mpcart's 240G build

[mpcart]

Maybe you need to go to schedule 80 gates since you have so much flow...love the way its coming out.

The cheap valves definitely aren't helping. I'll get some sched 80 ones and maybe replace one or two with ball valves.

I loosened the clamps securing the pipes to the wall and it helped with the vibration. I little more fiddling with it and I'll bet I can eliminate the problem.

-Mike

 

[smoothdog]

Congrats on finally getting it wet! It's been about a year since I bought my tank, I can't even imagine taking 6 years. :hmm5:

Gate valves aren't designed for pressure applications. If you are looking for a high degree of control, you could put in a flow restrictor before the gate valves if you don't need a lot of volume, or look at needle valves.

 

[mpcart]

Man you have got some work done in a month. Great work. Wheres the coral?

Thanks. The coral is growing nicely in the 58. I almost hate to pull it out of there. I really like my small tank.

-Mike

 

[Nanook]

Looks really clean! It took me over 4 years to get water in my 470 and 375 gallon tanks, so you even beat me:lol:

 

[sbeason]

Looks very nice and clean. To help with your vibration noise....place a rubber sheet underneath the pump and you could replace some of the rigid pvc on the inlet and outlet of the pump with spa flex. This helped me greatly reduce the vibration on my Reeflo Hammerhead/Barracuda hybrid.

-Steve

 

[Osteoclast]

You can use rubber to mount to the walls also, although keeping the attachments to a minimum is best for noise reduction. Moving the pump a distance away can help. Companies make sound proofing materials and occasionally that is useful depending on the room.

 

[mpcart]

Looks very nice and clean. To help with your vibration noise....place a rubber sheet underneath the pump and you could replace some of the rigid pvc on the inlet and outlet of the pump with spa flex. This helped me greatly reduce the vibration on my Reeflo Hammerhead/Barracuda hybrid.

-Steve

The pump is older so I don't know if it is louder than a new pump would be. It is on a piece of plywood with some sort of carpet padding underneath. The platform I have it sitting on doesn't seem to have any vibration it is just the outlet pipe. The noise from the pump might also be vibrating the wall.

I'm going to try the spa flex idea as I have lots of it lying around.

-Mike

 

[mpcart]

Congrats on finally getting it wet! It's been about a year since I bought my tank, I can't even imagine taking 6 years. :hmm5:

Gate valves aren't designed for pressure applications. If you are looking for a high degree of control, you could put in a flow restrictor before the gate valves if you don't need a lot of volume, or look at needle valves.

What do you mean "Pressure Applications"? I've seen gate valves used on lots of manifolds but didn't think about the level of flow running through them.

I do have a ball valve controlling that line and I did limit the flow for my test. The gate valves were dripping even with no pressure in the line - I think they just don't seal all the way.

Is that a characteristic of gate valves in general or just cheap ones?

-Mike

 

[mpcart]

I'm going with durso drains and ran into a problem. The bracing on the top of the tank covers the part of the overflow above the drain pipe. To make it fit under the bracing I need to lower the pipe (and thus the water level in the overflow) and/or leave the cap off the durso.

Is a 4-5" water drop in the overflow ok? I don't care about noise.

Is it okay to leave the cap off a durso? Again, noise isn't a concern but I don't know if the cap serves some purpose in controlling flow.

Any other ideas for a drain?


-Mike

By the way, I went with two "Maggie Mufflers" instead of the dursos and they provide a lot more clearance and seem quiet enough. I used one MM and one durso during my leak test. The MM were expensive but at this point I've stopped counting the dollars.

-Mike

 

[mpcart]

You can use rubber to mount to the walls also, although keeping the attachments to a minimum is best for noise reduction. Moving the pump a distance away can help. Companies make sound proofing materials and occasionally that is useful depending on the room.

I just noticed your signature . . . any pics of your 525 gallon 4ft tall tank?

-Mike

 

[t.priscu]

Build is looking great and I'm jealous of your fish room!
Sorry if i missed it some where else but what size is the tank?

 

[dave.m]

at this point I've stopped counting the dollars.

Spoken like a true reefer! :thumbsup:

Dave.M

 

[mpcart]

5 ft length x 3 ft wide x 2 ft high.

240(?) gallons. Needs a purple Monti cap to fill it out! I'll PM you.

Sump is 2x2x4.

 

[t.priscu]

Lol I just noticed the gallons is in the thread name, I scanned through the posts and never saw it.....Derp.
I wish my tank was a little deeper like yours. Looking forward to seeing what you do with it!

 

[smoothdog]

What do you mean "Pressure Applications"? I've seen gate valves used on lots of manifolds but didn't think about the level of flow running through them.

I do have a ball valve controlling that line and I did limit the flow for my test. The gate valves were dripping even with no pressure in the line - I think they just don't seal all the way.

Is that a characteristic of gate valves in general or just cheap ones?

-Mike

Agreed, sounds like crappy gate valves. If enough pressure is applied to a good gate valve it can cause the valve to be difficult to open and close and can even deform the seal causing leaks. With the ball valve in front of the gate valves you should have been able to reduce pressure enough to stop them from leaking if at least one of them was open to relive the pressure in the line.

 

[mpcart]

Agreed, sounds like crappy gate valves. If enough pressure is applied to a good gate valve it can cause the valve to be difficult to open and close and can even deform the seal causing leaks. With the ball valve in front of the gate valves you should have been able to reduce pressure enough to stop them from leaking if at least one of them was open to relive the pressure in the line.

I think you are on to something. I did some more fiddling with the manifold last night and there is no question that I have crappy valves. However, by keeping one of the valves open and slowly ramping up the flow into the manifold, I was able to eliminate leaks. Maybe I'll cap the unused valves and just be careful how I control the flow.

Using this approach I can keep moving with the project and "upgrade" the manifold a little later. I priced some quality Sched 80 gate valves last night and I'd rather defer that cost.

-Mike

 

[h.cordero]

Looks that you are thinking in every aspect of this tank build those diagrams are sick!
Been following since day 1 (long time ago) happy for you that your accomplishing your dream tank! Are you using your barracuda to supply the flow for all of your equipment (skimmer, Rx Cal, reactors) ?

 

[mpcart]

Yes, the barracuda is the only pump. I purchased a chiller that runs off a Mag3 but haven't determined if I'll run it off the manifold. I bought it used spur of the moment and have no idea if I'll need it - probably will.

Here is a preview of the ballast setup I worked on tonight. Once the lights are tested I'll clean up the wiring. Ballasts are Lumatek 400w/250w switchable. I'm going to start out with (4) 250w Radiums.

-Mike

 

[mpcart]

Ballasts look like they work. Overall, it's less bright than I thought but I've never had MH before so I don't really know what to expect.

-Mike

 

[Omega_rains]

Well done

Well done

If only we all could have a setup that's this clean. Very well put together, can't wait to see the aqua scraping.

Yes, the barracuda is the only pump. I purchased a chiller that runs off a Mag3 but haven't determined if I'll run it off the manifold. I bought it used spur of the moment and have no idea if I'll need it - probably will.

Here is a preview of the ballast setup I worked on tonight. Once the lights are tested I'll clean up the wiring. Ballasts are Lumatek 400w/250w switchable. I'm going to start out with (4) 250w Radiums.

-Mike