The Journey - 300+ Gallon System Build - Picture Heavy

[bpcardona]

Plumbing was dry fitted while reef central was down. I will post pictures and a Schematic soon.

[bpcardona]

Originally Posted by likefish

ive got lots of room. I was thinking 100-200 gal.

I am sooooo scared to commit to a chiller in fear of knowing that the life of everything in my system is dependent on that one piece of equipment.

I even considered framing out a fish room and using a window shaker AC unit and vent fan. That way if anything went bad at least its in an insulated room and might maintain for a while. My garage gets HOT in the summer

I completely understand what you're saying. I am a bit worried about relying on a piece of machinery. However I believe this will make it much easier for tank maintenance and I will be much more likely to do it. How insulated is your garage? Could always look into getting more insulation or running redundant chillers.

[bpcardona]

Here is the diagram I am using to run my returns. I will have two 1" full siphon returns on each of the overflows along with two 3/4" emergency drains. The full siphons will have 1" gate valves allowing for full siphon adjustments, and the emergency will have nothing in their way. There are some unions and ball valves in the plumbing that are not shown here on the schematic, but are in place. The return line will come from a Reeflo Super Dart Gold HYBRID. (Thanks for the great deal Newbie Aquarist) The output of the pump is 1.5" and I will carry that through a manifold ending with the return to the tank. The 1.5" will continue through the wall up the back of the back where it will "T" off and run the linear length of the tank. This will be "T" three time to accommodate 6 loc-line fitting equaling 3/4" each.

Does anyone see any problem with that before I add glue?

I need to find a 75mm glass hole saw, because the intake of this pump is a whopping 2". Looking like I may have this hole drilled for me.

I have more picture, but I am currently using this as a distraction from what I should be doing so......this is it for now.

[Newbie Aquarist]

Everything looks good to me. Are the returns going to go over the back of the tank? Are you putting the lower impeller in the dart to accommodate the 1 inch drains or are you going to chuck the pump return down?

[sirreal63]

My only concern would be the 3/4" emergency drains, they will not even come close to handling the flow if a siphon is clogged.

[bpcardona]

Originally Posted by Newbie Aquarist

Everything looks good to me. Are the returns going to go over the back of the tank? Are you putting the lower impeller in the dart to accommodate the 1 inch drains or are you going to chuck the pump return down?

I haven't decided which I will run. I am leaning toward the higher output, just because I plan in running a manifold. That should break up the flow, and I can dial it in.

Originally Posted by sirreal63

My only concern would be the 3/4" emergency drains, they will not even come close to handling the flow if a siphon is clogged.

I was concerned about that as well. So I reasoned it this way, if I have a problem, hopefully it won't be a full clog in both pipes. I think the 3/4" pipes could handle a partial clog in one of the pipes. So with that said I need to keep a close eye on the pipes.

[sirreal63]

I would test it, shut off one of the siphons and see. You would be better off with the 3/4" as the siphons and the 1" as emergencies. A single 3/4" open channel drain won't flow much more than about 350 gph or so and the 1" will do close to 5-600 gph.

[bpcardona]

Originally Posted by sirreal63

I would test it, shut off one of the siphons and see. You would be better off with the 3/4" as the siphons and the 1" as emergencies. A single 3/4" open channel drain won't flow much more than about 350 gph or so and the 1" will do close to 5-600 gph.

You are absolutely correct. I am rolling the dice here. I want to maximize my turn overrate, and to do so I choose the 1" as primary returns. Together this gives me essentially 3000 gph ( ~1500 gph each). That's the plan at least. I hope I never need the the emergency drains but if I do......I will let everyone know how it goes.

[Untamed12]

Have the emergency drains exit above the sump water line... The siphons exiting below waterline. Add a 45 degree bend on the exits of the siphon tubes so that any air bubbles driven out the bottom of the drains are pushed y to the side so they won't float up back into the pipe.

[bpcardona]

Originally Posted by Untamed12

Have the emergency drains exit above the sump water line... The siphons exiting below waterline. Add a 45 degree bend on the exits of the siphon tubes so that any air bubbles driven out the bottom of the drains are pushed y to the side so they won't float up back into the pipe.

That great advance! Thanks so much. Keep these suggestion coming!

