T
tygerfifteen
Guest
I have a 77 gallon and wantedd to add a refuge(10 gallon under)
what do i need (besides lights) to get the water back and forth?
what do i need (besides lights) to get the water back and forth?
zafirablanca
Member
You need an external overflow box and a return pump (and all of the plumbing in between). The plumbing will be the most challenging part, but it is fun and interesting too.
I use Marineland SOS overflows and like them. I hear Lifereef makes good ones too. I have heard mixed reviews on the CPR brand.
I use a Dolphin return pump and like it. Many people here like the Mag pumps also. Mine is submerged in the sump, after some acrylic baffles I siliconed into the tank.
I have two overflow boxes (125 gallon tank), one tees off to a refugium that is on a shelf in my cabinet. The other goes directly to the sump. The refugium gravity overflows into the sump through two bulkheads.
I use a combination of pvc spa flex (white) and reinforced vinyl (clear with embedded threads) with standard rigid pvc attachments (elbows, tees, etc). I used pvc primer and glue to attach them. There are barb fitting you may use to put together the clear tubing, just remember to cable tie or clamp them. I chose not to use them to avoid reducing the tubing size at the joints (but, many people use this way and like it). All of these can be found at Home Depot etc. Look for the barb fittings with the lawn sprinkler/ irrigation supplies. Flexible pipe/ tubing is quiet and easy to work with/ modify/ move around.
I installed a pvc ball valve in the return line just after the pump. This is to adjust the flow from the pump. My pump is pretty strong and so I need to cut back the flow a little to balance out the water level so that my overflows keep up properly. This is a trial and error thing that feels out of control at first, but you get more comfortable with it as time goes on. I also put a swing check valve in the line between the pump and the ball valve. This helps prevent a flood if the power goes out and the water flows back into your sump.
The main flood preventions are the anti-siphon holes in the return lines. Just drill a ~1/4" (small but not too small so that it will plug easily) hole in the return line, just under the surface of the water/ water line. Water will spray out of it and ripple the surface, but this is a good thing. Then, if the power goes out, water will travel back through the return lines to the sump (and yes, through the pump). When the water level drops below the anti-siphon hole, the siphon that pulls the water down to the sump breaks and the water stops flowing. The check valve at the pump is just a redundancy.
There are many designs posted on various threads here. This is just mine. Do forum search and see the related posts from other threads to see the others. You will get alot of info fast that way. Either way, you will need the same equipment listed above and the principals are the same.
Hope this helps.
Good Luck
-Christine
I use Marineland SOS overflows and like them. I hear Lifereef makes good ones too. I have heard mixed reviews on the CPR brand.
I use a Dolphin return pump and like it. Many people here like the Mag pumps also. Mine is submerged in the sump, after some acrylic baffles I siliconed into the tank.
I have two overflow boxes (125 gallon tank), one tees off to a refugium that is on a shelf in my cabinet. The other goes directly to the sump. The refugium gravity overflows into the sump through two bulkheads.
I use a combination of pvc spa flex (white) and reinforced vinyl (clear with embedded threads) with standard rigid pvc attachments (elbows, tees, etc). I used pvc primer and glue to attach them. There are barb fitting you may use to put together the clear tubing, just remember to cable tie or clamp them. I chose not to use them to avoid reducing the tubing size at the joints (but, many people use this way and like it). All of these can be found at Home Depot etc. Look for the barb fittings with the lawn sprinkler/ irrigation supplies. Flexible pipe/ tubing is quiet and easy to work with/ modify/ move around.
I installed a pvc ball valve in the return line just after the pump. This is to adjust the flow from the pump. My pump is pretty strong and so I need to cut back the flow a little to balance out the water level so that my overflows keep up properly. This is a trial and error thing that feels out of control at first, but you get more comfortable with it as time goes on. I also put a swing check valve in the line between the pump and the ball valve. This helps prevent a flood if the power goes out and the water flows back into your sump.
The main flood preventions are the anti-siphon holes in the return lines. Just drill a ~1/4" (small but not too small so that it will plug easily) hole in the return line, just under the surface of the water/ water line. Water will spray out of it and ripple the surface, but this is a good thing. Then, if the power goes out, water will travel back through the return lines to the sump (and yes, through the pump). When the water level drops below the anti-siphon hole, the siphon that pulls the water down to the sump breaks and the water stops flowing. The check valve at the pump is just a redundancy.
There are many designs posted on various threads here. This is just mine. Do forum search and see the related posts from other threads to see the others. You will get alot of info fast that way. Either way, you will need the same equipment listed above and the principals are the same.
Hope this helps.
Good Luck
-Christine
T
tygerfifteen
Guest
thankx very informative post, probably what I was wanting to hear thankx again
T
tygerfifteen
Guest
hey blanca Do your lfs have good deals , do you know the law about bringing things to canada?
Was thinking of going to a timberwolves game might pick somethings up if i can
Was thinking of going to a timberwolves game might pick somethings up if i can
zafirablanca
Member
You must be close to the border to come here for a game! Thunder Bay?
The lfs around here are expensive. I bought stuff there (on sale thank goodness!), but found considerably better prices on the internet (even with shipping). Try this site and E-bay. I have others bookmarked and can e-mail them to you if you like. Not sure on the rules for buying and transporting goods. I think it is not a big deal if it isn't over several hundred dollars worth of goods.
Got any snow up there? We Are COLD (-11F today) and snowless (grey and brown).
-Christine
The lfs around here are expensive. I bought stuff there (on sale thank goodness!), but found considerably better prices on the internet (even with shipping). Try this site and E-bay. I have others bookmarked and can e-mail them to you if you like. Not sure on the rules for buying and transporting goods. I think it is not a big deal if it isn't over several hundred dollars worth of goods.
Got any snow up there? We Are COLD (-11F today) and snowless (grey and brown).
-Christine
T
tygerfifteen
Guest
try -44 with the windchill LOL
U know saltwaterconnection in winnipeg ( frum winnipeg) is cheap prices are in canadian.
And I think It's 8 hours from winnipeg not that bad.
U know saltwaterconnection in winnipeg ( frum winnipeg) is cheap prices are in canadian.
And I think It's 8 hours from winnipeg not that bad.
zafirablanca
Member
Yeah Kipass,
My set up is basically like yours except I feed my fuge with a tee off of the overflow line instead of the return line. I wanted the 'dirty' water to get to my fuge. And my fuge does also gravity feed to the sump via two bulkheads. Great minds think alike.
-Christine
My set up is basically like yours except I feed my fuge with a tee off of the overflow line instead of the return line. I wanted the 'dirty' water to get to my fuge. And my fuge does also gravity feed to the sump via two bulkheads. Great minds think alike.
-Christine
broncofish
Active Member
No big deal, plus they get a free ride I have noticed no die off of pods from return pump.
I have noticed no die off of pods from return pump.