415 Gallon Plywood Tank Build

[snakeblitz33]

your bank account! Lord knows I need your mad money! lol
I was just looking for that coast to coast design idea you were thinking of. I'm considering adapting something like that for a tidal surge system I'm thinking about doing for my next 90g build.

 

[acrylic51]

I have had several people ask for a parts list:
It is somewhat dependent on your tank and other setup. As I mentioned, I had 1" bulkheads to work with. I did not like the 1" plumbing for several reasons. Mostly for the simple reason that the Open Channel standpipe will greatly benefit from being a larger diameter. The larger the pipe, the less a given flow will try to create a siphon and gurgle.
I chose to use 1.5 fittings and valves for everything, adapting the standpipe down to fit the 1" bulkhead. I used a slip X slip bushing to do this.
I also used street elbows that were 1" x 1.25" They allow a much larger intake area and help to minimize the vortex that problem that luke mentioned.
The Cap was drilled and tapped with a 3/8 NPT tap to accept the John Guest fitting. It is important that you use teflon tape and make this connection airtight.
Here is a diagram with the parts labled:

 

[acrylic51]

Just a heads up, for those that don't want to read the whole thread or haven't been following along, you don't need all (3) valves as originally pictured. The only valve that is needed is on the siphon pipe. The emergency and the open channel do not need the valve for the system to function.
I might add, that once you tune the system which doesn't take long, once you fully understand it, it's a breeze........It's set and forget after that, and in a worse case scenario, you can pull them apart to clean them out if needed.

 

[acrylic51]

Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/376802/415-gallon-plywood-tank-build/1400#post_3458079
your bank account! Lord knows I need your mad money! lol
I was just looking for that coast to coast design idea you were thinking of. I'm considering adapting something like that for a tidal surge system I'm thinking about doing for my next 90g build.
The only issue with surges are bubbles introduced into the display.....There was a lady over on RC SaraB that had surges built that were pretty sweet and I had talked to her about using them on this setup, but decided against them for various reasons.....I think the guy that built her's was a guy named Rod, and he has a design that's pretty dialed in as well.......

 

[snakeblitz33]

can this system be easily adapted or used on a tank that incorporates a tidal surge?

 

[acrylic51]

Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/376802/415-gallon-plywood-tank-build/1400#post_3458079
your bank account! Lord knows I need your mad money! lol
I was just looking for that coast to coast design idea you were thinking of. I'm considering adapting something like that for a tidal surge system I'm thinking about doing for my next 90g build.
Seth mine is already built and that's what I'm currently running on my new build.......I need to adjust the height of my stand pipes to quiet it a little, but my overflow is external where the design was originally built for internal, so my dimensions were a little off and to quiet the water dropping you just need to adjust the height of your stand pipes accordingly....
This design far exceeds Durso's and adjustable air valves and air line tubing to tune the system......Truly set and forget....I do it daily when I get in from work, shut the system down and then re fire it to verify it resets to my water mark.....

 

[snakeblitz33]

Hmm, I know ways around bubbles... I'm just wondering if the beananimal design can handle the extra flow,...
After my last water change, I poured in a bunch of newly mixed saltwater into my tank and detritus came out of EVERYWHERE... in the rock, in the bottom of the tank... etc. I think by having a surge every now and then, it will help keep the tank clean and help polyp extension in some corals.

 

[acrylic51]

Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/376802/415-gallon-plywood-tank-build/1420#post_3458086
can this system be easily adapted or used on a tank that incorporates a tidal surge?
Honestly I don't see why not.....I would say as long as the surge is dumping right at the overflow.....Meaning if it were on the opposite end of the tank should be fine, but then you might want to consider how much water your displacing......I had to make an adjustment on mine with the Vortech's at first.....I was running a 2" - 3" wave and it did toy with the overflow a bit, and it was a mere matter of figuring out what was going on and I had to adjust how far the 1/4" air line tubing was down......That's was causing a flushing issue, but once I isolated that, and moved it up a bit, I haven't had any issues with waves in the tank....

 

[snakeblitz33]

Ah, I get it now. ok. I'll go back and take a look at your overflow design.

 

[snakeblitz33]

Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///t/376802/415-gallon-plywood-tank-build/1420#post_3458089
Honestly I don't see why not.....I would say as long as the surge is dumping right at the overflow.....Meaning if it were on the opposite end of the tank should be fine, but then you might want to consider how much water your displacing......I had to make an adjustment on mine with the Vortech's at first.....I was running a 2" - 3" wave and it did toy with the overflow a bit, and it was a mere matter of figuring out what was going on and I had to adjust how far the 1/4" air line tubing was down......That's was causing a flushing issue, but once I isolated that, and moved it up a bit, I haven't had any issues with waves in the tank....
I see... ok.

 

[acrylic51]

Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/376802/415-gallon-plywood-tank-build/1420#post_3458088
Hmm, I know ways around bubbles... I'm just wondering if the beananimal design can handle the extra flow,...
After my last water change, I poured in a bunch of newly mixed saltwater into my tank and detritus came out of EVERYWHERE... in the rock, in the bottom of the tank... etc. I think by having a surge every now and then, it will help keep the tank clean and help polyp extension in some corals.
Trust me....If you run the 1 1/2" bulkheads your surge won't dent the design......I can run my return Dart Gold wide open and have my sipon line on the overflow choked and it can handle the pump easily, and I'm sure your surge on a 90 won't flow like that......The overflow reacts/responds rather quickly......
Again you have to remember (1) 1 1/2" bulkhead can carry my flow through the tank at siphon.....Worse case if/when the water level would rise the open stand pipe automatically kicks in and takes the excess to the sump......Even if it gets crazy and yes I have totally closed my full siphon line, and blocked my open channel, the emergency carried the load with no issues.......

