65 Gallon Project

[ccscscpc]

I would take out the bio balls....they will be a nitrate haven

[newreefbishop]

Originally posted by BigJPDC
Good point newreef, I had forgotten all about that silencing slime coating. It is really quiet right now, I was just concerned about shortening the life of the pump by having the return valve closed about 45%. I don't think I should have plumbed everything to 1", and the funny part is that I built my CL to 1/2" returns, which my Mag9.5 hates and is now in pieces in my workshop.

I would really like to plumb my CL like you have, with the pump on the ground. My challenge would be how to anchor PVC runs that are six feet high up and over the tank. I built a small ledge off the back of my stand to hold the Mag9.5 and it is just too loud up there.

jp

Could you describe how the PVC would run behind the tank, because in most cases you dont need a true anchor......PVC is strong enough to leave floating.....think about the plumbing of a house, I have a two story home, the piping to the second floor "floats" about 10 feet up....

As far as the diameter, you I did 1" for main piping and 3/4 inch for return manifold piping, and 1/2 inch for outlets......I gradually reduced piping to maintain pressure...

Originally posted by ccscscpc
I would take out the bio balls....they will be a nitrate haven

I wash half the balls every week as part of my weekly care.....


Today I am ordering some more live rock......I have to get the right side of the tank built up.....

[BigJPDC]

Originally posted by newreefbishop
Could you describe how the PVC would run behind the tank, because in most cases you dont need a true anchor......PVC is strong enough to leave floating.....think about the plumbing of a house, I have a two story home, the piping to the second floor "floats" about 10 feet up....

You are correct, it just seems like pushing water that far is too much for the pump when I visualize it. I've been aggrevated working with pipe that I was considering just using hose instead but wouldn't have a way of anchoring the intake.

Originally posted by newreefbishop
As far as the diameter, you I did 1" for main piping and 3/4 inch for return manifold piping, and 1/2 inch for outlets......I gradually reduced piping to maintain pressure...

I spent so much time on my closed loop over the summer, but on advice from the LFS I am using here in VA I redid the whole thing. lmao. The major change was moving the return from: one 1" pipe about halfway down the glass, pointed at the front, to: three 1/2" corner returns up about 1/2" from the sand, putting the LR in the crosshairs of the flow. With the back glass tinted and the blackness of the substrate, the black returns are almost invisible which is a major priority of mine. Of course all this did was leak and make so much noise without any flow that I had to dig the main return line out, leaving the other plumbing submerged until I redo it again. I think my problem was keeping the 1" plumbing, changing to 1/2" at the very end, so I am going to try going 3/4" all the way to the 1/2" spider-shaped plumbing in the sand.

Originally posted by newreefbishop
I wash half the balls every week as part of my weekly care.....

not going there. =)

Originally posted by newreefbishop
Today I am ordering some more live rock......I have to get the right side of the tank built up.....

I am all about this over the weekend if I can get through this plumbing mess.

jp

[newreefbishop]

You have a 65 AGA like mine, right? What type of sump are you running, and are you planning a fuge in the sump....Reason I asked is if you are doing a MAG 9.5 with 10 foot of head you will be hitting about 500 GPH. I dont thing watter pressure or weight should be a big deal for PVC as long as you check the pressure rating of the piping when you get it. Mine is rated to 400 pounds....and at any given time I dont think 400 pounds of water is running through the pipes...

Overall the piping looks good...I would also recommend going 3/4 to 1/2 that will keep pressure stable and produce a better effect.

On another note.....this hobby is sucking my pockets dry......I cant belive my tank is pi mping me....

[BigJPDC]

Hey Newreef -

Yes, it's the AGA65RR. My sump is a 20H, no room for a fuge, I can barely fit the Octopus skimmer in it.
I might be confusing you with my setup - the sump return is a Mag7, plumbed 1" up the return to a 3/4" SeaSwirl. That is all fine except that it is overwhelming the return unless I dial it back about halfway with a ball valve. So somehow I am pushing more than 600gph.
The Mag9.5 I wanted to use for the CL, and I am betting you are right on with the idea that I should use 3/4" to the 1/2" spider under the sand. I am not smart enough to know why plumbing to 1" gave me worse performance, since all my research said to use bigger and bigger pvc to maximize flow. Vinyl tubing for the straight runs up from the stand would be so much easier IMO.

Yes, definately draining the pockets but I keep telling myself it will be worth it when it's so easy to set up the next tank. =)

jp

[Tiki G.]

Putting a 65gal together myself. Have enjoyed reading through your thread. Looking forward to the new upgrade.

[racermike27]

Hey Mytlon,

Just a thought but wouldn't you actually see less than 500 GPH through the return? I mean you went from one outlet to 4. Plus add in all the pipe for the manifold and bends. So wouldn't that lessen the pressure within the pipe with all the pipe, bends and outlets. Shouldn't this cause a significant loss in pressure? I remember when I was doing research for a closed loop I found that many were using much larger pumps to accomodate the number of oultets and pipe used.
The setup look s great though, also is the flow for the returns straight or does it finds its way down to the bottom and lower areas of the tank?

