Adding new SW

[spdjnky]

Hi could some one help me figure out the best way to hook a line in to the set up I have now. I have a syphon set up that I made that will rest on the side of the main display tank to remove the amount of gallons I want. That will go right to my drain.
I also have a 1/2 PVC line that runs from my SW mixing station to the sump. So when I do the WC I shut the pumps off this adds 2.5 gallons to the sump. Fine no problem do the water change and need to add the water thats where I get screwed up as I can add the water to the sump but I have to keep turning the return pump on and off when I am filling everything back up again. I've done it a few times and it's a pain in the ***.
I think if I we do the plumbing to add it to return line with another ball valve to get the flow right ?

 

[tg1966]

Are you setting up an automated water change system or manual?

 

[spdjnky]

I will have to open the valves and to start it

 

[rjjr1963]

How big is your sump and how many gallons of water are you changing?

I'm setting up my 180 the same way and my sump is 75 gallons. I'm going to plumb a drain line from the sump manifold and remove water that way for normal water changes. To do it the way you describe you'll have to regulate the flow to match input and output.

 

[spdjnky]

I have had everything running for 4 months and I am just starting to get a handle on how too's but there is a new one all the time but that's what is fun part as I am retired and have time now. I bought the sump and had them setup. The return pump is in the sump with an open intake. I have a 1/2 "pvc line for filling over by where the return comes back from the display tank. I think thats the problem. I need to regulate the flow so when I start filling I won't have to keep cycling the pump on and off.
The picture is the syphon setup I made to hook up to the drain line. My thoughts were to have that to where I can put different length down pipes for different amounts of SW I want to change.

 

[spdjnky]

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This is the 1/2 pic line

 

[spdjnky]

Heres a picture

 

[spdjnky]

 

[spdjnky]

Thats my setup and where I put the 1/2 pvc that I doesn't work that good

 

[spdjnky]

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[spdjnky]

Theres a picture of everything

 

[frey]

ok so if I understand what you are doing you have a line in your display that you have premeasured and know how many gallons you are removing. So you shut down then start the syphon. What you would need IMO is a valve above your pump on the return line or lines. Once you shutdown and all water drains down from your returns it should stop. then you can turn your valve to closed and fill the main tank. really if you are putting the same amount in as you just took out you should not receive any more flow, but it you over fill for some reason it would overflow in the main tank but not go to the sump. hopefully that makes sense.

 

[frey]

i just have a black sharpy mark on my display. i do 30 gallon changes. so i shut the pump off and immediately close the valve. this keeps my sump water stable and i don't have to mess with the skimmer. i put the syphon hose at the sharpy level and remove water and it stops at the mark. i then turn the pump in SW holding tank on with holds just over 30 gallons and it refills. turn that pump off, start the main pump in the tank and then release the ball valve. all done.

 

[spdjnky]

When I turn the pumps off it drains about 2 1/2 gallons of the main aquarium into the sump. That's where I get screwed up pumps are off I can set it up so I 15 gallons or 10 but when I fill it back up from my saltwater mixing station I don't know how to control how much.

 

[spdjnky]

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My saltwater mixing station is in the attic over my garage witch is about 25 feet away. So when I am ready to refill I have to go up there and open the valve and turn the pump on. And then I have the shut off where it comes into the sump but thats where I had the problem. I have about 20 gallons mixed but when it's coming into the sump the way I have it I need better control. I guess what I am saying is that having the syphon set up for the right amount to take out is great I know that if the syphon is sitting right on the side of the tank it's accurate but when I am filling it back up I am going by eye. Then yesterday I was looking at the way everything was plumbed and adjusted the ball valve for the return flow to see if I could increase it a little more to see what would happen and that lowered level so my ATO started (it's in the pic if you look right in front of the return pump.I'm trying to understand why that happened. So again the long story short is I just about have my Salinity back to 1.026 where I would like to keep it and that means I need get the refill right.

 

[spdjnky]

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Here's another picture and I still can't get this right in my mind. The return pump intake is open in the sump. Water comes out of the return pump first shut off is the refrugium then another shut off for control flow to the main display, behind that I have the 1/2 line coming from my sw mixing tank. Would it make sense to hook to the line that goes to refrugium?

