My slow 135g build

[JoJo]

360 gph, thatsridiculous. I dont know how the guy who had this before me was keeping a decent set up. The only thing i can think of is use both bulkheads in the overflow as drains and have the sump returns come up the back of the tank as with the CLS returns. I was trying to keep as clean of a look as possible but i guess it wil be fuction over neatness. any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

AquaPro, i'd love to hear your ideas on it if you dont mind.

[tbittner]

I'm pretty sure that the sequence pumps will suck the water at the rate it needs. Their install instructions even show how to install the pump above the water line so I really don't think that the gravity rates apply here.

They say to make sure the intake pipe is at least equal to the size of the outlet side.

[JoJo]

Thanks for the info Terry, i does make sense if the pump can be above the waterline it should be ok with this set up. if i combine the (3) 3/4" drains it'll equal 2 1/4(pump inlet is 2") & the outlet is 1 1/2" so i should be ok. I may call them to get some extra pointers on the drainage.

[tbittner]

Just make sure you put good screens over the intake pipes to prevent the pump from making fish puree. Make sure the intake pipe is WELL under the water, I had read 8", so if a vortex is created from the suction, air won't get sucked into the pump.

[JoJo]

whats the best way to make a screen? i was thinking of running pvc under the sand and behind the rocks about halfway up the tanks back wall. the pvc would have plenty of holes drilled through them. similar to how melev did a closed Melevsreef.com - Closed Loop

[blue_eyes53813]

Hi JoJo, The tank is coming along great. For screen I use Gutter guard and use plastic ties to close openings if needed. For my overflow the gutter gaurd is bent and just pretty much sits on top of it. The gaurd is pretty stiff and bends and holds shape.

[JoJo]

is gutter guard something i can pick up at HD? i need some to cover my overflow, atleast the section where some of the teeth broke off.

[tbittner]

Yes, home depot and lowes both sell it. It's in the section where they sell rain gutters.

[JoJo]

well i've been on the phone with reeflo & the (3) 3/4" drains will be more than enough, i just have to combine them as far away from the pump as possible.

i'm considering adding 4 hole in the center of the back wall for the return of the CL & running 2 SCWDs on them

[JoJo]

well leave it to me to give the wrong info, i've been say the bulkheads were 3/4" because the adapter inside it said so but the bulkheads are 1". so i'll be doing a 1" dorso pipe & since my return is a Mag 9, do a 3/4" return. would i still that still be 360gph? or should i put a reducer on the pump & go up to 1" the rest of the way? i'm not sure if that would harm the pump or not.

[framerguy]

The 1" flow rate is 600gph. I have the Mag 9.5 on my 75g with a 1" drain and 3/4"return. I also have a 3/4"drain going to my fuge which I have to throttle back a little with a valve.

I'll let Terry answer the reducer question.

[tbittner]

Did you buy the PVC fittings to screw into the bulkheads? If the bulkhead says 3/4" then a 3/4" pvc fitting is probably what will screw into it.

On the return side, you'll get a LOT more then 360 gph through a 3/4 pipe. The pump will pressurize the water and add velocity to it.

[JoJo]

Hey Greg is your fuge line just a drain or is it a seperate overflow that drains to the fuge and returns from the sump? any pics by chance?

[JoJo]

Terry the pipe was already in the bulkhead when i bought the tank, but it does say 3/4 but when i measured the opening of the bulkhead it was 1 1/8". i've done irrigation before so i dont know why this seems to fluster me, could be everytime i post on plumbing i'm already frustrated about something else

[tbittner]

Of COURSE you're frustrated!!! You're MARRIED!!!!

lol

A 1" bulkhead requires a 1 3/4" hole. A 3/4" bulkhead requires a 1 3/8" hole. That is the standard measurement at least.