In-wall 380gal tank - cut out options

Karim,

Incredible build, I've read the whole thing and am impressed- it's the same level of detail I'll be doing when I can land somewhere for more than a year or two and get something established. LOVE the dedication to detail you've put into your tank! I have to ask, what kind of engineering background do you have? I have a background in CE (but a degree in Arch) and I feel like much of the over the top stuff you've done is the same thing I'd have done... Bravo!

As for the high velocity issue on your surges, my initial thought is running into a T with slotted pipe coming off both sides (capped or with their own blow off holes) and some amount of dissipation on the opposite side of the T with a smaller diameter blow off hole. This gives you some blow off in pressure from the initial part of the surge and then laminar flow out both sides of the T. You still get a little punch from the hole but most of the surge displacement flows out laminar. This will break up the direction of flow into potentially 3 (or 5) directions (one for the hole opposite the flow at the T and two laminars in varying directions, plus purge holes on the caps if you so choose). This will displace the surge and still give a cocaphany of 'wave crash' albeit at lower velocities in all directions, that would be pointable to lessen the stir of sand.

BRS did a little video on a laminar flow pump that was introduced at MACNA using some colored balls to show flow and I have to say I was impressed with the capability of a laminar flow powerhead. I'd purposely try and incorporate that kind of thing into a tank, and if by accident you need a solution that happens to be met by laminar, you're all the better for it in my opinion. Just tell everyone you meant to do it that way from the start :)
 
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Thanks gus. I am a physicist/engineer by training (originally Engineering Science then PhD Electrical Engineering) but I think that anyone can build a system like this with the right planning and a proven design. I'm always excited to see my ideas benefiting others.
 
So... With two horizontal slotted pipes, they could be turned slightly to focus the wave into a balanced horizontal flow.

Now I have even more options and ideas.
 
Maxspect gyre- that's what I was thinking of- check out the "youtubes" I think you could get something of 'some' kind of temporary similar fashion with your augmented surge.

Pretty neat stuff!
 
Yes, your 2" surge pipe into a 'T', with slotted pipes, that you could rotate to aim the laminar flow. Maybe keep it all 2" to reduce velocity. You could play around with different length slotted pipes too.

Once you figure out the magic combo, can you then disguise it with your clothcrete?
 
Sure. Clothcrete(TM) is very flexible. LOL

the problem with 2" is the volume it occupies. It's massive even inside a tank as big as mine. I would prefer a slim profile channeled wall.

I'm having some trouble with my DIY dosing pump and DIY UV LEDs, but hopefully I'll be able to get to the flow this weekend.
 
All my algae is mostly gone. My refusal to do water changes combined with my mosquito load was the culprit.

With an abundant macroalgae refugium, it's looking much better.

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/8E4B11B0-3123-4576-BEA6-F98953A05945_zpsrv20p2t5.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/8E4B11B0-3123-4576-BEA6-F98953A05945_zpsrv20p2t5.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 8E4B11B0-3123-4576-BEA6-F98953A05945_zpsrv20p2t5.jpg"/></a>
 
It looks a little drab with pink coralline... :(

Soon as I see signs of any, I'll pull my urchins out.

Wouldn't hurt to put some more coral or LR in there too, but I want to get my flow right first.
 
See how big the 2" surge outlet is on the left hand side?

I wish I had integrated it into my wall with smaller PVC outlets coming through the wall... Maybe?
 
I'm a big fan of invisible plumbing. The freshwater aquascaping contest guys wouldn't be caught dead with plumbing showing! I think that is a good example for us to follow.

Maybe you could redo some side wall pieces to accommodate your idea. Maybe a manifold type thing?

I was thinking the other day how difficult it is to account for everything, when building up a tank. The solution is to build it, see what needs to change, then rebuild it. But who has the gumption for that!

