Wicks 125 gallon tank build

[Wick]

So a few people convinced me to start this up. It wont be a quick build as there are some life events going on ( just welcomed my daughter to the world on 5.24.19. :) ) so a little background with me and saltwater. My family went to the maritime aquarium in Connecticut and loved the fish we saw. Brought back some memories from when I was a young child and my father had a 55 gallon tank in the 80s. I remember a trigger, clown, and skunk shrimp in there.

So I decided for a challenge and new hobby in my life since I have experienced other hobbies and wanted something different. Also I might add my wife likes to travel to beaches and islands so why not bring it to her. :) ( even though she doesn't want anything to do with it since we have a son,daughter, cat,dog,fresh water fish and now saltwater fish )

So I studied and researched ton about the hobby to educate myself and finally pulled the trigger and bought a used saltwater 75 gallon tank set up with a sump. I have have it for 3 to 4 months now and saw a great opportunity to buy a 125 gallon reef tank and stand. I pulled the trigger. I am writing this on my phone so I'm not sure how to show progression on it but the photos will be from start to where I am now.

I am concerned with the overflow 90s but think they should be ok?

 

[Peace River]

So a few people convinced me to start this up. It wont be a quick build as there are some life events going on ( just welcomed my daughter to the world on 5.24.19. :) ) so a little background with me and saltwater. My family went to the maritime aquarium in Connecticut and loved the fish we saw. Brought back some memories from when I was a young child and my father had a 55 gallon tank in the 80s. I remember a trigger, clown, and skunk shrimp in there.

So I decided for a challenge and new hobby in my life since I have experienced other hobbies and wanted something different. Also I might add my wife likes to travel to beaches and islands so why not bring it to her. :) ( even though she doesn't want anything to do with it since we have a son,daughter, cat,dog,fresh water fish and now saltwater fish )

So I studied and researched ton about the hobby to educate myself and finally pulled the trigger and bought a used saltwater 75 gallon tank set up with a sump. I have have it for 3 to 4 months now and saw a great opportunity to buy a 125 gallon reef tank and stand. I pulled the trigger. I am writing this on my phone so I'm not sure how to show progression on it but the photos will be from start to where I am now.

I am concerned with the overflow 90s but think they should be ok?

It looks like you are off to a good start on the tank and on the build thread - good work! You're right about the 90 angles - typically you don't want to have long horizontal runs in your return plumbing (even a bit of slant is better than none). It appears that the drains come from overflows on both sides - is it possible to shift the sump under the tank so that the drain lines both flow toward the middle of the tank and down into the sump? That would also straighten the return pump plumbing.

 

[Wick]

It looks like you are off to a good start on the tank and on the build thread - good work! You're right about the 90 angles - typically you don't want to have long horizontal runs in your return plumbing (even a bit of slant is better than none). It appears that the drains come from overflows on both sides - is it possible to shift the sump under the tank so that the drain lines both flow toward the middle of the tank and down into the sump? That would also straighten the return pump plumbing.

So here is what I thought, to keep an even distribution of that water returning to the tank it would be best to set the return in the middle of the tank. I did buy the jebao 15k which i feel should have 0 problems with head pressure returning to the tank. I just wanted to make it as "even" as possible. The overflow on the left is tight and short which is what i am a little concerned about but have the ball valve to slow it down but would there be enough flow coming down as well? And thank you for the reply and complement and comments! Any other thought on this would be helpful to try to make the right decision for flow.

 

[Pntbll687]

I wouldnt worry about "even" distribution of water on the returns. Shoot for anywhere from 3-10x turnover through the sump per hour and you'll be fine.

Same thing for the drain lines. If you're running durso drains (probably are since it has single drains in each corner) i would advise against the ball valves on the lines. If you close the valve at all you're creating a restriction on a line with no emergency drain and increasing the risk of flooding.

I see the return pump is a DC pump, start it at the lowest setting possible to get water flowing through the system and adjust from there. Most people have oversized pumps compared to what durso drains can handle, and they get quite a bit of noise from them.

Don't over think these things. Will the drain with shorter run flow more water through it, possibly, but does that really matter?

 

[Peace River]

So here is what I thought, to keep an even distribution of that water returning to the tank it would be best to set the return in the middle of the tank. I did buy the jebao 15k which i feel should have 0 problems with head pressure returning to the tank. I just wanted to make it as "even" as possible. The overflow on the left is tight and short which is what i am a little concerned about but have the ball valve to slow it down but would there be enough flow coming down as well? And thank you for the reply and complement and comments! Any other thought on this would be helpful to try to make the right decision for flow.

You may consider running the return only to one side and then convert the second hole on the other side to an emergency drain.

 

[Wick]

You may consider running the return only to one side and then convert the second hole on the other side to an emergency drain.

I thought about this as well or making the one side a Herbie overflow. But one line is 3/4" (return lines) and 1" (overflow)holes.

 

[Wick]

I wouldnt worry about "even" distribution of water on the returns. Shoot for anywhere from 3-10x turnover through the sump per hour and you'll be fine.

Same thing for the drain lines. If you're running durso drains (probably are since it has single drains in each corner) i would advise against the ball valves on the lines. If you close the valve at all you're creating a restriction on a line with no emergency drain and increasing the risk of flooding.

