Doctor's office revamp

[skylsdale]

Tank dimensions: 59" x 18" x 20" (acrylic)
Tank Volume: 92 gal

The current plan is to plumb the tank through the floor and keep the sump and equipment in a room in the basement of the building. Approximate height from floor of basement to floor of upper level is 8 feet (top of tank is probably 5' from ground...haven't taken that measurement yet). The current plumbing consists of a single overflow in the back left corner, with the outpur plumbed back up through the overflow and directed out of a spout drilled and plumbed in the side of the overflow wall.

The owner would prefer there to be as little visible equipment in the tank as possible, and would probably prefer minimal drilling on the tank as well (e.g. closed loop, etc.). I ran the idea by him of using either dual SeaSwirls or a closed loop/SCWD...and he preferred the SeaSwirl option. My plan was to then have the SS's at the end of the return from the sump. The current return could be capped off and not used. The plan is to use vinyl tubing for most of the plumbing (especially from the sump to the tank) to prevent bends. I'm not too skilled in plumbing and PVC work, but the owner definitely is.

Flow is one of my big issues right now. I've never worked on a setup like this, so much of the equipment isn't too familiar. I'm thinking of using an Iwaki for the return pump, although not quite sure which exact model. I definitely want to get a skimmer running--any suggestions? My plan is to use a 100 gal Rubbermaid stock tank for the sump. Another idea was a 55 gal tank...but I figured I can't really go wrong with the extra water volume and size of the stock tank. The basement room stays really cool (just a concrete room). The owner mentioned that he wanted to raise the sump off the ground, probably to around waist level so it's easier to work on. Not sure exactly how many feet above the ground, as that may be determined by the final sump. I plan to have a reservoir and an auto topoff system in place by the sump. My plan is that the owner and/or staff will just need to worry about feeding and rinsing out skimmate once in a while. The owner and I will work out a monthly maintenance schedule (water changes, etc.) where I will be able to perform the big duties. Since the office is only 3 blocks from my house, I can stop by whenever to check on things as well.

As far as plan for stocking, we will be starting with a bare tank. I'm going to lay down an inch or two of aragonite (not oolitic, and no DSB anywhere in the system) and add LR. The LR will probably be added in 2-3 batches rather than all at once. I plan on adding small fish that are colorful and eye-catching for people in the waiting room. There will definitely be a school of chromis to start out.

Now, the owner would love to have corals. I've showed him pictures from Tullocks book and some of the setups in there. He was pretty excited when I explained to him the actions of xenia, etc. He said he wants to go slow, adding to the system as it progresses. The current lighting is two 48" NO's, so that would need to be upgraded (I'm thinking 2x250W CV retro). Some sort of calcuim dosing system, and a reactor would be the easiest as far as maintenance. I have no idea how far down the road this will be...probably at least a year, but who knows (budget doesn't seem to be a huge concern for him). I'm thinking of doing softies (colt, sinularia, xenia) and as things really stabilize, possibly trying out a montipora or pocillopora in there. My other idea is to perhaps add a few coral replicas (via Walt Smith or LivingColor.com) to add some SPS element to the tank.

With all of this in mind, I would love some of your ideas and suggestions. As for the flow, I'm thinking of maybe having a SeaSwirl on either end of the tank pointing at each other, or both on the back pointing toward the front. I would like to add some other element of flow...but can't really think how.

 

[mojoreef]

Sky first thing I would do is get the doc onboard and in our library. He can get some good basic knowledge, this should help you and him.
Ok on the tank, going inot the basement is no problem and will probibly good for heat issues. Just make sure you got electrical and a water source for a ro/di unit for top off, unless your going kalk. I would approach the water flow system in this manner. On the water returning from the sump dont concider it part of the water flow, just get as much back in as you ca, I would even just return it the way it is set up to do. The SS are ok but can be unslightly, if you go that route make sure they are aware of the weak linkage in them. For flow inside the tank????... you know this tank sounds like a prime candidate for one of the Tunze jobs, you could bury it in the rock. it will provide alot of flow but in a soft manner, its a good plug and play model for a tank of this size and does have good flow.
On the skimmer I would lean to the Aqua C 180 or something simular. On the sump 100 gallon rubbermaid sounds good to me to. for a return pump your going to have to look at a pressurized pump but remember just enough to get about 800 to a 1000 gph at the tank.
On the sand I would really take a good look at using CC, yea I know but you have to count on them to over feed and so on, and with CC you could have greater in the tank flow and could make a syphoning of it part of your maintence schedule when doing water changes. witht he finer sand it will restrict flow and be harder to clean.

Well thiers a few thoughts, let me know what you think.

MIke

 

[skylsdale]

Good input Mike; just what I was looking for. Let me break this down:

Just make sure you got electrical and a water source for a ro/di unit for top off, unless your going kalk.

I was just thinking about that today and need to look into it. Worst case scenario is that an RO/DI is located elsewhere and he (or someone else) pumps out enough water to keep the topoff reservior full. I'm not sure if I'm going to kalk or not. I'm thinking of doing like a 2-3 week supply and using that as topoff. Any pros/cons to this?

On the water returning from the sump dont concider it part of the water flow, just get as much back in as you ca, I would even just return it the way it is set up to do.

