Parrothead's 55 gallon Reef

[Parrothead]

didn't think about the water changes and not have to bother the display tank, that is a good idea, and with a mag 5 at 2.5' head I would have a considerable amount of flow on the return, could proably split it(build a Y at the tank)like some of the return set ups on drilled tanks are, and I think I'd still have a real nice amount of flow coming back into the tank. Thoughts? Gotta go to work, catch you when I get back, by the way "Good Morning"

Robert

[charlie]

"Good Morning"

Back at ya!!!!
We can discuss the return pump when you get back, I think you ought to go a little bigger on the pump. You can always "T" off the return and run the excess back into the sump.
And don't forget about a siphon break in the line into the main display.

[Parrothead]

Charlie,

I'm back, Anyway with diy returns, just a couple small holes drilled just below the water line on the return makes a great siphon break, got to looking at the mag drive pumps a few minutes ago, and am thinking maybe a 7 or even a 9.5, may have to have 2 overflows to keep up with the 9.5 or bigger, but that would also have the benefit of more surface skimming, and then put the skimmer right between the 2 or as close as possible to center, but with the diy sump I really wouldn't see that being to big of a problem. Anyway, based on your last post you have some ideas that I look forward to hearing

Tanks,
Robert

[charlie]

I think cpr makes an overflow that matches up well with the mag7. Like I said tho, just "T" the return right above the sump, and if the flow is too much for the overflow, run whatever excess you have back to the sump

[Parrothead]

couldn't I "y" it at the tank and increase the flow disbursment, I believe it would just be a simple y with a couple of elbows, or even heres a thought, "t" it at the tank and make a spray bar across the back of the tank at the top, just a thought, remember the edsel did look good on paper too.

[charlie]

You could do anything you want at the tank, but if you have too much for your overflow, it doesn't do you any good to disburse the flow. You are going to have to "T" it out of the pump to return the excess back to the sump. Know what I mean?????

[Parrothead]

I did pull some specs on the various mags, here they are and the head height is at 3 and 4' even though I believe it will come closer to 2.5 - 3':
Mag 7
3' - 500 gph
4' - 480 gph
Mag 9.5
3 - 850
4 - 800
Mag 12
3 - 1150
4 - 1130

the 12 might be a bit much, but I recall reading a post here about flipping water volume 20 times per hour, now the 9.5 would be close with the rock and sand factored in, the 12 would defintely surpass that w/o factoring rock and sand, might have riptide warnings up with the 12 but that would be some circulation which set up properly might be the kick butt approach. Thoughts?

Tanks,
Robert

[Parrothead]

the t at the pump and please correct me if I'm wrong, would just be a basic pvc t and have nothing coming off the t part?

[Parrothead]

Wife left got jog across the street for basting material back in 5

[charlie]

the t at the pump and please correct me if I'm wrong, would just be a basic pvc t and have nothing coming off the t part?

Throw a chunk of pipe on there back into the sump. I will take a pic later to show you what I mean. I have my 80 set up like this.
Get an over flow to match the 9.5.

Speaking of basting, see ya.

[zhenya]

Wife left got jog across the street for basting material back in 5

Too bad you live too far, we would get along just fine...

Robert, I think if you get this overflow you can easily get mag9 and you won't have to add a "t" with an elbow going down to return some flow back to the sump. I think that's what Charlie meant.

PS. I think you would be better off hanging your skimmer on the sump and not on the tank (if you got the room that is).

[Parrothead]

Hey Gene,

Jersey - Florida, Whats the difference,

I am massively confused, maybe the fosters lager will help, 24 oz's at a time, anyway, I need to see his pic, I'm lost about "t'ing" at the pump and returning to sump on the return, How does that work, does he mean using a ball valve, Charlie, you are hurting my brain cells, I know this is proably a very simple thing and that I am over complicating it. HELP

Tanks,
Robert

[Parrothead]

oh Gene,

Did you check out the new pics on page 1, gotta brag a bit, but must give credit where credit is due, I owe you, Charlie, and Mike alot here, so all the credit ain't mine.

