JB's Reef Tank

[yote]

The only thing I can wrong with your set up,,It aint got no water in it.
Looks to me like your gonna have an awesome system.

[Bifferwine]

I would recommend having chaeto in the fuge instead of caulerpa. Caulerpa has a tendency to turn your water yellow... Definitely go with chaeto.

[fatman]

I usually use fairly large pumps so have gotten use to male or female pipe threads as a pump exit, can not even remember last time I used a pump that came with a hose barb other than a power head. The purpose of larger pipe is less restriction/friction more flow. You can use barb adapters to up size vinyl hose and get the same effect. Plus look at the inside diameter of 1/2" or 3/4" hose barb versus the inside diameter of a 1/2" or 3/4" PVC pipe. A hose barb goes inside your vinyl pipe therefore is smaller than the pipe and thereby greatly reducing the flow. A PVC fitting goes over pipe and therefore does not greatly restrict the flow. Plus with PVC pipe you can put in unions and ball valves to disconnect equipment. You can use them with vinyl pipe by using a lot of restrictive fitting, or by going to larger hose to cut down on friction, but you will always have to go at least one size larger than PVC pipe to get the same flow. There in the real world (continental U.S.) flexible PVC pipe should be readily available and it uses all standard PVC fittings and glue. Remember electricity and pumps are expensive so should be used in the most effective way reasonably possible. Remember if your feeding your pump from a refugium or sump you must put in anti siphon holes in your return lines to keep from possibly overflowing your sump during a power outage. If you run your return very deep in your tank your talking water on your spouses floor during a power outage, and coral nor fish live well out of water. Anti siphon holes are just holes in your return lines that are usually just below the surface of the water that stop a siphon when the water level drops to that level. My ISP was down most of this weekend so I did not get to post earlier. Sorry. Sump/Refugium looks great! You are really getting there. Sure beats dreaming and talking, huh.

[jb61264]

Originally Posted by fatman

Remember if your feeding your pump from a refugium or sump you must put in anti siphon holes in your return lines to keep from possibly overflowing your sump during a power outage.

Thanks for the reminder on the holes in my return line...I'll do that when I get wet for the first time to better gauge where my water level will be in the tank for best placement depth

Originally Posted by fatman

If you run your return very deep in your tank your talking water on your spouses floor during a power outage

No spouse to worry about here just neighbors downstairs but I'm confident with my 20 gallon sump refugium and proper placement of the holes in the return line that I won't have to worry about that happening

Originally Posted by fatman

Sump/Refugium looks great! You are really getting there. Sure beats dreaming and talking, huh.

Thanks, certainly does beat dreaming and talking I'm hoping to start putting water in tomorrow night...I bought a 160 gallon bucket of Reef Crystals from the LFS today...along with some other necessities...found a perfect light for the sump/refugium...it has perfect ridges cut into it so it lays pefectly from front to back (width) right over the section that will have the macroalgae...got a test kit for my cycling period and notified my LFS to order me a box of Live Rock (45lbs) next Sunday...it will arrive on Tuesday. yes I'm a little bit excited

[jb61264]

Originally Posted by Bifferwine

I would recommend having chaeto in the fuge instead of caulerpa. Caulerpa has a tendency to turn your water yellow... Definitely go with chaeto.

Where can I get chaeto?...I've only ever seen caulerpa at the LFS and definately don't want to have yellow water

[fatman]

Most reefers that have any will give you some chaeto, or charge just shipping. I do not normally do macro algae as I do not normally keep fish with my coral, and I do not try to export nitrogen on my fish tanks because when I keep fish I keep dirty fish (sloppy and usually heavy feeders) which would require a whole lot of algae to make a noticeable difference. Carbon removes Caulerpa color pretty well (at least what a skimmer wont remove), but unless you are going to be putting it in your main tank for viewing I would definitely agree with Biffer as it would not be worth its downsides. Caulerpa is a fast grower that will attach to anything and seems to have an infinity to crowding out only your best corals light. Nothing seems to want to eat it either.

[Bifferwine]

I got my chaeto on Ebay. I paid $5 for a ziplock bag full.

[jb61264]

OK...after a few days of measuring (twice) and cutting (once), priming, gluing and adjusting I have completed the plumbing on my overflow and return flow. Here's a picture:



I purchased a bigger pump (Rio 2100) for the return flow from the sump. Also picked up my Koralia 2 for in the tank flow...between my split returns and my Koralia 2, I'm thinking things are looking pretty good.

I think I might start filling up the tank TOMORROW!!!

[fatman]

Great! Up-sized piping, 45 degree drain fittings for increased flows and low noise instead of horizontal run, and true unions and ball valves. High flow return with good velocity to boot. You should definitely not find any reasons to be disappointed. Keep up the great work and you will have a reef tank to be very proud of. Remember, there is a method to setting your sump water level so as to prevent overflow during power outages. I will post that information for you if you need it, or send me an email and I will email you the information. The sump maximum water level can very a great deal from one aquarium set up to another depending on the placement of your anti siphon holes on your return lines and the capacity of your water lines. It is referred to as your drain back amount.

[jb61264]

Finished cleaning and picking up this afternoon...placed tank where it will reside permanently and added my 3" sandbed in the refugium of the sump and in my aquarium. I think I'll add water tonight and start turning pumps on and checking the flow through all the plumbing I've done.

I've never embarked on a project with PVC tubing before...I must say it was challenging, but the satisfaction I've gained is off the chart...can't wait to show it off to my family and friends.

My LFS orders my first box of live rock (45lbs) for me tomorrow and it will arrive Tuesday...I plan to cycle my tank with the first batch of rock and then I will add another 40-45lbs of "really nice" rock on top of my first batch and check to see if the tank cycles again or not...then, my first inhabitant...a Lawnmower Blenny