72g bow lots of pics and diary

oh monti !!!!!

In Memoriam
Here it goes the start of my new tank!! Picked this up from local reefer. Started on plumbing this weekend and took a few pics. I'm going to run a 29g sump underneath, and a fuge with hangon skimmer in back. Also is a pic included of my current 24g big switch huh? Please lets here your comments good or bad!! I'll take any advice you want to give thanks kevin RC is the bomb:blown: <a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb186/ohmonti/890086699108_0_BG-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb186/ohmonti/000_0013.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb186/ohmonti/000_0014.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb186/ohmonti/000_0011.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>
 
what's the plumbing in the center for? the part that looks like an upside down U.
 
im not using an overflow so when power goes out the flow will stop once the tank level is below that..... at least thats my idea?!? is there a reason that wont work? dont want my sump to overflow!
 
i think a big overflow box looks real funky in a tank. I dont want any powerheads in my tank either. I want it to be seamless. And besides no one will see the back of my tank! If you drill a small hole in the top of the pipe it will kill the siphon. I want my tank to have nothing in it no heaters, powerheads, overflows, or returns either. I love these big tanks on here where you see nothing but sand corals and fish!!! And as far as my plumbing at least its plumb and level i see alot of people in here that get to excited and dont even take the time to make it straight and clean. My plumbing does stick out about 8" but i plan on putting a refuge and a hang on skimmer behind my tank that will then be pumped into my 29g sump, maybe space really isnt a factor. Also my glass will be painted so even more will be hidden. :D
 
So is that center pipe a return or a drain? If it is a return, all you need is a check valve to prevent drain.
 
thanks for the comments

thanks for the comments

the one on the bottom right is a drain with the upside down "U" top right is the return from my sump. Bottom left is my closed loop without a pump yet. I will be building something to support my pump before i install it. I know the pipe is oversized but i did not drill the holes. I bought tank,stand,and sump for $100 already drilled. But for that price i really couldnt pass.
 
ok so if we are looking at the back of the tank, the 4 drilled holes go like this..

from left to right

leftmost: closed loop outlet from pump
left-middle: closed loop inlet to pump
right-middle: out to sump
rightmost: return from sump

correct?

I would be concerned about the amount of air pressure exerted on the water's surface versus the gravity keeping the water from flowing upwards in the U-section. In theory it works, look at the trap built-in to a toilet.. it's the same concept.. but the ratio of water surface area in a toilet bowl to the pipe size is a lot closer than what you've got there.. I would think the U section may need to be raised up quite a bit, or the piping enlarged.. but.. I could be wrong.. its still morning and I have not fully charged up.
 
the pipe is 1 1/2" on a 72g i thought that would be enough, and your exactly right about the toliet drain that was my concept! I thought about maybe even putting a small pump on the bottom of the drain tohelp more with the flow. not sure about though any thought on that?
 
didnt think of the check valve on the return. Answer me this though if the water level goes down below the return when power is off it cant drain right? my theory was to build my sump to hold plenty of water, enough where it would all drain below my returns into the sump
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10458169#post10458169 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by oh monti !!!!!
the pipe is 1 1/2" on a 72g i thought that would be enough, and your exactly right about the toliet drain that was my concept! I thought about maybe even putting a small pump on the bottom of the drain tohelp more with the flow. not sure about though any thought on that?

I'd just cap off the other pipes and fill it up with FW to test *shrug* nothing to lose really.. let it start to drain and then when it stops you can calculate the volume of water that is missing from the tank and hopefully size your sump appropriately :)

How do you plan on keeping things (fish) out of those inlets?
 
the big test is coming !!!! just bein patient !!!! and those are threaded bulkheads so i will just put in the threaded screens that are made for the bulkheads and the returns i will put modular pipe to direct my flow. Cant say i am not scared of the big water test but ...... will see! just cant afford everything all at once
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10458914#post10458914 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichConley
I predict water on the floor.

yeah but the question is how much? :p

Monti, if i were in your shoes, before I bought anything else I would cap the other inlets / outlets off and just fill it up to see how far it fills before water hits the floor, then you can adjust your u-section up/down or change the plumbing method... that way you're only spending a few bucks on caps and don't spend a ton of money on something that might not work..
 
i have no problem changing something. i've ran quite a bit of pvc in my life and i have all the right tools to fix it easy. this will be tested i assure u with regular water over and over again before i do anything. I have seen this done on another tank and it was working i thought id try my luck. the "u" is about 2" under the top of my tank. I plan on only keeping about 10 to 15gallon in sump to allow max overflow protection. logically it makes sense if your water level is above the "u" then there should be a flow from the water rising up and going through the "u" and gravity will let it flow down think of your overflow, once the water fills up your overflow it rises high enough to flow down your pvc. at least i hope this works for me im sure its not fine tuned lol but in my dreams it works lol :lol: will see I do have another bulk head for the sump I just have to buy flexible hose to connect the rest for the test haha Rich conley no pics of your plumbing? those are some nice schematics you have RICH in your gallery it looks just like a picture my niece drew and your in software you can do better than that cant you its cool XSIVE who hasnt split water on the floor lol i do it every water change no matter how careful i am lol
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10459564#post10459564 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Jeremy Blaze
I am confused. Is the u tube a drain to a sump? Or an intake or output for a closed loop?

it's the drain to the sump.
 
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