Finally starting to set up my 125.

TDIGUY · 01/24/2015, 07:24 PM

I have a 125 RR with dual center overflows that I picked up almost a year ago now. It has been staring at me waiting to be set up ever since. I have been doing a renovation of the basement so it had to wait until that was finished.

I am planning to have the DT on the main floor with the sump in the laundry room directly under the tank.

I am looking for some opinions on my planned setup.

I have a 55gal tank I will be using for the sump. It will be set up in 3 sections. Skimmer/return/fuge. I have a reef octopus nw200 skimmer ready and waiting.

When I bought the tank it was up and running so I am trying to reuse what I can. It currently has 3/4" drain lines and 1/2 return lines. I am planning to run 3/4" spa flex line from the tank directly to the sump from both drains. And I have 2 mag9.5 pumps I plan to hook one up to each of the returns.

One of the returns will t-off with a line to the fuge with a ball valve to control the flow through the fuge.

My concern is if the 9.5 will be enough for the return or if I should get a bigger pump to do both returns. Looking at 8-10' of head.

My other thought is that I have a 40b that I am thinking I could tie into the system somehow. It would be in the room with the sump. I could t off the return or run a seperate pump to feed it then drain back down to the sump as well. Or have one of the drains from the DT go into the 40 then to the sump.

I am thinking this could be setup as a larger fuge or fill with live rock for additional filtration or ???

My current setup is a 110 tall with a HOB reef octopus skimmer. Once the new tank is set up everything will be transferred over.

Thoughts and opinions welcome as I still have lots of time to make changes while I finish my honey do list that I have been told comes before the aquarium. I just want to start getting everything finalized so I can be ready to go.

TDIGUY · 01/24/2015, 07:26 PM

Some shots of my current tank.

TDIGUY · 01/28/2015, 01:07 PM

No thoughts?
I decided I am upgrading the current plumbing from 1/2 return and 3/4 drain to 3/4 return and 1" drain. Better to do in now instead of change my mind later.

Opinion on spa flex vs pic pipe?
I am thinking the spa flex will help reduce the head pressure since the sump is in the basement. So far I have only found 1" spa flex locally. Can I still use it that then split to 2 - 3/4 returns under the tank?

TDIGUY · 01/30/2015, 11:34 AM

Here are the 2 options I am looking at for the Plumbing.
Any input is appreciated.

On the Left, Both Drains from the 125 directly to the sump and a second return pump to send water to the 40B and Fuge.

On the Right 1 Drain to 40B with an overflow to the sump and fuge
The second overflow directly to the skimmer section of the sump.

The plan for the 40B is either a second fuge or small display tank.
Long term goal is to be able to have a mandarin in the 125. So more room for pods to grow=better.

TDIGUY · 02/03/2015, 08:43 PM

Anyone?

Phildirt · 02/03/2015, 09:27 PM

IIRC, anytime you have a cascade flow to multiple tanks your going to have issues perfecting flow (not saying that it can't be done). You may want to plum the 40 and 55 level together and drill a hole for a bulkhead.

danielmitchell · 02/04/2015, 04:07 AM

125 is good size imo, and seeing you went for the deep square look im starting to like it more

TDIGUY · 02/24/2015, 09:28 PM

Ok. Preliminary plumbing is done. Drains and returns are run from the tank to the sump in the basement. I am going to use the 40b for the fuge and feed it off the return line with a ball valve to control the flow. Still need to drill it for the drain lines.
I just picked up a sicce hf 10 for my return pump and an apex controller to start learning.

I plan to finish putting in my sump baffles this weekend and the last bit of plumbing and I should be ready to leak test.

Since I am using to 40 for the fuge I was thinking of putting the skimmer in the fuge section of the sump and plumbing the returns there (skimmer on a stand for proper water depth). That would overflow I to an empty section for heaters/future use then through a bubble trap to the return. If I size it right I an always flip it back to use the fuge if the 40 doesn't work the way I planned.

TDIGUY · 02/24/2015, 09:29 PM

Drain and return lines.

