HELP…newbie finishing up my first build!!
- Thread starter ShelbyJK500
- Start date
Thanks for the heads up on the drill bits. I'm a bit too nervous to try it myself on this tank for the first try. It's brand new. If it would have been a used tank, a bit cheaper...maybe. 
No worries about helping. I'll get to put some names to faces as well as time goes on.
YUP...it's Jon's old sump/refug. I got some other things from him when he was breaking it all down. I was planning on getting a stock tank the next day until I saw he had exactly what I was looking for, and was getting rid of it no less. Great idea to mount the refug on top of the trough. Makes it nice and tidy.
No worries about helping. I'll get to put some names to faces as well as time goes on.YUP...it's Jon's old sump/refug. I got some other things from him when he was breaking it all down.
I was planning on getting a stock tank the next day until I saw he had exactly what I was looking for, and was getting rid of it no less. Great idea to mount the refug on top of the trough. Makes it nice and tidy.
othercents;115441 said:
I wish I could come, but we already have plans to shop for a house this weekend.
No worries, it's the thought that counts mostly. Good luck on the house hunting!! BUYER'S market...wish I was in it to buy.
I wanted to check to see if you spoke with a structural engineer about the weight of the tanks? I'm almost certain that the FOWLR will need extra support in the basement. The 110G might be fine because it looks like it is beside a weight bearing wall and probably sitting across 3 beams. The FOWLER on the other hand looks like it will be sitting on 2 beams (if your lucky) and running out to the middle of the beam. There is probably metal beam running from where the support wall ends under the 110G to the other end of the house (probably the kitchen) which is the other side of the beams the FOWLR will sit on. These beams need to be reinforced.
You should check this before you start filling the tanks with water.
BTW. The way the beams run is just speculation based on the pictures you gave us. It is possible that there is a metal support beam under where you are placing the FOWLR which would be more than enough to hold the weight of the FOWLR, but then the 110 would be next to a support wall with half it's weight in the middle of a beam and should be reinforced.
David
No worries, it's the thought that counts mostly.
Good luck on the house hunting!! BUYER'S market...wish I was in it to buy.I wanted to check to see if you spoke with a structural engineer about the weight of the tanks? I'm almost certain that the FOWLR will need extra support in the basement. The 110G might be fine because it looks like it is beside a weight bearing wall and probably sitting across 3 beams. The FOWLER on the other hand looks like it will be sitting on 2 beams (if your lucky) and running out to the middle of the beam. There is probably metal beam running from where the support wall ends under the 110G to the other end of the house (probably the kitchen) which is the other side of the beams the FOWLR will sit on. These beams need to be reinforced.
You should check this before you start filling the tanks with water.
BTW. The way the beams run is just speculation based on the pictures you gave us. It is possible that there is a metal support beam under where you are placing the FOWLR which would be more than enough to hold the weight of the FOWLR, but then the 110 would be next to a support wall with half it's weight in the middle of a beam and should be reinforced.
David
I'm wondering if I might need yet another joist brace for the FOWLR just to be safe. I'm gonna go check the basement in a minute. Thanks for lookin' out for me!
Yeah just let me know. Plumbing is not hard but you u need to plan it all out and overbuild. with drilling I would not worry to much I cut 8 holes twice (my bad) in glass and it was all hype on how hard it was so acrylic cannot be that hard! The only thing i worry about is your distance and what your pumps will push up that high.
I'll PM you in a minute since I lost track of time with the rock issue. Distance shouldn't be too far. I have two Reeflow Hammerheads which are rated somewhere around 6000gph I think. I also have a GenX 70 for a back up. I was actually hoping to only run one if possible. That'll depend on the build I guess.
Ruc_dog makes a point though. You need to figure out what your head pressure is going to be and consider how much flow you want coming out of the tank returns. Just because the pump is rated for 6000gph it does not mean that's what it will really move if you have a considerable distance to be plumbed. The hammer head is rated at shutoff at 24' of vertical head. So you'll probably be fine if the sump is directly below the display but pending additional elbow bends and whatever little head pressure you get from horizontal length they may not enough.
