Another 225 Tank Project!

The water in the tank will only flow as fast as the return pump can pump it back to the return. So, if you have enough drains to drain 1600gph (let's say) but your return pump is only rated for 1400gph, then you will have more than enough drain, which is good in case one of the drains becomes plugged. So it is better to have more than enough draining capabilities, than not enough. I hope that makes sense.
 
thanks willra

I dont know I use a comb of the VHO, I had them on my last setup like that, and liked it...so I just stuck with it. I read you are suppose to replace VHO every 8 - 12month, perhaps on the next set I will try 2 supers ;)

willra said:
With 3x250 10k mh's, why don't you go with 2 superactinics VHOs? The Uri actinic white is 12k, pretty much pure white. I think you might be satisfied a bit more with the 2 superactinics. Then again, its just personal preference.

The whole setup is killer, and the reflector is awesome. Keep up the great work!

Will
Click to expand...
 
I'm setting up a 225 soon so I'll be following along on this one. I really like your surge device.
 
Back to my drain questions (I've been off line for a few days). Let's say I have two 2" drains going the sump and one Ampmaster 3000 pumping back up, won't those drains allow more water flow into the sump than the Ampmaster can pump back?

Or is it that the drain will pull the water below the top of the overflow and once that happens they will only continue to drain what the pump can push back it to raise the water level? Did I finally get it? If this is the case, then won't the drains be noisy because they aren't full?

Sorry if these seem like dumb questions but I am just learning all this plumbing stuff. thanks.

Mickey

P.S. I get it now about the VHO's. I had totally forgotten that your surge tank overhung your display tank. Duh!!!
 
NP - You got it! The actual overflow will keep the tank from just draining into the sump, as water is pumped in, it will overflow, into the sump.....

Like so:
http://bluechunks.net/reef/225reef/water5.jpg

For the noise issue, there are a few solution to quite it down, in the pic above, I have installed a durso stand pump to quiet the draining down, there are a few other styles too, search RC.

Is that the only return pump you are going to use?

MickeyDee said:
Back to my drain questions (I've been off line for a few days). Let's say I have two 2" drains going the sump and one Ampmaster 3000 pumping back up, won't those drains allow more water flow into the sump than the Ampmaster can pump back?

Or is it that the drain will pull the water below the top of the overflow and once that happens they will only continue to drain what the pump can push back it to raise the water level? Did I finally get it? If this is the case, then won't the drains be noisy because they aren't full?

Sorry if these seem like dumb questions but I am just learning all this plumbing stuff. thanks.

Mickey

P.S. I get it now about the VHO's. I had totally forgotten that your surge tank overhung your display tank. Duh!!!
Click to expand...
 
WetWilly said:
so is that all?? I thought you were gonna impress me with somethin....;) hehe
Click to expand...

lol - How about this?

02/06/04 - Lighting: I finally got the draw latches installed in the canopy, along with the hardware to hang the lighting. Ive had an older Pentium 200 Laptop that has been in my closet for about 4 years, and is still in working order. What better way to put it to use than to control the surge, lighting, and lunar cycles using a java applet called eLightMaster in conjunction with X-10 firecrackers . This will subject the enviorment to real time, seasonal day length changes, and lunar cycles. The surge will only run during the day (about 12 hours). I will also run the light for the refuge on a reverse photoperiod which this app is capable of doing. If im lucky, this will help induce spawning in some coral species.....so I have read.

<img src=http://bluechunks.net/reef/225reef/lunar1.jpg>

<img src=http://bluechunks.net/reef/225reef/lunar2.jpg>
 
I had planned on one return pump through the sump and also one closed loop and I'm hoping I can get close to 20x tank volume this way.

The closed loop will also have a drain through an overflow. I won't have access to the back of the tank once it is in place so I want all bulkheads going through an overflow, but I plan to hard plumb the closed loop so it isn't actual "open" to the overflow at all. I'll add another bulkhead about 6" down the overflow to use for this purpose.

I am actually looking at Sequence pumps but it would be the equivalent of the Ampmaster or one step up. thinking about one for the sump and one for the closed loop. Another bulkhead from the sump will drain water to a chiller and I think I'll have another pump just for that so I can shut it down when not needed as I understand chillers add a lot of head and I'd rather not size the pump up.

also thinking about both pumps going to SeaSwirls, either the 3/4" or 1" size, probably two on each. Not sure if I can get enough flow at the output this way and I'm trying to calculate it now using various flow charts and head calculators. I'm even trying it the old fashion way, via pencil and paper, but that is a bit more difficult as the formulas are complex and it's been a long time since I did complex math.

I'd rather plan for more flow and then throttle it back than wish I had more. Let me know if you see problems with this.

thanks. Mickey
 
02/08/04 - Cabinet: I have began the breakdown and removale of everything in the stand in prepration for the cabinet work, prime, then painting. Today I wrapped the right cabinet in MDF, built, and hung the doors. I cheated the top door to match the size of the canopy doors.

<img src=http://bluechunks.net/reef/225reef/caba1.jpg>

<img src=http://bluechunks.net/reef/225reef/caba2.jpg>

<img src=http://bluechunks.net/reef/225reef/caba3.jpg>

<img src=http://bluechunks.net/reef/225reef/caba4.jpg>
 
DANG - just spend aout 30min drooling over all the pics...man this is CRAZY!!! very very very nice man!!!

can't wait to see more updates
Lunchbucket
 
02/09/04 - More Cabinet: More cabinet work, I made the doors for the canopy and installed then.

<img src=http://bluechunks.net/reef/225reef/cabb1.jpg>

<img src=http://bluechunks.net/reef/225reef/cabb2.jpg>

<img src=http://bluechunks.net/reef/225reef/cabb3.jpg>
 
02/10/04 - Cough....More Cabinet...dust in my nose!: Almost dont with this thing, one more door, and a couple of adjustments.... then on to prime and paint.

<img src=http://bluechunks.net/reef/225reef/cabc1.jpg>

<img src=http://bluechunks.net/reef/225reef/cabc2.jpg>

<img src=http://bluechunks.net/reef/225reef/cabc3.jpg>
 
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