Reefs.org Forums

[The Escaped Ape]

Looking really good Matt. Do you feel the pressure, starting an aquarium where you work now?

Particularly impressed with that sump.

Any pics of the firefish?

[vitz]

coming along nicely

[Matt_]

Thanks guys!

Looking really good Matt. Do you feel the pressure, starting an aquarium where you work now?

Particularly impressed with that sump.

Any pics of the firefish?

I try to keep it spotless because of where I work, yes. Lots of important eyes paying attention.

The sump is one of the more haphazard ones I've set up. The electrical wires everywhere are a real eyesore. I just haven't had the time to hang them up properly. Way too many projects going on.

You can see the firefish in one of those pictures! It's terribly shy, much more so than the goby. Anyhow, there are much better pictures than I could possibly take of the helfrich's out there.

[Matt_]

Here's a recent shot of the still unID'd mussid coral. I suppose I could pull the thing out and find out exactly what it is one of these days...

Before...

[The Escaped Ape]

The sump is one of the more haphazard ones I've set up. The electrical wires everywhere are a real eyesore. I just haven't had the time to hang them up properly. Way too many projects going on.

I think I know who I'll be turning to for advice about my sump for my next tank! I didn't necessarily mean neat and tidy btw (though it's not as messy as you make out), but resourceful. Lots of little solutions all over the place in there.

[Yoshi]

Beautiful tank...

[SciGuy2]

Nice tank. How about an update, Matt?

Thanks,
Lee

[Matt_]

Not much to report. Finally installed the second half of the return plumbing, did the overflow plumbing the "right" way, and organized the sump to my liking. Makes it real easy to spray everything down with DI water to rinse off residue, dust, and salt creep.

[bleedingthought]

You know, I've always wondered about plumbing like that. Do you get more water coming out of the back nozzles than the front ones since you don't have valves? And how about some new "tank shots"?

[Matt_]

You know, I've always wondered about plumbing like that. Do you get more water coming out of the back nozzles than the front ones since you don't have valves? And how about some new "tank shots"?

Yes, and not until later.

I've been thinking about how to discreetly reduce the flow to the back nozzles. 2 valves just won't work. I won't be able to remove the light fixture. I'm thinking a reducer or small obstruction inside the back nozzles will fit the bill perfectly. Possibly a smaller diameter vinyl hose that slips inside the larger ones.

[bleedingthought]

Possibly a smaller diameter vinyl hose that slips inside the larger ones.

Won't that just increase velocity?

[ghostofmilz]

Matt, this is very timely.

My mother has gotten tired of the Oceanic 37 that I gave her quite a few years ago. So it looks like I might be setting this up as a small reef tank. I had set this tank up for her with a set of 4 power compacts, so the lights should be ok. However, I would like to upgrade the filtration (I had originally set this tank up with a simple CPR bakpak). In particualr, I am thinking about having this tank drilled so that I can use a sump without a siphon-based overflow. Your set-up looks perfect.

Can you please give me a few more details on the slots you drilled and overflow box you attacehd to teh back? Thanks.

Mike

[Matt_]

Possibly a smaller diameter vinyl hose that slips inside the larger ones.

Won't that just increase velocity?

Maybe a bit, although I predict that restricting the flow in these points will not increase the back pressure on the pump. The front ports are being "underused" (for lack of a better term) and so restricting the outlet on the back ports should just divert more flow towards them. In other words there are so many outlets that I don't expect it will increase the backpressure significantly.

[Matt_]

Matt, this is very timely.

My mother has gotten tired of the Oceanic 37 that I gave her quite a few years ago. So it looks like I might be setting this up as a small reef tank. I had set this tank up for her with a set of 4 power compacts, so the lights should be ok. However, I would like to upgrade the filtration (I had originally set this tank up with a simple CPR bakpak). In particualr, I am thinking about having this tank drilled so that I can use a sump without a siphon-based overflow. Your set-up looks perfect.

Can you please give me a few more details on the slots you drilled and overflow box you attacehd to teh back? Thanks.

Mike

There are a lot of pictures in this thread. Take a look and let me know if that covers it.

[ghostofmilz]

Yes it did. Thanks.

[Matt_]

Possibly a smaller diameter vinyl hose that slips inside the larger ones.

Won't that just increase velocity?

I had to use 2 layers of hose to put enough back pressure on the line. It works though! The flow doesn't seem too fast to me.

It's a Mag 9 going through (now) a total of 4 holes--two 1/2" and two 3/4".

[Matt_]

Matt, this is very timely.

My mother has gotten tired of the Oceanic 37 that I gave her quite a few years ago. So it looks like I might be setting this up as a small reef tank. I had set this tank up for her with a set of 4 power compacts, so the lights should be ok. However, I would like to upgrade the filtration (I had originally set this tank up with a simple CPR bakpak). In particualr, I am thinking about having this tank drilled so that I can use a sump without a siphon-based overflow. Your set-up looks perfect.

Can you please give me a few more details on the slots you drilled and overflow box you attacehd to teh back? Thanks.

Mike

The 3rd picture is a diagram of the weir box. Note that there are two overflow drains and no Durso standpipe. There's really no room for one, and this method is quieter anyway.

I added the first two pictures to demonstrate how it could be done in a taller overflow box, and with pre-screening if you don't have overflow teeth.

[ghostofmilz]

In view of the diagram, I assume that you close the valve on the larger return pipe (left) until you force at least some water to pass through the smaller return pipe (right). This avoids air from being sucked down the larger pipe, since it remains under water. And the smaller pipe has some additional capacity to handle the flow in case the larger return gets partially glogged. Interesting. Thanks.

[bleedingthought]

Possibly a smaller diameter vinyl hose that slips inside the larger ones.

Won't that just increase velocity?

I had to use 2 layers of hose to put enough back pressure on the line. It works though! The flow doesn't seem too fast to me.

It's a Mag 9 going through (now) a total of 4 holes--two 1/2" and two 3/4".

Good deal! Now, where are those pictures?

[Matt_]

In view of the diagram, I assume that you close the valve on the larger return pipe (left) until you force at least some water to pass through the smaller return pipe (right). This avoids air from being sucked down the larger pipe, since it remains under water. And the smaller pipe has some additional capacity to handle the flow in case the larger return gets partially glogged. Interesting. Thanks.

Exactly. All you need is a tiny trickle going through the smaller pipe.