setting up a 220 reef tank

Sir Edward · 04/18/2009, 09:13 AM

Hi everyone. Well I finally have it, used, but I have my 220 tank and stand. I plan to completely refurbish everything.
I have an idea for my sump but looking for input.
First the tank has 4 holes in the bottom. One on each end and with two holes drilled about 8" off center. (all in the back of the tank)
I was thinking of running 2, 30 gal. tanks. Each with it's own pump. Each pump would be in the 1700 gph range. Having the left draw from the left side and back to the right side. The other tank doing the opposite. One tank would hold the skimmer.
Then I thought of running 2 more pumps. One feeding the UV, and one running the chiller. One would draw from the left tank, other from the right.
Is this over kill?
Presently I have a 72 bowfront reef tank, with a 30 gallon sump. So was thinking of doubling up on the tanks. And obviously getting skimmer/UV/chiller right size for the 220.
I'm taking my time setting this up, want to do it right the first time and end up with an awesome reef show tank.
All insight I would greatly appreciate. Thanks everyone.
Many more ideas/ with questions forth coming.

Gary Majchrzak · 04/18/2009, 09:19 AM

what reef animals will you be keeping in this?

Sir Edward · 04/18/2009, 09:27 AM

I will bring over everything from the 72 bow, All of the soft and hard corals along with the yellow tank, hippo tank, foxface, the gobies, blemmies/ shrimps/ crabs and snails to start out with. The deal with the wife is, once the 220 is up and running, that I would take down the bowfront.

Gary Majchrzak · 04/18/2009, 09:35 AM

redundancy (2 pumps) is a good thing but can your drains handle the flow of 2 @ 1700 gph?
is it 1700GPH at point of discharge? (taking into account working head pressure)
this is SPS aquarium type flow.

welcome to RC BTW

Sir Edward · 04/18/2009, 09:54 AM

Well, the drilled holes are 1 3/4" so will talk a 1 1/2" bulk head.
I guess I would need to figure that out. What do you think?

Gary Majchrzak · 04/18/2009, 10:08 AM

there's a head loss and drain size calculator on the homepage of RC

EverettReef · 04/18/2009, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sir Edward
Well, the drilled holes are 1 3/4" so will talk a 1 1/2" bulk head.

A hole size of 1 3/4" is for a 1" Shedule 40 bulk head. You are not going to get 1700 gph through a 1" bulkhead.

Sir Edward · 04/19/2009, 04:53 AM

Using the home page drain/overflow calculator, the hole size is determined for you. Is the hole size the inside diameter or the outside?

rkelman · 04/19/2009, 05:07 AM

I would run 1 return pump. Why have double the chance of an overflow? With 2 drain holes you have redundancy in case a snail clogs one. (I've had it happen) I would setup one 30 as a refuge and have it overflow into the other 30 as a sump. Then have your single return pump Pump up with a decent sized pipe then Y into 2 outlets for maximum efficiency. You should be able to run the chiller and UV off the same pump shouldn't you?

Gary Majchrzak · 04/19/2009, 05:09 AM

the calculated hole size given is the actual dimension required to drain X amount of water. This would be the inside diameter of a bulkhead in your case (since bulkheads take up space in a hole drilled in glass). Obviously, if you have two drains you can divide the flow capacity of one in half... but it's prudent aquarium design to make sure one drain can handle all the flow just in case the other gets clogged (redundancy again).
FWIW I really like the idea of two return pumps.
Sanjay makes a good living off of his redundancy presentation

Sir Edward · 04/19/2009, 05:42 AM

I do understand the redundancy. I guess then I should just T the two drains together and run them to the sump, and run a Y off the return ?

Gary Majchrzak · 04/19/2009, 05:51 AM

there's many ways to accomplish the same results. I had good results running aquariums with the design you've described. One general word of advice: make drains a little larger than you think necessary.

Electrobes · 04/19/2009, 06:04 AM

Will you be running a closed loop?

My one worry with 2 X 30G tanks and a skimmer being in one of them would be micro bubbles. With that much flow from the return pump and the appropriate size of the skimmer.. I am worried a 30G may be too small to avoid the bubbles problem.

I would consider a larger sump, maybe an acrylic one with bubble walls or a tower. You could also consider running one pump to run multiple things like the chiller, UV, etc (I forget what that contraption is called, but it is easy to make).

Hope this helps.

Sir Edward · 04/19/2009, 07:58 AM

then maybe I should get a 40 gal long (36 x 18 x 13) then build the chambers to accomondate the skimmer.

Thus I would run both corner overflows into the tank, into the filter sock, through the skimmer section, through live rock section then out to the external pump. I would add another pump to take care of the UV and Chiller. Pulling the water from the sump and back to the tank. How does that sound?

rkelman · 04/19/2009, 08:46 AM

Honestly I would be thinking about a 75g sump for that tank.. Go as big as you can. I don't think you want the second pump pulling from the sump but going back to the tank.. That would give you 2 return pumps essentially. I don't have a chiller or know how to set one up so that's just my opinion (uneducated)

Sir Edward · 04/19/2009, 09:17 AM

Well, presently I have a 72 gal reef tank. I run a pump as the main, and another for the chiller/UV. That one also pulls from the sump, through the UV then chiller, then up to the tank. Was kinda thinking of doing the same. I guess also I should measure to see just how big a tank I can fit through the doors. Then get the largest possible.

