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Reef Tank System Specification v1.2
DISPLAY SYSTEM
Tank: Aqua Vim “Seamless” Bowfront (no canopy)
Product line: Seamless Bowfront glass aquarium set
Rated size: 170 gallon model
Tank dimensions: 60" L × 22" W × 30" D
Glass thickness: 10 mm
Construction: Single-piece bowed front panel, reduced-iron glass, eurobraced
Top cover:
• Tempered glass panels covering the top
• One ~3" feeding hole (only opening)
Lighting:
• 2 × Neptune SKY LED
Mounting:
• EcoTech RMS arms + track
VOLUME ESTIMATES
Geometric (rectangular) volume from listed dimensions:
60 × 22 × 30 = 39,600 in³ → 39,600 / 231 = 171.4 gallons
Practical display water volume (after displacement and typical operating fill height):
Estimated ~135–145 gallons display water (bow-front + rock/sand displacement)
System volume (typical operating):
• Display water: ~140 gallons (estimate)
• Sump operating volume: ~45 gallons (estimate)
Estimated total operating system water volume: ~175–185 gallons
SUMP SYSTEM
Sump: Trigger Systems 3-chamber sump
Total sump capacity: ~50 gallons
Chambers (approx operating volumes):
• Refugium: ~10 gallons
• Skimmer section: ~10 gallons
• Return section: ~5 gallons
• Remaining unused buffer capacity: ~25g
Return section operating water height:
• 6" normal water level
Drain-down behavior / flood safety:
• Return pump OFF causes ~1" water rise in return section
• Sump has ~25 gallons of remaining capacity before overflow (backs up first into skimmer section then to Refugium)
• No drain-down overflow issues observed
DRAIN / OVERFLOW (DISPLAY → SUMP)
Overflow style: Durso standpipe
Main drain size: 1.5"
Drain split plumbing (as built):
1.5" vertical drain in cabinet
│
├─ 1.5" reducing tee → 1" branch to refugium
│ (1" branch runs horizontal to an elbow, then drops into refugium)
│
▼
1.5" elbow (below the refugium branch tee)
│
1.5" ball valve (primary tuning valve for how much flow diverts to refugium)
│
1.5" reducing tee + reducing elbow arrangement
├─ 1" drop to filter sock #1 (discharges below sump water level)
└─ 1" drop to filter sock #2 (discharges below sump water level)
Refugium feed characteristics:
• Gravity-fed, air/water mixed (not suitable for flow meter measurement)
• Refugium branch has a valve but is normally left fully open
• Refugium flow is effectively controlled by slightly restricting the 1.5" main valve
• If the 1.5" valve is fully open: refugium receives only a small trickle (lower path “wins”)
• If the 1.5" valve is fully closed: essentially all drain flow (~890 GPH) goes to refugium
Refugium tuning target (current):
• Chaeto mostly stationary with occasional slow rollover
• (This is treated as the desired operating state)
REFUGIUM SECTION
Volume: ~10 gallons
Light: Neptune GRO
Receives: 1" drain-fed branch from the main drain tee
Drains into: skimmer section (not directly into return)
Purpose:
• Nutrient export
• Pod habitat
MECHANICAL FILTRATION
Filter socks:
• 2 × 4" filter socks (in skimmer section feed path)
Drain outlets:
• Two 1" drop lines discharge below sump water level into socks
SKIMMER SECTION
Skimmer: Vertex Omega 150
Skimmer pump: Sicce PSK-1000
Receives water from:
• Filter socks (primary drain path)
• Refugium outflow
RETURN SECTION / RETURN PUMP
Return pump: External AC pump BlueLine 55HD
Motor: 90W, air-cooled
Return plumbing: Hard 1" PVC
Fittings noted:
• Elbow at pump intake
• Two elbows on return line
Flow measurement:
• Neptune FS-100 flow sensor on return
• Ball valve used for manual flow reduction (as needed)
