Im planning my system for my new 180 and this is what i got so far need some imputs

chris31 · 05/28/2008, 06:23 PM

ok so Im planning out my system for the 180g tank i want to do.this is a rough layout of what i was thinking about doing with the system.(this is not set in stone). Im just looking for some feedback and imput on every1s thought about what i have so far. IF THERES ANYTHING I SHOULD DO DIFFERENT PLEASE LET ME KNOW! there are a few ?'s i have though
1.Is this size sump ok for this tank?
2.Is it better to have a skimmer inside or outside of the sump? Are there any benifits either way?
3. If I should keep the skimmer outside of the sump do i have it plumbed right?
4. If i wanted to plumb a fuge outside of the sump how would i do that?
5. Is the frag tank plumbed in right? along with everything else to?
Heres the plans that i thought of so far.

xJake · 05/28/2008, 06:41 PM

1. What is the size of the sump? You never said.
2. The benefit of having the skimmer outside of the sump is that it frees up room to do other things such as have a bigger fuge or keep some live rock in the sump. A disadvantage of this is if the skimmer overflows it will go all over your floor rather than back into the sump. A simple solution for this issue is to have your skimmer cup drain to a plastic container that is sitting in the sump.
3. The skimmer doesn't look like it is plumbed right from the pics, but the diagram isn't all that clear and it's hard to tell.
4. If you want to plumb the fuge outside the sump then you can just use a separate tank and then have a pump pump water up to it and then install a drain to drain back to the sump (just like the frag tank).
5. Everything looks good except for the skimmer, which could be just an issue with the diagram. Try to change it and put in a bit more detail in the plumbing of the skimmer.

LobsterOfJustice · 05/28/2008, 07:59 PM

The skimmer will generally have to be higher than the sump and gravity drain back into it, with a gate valve on the drain line to control water level in the skimmer.

chris31 · 05/29/2008, 04:41 AM

sry i forgot i change the pic around its a 55g sump

chris31 · 05/29/2008, 04:44 AM

the skimmer has a line that is t'ed off from the water lines coming from the main display ill make a new diagram this afternoon with changes on it thanks everyone so far keep the info coming

chris31 · 05/29/2008, 02:30 PM

ok here are the new plans what does every1 think

chris31 · 05/29/2008, 07:07 PM

anyone have any imputs on it?

chris31 · 05/29/2008, 08:39 PM

nothing???

Longchamp · 05/29/2008, 09:44 PM

Your diagrams a bit confusing, check out Google Sketchup, it's a free technical drawing program thats easy to use and looks great.

Are you plan on using a standard 48" 55g? If so id use a 75 instead, and just put the skimmer in that instead of running it externally. The risk of the skimmer leaking isnt worth it to me.

Semper Fi 1959 · 05/29/2008, 09:49 PM

My only concern would be that you don't want the RODI resevoir sitting above the sump...you could get a siphon started that wouldn't end until all of your RO water was in your tank. Not what you want. Flip the frag tank and RO tank around. Besides, then your frag tank would be closer to eye level and more viewable.

lilchris · 05/29/2008, 11:21 PM

What is feeding your frag tank? Also what type of return pump are yu going to use? Internal or External. Other than that I don't see any issues.

chris31 · 05/30/2008, 01:53 PM

well i had a T off the return line going into the frag tank and the frag tank filtering back into the sump.and as far as the return pump i think im going to go with internal i was gonna go with external but i changed my mind

05/28/2008, 06:23 PM	#1
chris31 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: long island NY Posts: 928	Im planning my system for my new 180 and this is what i got so far need some imputs ok so Im planning out my system for the 180g tank i want to do.this is a rough layout of what i was thinking about doing with the system.(this is not set in stone). Im just looking for some feedback and imput on every1s thought about what i have so far. IF THERES ANYTHING I SHOULD DO DIFFERENT PLEASE LET ME KNOW! there are a few ?'s i have though 1.Is this size sump ok for this tank? 2.Is it better to have a skimmer inside or outside of the sump? Are there any benifits either way? 3. If I should keep the skimmer outside of the sump do i have it plumbed right? 4. If i wanted to plumb a fuge outside of the sump how would i do that? 5. Is the frag tank plumbed in right? along with everything else to? Heres the plans that i thought of so far.

05/28/2008, 07:59 PM	#3
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	The skimmer will generally have to be higher than the sump and gravity drain back into it, with a gate valve on the drain line to control water level in the skimmer. __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles

05/28/2008, 06:41 PM	#2
xJake Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,385	1. What is the size of the sump? You never said. 2. The benefit of having the skimmer outside of the sump is that it frees up room to do other things such as have a bigger fuge or keep some live rock in the sump. A disadvantage of this is if the skimmer overflows it will go all over your floor rather than back into the sump. A simple solution for this issue is to have your skimmer cup drain to a plastic container that is sitting in the sump. 3. The skimmer doesn't look like it is plumbed right from the pics, but the diagram isn't all that clear and it's hard to tell. 4. If you want to plumb the fuge outside the sump then you can just use a separate tank and then have a pump pump water up to it and then install a drain to drain back to the sump (just like the frag tank). 5. Everything looks good except for the skimmer, which could be just an issue with the diagram. Try to change it and put in a bit more detail in the plumbing of the skimmer.

05/29/2008, 04:41 AM	#4
chris31 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: long island NY Posts: 928	sry i forgot i change the pic around its a 55g sump

05/29/2008, 04:44 AM	#5
chris31 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: long island NY Posts: 928	the skimmer has a line that is t'ed off from the water lines coming from the main display ill make a new diagram this afternoon with changes on it thanks everyone so far keep the info coming

05/29/2008, 02:30 PM	#6
chris31 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: long island NY Posts: 928	ok here are the new plans what does every1 think

05/29/2008, 07:07 PM	#7
chris31 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: long island NY Posts: 928	anyone have any imputs on it?

05/29/2008, 08:39 PM	#8
chris31 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: long island NY Posts: 928	nothing???

05/29/2008, 09:44 PM	#9
Longchamp Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: baltimore Posts: 341	Your diagrams a bit confusing, check out Google Sketchup, it's a free technical drawing program thats easy to use and looks great. Are you plan on using a standard 48" 55g? If so id use a 75 instead, and just put the skimmer in that instead of running it externally. The risk of the skimmer leaking isnt worth it to me.

05/29/2008, 09:49 PM	#10
Semper Fi 1959 Moved On Join Date: May 2008 Location: Corner of Alexander and Grove, 4th floor Apt. 20 Posts: 462	My only concern would be that you don't want the RODI resevoir sitting above the sump...you could get a siphon started that wouldn't end until all of your RO water was in your tank. Not what you want. Flip the frag tank and RO tank around. Besides, then your frag tank would be closer to eye level and more viewable.

05/29/2008, 11:21 PM	#11
lilchris Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Arizona Posts: 984	What is feeding your frag tank? Also what type of return pump are yu going to use? Internal or External. Other than that I don't see any issues.

05/30/2008, 01:53 PM	#12
chris31 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: long island NY Posts: 928	well i had a T off the return line going into the frag tank and the frag tank filtering back into the sump.and as far as the return pump i think im going to go with internal i was gonna go with external but i changed my mind