As for my tank, I'm already seeing that my 'coast2coast overflow-turned field of dreams (TM) refugium' is too high and too narrow, front to back. To fix it, I'd need to lower the water level around 8 inches. Remove the overflow portion of the fake wall. Modify the overflow, so that the front panel tilts out towards the top, and is about an inch and a half lower. Then I'd have to make a new top piece for the fake wall to accommodate it. Yay!

It doesn't sound that bad just writing about it, but mustering the gumption to actually redo it, well that's a whole other kettle of fish…
 
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coast2coast overflow-turned field of dreams (TM) refugium

Classic. I lol'd at that

I'm a big fan of invisible plumbing. The freshwater aquascaping contest guys wouldn't be caught dead with plumbing showing! I think that is a good example for us to follow

Totally agree- is your rock work pretty well set in place or is there 'opportunity' to adjust it to accommodate changing the surge input?

I wish I had integrated it into my wall with smaller PVC outlets coming through the wall... Maybe?
It'll be there for years and it'll irritate you everytime you walk by it if it isn't perfect so might as well get out that gumption and make it so. Demo a little more and then get that surge inlet perfect and
Clothcrete(TM)
!!!
 
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Thanks. I have a whole Clothcrete(TM) post :)

First, I have to get it functionally right. The walls are all removable- down to the individual branches that interlock with PVC pipe fittings.
 
Attempt 1 in progress

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/0A4627C9-5679-4DB3-8281-A6CF823E74A8_zpsvx5k7d4m.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/0A4627C9-5679-4DB3-8281-A6CF823E74A8_zpsvx5k7d4m.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 0A4627C9-5679-4DB3-8281-A6CF823E74A8_zpsvx5k7d4m.jpg"/></a>

I'll try it without concrete as a proof of concept first.
 
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Here's the baseline (for reference)

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/BCE7CA78-A95D-43F9-AC2F-7DDCAC4B6B4B_zps9xyck6rq.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/BCE7CA78-A95D-43F9-AC2F-7DDCAC4B6B4B_zps9xyck6rq.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo BCE7CA78-A95D-43F9-AC2F-7DDCAC4B6B4B_zps9xyck6rq.jpg"/></a>
 
Started with a straight bar that's lines up with the side wall.

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/34DA23D5-EB3A-4814-9159-77E065281D0F_zpsx7yhge6q.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/34DA23D5-EB3A-4814-9159-77E065281D0F_zpsx7yhge6q.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 34DA23D5-EB3A-4814-9159-77E065281D0F_zpsx7yhge6q.jpg"/></a>

Here it is from above. The rock pipe it's pushing against is a separate return (not connected).

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/79F22AC0-7FE1-4FF2-B0A6-64A255B0CC60_zps6ct6uf91.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/79F22AC0-7FE1-4FF2-B0A6-64A255B0CC60_zps6ct6uf91.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 79F22AC0-7FE1-4FF2-B0A6-64A255B0CC60_zps6ct6uf91.jpg"/></a>
 
So that didn't work so well. The water rushed towards the pipe end and gushed out of the slit as if it's leaking on the way to the cap.

The result was a triangular wave that's strongest towards the cap and weakest close to the water inlet.

It was also pointing way too high. Almost hit the halide bulb.

Almost all the water went straight into the overflow.
 
Made some adjustments. Angled down the flow and turned the whole pipe so the triangle wave's head is traveling down the tank length.

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/5AF35D03-0C4B-479D-B7C1-450AFDB546B2_zpsbryty6hg.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/5AF35D03-0C4B-479D-B7C1-450AFDB546B2_zpsbryty6hg.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 5AF35D03-0C4B-479D-B7C1-450AFDB546B2_zpsbryty6hg.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/0401687C-3AF7-45B2-B02E-5CF86AF2514F_zpsw5ow5qla.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/0401687C-3AF7-45B2-B02E-5CF86AF2514F_zpsw5ow5qla.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 0401687C-3AF7-45B2-B02E-5CF86AF2514F_zpsw5ow5qla.jpg"/></a>
 
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