Bioballs or not

[IAP Brian]

I really like the external type CTC overflows (like Krish's pic), they don't hog any internal space or shadow the back of the reef. But if you want the tank flat against the wall then it won't work.

Geeeez Krish, I bet if there was another square inch of space on that tank you would have stuffed some more plumbing in it! :lol:

Oh I forgot, if the 55 is acrylic you can swiss cheese it with holes and it won't matter. With glass, the more holes you put in it the weaker it gets. A 55 gal would be fine for a 240 but I all ways want to go as big as will fit and the budget will allow. Just look at my signature for my true opinion

 

[Krish]

Geeeez Krish, I bet if there was another square inch of space on that tank you would have stuffed some more plumbing in it!

You have no idea:lol: You need to see what I'm up to with my aquapod! Should be finished this weekend as I only have to install everything now seeing I just got everything I needed today. Here's the link


http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21916

 

[darklcd]

that looks like a nice set up on there and getting that kind of flow is really good I guess lol. I am just wondering where did you put the inlet pipe for the pump. I can see where the outlets are but I can't see where you set the inlet pipe and where should I put them on my tank. I am looking at 2 loops one for each side and I am wondering what size pumps I should use. I am thinking that I should have 1 or 2 inlets for every 1 or 2 feet so I am looking at 8 to 16 inlets and I am wondering if that is a good number

 

[Krish]

Inlets or outputs? Do you mean 8-16 output nozzles in the tank? If so, it all depends. What you can do with 16 outputs you can do with 8 using "Y" adaptors if you don't want as many holes. Here's that closed loop labelled. Sorry...Not the best pic

 

[darklcd]

well that helps out a lot. I was thinking about the in tank y's but I don't want to have that much sticking into the tank itself. I don't mind the holes I have a friend that owns a glass shop that is doing all the stuff for me.

I am wondering how did you make you mind up on the inlets to the pumps. should they be behind the rock or out in the open. I am just wondering where I should put them.

 

[Krish]

I just placed mine where I figured I'd get best coverage and fine tuned the positioning with the lockline. This setup was actually my 3rd attempt. The first one I used just one pump and had it sitting in my stand so I lost a lot of flow and pressure. I re-plumed that single pump and put it right behind the tank and it worked better, but still wasn't enough so I re-plumbed again and added in another pump. I used a lot of the old plumbing each time and just tied into it with tee's etc, but here were my first 2 attempts. Also, check out the placement of the outputs on these 2 threads From post 39 here http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2062 and from post 97 here http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14793

 

[darklcd]

I think I know where I want them to be and I have a good idea of the inlets into the tank but I am not sure where to put the inlet into the pump.

the only other thing I am not sure about is the pluming from the overflows into the sump. The pumps I want to use are 3/4 in and 3/4 out. I am going to use one for hte skimmer and I think that I will go with duals on the other end. the pumps are rated for 1190 gph at 0' and around 1000 at 5' I believe I don't have the specs with me right now but ya get the idea.

other then those two things I think that I can get things going

let me know what you think

 

[Krish]

I am not sure where to put the inlet into the pump.

Well, once you figure out all of your placements for your outputs, then you'll see what space you have left for the input. You don't want to do it the other way around as you may end up using a location that would be idal for an output for an input. Also, you'll see which location will be ideal for plumbing because it does get crazy behind a tank with all the lines running everywhere.

the only other thing I am not sure about is the pluming from the overflows into the sump. The pumps I want to use are 3/4 in and 3/4 out. I am going to use one for the skimmer and I think that I will go with duals on the other end. the pumps are rated for 1190 gph at 0' and around 1000 at 5' I believe I don't have the specs with me right now but ya get the idea.

Well, the plumbing from the overflow to the sump is easy as pie. You can use either flex PVC like I used on the sump below or some people just use the ribbed hose. You'll just need to use the right size that will handle the flow you are running through it like in my case, I used 1 inch pvc as it is supposed to be rated for about 600-800 gph. If you look at the pics of the tank above, you can see the flex pvc attached to the overflow (via a 1 inch bulkhead) and then on the sump to the right (in the pic below), you can see where the flex PVC attaches to the 1 inch bulkhead on top of the sump. That is one way to go about it

 

[darklcd]

that helps me out a lot. I am just wondering if I should go with someting a little bigger then 1" due to the size of the tank. 600 or 800 gph would work great for your system but I am not sure if I would need 1000 or maybe 1200 just to be safe and get enough water flow going.

maybe going with 1 3/4 or 2" might be a good idea

what do you think?

 

[Krish]

Yeah...The bigger the better. You will still only drain water down it at the same rate as water is being pumped into the tank, but atleast you won't be as limited