Lightsluvr's 340G Upgrade

[Lightsluvr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15387362#post15387362 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NexDog
I'm probably a little thick but I can't follow the flow on that plumbing. Where is the in-pipe from the tank? Or is the system separate? I thought the idea was to run two tanks, one of which runs with the system and the other for mixing so you just flip a ball valve and flow goes from tank 1 to tank 2 with the new water. And Tank 1 can then be drained.

Maybe I'm thinking of someone else's system and not edandsandy's.

You're not thick at all...

There is no in pipe from the tank. This system only provides water to the tank (through a sump) for water changes and to the ATO reservoir for top off.

What the system allows is transfer and storage of RO/DI in the right side tank. When needed, I can turn a few valves and pump the RO/DI to the left side tank where it can be mixed with Reef Crystals and circulated until needed for my weekly water change. When I am ready to make the water change, I can turn a valve to drain 50G from the Rubbermaid sump, and then pump 50G of new saltwater from the left tank into that sump.

I have plumbed the drain level in the 100G Rubbermaid sump to allow approximately 50 gallons to flow to waste without any extra work. I put a nylon sleeve over the drain strainer so I don't lose any good critters in the sump. (I have several active Berghia Nudibranch colonies in this sump)

Results? A 10 minute water change with (hopefully) dry hands and dry floors...

LL

 

[NexDog]

Gotcha, makes sense now. Wish I had the space for something like that.

 

[Brad Rogers]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15388332#post15388332 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lightsluvr
How is it possible I never heard of this product before? Thanks for the link!

You know, I looked closely at their website, and I never found a price tag anywhere... imagine that!

Maybe if I win the lottery...

LL

Its there, its just not a well designed web site.

http://www.seavisions.com/newparts1.htm

 

[Brad Rogers]

I remember you mentioning somewhere about having your RO/DI unit connected directly to the F/W tank. Do you have a float valve hooked up to that tank to start/stop the flow automatically?

 

[edandsandy]

Re: EdandSandy Water system, LL version

Re: EdandSandy Water system, LL version

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15387098#post15387098 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lightsluvr
Here is the roughed in water management system which I started last evening. This is pretty much the final form, though I might route the saltwater outflow switchable to either or both sumps... I'm still thinking about that one...

Overall view of the system:

I need 5 gallon jars of RO/Di and saltwater from time to time, and my version has little filling stations for either on the front of the system...

Detail of the suction side:

And the outflow side:

A quick study of the valve configurations shows how the single pump can be used to pump out of one tank into the other, or to circulate water in one tank or the other, or to pump saltwater into the sump(s).

Here are the pipes that attach to the bulkhead with a true union inside each tank. These pipes pushe water to the bottom of the tank, where a 90 degree elbow turns the water in a clockwise direction.

The saltwater tank (left) will also contain a modified MaxiJet 1200 pointed toward the surface to give extra mixing to the saltwater solution...

Thanks again to EdandSandy and Glassreef for their inspirational build threads and all the ideas they so willingly shared...

Tomorrow I'll tear everything down, slap several coats of polyurethane on the plywood and ut it all together again. We will run the obligatory freshwater leak test under pressure before putting the system on line for next weekend's water change...

Ok, so before I get out the purple primer and glue, what have I overlooked?

LL

Great job George!
The only thing I can think of is a float valve to shut off the RO/DI water so you won't flood the room & have you thought of a heater for the SW mixing tank?

Other than that I think you created an excellent water change out system...


BTW, I like your filling station :lol:

 

[Lightsluvr]

Re: Re: EdandSandy Water system, LL version

Re: Re: EdandSandy Water system, LL version

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15388630#post15388630 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by edandsandy
Great job George!
The only thing I can think of is a float valve to shut off the RO/DI water so you won't flood the room & have you thought of a heater for the SW mixing tank?

Other than that I think you created an excellent water change out system...

BTW, I like your filling station :lol:

I won't leave the system unattended while I am making RO/DI. With my filter, it takes almost 24 hours to make 50 gallons...

I thouht of a heater, and will have a thermometer in the SW tank. At this point, the fish room is the perfect temperature. I don't even need heaters in the DT. There is a two degree swing in temperature in the DT and sumps, between 77 and 79 degrees. Maybe because of the volume of water? I dunno.

