New Tank Thread

New Plumbing

OK, I installed the slip bulkheads, glued the dorso and return into the bulkhead, (Even though Megaflow said no glue here), and added some more plumbing. I can still get to the return and intake witht he cutters, and the union makes that removable, so my goal of being able to remove everything including the sump has been achieved. Oh, and the intake to the fuge goes down a slight angle to the right.

How does this look ?













Also picked up the Caribsea Aronite Argamax today. Looks good, small grain, had elements, but not the cost of the so called live sand.

Big order coming tomorrow, yeah./././

\Cheers

 

First Problem

OK, so everything came in today, yippe..
Yet another trip to the plumbing store, booo.

So teh Aqua C EV 180 is a big biatch. Once everything was installed, it just looked real cramped. I installed the EV on the outside and took a look. Much better I think. Now I can have a bigger fuge area.

This should work, right ?




Here is the new drawing.



I will need to redo the intake and return plumbing that I just completed this morning, shrug.

Any big problems before I start glueing ?


\Cheers

 

Redesign

OK,
So after the redesign and new plumbing, this is what I have.








I also ended up with the straight intake and return lines , so no obstructions there.

Everything can still come out for maintenance if need be, so thats good.
My fuge area is now 17" so bonus there.

I removed the extra baffles and filter pads and will just run the foam block on the return pump.

Good tight fit so I will start glueing. I want to get it filled up with tap water and let it run for a few days to make sure there are no leaks.


\Cheers

 

Looks good Double2mk. Any reason why you didnt go with a bigger sump/refugium? Great pics, thanks. Luna

 

He he, yes there is, but I think its linked to my madness...


I have a need to be able to physically remove everything as it sits with water. In my basement, you know the pile high of fish stuff., I have a 40 and 30 breeder, 20 high, and 2 tens. This 20 long is the best in that it fits everything and I can still pull it out through one door openning.

The only mod I will have to do is to remove the left drawer and glue the face plate on as a false front. Lifting the EV180 and going external, bumps into the back of the drawer. This I can live with.


See hoe it is up in the drawer openning.


\Cheers

 

Ran out of time, I will fill it up in the morning.
HEre is what I ended up doing for the return plumbing. It is .5" short so I will prop up for now.



Before go live, I will swap this out with two couplings. Another closer to the pump. That will make it easier to fit and remove.

 

What did you end up getting, the Mag 12, 18 or the 24? Im returning the 24, it was too powerful for my system. I stayed with the 18. Luna

 

I got the Mag 7 to run the EV180 in the skimmer chamber and the Mag 9 for the return line.

I thought about using one pump, but could figure out how to separate the chambers as I wanted. So I will run the 2 pumps.

 

First Fill up

Well, some good some bad.

Good :
No leaks,, whew..

Bad :
- This thing is freaking loud. How can yuo complain about the noise from the overflow? You can't hear it over the jet engine sound of the Mag 9.

- Soo much flow from the main intake I had to add another 90 elbow to keep it in the sump.







- No flow from the secondary intake on the right. I may redesign and go with the standard left to right sump. Intake on the left, skimmer chamber, baffle, fuge, baffle, then return pump. Back to the plumbing store.


-
How Level is level ? Left to right the tank is perfect. Front to back is now off by 1/16" is that a concern or good enough as they say ? I tried levelling a tank once and it did not go well. Seem to always make matters worse.


I plan on letting it run for at least a day to see whats what.

Oh yah, I shut off the pump, and the sump only took on 1" of water. So my original fill line of 7" was good. I may go higher now knowing that it is only 1". I want plenty of fuge room.

\Cheers

 

New sump-fuge design

This is what I will likley go with.


Water comes in on the left then there is the skimmer sump section about 5" of space for the Mag 7 to work unfiltered. Then there are two baffles to set the fuge area and slow the flow a bit. Then there will be the drain from the skimmer dumping into the fuge. Then there is 17" for the fuge.
Then I add a baffle to set the fuge area, again, just to keep it in its place.
Then there is 5" for the Mag 9 return pump.

I will go with flex tubing for the mag 9 as it was too had getting the correct placement with PVC. I will also go Flex on the Mag 7, same reasoning.

So, back to the plumbing store...


\Cheers