tank setup plan
- Thread starter ben72227
- Start date
okay, from looking at all of the sumps, overflows, etc., here is a drawing i've come up with:
how does this look? did i leave any thing off? I still don't completly understand how to prevent a major catatrophe if the power goes out and the siphon is still siphoing? Also, when the power goes out, how do i prevent the return from flowing back into the sump?
how does this look? did i leave any thing off? I still don't completly understand how to prevent a major catatrophe if the power goes out and the siphon is still siphoing? Also, when the power goes out, how do i prevent the return from flowing back into the sump?
Your diagram is correct. Let me make a suggestion. The remora is a fine HOT skimmer, but if your going with a sump, buy a true in-sump skimmer. The better ones perform much better than any HOT type. Check into the Aqua C EV series, Euro-reef (the ES series may be your best bang for the buck), ETSS, Lifereef, Deltec etc.
When you experience a power outage, the water will keep draining from your tank until the water level goes below the teeth on the overflow inside your tank. When this happens the water level in the tank is below the overflow box so the flow will stop. You just have to make sure you leave enough volume available in your sump to handle this. During normal operation your 10gal sump should probably have about 5gal of water in it. This way you have another 5gal of volume available during a power outage. The reason i suggested the lifereef overflow is that I have never heard of anyone having any tank overflows due to a power outage or pump malfunction while using one. These models, and all good ones IMO have a small resavoir that keeps the U tupe full of water during an outage so when the pump turns back on the siphon was not broken and the overflow goes back to working. I would test this when you first set up the sump. One reason is to make sure you have left enough volume in the sump to hanle a power aoutage, the other is to make sure you have the overflow stu up correctly. I would recommend you stay away from the cpr overflows. I heard many stories of them losing siphon and overflowing the tank during power outages and subsequent power returns.
I think Orion mentioned drilling a small hole in your return line just below the water level. This sould stop any siphoning of your tank through the return line during a power outage.
Brian
When you experience a power outage, the water will keep draining from your tank until the water level goes below the teeth on the overflow inside your tank. When this happens the water level in the tank is below the overflow box so the flow will stop. You just have to make sure you leave enough volume available in your sump to handle this. During normal operation your 10gal sump should probably have about 5gal of water in it. This way you have another 5gal of volume available during a power outage. The reason i suggested the lifereef overflow is that I have never heard of anyone having any tank overflows due to a power outage or pump malfunction while using one. These models, and all good ones IMO have a small resavoir that keeps the U tupe full of water during an outage so when the pump turns back on the siphon was not broken and the overflow goes back to working. I would test this when you first set up the sump. One reason is to make sure you have left enough volume in the sump to hanle a power aoutage, the other is to make sure you have the overflow stu up correctly. I would recommend you stay away from the cpr overflows. I heard many stories of them losing siphon and overflowing the tank during power outages and subsequent power returns.
I think Orion mentioned drilling a small hole in your return line just below the water level. This sould stop any siphoning of your tank through the return line during a power outage.
Brian
Thanks for explaining that to me Brian. I think i pretty much understand it now.
i have some more questions:
Is there a food that all of these fish would eat, say for example, frozen mysid/brine or prime reef flake? Or do they need something special in their diet?
When i get the two clowns, should i try to buy them as a pair or is it okay for me to buy them separately and add one first and add another one later?
Could i put any plants (seaweed) in my tank? If so, what would you recommend?
i have some more questions:
Is there a food that all of these fish would eat, say for example, frozen mysid/brine or prime reef flake? Or do they need something special in their diet?
When i get the two clowns, should i try to buy them as a pair or is it okay for me to buy them separately and add one first and add another one later?
Could i put any plants (seaweed) in my tank? If so, what would you recommend?
For feeding, I prefer a variety of foods instead of just one thing. I feed frozen foods mostly--Emerald Entree, blood worms, brine shrimp, and Formula One or Formula Two. Flakes get sucked into the overflow too quickly to be convenient.
Add clowns at the same time. Don't have to be from the same tank, or sold as a pair, but adding one first will allow it to claim the entire tank and make it very aggressive to the second addition.
