Splendid Warrior
04/14/2003, 10:34 AM
I intend to have a 120 gallon (60L x 24H x 19D) reef tank set up soon but have a feel questions regarding plumbing and other stuffs before I can go ahead.
This tank will have 2 corner overflow boxes with 1 Durso standpipe mounted on each side. To maximize flow, I intend to copy the plumbing design of Nathan Paden's 415 gallon tank (www.padens.homestead.com/index.html) to give my tank maximum water circulation. (I have attached a picture from his website here for reference. I just hope he doesn't sue my *** :D.) You can see from attached pic that his return pipe are branch into 4 outlets with 2 coming out the side of the overflow box and 2 via Sea-Swirls (ignore the extra pipe in the middle). Now, I would very much like to have the same plumbing design but here are my concerns:
1. Will the 2 outlets at the bottom siphon out the tank water in the event of a power failure and how do I prevent it from flooding the sump?
2. I probably will use the 1 SCWD wavemaker instead of the 2 Sea-Swirls because of the price difference. Can I safely install the SCWD on my return line or will I be better off by using them with a closed system?
3. Will 3/4 inch pipes be enough for my tank size? I plan to have a 45 gallon sump with 2 return pumps for each return line.
4. What size pumps do I need for this setup? (I intend to use Eheim pumps because they are the only reliable ones available here) I'd also be running a Red Sea Berlin skimmer, a chiller, a Ca reactor and a UV sterilizer.
I'll be most grateful for any kind of help or suggestions. :p
This tank will have 2 corner overflow boxes with 1 Durso standpipe mounted on each side. To maximize flow, I intend to copy the plumbing design of Nathan Paden's 415 gallon tank (www.padens.homestead.com/index.html) to give my tank maximum water circulation. (I have attached a picture from his website here for reference. I just hope he doesn't sue my *** :D.) You can see from attached pic that his return pipe are branch into 4 outlets with 2 coming out the side of the overflow box and 2 via Sea-Swirls (ignore the extra pipe in the middle). Now, I would very much like to have the same plumbing design but here are my concerns:
1. Will the 2 outlets at the bottom siphon out the tank water in the event of a power failure and how do I prevent it from flooding the sump?
2. I probably will use the 1 SCWD wavemaker instead of the 2 Sea-Swirls because of the price difference. Can I safely install the SCWD on my return line or will I be better off by using them with a closed system?
3. Will 3/4 inch pipes be enough for my tank size? I plan to have a 45 gallon sump with 2 return pumps for each return line.
4. What size pumps do I need for this setup? (I intend to use Eheim pumps because they are the only reliable ones available here) I'd also be running a Red Sea Berlin skimmer, a chiller, a Ca reactor and a UV sterilizer.
I'll be most grateful for any kind of help or suggestions. :p