springerhd
New member
What are the dimensions of your fish room and do you like the size for its minimal intrusion or do you need more space? You probably noticed I'm planning 5x10 for mine and am curious if this is enough space.
In-Wall 180 Project
- Thread starter jarhed
- Start date
The dimensions are 64"x75". Not much room at all. Although I really like the corner view, I really had no choice. No room to go otherwise. 
I definitely need more space, but I'm slowly and methodically deciding on where to put things to free up as much movement room as possible.
If at all possible, I would go a little deeper than 5" as you'll be falling over yourself and equipment when trying to get to the end of the room. Sometimes I wish I hadnt built the shelf on the end and would have just left the stand the same dimensions as the tank.
The 10' span is great though! You'll have room to reach both sides of the tank!!!
I definitely need more space, but I'm slowly and methodically deciding on where to put things to free up as much movement room as possible.
If at all possible, I would go a little deeper than 5" as you'll be falling over yourself and equipment when trying to get to the end of the room. Sometimes I wish I hadnt built the shelf on the end and would have just left the stand the same dimensions as the tank.
The 10' span is great though! You'll have room to reach both sides of the tank!!!
avansickle said:
No prob,
From the top:
From the back:
From the back again:
Notice that the water is not falling very much. The reason is that I used to have a tube sticking out of the top of the Stockman in the 3/4" pipe. This caused flushing, no matter how short I made the tube. When I pulled the tube out the last time to shorten it some more, I noticed that the flushing stopped completely. This has a good and bad point. Good point is that there is no flushing. Bad point is that the water flow into the overflow box is not very fast, which means that the film on top of the water, no matter how much it's being broken up by the return jets, is not sucked into the overflow very much. If it gets to a point that the return jets are not sufficiently breaking up the film, I put the tube back in the end and it flushes a little but the flow is faster, sucking down the film into the filter sock.
Morgandy
New member
Yeah, it's the film issue that we're having too, so I wanted to see your water level going through the teeth, and how far the drop. It's interesting you have the filmy situation too. We have a ton of surface turbulance, but it is always floating still, dispersing, but not draining! We have about a 2 inch drop into the overflow. I've been messing with it like crazy all week, and sent pics to AGA yesterday to see what ideas they have for the drain pipe adjustments, or lowering the tank water level itself, etc.. (Plus our anti-siphon holes in the returns are making crazy noise recently too, the water hissing that discharges out those holes. (argggghhhhh) )
Do your returns give you enough surface movement since they're so low? Do you think you're going to have to augment with some small pumps? And I forget, did you go with the Barracuda pump?
thx for the pics, I'm still studying them to see if any lightbulbs go off for cures.
Do your returns give you enough surface movement since they're so low? Do you think you're going to have to augment with some small pumps? And I forget, did you go with the Barracuda pump?
thx for the pics, I'm still studying them to see if any lightbulbs go off for cures.
mako56
Premium Member
Hey avansickle, I don't really have a thread I started one on the Fox Valley Wisconsin reefers club section but its not the same my tank is done, actually finished it up today. Just need a few more critters. Maybe I should start one in here. It is a good learning experience to see where other people did good and bad.
avansickle said:
I think the returns you are referring to are my closed loop returns. The sump returns are up high on either side of the overflow box. The point up along the water surface to breakup any film. They do a pretty good job. Only one has a nozzle on it because I wanted to see how the other would do without it. I'll be getting another nozzle.
No small pumps are going in my tank at all. I have had it with powerheads. Suction cups are unreliable and it's only a matter of time before one drops into the sandbed, not to mention, I like the clean look without powerheads. My closed loop is more than capable of handling any needed flow. My closed loop returns dont need siphon break holes, nor do my sump returns because I have a check valve between the pump and the returns. The check valve has been working beautifully. I'll probably replace the check valve once per year to prevent any flooding. The trick is to keep my sump return nozzles as close to the surface as possible, so if the check valve does fail, the siphon wont suck much water from the tank.
I went with a PanWorld for the return pump.