Measured return flow:
• 870–890 GPH
Head height:
• ~5 ft from sump water line to return outlets
Return outlets:
• Return splits to two Loc-Line returns into display
IN-TANK CIRCULATION
Powerheads:
• 2 × EcoTech MP40
Control:
• Mobius
Power:
• Plugged into Neptune EB-8xx energy bar (power control only; control remains via Mobius)
SUBSTRATE AND ROCK
Sand:
• 120 lbs CaribSea Arag-Alive
Live rock:
• 100 lbs from a 15-year established tank
Distribution:
• ~60% in display
• ~40% in sump/refugium
TEMPERATURE CONTROL
Heater:
• Hygger 800W heater in return section
AUTO TOP OFF (ATO) AND WATER LEVEL CONTROL
Controller:
• Neptune Apex A3
ATO fill method:
• Neptune SV-1 solenoid valve controlling RODI top-off
ATO source:
• RODI container → SV-1 → 1/4" poly tubing → sump return section
Water level monitoring:
• Neptune 15" level sensor monitoring return section level
Leak detection:
• Apex leak detector present
WATER MIXING / STORAGE STATION
Containers:
• Two stacked 32-gallon Brute cans
Upper can (RODI storage):
• Supplied by 50 GPD RODI system
• Float switch + pressure solenoid combo
• 100W heater
• Bottom bulkhead with ball valve for draining into lower can
Lower can (salt mixing):
• 400 GPH AC mixing pump
• 300W heater
Water change transfer:
• 3/4" vinyl tubing used to pump mixed saltwater into the aquarium display
RODI PLUMBING (CURRENT + PLANNED)
Current:
• RODI is teed from brute supply
Planned change:
• Switch to gravity-fed RODI since Brute is elevated
• Use SV-1 for controlled gravity top-off supply
KNOWN MEASUREMENTS / OPERATING NOTES
• Actual return flow: 870–890 GPH
• Return section normal water height: 6"
• Pump-off rise in return section: ~1"
• Sump reserve capacity before overflow: ~25 gallons
• Drain type: Durso
• Return split: two Loc-Line lines
DISPLAY SYSTEM
Tank: Aqua Vim “Seamless” Bowfront (no canopy)
Product line: Seamless Bowfront glass aquarium set
Rated size: 170 gallon model
Tank dimensions: 60" L × 22" W × 30" D
Glass thickness: 10 mm
Construction: Single-piece bowed front panel, reduced-iron glass, eurobraced
Top cover:
• Tempered glass panels covering the top
• One ~3" feeding hole (only opening)
Lighting:
• 2 × Neptune SKY LED
Mounting:
• EcoTech RMS arms + track
VOLUME ESTIMATES
Geometric (rectangular) volume from listed dimensions:
60 × 22 × 30 = 39,600 in³ → 39,600 / 231 = 171.4 gallons
Practical display water volume (after displacement and typical operating fill height):
Estimated ~135–145 gallons display water (bow-front + rock/sand displacement)
System volume (typical operating):
• Display water: ~140 gallons (estimate)
• Sump operating volume: ~45 gallons (estimate)
Estimated total operating system water volume: ~175–185 gallons
SUMP SYSTEM
Sump: Trigger Systems 3-chamber sump
Total sump capacity: ~50 gallons
Chambers (approx operating volumes):
• Refugium: ~10 gallons
• Skimmer section: ~10 gallons
• Return section: ~5 gallons
• Remaining unused buffer capacity: ~25g
Return section operating water height:
• 6" normal water level
Drain-down behavior / flood safety:
• Return pump OFF causes ~1" water rise in return section
• Sump has ~25 gallons of remaining capacity before overflow (backs up first into skimmer section then to Refugium)
• No drain-down overflow issues observed
DRAIN / OVERFLOW (DISPLAY → SUMP)
Overflow style: Durso standpipe
Main drain size: 1.5"
Drain split plumbing (as built):
1.5" vertical drain in cabinet
│
├─ 1.5" reducing tee → 1" branch to refugium
│ (1" branch runs horizontal to an elbow, then drops into refugium)