TDIGUY · 02/24/2015, 09:35 PM

Home made canopy and T5 HO light setup that came with the tank.
Going to use it for now until I save up enough to upgrade. Looking at the kessel a360w's.

01/24/2015, 07:24 PM	#1
TDIGUY Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 59	Finally starting to set up my 125. I have a 125 RR with dual center overflows that I picked up almost a year ago now. It has been staring at me waiting to be set up ever since. I have been doing a renovation of the basement so it had to wait until that was finished. I am planning to have the DT on the main floor with the sump in the laundry room directly under the tank. I am looking for some opinions on my planned setup. I have a 55gal tank I will be using for the sump. It will be set up in 3 sections. Skimmer/return/fuge. I have a reef octopus nw200 skimmer ready and waiting. When I bought the tank it was up and running so I am trying to reuse what I can. It currently has 3/4" drain lines and 1/2 return lines. I am planning to run 3/4" spa flex line from the tank directly to the sump from both drains. And I have 2 mag9.5 pumps I plan to hook one up to each of the returns. One of the returns will t-off with a line to the fuge with a ball valve to control the flow through the fuge. My concern is if the 9.5 will be enough for the return or if I should get a bigger pump to do both returns. Looking at 8-10' of head. My other thought is that I have a 40b that I am thinking I could tie into the system somehow. It would be in the room with the sump. I could t off the return or run a seperate pump to feed it then drain back down to the sump as well. Or have one of the drains from the DT go into the 40 then to the sump. I am thinking this could be setup as a larger fuge or fill with live rock for additional filtration or ??? My current setup is a 110 tall with a HOB reef octopus skimmer. Once the new tank is set up everything will be transferred over. Thoughts and opinions welcome as I still have lots of time to make changes while I finish my honey do list that I have been told comes before the aquarium. I just want to start getting everything finalized so I can be ready to go.

02/03/2015, 09:27 PM	#6
Phildirt poisson voyeur Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Florida Panhandle Posts: 490	IIRC, anytime you have a cascade flow to multiple tanks your going to have issues perfecting flow (not saying that it can't be done). You may want to plum the 40 and 55 level together and drill a hole for a bulkhead. __________________ "Better is the enemy of good." Voltaire Current Tank Info: 29 Gal Reef

02/04/2015, 04:07 AM	#7
danielmitchell Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: QLD, Gold Coast, Australia Posts: 38	125 is good size imo, and seeing you went for the deep square look im starting to like it more __________________ "Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing"

01/24/2015, 07:26 PM	#2
TDIGUY Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 59	Some shots of my current tank.

01/28/2015, 01:07 PM	#3
TDIGUY Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 59	No thoughts? I decided I am upgrading the current plumbing from 1/2 return and 3/4 drain to 3/4 return and 1" drain. Better to do in now instead of change my mind later. Opinion on spa flex vs pic pipe? I am thinking the spa flex will help reduce the head pressure since the sump is in the basement. So far I have only found 1" spa flex locally. Can I still use it that then split to 2 - 3/4 returns under the tank?

02/03/2015, 08:43 PM	#5
TDIGUY Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 59	Anyone?

02/24/2015, 09:28 PM	#8
TDIGUY Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 59	Ok. Preliminary plumbing is done. Drains and returns are run from the tank to the sump in the basement. I am going to use the 40b for the fuge and feed it off the return line with a ball valve to control the flow. Still need to drill it for the drain lines. I just picked up a sicce hf 10 for my return pump and an apex controller to start learning. I plan to finish putting in my sump baffles this weekend and the last bit of plumbing and I should be ready to leak test. Since I am using to 40 for the fuge I was thinking of putting the skimmer in the fuge section of the sump and plumbing the returns there (skimmer on a stand for proper water depth). That would overflow I to an empty section for heaters/future use then through a bubble trap to the return. If I size it right I an always flip it back to use the fuge if the 40 doesn't work the way I planned.

02/24/2015, 09:29 PM	#9
TDIGUY Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 59	Drain and return lines.

02/24/2015, 09:35 PM	#10
TDIGUY Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 59	Home made canopy and T5 HO light setup that came with the tank. Going to use it for now until I save up enough to upgrade. Looking at the kessel a360w's.