Coral Tank from Canada (1350gal Display Tank)

[nineball]

Water in the Tank........

Water in the Tank........

Some observations with the brief update on the progress of the water in the tank.

Although the camera lense may suggest otherwise (my fault)I have measured the water level throughout the tank and I cannot find even a 1/16" varience in water level. It is perfectly level which so far is a continuing testament to the tank manufacturer ATM who manufactured the tank in Las Vegas and transhipped it with the custom stand over two thousand miles to its current home. More on this subject later.

We are going to let water sit in the system over night before putting pressure on it. The display tank itself is 90 % full.

The equipment on the sled in the fish room has been reconfigured to ensure maximum effeciency and throughput to the tank.

more coming.......

Peter

 

[mr.wilson]

Now that it's almost full can you cut out the pillar blocking it

 

[nineball]

first issue

first issue

Not sure why but we are not getting enough flow through the primary pump which is 3/4 HP. Is it concievable that it is inadequate for the task? It does not appear to be moving any water. There is flow but its imperceptable. We tried a second pump which is 1/2 HP to see if there was a problem with the first pump and still no joy.

ideas??

Peter

 

[iluzhun]

Peter is it possible the pump has air in the pump. I have seen pumps have a slight amount of air and cause them to pump at a reduced rate. is there an air bleed on the pump housing or on the outlet right at the pump. Try bleeding the air.

Chris

 

[dave.m]

Are all your valves fully open? No, no, I meant on the aquarium.

Dave.M

 

[mr.wilson]

1) Test the pump on a short loop or in a sink to make sure it is primed and working.
2) Test the plumbing with a garden hose to make sure there is no blockage.

If these are both working, you may just have an air lock issue. Open bleeder valves and purge out the air. Running a garden hose through the pump will also flush the air out and prime it properly.

I had two bad Sequence 4200 pumps in a row recently. It happens. A picture would help.

 

[nuccadoc]

Great information on acclimation Mr Wilson. I am fortunate to have a LFS that will not sell fish until they are eating and have been in their system for at least a week. I am also only five minutes away so the "drip style" has worked very well for me over the years. However gong the extra mile in setting up a quarantine system would be even better.

 

[killerbee181]

check for a blockage i have had to much pvc glue on the inside of the coupling to the point where it created a sheet over the whole inside of the pipe and once it dried it was solid as a rock actually had to cut the bad connection out and put a new one in it's place.
Terry

 

[reefgeek31]

Maybe all the reducing to get down to your lock line is just to much head pressure. Big pumps don't always like head pressure. Just a thought.

 

[reefgeek31]

Give me MORE!!! I feel like a drug addict. I have checked 5 times today for an update, that sounds like a crazy man to me! Just a little more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[mr.wilson]

Give me MORE!!! I feel like a drug addict. I have checked 5 times today for an update, that sounds like a crazy man to me! Just a little more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Peter is either enjoying the fireworks on the Lake or swearing at a pump in his basement. Both are typical Canada Day activities

 

[nineball]

There is a belief that we have two bad pumps so we have ordered 2 new ones but they come from the US and the holiday could well delay further progress into late next week or later. We have also upped the total power to two one horsepower pumps from 1 and a half. We checked the polarity of the old ones and they were wired correctly. We bled the lines for air problems. There's more but if I stay in front of the computer much longer I will be a batchelor.............Hmmmmmm.

More later..........

Peter

 

[Marchingbandjs]

THANk tHE lORD some form of water in the tank... its been a looong wait

 

[Antonais1391]

Amen! haha cant wait for the rock

 

[elijaher]

Lifegard Aquatics Self-Priming Pumps did you order the Saltwater Shaft Seal with it? I know that you using fresh water to test for leaks now.

 

[Western_reefer]

FINALLY!!! There is some water in the tank!! lol Its looking good!!

 

[bleedfire]

It is Canada Day, Fireworks for everyone.

 

[juny00605]

WOW!!!! I just read 117 pages and all I can say is INCREDIBLE!!!:eek2:

 

[mr.wilson]

It isn't likely that you would have two pumps of different HP (1/2 & 3/4) that are both faulty (or NFG as we say in the business).

What happens when you plug the pump in dry? Does the shaft spin? If it spins, it should work under a load. It sounds like you checked to make sure the pumps are wired for 120V. Do all the other pumps work? You should check them all incase you need to order more stuff from south of the border.

There are two types of pumps available, pressure and volume. Your pumps appear to be volume pumps, however I don't believe you have posted a photo of the return pump. Volume pumps are designed for pools, spas and ponds and have limited head pressure (ability to push the water high or through small diameter pipe). The pipe diameter should be a minimum of 1.5" or split into a minimum of three 1" lines.

Pressure pumps can push water much higher and work against considerably greater friction caused by smaller diameter pipes and the numerous fittings (elbows, tees, valves etc.) it takes to get the water where you need it. Rather than increase the HP of your pumps, you may want to consider increasing the pressure rating. Pressure pumps are frequently used for industrial applications so they are chemical rated for corrosives like salt water. Your volume pumps have a direct drive shaft connected to the impeller. This is an area where the bearings and shaft can corrode. There are special silicone carbide seals available that will last up to ten years, but the standard issue seals only last two or three years in marine applications. This means leaks and possibly bearing damage and cavitation (sucking air).

Chemical pumps are magnetically coupled with the shaft and any other metallic parts isolated from the wet end of the pump (inside the volute where the impeller is housed). Magnet coupled pumps last at least 20 years in marine applications with little or no maintenance. They are also more quiet than direct drive pumps as a general rule.

The newest trend in aquarium pumps is modified powerheads such as Laguna Maxflow (not to be confused with Flomax urinary tract medication), Red Dragon, ATB Flow Star (still not Flomax), and the yet to be released Vertex Stratus (not to be confused with the Dodge Stratus) brushless DC pump. They are energy efficient, saltwater resistant, quiet, low vibration, high pressure, and in the case of the DC models, variable speed. The basic difference with these pumps compared to direct drive and magnet coupled pumps is there is no metallic shaft at all. The impeller is attached to a cylindrical magnet that fits right into the pump motor body. There is a modest ceramic shaft that holds the impeller and magnet together but it's more for balance and alinement than drive.

 

[elijaher]

The problem is that vendor don't make high flow pump for saltwater.