04/18/2009, 09:13 AM	#1
Sir Edward Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Rome, New York Posts: 168	setting up a 220 reef tank Hi everyone. Well I finally have it, used, but I have my 220 tank and stand. I plan to completely refurbish everything. I have an idea for my sump but looking for input. First the tank has 4 holes in the bottom. One on each end and with two holes drilled about 8" off center. (all in the back of the tank) I was thinking of running 2, 30 gal. tanks. Each with it's own pump. Each pump would be in the 1700 gph range. Having the left draw from the left side and back to the right side. The other tank doing the opposite. One tank would hold the skimmer. Then I thought of running 2 more pumps. One feeding the UV, and one running the chiller. One would draw from the left tank, other from the right. Is this over kill? Presently I have a 72 bowfront reef tank, with a 30 gallon sump. So was thinking of doubling up on the tanks. And obviously getting skimmer/UV/chiller right size for the 220. I'm taking my time setting this up, want to do it right the first time and end up with an awesome reef show tank. All insight I would greatly appreciate. Thanks everyone. Many more ideas/ with questions forth coming.

04/18/2009, 09:19 AM	#2
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	what reef animals will you be keeping in this? __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors

04/18/2009, 09:35 AM	#4
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	questions to ask yourself redundancy (2 pumps) is a good thing but can your drains handle the flow of 2 @ 1700 gph? is it 1700GPH at point of discharge? (taking into account working head pressure) this is SPS aquarium type flow. welcome to RC BTW __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors

04/18/2009, 10:08 AM	#6
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	there's a head loss and drain size calculator on the homepage of RC __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors

04/19/2009, 05:09 AM	#10
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	the calculated hole size given is the actual dimension required to drain X amount of water. This would be the inside diameter of a bulkhead in your case (since bulkheads take up space in a hole drilled in glass). Obviously, if you have two drains you can divide the flow capacity of one in half... but it's prudent aquarium design to make sure one drain can handle all the flow just in case the other gets clogged (redundancy again). FWIW I really like the idea of two return pumps. Sanjay makes a good living off of his redundancy presentation __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors

04/18/2009, 09:27 AM	#3
Sir Edward Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Rome, New York Posts: 168	I will bring over everything from the 72 bow, All of the soft and hard corals along with the yellow tank, hippo tank, foxface, the gobies, blemmies/ shrimps/ crabs and snails to start out with. The deal with the wife is, once the 220 is up and running, that I would take down the bowfront.

04/18/2009, 09:54 AM	#5
Sir Edward Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Rome, New York Posts: 168	Well, the drilled holes are 1 3/4" so will talk a 1 1/2" bulk head. I guess I would need to figure that out. What do you think?

04/19/2009, 04:53 AM	#8
Sir Edward Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Rome, New York Posts: 168	Using the home page drain/overflow calculator, the hole size is determined for you. Is the hole size the inside diameter or the outside?

04/19/2009, 05:07 AM	#9
rkelman Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Belleville, Ontario Canada Posts: 3,438	I would run 1 return pump. Why have double the chance of an overflow? With 2 drain holes you have redundancy in case a snail clogs one. (I've had it happen) I would setup one 30 as a refuge and have it overflow into the other 30 as a sump. Then have your single return pump Pump up with a decent sized pipe then Y into 2 outlets for maximum efficiency. You should be able to run the chiller and UV off the same pump shouldn't you?

04/19/2009, 05:42 AM	#11
Sir Edward Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Rome, New York Posts: 168	I do understand the redundancy. I guess then I should just T the two drains together and run them to the sump, and run a Y off the return ? __________________ 220 reef tank Current Tank Info: 220 reef tank, with 2 29gal sumps

04/19/2009, 05:51 AM	#12
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	there's many ways to accomplish the same results. I had good results running aquariums with the design you've described. One general word of advice: make drains a little larger than you think necessary. __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors

04/19/2009, 06:04 AM	#13
Electrobes Montipora type guy Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Fort Myers, FL Posts: 2,945	Will you be running a closed loop? My one worry with 2 X 30G tanks and a skimmer being in one of them would be micro bubbles. With that much flow from the return pump and the appropriate size of the skimmer.. I am worried a 30G may be too small to avoid the bubbles problem. I would consider a larger sump, maybe an acrylic one with bubble walls or a tower. You could also consider running one pump to run multiple things like the chiller, UV, etc (I forget what that contraption is called, but it is easy to make). Hope this helps. __________________ Christian Current Tank Info: 100G Half Cylinder

04/19/2009, 07:58 AM	#14
Sir Edward Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Rome, New York Posts: 168	then maybe I should get a 40 gal long (36 x 18 x 13) then build the chambers to accomondate the skimmer. Thus I would run both corner overflows into the tank, into the filter sock, through the skimmer section, through live rock section then out to the external pump. I would add another pump to take care of the UV and Chiller. Pulling the water from the sump and back to the tank. How does that sound? __________________ 220 reef tank Current Tank Info: 220 reef tank, with 2 29gal sumps

04/19/2009, 08:46 AM	#15
rkelman Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Belleville, Ontario Canada Posts: 3,438	Honestly I would be thinking about a 75g sump for that tank.. Go as big as you can. I don't think you want the second pump pulling from the sump but going back to the tank.. That would give you 2 return pumps essentially. I don't have a chiller or know how to set one up so that's just my opinion (uneducated)

04/19/2009, 09:17 AM	#16
Sir Edward Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Rome, New York Posts: 168	Well, presently I have a 72 gal reef tank. I run a pump as the main, and another for the chiller/UV. That one also pulls from the sump, through the UV then chiller, then up to the tank. Was kinda thinking of doing the same. I guess also I should measure to see just how big a tank I can fit through the doors. Then get the largest possible. __________________ 220 reef tank Current Tank Info: 220 reef tank, with 2 29gal sumps