Cprowler's 150g System from the start

[gabe3d]

You have a well planned out and nice maturing tank! That anemone looks perfect at that location, I'll keep my fingers crossed for it to stay there.

The Omniflex is cool but it's too bad they don't have any adapters at the end like the Locline does. I contemplated buying them as well and opted for multiple 12 loclines instead. I'm quite happy with the flexibility.

Restricting the flow is not damaging to the pump at all however it can be to the OM. The huge restriction you have right at the end of each outlet will add some serious back pressure which can affect the OM rotating function. How strong is the water coming out from one nozel? I would think it'd be like a firehose!

[Cprowler]

Right now it is running with no drum so flow is going to all 4 outlets, so it's not strong at all. When the drum gets here today I will see if it works and if it does, I'll see how strong the flow is.

Purolators online tracking says it's on the truck for delivery.

[jnarowe]

back pressure may not damage certain types of pumps, but it will increase the electrical consumption.

[gabe3d]

The Dart, if that is still the pump you are using, is a centrifugal pump and the added pressure will not damage it nor will it make it consume more energy, actually it is the opposite it will make it run slower and use less energy. The back pressure added by reducing pipe size is identical to using ball valves. I'm pretty sure about this but you can correct me if I'm wrong.

[maxxII]

Originally posted by Cprowler
With the drum that's coming today it will direct flow to two ports (opposing) at the same time. So it will be going to 2 x .75 inch and any particular time, not that 2 x .75 inch equals 1 x 1.5 inch.

This is not acceptable?

Actually, not the same thing. Forgive my lack of specific knowledge, maybe Gabe3d can explain....
two 0.75 inch outlets does not equal the same flow rate of a single 1.5 inch outlet. it has something to do with fluid dynamics and friction caused by the plumbing itself. IIRC correctly, you will need four 0.75 inch outlets to equal the flow rate of a single 1.5 inch outlet.

Nick

[Cprowler]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I think you miss read my post Nick, "not that 2 x .75 inch equals 1 x 1.5 inch.". I was just trying to say two is better than one but not the same as 1.5".

the drum did not arrive, I called and they said no one was available to receive the package at 4:49 pm. I was here so I asked what address and they did not know, there is no sticky on the door from the driver so I don't know what's going on. I'm flying out of town at 6am for work so I guess this will all have to wait

[jnarowe]

nice...I love when the drivers say they were there but really weren't.

[Darkstar04]

2 x .75" heads = 0.88in^2

1 x 1.5" opening = 1.75in^2

So the 1.5" pipe is more than double, and that isn't even considering frictional losses.

[gabe3d]

He seems well aware that two 3/4 output is not nearly the same as one 1.5 output. He's just thinking that two smaller outputs on at once might be better than one larger one.

Have you tried having 1.5'' all the way through and having one port open at a time? I think that'd be my preference, the water should travel quite well across the entire tank and have pretty decent coverage. I'm thinking that if you were to have only two 3/4'' output on at once the velocity at which the water will come out will be a little violent for corals near the nozels. However since it is coming to you already, you might as well try and get first hand experience. Let us know how it turns out.

[Cprowler]

Thanks for all the info guys.

I did have it with just 1.5" when the drum was stuck, the drum had a large opening so flow was coming out 2 of the 1.5" outlets. The flow seemed a little too weak. Jason Mck left me a small single outlet to try and that might be enough flow.

The two opening, opposite side drum is to keep it balanced so it turns properly. Quite a few people have a problem with the larger pumps putting too much force on one side of the drum keeping it from turning properly.

I guess I'll try a few things when I get back next week.

Thanks again for all the info everyone.

[Cprowler]

Well the drum was here when I got home and it all works now.

The flow is quite powerful so I will look into how I will re-plumb the outlets. I was hoping not to spend more money that's why I was trying to reuse the lockline and pvc that I had. Oh well nothing more money can't cure.

[jnarowe]

That's the spirit!!

[tgunn]

Originally posted by jnarowe
That's the spirit!!

I learnt long ago that I can NEVER say, "Well, that's the last thing to buy for the tank"....

