Plumbing question and tank set up question

Caryliss · 08/05/2006, 08:32 PM

A couple of quick questions. I'm setting up my fourth tank but the first with a sump, so plumbing is new to me.

1) Bulkheads: does the rubber gasket go on the inside or the outside of the tank?

2) Confused about check valves--should I have one on the return line?

3) ball valve or gate valve on the return line after the pump?

4) Styrofoam under the tank: when I set up my 75g years ago I followed advice and placed a thin layer of styrofoam between the tank and the stand. I've since seen arguments both for and against this. Should I do this with the 125?

TIA

Carole

pnosko · 08/05/2006, 09:10 PM

1. Inside. Why? The gasket should work with water pressure (be compressed by it on the inside) rather than against it (pushed away on the outside).

2. I never did this (it's one extra thing to maintain). As long as the return point in the tank doesn't allow your sump to overflow when flow reverses in an outage, there's no need for it.

3. If you need to adjust flow, gate valves are better for fine control. Note that it will be better for your pump if you use a valve to redirect some flow back into the sump instead of just adding artificial restriction to your pump output. With the latter, you're working the pump harder than it needs to.

4. Is your stand/cabinet level and true?

Caryliss · 08/05/2006, 09:15 PM

1-3: Thanks, that's just what I needed

4: Stand is almost perfectly level and seems true.

pnosko · 08/05/2006, 09:22 PM

Try this thread. Note the type of foam recommended (not styrofoam). Not sure if you have glass or acrylic, but the thread talks about both.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...highlight=foam

Caryliss · 08/05/2006, 09:27 PM

Thanks again. The tank is glass on the standard AGA pine stand--ie supporting the bottom frame of the tank only.

pnosko · 08/05/2006, 09:33 PM

Anytime, for a kitty doctor.

asm481 · 08/05/2006, 09:59 PM

an AGA tank on an AGA stand needs no foam. If you build your own stand then their warranty states you need foam.

08/05/2006, 08:32 PM	#1
Caryliss Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Mentor, Ohio Posts: 466	Plumbing question and tank set up question A couple of quick questions. I'm setting up my fourth tank but the first with a sump, so plumbing is new to me. 1) Bulkheads: does the rubber gasket go on the inside or the outside of the tank? 2) Confused about check valves--should I have one on the return line? 3) ball valve or gate valve on the return line after the pump? 4) Styrofoam under the tank: when I set up my 75g years ago I followed advice and placed a thin layer of styrofoam between the tank and the stand. I've since seen arguments both for and against this. Should I do this with the 125? TIA Carole

08/05/2006, 09:10 PM	#2
pnosko Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Germantown, MD Posts: 3,584	1. Inside. Why? The gasket should work with water pressure (be compressed by it on the inside) rather than against it (pushed away on the outside). 2. I never did this (it's one extra thing to maintain). As long as the return point in the tank doesn't allow your sump to overflow when flow reverses in an outage, there's no need for it. 3. If you need to adjust flow, gate valves are better for fine control. Note that it will be better for your pump if you use a valve to redirect some flow back into the sump instead of just adding artificial restriction to your pump output. With the latter, you're working the pump harder than it needs to. 4. Is your stand/cabinet level and true? __________________ Looking for perfection in an imperfect world. Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened. ~ Anatole France (1844-1924) Current Tank Info: Dusty 110g, 55g & 29g tanks

08/05/2006, 09:22 PM	#4
pnosko Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Germantown, MD Posts: 3,584	Try this thread. Note the type of foam recommended (not styrofoam). Not sure if you have glass or acrylic, but the thread talks about both. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...highlight=foam __________________ Looking for perfection in an imperfect world. Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened. ~ Anatole France (1844-1924) Current Tank Info: Dusty 110g, 55g & 29g tanks

08/05/2006, 09:33 PM	#6
pnosko Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Germantown, MD Posts: 3,584	Anytime, for a kitty doctor. __________________ Looking for perfection in an imperfect world. Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened. ~ Anatole France (1844-1924) Current Tank Info: Dusty 110g, 55g & 29g tanks

08/05/2006, 09:15 PM	#3
Caryliss Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Mentor, Ohio Posts: 466	1-3: Thanks, that's just what I needed 4: Stand is almost perfectly level and seems true.

08/05/2006, 09:27 PM	#5
Caryliss Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Mentor, Ohio Posts: 466	Thanks again. The tank is glass on the standard AGA pine stand--ie supporting the bottom frame of the tank only.

08/05/2006, 09:59 PM	#7
asm481 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kenosha Wisconsin Posts: 593	an AGA tank on an AGA stand needs no foam. If you build your own stand then their warranty states you need foam.