for the mag pumps...anybody else??

external or submersible for the closed loop and the skimmer?

[Minnreefer]

we have a number of mag pumps and they all seam to wrok well, they are all submirsed. I would have the skimmer submirsed. I would try to do an ampmaster for the closed loop, both www.premiumaquatics.com and www.marinedepot.com cary both pumps.

HTH

Jon