[Cprowler]

...yeah, I didn't think that I wouldn't spend any more money on the tank. I was hoping that I could take a few weeks off of spending.

[Cprowler]

Well I just got back into town this morning. I have been out of town working for most of the last five weeks, I think 35 of the last 40 days or so. I do get back every week or so for a bit, like last week I was home for 20 hrs. Unfortunately I am leaving again on Mon. for another week but should have a few weeks off after that.

The tank is doing quite well in spite of my absence, my wife is diligent about feeding and dosing the ReeFresh. Where she needs some work is cleaning the glass and skimmers, so when I get home from a week or so it looks a bit rough but when I scrape the glass I am quite pleased it is doing well.

I noticed that I didn't have much if any cleaning crew left so I think the puffer has slowly worked his way through them. I'm going to pick up a bunch of snails tomorrow.

I do have a list of things I want to do to it when I get back next week.

Finish OM plumbing
Change auto top off method
Clean up wiring and re-label

And a bit further down the road

New sump
Change ozone delivery method
Get rid of G2

Other than that I don't have much to update, I'll try and get some pics up tomorrow.

[gabe3d]

Welcome back

I know the feeling of being away from your tank for a few weeks, I occasionally go on business trips for a few weeks as well. Every day that I'm away I pray that nothing went wrong with my tank...

[Bax]

Being away from my tank for even a week makes me exreemely nervous !

[jnarowe]

such a relaxing hobby!

[Cprowler]

Yes it's not the best situation, if I knew I was going to change jobs I may not of built the system. I'm lucky my wife is here and keeps an eye on things, she may not clean the glass but she won't let anything happen to it. I'm lucky to have 3 local reefers that willing to come by and help if she has a problem. That helps me feel a bit better.

I don't have a choice right now so I'll have to make the best of it.

[Cprowler]

Update

I just returned from a 5 day cruise on Friday and long story short, the auto top off overfilled the sump and lowered the salinity to 1.012. I lost two large sps colonys and a few smaller ones may not make it.

Things seem to have stabilized, the last few days I have done 2 x 30g water changes (on different days) and changed the GAC I am running in one of my phosban reactors. I have 2 more 30g batches of water ready and will change more tonight.

I have a couple of questions if anyone can help;

1. How much water should I change at a time and how many more should I do?
2. Is there anything else I should be doing?


Thanks

[melev]

I don't think you need to change water as much as you need to bring up salinity. You can mix up hyper-saturated saltwater and pour that in in small amounts (a few gallons at a time), and drain out some water to avoid overfilling the system. Test the salinity about 10 minutes after the addition.

I would test for ammonia and nitrite for the next few days in case a mini-cycle erupts. If it does, use Seachem's Prime directly in your tank to lock up ammonia and nitrate. 1 capful per 50g of display water.

How sad! The rest of your livestock okay?

[Cprowler]

Both NH4 and NO2 are not detectable but my test kits are way old, I'll pick up some new ones tomorrow along with some Prime incase I need it.

The salinity is up to 1.024 now, I didn't want to bring it up too fast, I'll get it up to 1.025 tonight.

When I got home the smell from the water was quite bad, putrid actually. After the two water changes and fresh GAC and after cleaning and tuning up both skimmers it does not smell any more.

I was over due for a water change anyway and I think I would like to change more before I have to leave town again for who knows how long.

I just read your Water change article and want to be more diligent about them.

[Jason McK]

Oh man sorry to hear. Let me know if there is anything you need. I have 40G of salt water and 80G of RO/DI if you want to grab some

or if you need to replace anything you got from me let me know I'll cut frags special

J

[Cprowler]

The rest of your livestock okay?

Yeah I think everything else will be ok.

[Cprowler]

Originally posted by Jason McK
Oh man sorry to hear. Let me know if there is anything you need. I have 40G of salt water and 80G of RO/DI if you want to grab some

or if you need to replace anything you got from me let me know I'll cut frags special

J

Thanks Jason, one was a Bali Green slimer I got from SmokenReefer and other a aquacultured Blue acro I got from OA. I guess I'm lucky it was just two and not a total loss.

I guess I could play it up a bit and get you to cut me some of your prise pieces.