Joel's 1st Marine Build

[Phatboydime]

Ideally you will want to keep the flow through the sump slow, and used another type of device for flow in the tank. The slower the water moves through the sump, the more contact time it has with all the agents in the sump to remove bad things. Im only going to have about a 2x turnover in my sump, but my tank is going to have 12x, which still isnt alot.

The kritter keeper idea will work, but keep in mind that your water level in the sump will only be as high as the sides of the kritter keeper, so you may want to build a table to put it on that will raise it up from the bottom a few inches to get more water volume in the sump.

 

[joel.uejio]

Word! -- very reassuring to hear...

As for the height, I can do a configuration like you mention using the built-in brackets. It's possible for me to create a table on the right 4" above the bottom, which would put the KK top around 12".

So maybe I'll give that a try -- only possible issue I see there is that I could end up with a dead spot underneath, but that should be easy to check for.

Thanks!

 

[joel.uejio]

Got the LifeReef pre-filter today! So having that and a basic plan for plumbing I've done the following:

+ Placed sump in stand
+ Added table / bin / pump for return area
+ Filled with freshwater (to be used for FW test)
+ Replaced stand top
+ Placed tank on stand

I'm hoping I can pick up the remaining plumbing pieces I need tomorrow and then post pics of the system in action!

 

[greech]

Sounds great, can't wait to see the pics. I just learned from my wife that I need to move my tank to another wall. UGH

 

[Fishfriend1]

I cant wait to see those pics! Good Luck!

 

[joel.uejio]

Plumbing!

Ok folks, I picked up a few pieces of tubing and a few elbow joints and got plumbing! I did a few basic set-up of the overflow box and return pump, turned everything on and...it worked! I then killed the power and confirmed that the overflow stopped -- although the pump return line started siphoning back into the sump, so I'll just need to make sure I have a siphon break. Once I turned the power back on, the flow started up and continued.

<happy>

Next steps are to build a proper return line (with siphon break), replace salt water, and then begin warming / mixing. I think I'll add the water first to mix, and then add the rocks and sand -- so I don't end up with a lot of salt trapped in the sand.

Only issue I'm seeing at this point is that the over flow is pretty noisy (I guess since it's just a straight tube down to the sump). I've seen a few posts here and there about quieting the flow, so will probably check into those....

Pics!

Outer box of over flow


Over flow in action


Temp return line


Input area of sump


Return area of sump


FTS


Woot!

 

[Ace25]

I am seeing one thing that can cause a disaster in those pics. See the big air bubble in the U tube I circled, that is inhibiting your overflow rate. I drilled a hole at the top and glued on a air tubing coupler and attached an aqualifter to suck out that air bubble. If just a tiny bit more air gets in that tube it can break the siphon and then your return pump will overflow your tank.

 

[joel.uejio]

I think that may actually just be the way that light is reflecting off of the curved part of the tube. I looked now (with everything turned off) and there are no big bubbles (lots of tiny bubbles though). When it was running I don't *remember* any bubbles...

I'll make sure to do another test and check for the possibility of a big bubble forming -- definitely appreciate you taking the time to look at the pics and point out a possible problem. Thanks!

 

[Ace25]

cool, ya, I had a feeling it may just be light reflecting, but I had an overflowed tank because of that exact problem and why I installed the aqualifter to remedy it from ever happening again. Just keep an eye on it.

 

[greech]

Looking good. I'm sure you will get the noise under control soon enough and once you do I will order my overflow and copy what you did