Remote Electronics for Big Tanks?

[prop-frags]

One of the challenges we are facing with our big tank setup is where to place the necessary electronics. For our setup in particular, we have a remote sump in our fish room, which is some 17' away, as well as a display tank that is flush against the wall and thus no room to run any wires behind the stand (all of our wires must run behind the wall).

Here's a couple of pics to illustrate. Here's the canopy / light rack wiring going into the wall:

And here's that same bundle coming out underneath the stand:

Yes, this was a PITA to wire all the connectors on both ends of this, but at least for the lighting, the wiring it isn't proprietary or closed connection such as temp probes or pump controllers.

The second problem is the placement of controllers. Currently, we have our water quality electronics down in the remote fish room, while lighting and flow controllers are up in the stand, since they need to be "hard wired" to the components (think Tunze multicontroller for example).

It would be nice to be able to control display equipment from a single set of controllers though and to have those controllers well away from humidity and salt spray.

Question for all you big tank owners is how are you tackling this design challenge? Is there a way to have centrally-located controllers and probes or components that are remote?

 

[Haffs09]

I can't offer any suggestions, but I'm in a similar situation. My tank build is coming along, and I'm at the point where I need to figure out how to run/install the electric, controllers, etc... My sump is in the basement too. Tagging along!

 

[erics3000]

What kind of controller are you planning?

I have a RKE and my sump and equipment are in my garage. I just run a long cable from my pc4 for lighting above my tank to another pc4 in the garage. In my sump I have float switches and my probes and reactors are all in my garage too.

 

[PauChi]

And here's that same bundle coming out underneath the stand:

This would be a potential electrical/fire/safety hazard ... IMHO.

Paul

 

[drummereef]

I agree Mike, it's a real problem to route electric for all the remote pumps etc needed to run a big tank. Especially when all they give you is a 6' lead off the pump. I'm planning on a conduit run beneath my tank to basically act as "extension" outlets that will fan out to my DC8 breakout box, which is controlled by my Aquacontroller. I will have a total of 8 independent outlets below the tank that will essentially be controlled by the Aquacontroller. I don't see how this is any more dangerous than the guys that use the DJ power centers. The devices we use draw relatively low amps, except for lighting and main return pumps. As long as we are below the rated amps of the wire we use and overall less than the capacity of our controller systems I don't see the danger.

The lighting on my system will be on a separate 20 amp circuit. Everything else will be on another 20 amp circuit. From my estimation I won't be anywhere close to maxing out either circuit.

The only thing I see you could do different is instead of the individual SJOOW cables that are running through the wall, run conduit with 14 gauge stranded to fan out to your devices. But even then, If you aren't drawing more than the wire and circuit is rated what's the diff right?

 

[erics3000]

That is the most important thing. Not to draw more power than your wire and breakers. If you have to run a 2nd circuit than do it. You don't want to take any other chances.

You could make some type of splash cover, because that really is scary. It would really suck to get a ballast wet and mess it up. When you service your OM it is going to be a pain.

I did exactly what drumm reef is talking about. I ran 2 20amb circuit to my garage and 2 20 amp circuits to my office for my tank.