getting very angry with my lfs

[posiden]

A Mag 9 is only going to get him about 650 to 700 GPH after head loss and restriction. Split that into 2 drains and the 3/4" bulkheads will be just fine.
That's why I said, depending on how much flow you want to go through the refug.......just do one drain. Flow into the refug and let it drain into the skimmer section after the refug. Makes life more easy. No splitting of the drain. You wont have to place a power head in the refug to keep it from being stagnant. You could even flip flop the tanks too. Run the skimmer first to feed it the most dirty water from the OF.
Please remember this is JMO.

 

[sparty059]

haha, I suppose I could have taken a video clip of the aquarium so you could see first hand what everything looks like. If you think that would show a little more information I can do that tomorrow. I have everything that I need really at this point so if you all want, I can create a video and upload it if you want. I can show placements of everything at that point such as where the tanks below will be placed, the lights, skimmer, pump, pipes, etc...

 

[2quills]

Originally Posted by Sparty059
http:///forum/post/3294253
haha, I suppose I could have taken a video clip of the aquarium so you could see first hand what everything looks like. If you think that would show a little more information I can do that tomorrow. I have everything that I need really at this point so if you all want, I can create a video and upload it if you want. I can show placements of everything at that point such as where the tanks below will be placed, the lights, skimmer, pump, pipes, etc...
That would be nice.

 

[2quills]

Originally Posted by Sparty059
http:///forum/post/3294253
haha, I suppose I could have taken a video clip of the aquarium so you could see first hand what everything looks like. If you think that would show a little more information I can do that tomorrow. I have everything that I need really at this point so if you all want, I can create a video and upload it if you want. I can show placements of everything at that point such as where the tanks below will be placed, the lights, skimmer, pump, pipes, etc...
Even at 650 gph, that's over 5 times turn over for his tank. I think that's pretty good. Any more than that and he'd just be turning over water with not much increase in benefit. I wouldnt think having all of his water draining into his fuge would be less helpful since you want to increase the dwell time of the water in the fuge.
If it were me, I'd have the main drain line (not reduced) draining into the skimmer section of the sump with one smaller branch splitting off of that feeding the fuge. Or at least that's how my set up will be plumbed. But I'll have two main drain lines. One will be tapped for the fuge and one won't.
Sparty, I'm still not sure what size of bulkead is on your tank for your main drain line...did you ever figure that out?

 

[sparty059]

I believe I have determind that the line is around 1.1" it may be slightly bigger. When I get home today I will take a quick video of the aquarium... I want to make sure you all are 100% confident with what I will be doing before I actually do it. There is always time to return the bit and the bulkheads in exhange for the bigger ones if needed.

 

[2quills]

Originally Posted by Sparty059
http:///forum/post/3294323
I believe I have determind that the line is around 1.1" it may be slightly bigger. When I get home today I will take a quick video of the aquarium... I want to make sure you all are 100% confident with what I will be doing before I actually do it. There is always time to return the bit and the bulkheads in exhange for the bigger ones if needed.
That sounds to me like you only have a 1" drain line. If it were me I'd thinking about adding another one if there is room in the overflow for it. When you take the video, try to cover everything even the inside of the overflow, plz.

 

[sparty059]

So I wanted to show an image of what everything will look like and what my idea is of the whole thing... this should make it understandable for everyone as well as point out any misunderstandings that I may have...Attachment 245131
Also a side note everything is running as though it were from left to right. Left lower pipe is the start... the right pipe that goes to the top is the end.

 

[beaslbob]

I would recommend you not put in the filter in the drain pipe itself. But rather at the end of the drain before it enters the refug if you must have a filter. the filter will plug up and the last thing you want is your drain plugged. Much better to have it at the end of the pipe or after the end so all that happens is water bypasses the plugged filter but still drains to the refug.
my .02

 

[sparty059]

The whole thing can get plugged? I suppose so... Also just to mention... that is not 1 pipe connecting the two tanks... for the sake of the drawing I drew them one under each other... realistically they will be side by side at the same level height... draining into the sump tank.
PS... I'm very proud of that drawing!

