Terry's 450g upgrade

[AQTCJAK]

I will give it a shot I know I have done some wild plumb jubs in the past

[Octoman]

Terry, the one thing I would be concerned about is if the check valve failed, you would be facing a DT drain-out situation. Could you use the bottom holes as part of a closed loop system and run your pump return pipes up and over the back of the tank? Then you could just put holes in the return pipe right below the water level so it won't drain any further than that and not worry about the check valve.

[Octoman]

Looking back at the pictures, aren't there two holes drilled in the back near the top that you could use for the return lines?

[Craig Manoukian]

If your returns are near the bottom of the tank, what screening/system will you use to eliminate clogging? The water pressure is much greater at the bottom than a traditional overflow or drilled system with the holes higher in the tank.

[tbittner]

Originally Posted by Octoman

Looking back at the pictures, aren't there two holes drilled in the back near the top that you could use for the return lines?

Yes, but they're only 3/4" bulkheads. I was worried about the pressure of the flow coming out if I used those holes. On the inside of the tank I could put a locline Wye and run four locline nozzles off of it, that would spread out the flow.

My early thoughts on the plumbing would be to use overflow boxes to get the water to the sump. I've since reconfigured the sump to I think I could use just about any of the holes in the tank to drain water to the sump.

Now I'm thinking that I could build/buy a large skimmer box, attach pipes to the bottom of it, and run it through the three 1" bulkheads that are drilled in the back, towards the bottom. That would only give me about 1800 gph though, through the sump.

Once I can figure out how to get the water too the sump and back again, all remaining holes will be tied into the closed loop. The only decision then will be on which holes would be drain and which would be returns. Of course, there wouldn't be any concerns of siphons and what not with the closed loop plumbing.

When I get home tonight, I'll get better pictures and I'll add measurements to the pics and post them so everyone is on the same page.

[tbittner]

Craig, I'll use something like this to keep the intakes open for both the closed loop and the sump drains. It provides a nice big area so fish and other animals should be safe from suction.

[Craig Manoukian]

Cool beans Terry, you can always add an egg crate basket to add additional protection!

[tbittner]

Ok, here is a pic of the holes in the back of the tank. Reds are 3/4", blues are 1". All measurements beside the holes are from the right edge of the tank. All measurements under the holes are from the bottom of the tank. All measurements are in inches.



The overflow box that is currently installed is 84" from the right edge and it has a 3/4" hole in the bottom. There are also two 1" holes in the bottom that are centered and 12" in from both the left and right ends.

HELP!!!!!!!!

[tbittner]

The bottom of the tank will be 36" from the floor and the top of the skimmer and fuge tubs is 36" so draining from the bottom holes isn't an option.

[JoJo]

cant help you, but i'm reading along

[tbittner]

How about this...

I remove the existing skimmer box. I install a coast to coast skimmer box along the top. I use the two top holes for drains. I also put bulkheads in the bottom of the skimmer box and run pipes down to the three 1" bulkheads in the back and use those for drains going to the fuge/skimmer. That would get me around 2400 gph. I could bring the return from the sump back up over the top, either on the ends or through the front of the skimmer box.

Then use the two 1" holes in the bottom as feeds for the CL pump. Use the remaining four 3/4" holes on the back AND the 3/4" that is in the bottom as returns for the CL.

[tbittner]

Or my original plan was to use overflow siphon boxes to get the water to the sump set up.....

Which would open up the two top holes for maybe the returns from the sump?

[framerguy]

I'm liking the coast to coast idea. That's what I want in my big one. (after all my talk of "getting the big one" I hope it doesn't turn out to be a fish story!)

[Octoman]

I like the coast to coast idea too. I would avoid the overflow siphon boxes if you can, that eliminates something else that can go wrong. Those things always make me nervous.

[cracker]

The coast to coast would be sweet. The leveling pegs on the stand will help there. How to plump it? Too Many Choices! I wouldn't be able to decide which way was best. Do You have an idea how it was setup before? One given, There are enough holes already to do it just about anyway You wanted.