Building From Scratch

[ShakeyGizzard]

Dino fight is still on going, looking at a UV sterilizer to help me win the fight, just have not mentioned to the wife I want an Aqua Ultraviolet 25 watt, they are pricey. But Good news is my corals from SBB comes in tomorrow. will post some pics when I can

 

[jdpeters]

Been slow going, actually building a stand for someone right now, and my build is basically on hold. Thought I would up date my component list anyway

- 40g breeder
- custom DIY stand
- Eshopps 600 gph overflow
- 20g long for sump with DIY baffles
- Bubble Magus small gen. 2 filter roller
- Bubble Magus extreme curve 3 skimmer
- Sicce 3.0 return pump
- Finnex 20w fuge light
- Nicrew Hyper Reef 100w with controller lights (2)
- Current USA eFlux duel wave pumps (6014)
- DIY poly carbonate screen top
- Inkbird ITC-306a with 2 50w BRS Titanium Heater Element

Work in progress
- DIY ATO , with float switch in reservoir to disable pump when empty

​

I’m in the planning phase of a 40 breeder with either 10 or 20 long sump. I intend on using the same overflow box. My question is about the return pump. That sicce is rated for 714gph, how do you offset the discrepancy between the over flow and that pump?

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

I’m in the planning phase of a 40 breeder with either 10 or 20 long sump. I intend on using the same overflow box. My question is about the return pump. That sicce is rated for 714gph, how do you offset the discrepancy between the over flow and that pump?

My stand is 36 from the bottom of the sump to the bottom of the tank, add in three 90 deg turns. As of late, the lowest setting on the pump is ok. I plan on a UV sterilizer here shortly, and the pump gives me plenty of room to grow

edit: do not go smaller than a 20 gal. sump, my opinion

 

[jdpeters]

My stand is 36 from the bottom of the sump to the bottom of the tank, add in three 90 deg turns. As of late, the lowest setting on the pump is ok. I plan on a UV sterilizer here shortly, and the pump gives me plenty of room to grow

edit: do not go smaller than a 20 gal. sump, my opinion

Can you go with a slightly over sized pump and throttle it back? I was thinking about having a few taps on it for possible UV or reactors down the road.
I’ve been going back and forth on either 20 or 10. My reasoning for the 10 would just be more of a footprint for ato reservoir. But I could just as easy build a reservoir or find any suitable container placed appropriately in the stand if I’m creative.

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

Can you go with a slightly over sized pump and throttle it back? I was thinking about having a few taps on it for possible UV or reactors down the road.
I’ve been going back and forth on either 20 or 10. My reasoning for the 10 would just be more of a footprint for ato reservoir. But I could just as easy build a reservoir or find any suitable container placed appropriately in the stand if I’m creative.

The head pressure cuts into the flow, the sicce turned all the was down has a decent flow. If you went with one size down, its should be able to give decent flow. I was lucky that I could remotely place my ATO reservoir easily since its gravity, and its out of sight.

 

[jdpeters]

The head pressure cuts into the flow, the sicce turned all the was down has a decent flow. If you went with one size down, its should be able to give decent flow. I was lucky that I could remotely place my ATO reservoir easily since its gravity, and it’s out of sight.

Ok great. Thanks for responding. I maintain a 27 tank fish room currently and have been out of the reefing side for 4+ years. I also travel for work so I’m really taking time to plan the build out and not rush anything. Plumbing is certainly something I’m less familiar with. My last reef was a 42g cadlights. I’m not a huge diy guy but I think I can save a few bucks piecing it out slowly over a few months and I would be a huge deal for me to look at a system and say I built that. Thanks for your thread!

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

Used my coral gift card from SBB, I ordered, 1 torch (new york nicks), 1 hammer , 3 head acan, 1 zoa frag, 1 red goni, and a shroom . and received a free blue goni . They are on the sand bed right now. Will post pics later today or this weekend. My freebie economy PAR meter tanked. I think its the meter not the sensor, but ordered another PAR meter.
PAR meters are a touchy subject with me. When you have a recommended PAR range for a particular coral at lets say 100 to 150, why do I need to spend $500 for a top shelf PAR meter when a $150 meter will get you where you want to be within 5 to 10 PAR.

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

Letting the SBB frags get settled to my tank. Also have been running an 18 watt UV sterilizer for 2 days now. Water is more clear and the dinos seem to be fading out, time will tell. My SBB frags are getting comfortable in my tank, These pics are from the same day in the tank after dipping.

