40 Breeder Peninsula Build

[turbofreak403]

iced, the small end doesnt come off. the left side looking at front of tank does.

thanks firebird!

thanks smb!

 

[E_rock]

stop giving me ideas

 

[turbofreak403]

lol ideas?

 

[Snakebyt]

the downturned elbow is controlled by a gate valve, and the upturned one is above the water level, but does act as an emergency if the main line is clogged or something.

 

[firebirdude]

the downturned elbow is controlled by a gate valve, and the upturned one is above the water level, but does act as an emergency if the main line is clogged or something.

So you're saying that you use the gate valve and try to match the flow through the siphon exactly to the amount your return pump pushes? Impossible. Even being 0.1gph off would quickly result in problems.

 

[Snakebyt]

Has been working great for me. I might make a small adjustment once a month or so. But for the most part it stays right where it needs to be

 

[turbofreak403]

seems finiky

 

[firebirdude]

Only two things can be true.

1)The siphon is a touch too slow and slowly raises the level in the display, until it hits that upturned elbow and begins to trickle down. Ok at first, but eventually will have enough flow to start gurgling something fierce. Your cue to get over there and screw around with the gate valve.

2)The siphon is a touch too fast and slowly lowers the level in the display... until it dips below the elbow, sucks in a little air and either A) gurgles for a bit which clues in for adjustment or B) quickly breaks the siphon while the return pump continues. The water level would then rise quickly until it reaches the upturned elbow, creating a ton of noise and cluing you in on the issue.

As turbo said, seems damn finiky. I'd be afraid to leave the house for more than a few hours.

 

[Snakebyt]

It is not at touchy as you would think...I have gone weeks and weeks without touching it and never had a problem. I have been running it like this for 2 years and never had a problem other than a small adjustment here and there

 

[turbofreak403]

thanks for help guys, im going to do the beananimal overflow

 

[turbofreak403]

i want this thing to be stealth seeing its in the living room.

 

[brackishdude]

This is great!

Read some of Beans thread to get the idea for your drain. Use a narrow internal box as a weir (minimal in-tank space taker upper), have 2-3 holes drilled in the high back wall of the tank inside of the weir, and an ouside box to hold your plumbing.

Here's mine

Back, with returns over the back (the box on the far left is no longer used. The plumbed box needn't have been so long)

Inside

Side view

Keep us posted

 

[turbofreak403]

i was going to do a 12'' overflow, with the 3 drains in the center of the tank, then 2 returns one on each side of the over flow.
all 3/4 stuff because space is limited.

 

[brackishdude]

What this guy is doing

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=20443106&postcount=4922

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=20443222&postcount=4923

Use a narrow inside box (front to back). Some like the inside box to run side to side , using the sides of the tank as the box's side. I prefer to put sides on it and leave an inch or so space between the box and side of tank. Looks neater I think. It need only be tall enough to extend from below the holes in the back of the tank up to the bottom of your trim (assuming your floors are level, the water level will always be above the trim if the pump is on.)

 

[turbofreak403]

looks good!

 

[brackishdude]

i was going to do a 12'' overflow, with the 3 drains in the center of the tank, then 2 returns one on each side of the over flow.
all 3/4 stuff because space is limited.

You are restriced by using the narrow end of the tank. You want your weir to be as long as possible to maximize skimming, so returns through the back wall (unless below weir level) will just restrict you even more.

I would return below the wier or over the top ( a manifold like I have is handy and out of sight if you have a hood). The outside box can be as narrow as needed so long as there is room for the plumbing inside, and that will likely leave plenty of space to run returns up either side of it to do over the back.

 

[brackishdude]

Of course you could also just run the returns behind the external box if there is room between it and the wall.

I guess form will follow function, but any thoughts on your hood?

 

[turbofreak403]

ya i could put the overflow coast to coast and then returns it underneath it.

would that help

 

[turbofreak403]

no hood, just a LED light hanging with minimal steel to hold it up. hopefully very streamline.

im very concerned with evaporation and fish jumping but i know it will look better this way.

my old tank had a hard time maintaining temps with the hood.

 

[firebirdude]

Evaporation is never a bad thing BTW