Squidd.......Teach me.....DYI:Plumbing 101 on a SW Tank

leona

leona

Member

Originally posted by edwar050
I would love a euro reef with a sump but I am a broke college student
as for my 55, tank lights stand hood coralife 260 and 75pounds LR and sand only cost me 250.
Understandable.....But just keep it in mind if you can pinch a couple dollars here and there.
Try saying goodbye to caffine for a bit........just kidding lol
Leona
 
leona

leona

Member

Originally posted by Squidd
I wonder sometimes...:thinking:
Ready for the sump/fuge layout..?
So were should we start?
Leona
 
squidd

squidd

Active Member
We start with a "box" (tank) and we color it in from there...
First thing we need are the dimentions you are getting so we can calc gallons and sizing...
 
low8x2

low8x2

Member
Squid,
Your expert advice is greatly apprecitated and I have been following this thread and feel I have the jist of it. A couple of questions I have to this point are: what should be the size comparison of the three compartments. equally divided or is it important? I was going over in my head purchasing three 10g tanks or maybe two 10's and a 20 for a sump/scimmer/fuge for my 75g reef.
Also, since it's not a "reef ready" tank, what flow capacity should the overflow be? Min 10x tank turnover or 750g/hr?
 
leona

leona

Member
Dimentions are:
36x18x17
In the original plan it was going to be 36x18x16. But I went ahead and did the 17" because the stand will now be 30" high
 
squidd

squidd

Active Member
OK...so we are 36" long and 18" "deep" (front to back) and 17" tall correct...?
And your sure this will "fit" under your stand..?
We'll start with that (let me know if it changes)...
So that's 36x18x17=11016 cu/inches...divide by 231=47.68 Gallons...
We can't "use all that, because you want to leave some room for "backwash in a power out situation...so lets see 3"-4" will leave us..
3"x36x18=1944/231=about 8.4 gallons "backwash" room...
4"x36x18=2592/231=about 11.22 gallons...:thinking:
Now let's "calculate" how much water will "backwash" out of Leonas tank...if the level "drops" by say 1 1/2"....
hint: length of main tank x depth x 1 1/2...etc..
Somebody do the calcs and let me know "How much room in the sump do we need to "save" for backwash"...???
 
low8x2

low8x2

Member
A 1 1/2" tank drop looks like 1296 cubic inches or 5.61 gallons plus the water in the return lines, so say 6 gallons should cover it. Correct?
 
leona

leona

Member

Originally posted by Squidd
And your sure this will "fit" under your stand..?

Are you sure. These are the measurments you had me look into. actually the 36x18x16.
The tank measurments will be
48x18x25.
Now I'm wondering if it will fit. It might be a little snug maybe I should go smaller?
What do you guys think?
Leona
 
low8x2

low8x2

Member
Leona,
The length should be OK, but the depth sounds too tight. My 75 has the same measurments (length and depth) and the stand has only 36x15 room under it and that is WITH a center brace front and back so my set-up will need to be modular.
 
snailheave

snailheave

Active Member
about 5.6 gallon so which is equivalent to leaving 2" of height for the fuge/sump, but 3" or 4" is probably safer.
now my question is how do you regulatel how much water will drop during a power stoppage? i am guessing by controlling the water level of the main tank? but isn't that kind of hard to gauge when the system is on or off?
 
squidd

squidd

Active Member
I'll give you options and you choose the appropriate pieces to combine and complement the whole...Based on what YOU want the end result to be...
As we get to each "phase" you will need to know what your "Goals" are, and then we'll pick and option out the components to reach these goals...
As many of the components for each phase are interdependant on each other for "balance" we will refer back to the "Big Picture" (combined Goals) to be sure they complement each other...
Here's a popular quote from my "Squidd Method for Setting Up a SW Aquarium System"...:D
And the last couple of posts pretty much show "why" this is so important...or we end up hitting a bunch of roadblocks...
Stand size needs to taken into concideration when planning the sump/fuge...Backwash and overflow layout are related when setting up the tank and S/F...Flow rates and skimmer size are important parts of "sizing" the chambers in the S/F...and so on..
So here's one for Leona... Your getting this tank and stand from a "Custom Builder"...Why can't he size the stand to fit a standard tank or build a tank to fit his stand...? Maybe he can...?
When I buld my stands...I size them big enough to fit a standard full size tank below them...I have no center or back brace to get in the way of "placing" or working on the S/F...
It's not impossible..
My 18" "deep" 125 had 20" of room below and my 24" deep 210 has 24 1/2" deep under it...(plus the length of the Main tank...):nope:
 
squidd

squidd

Active Member

Originally posted by snailheave
about 5.6 gallon so which is equivalent to leaving 2" of height for the fuge/sump, but 3" or 4" is probably safer.
now my question is how do you regulatel how much water will drop during a power stoppage? i am guessing by controlling the water level of the main tank? but isn't that kind of hard to gauge when the system is on or off?
Yep...5.6 plus a little from the lines and that will take up 2" "of" the S/F so we'd be "safer" with a 4" safety zone in the S/F...
That sets the highest "baffle" in the S/F system...
"Regulating" or controling the water level "drop" during Power out is covered by... setting the "depth" of the overflow "teeth" and setting the "Anti Siphon Hole" in the return line to "STOP" at less than a 1 1/2" drop in Main Tank level...
We'll get back to that when we get to the "Tank" layout...but we need to "concider" it now...
 
low8x2

low8x2

Member
All makes sense.
My goals as a new aquartist is for water quality to not be an issue on any type of fish/invert or plant I'd like to keep. Is that too broad of a "goal"?
 
leona

leona

Member

Originally posted by Squidd
.
So here's one for Leona... Your getting this tank and stand from a "Custom Builder"...Why can't he size the stand to fit a standard tank or build a tank to fit his stand...? Maybe he can...?

I've Already asked him today waiting for a response......
Leona
 
leona

leona

Member

Originally posted by low8x2
All makes sense.
My goals as a new aquartist is for water quality to not be an issue on any type of fish/invert or plant I'd like to keep. Is that too broad of a "goal"?
That is defently one of my goals. That's why I have squidds help.......:)
 
leona

leona

Member
I just recieved an email from glasscages. The original sump/fuge tank will NOT fit in the stand. He recommended to me
A: 36x12 1/2x13 (27G, If I go with this one I could just use the 29g I have already)
B: 36x12 1/2x18 (38G) My euro reef height is 20" so I dont think I should go above 18" maybe a little smaller like 16"?
C:36x14x16 or 18 (I thought of this one what is your thought on it anyone?) This would be custome made
D: New idea from someone else?
I'm also asking him if he could add 2 additional doors to the tank. On the side of the tank for easy access to things I might have there. Like my Fluval to run carbon if I need to. But it's not a must. I could always buy a little cabinet to put fish stuff in. As long as I keep it under lock and key or the kids might think there are cookies in there...:D
P.S. I have also asked him what are the inside measurments on the stand I am getting. I will post as soon as I know exactly.
Leona
 
squidd

squidd

Active Member
Good...Let's see what he comes up with for "actual" inside stand measurements , so we can pick the tank(s) that will make the most of the room available...:yes:
 
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