2300G Cylinder - Preview

Twin thrusters is a thumbs up from me. That will give the opportinity for both mix-master and gyre settings. :D My only caveat would be under the rocks. What I would suggest you consider is an over-the-top closed loop system. Since you have the thruster area sequestered, you could go over the top (avoiding holes in the tank) and down to the bottom with closed loop pipng. Then position eductors throughout the tank bottom to keep the detritus in suspension. This is IMO the biggest problem we face. The accumulation of detritus under rocks, in the sump etc. is a time-bomb waiting to go off.

Advantages of this closed loop?

1. The pump(s) is outside the water. This keeps the heat impact down.
2. The pump(s) can be easily removed for servicing or replaced for failure.
3. Using a 220+V pump on a VFD (Variable Frequency Drive) would allow you to control the flow and not only stir up more detritus, but also give a "sleep" mode.
4. In my next build, I will use two of these on opposing ends of the tank to make a bottom wave/surge. Varying the flow back and forth, slowing it for night-time, and blasting the reef periodically.

Your design lends itself well to this application.
 
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Twin thrusters is a thumbs up from me. That will give the opportinity for both mix-master and gyre settings. :D My only caveat would be under the rocks. What I would suggest you consider is an over-the-top closed loop system. Since you have the thruster area sequestered, you could go over the top (avoiding holes in the tank) and down to the bottom with closed loop pipng. Then position eductors throughout the tank bottom to keep the detritus in suspension. This is IMO the biggest problem we face. The accumulation of detritus under rocks, in the sump etc. is a time-bomb waiting to go off.

Advantages of this closed loop?

1. The pump(s) is outside the water. This keeps the heat impact down.
2. The pump(s) can be easily removed for servicing or replaced for failure.
3. Using a 220+V pump on a VFD (Variable Frequency Drive) would allow you to control the flow and not only stir up more detritus, but also give a "sleep" mode.
4. In my next build, I will use two of these on opposing ends of the tank to make a bottom wave/surge. Varying the flow back and forth, slowing it for night-time, and blasing the reef periodically.

Yor design lends itself well to this application.

I agree! :thumbsup:
 
that third video of the pump in action is crazy. If you use two of those, I can only imagine that your fish will collide together in the middle. along with all your sand
 
Hello Diablo,

bitteschön....

I hope you do not plan sand for the bottom of your tank (I do not remember if you wrote allready about this) - you then will not be happy with your acrylic tank for a long time.

regards

Markus
 
Bit of a hum on that last video. That might get annoying.

The fear of sand storms is a bit over-done. I have seen many tanks with rediculous flow and no problem with sand movement. It generally will find its spot and stay there. I am not a fan of sand beds anyway, but a little patience in observing the flow, placing rocks in appropriate areas, and filling in with sand will go a long way to deal with that issue.
 
Diablo, great tank. I'm a fair bit through building my own concrete and glass tank of a similar size to yours, but rectangular. I also built my house around it ;). Here's the thread if you're curious: http://www.sareefkeeping.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12932

A cheaper option than your thruster may be the little electric transom outboards: http://www.fishingtackle.co.za/Trolling-Motors/View-all-products.html They start at around $150 for a salt water one. I'm planning on using 2 or 4 of them, and my electronic engineer buddy and I will put together the control circuitry for waves etc.
 
sarmo, not quite sure about how to keep the algae off the acrylic. If worse comes to worst, I will have to buy some large rare-earth magnets and mould myself some curved algae magnets.

Diablo, you shouldn't have to make a curved cleaning magnet. This company makes nice cleaning magnets that should be strong enough for the thickness of your tank. As long as you use the magnet in a vertical orientation, moving it side to side, at least the edges of the pad will clean the acrylic. Make sure to get the floating magnets.

http://www.mightymagnets.com/
 
yimmerz, thanks for the link.

robvdv, very cool. I scanned through this morning... I will read your thread end-to-end over the next day or so and may come back with some questions, if thats OK?

jonathan and Elliott, appreciate the chat. I might get one of these babies and see what the flow dynamics are like.

K.Sweeney... thanks for the picture... I missed it in the thread... way hard core.

MarkusII, FWIW, we dont have Steinbock in our streets either :beer:
 
Touchdown!

Touchdown!

18 months after my first post, the tank is finally on site.

Tank arrives:
TankArrives.jpg


Billy the crane man shows good form as he hitches the tank:
BillyHitching.jpg


Holding my breath...
Liftoff.jpg


Loking good:
SteadyAsSheGoes.jpg


Half way and no incident:
HalfWay.jpg


Almost there...
AlmostThere.jpg


In Place
InPlace.jpg


Sam the construction manager chillin' in 95F heat:
SamTakinItEasy.jpg


I don't mean to sound immoddest, but this tank is pretty nice to meet in person.
 
Congrats diablo well done on getting this far now quick build the rest of the house so you can fill it!
 
robvdv, very cool. I scanned through this morning... I will read your thread end-to-end over the next day or so and may come back with some questions, if thats OK?

Of course :)

Glad to see your tank is in place. Must be a big relief.
 
congratulations!!!!! Now all you need is for the house to get finished :):):) What is the time frame for that???? At least the important part is in place........ :)
 
I'm baffled as to why it is sitting on the wooden blocks...and how it is going to come off those blocks later...
 
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