help needed with 300 gallon system design setup

vinc · 03/17/2008, 05:07 PM

i am in the process of building my system I am stuck with plumbing and where to put everything . I did a design . not sure if it is right. I am not sure where to put ball valves and gates , where to bring the return of the skimmer back in to the sump. where to put the heaters is it ok to put one in the fuge and can I hook up the fuge like that our does it have to drain into the sump .is the pump better closer to the sump or closer to the display tank. all ball valves have unions on them . should I put any unions anywhere else. also is it better to put the ball valves right where the holes are drill on the bottom of the tank or should I put them next to the sump with easy access. any help would be great .

thanks alot

these are prints to my closed loop

Untamed12 · 03/17/2008, 05:30 PM

Wow..that's a serious lot of questions...

In no particular order...

It looks like you are putting a gate valve on the IN side of the skimmer. You can use this to vary the water flow into the skimmer, but you may need a gate valve on the OUT side to control the water level inside the skimmer. That depends on the skimmer. (it is actually tough to see what you have that skimmer gate valve connected to because you've drawn it connecting to the return line AND the drain)

You appear to have two drains coming from the display tank...both with ball valves. You would be better served by running a Herbie overflow, which is a single (large) drain with a gate valve on it. After the gate valve, you can split the water flow into the sump and fuge. The 2nd drain is strictly for emergency in case the first drain gets blocked and doesn't need any valve at all. That 2nd drain can do the same split.

Those heater placements look fine. As long as water flows over them and they stay submerged, it doesn't really matter where they are. You don't need to spread them around like that, you could put them all in the sump.

It looks like you are supplying water to the fuge with the tank overflow AND the return pump. I'm missing something here because it looks like if you turned this on, water would be pumping INTO the fuge from both ends until the fuge overflowed.

If the fuge is physically higher than the sump, you should disconnect the fuge from the return pump line and just let the fuge empty by gravity into the sump.

vinc · 03/17/2008, 06:20 PM

should the skimmer dump the water in the same place where the returns are

vinc · 03/17/2008, 06:32 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Untamed12
[B]Wow..that's a serious lot of questions...

You appear to have two drains coming from the display tank...both with ball valves. You would be better served by running a Herbie overflow, which is a single (large) drain with a gate valve on it. After the gate valve, you can split the water flow into the sump and fuge. The 2nd drain is strictly for emergency in case the first drain gets blocked and doesn't need any valve at all. That 2nd drain can do the same split.

I already drilled the tank I have 2 1 1/2 drains and 1 3 in for the closed loop

vinc · 03/17/2008, 07:40 PM

I have a better design here

vinc · 03/17/2008, 09:51 PM

a new design

vinc · 03/18/2008, 07:19 AM

how does this look does it look right . any other help would be great . I also have a uv sterilizer. where should I put that

updated design

Untamed12 · 03/18/2008, 11:00 AM

I don't understand what you are trying to do with the two drains coming from the main tank. Is the fuge ABOVE the display tank? What is that other box, just above the fuge which is also connected to that drain...is that another ball valve?

vinc · 03/18/2008, 11:24 AM

yes I put a gate valve there. the fuge was going to be under the tank but I think I am going to put it in the back room up above the tank and sump

vinc · 03/18/2008, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Untamed12
I don't understand what you are trying to do with the two drains coming from the main tank. Is the fuge ABOVE the display tank? What is that other box, just above the fuge which is also connected to that drain...is that another ball valve?

do you have a design of your system that i can look at . I saw your thread of your tank build not sure where it was . I now there was a link from this site but I think it was on a canada website

rlxwcapt · 03/18/2008, 01:50 PM

Check out sketchup from google. It is a free software that you can down load. Check out Los 360 cad. this will give you some great ideas. Good luck

Nick

vinc · 03/18/2008, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rlxwcapt
Check out sketchup from google. It is a free software that you can down load. Check out Los 360 cad. this will give you some great ideas. Good luck

Nick

I did . that is the program I used to what I did . I can't figure that out that was the best I could do . LOL maybe I could figure it out if I had a few of these

Untamed12 · 03/18/2008, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vinc
do you have a design of your system that i can look at . I saw your thread of your tank build not sure where it was . I now there was a link from this site but I think it was on a canada website

OK...with the fuge above the sump, this makes more sense to me. If you look at the water leaving the fuge, that line merges with a drain from the display. I wouldn't do that merge.

Here's the link to my tank...but it is pretty different than what you are drawing...

