Photo journal of my Miracles in glass starphire 280 (pics inside)
- Thread starter gregt
- Start date
asnatlas
New member
NOLACLS said::lol: I wish it were excuses...and I do have a dremelWould that really work?
Yes, I did this on some of my Rubbermaid Poly stock tanks as the bulkheads / fittings that come with them SUCK... I replaced then with a larger sched 80 bulkhead from Savko and I used my dremel to make the hole larger, you have to be careful and go slow as the bit likes to catch and it may make a ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œnotchââ"šÂ¬Ã‚Â, but as long as you are not going fast and catch it in time you will be ok...
Shawn
Last edited:
Ok well the good news I am now living back at home...no more air mattress for me:bounce2:
Now the bad news...I am looking at this sump for my tank...I get to measuring...and realize its not big enough to handle the water volume if the power goes out. So how can I correct that...its not even close. I would need double or more. The water adds up in the two external overflows. The water level will be high in there so they are quiet, thats like 15 gal of water right there.
So what to do now? The sump is 30x12x16tall.
Now the bad news...I am looking at this sump for my tank...I get to measuring...and realize its not big enough to handle the water volume if the power goes out. So how can I correct that...its not even close. I would need double or more. The water adds up in the two external overflows. The water level will be high in there so they are quiet, thats like 15 gal of water right there.
So what to do now? The sump is 30x12x16tall.
ReefWaters
Premium Member
Glad to hear your finally home and getting things some what back to normal.
Another option on the sump, if you still find out it wont handle a power outage, is to connect a Rubbermaid bucket or other container to the sump with bulkheads and a piece of straight tubing. Place both bulkheads as low as you can get them on the sump and bucket but also at the same height on both containers. There wont be much, if any, flow in the extra container but you could add fresh water to that container to mix it up some.
Does this make sense? It would be easy, add some volume to the sump, and insure you would not have any problems with power outages.
Another option on the sump, if you still find out it wont handle a power outage, is to connect a Rubbermaid bucket or other container to the sump with bulkheads and a piece of straight tubing. Place both bulkheads as low as you can get them on the sump and bucket but also at the same height on both containers. There wont be much, if any, flow in the extra container but you could add fresh water to that container to mix it up some.
Does this make sense? It would be easy, add some volume to the sump, and insure you would not have any problems with power outages.
That would work to reefwaters. I could T off tome of the flow from the return pump and have it pump into the Rubbermaid container and then it would flow into the main sump....that would keep it from going stagnant.
Question...can you T two dursos together into one line and gravity feed a skimmer??
Question...can you T two dursos together into one line and gravity feed a skimmer??
8BALL_99
New member
I have two drains in my External overflow.. I use one for a main drain and another for a Backup.. If I was you I would set one up a lil higher then the other.. Have the low one connected to the skimmer then have the other just drain into the sump.. That way Most if not all the water goes to the skimmer.. The second only drains if the first one gets stopped up.. Or if it just can't handle all the water.. I've got a mag 12 for my return pump and a single 1" bulk handles it fine.. My second drains not even getting water in it..
Will
Will
ReefWaters
Premium Member
NOLACLS
Good thought on the flow through the container. I forgot you have a few extra drains in the overflows.
I have seen where people connect, or "T", several drain bulkheads together to make less piping. What I have noticed, and it makes sense, is that when they connect the two drains into one pipe, they increase the size of the pipe substantially to handle the flow. If you dont increase the pipe size, you are restricting yourself to the flow you would get from only one bulkhead and that pretty much defeats the purpose.
Is the input bulkhead to the skimmer bigger than your drain bulkhead? If not, I dont think you would have any benefit in connecting two drains like you were saying. If you have extra drains, it may not hurt either.
Good thought on the flow through the container. I forgot you have a few extra drains in the overflows.
I have seen where people connect, or "T", several drain bulkheads together to make less piping. What I have noticed, and it makes sense, is that when they connect the two drains into one pipe, they increase the size of the pipe substantially to handle the flow. If you dont increase the pipe size, you are restricting yourself to the flow you would get from only one bulkhead and that pretty much defeats the purpose.
Is the input bulkhead to the skimmer bigger than your drain bulkhead? If not, I dont think you would have any benefit in connecting two drains like you were saying. If you have extra drains, it may not hurt either.
NewMariner
Reef Tank Aficionado
Glad to see your still around and able to get back into some form of "normalcy"
Why not just go buy a cheap rubbermaid container to hold the water and stick your skimmer and return pump in it to pump it up...seems like a lot less headache to deal with then what your trying to accomplish now....Im sure you dont need anymore headaches at this point.
Why not just go buy a cheap rubbermaid container to hold the water and stick your skimmer and return pump in it to pump it up...seems like a lot less headache to deal with then what your trying to accomplish now....Im sure you dont need anymore headaches at this point.
