update as requested

[jfl14609]

one question I have is has anyone ever plumbed a external pump without drilling the tank? I have been debating this for a while I have a few external pumps (genx and iwaki) and a few mag pumps I can run but given the setup I dont want to drill and use a bulkhead as I can see it getting knocked around and I dont want to break the glass

 

[reefscape15]

hahaha looks like those 3 guys could use a beer in their hands! gotta be fun but kinda nerve racking at the same time. I'm sure cutting that hole in the wall was interesting!

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

one question I have is has anyone ever plumbed a external pump without drilling the tank? I have been debating this for a while I have a few external pumps (genx and iwaki) and a few mag pumps I can run but given the setup I dont want to drill and use a bulkhead as I can see it getting knocked around and I dont want to break the glass

I haven't done it personally but I know how it's done. You need to plumb the pumps' intake over the side of the sump. You'll also need to provide a way to prime the pump. Priming the pump is usually accomplished by plumbing a T (and a shutoff valve) at the uppermost part of the plumbing that travels over the edge of the sump.
There's several pictures of this on RC- I'll post one if I can find it.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

one example

one example

(of many)

2 out of 3 of my sumps have external pumps and I did not drill the sump. Just used the over the top method. They have been running for about 5 years each and have never lost their prime. Just have to make sure that the inlet pipe is low in the sump and won't be above the water level.

Of course you will have to prime it the first time, but after that shouldn't have too. I have had my main pumps off for over 6 hours and the siphon held.

Will have to put a ball valve on the insump side for the first time prime -- close the valve and pour water into the pipe -- need to leave a T at the top (( see pic below )). Once the pipe of full of water, close up the T, turn on the pump and open the ball valve.

 

[jfl14609]

Thanks Gary I have seen a few of the setups like that but I was wondering about re priming after a power outage I am thinking there should still be anough water in the line to self prime but not sure

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I've seen where people plumb the top T to a shutoff valve which leads to a water drain from the main display. Open the valve and you can prime the line without a hassle. Hope this helps.

 

[jfl14609]

I think I will just stick with submersible we get little 2 minute power outages every so often and I don't want to be priming at 215 am. Gary whats the actual flow going to your display after head loss?

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

somewhere around 1,000 GPH but don't forget- the penductors create more water movement inside the aquarium while cutting down on actual tank turnover.

Some people cannot grasp the concept.

 

[jfl14609]

i am not thinking about flow I am thinking more about turnover rate

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I've never accurately measured trurnover rate but again- what's happening inside my aquarium (with the penductors) won't be accurately represented by my system's turnover rate...

 

[IronMan72]

Very nice so far. I can't help but think that you're going to have temperature stability problems in the winter with the sump sitting on the concrete. The cold from outside of the room will radiate through the concrete. Might want to consider building a floor in the room with 2x4's or 2x6's to insulate from the concrete.

 

[jfl14609]

The sump isn't on the floor there is a plywood base then 2 inches of Styrofoam also don't forget the room is heated with baseboard thats basically on the concrete floor. the thing yo realy cant tell is that the floor in the garage is actually the same pad as the one in my living room so I think the heat transfers that way as well

 

[IronMan72]

The sump isn't on the floor there is a plywood base then 2 inches of Styrofoam also don't forget the room is heated with baseboard thats basically on the concrete floor. the thing yo realy cant tell is that the floor in the garage is actually the same pad as the one in my living room so I think the heat transfers that way as well

Sounds like you've already thought it through and dealt with it. I just couldn't tell from the pictures and it would have been painful to have to redo it later. Looks great, keep the updates coming. I would like to do an in wall tank between rooms and the more well done examples I can show my wife the better my chances of getting her permission to do it.:beer:

 

[jfl14609]

Got everything transfered over today its all looking good only took about 5 mins for everything to open up again

 

[Neoz]

Nice looking. The scape is nice. Is the rock pile on the left leaning against the back glass?

 

[mynock11]

sweet tank jeff...looks great!

 

[jfl14609]

Nice looking. The scape is nice. Is the rock pile on the left leaning against the back glass?

no its on the overflow

 

[dreaminmel]

Wow, new tank looks huge Jeff! 'Gratz on getting everything moved over. Looks great!

 

[block head]

cool, i thought this was going to take months , not weeks.

 

[toddmh]

looks awesome Jeff..My question is..How did you get away with having wood paneling on the wall?? being married to a girl and all.. lool