The Tank that REEF CENTRAL Built - 450 gal display, 800 gal volume

[theReefKing]

With the closed loop in mind you can just add two large feed holes 2"+ and all the returns you want.. I saw you posted on dcanderson22's thread that's I believe the route he went I think his are 3" or possibly larger.. As for check valves it is best to just make the sump large enough to hold All the volume of the still tank vs engineering a failure point into the mix.. If it's for the CL simple ball valves and unions will get you full adjustability and access to maintenance.. That's something to consider is plenty of unions to be able to get it apart without cutting..

So in short I'd say ditch the check valves, they fail and reduce flow. just build the sump to be able to hold everything and then some.

Davm.m and Dapg8gt THANK YOU!!!
Maybe check valves are not such a good idea.... I honestly thought every tank with returns to the bottom of a tank had them. Shows you how much I have to learn.

Your help got me too ask a few questions I didn't consider and I noticed a huge design flaw. I have the bottom returns into the display on the OPEN filtration loop! I would have been a stuck check valve or a blocked check valve away from draining the whole tank!

I am working on updating the model, by the time I'm ready to make the build the design is going to be so different! Awesome, that is exactly what I was hoping for!

Thanks again for your advice and expertise.

 

[theReefKing]

Happy 4th of July all.
Spent last night setting another tank last night. (That makes 11 systems)

 

[theReefKing]

Some Macro Coral Shots

Some Macro Coral Shots

These are pictures my wife took of some different corals in our different systems. Don't pay much attention to the Ultra Coral Reef stamp, it is how she watermarks the photos she takes.

 

[theReefKing]

 

[theReefKing]

... So I can't figure out how to get the pictures in the post, rather than a link/thumbnail at the end of a post.... What am I missing?

 

[dave.m]

Instead of uploading your images to RC, upload them to Flickr or PhotoBucket or some similar on-line image hosting site, then link them into your RC thread post using the yellow mountain icon in the Editor.

That allows you some control over sizing and positioning your imgaes.

HTH

Dave.M

 

[theReefKing]

Instead of uploading your images to RC, upload them to Flickr or PhotoBucket or some similar on-line image hosting site, then link them into your RC thread post using the yellow mountain icon in the Editor.

That allows you some control over sizing and positioning your imgaes.

HTH

Dave.M

Thanks.

Did that work?

Nope..... That link was from google (picasa) does it have to be on photobucket?

 

[dave.m]

What link are you referring to? It doesn't have to be any particular image host, as long as you make the image publicly viewable on the server. The format of your URL needs to be "http://etc." Don't use the versions with the extra IMG or URL tags added. Those only make things worse.

Dave.M

 

[theReefKing]

What link are you referring to? It doesn't have to be any particular image host, as long as you make the image publicly viewable on the server. The format of your URL needs to be "http://etc." Don't use the versions with the extra IMG or URL tags added. Those only make things worse.

Dave.M

I just signed up for photobucket, no reason to go against the grain.
Thanks again for your input regarding the closed loop, I am thinking about having the overflows and returns plumbed through the back side of the tank rather than the bottom.

Any advice on the best way to do that? I can take out the drywall behind the tank so I will have about 5 inches of space back there.

 

[muttley000]

Looking forward to seeing this one come together! I missed it also, who is building the tank? Are you consolidating some of the other systems into this one?

 

[dave.m]

What's wrong with coming in over the top at the back of the tank for both inlets and outlets of your closed loops: no holes in tank, easily hidden behind rockwork, easy to access for maintenance/repair.

Dave.M

 

[theReefKing]

Zoa garden

 

[theReefKing]

Looking forward to seeing this one come together! I missed it also, who is building the tank? Are you consolidating some of the other systems into this one?

Have not picked a builder yet. We have started to get quotes from our LFS but options are very limited in Charleston. Any and all recommendations are appreciated. We are thinking of going Guardian 3/4 glass, with a steel rim and one single cross brace across the top.

We will be consolidating somewhat. The current 180 and 110 will go away, and the 65 (which is in the bedroom) will be replaced with a 150 gallon display tank.

Segway....
I have not talked about the bedroom side of this system. There will be another isolatable display tank in the bedroom which will run off of the same life support systems. The tanks will be back to back separated by the wall between the master and living room.

More on that later......

 

[theReefKing]

What's wrong with coming in over the top at the back of the tank for both inlets and outlets of your closed loops: no holes in tank, easily hidden behind rockwork, easy to access for maintenance/repair.

Dave.M

The idea of having the closed loop return into the bottom of the tank creating an overall rising water flow direction has always sounded appealing to me, I like the visual image of all the detritus never settling to the bottom, even if that possibility is more fantasy than reality.

I wouldn't be opposed to that if I was going to keep the full length overflow, but some more RC feed back has that concept changed as well.

 

[theReefKing]

Literally in the car with the whole family right now on the way to SmithMountain Lake in VA, so I will have some time to work on updating the model.

What is the good thing about being a crazy driver who learned to drive on the streets of manhattan?
wife won't let you drive and you get to play on the iPad scouring RC threads, and Craigslist for local livestock.

 

[theReefKing]

Current Live Stock Macro

Current Live Stock Macro

All pics taken by my Reefing partner. Truth is I am just her sidekick in this hobby, and I am so lucky to have a woman who loves it even more than I do.

I think she takes great pics...

 

[theReefKing]

Dana's Sun Coral:


.... So I got the picture posting figured out, but the IPad is being difficult and won't let me easily cut and paste the links from photobucket, so I will add some more later....

 

[dave.m]

The idea of having the closed loop return into the bottom of the tank creating an overall rising water flow direction has always sounded appealing to me

Going over the top of the CL also means going over the top and then all the way down to the bottom to create the rising currents you refer to, not going over the top to blow water downward.

Dave.M

 

[theReefKing]

Going over the top of the CL also means going over the top and then all the way down to the bottom to create the rising currents you refer to, not going over the top to blow water downward.

Dave.M

I get you! I think this would be a no brainer if I end up with overflow covers top to bottom. The sand and rock work could easily cover any pluming.

Much like my "electricity out of the water" principle, a " no holes in the tank" principle just sounds safer.

The only drawback would be exposed pluming, but if it is planned properly wouldn't be a concern.

Anyone else have ideas about this concept? Pros. Cons.

 

[Osteoclast]

RK,
I use a closed loop for upward flow as you describe. The main function is flow but my chiller and back up chillers are also plumbed in the loop. Loop goes through back wall of tank to pump then chillers then up through four bottom intakes. My return is one floor below so the flow is less because of increased head pressures yet is good. I use 2MP 40s and 2MP 60s for chaotic intratank flow. The chiller can be noisy so it is a good idea to place it in a quiet space.