New System - Pump Suggestion between Sump and Frag Tank- pics included

[Bemmer]

I am very excited about sharing what I have done so far with my new system. A little bit of history about what I have been doing for the last few months. My husband, Dave and I decided to go all out and do two in-wall tanks and a large fish room with a frag tank and refugium to help support the total system. The main tank is 60x36x24 (225g) and the seahorse tank is 30x12 1/2x24 (40g). They are both glass with Starphire front panels. I have an acrylic sump that is 48x30x17 divided into two chambers; one for the Euro-Reef RC500 skimmer and all the drain hoses and the other is for the return chamber. The system also runs a 36x24x17 grow out frag tank and a 36x234x13 refugium, both are made of acrylic and drain back into the sump.

The lights on the main tank are three MH bulbs (2-250W 10K XM's and 1-400W XM) with three Luminarc III's, which are vented into the duct work above the tank. These are supplimented by 5-60" URI Super Blue Actinics (three in front and two in back of the LIII's). The MH are run off of Icecap ballasts and the VHO's are off of the 660 Icecap ballasts. There will be three PFO moon lights as well. The seahorse tank will have a PFO Pendant fixture with a 175W 10K XM bulb and 2-28w true actinics.

The water flow on the main tank, which will be primarily an SPS tank, will be provided by a Seq. Dart on two 1" returns with the new WavySea wavemotion (plumbing not completed yet), two 6100's Tunzes and a closed loop using a 4-way OM plumbed with a Seq. Barracuda. The seahorse tank will "tee" off the Seq. Dart with a 1/2" seaswirl.

Okay, I think that gives a basic overview of the system. I am sure I left a few things out but this is a work in progress. Anyway, I am coming to you all with a plumbing question. I have included pictures to give you some insight into the plumbing saga that I have been working through for the past 60 days (weekends mostly since I am a mom with two kids)







The question is what pump should I use to plumb between the sump and the frag tank that sits 6 feet up on a stand? Also, the distance between the sump and the frag tank stand is 5 feet across the room. The frag tank has two bulkheads (1 1/2" and 1") in the overflow.

Here are a couple of pictures to help visualize. The ball valve with the open end is where the plumbing will attach for the frag tank.





Thank you for your input. I look forward to a good discussion as I proceed with this project. Of which, I would never have come to realize if I had not had such a supportive...and handy husband a.ka. carpenter and electrician.

Rebecca

[143gadgets]

Wow! Rebecca that looks awesome! I can't what to see it when it is up and running!

[Bemmer]

Neither can I!!!! I guess you could call it a "labor of love". Okay, I know that was corney. It has been painstaking and sort of fun...I guess. :smiley:

These pumps are just going to kill me.

BTW, none of this has been hard plumbed yet. So, if anyone sees any glaring issues with the plumbing or wants to see close up pics on any of this stuff, let me know. Your comments on the plumbing is very much appreciated. Please post even if you don't have a pump suggestion....but a pump suggestion would be nice too. :;-):

[Bemmer]

Hi All,
Thought I would bring this back to the surface since I did not get any feedback as of yet. I would be happy to go into more detail on the overall system but right now I am looking for some help with the pump to the frag tank.

I am currently considering another Seq. Dart coming from the sump to the frag tank. Why? Because I would like to run 2" pipe from the pump up to the frag tank to reduce the head pressure. Also, I would like to end up with about 800-1000 gph of flow in the tank. The tank is about 55 gallons (36 x 24 x 17)

I am very bad with calculations but perhaps someone out there can help me. I will have two bulkhead drains (1" and 1 1/2") in the overflow to move the water out of the frag tank. Is 800-1000 gph too much water in the tank? The return water flow will be supplemented with powerheads inside the frag tank. BTW, the frags will be mostly SPS corals.

I am considering one of two ways to output the water into the frag tank. The first option is to reduce the 2" down to 1" and attach a 1" seaswirl on the return pipe. The second is to "Tee" the 2" pvc near the top of the frag tank and split it into two 1" loc-line pipes with two nozzles on each loc-line pipe. That will give me four 1/2" nozzles pushing water into the tank.

Please poke holes into these options or give me a third option to consider...and a pump recommendation.

Thanks so much for your input.

Rebecca

[Bemmer]

...Okay, let me try this approach...
For anyone that wants to work out the head pressure for me...because it is something you engineers like to do , I have listed the breakdown of how I envision the plumbing to and from the pump coming from the sump to the frag tank. Again, I would love to hear from you engineer and math gurus out there that like to calculate head pressure.

The layout and breakdown of the pipes and fittings for the plumbing between the sump and the frag tank are as follows. 1 1/2" union - 1 qty; 1 1/2" 90 elbow - 1 qty; 1 1/2 to 2" bushing - 2qty; 2" MPT - 4 qty; 2" true union ball valve (threaded) - 2qty; 2" horizontal PVC - 8 feet; 1 1/2 MPT - 1qty; 2" 90 elbow - 2; 2" vertical PVC - 7 feet. (not including output options into the tank - see previous post above)
Please check the pictures in the first post for visual reference...
From the sump: 1 1/2" union - 1 1/2" 90 elbow - 1 1/2 to 2" bushing - 2" male threaded adapter (MPT) - 2" true union ball valve (threaded) - 2" MPT - 3' horizontal PVC (third picture-back corner near the 4x4 leg and back wall). Pump placement (possible Seq. Dart) from pump - 1 1/2 MPT - 1 1/2 to 2" bushing - 2" MPT - 2" true union ball valve (threaded) - 2" MPT - 2" 90 elbow (from pump to elbow is 20" vertical) - 5' horizontal PVC (fourth picture near the reef crystals bucket) - 2" union - 2" 90 elbow pointing up - 5' vertical to top of frag tank (fifth picture).

Thanks again for taking the time to read this thread.

[melev]

I replied in the other thread. Consider this a bump so others can help.