Need help!!!

[NCaquaticnoob]

Ok so the mock up of the tree I'm making for my 40b upright. It's 3/4" pvc that I'm going to cover in expanding foam and cement. I want my return to flow to the bottom of the tree and then up through the tree to help move water. So my question is do I plug all the holes at the ends and just have it coming out from the bottom. Or leave a few open and have it coming out the bottom and some of the "branches". I want it to be a softy tank with a few fish and inverts. I'm just in the planning faze so any ideas would be welcomed.

 

[tbrown]

3/4" PVC can handle quite a bit of GPH. How big of a pump are you going to be using?

I know it's not apples to apples but just for instance, according to the VCA website, their 3/4" random flow generators require a minimum flow of around 200 GPH per RFG but optimal flow is around 400-500 GPH per RFG. Having as many outlets as you have would allow for some very nice random flow throughout the tank but leaving them completely open will potentially allow for very little flow coming out of each or most of the flow coming out a few. Also, snails or crabs could go inside and plug up the pipes.

I'd leave all of them open but maybe put a cap with a 1/4" or 3/8" hole at the end rather than the full 3/4" opening.

 

[NCaquaticnoob]

Sounds good should I do all or just the bottom three that are pointed up? Also I have a pump that's 800-900 gph but it's going to be pumping to 2- 40b the long one I am doing a flow bar at the top flowing down and a power head on the side. I have another power head that I can put in the tall one, but most the coral I'm looking at likes low to moderate flow. Both my tanks will be flowing into a 20g sump that I have made. I also have 2 more pumps and 2 air pumps that I can use. I'm hoping that my sump can keep up a good turn over. I'm trying to do all this as cheap as I can.

 

[Sleeping Giant]

water will take the path of least resistance, so it'll immediately go out any tubes that are open at the top of the tree, use caps to close off areas you don't want water to come out of and you could drill out small ports for water flow if needed afterwards. I'd also be careful you don't create a water rocket by directing all the water straight down

 

[NCaquaticnoob]

water will take the path of least resistance, so it'll immediately go out any tubes that are open at the top of the tree, use caps to close off areas you don't want water to come out of and you could drill out small ports for water flow if needed afterwards. I'd also be careful you don't create a water rocket by directing all the water straight down

The water will be starting from the bottom of the tree then working up so I will be putting the coral that like more water movement and less light at the bottom and then work my way up from there. Also taken in account for growth and aggression level. I am probably going to cap them all and drill holes until my flow is right at each lvl.

 

[Sleeping Giant]

The water will be starting from the bottom of the tree then working up so I will be putting the coral that like more water movement and less light at the bottom and then work my way up from there. Also taken in account for growth and aggression level. I am probably going to cap them all and drill holes until my flow is right at each lvl.

ohhh ok, I misread the post

 

[jabberwock]

Looks like fun! A reverse fish water slide! Just keep in mind that with complexity comes additional variables, increased potential points of failure as well as additional maintenance.

 

[KrisReef]

How are you going to keep the water in the tank when the power or pump fails?

Will the tree be attached to the bulkhead to keep it in place?

Interesting design. Should be interesting once the project is completed.

 

[tbrown]

How are you going to keep the water in the tank when the power or pump fails?

Will the tree be attached to the bulkhead to keep it in place?

Interesting design. Should be interesting once the project is completed.

It looks like an AIO tank.