Robert

[zhenya]

Hey Gene,

Jersey - Florida, Whats the difference,

I am massively confused, maybe the fosters lager will help, 24 oz's at a time, anyway, I need to see his pic, I'm lost about "t'ing" at the pump and returning to sump on the return, How does that work, does he mean using a ball valve, Charlie, you are hurting my brain cells, I know this is proably a very simple thing and that I am over complicating it. HELP

Tanks,
Robert

I hear you...

And no,no ball valve needed. Just leave one end of the "t" open since it will be in the water in the sump anyway. It means that part of the flow will escape(back into the sump) and not go to the tank. Just imagine "T" standing vertically on it's side. Pipe goes in either end of it (top and down) and the middle part is open, letting water escape some.

[Parrothead]

thats what I said a post or three back, a basic pvc "t" with my return going to the display tank, and the other naked in the sump, but Charlie had mentioned throwing a piece of pipe on it back to the sump. And I'm using a standard 20 gal. for the sump, so hanging the skimmer on the sump should not be a prob. Charlie recommended the remora pro, like the looks and specs, would proably have to plumb the feed line to get the pump at the bottom of the sump. I have a unique situation here, I live in a trailer, don't laugh, wifes the park sec. get free rent and water, in todays econmy that rocks. but back to tank set up, display is in living room, someone many years ago built onto the trailer and never removed and exterior window which now opens to my office, where the sump will live. DT is right in front of this window, so the back of the tank is at the window, as I mentioned back a page, I will put the 20 on a stand that will leave me about a 2.5 - 3" head on the return, so I've got a sump arrangement made in paradise, I like the 9.5 flips the water massively but still might split it where the return meets the tank, any thoughts there, reasoning, this might eliminate the need to stick another powerhead in the tank for flow, a 55 ain't all that big when you start packing hardware in it;)

Robert

[zhenya]

Robert,

I don't think you'll need to tee off your return line if you'll get that overflow that I linked to. It can handle 800gl/hr flow through it and you could have a brisk flow going over in the tank as well with the mag 9.5.
You can split it in two if you like to have two return lines, that shouldn't be a problem. However, I don't know if you would loose some flow or not throwing another length of pipe at the pump.

And, Robert, I wouldn't think of laughing about living in the trailer...

[zhenya]

oh Gene,

Did you check out the new pics on page 1, gotta brag a bit, but must give credit where credit is due, I owe you, Charlie, and Mike alot here, so all the credit ain't mine.

Robert

Yes I have.

It looks really nice, Robert. If anything, I would try removing that red grape looking algae off of that piece of rock (last image). I believe this algae is called Botryocladia sp. and it can overtake your tank in time if you are not careful. Otherwise the tank looks real nice. Congrats!

[Parrothead]

Gene,

I was actually thinking of splitting the return at the tank in a drilled tank fashion, you know the flex-hsoe, point 1 one way the other another, got a client whose 90 is set up that way, and I figured with the flow rate, it wouldn't hurt anything. About the trailer, not much room for a bigger tank, that sucks, would prefer to use the 55 for a sump, but the wife would have me living in the bigger tank, with water in it, married Italian, they have a tendency to get there way

[Parrothead]

Thanks for the thumbs up, I do regularly harvest the grapes, but I kinda sorta got attached to them, the look kinda cool, maybe when I start adding my softies(when the Romans get some more road built, Thats for Charlie)I might actually try to remove them, have tried before, but they came back, should have seen it a couple of weeks after I first got the slab home, it took weeks in the 14 bio to get it under control. Dandelions for saltwater

Robert

[charlie]

I am actually running a mag 12 thru that overflow Gene, but at about 7-8 feet worth of head. If it wasn't for the Aqualifter, we may have flooded more than once!!!!! I think the mag 9.5 will work thru that for sure, and if he splits it, it would cut down the flow, so the overflow would work OK.

Wait, I think I need to pick up a pizza and continue to baste a little bit more, it is Saturday you know.

I am really glad the Romans were a patient folk.;););)