180G Waterfall Tank Build

I got the tank really cheap, right place right time. I plan on building or having built a little plastic or acrylic "slide" for the waterfall as it is disturbing the sand and making too many bubbles in the lower tank. I really like the idea of the rock below the waterfall but I dont know if that will work. I'm going to give it a test run though. The water shoots out kind of far into the tank to use the rock I think.

No leaks! yet. The saltwater is now in and tank is cycling. Only problem right now is the skimmer pump is cavating from it picking up its own mircofilled return water. Not too sure how I'm going to deal with this yet. What a sand storm!
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All these post of how great this COULD turn out to be is starting to be a lot of pressuer guys! :) The next few weeks will be pretty boring as it cycles but it will give me time to build the light rack and deal with the waterfall options.
 
^ Yes, I'm assuming that its a problem. The overflow comes into the first chamber of the sump and thats where the skimmer pump sits and returns. I was not going to have it return there but it needs to be on that side so it goes thru the baffles for the mivro bubbles. Any ideas?
 
you could place an acrylic box in there under the water fall so it baffles, or attach some pvc pipe to the outputs, like an elbow and point the water down, cut the pipe just below the waterline on the bottom tank
 
What are the plans for the rest of the sump? Refuge in the middle, then return section on the far end? I would think, at the very least, it would be best to try the skimmer pump on the other side of the baffle. You will still be double skimming some water, but as it is right now, you are kinda blowing the skimmer return straight back in to the skimmer pump. Maybe even put the skimmer feed pump all the way down at the return section, this also may add a little head pressure to the skimmer pump.

Check out this site for removable sump baffles. I ended up using them, they weren't the best, but worked. You could add some of these removable baffles to figure out if you want to add any more permanent baffles to the sump. Then just use the circulation pumps while the tank cycles, and pull the sump out for a few days to glue in the "real" baffles; http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_3/cav3i1/Baffles/baffles.htm
 
Quick question about the stand.
Does the top support the tank adequately? It sure looks like the tank is just floating. If the whole setup was used before I'm sure its fine, just wondering how its setup.

How about a small zero edge cube floating on top of a 14" deep tank? Hmmm.
Neat setup!
 
Probably too late for this, and you may not want to do it anyway, but how about cutting an 'overflow' in place of the two holes? Would probably stop the water from 'shooting' out, less sand disturbance, and it would look more like a true waterfall. Just an idea... :)
 
I would replace those two holes with two bulkheads. Use a 90 degree elbow to make the water drain well below the surface of the water into a bubble tower. Then cover the entire bubble tower with a big peice of live rock that comes out of the water and covers the plumbing and bulkheads. Fill the bubble tower with live rock.

On the top tank, make a small overflow around the two drains and use a 90 degree elbow facing upwards to make short durso standpipes to keep it quiet.
 
Here are some pictures for H20ENG
The stand is not as long or wide as the tanks. It hangs over about 3 inches all the way around, it really adds to the look of the tank. Good job on noticing that! The last picture is a negative edge tank I saw on my honeymoon in Maui. And a few pictures of the Waterfall. I plan to have a LFS make a black acrylic "water slide" for it so the water slides down it quietly and does not stir up the sandbed.

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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8830776#post8830776 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by evolust
^ Yes, I'm assuming that its a problem. The overflow comes into the first chamber of the sump and thats where the skimmer pump sits and returns. I was not going to have it return there but it needs to be on that side so it goes thru the baffles for the mivro bubbles. Any ideas?
Click to expand...


My sump uses the same design. Water from the over flow goes directly to the chamber where the skimmer pump picks it up, runs it through the skimmer, and the skimmer outlet returns the water right back to the same chamber for re-mixing. It's a great design for an SPS tank.

Once the skimmer has removed the lion's share of organic compounds from the water, the number of micro bubbles should subside substantially... just give it time.


I'd like to swing by your place before the January club meeting to check it out. I'll shoot you a PM....

BTW, the project's looking great so far!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8844201#post8844201 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by evolust
I plan to have a LFS make a black acrylic "water slide" for it so the water slides down it quietly and does not stir up the sandbed.
Click to expand...

You could cut a notch between the holes with a roto zip. Here's a link. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/s...444094&highlight=50+breeder+external+overflow

But you may not want to risk it and you would probably have the same problem. :D

Do you have any more pics on that negative edge tank? That's really cool. Not to hijack your thread though. :D
 
More negative edge tank pictures. It was filled with Clams!

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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8846021#post8846021 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ReefWaters
You could cut a notch between the holes with a roto zip. Here's a link. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/s...444094&highlight=50+breeder+external+overflow

But you may not want to risk it and you would probably have the same problem. :D

Do you have any more pics on that negative edge tank? That's really cool. Not to hijack your thread though. :D
Click to expand...

I think that would be nicer but it would lower my water level in the upper tank more than I want it too, oh ya and I'm too scared to go drilling on this tank anymore.
 
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