ReefWaters
Premium Member
NewMariner said:
This is very true but then he wouldn't be able to ogle at that nice expensive skimmer all the time.
:lol: That's half the fun.___________________________________________________
:lol: yeah its kinda normal now...but not completely. It was nice to be on my own office again for the first time today
I just wanted to gravity feed the skimmer but I dont really have to. If you look at that sump it has a bulkhead under where the display water goes in the sump. That is for a skimmer pump to catch the water early. Then there is a hole in the side of the first chamber to let the skimmer water back in. Maybe I will just do that...I think I have a mag 12 laying around.
I just wanted to gravity feed the skimmer but I dont really have to. If you look at that sump it has a bulkhead under where the display water goes in the sump. That is for a skimmer pump to catch the water early. Then there is a hole in the side of the first chamber to let the skimmer water back in. Maybe I will just do that...I think I have a mag 12 laying around.
ReefWaters
Premium Member
NOLACLS,
Merry Christmas! How is life treating you right now?
Have you had a chance to play with the tank yet?
Has anything changed?
I hope all is well with you and your family.
ReefWaters
___________________________________________________
Merry Christmas! How is life treating you right now?
Have you had a chance to play with the tank yet?
Has anything changed?
I hope all is well with you and your family.
ReefWaters
___________________________________________________
Merry xmass to all as well
Not much has changed...I have the return for the skimmer along with the placement of things laid out. I just need to get a group of people over to move the tank off the stand cut some holes put foam down and set the tank back. Easier said than done...it takes an act of congress to move the tank. Just been to busy...work and the holidays for everyone. So maybe after the new year is what I am thinking....
Meanwhile...what can I set this tank on when I get to take it off the stand. It is a real %^&#@$ to get this thing off the ground. If there was something like a table I could set it on it would make life much easier. I was thinking milk crates stacked on top each other...maybe 6 legs. Only problem is I don't know if I can get that many milk crates. Would cinderblocks and plywood work...same idea 6 legs of maybe 3 or 4 cinderblocks stacked then a sheet of plywood then tank on that?
Quick car update...still not done with the acura...check engin light came on so im still trying to get it totaled...this is getting old. GT should be here anyday now...got some tires for my rims and a few other goodies...now I just need the car. Maybe next year :lol:
Not much has changed...I have the return for the skimmer along with the placement of things laid out. I just need to get a group of people over to move the tank off the stand cut some holes put foam down and set the tank back. Easier said than done...it takes an act of congress to move the tank. Just been to busy...work and the holidays for everyone. So maybe after the new year is what I am thinking....
Meanwhile...what can I set this tank on when I get to take it off the stand. It is a real %^&#@$ to get this thing off the ground. If there was something like a table I could set it on it would make life much easier. I was thinking milk crates stacked on top each other...maybe 6 legs. Only problem is I don't know if I can get that many milk crates. Would cinderblocks and plywood work...same idea 6 legs of maybe 3 or 4 cinderblocks stacked then a sheet of plywood then tank on that?
Quick car update...still not done with the acura...check engin light came on so im still trying to get it totaled...this is getting old. GT should be here anyday now...got some tires for my rims and a few other goodies...now I just need the car. Maybe next year :lol:
NewMariner
Reef Tank Aficionado
Id use cinder blocks over buckets of salt...if its empty buckets they may be easy to tip over if nudged...cinderblocks arent going anywhere...
melev
Well-known member
The plywood will get in your way. You want to be able to get your fingers under the tank to lift it back up to the stand, not to mention setting it down on the blocks in the first place.
I figured you'd have plenty of salt by now, but I guess not. 6 columns should be fine for the 3 minutes you'll be setting the tank in place.
Make sure you set the blocks down on the floor the correct way. The holes should be facing upward, as this is the strongest position. Any other position risks the block imploding and that would be bad.
I figured you'd have plenty of salt by now, but I guess not. 6 columns should be fine for the 3 minutes you'll be setting the tank in place.
Make sure you set the blocks down on the floor the correct way. The holes should be facing upward, as this is the strongest position. Any other position risks the block imploding and that would be bad.
That would be more than bad...man I couldnt even imagin that!!
So would you stick the tank right on the cinderblocks? The 6 points that the tank would be sitting on the blocks wont brake right? I just have visions of this thing crashing down and slicing every ones toes off.
So would you stick the tank right on the cinderblocks? The 6 points that the tank would be sitting on the blocks wont brake right? I just have visions of this thing crashing down and slicing every ones toes off.
melev
Well-known member
No, it should be fine. It would be similar to 6 people standing there holding the tank, right?
Don't stack them too high. I think two blocks high per column would be perfect, keeping the tank about knee-level.
If you want to put a small piece of wood on top of each block, that would be fine. Or small pieces of foam.
Don't stack them too high. I think two blocks high per column would be perfect, keeping the tank about knee-level.
If you want to put a small piece of wood on top of each block, that would be fine. Or small pieces of foam.