I am going to add another valve to a T on the suction side. I'll put a garden hose adapter on it so I can drain the system from the bottom if I need to... (Also did this on the acrylic sump)

LL

 

[NexDog]

My 86F tank dreams of 78F.

 

[radwrasse11]

that water change system is exactly what I'm going to be shooting for when I build an in wall system. When you actually do a water change, do you shut off the tank and leave the CL running or is it designed in a way where you can just separate the Rubbermaid bin from the tank and leave the tank running with just the sump. If thats the case, thats an awesome idea and what i was designing my system for, no draining and no disturbance to the tank, and your still doing enough of a water change to keep nitrate and all those other levels down.

 

[Lightsluvr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15389245#post15389245 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by radwrasse11
that water change system is exactly what I'm going to be shooting for when I build an in wall system. When you actually do a water change, do you shut off the tank and leave the CL running or is it designed in a way where you can just separate the Rubbermaid bin from the tank and leave the tank running with just the sump. If thats the case, thats an awesome idea and what i was designing my system for, no draining and no disturbance to the tank, and your still doing enough of a water change to keep nitrate and all those other levels down.

I'll be able to answer that question next weekend after I try out the system... I initially intend to try to do it "on the fly" with the return pump still running but when I close off the overflow to the Rubbermaid sump, I'm not sure how that will affect the skimmer and acrylic sump...

I have the option to drain old SW from either sump, so we'll be experimenting for the first few weeks... No draining or tinkering directly with the DT is necessary or desired...

LL

 

[Bax]

You know LL ... I only went on vacation for one week, and you posted over 5 pages of MAJOR progress!

It looks great!

I'll have to read in more detail tonight but the tank, ATO and WC system look top shelf!

 

[Lightsluvr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15391065#post15391065 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Bax
You know LL ... I only went on vacation for one week, and you posted over 5 pages of MAJOR progress!

It looks great!

I'll have to read in more detail tonight but the tank, ATO and WC system look top shelf!

Welcome back...now get to work on YOUR tank!

Thanks for saying hello...

LL

 

[Pacific Reefs]

Your RO/DI is a monster! Can you build one of those water change things for me?

 

[Lightsluvr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15392167#post15392167 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Pacific Reefs
Your RO/DI is a monster! Can you build one of those water change things for me?

Sure, but I think shipping would be prohibitive!

LL

 

[peaceinusa]

George,

Sorry I could not assist with the wood canopy last weekend...bummer.

Is the wood frame going to anchor straght for the wall and just "hang" from the wall?

I may be able to asssit this weekend if needed. I know you are trying to get everything done so you can sit back and enjoy.

 

[Lightsluvr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15392890#post15392890 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by peaceinusa
George,

Sorry I could not assist with the wood canopy last weekend...bummer.

Is the wood frame going to anchor straght for the wall and just "hang" from the wall?

I may be able to asssit this weekend if needed. I know you are trying to get everything done so you can sit back and enjoy.

The way I have it envisioned, the 1x8 will screw right into the wall above the tank...about 3.5" extending into the open area...

Let me know if you'll be available Saturday - that would be awesome.

LL

 

[aquainas]

LL thanks for posting over on my build thread....I just spent the last 5 hrs reading yours and it is simply amazing at how quickly and smooth it all came together. I plan on using a few things that worked well for you on my system since you've already done all the R&D . Will be tagging along for sure!

 

[Lightsluvr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15395030#post15395030 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by aquainas
LL thanks for posting over on my build thread....I just spent the last 5 hrs reading yours and it is simply amazing at how quickly and smooth it all came together. I plan on using a few things that worked well for you on my system since you've already done all the R&D . Will be tagging along for sure!

Thanks for coming over to visit. You'll find that I've borrowed lots of ideas from other reefers here on RC as well as locally. That's the beauty of a build thread - you receive lots of input, so youcan make your own decisions from an informed basis...

Come back often.

LL

 

[Lightsluvr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15389014#post15389014 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NexDog
My 86F tank dreams of 78F.

86F? That sounds like bath water! :lol:

Chiller time?

LL

 

[Lightsluvr]

Neptune Systems Apex Controller

Neptune Systems Apex Controller

Received an e-mail from Curt at Neptune Systems. Our Apex controller was shipped on 7/20 and should arrive on 7/24/2009.

This will be a new adventure...

Any Neptune Systems users following along?

LL

 

[melev]

Yeah, but I'm still using the <i>old-fashioned</i> AC 3. :lol: