Flow for new tank

[BigLar]

Tell me what you think.

We just bought a house and will be moving in about 2 months. When we move I will be moving my 92gal and 120 into a 180gal. It will have 3 400w Iwasaki's and a Icecap 660 ballast for actinic bulbs(haven't decided on VHO or PC). Now that I have the lighting taken care of, I need to figure out flow for the tank. The tank will have mainly stoney's in it.

Here's my idea:

Have 2 - 1.5 inch holes drilled into the back for a closed loop being powered by an Ampmaster 3000 with a spray bar and 2 1inch SeaSwirls. Is 2 SeaSwirls enough? What size plumbing should I use? Should I use the 1inch or 3/4 inch SeaSwirls?

The overflows will go the 90 gal refugium/sump using a small return pump because I'm using the closed loop for the main flow.

[Reefland]

Congrats on the new house!

I'm guessing that one hole is going to be the return for the spray bar?

The 3/4" SS flow 850gph, so 1700 for 2. The 1" will allow 1150gph, so 2300 for both. Depending on how much you are wanting to turn over on the loop will determine which SS to use.

Still consider a decent size pump for the sump return. You still need ample water flow for skimming/filtration for the tank.

Best of luck,
Scott

[BigLar]

I'm guessing that one hole is going to be the return for the spray bar?

My plan was to have both holes feed the Ampmaster. Is the wrong?


I want high flow throughout the tank, so I wonder if 3 - 3/4inch Seaswirls would be better than 2 - 1 inch on a 6ft tank

[Reefland]

I'm not sure if it would require 2 or not. golfish is much more qualified to answer this than me. Maybe he'll chime in.

I'm also moving this to the Equipment Forum.

Scott

[golfish]

BigLar: One hole\bulkhead will be enough to feed the AM3000, just make sure its 1.5". Two 1" holes\bulkheads wont do it.

IMO, You won't want to use the AM3000 for anything more then the two 1" Sea Swirls. When we reduce the line down to 1" it really cuts down on the flow. I would use your sump return pump with the spray bar.

Good luck with the move

Mark

[BigLar]

If I use two 1inch Seaswirls, that will only be about 2300gal per/hr. How can I get the full 3000gal per/hr out of the pump?


Also, what pump do you recommend for the overflows?

[golfish]

The only way your going to get 3000gph is to feed the pump with a 1.5" line and use a 1.5" line all the way to the tank. No more then 5' of head and NO reducers. I use two 1" SS's and doubt I'm getting 2300 gph. Like I said, when we reduce down to 1" it really slows down the flow. I have a 150 gal tank and had to throttle the AM3000 down just a bit until the sand settled (4 months) With the valve open all the way it was a little too much flow.

Also, what pump do you recommend for the overflows?

I'm guessing you mean sump return? A pump that turns the tank over 7-10 times per hour would be good. How about a Mag 18 or even another Amp Master.

[BigLar]

Golfish,

I think I have decided on 2 amp300's and 2 - 1"SeaSwirls. The SeaSwirl web page has a disclaimer on it for the 1", it says there is a slight meshing sound. Do you here this, and how loud is it?

Also, do you use any reducers or nozzles on your SeaSwirls? This tank will be in my living room, so I don't want it to be loud.

[golfish]

I think I have decided on 2 amp300's and 2 - 1"SeaSwirls. The SeaSwirl web page has a disclaimer on it for the 1", it says there is a slight meshing sound. Do you here this, and how loud is it?

Good choice, you will save $$ over the long run using the Amp Master. All the other pumps use lots more electricity. There is a noise coming from the SS's, it kind of reminds me of my rotisserie. I have had tanks in my living room for 17 years so the noise doesn't bother me. If the 3 fans are running you can hear the SS's just a little bit. I would try to find one in action before you buy. The reason the 1" model is a little louder is because it has a bigger motor.

Also, do you use any reducers or nozzles on your SeaSwirls?

Yes, I use a 3/4" reducer along with the Y fitting. You have to use the reducer to use any of their fittings. They don't make any in 1", only 3/4 and 1/2.

Mark

[BigLar]

Thanks for answering all of my questions.

Where do you have yours mounted on your tank? Do you have them setup to rotate the same way?

I will problably have 3 Radio Shack fans in my canopy, think I will still here them? If I decided to go with the 3/4" ones because of the noise, should I still just go with two?

[golfish]

Where do you have yours mounted on your tank? Do you have them setup to rotate the same way?

I have mine mounted on the back of the tank between the cross bar and overflows. The point towards the front of the tank.

If I decided to go with the 3/4" ones because of the noise, should I still just go with two?

If you use three 3/4" models I doubt you will be able to get the full 850 GPH from each one but it would be a nice setup. Maybe even better then two 1" models. I would try to find a 1" model in action and see how loud it is. I don't think you will have a problem with noise with the 1" models.

[BigLar]

Do you have pictures of your setup? Do you have a new website?

[golfish]

I'm off to work right now, I'll try to post a front shot of my tank in the morning.

[golfish]

In this picture you can see the two Sea Swirls with the Y fittings. On the right you can see the 1.5" down pipe I use to supply the Amp Master (my tank is not drilled for the closed loop) The pipe on the left is a spray bar off the sump return, it blows down the back of the tank where the SS's can't .

[dr.harris]

I had my 110 tall drilled in each back corner with 2 3/8 holes, giving me 1 1/2 I.D. in the bulkheads. I wanted to ensure flow even if one became blocked. my mistake was not drilling an inlet hole in the top center of the back. Think about drainback boxes for the exit.

[BigLar]

How do you think my Hammer, Frogspawn, Bubble and other LPS will respond to all this flow?

[BigLar]

How do you think my Hammer, Frogspawn, Bubble and other LPS will respond to all this flow?

[golfish]

should be no problem, I have a large hammer and a couple torch corals in my tank

[JG]

Mark,

whatever happened to that beautiful green with pink tip frogspawn you used to have? I don't see it in your new tank.

[golfish]

John,
Hmmmmmm, I think I gave it to Ermin. I'm really not sure who I gave it too. I know I gave it to somebody when I did the tank swap. That coral was split about 5 or 6 times before I finally gave away the last one.

Ermin, are you out there?