reefing on the cheap, lucky sob(s) edition

[psykokid]

take a closer look, the return comes through the back of the tank then up the inside of the overflow and then out the overflow into the tank. There isn't enough space to sink another bulkhead at the base of the overflow so he had to come through the back of the overflow and then run the plumbing up through the overflow box. Its done the same way as mine for the most part, just not through the bottom..

[RandyFolds]

Well, it's done. I am in the process of filling the tank, because the pressurized return lines have yet to leak for maybe 8 gallons of water, and all the bulkheads are holding fine. I need to shim it up a bit still, but I need weight on it to see how it will lay, so I am going to do it when it is about half full. I am waiting on the RO unit at the moment. 5 gallons an hour is not very quick...

[RandyFolds]

Also, I will take some pics of the sump/under the tank setup when I am a little further along. I decided to go with some vinyl between the pump and the hard plumbed portion, along with a silicone mat under the pump to dampen vibration. I am also employing the forbidden check-valve since I am running a damn 20 tall as a sump for a 125g. The Euro-reef doesn't fit very well in the 20 T so I wouldn't even be able to empty it. I am just going to run the mini-G and keep the bioload low in the meantime until I get my hands on a 40 long. I have also plugged the far drain until the real sump is in place.

I am going to either run two return pumps, or something much bigger. I only have a mag 9.5 for circulation, and that ain't jack for a hard-plumbed 125.

[Bergy]

yea, it will be easier to shim and see what abnd how much when you fill the tank...

if you kn ow what areas are going to need it you might get the shim started then you can tap it in to adjust later on


and yea, thanks jake for pointin out where the return line comes into the over flow.. and yea, that i skinda ok... if it leaks it will only leak the over flow out and not the whole tank...

[RandyFolds]

I am going to bread...

[psykokid]

bout time.. you put a sock on there to catch all the poo poo floating in the water column?

[Bergy]

i prefer cake, but, bread is ok i guess

I am going to bread...

[Learner]

Mmmm.....I love cake...

[RandyFolds]

No filter sock. Things are still looking pretty raw and cloudy this morning, though it is white cloudy and not brown cloudy. The skimmer is pulling quite a bit of crap already, so all in good time... Pics soon. Rose is talking to my mom on my phone, so I can't do anything atm.

My totally blind stacking of the LR looks damn good. It is probably a little too densely packed, but it is at least a million times better than they guy had it set up when we picked it up. I am probably going to have to convert to less live rock. This thing is already pretty full and I planned to collapse my 50g into it in the next few days, but that will send me over the LR edge. So much for getting rid of both the 35g brutes in my dining room. Who needs some LR?

That mag 9.5 barely trickles out of the returns once it is divided amongst four. I need to move like 2,000-3,000gph through the sump once all is said and done. Bill - what's the word on your hilariously large pump on your mixing barrel? Wanna trade?

[Bergy]

it isnt 'hilariously' large... i think it is around 900gph or so???


I think it was a quiet one 6000 or something????


you have to figure out if you want tons  of flow thru your sump or just tons  of flow in your tank...

[psykokid]

the q1 6000's are around 1500 gph the q1 4000's are the ones that around 1000 gph..

[RandyFolds]

I would like the returns to do something rather than just spill out water. They should be able to blow the flesh off of coral.

[Bergy]

yes, still not sure which pump i have on there but it is either the 4-6000


and if you want it to blow the flesh then by all means, get an external DART or other Sequence pump....


the DART is about 3600gph and if i recall is about 200 watts, and dead silent.... you wont hear it when you are on top of it...


panworld is another good pump...

[RandyFolds]

Bam. Stacked in the dark with the tank so turbid I couldn't see an inch. I am pretty sure I am the master. It looks dope, and there are all sorts of caves and swim-throughs.

[psykokid]

master what? master bater? :)

using an external pump such as a ReeFlo Snapper, you will net a max 3600 GPH and 108 watt draw. The other cool thing about that type of pump is that they are really quiet and you can valve them back with a ball valve after the outlet port and it will actually draw less wattage and extend the life of the pump..