[Pitter98]

Originally Posted by bpcardona

[/CENTER]

Please please please tell me you're not going to put 460+ pounds of water in a 55g barrel on a piece of what looks to be 1/2" (maybe 3/4") plywood suspended 3 feet off the ground with absolutely no support underneath it.

This will fail.

Let me repeat....THIS WILL FAIL.

It may not happen right away, but eventually that board is going to sag (especially if it gets wet at all) and give out dumping 55 gallons (and 1 broken barrel) all over your garage floor. You need to at least put a 2x4 frame underneath the plywood on the outside, and I would recommend even putting 1 or 2 across under the center of it. The frame should be sit on top of your 2x4 posts and not be screwed into the side of it (only being held up by the screws).

I'm actually surprised no one else said anything about it since that picture was posted about a week ago, but I just saw it and didn't feel right not saying something. Just trying to look out for you. Tank looks good so far though and keep posting pictures.

[bpcardona]

Originally Posted by Pitter98

Please please please tell me you're not going to put 460+ pounds of water in a 55g barrel on a piece of what looks to be 1/2" (maybe 3/4") plywood suspended 3 feet off the ground with absolutely no support underneath it.

This will fail.

Let me repeat....THIS WILL FAIL.

It may not happen right away, but eventually that board is going to sag (especially if it gets wet at all) and give out dumping 55 gallons (and 1 broken barrel) all over your garage floor. You need to at least put a 2x4 frame underneath the plywood on the outside, and I would recommend even putting 1 or 2 across under the center of it. The frame should be sit on top of your 2x4 posts and not be screwed into the side of it (only being held up by the screws).

I'm actually surprised no one else said anything about it since that picture was posted about a week ago, but I just saw it and didn't feel right not saying something. Just trying to look out for you. Tank looks good so far though and keep posting pictures.

Another great call! Thanks so much. I actually have this braced more then is in this picture. I was running out of daylight when I was building this. I picked it up the next day. I have a brace in the front and one in the back. The two 2x4 in the back will also be attached to the wall.

Do you think this is enough?

[Pitter98]

Originally Posted by bpcardona

Another great call! Thanks so much. I actually have this braced more then is in this picture. I was running out of daylight when I was building this. I picked it up the next day. I have a brace in the front and one in the back. The two 2x4 in the back will also be attached to the wall.

Do you think this is enough?

It's better, but it looks like this 2x4's are cut down (so like 1.5" x 1.5"), which won't give you a whole lot more support (but is a bit better than just the plywood). I would go ahead and cut down the inside 2x4 posts enough so that you can fit a 2x4 standing vertically (the 3.5" dimension) and frame out the square there. You could always screw in 1 or 2 extra 2x4s down the middle to give it a bit more support directly in the center. The main carrying strength of your boards is when you have the tallest dimension standing vertically and it sits directly on a post in the corners.

[Pitter98]

Was going to edit my last post but it would let me attach a picture. Here is how I framed out my water change station. It is probably a bit overkill, but I made the span a little longer and I wanted to make sure it wouldn't dump 55 gallons of water all over my basement. Hope it helps a bit.

[bpcardona]

Thanks so much for paying such close attention. I will spend some time reworking the structural aspects of this stand. I am a amature at best here and need as much input as possible. That's what I love so much about these forums, very one knows something. I would have been very upset if I came home to 55g of water on the floor, and that kind of barrel was hard to get.

Truly thanks.

[Newbie Aquarist]

Originally Posted by bpcardona

Thanks so much for paying such close attention. I will spend some time reworking the structural aspects of this stand. I am a amature at best here and need as much input as possible. That's what I love so much about these forums, very one knows something. I would have been very upset if I came home to 55g of water on the floor, and that kind of barrel was hard to get.

Truly thanks.

Lets not forget the wifey too.

[bpcardona]

Originally Posted by Newbie Aquarist

Lets not forget the wifey too.

Wayne you are spot on my friend. I think this build would be cut short if she came home to splinters and a river! LOL I also think she would become acutely aware of how much I am just winging it. Hahahahaha

[bpcardona]

Plumbing update. Most of it is complete, more to come.

