planning on setting up a marine

[Anthony]

hi all,

im planning on setting up a marine tank in it i want a mixaure of corals, fish and annomes(sp?) the tank will be 4ft by 2ft by 1.5ft with a 2.5 by 1ft sump with a wepro SA2014 skimmer and a jebao return pump with the lighting im thinking of x2 150watt MH but how much more wood it be for 250watts

here is a quick disign of what i want:

birds eye view

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/a ... yeview.bmp

side on view

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/a ... onview.bmp

ALL HELP/COMENTS ARE WELCOME!

cheers anthony

[Brianemone]

a comment on the way youve set up the return from the sump

in hte event of a power outage of pump failure it will all syphon back down the tube into the sump flooding the sump then onto the floor and emptying the tank

have the return higher

[Anthony]

so just move the return pump closer to the top of the sump?

[chimera]

personally i wouldnt run the risk of having the return going into a spray bar - leave that up to a closed loop instead. keep your overflow and return simple. have it go back over the top of the tank with an 'anti-reverse syphon hole' near the top of the plumbing (but under the water) optionally add an anti-reverse syphon valve to your plumbing - but unncessary if you design your sump correctly.

the pipe out of your sump into your return pump should be as close to the bottom of the sump (but not on the bottom so as to suck up any crud) also as brian says, the sump should have enough space above the normal 'water line' for any water reverse syphoning from the main tank.

lastly, consider baffles (over, under, over) in the middle of the sump to reduce micro-bubbles effecting performance of the return pump.

where about's is ya skimmer going?

[Ira]

You could also instead of having the spray bar at the bottom put it at the top. If it's under the surface it will still siphon a bit of water, but you can adjust it upwards so it doesn't siphon enough to overfill the sump. Something like a sea swirl on the return would be ideal, but a spraybar should be fine.

I'd consider putting a bigger sump if you can fit it and still have room for some shelves and stuff in the stand. Bigger the better, you have more room for equipment, refugium, etc.

You can always come have a look at my tank if you're in the area, it's the same size. Pies' isn't really set up the same and I dunno about suphews...They're the only marine people I know of in Wellington.

[livebearer_breeder]

Im in the same boat as Anth, Not quiet as far as designing it on Paint though, so any helpful Newbie advice would be great

Shae

[Aquatopia]

Another reason why you might not want to return to the spraybar in that location is that you are not creating much water movement on the surface - which is beneficial for gaseous exchange (release of carbon dioxide and take up of oxygen).

Some closed loops incorporate a spraybar for continual (or alternated use in the case of something like flow splitting device - more of those later if you like) use. Other systems utilise a spraybar in that position either as part of the return or as part of a closed loop, but they are isolated using a tap. In this way, they become a sort of "reef flush" system controled by you to be used as and when you wish.

Deltec integrated aquariums have this as an option (although they are somewhat more flash for your buck !).

[Control]

What corals are you thinking of.

There is no point in bying the 150w rig if you will have to change it in the near future.

Is this your first marine tank.

Aaron

[Newtman]

hey anth didnt u say that you were having some circulation pumps in the tank also? or was that just a thought....

your planing looks good....im sorta doing the same thing for the tank in my lounge, with sump in the dining room.

looks cool...

Newt

[Control]

I agree.

You should not restrict the flow of the return with a spraybar, use somethig else for that job.

Aaron

[Anthony]

yea ive thought about circulation pumps but not sure what ones to get yet

yes this is my first marine

so shouldnt i have the return going into the bottem of the tank?

[Aquatopia]

so shouldnt i have the return going into the bottem of the tank?

No, for the reasons stated above. Remember;

1) A return at the bottom could lead to the entire tank emptying if the pump fails unless you use a non-return valve (which would be retrictive on water flow and quite expensive).

2) It would not create any surface agitation for gaseous exchange (see earlier for description).

[Anthony]

ok so if i take the return and put it in over the top of the tank do i put the pipe right in the water to stop all the mirco bubbles?

and what size sump should i have?

cheers

ant

[Ira]

Just put the return similar to how the return from a cannister filter would be if you're using a spraybar.

[Aquatopia]

ok so if i take the return and put it in over the top of the tank do i put the pipe right in the water to stop all the mirco bubbles?

and what size sump should i have?

cheers

ant

You could do it that way - there is nothing to stop you connecting that return to say a spray bar which is submerged but pointing slightly up to break the surface of the water. this should not give you bubbles.. The alternative is to hook the return up to sea squirts or revolutions (i will leave chimera or one of the others to elaborate as they are using them already i believe).

The sump should be as big as you can fit within the limits of your space. Also, you need the level of the sump to be set so that if there is any back-syphoning from the return, that the sump will hold that volume of water. Thats just a case of measuring the drop from the water level in the tank to beneath the spraybar and calculating the volume and ensuring that a RISE in water level in the sump as a result of syphoning could hold that volume.

[Anthony]

ok ive decieded of 900x600x600 for sump

now for the return i want to have it going through like a power head to create even more water flow

[Control]

Put it just under the waters surface so the siphan will break quickly when power is lost.

Check it when done.

The siphan must be lost as quickly as possible.

Aaron

[Anthony]

is this good?

i changed it

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/a ... pdated.bmp

please comment and help me on this one

[Ira]

DOesn't really need to be as quickly as possible, just before the sump fills up. My setup I have 2-3" before the spraybar stops siphoning, but that's enough of a safety margin.

[Control]

Can depend on the sump.

But as Ira said don't let it overflow and its not the water that is the problem for the carpet it's the salt.

Theres a point.

A must have is a Vax.

Aaron

[Aquatopia]

looks ok, but that pic is a bit wee to see.

when you say you want the return going through a powerhead, do you mean you are intending to use a powerhead as the return pump?

[chimera]

now for the return i want to have it going through like a power head to create even more water flow

best item for this is a sea swirl. water flows through it and the nozzle oscillates side to side 90 degrees. it's an item i dont believe i could do without - the best part i believe is that it adds cross-flow to my closed loop flow thus creating random water movement. very cool!

[Ira]

Control, what's a vax?

Cause, I don't see one of these as being what you're talking about...

:lol:

[Anthony]

yea a sea swirl thats what i mean

[Aquatopia]

Ira - now that pic brings back memories ! We used to (and they still do) run a lot of stuff on those in the NHS back home. Bloody VMS. ever been tempted to type in @sys$system:shutdown ???? (or something like that - forgotton it all now). Anyway - we digress