reeffreak
Reef pro
You did a fantastic job with the sump!Can you come over and set up my RK too.
saltwater aquarium build
- Thread starter troybuckle
- Start date
troybuckle
Reefing newb
I have a question about plumping. The overflow the piping will be 1 ¼” and the return pump is ¾” is this fine? Or should they both be the same size? I think that I am going to use a ball valve in both lines and a check valve on the pump line. Would this be correct? Any input will be helpful.
Bifferwine
I am a girl
They don't need to be the same size. In fact, when tanks are drilled, the drain is usually much larger than the return.
You don't need to put a ball valve on the drain line, but you can if you want to. A ball valve is necessary on the return line.
When you plumb the return, it's also a good idea to make a T from the return pump. One end of the T goes to the main tank, the other end of the T goes back to the sump. You put the ball valve on the line that goes back to the sump. This way, you can control flow by diverting water back to the sump, without putting back-pressure on the pump.
You don't need to put a ball valve on the drain line, but you can if you want to. A ball valve is necessary on the return line.
When you plumb the return, it's also a good idea to make a T from the return pump. One end of the T goes to the main tank, the other end of the T goes back to the sump. You put the ball valve on the line that goes back to the sump. This way, you can control flow by diverting water back to the sump, without putting back-pressure on the pump.
troybuckle
Reefing newb
That sound right - I will do this when I start my plumbing this weekend, hopefully. I’m going to order my RO/DI unit today, but my lights might have to wait until next month.
troybuckle
Reefing newb
Another update, I have the plumping completed. Well, 99% of it anyway, I still need a ¾” check valve, but I will have to get it online because there isn’t any in the city :frustrat: The drain line from the overflow is 1” and I have a ball valve on it because I have about 4 feet of head on the pump, so it’s there just case the pump can’t keep up with the overflow. I also have a T and a ball valve on the pump so I can redirect the water back into the sump if the pump is too fast for the overflow, without putting back pressure on the pump (Thanks Biff) .
Attachments
puttycat
Reefing newb
Looks good. Wouldn't worry about the pump keeping up, the overflow will only drain out as much as it gets back provided you have the correct amount of water in the system. I like having the valve on the drain for maintenance.
troybuckle
Reefing newb
Hi Guys
So, I was looking at the following light and powerheads, and would like an opinion on them. Still going to be a while yet before I start to add water and live rock, still a lot of equipment to buy. Once I do I will get a better camera to take some pics with. Thanks.
Light:
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380215987822&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
Powerhead:
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280529718206&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
So, I was looking at the following light and powerheads, and would like an opinion on them. Still going to be a while yet before I start to add water and live rock, still a lot of equipment to buy. Once I do I will get a better camera to take some pics with. Thanks.
Light:
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380215987822&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
Powerhead:
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280529718206&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
You might want to up it to the nova extreme pros with 6 bulbs.
I didn't go through the entire thread but I assume you're still doing a 50 gallon tank? The 4 bulb fixture will only give you about 3 watts per gallon (individual reflectors aside) and you probably won't be able to keep any high light-demanding corals or clams under that.
And that's a great powerhead, but you'll want to get more smaller ones for a more chaotic flow.
I didn't go through the entire thread but I assume you're still doing a 50 gallon tank? The 4 bulb fixture will only give you about 3 watts per gallon (individual reflectors aside) and you probably won't be able to keep any high light-demanding corals or clams under that.
And that's a great powerhead, but you'll want to get more smaller ones for a more chaotic flow.
troybuckle
Reefing newb
Thanks for bringing that up, but you made me sad lol. I also just read I am going to need at least 4W/Gallon, which mean I need to drop like $400 on the Nova Extreme Pro. Ahhh that’s crazy.
Jmck
Reef enthusiast
Crazy, but VERY worth it. You will be happier in the end :)
I wish i knew all this when i started my tank and i wouldnt have had to buy this Mhalide for 350 dollars and would have bought a 2ft lighting of a different kind.