Morgandy
New member
Okay, no, I knew they were the main return lines, they looked a little deeper, but maybe just the angle. My goal in life, my ONE goal is to get the stupid small pumps the heck out of our tank. But, since we have no closed loops, will have to leave a couple in. How is the panworld? Is it quiet? We're about to get a 4th replacement for our sequence barracuda. Btw, your tank looks so amazing, like it's just floating in the room , very excellent work you did. Is the trim up yet?
avansickle said:
The panworld is beautifully quiet! I definitely recommend them. Wait, you've replaced your barracuda four times?????? Why would you buy another?
Trim isnt up yet, havent had the time/resources to get going on that yet. I'm going to give it a shot myself if I can find a mitre box and saw. I'm horrified of trashing very expensive trim with my inexperience!
Morgandy
New member
No no no...not paying a cent for these replacements!! They're paying all return shipping fees too for each one until we get a working one. The replacement next week, that'll be our last go at it, and then we'll find a different pump. The balidor motor is supposed to be tops though, and MDM has a really good reputation and quality stuff, so it is really surprising to us (and them) that every one has had major problems.
Mako, how did you do your closed loop? I have lots of ideas and seen pics, but still wanting to look at all options. PM me... if not, sorry if we're taking over your thread Jarhead!!
OKay, I'm still doing battle with the surface film tonight..determined to get it resolved.
Mako, how did you do your closed loop? I have lots of ideas and seen pics, but still wanting to look at all options. PM me... if not, sorry if we're taking over your thread Jarhead!!
OKay, I'm still doing battle with the surface film tonight..determined to get it resolved.
Just rereading this thread to steal your ideas.jarhed said:Pic of the sump. The valve on the right side is for the skimmer pump pickup, the one on the left is for the return pump pickup. The first baffle on the right is the one that came loose. Going to go pickup some #16 and "git-er-done!!"
Think I'll be drilling my sump for pump and skimmer outlets too. Can you show me a full shot of the sump with overflow draining into it and how the skimmer flows back into the sump?
Which PanWorld did you get - the 150PS?
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baja_hammer2003
New member
nice
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baja_hammer2003
New member
nice
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Nexdog, you can steal as many ideas as you want! I stole em all from other tanks here on RC!
I'll try to get as full a shot as I can. My tank room is really more of a closet and I dont think the camera can get it all in one shot. Just so you know before I put up the pics, the overflow comes down and drops into the right chamber into a filter bag. Thats also where the skimmer picks up. Then flows through the middle. The skimmer returns right over the right baffle into the middle but drops into some rubble rock so the microbubbles can be kept busy trying to escape them, rather than flowing farther over into the fuge.
The return pump is the PanWorld 50PX-X. Works beautifully. Not too fast, not too slow. Only 90W of power.
Thanks Baja!!
I stole em all from other tanks here on RC! I'll try to get as full a shot as I can. My tank room is really more of a closet and I dont think the camera can get it all in one shot. Just so you know before I put up the pics, the overflow comes down and drops into the right chamber into a filter bag. Thats also where the skimmer picks up. Then flows through the middle. The skimmer returns right over the right baffle into the middle but drops into some rubble rock so the microbubbles can be kept busy trying to escape them, rather than flowing farther over into the fuge.
The return pump is the PanWorld 50PX-X. Works beautifully. Not too fast, not too slow. Only 90W of power.
Thanks Baja!!
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I'm just reading this thread:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=550482&perpage=25&pagenumber=1
With its arguments for less flow through the sump equalling better skimming results, less power, less noise etc. That 50PX-X is still rated at over 1000GPH - I think I'm leaning towards the 50PX now at half that.
So is your middle chamber your fuge? I'm actually thinking about eliminating a left drain/skimmer section and running one overflow directly into the skimmer and increase fuge size.....Hmmm, so many choices
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=550482&perpage=25&pagenumber=1
With its arguments for less flow through the sump equalling better skimming results, less power, less noise etc. That 50PX-X is still rated at over 1000GPH - I think I'm leaning towards the 50PX now at half that.
So is your middle chamber your fuge? I'm actually thinking about eliminating a left drain/skimmer section and running one overflow directly into the skimmer and increase fuge size.....Hmmm, so many choices
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