NewYork Nicks Torch

Hammer

Copper planet Yuma Ricordea shroom

Golden Glitter Acan

Twizzler Zoa

Red Goni

SBB sent a freebie Blue Goni

 

[jdpeters]

I’m using your build for much of my reference. For plumbing the 3/4 inch return all I need is a 3/4 inch lock line and a 3/4 inch let’s say flare nozzle? That’s enough to attach it to a 3/4 inch bulkhead?

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

I’m using your build for much of my reference. For plumbing the 3/4 inch return all I need is a 3/4 inch lock line and a 3/4 inch let’s say flare nozzle? That’s enough to attach it to a 3/4 inch bulkhead?

make sure the bulk head is threaded, give me a second, will give you my parts from BRS that I used.

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

Aquacave for the bulkhead, its a 3/4 schedule 40 thread/thread 3/4 Bulk head

BRS loc line connector for bulkhead 3/4 inch loc line male connector

 

[tbrown]

I’m using your build for much of my reference. For plumbing the 3/4 inch return all I need is a 3/4 inch lock line and a 3/4 inch let’s say flare nozzle? That’s enough to attach it to a 3/4 inch bulkhead?

Look into VCA Random Flow Generators for the nozzles.

Speaking of VCA, I was in Gilbert two weeks ago for some training, had Taco Bell for lunch and was pulling out of the parking lot and saw that I was right across the street from VCA. Unfortunately I didn't have time to stop and visit.

 

[jdpeters]

Look into VCA Random Flow Generators for the nozzles.

Speaking of VCA, I was in Gilbert two weeks ago for some training, had Taco Bell for lunch and was pulling out of the parking lot and saw that I was right across the street from VCA. Unfortunately I didn't have time to stop and visit.

I looked at them but the optimal flow says 420-500~ gph , if I’m slightly over that with a 600gph overflow do you think I’m ok?

 

[jdpeters]

Aquacave for the bulkhead, its a 3/4 schedule 40 thread/thread 3/4 Bulk head

BRS loc line connector for bulkhead 3/4 inch loc line male connector

Ty

 

[jdpeters]

Aquacave for the bulkhead, its a 3/4 schedule 40 thread/thread 3/4 Bulk head

BRS loc line connector for bulkhead 3/4 inch loc line male connector

With a threaded bulk head effectively need a threaded loc line connector, right?

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

With a threaded bulk head effectively need a threaded loc line connector, right?

The link is for one, I used threaded

 

[tbrown]

I looked at them but the optimal flow says 420-500~ gph , if I’m slightly over that with a 600gph overflow do you think I’m ok?

You should be fine or put a 3/4" to 1/2" wye and add 2 half inch?

 

[tbrown]

I looked at them but the optimal flow says 420-500~ gph , if I’m slightly over that with a 600gph overflow do you think I’m ok?

What GPH pump are you using? Keep in mind you're going to have some head loss pumping up and from each fitting, so if you're using a 600 GPH pump you won't be pushing 600 at the nozzles.

 

[jdpeters]

What GPH pump are you using? Keep in mind you're going to have some head loss pumping up and from each fitting, so if you're using a 600 GPH pump you won't be pushing 600 at the nozzles.

I haven’t quite figured that out. I will make sure to account for that.

. . . I really dislike my AI Prime 16HD

If it were me, I would run the current primes with the Kessil in the middle until you can get yourself a second Kessil.

You should be fine or put a 3/4" to 1/2" wye and add 2 half inch?

Ok that’s a good idea

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

Have been battling Algae in my sump, its just a heavy film algae. Its getting on the Chato bad, but I need to thin the chato anyway. My numbers stay good until the algae gets heavy in my sump. Then my whole sump turns into one big algae scrubber. Will be lowering fuge light on time tomorrow from 10 hrs. to 8 hrs. I do run an 18 watt UV for algae control, its plumed into my return. I will be messing with return flow tomorrow to get as much as I can through the UV and adjust my wave pumps in the tank to try to keep my tank flow as close to where I have it now. On a good note, The dinos are almost gone. Small patch here and there late in the day after lights on for over 5 hrs. Cant really say it was the UV or controlling the sump algae to keep my nitrates and phosphates from being to low. DT algae is normal I would say at this point, I do clean the glass about every 3 to 4 days, the cuc (turbos and 3 hermits) are well fed, with surface algae.