[newreefbishop]

Mike, well I was thinging the same thing....but after doing some math...and calculating head loss, I think its around 500+, thats down from the 780 that the pump was pushing at 0 head.

As far as the flow itself I have two 380 GPH pumps in the tank...on a timer and flow gets everywhere. I will probably be adding a auto-top off tomorrow or Friday.....should work out great....

[ek9vboi]

Originally posted by racermike27
Hey Mytlon,

Just a thought but wouldn't you actually see less than 500 GPH through the return? I mean you went from one outlet to 4. Plus add in all the pipe for the manifold and bends. So wouldn't that lessen the pressure within the pipe with all the pipe, bends and outlets. Shouldn't this cause a significant loss in pressure? I remember when I was doing research for a closed loop I found that many were using much larger pumps to accomodate the number of oultets and pipe used.
The setup look s great though, also is the flow for the returns straight or does it finds its way down to the bottom and lower areas of the tank?

Yes and no. It is just a rough estimate just like saying how much actual water volume we have in our tanks. He might lose a few gph here and there but gain more in flow because it has more returns rather then just one outlet.

BigJPDC - that is a nice return system. I will keep that in mind next time i do a tank. rather then use a mag 9.5, try a ehiem 1262, they are quiet, effiecent and are proven. there are a few ways to try and quiet a pump such as:
-use vinyl hosing from the pump to the return plumbing
-a rubber mouse pad/stryo foam under the pump
-foam tubing for the pvc if there are any vibrations

[newreefbishop]

Oh I used the head loss calc on the home page to do a baseline... according to that...I am getting around 550 GPH, I think its closer to 520 though.....give or take 10.....

And Eric is right, going with a ehiem or a quiet one would be a quieter than the mag....

[BigJPDC]

I appreciate all the advice, and I still don't know how I am going to fit the mag or the eheim into my stand, but I will stop hijacking your awesome thread on your 65 gal build out.

jp

[newreefbishop]

Its cool thats what its here for advise and comparing ideas....Why dont you put the pump under the stand?

[BigJPDC]

Thank you!

right now I don't think I have room, but (lol) I have plans to change both the return and overflow plumbing so may be able to angle the sump to allow for it.

The return has a leak next to the ball valve so I think I have to completely rebuild it, and I want to use a piece of spaflex for the overflow, which should quiet that down and reduce the bubbles I see I hope.

[newreefbishop]

Did you seal the piping with silicone or sealant? Certain joints, as far as I know and as far as Ive done need to be sealed. I did that with my main ball joint

[BigJPDC]

=) Man I didn't even use primer and I only have one leak! It's just my luck though, I also have a small leak on the RODI plumbing I did in my basement and that is also right on a ball valve so there is no chance of just cutting and replacing.
I think the way to go is a slip-MT connector on each end of the ball valve, so you can wrench the connections down and not rely on the slip joints. That's how I did the ball valves on the CL's I tested and also lets you reuse the ball valve. Of course I didn't do that on my return. lmao at this hobby.

[newreefbishop]

True.....the joint I used where ones you screw in, and then a slip jiont at each end.....water pressure basically keeps everything together....

[newreefbishop]

So, yesterday when i was at work....sent the wife down to Reef Life, to pick up 20 pounds of live rock, and she did a fine job.....when I got home, and checked the rock, no smell, and nice size and coloring....So i cleaned it up and checked for hitchhikers, and got a huge scare....something that looked like a huge Gorilla Crab....I took out my chizel and hammer and crack the hole open...and rid myself of the crab....

I placed it in the tank, and fishe immediately started exploring it. Looks beautiful.....I set the skimmer to skim wet, and checked the water this morning to make sure no spike...SO FAR SO GOOD....

So next mission is to stock some coral, some LPS and a few hardy SPS, and one or two more fish....a clown, and a small angel or butterfly, and some equipment upgrades.....then let it sit and grow out for a few months......

[ek9vboi]

i would advise u to stay away from the butterfly, they tend to pick at corals and get ick.

[newreefbishop]

Cool, thanks for the headz up Eric......are you going to be busy Saturday during the day? We need to touch bases.....

[ek9vboi]

I work Only day I really get off are Tuesday and Wends. Night time is when I have more free time, maybe when I can bring the torch over to you and we can talk about whatever you want. It interesting to hear set up and opinions from other reefers.

[newreefbishop]

OK Ill see what I can do......I may have some time saturday night...before I go to the races

Remember that red civic....with the huge front mount?

Well blew threw some rods, spun some bearings, bsaically rebuilt it....dyno day is Friday.....

[ek9vboi]

What type of turbo/set up is in it? I might have a good run for it.

[newreefbishop]

as far as the specs.....well you know the rules.......

But before it broke it was putting out 450 whp at 19 pounds

Im thinking now with the added strength we should be doing around 550+ at 25 pounds

the oil pump went out mid race and didnt see the gauge till it was too late....but it can be daily driven.....but its not....stays parked most of the time....

[newreefbishop]

25 pounds is pretty much for street races......30-35 for the track.....15 pounds daily driven

[ek9vboi]

i guessing it a sleeved motor since its doing 20+ lbs.