│
▼
1.5" elbow (below the refugium branch tee)
│
1.5" ball valve (primary tuning valve for how much flow diverts to refugium)
│
1.5" reducing tee + reducing elbow arrangement
├─ 1" drop to filter sock #1 (discharges below sump water level)
└─ 1" drop to filter sock #2 (discharges below sump water level)
Refugium feed characteristics:
• Gravity-fed, air/water mixed (not suitable for flow meter measurement)
• Refugium branch has a valve but is normally left fully open
• Refugium flow is effectively controlled by slightly restricting the 1.5" main valve
• If the 1.5" valve is fully open: refugium receives only a small trickle (lower path “wins”)
• If the 1.5" valve is fully closed: essentially all drain flow (~890 GPH) goes to refugium
Refugium tuning target (current):
• Chaeto mostly stationary with occasional slow rollover
• (This is treated as the desired operating state)
REFUGIUM SECTION
Volume: ~10 gallons
Light: Neptune GRO
Receives: 1" drain-fed branch from the main drain tee
Drains into: skimmer section (not directly into return)
Purpose:
• Nutrient export
• Pod habitat
MECHANICAL FILTRATION
Filter socks:
• 2 × 4" filter socks (in skimmer section feed path)
Drain outlets:
• Two 1" drop lines discharge below sump water level into socks
SKIMMER SECTION
Skimmer: Vertex Omega 150
Skimmer pump: Sicce PSK-1000
Receives water from:
• Filter socks (primary drain path)
• Refugium outflow
RETURN SECTION / RETURN PUMP
Return pump: External AC pump BlueLine 55HD
Motor: 90W, air-cooled
Return plumbing: Hard 1" PVC
Fittings noted:
• Elbow at pump intake
• Two elbows on return line
Flow measurement:
• Neptune FS-100 flow sensor on return
• Ball valve used for manual flow reduction (as needed)
Measured return flow:
• 870–890 GPH
Head height:
• ~5 ft from sump water line to return outlets
Return outlets:
• Return splits to two Loc-Line returns into display
IN-TANK CIRCULATION
Powerheads:
• 2 × EcoTech MP40
Control:
• Mobius
Power:
• Plugged into Neptune EB-8xx energy bar (power control only; control remains via Mobius)
SUBSTRATE AND ROCK
Sand:
• 120 lbs CaribSea Arag-Alive
Live rock:
• 100 lbs from a 15-year established tank
Distribution:
• ~60% in display
• ~40% in sump/refugium
TEMPERATURE CONTROL
Heater:
• Hygger 800W heater in return section
AUTO TOP OFF (ATO) AND WATER LEVEL CONTROL
Controller:
• Neptune Apex A3
ATO fill method:
• Neptune SV-1 solenoid valve controlling RODI top-off
ATO source:
• RODI container → SV-1 → 1/4" poly tubing → sump return section
Water level monitoring:
• Neptune 15" level sensor monitoring return section level
Leak detection:
• Apex leak detector present
WATER MIXING / STORAGE STATION
Containers:
• Two stacked 32-gallon Brute cans
Upper can (RODI storage):
• Supplied by 50 GPD RODI system
• Float switch + pressure solenoid combo
• 100W heater
• Bottom bulkhead with ball valve for draining into lower can
Lower can (salt mixing):
• 400 GPH AC mixing pump
• 300W heater
Water change transfer:
• 3/4" vinyl tubing used to pump mixed saltwater into the aquarium display
RODI PLUMBING (CURRENT + PLANNED)
Current:
• RODI is teed from brute supply
Planned change:
• Switch to gravity-fed RODI since Brute is elevated
• Use SV-1 for controlled gravity top-off supply
KNOWN MEASUREMENTS / OPERATING NOTES
• Actual return flow: 870–890 GPH
• Return section normal water height: 6"
• Pump-off rise in return section: ~1"
• Sump reserve capacity before overflow: ~25 gallons
• Drain type: Durso
• Return split: two Loc-Line lines
