ReeFit Posted May 25, 2010 Share Posted May 25, 2010 I'm starting the process of actually putting together the reef setup I want to see in this 120 gallon long tank. Dimensions are 72"L x 18"D x 20"H. I would like to target mostly SPS & LPS corals in this tank, it will harbor fish as well so it will be a mixed tank with an emphasis on stony corals. I have everything I need, some of the stuff is in use on tanks holding rock, sand, fish, corals etc, so the transitions are not going to be super fun. I've already moved tanks around several times, i'm sure the fish are going WT# i didn't hang my good pair of fins on that rock. Anyways, i'm at a loss on some of the plumbing and will be looking for assistance in the design since i'm doing it from scratch, there are no holes drilled in the tank so i can put them where ever i want. I plan do do an internal skim / overflow box maybe 2. I'm also deciding on an internal loop or just run power heads. My other dilemma is feeding water to the 55 gallon fuge which is separate of the sump. The fuge will sit higher than the sump so it will drain into the sumps sock. I would like the fuge to be manual fed from the tank instead of powering the water to it, but i'm afraid that if its not filtered water, the fuge will turn into a nasty nitrate dump from the tank. Should i run two socks and eat up nice real-estate in the fuge or do another internal pump in the sump where water is already returning from the tank into a 200 micron sock and just circulate water up to the fuge separate from the tank? Any thoughts would be great, thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newfisher Posted May 25, 2010 Share Posted May 25, 2010 Run the skimmer 1st and add a tee off your return to your fuge, then gravity feed your sump from fuge overflow back to collection point at skimmer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReeFit Posted May 25, 2010 Author Share Posted May 25, 2010 Here is a crude elevation drawing of the setup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReeFit Posted May 26, 2010 Author Share Posted May 26, 2010 So my my problem is how to feed the fuge without adding more pumps and being able to let the water be filtered so i don't get a bunch of detrius and large particulate in the fuge if i just ran a strait line in from one of the overflows. Can i T off of the return from the skimmer and pipe it up and over to the fuge? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReeFit Posted May 26, 2010 Author Share Posted May 26, 2010 I just read an article that recommends supplying the refugium with water from the skimmers return line, so I think I am going to try that route. Anyone have any bad experiences with this? I was curious if the added pressure on the return would affect the skimmers performance. One positive would be that it would take small air bubbles out of the sump increasing clarity in the display. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReeFit Posted June 2, 2010 Author Share Posted June 2, 2010 Picked up an Iron Might pump. 1.3amps and 40GPM. i'm excited, gonna have some good flow. Got a reef keeper system from salt water fantaseas for automation and also had a custom black overflow box made by saltwater fantaseas acrylic guy. time to start working on the stand for placement of the sump and refugium tanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReeFit Posted June 2, 2010 Author Share Posted June 2, 2010 updated scale picture of the plumbing diagram. Everything fits exact. I hope it actually all works out. I didn't realize everything was going to come down the exact inch on my stand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReeFit Posted June 3, 2010 Author Share Posted June 3, 2010 Some progress photos getting the stand ready. Temporarily Housing some fish and rocks. Don't try this at home Refugium Stand Refugium installed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReeFit Posted July 19, 2010 Author Share Posted July 19, 2010 I epoxied the over flow in today, cut out openings bigger and put in an opening for the overflow for cleaning and plumbing accessibility. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batchelor Posted July 20, 2010 Share Posted July 20, 2010 where did you buy the overflow box? i'd like to get one for my new 40b. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReeFit Posted July 20, 2010 Author Share Posted July 20, 2010 i had it custom made by an acrylic specialist through SWF up here in pdx.. it probably cost more than your 40b. If i was going to do it again, i would probably just make it myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saltfinsax Posted July 20, 2010 Share Posted July 20, 2010 Getting close for a water test I see. I was looking at your diagram and I take it you are running the return from 1" pipe to a T then 3/4" to the other T's and then some kinda directional ends on the pipe in the tank?. I did some what the same thing and lost more flow then what I wanted to. I guess I might need a bigger pump though as I started with only a Blue line HD40. What is the big blue box in your diagram? