After talking about it for months, I have finally taken the first real step in my tank upgrade (going from a 54 corner): I purchased a used 150 this weekend. Now I need some advice on plumbing and flow.
The tank is 72x18x28, pre-drill with a center overflow (truly centered, like you would for a 4 side viewable or room divider tank). The overflow has three 1†bulkheads. In addition to these three holes, there are two additional 1†bulkheads, one about 18†from each end of the tank. Let me do the math for you: that’s a total of five 1†bulkheads in the bottom of the tank, three in the single center overflow, and one on each end.
The tank will be a mixed reef. The goals for my tank, roughly in priority order:
1) Simplicity and reliability. Minimum number of things that can go wrong, few moving parts, automated.
2) Economy of electrical usage. The less watts the better, the less heat the better.
3) Good God that’s tank is beautiful. (Desired reaction)
So what to do with this. I have come up with three options:
1) Standard Durso overflow to a refugium/sump with a single return in the center overflow, combined with a 1 out, 2 in closed loop, probably hooked to a SCWD. Overflow limitations might make this awkward, as in the “out†section of the closed loop would probably have to come from one of the end holes vice the center.
2) Use all three holes in the center overflow for a “Smiley†rig: A full siphon from one hole, back up siphon from the second, and return in the third. Combine this with a 1 out 1 in closed loop. Some of you might not be familiar with this Smiley thing, but it works awesome, and is dead quiet. No gurgle, no noise, no air. Back up siphon makes it safe.
3) Standard Durso and single return from the center, 1 out 1 in closed loop. Use the third hole in the center overflow to run electrical cables to wherever. (That’s what original owner apparently used the third hole for)
So what do you think? Any options I’m forgetting? What would you do, be as specific as you are willing down to the pump choices etc.
- Jack
The tank is 72x18x28, pre-drill with a center overflow (truly centered, like you would for a 4 side viewable or room divider tank). The overflow has three 1†bulkheads. In addition to these three holes, there are two additional 1†bulkheads, one about 18†from each end of the tank. Let me do the math for you: that’s a total of five 1†bulkheads in the bottom of the tank, three in the single center overflow, and one on each end.
The tank will be a mixed reef. The goals for my tank, roughly in priority order:
1) Simplicity and reliability. Minimum number of things that can go wrong, few moving parts, automated.
2) Economy of electrical usage. The less watts the better, the less heat the better.
3) Good God that’s tank is beautiful. (Desired reaction)
So what to do with this. I have come up with three options:
1) Standard Durso overflow to a refugium/sump with a single return in the center overflow, combined with a 1 out, 2 in closed loop, probably hooked to a SCWD. Overflow limitations might make this awkward, as in the “out†section of the closed loop would probably have to come from one of the end holes vice the center.
2) Use all three holes in the center overflow for a “Smiley†rig: A full siphon from one hole, back up siphon from the second, and return in the third. Combine this with a 1 out 1 in closed loop. Some of you might not be familiar with this Smiley thing, but it works awesome, and is dead quiet. No gurgle, no noise, no air. Back up siphon makes it safe.
3) Standard Durso and single return from the center, 1 out 1 in closed loop. Use the third hole in the center overflow to run electrical cables to wherever. (That’s what original owner apparently used the third hole for)
So what do you think? Any options I’m forgetting? What would you do, be as specific as you are willing down to the pump choices etc.
- Jack
...........SORRY COULDN'T HOLD IT!
