TOTW 05-17-05 375 Gallon Tank and Sump Plans

**The R/C Man** · 03-04-2005, 07:30 PM

Well here is what I have been planning for a while now. Since my taxes are in I am going to start buying some of the parts I need to get this thing going.

I must say THANKS to my wife who is letting spend the money on this project.

**The R/C Man** · 03-04-2005, 07:36 PM

Here is the stand that was built for it. It is 2"x2" square tubular steel and was painted using rustolium......

**imsqueak** · 03-04-2005, 09:11 PM

Wow! You have spent a lot of time thinking a drawing that out. The only thing I saw that could have been improved was where some unions were. Before you actually put them in think about how much water is gonna spill out (some is gonna no matter how well you place them) when you do mainance. Great job!

**The R/C Man** · 03-04-2005, 10:25 PM

Thanks!

Good point... I also noticed that there aren't any shut off valves on either side of each pump to facilitate maintanence. I will have them in there though.

Also I am going to try and use Spa Flex to eliminate some elbows or at least use the rounded versions. The goal will be keep everything neat....

I purchased the parabolic reflectors today and the aluminum "L" rails to mount them to. I will try to get that started this weekend and post a pic or two. I also have the Kalk reactor and a waste collector for the skimmer. I am planning to order the Aquacontroller Pro on Monday. I am still debating whether to get the Pro2 or the Pro3. There is a big price difference and I could use the cash for probes and X-10 devices......

**Reefland** · 03-04-2005, 10:39 PM

That's excellent! I had to save it to my desktop for a good look.

A couple of suggestions:
1. Why not have the skimmer output after the refugium? No need to have the extra volume passing through the refugium.
2. Might consider adding the heaters and probes into another section of the sump. As you know macroalgae can grow quickly and attach to anything. It could quickly overgrow your heaters and probes if given the chance.

**The R/C Man** · 03-04-2005, 10:53 PM

Originally Posted by Reefland

That's excellent! I had to save it to my desktop for a good look.

A couple of suggestions:
1. Why not have the skimmer output after the refugium? No need to have the extra volume passing through the refugium.
2. Might consider adding the heaters and probes into another section of the sump. As you know macroalgae can grow quickly and attach to anything. It could quickly overgrow your heaters and probes if given the chance.

1. I want to eliminate bubbles in the return pump which is why it will be on the other side.

2. Good point! On my little tank the heater is in the first section and the PH probe is in the return section. I should probably do that in the new tank as well.

**Reefland** · 03-04-2005, 10:55 PM

1. Is it possible to drop in directly after the fuge, into the chamber with your mesh and carbon? Might not be a big problem as is but worth considering I think.

**The R/C Man** · 03-04-2005, 11:20 PM

I was reading an article in the clam edition of Coral Magazine, the Ecosystem method I believe. He mentioned that the macro algae is capable of removing nutrients from the water even at high flow. He recommended 10x your tank volume flowing through the fuge an hour. I am planning about 2200gph which is quite a bit less. Actually with fuge being 24" wide the flow will negligible.

**Reefland** · 03-04-2005, 11:27 PM

I wouldn't argue that they aren't capable of removing nutrients at high flow but will say that certain types of plants or algae desire different types of flow. Chaetomorpha for instance would do very well in a highly tubulent area to keep it rolling, however a feather Caulerpa might do better is water that is less active.

**scubadude** · 03-05-2005, 02:54 AM

Wowzer

. Are your Durso o-flows external or in the tank? From the diagram Im thinking they are external? Love the double heater redundancy.

**charlie** · 03-05-2005, 09:10 AM

Greg, good to see a diagram of what you are doin. How close are you to actually gettin water in that monster. Can't wait to see it!!!!!
Rocky,
I think they are gonna be inside the tank, thru the bottom, but the diagram does look like they are outside. Maybe Greg will chip in here and let us know.

**The R/C Man** · 03-05-2005, 10:12 AM

Rocky,

Yes the overflows are going to be attached to the back of the tank. The tank will have a slot cut into it and there will be pieces of routered acrylic "welded" to the back to form a slot for the overflow slots. They will be easy to slide out for cleaning or replacemnet with different sizes to adjust the flow....

Hey Charlie!

We are supposed to be starting the tank this month if everything goes well. I will still need to get the sump built, buy the three pumps, OM 8way, ozonater, Co2 bottle and regulator, light ballasts etc. I am hoping to have it ready to go by the summer. I am planning to get an Aquacontroller on Monday. I would like to call them to confirm some differences between the Pro2 and Pro3 first. I am keeping a log on every penny I spend for this project and it is already way up there and still lots to buy..... I need to win the lottery....

**charlie** · 03-05-2005, 10:18 AM

Greg, toss the log, you are not gonna like it when you are done. I did the same thing when I set up my 300 tho. In a way, it is nice to know how much you spend, but it can get depressing.

Sounds like you might have to hosst a meeting this summer when you get it goin, I'll help flip burgers and dogs, and I'll also help keep the beers cold, I'm real good at that.

**kevinpo** · 03-05-2005, 10:22 AM

Hi Greg,
I'm sure it will come out very nice with all the planning and thought you are putting in to it. Very nice!

Regards,
Kevin

**The R/C Man** · 03-05-2005, 10:36 AM

Kevin,

Do you have those link moon lights? I was going to assemble my own but the adapters that plud into the wall don't match the voltage rating on the LEDs at Radio Shack...

**kevinpo** · 03-05-2005, 10:48 AM

Hi Greg,
My son and I went to RS and found out the same thing. Now that Current has come out with them so cheap and in the dual light form it's not really worth my time to build my own. I think sometimes we fool ourselves (or use it as an excuse) into thinking we can save a lot of money by making stuff ourselves when in reality we just had fun with the project and didn't save any money (I would never admit that myself ;) ).
You're in luck they are this weeks internet special

Regards,
Kevin

**The R/C Man** · 03-05-2005, 11:45 AM

Charlie,

As long as the wife doesn't see the log it should be ok....

My tank could get finished really quickly if my go-kart gets sold in the next couple of weeks. I took it Fast Kart and it is on display for sale up there. I hope it sells soon.......

Kevin,

Cool I will swing by to check them out. I also forgot to take the beckett injector. Remind me to get it when I stop in.....

**The R/C Man** · 03-05-2005, 11:57 AM

Hey Everyone!

Here is a pic of some equipment that will be used on the "big" tank. Both are from Barr Aquatic Systems. The piece on the left is a waste collector for the skimmer and a Kalk reactor on the right......

**charlie** · 03-05-2005, 12:01 PM

Hey, that waste collector looks familiar.

What skimmer are you gonna use to fill that puppy up??

**The R/C Man** · 03-05-2005, 12:09 PM

Charlie,

I am going to use Brents SK1620 and it will be modified with a larger tube to allow more contact time. Probably 8". I would go with a larger skimmer but it needs to fit under the stand.... An Iwaki 55 will be running it...

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