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=28436

vinc · 03/18/2008, 05:58 PM

here is a update with the UV sterilizer

03/17/2008, 05:07 PM	#1
vinc Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Bozrah, Connecticut can't get here from there Posts: 683	help needed with 300 gallon system design setup i am in the process of building my system I am stuck with plumbing and where to put everything . I did a design . not sure if it is right. I am not sure where to put ball valves and gates , where to bring the return of the skimmer back in to the sump. where to put the heaters is it ok to put one in the fuge and can I hook up the fuge like that our does it have to drain into the sump .is the pump better closer to the sump or closer to the display tank. all ball valves have unions on them . should I put any unions anywhere else. also is it better to put the ball valves right where the holes are drill on the bottom of the tank or should I put them next to the sump with easy access. any help would be great . thanks alot these are prints to my closed loop __________________ Vinnie Visit my build thread . just click on the little red house Current Tank Info: 37 up and running . Building my 215 oceanic starfire glass tank

03/17/2008, 06:20 PM	#3
vinc Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Bozrah, Connecticut can't get here from there Posts: 683	should the skimmer dump the water in the same place where the returns are __________________ Vinnie Visit my build thread . just click on the little red house Current Tank Info: 37 up and running . Building my 215 oceanic starfire glass tank

03/17/2008, 06:32 PM	#4
vinc Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Bozrah, Connecticut can't get here from there Posts: 683	[QUOTE]Originally posted by Untamed12 [B]Wow..that's a serious lot of questions... You appear to have two drains coming from the display tank...both with ball valves. You would be better served by running a Herbie overflow, which is a single (large) drain with a gate valve on it. After the gate valve, you can split the water flow into the sump and fuge. The 2nd drain is strictly for emergency in case the first drain gets blocked and doesn't need any valve at all. That 2nd drain can do the same split. I already drilled the tank I have 2 1 1/2 drains and 1 3 in for the closed loop __________________ Vinnie Visit my build thread . just click on the little red house Current Tank Info: 37 up and running . Building my 215 oceanic starfire glass tank

03/17/2008, 07:40 PM	#5
vinc Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Bozrah, Connecticut can't get here from there Posts: 683	I have a better design here __________________ Vinnie Visit my build thread . just click on the little red house Current Tank Info: 37 up and running . Building my 215 oceanic starfire glass tank

03/17/2008, 09:51 PM	#6
vinc Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Bozrah, Connecticut can't get here from there Posts: 683	a new design __________________ Vinnie Visit my build thread . just click on the little red house Current Tank Info: 37 up and running . Building my 215 oceanic starfire glass tank

03/17/2008, 05:30 PM	#2
Untamed12 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 1,578	Wow..that's a serious lot of questions... In no particular order... It looks like you are putting a gate valve on the IN side of the skimmer. You can use this to vary the water flow into the skimmer, but you may need a gate valve on the OUT side to control the water level inside the skimmer. That depends on the skimmer. (it is actually tough to see what you have that skimmer gate valve connected to because you've drawn it connecting to the return line AND the drain) You appear to have two drains coming from the display tank...both with ball valves. You would be better served by running a Herbie overflow, which is a single (large) drain with a gate valve on it. After the gate valve, you can split the water flow into the sump and fuge. The 2nd drain is strictly for emergency in case the first drain gets blocked and doesn't need any valve at all. That 2nd drain can do the same split. Those heater placements look fine. As long as water flows over them and they stay submerged, it doesn't really matter where they are. You don't need to spread them around like that, you could put them all in the sump. It looks like you are supplying water to the fuge with the tank overflow AND the return pump. I'm missing something here because it looks like if you turned this on, water would be pumping INTO the fuge from both ends until the fuge overflowed. If the fuge is physically higher than the sump, you should disconnect the fuge from the return pump line and just let the fuge empty by gravity into the sump.

03/18/2008, 07:19 AM	#7
vinc Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Bozrah, Connecticut can't get here from there Posts: 683	how does this look does it look right . any other help would be great . I also have a uv sterilizer. where should I put that updated design __________________ Vinnie Visit my build thread . just click on the little red house Current Tank Info: 37 up and running . Building my 215 oceanic starfire glass tank Last edited by vinc; 03/18/2008 at 07:36 AM.

03/18/2008, 11:00 AM	#8
Untamed12 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 1,578	I don't understand what you are trying to do with the two drains coming from the main tank. Is the fuge ABOVE the display tank? What is that other box, just above the fuge which is also connected to that drain...is that another ball valve?

03/18/2008, 11:24 AM	#9
vinc Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Bozrah, Connecticut can't get here from there Posts: 683	yes I put a gate valve there. the fuge was going to be under the tank but I think I am going to put it in the back room up above the tank and sump __________________ Vinnie Visit my build thread . just click on the little red house Current Tank Info: 37 up and running . Building my 215 oceanic starfire glass tank

03/18/2008, 01:50 PM	#11
rlxwcapt Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Salisbury, MD Posts: 138	Check out sketchup from google. It is a free software that you can down load. Check out Los 360 cad. this will give you some great ideas. Good luck Nick

03/18/2008, 05:58 PM	#14
vinc Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Bozrah, Connecticut can't get here from there Posts: 683	here is a update with the UV sterilizer __________________ Vinnie Visit my build thread . just click on the little red house Current Tank Info: 37 up and running . Building my 215 oceanic starfire glass tank