 

[sparty059]

Ok, so now I need to understand how this will all work based on my previous drawing. I've removed all the arrows and if anyone may need any of that information please refer back to the drawing above.
Again, the pictures are depicting just the tank and the water itself, no rocks, no fish.
So the process will work as so... I fill the tank close to full but not to the O/F... which put's me at this point...Attachment 245132
Of course the water is over the center part (O/F) but for the picture I want to demonstrate how this will all work. So I have water almost to the top of the tank... there is no water in my sump or my refug at this point still... because none of the water has overflown into the O/F and distributed about.
Once I put enough water in to over flow... the following will happen...
Attachment 245133
Now of course the water won't just build up in there and not move, but let's just assume at this point. So finally the water disperses into the refug... and the process should start?
So then at the end the over flow will fill up drain the water into the refug then into the sump and then back into the aquarium. So all I need to use is 125 gallons of water and don't have to account for the additional 40 gallons under... because that'll be filled based off of the over flow in the tank... correct?
Attachment 245134
Let me know if any of this is making any sense or if I am very far off on this.
Also beaslebob, do not think I am dismissing your comment. I've just been taking a lot of direction from 2Quills/AquaKnight and a few other people recently and would like their input as well...

 

[aquaknight]

From what I gather from 2Quills, your baffle in the fuge needs to be 180°'ed like this.

If that's what 2Quills meant, go look back at my build thread, that's how I have mine configured, minus the eggcrate which I haven't added yet.
As for the 'scrub filter' not sure what you mean. If it's just a PVC tube with holes drilled in it, they probably did that to help quiet it down some. If it's removeable, I recommend putting in a Durso standpipe instead;

 

[sparty059]

It has material on it after the holes... I don't know how to explain it... I'd take a picture but I can't get it out and don't want to tug on it and possibly break it. It's like a lufa material type thing on it.
Also was I correct on how everything would work? Water would flow into the refug and sump on it's own? I don't fill it up as well as the aquarium? So only 120 - 130 gallons is needed instead of 125 + 40?

 

[beaslbob]

you should be very proud of your drawings.

anyway I did some also.
I am trying to show three conditions.
1 normal operation
2. drain blackage
3. power out
Finally I think you will find the pipes between the refug and filter section have to be surprising large diameter like 2" or so. 1.5" was not good enough for a test set up i used.
first attachment is with all three conditions
to claraify
second is normal, third drain blackage, and fourth is power out.
i had to change colors so hope these are clear enough.

 

[sparty059]

Ok, so I understand all of that. So when I start to fill up my tank I'm ONLY filling up my tank and not the sump/refug too. That helps explain how it will work and makes it a little bit easier to understand. I'm going to take the video now for 2Quills and AquaKnight so they can get a better visualization of the tank and see where to go from there... hope everyone is ready!

 

[2quills]

Originally Posted by AquaKnight
http:///forum/post/3294424
From what I gather from 2Quills, your baffle in the fuge needs to be 180°'ed like this.

If that's what 2Quills meant, go look back at my build thread, that's how I have mine configured, minus the eggcrate which I haven't added yet.
As for the 'scrub filter' not sure what you mean. If it's just a PVC tube with holes drilled in it, they probably did that to help quiet it down some. If it's removeable, I recommend putting in a Durso standpipe instead;

That is correct...the baffle in the fuge should be on the side where the drains are just as a precaution to keep any critters or large chuncks of macro from getting into the drains and blocking them.
Sparty, I take it you've discovered what a turf algea scrubber is? I don't think you'll have the room to pull one of those off, but if you have questions then I think Jstdv8 (not sure) has one. Maybe you can talk to him about it.
The only other change I think you should consider is splitting your main drain line instead of having all of your drain water going into your fuge. I would run your main drain line to where it drops into the skimmer section and then instal a reducing T on it that branches off with a smaller 3/4" line that drops into the fuge. Reason being is you don't want that much flow going through your fuge, in order for your macro algea to have time to work it's magic you want to increase the dwell time of the water in the fuge...so slower is better. But we'll check it out when you get some good video...if you have room to make the fuge drains bigger, than I say go 4 it.

 

[2quills]

Never mind about the turf algea scrubber thing...I went back and re-read and see what you're talking about now.

 

[sparty059]

I'm transferring the video to my computer via bluetooth so it might be a few minutes... I'll have it up within the next 30 minutes though.

 

[sparty059]

How do I add video?

 

[2quills]

go into advanced and then click on insert video...see if that works.

 

[sparty059]

It makes me load it from YouTube or something...