75g Build

[dedex]

OK, I should have started taking pictures earlier before the drilling, but I'm sure you have all seen that before...

This is the overflow that we made out of a 10"(?) pvc pipe (THANKS Garrett!). We decided to go with a blue background, so we painted the two overflows blue:
<a href="http://s260.photobucket.com/albums/ii19/vtruscinski/?action=view&current=DSC_0225.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii19/vtruscinski/DSC_0225.jpg" border="0" alt="DIY Overflow"></a>

Next is the back of the tank before painting and overflows were installed - after the tank was drilled and the plumbing was started:
<a href="http://s260.photobucket.com/albums/ii19/vtruscinski/?action=view&current=DSC_0226.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii19/vtruscinski/DSC_0226.jpg" border="0" alt="Tank Rear - pre-overflows"></a>

This is the tank front after everything is complete. It is filled with fresh water and running to check for leaks(sorry it is hard to see everything with the mess in the shop...). The wierd thing in the tank in front of the overflow on the right is just a little fake plant to check the flow with:
<a href="http://s260.photobucket.com/albums/ii19/vtruscinski/?action=view&current=DSC_0231.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii19/vtruscinski/DSC_0231.jpg" border="0" alt="Front running"></a>

And finally, the back of the tank after it is running:
<a href="http://s260.photobucket.com/albums/ii19/vtruscinski/?action=view&current=RearTank.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii19/vtruscinski/RearTank.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Like I stated earlier in another thread...if we had it to do over again, we would have plumbed it differently, putting all of the ball valves underneath the tank in the stand so it was easier to access. Hind site is 20-20... Now we have to disassemble it, get it in the house and reassembled, and get the oak stand and canopy finished and slid into place...

 

[dedex]

Now that I am looking at the ball valves, I think he over did it, and put doubles on just about everhting - too funny! I think everything can be shut off with the three that are under the tank!!! I'm no expert on plumbing, but that's what it looks like to me

 

[Mr James]

Any way you can label (via Microsoft Paintor whatever) which pipes go for what?? I can barely see which pipes are going where, but it looks like the CL is getting water from the overflow. Is this correct??

Or, how many drains to the closed loop and how many returns??

The overflow should only drain to the sump or to a fuge, then to the sump. If I remember correct, the overflow should never feed a closed loop. I may reverse my stance on that later..... I'll have to look into it.

 

[dedex]

4 holes for the closed loop...it sucks from the tank from the lower center...goes to the dart pump on the left(viewing from the rear), then back up to three outlets to the tank. It's not the best picture, but hope it helps:
<a href="http://s260.photobucket.com/albums/ii19/vtruscinski/?action=view&current=RearTankDesc2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii19/vtruscinski/RearTankDesc2.jpg" border="0" alt="Rear Descript"></a>

 

[Mr James]

Your closed loop drains from one location and one leg returns water into the overflow?? Is that how I see it??

 

[dedex]

No, I redid the photo above...does it make more sense now?

 

[Mr James]

We ought to talk on the phone or I come over this weekend to check your system. I just don't want a flood on your floor in the house when you get it up and running.

How many overflows do you have?? In one pic there is 1, in another , there appears to be 2. I am a little confused now.

Also, your skimmer drain (from the skimmer to the sump) should flow laterally, it shouldn't go up and over. I don't think the skimmer will work right if you plumb it the way you have it.

Closed loop = CL. It looks as though your third return (far right) from the Dart goes into the internal overflow on the tank. Is this correct?? Keep in mind that closed loops push a alot of water and unfortunately, sand too. Be careful how you have your returns pointing so as not to cause a sand storm.

When are you bringing home the livestock??

 

[dedex]

There are two overflows... We are going on Sunday.

 

[MN. Reef crzy]

i looked it over multiple times and i dont see a single thing wrong with it, call me crazy but i dont think it is wrong even a little.
The skimmer pulls in out of the overflows instantly like it should. Center section i am assuming is right afterbaffles, by the way which also look right. it goes down and than over which according to everything i have seen is the same. It is only cause there is two baffles instead of three. I have ran my sump for two years exactly the same and never could possibly flood it if i tried. She has the overflows in the middle not on the outsides and the closed loop never goes in them at all. I would just try and get it so it sucks water from up, i dont think it is to low where it would suck sand but maybe.

 

[MN. Reef crzy]

By the way, val everything looks great. Tank is going to be really full on sunday.

 

[dedex]

I know it works because it's been running for two days now, and the skimmer is actually skimming the tap water...

 

[Mr James]

I just couldn't see the dark PVC is all... The first pic showed only one overflow from the back side. Another pic of the front showed two. I wasn't seeing everything well.. sorry.

Welp, throw the stuff in and see if she runs. Tap water is one thing, the real test is the real thing.

 

[Mr James]

by MN. Reef crzy
I have ran my sump for two years exactly the same and never could possibly flood it if i tried.

That was my sump, so I know it is correct. And if one fills it too high and pulls the power to the pump, depending on the height of the drains, it could overflow the sump.

Val, running in that manor, have you unplugged the return pump to see how the sump handles it??

What is your return pump BTW??

 

[MN. Reef crzy]

so what sequence pump is that?

 

[Mr James]

I am pretty sure it is the Dart.

 

[MN. Reef crzy]

In any event i have a couple question val. So did you spray paint that with just like a regular enamel and how did you paint the back of the tank? I have heard of people doing this but never really heard how they do it. Also is this your guys's first tank build?

 

[dedex]

Yes, it's a dart.

We have tried every scenerio of unplugging pumps and it never overflowed, not even when we killed power to the whole thing. The return pump from the sump to the tank is a Rio pump that Alan had from one of the bait tanks at the store. Seems to work well.

We used Krylon(spelling?) Fusion paint that is safe for fish tanks. We sprayed the two overflows with it, and then the back of the tank. It's just a spray paint.

And, finally...yes this is our first build...not bad for amatures, huh We had alot of good advice from reef club members and I did a lot of quick reading and question asking on here. Alan had done quite a bit of plumbing before and with the bait tanks at the store, it was no problem for him to understand all of it...I'm lucky to have him. :love2:

Any other ?'s - hehe

 

[MN. Reef crzy]

so did you reduce down to 1.5 " on the inlet of the dart? That is kinda what the pictures look like? Also no, not bad at all, long ways from what my first set up looked like, lol.

 

[dedex]

Yes, we reduced down to 1.5" on the outlet. Hope it work as well as I think it will...next week will be the true test...I have faith in Alan though, so I'm not too worried about any of it.

 

[MN. Reef crzy]

So you got your pipe locally meaning your schedule 80 pipe. If you did you should grab me some when you come if you know the people and we will just take it off your tab. I need like 25 feet of schedule 80 1.5" and maybe 2 feet of 2". But if you cant that is fine. I just am not sure if HD sells it, i never even looked.

Do you get some pretty crazy flow with the dart than?