There are several macro algaes that are great for nitrate removal. Saw blade and grape caulerpa are the most common, with halimeda a close second. They are good, but require pruning to prevent them from over growing the tank. If you can provide lighting for the sump, you could put the macros in there, and run the lights opposite of the tank lights. This will help stabilize the pH of your tank (not a huge deal, more like a perk).
Add clowns at the same time. Don't have to be from the same tank, or sold as a pair, but adding one first will allow it to claim the entire tank and make it very aggressive to the second addition.
There are several macro algaes that are great for nitrate removal. Saw blade and grape caulerpa are the most common, with halimeda a close second. They are good, but require pruning to prevent them from over growing the tank. If you can provide lighting for the sump, you could put the macros in there, and run the lights opposite of the tank lights. This will help stabilize the pH of your tank (not a huge deal, more like a perk).
Thanks for the great link! It confirms feasibility of a DIY that's been bouncing around in my head for a week or so.
Thanks once again for the info Orion Girl.
Here's some background info. on my situation:
I'm not sure if i should buy most of my stuff online or get it locally. Here where i live - Little Rock, AR (capital city) we used to have a LFS specifically for Salt Water but they went out of business and so now we have is petsmart who have some saltwater equipment (Instant Ocean, Lights, etc.)but are more geared towards FW. We just got a petco that i haven't been to yet (do they carry sw fish?i'm assuming they don't). About 50 miles south in pine bluff there is an extremly good lfs/petstore. its out in the country and they have some other animals (chickens, rabbits, puppies, and other pets you'd have in AR), but they have tons of (over 400 tanks) fish and about 15% of that is SW. I could probably get stuff from there like live stock (i saw last time i was there that they had a couple of different clowns and some damsels and some other stuff (some of the more commonly bought fish)) but im not sure if they would have the cardinals or gobies. I remember seeing in the front of the store that had a huge 400gallon reef display tank filled with tons of stuff. I'm not sure how much they sell LR for either. So what do you think i should do? They're real nice and friendly people(they're real knowledgeable too), but I don't go down there much cause it's way out of the way and i can't see myself traveling for 2 hours back and forth everytime i need to get something.
OrionGirl - I see you live in WY (there's not very many people there ?)- where do you get your stuff from? Do you have a really good LFS where you live that sells SW stuff? or do you go to somewhere else?
In the meantime, seeing that this book was highly recommended by almost everybody, I've ordered Fenner's Conscientious Marine Aquarist, and i already have the new marine aquarium by paletta and marine fishes by michaels, both of which are very informative and pretty up to date.
Thanks so much for everyones support and help so far.
Here's some background info. on my situation:
I'm not sure if i should buy most of my stuff online or get it locally. Here where i live - Little Rock, AR (capital city) we used to have a LFS specifically for Salt Water but they went out of business and so now we have is petsmart who have some saltwater equipment (Instant Ocean, Lights, etc.)but are more geared towards FW. We just got a petco that i haven't been to yet (do they carry sw fish?i'm assuming they don't). About 50 miles south in pine bluff there is an extremly good lfs/petstore. its out in the country and they have some other animals (chickens, rabbits, puppies, and other pets you'd have in AR), but they have tons of (over 400 tanks) fish and about 15% of that is SW. I could probably get stuff from there like live stock (i saw last time i was there that they had a couple of different clowns and some damsels and some other stuff (some of the more commonly bought fish)) but im not sure if they would have the cardinals or gobies. I remember seeing in the front of the store that had a huge 400gallon reef display tank filled with tons of stuff. I'm not sure how much they sell LR for either. So what do you think i should do? They're real nice and friendly people(they're real knowledgeable too), but I don't go down there much cause it's way out of the way and i can't see myself traveling for 2 hours back and forth everytime i need to get something.
OrionGirl - I see you live in WY (there's not very many people there ?)- where do you get your stuff from? Do you have a really good LFS where you live that sells SW stuff? or do you go to somewhere else?
In the meantime, seeing that this book was highly recommended by almost everybody, I've ordered Fenner's Conscientious Marine Aquarist, and i already have the new marine aquarium by paletta and marine fishes by michaels, both of which are very informative and pretty up to date.
Thanks so much for everyones support and help so far.
