1,200 gallons of fun!
- Thread starter Mr.Biggs
- Start date
Mr.Biggs
New member
Chrisrush, I think solar tubes would be a excellent Idea to implement in to a reef tank. They look to be a very efficient use of $ spent. Unfortunately with my tanks location in the basement the tubes would end up in the middle of the kitchen, so it's not an option with this tank.
Mr.Biggs
New member
First Look at sump layout
First Look at sump layout
Ok so I'm looking at getting some feedback on my proposed sump layout this is what I'm thinking.
This layout will give about 26' of water travel before returning to the main display.
<a href="http://s150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/?action=view¤t=SumpLayout.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/SumpLayout.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
First Look at sump layout
Ok so I'm looking at getting some feedback on my proposed sump layout this is what I'm thinking.
This layout will give about 26' of water travel before returning to the main display.
<a href="http://s150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/?action=view¤t=SumpLayout.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/SumpLayout.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
stunreefer
Reef Hugger
Looks like an awesome build... and 8' x 6' footpritnt - WOW! :eek1:
Regards to your sump, what's the purpose of the step down baffles after the skimmers? I'd think you can just put a bubble trap in there and keep it more simple.
Regards to your sump, what's the purpose of the step down baffles after the skimmers? I'd think you can just put a bubble trap in there and keep it more simple.
Mr.Biggs
New member
stunreefer, it's hard to tell in the drawing but the baffles are not planed as a step down. I would like to keep the level at 12" in all but the last chamber where the return pump is. The idea is to have separate compartments to churn the water for the cheto. If you look at the drawing I have some darkened lines on the separations for the proposed water outlets. The other 4 baffles are to make a up down water movement within those sections.
Does this make scene?
My current system doesn't grow cheto worth a crap. It sits in a section that the water flows on top of it. I was hoping that by having it in more than one section with a rolling water movement that it would grow better.
Does anyone have a system that grows cheto fast and efficient?
Can any one confirm my thought on rolling motion and faster growth?
Should I include a bubble trap in the layout?
Does this make scene?
My current system doesn't grow cheto worth a crap. It sits in a section that the water flows on top of it. I was hoping that by having it in more than one section with a rolling water movement that it would grow better.
Does anyone have a system that grows cheto fast and efficient?
Can any one confirm my thought on rolling motion and faster growth?
Should I include a bubble trap in the layout?
Last edited:
coralfragger101
Gone Postal
I can see what you are trying to accomplish in the chaeto area but not sure if just the baffles to disrupt the flow will work.
Adding some under the water spray bars with water going the opposite direction may be a better alternative or stragic use of powerheads in that area.
The DSB area with frags. If you are going to grow frags there I think you are going to have to change up the flow there as well. The frags will want a random flow and you are going to give it a straight on constant flow. I think you are going to have to change up that flow as well. I also think this isn't the best place for a frag grow out area. If you grow frags there - isn't it basically the same as a display tank? Meaning you are going to be growing coral. Coral will grow. Coral will give off waste. The waste is now going to go into your Live Rock Rubble area and settle there as detritus. I think over time that area may become a nitrate factory. Maybe lose the frag racks in that area and that way you could do away with the lights there as well.
NOW: For some early morning crazy ideas to add to your sump plan. I know you want a frag area - so where should it go?
How about moving things over a bit and having a section before the skimmer area. Make it an incoming water area with filter socks and a bare bottom frag area so any detritus settlement can be cleaned out easily. You will still need to randomize the flow in that area for the frags. This way ALL the dirty water is made before it gets to any of your filtration.
Now while that might be a fairly good idea, the first thing I thought of myself was if there are frag racks in there and detritus settles under them - how can you clean that area.
Craziest idea of all: I have NEVER seen this. It's an idea that just now popped into my head and don't know if it will work but sounds possible. Make a closed loop array of pvc pipes on the floor of this new frag area under the frag racks with holes on the underside of the pvc. Basically the holes will be on the bottom of this area. The interlocking pvc has one exit through a bulkhead in the side of the sump. When it is time to do water changes you open a valve and water comes out of this pipe for your water changes. It will basically then vacuum the floor of your frag area, cleaning up all the settled detritus under your frag racks and you do your water change at the same time.
Sounds like it might work but as I stated before, that was just an idea that I have never seen before.
Adding some under the water spray bars with water going the opposite direction may be a better alternative or stragic use of powerheads in that area.
The DSB area with frags. If you are going to grow frags there I think you are going to have to change up the flow there as well. The frags will want a random flow and you are going to give it a straight on constant flow. I think you are going to have to change up that flow as well. I also think this isn't the best place for a frag grow out area. If you grow frags there - isn't it basically the same as a display tank? Meaning you are going to be growing coral. Coral will grow. Coral will give off waste. The waste is now going to go into your Live Rock Rubble area and settle there as detritus. I think over time that area may become a nitrate factory. Maybe lose the frag racks in that area and that way you could do away with the lights there as well.
NOW: For some early morning crazy ideas to add to your sump plan. I know you want a frag area - so where should it go?
How about moving things over a bit and having a section before the skimmer area. Make it an incoming water area with filter socks and a bare bottom frag area so any detritus settlement can be cleaned out easily. You will still need to randomize the flow in that area for the frags. This way ALL the dirty water is made before it gets to any of your filtration.
Now while that might be a fairly good idea, the first thing I thought of myself was if there are frag racks in there and detritus settles under them - how can you clean that area.