Use this calculator. I know I know it's RC but it's a good tool. I have played with it many times. This should help you dictate how you will run the plumbing.
http://www.reefcentral.com/index.php/head-loss-calculator
Use this calculator. I know I know it's RC but it's a good tool. I have played with it many times. This should help you dictate how you will run the plumbing.
http://www.reefcentral.com/index.php/head-loss-calculator
If you already have two pumps then I would suggest placing them under there respective tanks and place valves and disconnects before and after the pumps. Will save you time later if you ever want to split the sump and it will allow you to disconnect the pumps for servicing.
Note head pressure starts once the pipe starts to make the vertical climb. If you run the pipe from the pump parallel to the floor then make a 90 degree turn to go to the tank you only need to calculate head pressure at the 90 and above plus any other turns you made. Also the head pressure doesn't double when you run two vertical pipes and the resistance actually goes down.
Note head pressure starts once the pipe starts to make the vertical climb. If you run the pipe from the pump parallel to the floor then make a 90 degree turn to go to the tank you only need to calculate head pressure at the 90 and above plus any other turns you made. Also the head pressure doesn't double when you run two vertical pipes and the resistance actually goes down.
I run a basement sump for my 135 gal display and 90 gal frag tank with one Barracuda. I would think 2 Hammerheads would be overkill. Just remember everything you pump up will have to come back down and through your fuge. I have a 75 gal stock tank for a sump that takes the returns, and a 65 gal fuge. I wouldn't want much more water going through the fuge than I have. It's too expensive and messy to push so much water down and back up when you don't need that much for good bio filtration and Vortechs are so efficient and create better flow in the tank.
Thanks for the input!! Good to know about the Reeflo's. Are you pushing water up to another level for both tanks, or is your frag tank in the basement? I'll be pushing vertical to both tanks...unless I were to go vertical to the flooring and T there to each tank. Just wasn't sure if a single Hammerhead would do the trick. I can decrease flow to the FOWLR if needed as it won't need as much flow as the reef.
What size drain's are you running? Size returns? I was planning on 1 1/2" drains and 1 1/2" returns (reduced at the tank for more pressure? Any feedback would be appreciated, I need to get the pvc purchased.
What size drain's are you running? Size returns? I was planning on 1 1/2" drains and 1 1/2" returns (reduced at the tank for more pressure? Any feedback would be appreciated, I need to get the pvc purchased.
HUGE props to ruc_dog for coming out today and getting some fire lit under my arse. I definitely just needed some guidance on plumbing and setup. (Just have to figure out that d@mn skimmer) I think I got more than I bargained for though, with some ideas for incorporating my FOWLR more into an actual room divider incorporating the half wall in my kitchen, into my stand. We'll see...whee's are turning.
Gettin' close bro!! I got the stand framed in...just a few adjustments left. I'm about 1/4" off to one side. I'd rather not use shims, but might just to save on time and re-doing some of it. OR, I may just take the time to re-do what's needed. I'll send you a couple pics when I get a chance. Gotta get a build thread started as well. All I have left is drilling the holes on the FOWLR and hooking up the plumbing. I'd ask to enlist your help this Thursday before I go on a vacation of sorts...but I don't think you'll be available. I just wanna get this thing rolling with some water already! (I did fill up the FOWLR though to make sure everything was good)
How's your build coming along? Any new equipment additions??
How's your build coming along? Any new equipment additions??
Cool deff want to see some pics if you are only a 1/4 off get a sheet of plywood and if u are on the carpet it might drop a little more when u add water. My build is 99% done on the plumbing water in the tank and working well. Having 2 drains is nice I can dial one in and not hear anything I have a couple of things to fix when I drain it bit other then that I just need to buy a skimmer and build my canopy then I'll be about ready for setup in the tank.
Very cool!! Didn't realize you were get so far along, much quicker than me. Yeah, I actually overcompensated on the carpet side (1/2") and it only ended up lowering 1/4" leaving a 1/4 behind. That was with it full of water. SO, I either need to shim the hardwood floor side, or just put a slightly thicker footer/base on that side. I'm so close I can't stand it! Just need to get everything plumbed and then it's on to finishing the stand off as nice as possible, and build a canopy while I'm at it!
Yeah, I actually overcompensated on the carpet side (1/2") and it only ended up lowering 1/4" leaving a 1/4 behind. That was with it full of water. SO, I either need to shim the hardwood floor side, or just put a slightly thicker footer/base on that side. I'm so close I can't stand it! Just need to get everything plumbed and then it's on to finishing the stand off as nice as possible, and build a canopy while I'm at it!