Aqua Vim 170 Bowfront Reef Refit

[Bumper]

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

 

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