 

[acrylic51]

Seth the siphon line is carrying the flow load per say......The overflow design can easily handle the biggest of pumps we use.....The open channel carries just a trickle of water....Basically I have it to where it's dead quiet....You literally have to pull the filter sock off to see it has any flow......If you plug the siphon either by hand or close the valve, you immediately see the water level rise, and once the water level get's mid point on the open channel elbow, you'll hear that baby kick in.....The air line that's in the overflow box assures that........When the open channel takes over you'll see the water level adjusts back to it's normal operating level.....Again I was totally amazed......It did take a bit to figure the fine tune sweet spot, but probably took 2 days.....But I can tell you if you make an adjustment on your return pump....your gonna have to make an adjustment on the siphon line......

 

[snakeblitz33]

sweet setup. I am definitely going with a beananimal on my next tank. And by your description, that sucker can drain just about anything you can throw at it... and even have an emergency line. I'm impressed.
Well, thank you so much for the help man. I'm definitely looking forward to more pics of your tank.
I didn't catch it yet, but are you going to go barebottom or not??? lol

 

[acrylic51]

I must admit....On initial fire up of the system wasn't sure how it was really going to react........Once the return lines were full and flowing flow took off....I after all these years was actually afraid!!!!!

Afraid of a little water flowing.......Things settled quickly, but had to test the overflow......I can fill the overflow box to the top and with a quick action of dropping the 1/4" air line about a 1/4" deeper I can flush/drain the entire overflow box within a matter of seconds.......And I mean literally drop it from completely full to just above the thickness of the bulkheads.....it does take a minute or 2 to recover to original settings, but doesn't affect the tank operation.....Submerge that line to deep it will continue to flush the overflow box.....That's were I say you have to learn the "sweet spot".
Another thing I recommend is reading the thread.....I put down tubes that are down into the sump.....1 it quiets the system down.....2, you barely want them submerged under your water line in the sump. It will put back pressure on the system and cause fluctuations I've found....My hardest issue was the drain line on the open channel.....If it's submerged I've noticed my level will bounce about 1/4" in height in the overflow box, but just a hair out of the water in the sump it's perfectly steady......

 

[acrylic51]

Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/376802/415-gallon-plywood-tank-build/1420#post_3458101
sweet setup. I am definitely going with a beananimal on my next tank. And by your description, that sucker can drain just about anything you can throw at it... and even have an emergency line. I'm impressed.
Well, thank you so much for the help man. I'm definitely looking forward to more pics of your tank.
I didn't catch it yet, but are you going to go barebottom or not??? lol
Still not sure Seth.....The way I'm leaning is going to be BB......Still not 100% sure, but I like the BB look all the way around.....I still haven't ordered my OM yet, and I'm quite sure once I get that online, if I want everything stirring a sandbed would be out of the question. I'm not a big fan of the larger grained sand.

 

[snakeblitz33]

Interesting observations. I'll have to probably tweak my design once I get everything up and running. I'll try to save that last post to my word document to keep up with it. Thanks Shawn.

 

[snakeblitz33]

Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///t/376802/415-gallon-plywood-tank-build/1420#post_3458116
Still not sure Seth.....The way I'm leaning is going to be BB......Still not 100% sure, but I like the BB look all the way around.....I still haven't ordered my OM yet, and I'm quite sure once I get that online, if I want everything stirring a sandbed would be out of the question. I'm not a big fan of the larger grained sand.
me neither. I like oolitic sand myself, but these days I can't believe I haven't gone barebottom years ago. lol With as much flow as you have in that tank - I think you would be crazy to try to have a sandbed.

 

[acrylic51]

I'm just torn....part of me wants a sand bed, but deep down I know that once it's in and I fire everything up, it'll be total disaster......I'm not even running the MP60's wide open.....I just have them running constant about 40%, and I'm only running 2 since they ThatPetPlace exchanged the Vortech I wasn't happy with......Have to give them props!!!!! Keeping the customer happy. Even running the MP60's at 40% I can get everything moving except for 1 little spot at the far back corner of the tank, but when I change between modes of nutrient export and long and short pulses I can get the area moving around, but still not to my total liking.....That's were the OM 4Way will come into play.....The spot I'm not please with sits right at the 1 bulkhead, so it's just a matter of getting all the components in place and fine tuning the loc line to direct flow.
Overall I'm very pleased with the flow pattern of the tank. With a lot of conversations with Paul from OceansMotions, it's actually paying off at this point.....

 

[spanko]

I have had both, barebottom and sand. Have sand now. While I like both I think it a shame not to have the flora and fauna that a sandbed adds.

 

[acrylic51]

Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/376802/415-gallon-plywood-tank-build/1420#post_3458124
Interesting observations. I'll have to probably tweak my design once I get everything up and running. I'll try to save that last post to my word document to keep up with it. Thanks Shawn.
Again the little fluxuation isn't major IMHO, but I'm looking for constant/steady......The other way around fiddling with the correct length of pipe would be to cut the pipe close and extend it under the water line, but mark the spot just above the water line and drill a hole to vent the tube.....I haven't done it, because with some fiddling I've also seen/found that tweaking with your siphon line can work as well......Just I think the vent hole would be easier and allow me to go back to my original setting.......
I still have to bring the dual BRS reactors online....I've been lazy finishing the last bit of plumbing about 2', but that in turn will cause me to probably adjust the return pump a tad and then tweak the overflow siphon valve.