how would you set this up???

[tonkadawg]

I wanted to get some opinions and maybe pick up some pointers from some of the more experienced people here.

I am going to be replacing my current plywood frag tank (48x24x12) with either a glass or acrylic tank of the same dimensions. Unfortunately, I can't really change the dimensions due to existing light set up, stand, and limited space.

I already run a sequence dart on a cl - but this time I was thinking of going with an OM 8 way (2 returns on either side of the tank, 4 across the back). My question here is, how should I plumb the intake to the dart? Off the over flow? A seperate 2" hole in the tank (this is how I have it now)? Or what? Also, any other thoughts on the cl set up would be appreciated.

I am also thinking of a vertical, external overflow - any comments or suggestions about this? Currently, I have two (I believe 1") bulkheads in the back for the overflow.

I plan on having the bottom, back and two sides white for reflectiveness. I do want the front pane to be clear - I am tired of having to stop the dart to look down on my corals.

This will be bare bottom, 100% sps, no fish.

Any recommended builders? I am trying to get ahold of Will over at Aquarium Obsessed, and just found James at Envisions Acrylics.

Thanks

Matt

 

[tonkadawg]

The other thought I just had - I was wondering if it was even possible to feed my skimmer (ER 5-3) directly with a line from the overflow?

 

[parshmar]

The dart needs a really big opening for the intake (2"???). but, that would fit in an overflow if needed.

Yes, you can feed your skimmer with your overflow. It's a great idea and saves on power, heat, noise etc. Make sure you use a "gate" valve between the overflow and the skimmer feed, so you can make fine adjustments

I'm not sure what you are talking about with your vertical/external overflows. If you are just going to have the standard overflow made on the outside (not a siphon overflow) then I say go for it. it takes up less space in the viewing area.

 

[otolith]

I would run the intake to the closed loop off a separate hole in the back of the tank, just so you don't end up sucking a bunch of air bubbles from the overflow itself, if I understand what you're asking. Not sure if you need to have that many different openings for your closed loop, but I don't have enough experience with the OM to comment further. What about a couple maxi jets "modded out" instead (look in the diy forum to see what I'm talking about).

Yes, you could run your skimmer off the overflow, just add a gate valve to control the flow, like parshmar mentioned.

Check out www.reefmania.net . Bob is a guy local to me who does high quality work. He's built all my stuff, including my tank.

 

[tonkadawg]

Yeah the dart has a 2" intake - I guess the best way to do that is to have coming from the tank. I don't really want to run a bunch of powerheads - nightmare to wire, take up space in the main tank, and I already have a CL pump.

What I ment by external/vertical overflow was an overflow box outside of the main tank that runs the width of the tank - which would pull more of the surface water than my current 2 bulkheads. This supposedly improves waste removal.

Since the Euro Reef is a needle wheel pump, would I just plumb one of the drains to the intake of the Sedra pump? I've never seen this done, so if someone knows of some pictures, I would appreciate it.

 

[tonkadawg]

ok, it was early this morning, instead of vertical overflow, I meant horizontal - running the width of the tank...

 

[funstarfish]

James is local ot me, he does amazing work including Steve Weast's

 

[tonkadawg]

anyone else have any thoughts or suggestions?

 

[twon8]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7475859#post7475859 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tonkadawg


Since the Euro Reef is a needle wheel pump, would I just plumb one of the drains to the intake of the Sedra pump? I've never seen this done, so if someone knows of some pictures, I would appreciate it.

I believe you will have to drill your er and make it recirculating ( i did it to an asm g3, easy)

the pump will draw water from the bottom of the skimmer.

you will also drill a hole near the top of the skimmer body and connect your overflow into that.

 

[shelburn61]

Plumbing the closed loop through the overflow is a bad idea imo. You want all the crud going into the overflow to reach the skimmer rather than just being recirculated back into the tank through the CL. Proteins concentrate in the surface film and you don't want to dilute them by running a ton of water through the overflow. Noise would also be an issue.

Run the feed from the overflow directly into the upper portion of the side of the reaction chamber. I really like my recirc skimmer and theory behind it makes a lot of sense. Some people claim their recirc ASM mod didn't improve performance much though so who knows?