This is what I was starting to think. Finding a pump to push the water back up AND provide flow within the tank will be tough.

you know this tank sounds like a prime candidate for one of the Tunze jobs, you could bury it in the rock. it will provide alot of flow but in a soft manner, its a good plug and play model for a tank of this size and does have good flow.

I've just been doing a ton of research on these...and I think they just might work. I'm thinking one (facing into the flow of the return) doing a wave simulation with the Singlcontroller 7091 would create some nice flow.

On the skimmer I would lean to the Aqua C 180 or something simular.

Great. Do you think the EV 120 would be inadequate?

On the sump 100 gallon rubbermaid sounds good to me to. for a return pump your going to have to look at a pressurized pump but remember just enough to get about 800 to a 1000 gph at the tank.

For some reason the subject of pumps has always confused me, I'm not sure why. Iwaki makes models for pressurized functions like canisters, etc. Is this the same type of "pressurized" pump you're talking about? Any other brands besides Iwaki worth looking at? And just so I understand you...do you mean 800-1000 gph on top of head loss?

On the sand I would really take a good look at using CC, yea I know but you have to count on them to over feed and so on, and with CC you could have greater in the tank flow and could make a syphoning of it part of your maintence schedule when doing water changes. witht he finer sand it will restrict flow and be harder to clean.

I want to make sure we're on the same wavelength with this. By CC, I think of the really big stuff: little shells, bits of coral skeleton, looks more like an aquarium gravel type medium. This is what is currently in the tank. There's also a larger grain of crushed aragonite...maybe close to 2mm in size? I've heard people refer to this as CC as well...so I just want to make sure which one you're actually inferring.

Anyway, as for aquascaping I'm hoping to keep it open (maybe something along the lines of the Penn State tank: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/oct2002/figure1.htm ). Would you suggest adding some LR down in the sump, or would that serve as more of a detritus trap? I guess if it was just a single layer, I would prefer for detritus to settle down there, and then I could just push individual pieces around and siphon off the bottom.

 

[mojoreef]

I was just thinking about that today and need to look into it. Worst case scenario is that an RO/DI is located elsewhere and he (or someone else) pumps out enough water to keep the topoff reservior full. I'm not sure if I'm going to kalk or not. I'm thinking of doing like a 2-3 week supply and using that as topoff. Any pros/cons to this?

You would have to make sure its got flow and airation or it will go stale.

This is what I was starting to think. Finding a pump to push the water back up AND provide flow within the tank will be tough.

yep your smp/ref is just a water process center, just get it back it anyway you can.

I've just been doing a ton of research on these...and I think they just might work. I'm thinking one (facing into the flow of the return) doing a wave simulation with the Singlcontroller 7091 would create some nice flow.

agreed

Great. Do you think the EV 120 would be inadequate?

This is going to be your main source for exportation, I would not comprimise here at all, bigger the better.

For some reason the subject of pumps has always confused me, I'm not sure why. Iwaki makes models for pressurized functions like canisters, etc. Is this the same type of "pressurized" pump you're talking about? Any other brands besides Iwaki worth looking at? And just so I understand you...do you mean 800-1000 gph on top of head loss?

I would look into the specs on a iwalkie 75 rlt. on others, thier are a few, go up to the review button at the top of the page. Thier is an equipment gallery in thier, lots of pumps listed.

I want to make sure we're on the same wavelength with this. By CC, I think of the really big stuff: little shells, bits of coral skeleton, looks more like an aquarium gravel type medium. This is what is currently in the tank. There's also a larger grain of crushed aragonite...maybe close to 2mm in size? I've heard people refer to this as CC as well...so I just want to make sure which one you're actually inferring.

Sky the concept is to have a substraight that can be maintained and that the same time not b,ow all over the place with an amount of flow. The cc I was refering to was just geomarine. But anything will work as long as it meets the above criteria. So aqauscape with no substraight and then put the CC where the exposed bottom is, this way you can clean out the detritus on a good schedule easily. For rock in the sump, yes it will trap detritus, but it will also give more denitrifing, so as long as you maintain it your OK.

 

[skylsdale]

Just got done taking out all the fish from the tank today (ever tried to catch an adult French angel through the top of an acrylic tank?).

Anyway, there has been a change of plans and I would appreciate some more feedback to help confine things a bit more. We have decided against drilling through the floor and putting a sump room in the basement. IMO, it would have created more work, evap would have increased, etc. than we really needed to deal with. So, everything will be residing beneath the tank in the stand. The inside dimensions of the stand are 58"x18"x27". The components that will need to go under there are 1)sump 2)skimmer 3)auto topoff reservoir(probably 5 gal bucket or something similar) 4)possible a Ca reactor down the road.

My original idea was using a 55 gal tank, but I think that's going to take up too much room under the stand. Now I'm thinking of something in the 3' range, like a 40 gal breeder. Any other suggestions? As for protein skimmers, I'm thinking either an AquaC EV-120 or MR-1. Either of these could go in the sump to save space. That leaves the topoff reservoir (a 5 gal bucket being the largest option). With that footprint, would it still be possible to add some sort of Ca reactor under the stand down the road? I've never used one, so I can't really picture in my mind how large a reactor and CO2 unit are.