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReeFit Posted July 20, 2010 Author Share Posted July 20, 2010 Getting close for a water test I see. I was looking at your diagram and I take it you are running the return from 1" pipe to a T then 3/4" to the other T's and then some kinda directional ends on the pipe in the tank?. I did some what the same thing and lost more flow then what I wanted to. I guess I might need a bigger pump though as I started with only a Blue line HD40. What is the big blue box in your diagram? yea i have a 2400 gph pump, it will be 1" all the way to 1" SCWD's. i may just do just one scwd to two heads. i have a 1000gph running a 3/4" scwd and a chiller and it works fine so i figured a 2400 on 2 1" scwd's would work. guess we'll see. The blue box is a chiller, its not going to run off the main pump but i just threw that on there to allow for spacing. I'm starting to lean towards another cabinet just for the chiller to get that space back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smann Posted July 20, 2010 Share Posted July 20, 2010 If possible you might want to test the 1" scwd with the pump, I still have a new one (for sale) I tried to run with a Mag18 and it wouldnt even turn, I think the specs say 3500 gph. If you havent bought one yet let me know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReeFit Posted July 20, 2010 Author Share Posted July 20, 2010 If possible you might want to test the 1" scwd with the pump' date=' I still have a new one (for sale) I tried to run with a Mag18 and it wouldnt even turn, I think the specs say 3500 gph. If you havent bought one yet let me know[/quote'] the 1" is rated at a min. 500gph and max of 3500gph. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReeFit Posted July 20, 2010 Author Share Posted July 20, 2010 If you havent bought one yet let me know I would be interested in a price if its not broke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smann Posted July 20, 2010 Share Posted July 20, 2010 I would be interested in a price if its not broke. I'm not sure, it took a really long time to turn. I opened it up and all looked fine, I didnt have a larger pump at the time to try it. I really like the 3/4's and will be useing them on my new tank. I think I paid 85.00 at Upscales, have the 1" barbed fittings for the 1" black vinyl and some hose Shoot me a Pm and we can hook it up to a pump, try it out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReeFit Posted July 26, 2010 Author Share Posted July 26, 2010 First Water test with tap water. Home made durso pipes, love how quiet they are. Testing out some of the plumbing to make sure it sits right where i want it. Not using the exact sump yet that i will be so i'm guessing where pipes are going to land. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReeFit Posted July 26, 2010 Author Share Posted July 26, 2010 Made the adjustments to the plumbing, overflow and durso pipes and now have actual salt water and sand starting the cycle. rinsed the sand really well. this is about an hour after dumping the sand in. I still have another 100lbs of sand going in from another tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoobtoSalt Posted July 26, 2010 Share Posted July 26, 2010 Looks good but why did you install light switches on the right side of the tank??? LOL. I've gotta get over there to see that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReeFit Posted July 26, 2010 Author Share Posted July 26, 2010 Looks good but why did you install light switches on the right side of the tank??? LOL. I've gotta get over there to see that. Haha, its called a reflection. yeah i gotta come see yours too after you made all the changes. I can't wait for this thing to cycle, i want to see that big tang in his new house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoobtoSalt Posted July 26, 2010 Share Posted July 26, 2010 Haha, its called a reflection. yeah i gotta come see yours too after you made all the changes. I can't wait for this thing to cycle, i want to see that big tang in his new house. I thought his new house is waiting down at Rosecity still. It will look good in the new house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReeFit Posted July 26, 2010 Author Share Posted July 26, 2010 yeah, thats not happening until i get my new house first. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReeFit Posted November 3, 2010 Author Share Posted November 3, 2010 Figured I should finish this build. here's the refugium back in July. Mangroves now. Refugium now. This thing keeps my nitrates at 0 and i feed pretty heavy. 2400GPH return pump SWC Skimmer and Sump A few finished tank shots of inhabitants and rockwork. And a few FTS shots Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 What macro are you running in the fuge, what are you using for light (looks like PC's but not certain), and what kind of light cycle are you using? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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