Craziest idea of all: I have NEVER seen this. It's an idea that just now popped into my head and don't know if it will work but sounds possible. Make a closed loop array of pvc pipes on the floor of this new frag area under the frag racks with holes on the underside of the pvc. Basically the holes will be on the bottom of this area. The interlocking pvc has one exit through a bulkhead in the side of the sump. When it is time to do water changes you open a valve and water comes out of this pipe for your water changes. It will basically then vacuum the floor of your frag area, cleaning up all the settled detritus under your frag racks and you do your water change at the same time.
Sounds like it might work but as I stated before, that was just an idea that I have never seen before.
king4345
New member
so far there is alot fo great ideas and you are moving along just right. nice and slow. this is certainly something that will need to be done 90% right the first time. the size and layout might make changes a bit challenging in the future so doing it correct now would benefit. I like the sump however, there is some concern over the straight flow. this has been mentioned there should be some kind of flow interuption. plus the frags I personally would put them in their own dedicated system. just a thought i look forward to following this build. I have always had an interest in the cost of these systems also. seems as though some people find it taboo to talk about so I am glad to hear that you would be open to discuss it.
Mr.Biggs
New member
Coral fragger101, you make a good point on the chaeto flow and the baffles. I think that I will add provisions in my electrical plan for future Power heads if needed. Thanks.
King4345, I originally was making plans for a separate frag system and to use more of the space in the basement, but I decided to scale it back some and stick everything in the space of this one room.
So I guess the frag system has to suffer a bit, besides not much demand for frags in this part of WY.
I don’t know if I would agree with the thought that a tank or frags need a random flow.
My understanding of the random flow theory is that it helps keep detritus in suspension for export in other parts of the system. I kind of look towards examples in nature and think of the tides being an example of straight on flow. There are also examples of straight on prevailing currents in the ocean. Drift diving comes to mind.
Detritus…. Now it settling on and smothering out your coral is a bad thing, but having it in your system I don’t think is the end or death sentence to the system IMO I think it is the building block of a larger food web if you have the things in your system to utilize it.
Can detritus lead to some problem algae yep. cyno comes to mind. I have some of that in my current system in some low flow areas that the detritus has settled into the rocks. Taking a PH and blowing it out of the rocks and increasing flow will combat the problem.
Do I lose sleep that I have it in my system, No. For one thing it isn’t smothering out my entire display. Is it preventing me from growing SPS? Maybe some types but not all as I have some types of SPS in my system that IMO look ok.
I have gone diving in FW lakes that had acres of cyno on the bottom and in other parts of the same lake it was a vibrant oasis of plants and fish.
If I can find my macro lens for my video camera I will try and give everyone a look at some sections of my display that the detritus has settled and the pods and shrimp have flourished. I will also try and get some photos of 2 of the fish in my system that never eat any of the pellets that I feed. This may take a couple of weeks.
King4345, I originally was making plans for a separate frag system and to use more of the space in the basement, but I decided to scale it back some and stick everything in the space of this one room.
So I guess the frag system has to suffer a bit, besides not much demand for frags in this part of WY.I don’t know if I would agree with the thought that a tank or frags need a random flow.
My understanding of the random flow theory is that it helps keep detritus in suspension for export in other parts of the system. I kind of look towards examples in nature and think of the tides being an example of straight on flow. There are also examples of straight on prevailing currents in the ocean. Drift diving comes to mind.
Detritus…. Now it settling on and smothering out your coral is a bad thing, but having it in your system I don’t think is the end or death sentence to the system IMO I think it is the building block of a larger food web if you have the things in your system to utilize it.
Can detritus lead to some problem algae yep. cyno comes to mind. I have some of that in my current system in some low flow areas that the detritus has settled into the rocks. Taking a PH and blowing it out of the rocks and increasing flow will combat the problem.
Do I lose sleep that I have it in my system, No. For one thing it isn’t smothering out my entire display. Is it preventing me from growing SPS? Maybe some types but not all as I have some types of SPS in my system that IMO look ok.
I have gone diving in FW lakes that had acres of cyno on the bottom and in other parts of the same lake it was a vibrant oasis of plants and fish.
If I can find my macro lens for my video camera I will try and give everyone a look at some sections of my display that the detritus has settled and the pods and shrimp have flourished. I will also try and get some photos of 2 of the fish in my system that never eat any of the pellets that I feed. This may take a couple of weeks.
Mr.Biggs
New member
So I have been working on the water treatment system lately.
This is a general diagram of my thoughts.
<a href="http://s150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/?action=view¤t=WaterTreatment.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/WaterTreatment.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
And some DIY build pics on the ION tubes.
<a href="http://s150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/?action=view¤t=dcp_6896.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/dcp_6896.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/?action=view¤t=dcp_6899.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/dcp_6899.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
This is a general diagram of my thoughts.
<a href="http://s150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/?action=view¤t=WaterTreatment.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/WaterTreatment.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
And some DIY build pics on the ION tubes.
<a href="http://s150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/?action=view¤t=dcp_6896.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/dcp_6896.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/?action=view¤t=dcp_6899.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s104/mrbiggs_photo/Fish%20Tank%20Build/dcp_6899.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Mr.Biggs
New member
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Mr.Biggs
New member
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Underwaterparadise
New member
Sounds like a fun, well thought out system. IMO I would look into getting the DSB portion out of the sump and into it's own seperate tank. I would also add at least 2 more inches of sand. IME in order to get the best amount of anerobic bacteria is to have the sand bed at least 7" deep and very little water flow over the top of the bed. with too much flow and not enough sand you have an increased chance of getting too much oxygen in the bed and the bacteria dying or never forming properly.
Also make sure you block all that light from the skimmer or you will have an algea farm in there
Also make sure you block all that light from the skimmer or you will have an algea farm in there
coralfragger101
Gone Postal
In your ion canister build: How did you secure the threaded adapter into the square hole in the top piece?
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