180 gallon tank build
- Thread starter magdelan
- Start date
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
Ajoe110 does nice woodwork 
jstraka1
Premium Member
Nice cabinet!!!! what color stain are you considering? Great progress so far on the whole setup! I also agree with the others on the pump, external is the way to go. Have you considered plumbing in another tank, say 55 gallon or so, for the refugium. This leaves much more room in the sump for all the other equipment.
cardiffgiant
Active member
Looking great so far. I love these threads because you really get to make use of everyones feedback and get the best possible design.
Aside from addressing the flooding concerns, your new design could also let you use a different rate of flow for the refugium, sump, and RDSB.
Hi,
Nice project. Nice work by Joe, say hi for me.
I agree with most of the stellar advice you've received so far. Sequence makes a good line of pumps with some push. Iwaki is also good for high pressure.They're rated for less flow but they push it farther.
A bit off the floor for everything is the way iI would do it. The cement gets pretty cold in the winter and siphoning to clean will be a little easier if it's up. If you have the room use gravity where you can.
When you do your plumbing use the largest feasible pipe. You'll save on head loss.
Whatever pump you choose, I would plumb it in with "true unions equipped with shut off vavles to facilitate maintenance.
It's a good idea to tee off an extra return line with a control valve right back to the sump . You can open this and control the return flow by diverting some water without closing off your reeturn and putting backpressure on the pump.
A check valve on your return line can prevent yur return line from siphoning back when the pump is off.
Good Luck Go Slow and have fun.
Nice project. Nice work by Joe, say hi for me.
I agree with most of the stellar advice you've received so far. Sequence makes a good line of pumps with some push. Iwaki is also good for high pressure.They're rated for less flow but they push it farther.
A bit off the floor for everything is the way iI would do it. The cement gets pretty cold in the winter and siphoning to clean will be a little easier if it's up. If you have the room use gravity where you can.
When you do your plumbing use the largest feasible pipe. You'll save on head loss.
Whatever pump you choose, I would plumb it in with "true unions equipped with shut off vavles to facilitate maintenance.
It's a good idea to tee off an extra return line with a control valve right back to the sump . You can open this and control the return flow by diverting some water without closing off your reeturn and putting backpressure on the pump.
A check valve on your return line can prevent yur return line from siphoning back when the pump is off.
Good Luck Go Slow and have fun.
KurtsReef
Premium Member
Re: 180 gallon tank build
Forgot this part,
Home Depot sells a sump pump with a lifetime warranty, when it goes bad for any reason just bring it back to home depot and they give you a new one...no receipt required. I suggest after you start using it for drainage during water changes etc and the current one fails to go with that model. Saltwater is pretty bad on things not made for it, which your home sump pump will not be something made for that.
Forgot this part,
Home Depot sells a sump pump with a lifetime warranty, when it goes bad for any reason just bring it back to home depot and they give you a new one...no receipt required. I suggest after you start using it for drainage during water changes etc and the current one fails to go with that model. Saltwater is pretty bad on things not made for it, which your home sump pump will not be something made for that.
magdelan
Fish?
Wow, so many things that haven't even occured to me. For example, the affects of salt water on a home/basement sump pump. Also, as tmz pointed out, I should have a check valve on the return. I love all of this feedback though. With it, I feel that I will have a great system.
This picture is with the stain before the gloss coat. The stain I decided to go with is cherry-mohogany. It's looking great!!!!
This picture is with the stain before the gloss coat. The stain I decided to go with is cherry-mohogany. It's looking great!!!!
magdelan
Fish?
As stated in the design, the return plumbing will run behind the refugium and the sump before it makes a 90 degree vertical turn going back upstairs.
The Drain will be 1.5 inches and the return will be 1 inch. (any thoughts?)
The return will go in to a motions oceans 4way upstairs. (this is not shown in the drawing) (will this decrease flow too much?) There are just under 10ft between the pump and the top of the tank.
Is my Pump ok "pulling" the water out of the tank or should it really be plumbed/drilled into it?
The Drain will be 1.5 inches and the return will be 1 inch. (any thoughts?)
The return will go in to a motions oceans 4way upstairs. (this is not shown in the drawing) (will this decrease flow too much?) There are just under 10ft between the pump and the top of the tank.
Is my Pump ok "pulling" the water out of the tank or should it really be plumbed/drilled into it?
jstraka1
Premium Member
youre gonna run into some issues with overflow when you turn the pump off with that setup. the refugium tank will overflow because it is lower than the sump. I would set the refugium on the right side higher than the sump, so the main tank drains into the refugium and drill it and put an overflow box from the refugium to the sump. add the DSB into the refugium and use the large section on the left of the sump for a nice big return section. in answer to your question, yes i would drill the return section and plumb the return pump straight in.
The refugium will definately overflow as designed. The pump should be level or below the intake point. It may be ok ,dependeing on the pump but most should not be position to draw much as a general rule. It's important to have unrestricted flow into the pump at a pipe size equal to or larger than the outlet to avoid cavitation in the pump and damage to it.
magdelan
Fish?
Why will the refugium overflow? Where will the water come from after the power is off? I'm just trying to picture it. I am very visual, so if I can't picture it, then I can't improve on it. I'm working on another design with the refugium above the sump. How much empty (no water) room should be available in each?
