Okay all, I’m in the home stretch of my build and need some assistance! I’m calling on all basement sump people or those who know or have experience doing that sort of setup. Also calling on anyone who has successful experience drilling acrylic for different setups. I have/can provide beverages of your choice, some spiderman zoa frags (need to DBTC a couple as well), pizza, and some (elusive) greenbacks for help!! Late notice I know, but free all tomorrow (Saturday) and also next Saturday I believe. I also have a crappy schedule so I'm only free in the mornings, not evenings. So much going on and so busy that if I don’t get this going it’ll be after Christmas before it becomes a reality! 
So here’s the deal. I’m a total newbie, but have a severe addiction already. I’ve spent the last 3 months on this forum and collecting tanks and equipment. Spent 3 months prior to that just researching, web surfing, and reading about the hobby/husbandry. I also started with a 28g JBJ Nano to get my feet wet. The nano has been very successful so far!
Build plan; I have a 225g FOWLR island overflow setup as a room divider of sorts. In the same room (possibly a room over, haven’t made up my mind) a 110g Reef tank setup. These will both be plumbed from my main floor to the basement and flow into the same 150g Rubbermaid stock-tank sump. I also have a 65g refugium that half of the water will flow through before dumping into the sump as well. I have a huge external skimmer with separate waste collector, good for 750-1000g gallons. Two Reeflo Hammerhead pumps and one Gen-X 70 pump. I’ll be dosing (with dosing pumps) and have a Carbon/GFO reactor as well. Two RO/DI systems and two 32g brute trash cans to use for water storage with float valves to install.
I’ve had completely conflicting recommendations, split down the middle, on whether or not to run a reef and FOWLR off the same sump. I figure I’m going to try my hand at it and see how it goes. If I have to, I’ll separate down the road if it doesn’t pan out.
Being a newbie, I have no experience even hooking up the simplest of systems. 20 years of freshwater husbandry didn’t prepare me for this hobby, except the bare essentials. I also have no life experience with plumbing whatsoever (sad I know) but have heard it’s the easiest part!?! I just need some guidance, coaching and experience on how to set all this stuff up and set it up right. I’ve read so much on how setting things up correctly will eliminate things such as “waterfalls”, flushing sounds, etc. I’d rather try to get it as close to correct from the start as possible.
So there you have it.
I’m totally open to some feedback here as well but it’s very difficult for me to take it from here to “the field” so to speak, I’m a visual learner-doer. I haven’t purchased any plumbing yet as I’m not sure how that’s even going to work, i.e. pvc, flex-tubing, etc. (hence needing help). I have TONS of misc plumbing stuff from equipment buys I’ve done (connectors, valves, old manifolds, etc).
I have lots of pics, if anyone wants or needs to see any in particular let me know. I don’t want to throw up random photos?!? Thanks all!
So here’s the deal. I’m a total newbie, but have a severe addiction already. I’ve spent the last 3 months on this forum and collecting tanks and equipment. Spent 3 months prior to that just researching, web surfing, and reading about the hobby/husbandry. I also started with a 28g JBJ Nano to get my feet wet. The nano has been very successful so far!
Build plan; I have a 225g FOWLR island overflow setup as a room divider of sorts. In the same room (possibly a room over, haven’t made up my mind) a 110g Reef tank setup. These will both be plumbed from my main floor to the basement and flow into the same 150g Rubbermaid stock-tank sump. I also have a 65g refugium that half of the water will flow through before dumping into the sump as well. I have a huge external skimmer with separate waste collector, good for 750-1000g gallons. Two Reeflo Hammerhead pumps and one Gen-X 70 pump. I’ll be dosing (with dosing pumps) and have a Carbon/GFO reactor as well. Two RO/DI systems and two 32g brute trash cans to use for water storage with float valves to install.
I’ve had completely conflicting recommendations, split down the middle, on whether or not to run a reef and FOWLR off the same sump. I figure I’m going to try my hand at it and see how it goes. If I have to, I’ll separate down the road if it doesn’t pan out.
Being a newbie, I have no experience even hooking up the simplest of systems. 20 years of freshwater husbandry didn’t prepare me for this hobby, except the bare essentials. I also have no life experience with plumbing whatsoever (sad I know) but have heard it’s the easiest part!?! I just need some guidance, coaching and experience on how to set all this stuff up and set it up right. I’ve read so much on how setting things up correctly will eliminate things such as “waterfalls”, flushing sounds, etc. I’d rather try to get it as close to correct from the start as possible.
So there you have it.
I’m totally open to some feedback here as well but it’s very difficult for me to take it from here to “the field” so to speak, I’m a visual learner-doer. I haven’t purchased any plumbing yet as I’m not sure how that’s even going to work, i.e. pvc, flex-tubing, etc. (hence needing help). I have TONS of misc plumbing stuff from equipment buys I’ve done (connectors, valves, old manifolds, etc).
I have lots of pics, if anyone wants or needs to see any in particular let me know. I don’t want to throw up random photos?!? Thanks all!
