GHL Test tank build

[AQD_ottawa]

Well it has been a long time coming but my 24" cube has now left the building, our 3 year old is asking "daddy where have the fishes gone?" and I am left trying to explain they are on holiday while Daddy builds a bigger home for them.

So my corals are at Fish tails in Ottawa having a rest and Concept Aquariums are in the process of building a 36x32x24 tank with the Euro brace made out of one single piece of glass (WOW).

The specs will be as follows

tank size: 36x32x24
Sump: 36x20x18
Sump location: Basement
return pump: TBD
Tank style: dominent LPS but with a few tasty SPS
Lighting: GHL Mitras
Flow: Likely 2 x MP10WES
Control: GHL ProfiLux full configured.
Skimmer: CSC 250

The tank will be the GHL demo and test tank for all new products launched.

I was going to use Marco Rock but Seacare have been cooking some great pieces of LR for me now for a few weeks so I will be using this now.

Aquascaping, I am thinking of a small low level canyon with an arch for the SPS.

Of course photos to follow as things get going.

 

[AQD_ottawa]

Pump choice?

approx 175 gal total volume
10' head
prefer in sump but will consider in line.
Low wattage if possible

What are your suggestions?

 

[MSHUR]

I use Water blaster 5000 on my tank and really like it. they use Ashkoll motor block.
http://premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-supplies/CV-HY-5000W.html

 

[Hydrologist]

I use Water blaster 5000 on my tank and really like it. they use Ashkoll motor block.
http://premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-supplies/CV-HY-5000W.html

+1.

Energy efficient, quiet and comes with a 3 year warranty.

I own 4-5 of them all different sizes.

 

[AQD_ottawa]

The 5000 only gives me 120gph so it would only turn the tank over once an hour, what would be the recommended turn over rate per hour? This is a very subjective question, there never seems to be a standard answer, some say many times others say low flow.

The average google answer seems to be 10x an hour

So I guess next question is what should the turn over rate be?

 

[MSHUR]

1200gph is more than enought for you size tank. if you keep SPS you should look more into in tank water flow vs flow throught the sump. IMO, i prefer less sump turn over and get more intank flow..you can always add extra MP10..

 

[AQD_ottawa]

To get 1200gph at 10 feet I would need the WB 12500

I think 10x an hour is excessive though

 

[MSHUR]

i think 12500 is way too much..but, again you can use larger pump and always cut it back on flow..

 

[AQD_ottawa]

Ok the question I guess comes down to how many time an hour should the tank volume be turned over?

 

[MSHUR]

Lets narrow more what corals are planning to keep?

 

[AQD_ottawa]

75% LPS and 25% sps mainly stags and birdsnest, the SPS will be high up on the arch

 

[MSHUR]

For stags you will need hi-flow my friend

 

[MSHUR]

Are you going to have sump in the besement?

 

[tcmfish]

It doesn't matter. I use an eheim pump as my return, and half the water goes through the chiller and back into the sump. The other half goes to the display. I keep the water flow pretty low through the display (57 gallons) to minimize the noise of my overflow (I know if it was designed better it could handle more flow, but I don't really need it too).

I have an MP40 and MP10 running at full blast reef crest mode in the display though. So there is a ton of flow in the tank, but the turnover through the sump is low. The system works well this way. I think people who have less flow in the display, NEED more flow out of the return pump to help keep things moving in the tank, and hopefully sent to the filtration in the sump. But if you have enough flow in the tank, then the necessary turnover in the sump only need to be high enough to keep parameters stable (temp, pH, cal, alk, nitrate, phosphate, etc.) and trying to pinpoint that exact flowrate for each system (everyone is different) is almost impossible.

In the end I would choose a return pump bigger than you need and have a bleed valve to the sump or use it to feed a manifold or reactor of your choice. Also, keep a backup pump on hand.

To answer your question about which pump though, I am pleased with my eheim 1260. (640 gph at zero head)

Like I said my tank is 57 gallons (36x18x18) and about half (250-300 gph) goes to the display and the other half goes through the chilled and back to the sump.

 

[Hydrologist]

Your return pump (factoring head loss) should match your skimmer pump.

Your MP10's will provide more then enough flow for your LPS dominant system.

 

[AQD_ottawa]

Are you going to have sump in the besement?

Yep basement sump with 10-11' head

Think i will go with the 7000

 

[MSHUR]

7000 would be great as well..you can always cut down on the flow if need it..

 

[moondoggy4]

Nice, just the size of tank that I want to go with, I have a 120 now and want to get something smaller to save on electricity.
Do you have a link for the skimmer? not sure which model you are using.

 

[AQD_ottawa]

This is our own model, its a hybrid Skimz,we distribute skimz but had issues with the pumps so went to them and asked for an OEM design and the CSC (Canadian Skimmer Company) was born, featuring Sicce pumps.

The reviews from users have been huge!

This is the CSC400
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=728385#post728385

and here is a video of the CSC250
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j70KRnrg0sc&list=UUKbgeAD0T-7rjeUOON1iJTg&index=1&feature=plcp

Blog
http://blog.aquanerd.com/2012/06/aqua-digital-csc-protein-skimmer-line.html

 

[moondoggy4]

Thanks for the links.