SaraB's 268G Envision Build

[SaraB]

More Surge Shots!

Here's one of the surges filling:

Here it is firing with the flapper now open:

Here it one looking up at it. The white spaflex on the right feeds the surges from a tee off the return. The center clear hose is my emergency drain in case the surge does not fire and the water can not fully escape down the small stand pipe on the plumbing assembly of the surge (the tall white pipe above the flapper) and the white spaflex on the right is the line the surge water exits the surge tank to the display.

Here's some more details on the surge. They are built with Aqueon 20G Highs which are 24x12x18. The one I timed surges every 2.5 minutes. When the flapper opens, it drains for a full 65 seconds before the flapper closes back up and refills. The tank actually only drains down a little over half way before the flapper closes. Also keep in mind that the tank is still filling with water as it is draining as well.

 

[Gimili the Great]

would you be able to explain how a surge tank works? i am sorry if i missed that lesson.

 

[SaraB]

would you be able to explain how a surge tank works? i am sorry if i missed that lesson.

No problem, I'll do my best to explain! It's a way of adding additional random flow to a display tank or any tank for that matter. You can use a variety of "tanks" to build the surge tank. I used 20G tanks, but people use a variety of different sizes and even empty salt buckets. The design I used uses your standard toilet flapper. You fill the surge tank with water and as it rises, the ball rises at the top of the water level. You set the length of the chain for the level you want the tank to fill to. When the flapper releases, it allows water to escape down the flapper hole which is connected via PVC to a hole drilled in the surge tank. All that water rushes into the display tank and creates a "surge" of water into the tank. Hope that helps explain it and let me know if it doesn't!

 

[SaraB]

I had been cooking some large pieces of Marco Rock since last April in anticipation of the tank being running. My friend Lisa and I took the rock to the carwash first for a blasting to make sure it was clean before I cooked it. I added some already cured rock to help the process along.

Here's the liverock cooking in the garage:

I added my 4 large pieces of Marco Rock to the display and added some existing liverock to the fuge to get the curing of the new tank moving. I peeled off the ends of the protective wrap on the tank so I could watch ... but there was really no cycle at all due to using all the cured liverock. This is not the final resting position for the rock ... those photos are coming!

 

[vetteman]

where's the livestock already.........

 

[SaraB]

Will finished rockwork suffice???

Here's a few shots of the final rockwork I'm going with:

Right Side:

Left Side:

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

What made you choose to go so simple so to speak?

I love it honestly. I am going to be aquascaping my new 240g next week and I am thinking of going simple as well.

What doo you paln on keeping coral wise?

 

[SaraB]

After having the "rock walls" in my other tanks, I decided I like the more open look. There were several threads that inspired me to leave it more open. It will give room for the corals to grow and fill in and give plenty of room for the fish to swim.

I plan on keeping key pieces of Acros, a few Monti's that I already have and fill in with various larger LPS I have. I had designed part of my rockwork for placement of an Aussie Elegance coral. Here it is right after moving so I does not look too happy.

 

[vetteman]

I like the Arch...... now I need to see something swimming through it...

 

[SaraB]

I like the Arch...... now I need to see something swimming through it...

Here, leave me alone now ... I'm going to bed!

 

[MarvinsReef]

oooh la la!!! very nice... so fresh and so clean... :)

 

[vetteman]

Whooooo bout time....... How can you sleep with those surge tanks cycling all night?
I'd keep jumping up looking for a leaking toilet or wondering if something is overflowing

 

[SaraB]

Thanks Marvin!

 

[SaraB]

Whooooo bout time....... How can you sleep with those surge tanks cycling all night?
I'd keep jumping up looking for a leaking toilet or wondering if something is overflowing

Glad you are now satisfied!

That tank is in the basement and I'm sleeping on the 2nd floor, so I don't hear it at all.

 

[vetteman]

Here, leave me alone now ... I'm going to bed!

I'm staring at your wrasse.......

 

[vetteman]

Glad you are now satisfied!

That tank is in the basement and I'm sleeping on the 2nd floor, so I don't hear it at all.

Hey you were going to Bed......

 

[SaraB]

Hey you were going to Bed......

I'm going now ... good night all!

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Sarah you should get some video of the surge tanks in action and post it up!

 

[vetteman]

^ what you said +1 My wife would drive me nut's if I had them.... she can tell if the prefilters in the overflow are needing changed by the smallest change in the gurgle sound

 

[Rickyrooz]

Nice start