I wish i knew all this when i started my tank and i wouldnt have had to buy this Mhalide for 350 dollars and would have bought a 2ft lighting of a different kind.
Bifferwine
I am a girl
Sorry Ebay links are blocked at my work so I can't see what you linked to :(
But is that a 4-bulb T5 fixture? For a 50 gallon tank?
If so, I think that will work. I used a 4-bulb 48" T5 fixture of my 55 gallon tank for years. I kept SPS, clams, anemones -- all the light demanding animals, with no problems.
But is that a 4-bulb T5 fixture? For a 50 gallon tank?
If so, I think that will work. I used a 4-bulb 48" T5 fixture of my 55 gallon tank for years. I kept SPS, clams, anemones -- all the light demanding animals, with no problems.
troybuckle
Reefing newb
Yeah that was the original one I looked at.
Current Nova Extreme 36" T5HO Aquarium Light 156W $240 + Shipping
Now this is the new one I’m looking at:
Current Nova Extreme PRO 36" T5HO Light 234 Watts $363 + Shipping
So I don’t know what to do. I know that lights are very important and that I shouldn’t cheep out on them, but I also have to get a pile of more stuff. Not to mention that here live rock is $12-$13 / lbs. Corals and stuff are even more nuts. I feel like this rate it’s going to take me another six months before water lol!!
Current Nova Extreme 36" T5HO Aquarium Light 156W $240 + Shipping
Now this is the new one I’m looking at:
Current Nova Extreme PRO 36" T5HO Light 234 Watts $363 + Shipping
So I don’t know what to do. I know that lights are very important and that I shouldn’t cheep out on them, but I also have to get a pile of more stuff. Not to mention that here live rock is $12-$13 / lbs. Corals and stuff are even more nuts. I feel like this rate it’s going to take me another six months before water lol!!
Bifferwine
I am a girl
You should order your live rock from Drs. Foster and Smith. They have cheap shipping ($7or $8 regardless of the size of your order) and their live rock is usually $3 to $5 a pound; even cheaper if you can get it on sale.
troybuckle
Reefing newb
Thanks. Yeah - I am going to have to find a place in Eastern Canada to get it online, it’s hard to ship to Newfoundland most times though. I will try and figure out my light later, my RO/DI is first anyway. I think both the 6 and 4 bulb Nova are a good choice either way.
Bifferwine
I am a girl
Oh true. I forgot you were in Canada. Sorry. :(
troybuckle
Reefing newb
I was thinking about going with this for my sand: Carib Sea Ocean Direct Natural Liv. and getting about 25lbs of base CARIB SEA - PRIMO REEF ROCK, and about 50lbs of live. Does anyone have any experance with this rock and/or sand? Also I was thinking of going with Instant Ocean Sea Salt. Thanks.
Instant Ocean salt is fine for fish only tanks or reefs with mostely softies, but once you get into SPS and stuff you'll want to look into the more mineral enriched salts.
And there are mixed opinions on the bagged "live" sand. Many people think the amount of life in there is pretty insignificant and not worth the extra money. I have personally found tons of amphipods and even nassarius snails in the bagged sand so I think there's definetly some value to it.
But as long as you get plenty of live rock your dry sand will quickly become "seeded" with life regardless.
And there are mixed opinions on the bagged "live" sand. Many people think the amount of life in there is pretty insignificant and not worth the extra money. I have personally found tons of amphipods and even nassarius snails in the bagged sand so I think there's definetly some value to it.
But as long as you get plenty of live rock your dry sand will quickly become "seeded" with life regardless.
reeffreak
Reef pro
Carib live is just as cheap as their dry sand so why not.Same sand I used to set up my tank several years ago.I don't know anything about the primo rocks.
coolhandgoose
Reef enthusiast
I use instant ocean reef crystals. The calcium is about 440, dkH 8 running at salinity of 1.026 So I'm pretty happy with the formula.