[bpcardona]

Here is my planed manifold system. It will be ran from a Reeflo Super Dart Gold HYBRID, with the Dart impeller. This will provide a 4300 GHP return. I understand that this will not be my true delivered GPH, but that's my starting point. I will use this manifold to power everything in the system. The the intake on the Reeflo is a 2" fitting, and the output is 1.5". I will run the output 15" before the 1st 45 degree elbow, to observe the 10x rule. I will then jump to a 2" manifold with 1" feeder gate valves. The various feeders will provided water, at a controlled rate, to the equipment listed. I also have built in several ports for future upgrades. For example if I decide to have a Ca reactor, a jumbo reactor or another frag tank/Refuge. This manifold will end with a step down to 1.5" gate valve which will lead back to my display tank.

Also take note that I have included a separate port just before the manifold to supply the QT tank with water from my system. This line will also be utilized as a drainage, if one is ever needed (ie: large water change).

So tell me what you think? Should I change anything? Is there anyone that has learned from a mistake I am about to make?

[Reefed419]

Not speaking from personal experience but I would think that having that many out puts running from one pump, could end up being a real hassel to keep the pressure you desire in each device as water pressure builds or lessens. I do not have a better solution. just thinking aloud is all. I see alot of people running manifolds to run all the reactors, so it mught not be that big of a hassel to deal with.

[tgunn]

Reefed419 is correct, the one downside to manifolds is that it can be a bit tough to balance the flow coming out of each. If you are using it to feed things where super-precise control isn't necessary, that's optimal.

On my old 140g I used a manifold to feed the skimmer, calcium reactor, and a media reactor. The rest of the return went to the main tank. Small variations in how clogged the reactors got would unbalance my overflow making it loud. Similar issues with the skimmer.

As long as you've set things up assuming the flow at any one port can vary you should be fine.

[Newbie Aquarist]

Man(IMHO) that is allot for return pump. Couldn't you use another pump just for running your manifold?

[bpcardona]

Thanks for everyone's input. I would really like to run this all on one pump. If that's not possible I will put in another. In regards to precision. The protein skimmer I plan on running suggest 600gph. The chiller suggest a 700-1000gph, and the BRS reactor suggest a 300gph.

The protein skimmer I can see the need for a constant flow rate, this is why I plan on it being 1st. The chiller obviously doesn't matter much with a 300gph variance. The BRS reactor will be some issue, but it has a built in control valve as well. The BRS GFO/carbon reactor need to be monitored in my current setup, and it has its own pump. The denitrifier and the frag tank can be adjusted and don't need to be precise.

Assuming I don't meet a full clog, I should be able to maintain a relative constant GPH. If I see that I am losing flow back to my tank, ie loses full siphon, I will need to troubleshoot the system. I think the biggest issue here will be a failure to change filter socks. I will just need to force my self to stay on top of this.

Is my logic correct, or am I completely off base?

[Crazy_Beaver]

Originally Posted by bpcardona

Thanks for everyone's input. I would really like to run this all on one pump. If that's not possible I will put in another. In regards to precision. The protein skimmer I plan on running suggest 600gph. The chiller suggest a 700-1000gph, and the BRS reactor suggest a 300gph.

The protein skimmer I can see the need for a constant flow rate, this is why I plan on it being 1st. The chiller obviously doesn't matter much with a 300gph variance. The BRS reactor will be some issue, but it has a built in control valve as well. The BRS GFO/carbon reactor need to be monitored in my current setup, and it has its own pump. The denitrifier and the frag tank can be adjusted and don't need to be precise.

Assuming I don't meet a full clog, I should be able to maintain a relative constant GPH. If I see that I am losing flow back to my tank, ie loses full siphon, I will need to troubleshoot the system. I think the biggest issue here will be a failure to change filter socks. I will just need to force my self to stay on top of this.

Is my logic correct, or am I completely off base?

The best way to control the flow through anything when running a manifold is to add valves in the exit of reactors, chillers etc

Tagging along!

[bpcardona]

Originally Posted by Crazy_Beaver

The best way to control the flow through anything when running a manifold is to add valves in the exit of reactors, chillers etc

Tagging along!

Thanks for this great piece of advice! I wouldn't have thought of that nor have I read it anywhere, but make sense.

Thanks