 

[spdjnky]

Hi Frey Happy Easter
Reading what you said again. I just did 15 gallons with buckets need the sw for a frag tank I am setting up along with 2 QT tanks 1 20 gal fish thats ready now I think and want to get another 10 gal for frags. The 15 gal I took out today is for the 36 gal that I am going to use to learn about corals. I'm retired.
What I did today was turn the pumps off,let the syphon take out 15 gal missed it by about 1/2 gal. In the future I won't need to save the waste water so that set up works great I will just be able to take my syphon setup out put it on and let it do it's work!! I won't have to worry about getting interrupted or forgetting because the syphon will stop.
Filling it back up today went better as I was able to just go upstairs and open the valve on the back of my sw mixing station.I didn't turn the mixing station pump on went downstairs to my aquarium open the valve and let the new sw gravity feed into the sump and just slowed the return pump down and was able to get there but I think your idea is great. I can change my return from the tank to my sump so I can put a shut off on it then I can do the same. (1) Turn my return pump off. (2) Shut the valve so it doesn't drain back down to into the Sump. (3) Put the syphon in and let it do it's work. This also gives u time to clean the glass and if you need to you can use a small hand held setup with another syphon for sand bed maintenance when it need it my 75 don't think thats more than 2-3 gal . (4) I put a T in my 3/4 return line above the pump to pump the new sw to the main display. Fill it back up to the witch will be normal operating level as I lost nothing from the pump shut off work for me as being more accurate. Not sure but not having to shut down the skimmer or less with the level of the sump where the ATO is works for me.

But then I will have to turn the pump on my SW mixing station on witch is my problem because of the location and not wanting the pump to run dry. I guess I should not worry as I have 20 gallons mixed and up to temp it's just that thing in my head that doesn't like to have the pump running with valves shut.
Let me know if this makes sense to you.

 

[spdjnky]

After having to re-adjust the valves for the flow for the refugium and main tank again after playing with everything during the re-fill I like your way even more.

 

[frey]

Happy Easter to you as well SPDJNKY. I have read and re-read what you are saying. I think I understand what you are doing, but I still kinda don't. I try to keep things simple so there are less ways for something to get screwed up. I would not flow the new water to the sump. I would have it come into the main tank. You could put a valve where you can reach before it goes into the tank to allow the flow to start and be able to shut off from tank level in case of emergency. I use 30 gallon brute trash cans that hold roughly 30 gallons of water. I first shut the tank down. turn the valve off that I have on my return out of the sump. this then prevents water from flowing into the sump. now you are left with roughly your running volume in the sump and a full display. I then filled up my 30 gallons, made a black mark on my tank. took the syphon hose and plumbed some pvc elbow and the length to match exactly where my mark was. as you say you can then go about whatever else needs done while all that is going on. it will automatically run out of water and stop. now x amount of water needs replaced. so if you add a valve for your new SW by your tank you can open that now, directly into the display. if you have measured and made your lines correct for what you are going to dump in that will stop automatically when empty as well, no need for any pumps etc on during this process. then close your valve and next time you go up to your attic above the garage just refill the containers. having an extra valve and one within hands reach from the tank may just be a life saver some day. if you really feel the need to have the pump on in your mixing station during the water change, which I would advise against you can always just get a JBJ ATO and plug your pump in there and use the float switches to turn your pump on and off and keep it from running dry.

 

[spdjnky]

Hi again.. Thanks you hit it right on the nose. I can syphon from my SW mixing station (I have a picture posted) Will post some more when I get it done over. At least I think I can make something work.I know from yesterday that I can gravity feed from my SW station to my sump. The 1/2" PVC line comes into the room in the back of my Aquarium between the sump and the bottom of the tank so hooking up there above the ball valve I have will work. So I can shut my return pump off close the valve that is already there go ahead and do my syphon when time comes to fill up again I start the syphon from upstairs and it will run to the tank thru the return line by just gravity only but I think at the end there is going to be some that won't make it that final rise to the tank from where it's hooked in.
I'm working on some things and will post more pics as I get things done but setting up the syphon for my mixing station is on the top of the list because accurate measurements plus no pump to worry about all makes a lot of sense for me.