converting freshwater tank to salt
- Thread starter mauler
- Start date
silverado61
Well-Known Member
It works like the over flow in your bathroom sink. Go into your bathroom and look in the sink at the edge closest to you and you'll see a hole. Now fill the sink till the water reaches that hole and you'll see the water flow into that hole. Same principal as an over flow on your tank. You just need a pump in your sump to return it to your tank. As the tank fills to the over flow it will drain back into your sump and the process continues.
silverado61
Well-Known Member
Sometimes us newbies just need "dummy speak". Lol
2quills
Well-Known Member
1 pump (goes in the sump tank)
1over flow box (goes on the display tank)
Plumb it all together. Turn it on.
That's pretty much all it takes to cycle water.
Preventing a flood when power is turned off to the pump is another story. The return output (the end of the plumbing that pushes water into the display) needs to be near the top of the tank. Because when power goes off the water will drain backwards down into the sump tank. If you don't have the return output set just right it could cause a flood.
1over flow box (goes on the display tank)
Plumb it all together. Turn it on.
That's pretty much all it takes to cycle water.
Preventing a flood when power is turned off to the pump is another story. The return output (the end of the plumbing that pushes water into the display) needs to be near the top of the tank. Because when power goes off the water will drain backwards down into the sump tank. If you don't have the return output set just right it could cause a flood.
silverado61
Well-Known Member
If you drill the tank at the top and install the over flows there the tank will only drain to the top edge of the over flows then no more water can drain. That's why you only fill the sump to a certain height.
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by mauler http:///t/397664/converting-freshwater-tank-to-salt/80#post_3545506
Ill check it out and the pump for the return is that like a bubbler pump
Hi,
I know folks are helping you...but this question I could answer so I am.
The return pump is basically a very strong power head, but without the gizmo to filter it so you can attach a pipe or hose to it. It sucks in water from the sump, and pushes water out and up through the hose or pipe and returns the water to the display. An air bubbler pump sits outside the tank and pumps air to go through a small tube and make air bubbles...it doesn't suck in water at all.
Originally Posted by mauler http:///t/397664/converting-freshwater-tank-to-salt/80#post_3545506
Ill check it out and the pump for the return is that like a bubbler pump
Hi,
I know folks are helping you...but this question I could answer so I am.
The return pump is basically a very strong power head, but without the gizmo to filter it so you can attach a pipe or hose to it. It sucks in water from the sump, and pushes water out and up through the hose or pipe and returns the water to the display. An air bubbler pump sits outside the tank and pumps air to go through a small tube and make air bubbles...it doesn't suck in water at all.
geridoc
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by mauler http:///t/397664/converting-freshwater-tank-to-salt/80#post_3545528
Alright what would be a good sized pump or how many gallons a minute should I like
The rule of thumb is 5-10 times the tank volume/hour. When you shop for pumps you will see a false number of gallons/hour on the box, and a graph or table that gives the true gallons/hour depending on the height the water has to be raised. A common height is 5 feet, so look for a pump that delivers 1300-2000 gph at a head of 5 feet, for example (assuming your tank is 135 gallons). In reality, the calculation is a little more complex, since any turns in the tubing introduces additional resistance, so I generally oversize the pump a little and have a gall valve on the output side so I can adjust the flow rate to what I need. As a personal example, I am currently plumbing a 220 gallon tank to a sump in the basement, with a rise of about 15 feet. I will be using a pump rated at 2500-3000 gph at 16 feet. The pump is actually capable of more output, but I will throttle it with a ball valve.
Originally Posted by mauler http:///t/397664/converting-freshwater-tank-to-salt/80#post_3545528
Alright what would be a good sized pump or how many gallons a minute should I like
The rule of thumb is 5-10 times the tank volume/hour. When you shop for pumps you will see a false number of gallons/hour on the box, and a graph or table that gives the true gallons/hour depending on the height the water has to be raised. A common height is 5 feet, so look for a pump that delivers 1300-2000 gph at a head of 5 feet, for example (assuming your tank is 135 gallons). In reality, the calculation is a little more complex, since any turns in the tubing introduces additional resistance, so I generally oversize the pump a little and have a gall valve on the output side so I can adjust the flow rate to what I need. As a personal example, I am currently plumbing a 220 gallon tank to a sump in the basement, with a rise of about 15 feet. I will be using a pump rated at 2500-3000 gph at 16 feet. The pump is actually capable of more output, but I will throttle it with a ball valve.
silverado61
Well-Known Member
Alright I think I have everything picked out I just want to know is the Instant Ocean SCPS-150 SeaClone Protein Skimmer good?I think would stay away from anything "Instant Ocean" except for salt. I just prefer companys that specialize in the product I'm looking for. Reef Octopus makes good protein skimmers and they're reasonably priced.