I see the return pump is a DC pump, start it at the lowest setting possible to get water flowing through the system and adjust from there. Most people have oversized pumps compared to what durso drains can handle, and they get quite a bit of noise from them.

Don't over think these things. Will the drain with shorter run flow more water through it, possibly, but does that really matter?

Agreed I do tend to over think stuff. And did think about the possibility of a flood with just the one overflow in each part. Sigh. Decisions

 

[Peace River]

I thought about this as well or making the one side a Herbie overflow. But one line is 3/4" (return lines) and 1" (overflow)holes.

The 1” holes could still be the overflow and then one 3/4” could be the return and the other 3/4” could be the dry emergency overflow. This would help clean up the plumbing and reduce the return head pressure.

 

[Wick]

The 1” holes could still be the overflow and then one 3/4” could be the return and the other 3/4” could be the dry emergency overflow. This would help clean up the plumbing and reduce the return head pressure.

Oh ****. That might be an epic idea dude! This is why I love forums cause other people might think differently or see something different!!

 

[SeaJay]

The 1” holes could still be the overflow and then one 3/4” could be the return and the other 3/4” could be the dry emergency overflow. This would help clean up the plumbing and reduce the return head pressure.

How does going from 2 returns to 1 reduce head pressure? Just curious because I have a similar setup and have been thinking about going from 2 in sump return pumps to one external pump and moving my sump to the basement. Having the emergency drain would be nice. Just trying to learn all I can.

 

[Peace River]

How does going from 2 returns to 1 reduce head pressure? Just curious because I have a similar setup and have been thinking about going from 2 in sump return pumps to one external pump and moving my sump to the basement. Having the emergency drain would be nice. Just trying to learn all I can.

Great question! If you look at the OPs initial pictures you will see that the return pump is under the middle of the tank and the water flow goes through a T and then a 90 on each side. By re-plumbing then most, if not all, of the bends can be eliminated which reduces head pressure.

 

[Wick]

Great question! If you look at the OPs initial pictures you will see that the return pump is under the middle of the tank and the water flow goes through a T and then a 90 on each side. By re-plumbing then most, if not all, of the bends can be eliminated which reduces head pressure.

Ok so I was thinking about this differently lol. I was thinking that having both returns still going to the tank. And using one 1 inch overflow as a return to the tank and the other side as a emergency overflow lol.

 

[Wick]

Great question! If you look at the OPs initial pictures you will see that the return pump is under the middle of the tank and the water flow goes through a T and then a 90 on each side. By re-plumbing then most, if not all, of the bends can be eliminated which reduces head pressure.

But by doing the way you are saying would I still get enough turnover to the tank and flow? Granted I have a 3k icecap gyre powerhead

 

[SeaJay]

Great question! If you look at the OPs initial pictures you will see that the return pump is under the middle of the tank and the water flow goes through a T and then a 90 on each side. By re-plumbing then most, if not all, of the bends can be eliminated which reduces head pressure.

Gotcha. I currently have two return pumps each on its own 3/4” return. I was thinking of running one external pump with 1” return T’d to both 3/4” , but now you’ve got me thinking about using one of them as the emergency overflow drain. Would a single 3/4” drain really be sufficient if you did have some sort of disaster? Seems to me the return would overrun it.

 

[Peace River]

Ok so I was thinking about this differently lol. I was thinking that having both returns still going to the tank. And using one 1 inch overflow as a return to the tank and the other side as a emergency overflow lol.

1 return hole, 3 drains (one of which would be the emergency drain that would normally be above the water line).

 

[Wick]

1 return hole, 3 drains (one of which would be the emergency drain that would normally be above the water line).

This we be enough though correct? Regarding turnover?

 

[Peace River]

Gotcha. I currently have two return pumps each on its own 3/4” return. I was thinking of running one external pump with 1” return T’d to both 3/4” , but now you’ve got me thinking about using one of them as the emergency overflow drain. Would a single 3/4” drain really be sufficient if you did have some sort of disaster? Seems to me the return would overrun it.

Valid point. The stoppage would normally be above the T so normally you would still have the other return plus the emergency. Another approach is to plumb the two 1” drains independently.

Edited to correct the last line from “return” to “drain”.

 

[Peace River]

This we be enough though correct? Regarding turnover?

You would actually have slightly more turnover because of the reduced head pressure on the pump. The turnover from the sump (where a lot of your filtration is) is largely determined by the pump not the number of return pipes going into the tank. A single return line would impact the flow in the tank which, as you already mentioned, is solved with a power head/gyre.

 

[Wick]

You would actually have slightly more turnover because of the reduced head pressure on the pump. The turnover from the sump (where a lot of your filtration is) is largely determined by the pump not the number of return pipes going into the tank. A single return line would impact the flow in the tank which, as you already mentioned, is solved with a power head/gyre.

Sweet so this would be a solid idea then! So maybe Herbie on one side or duel derasos

 

[SeaJay]

Valid point. The stoppage would normally be above the T so normally you would still have the other return plus the emergency. Another approach is to plumb the two 1” returns independently.

I’m not sure I follow. With a single pump there would have to be a T somewhere. Also, It Wouldn’t do any good to plumb two 1” returns and then reduce to 3/4” at the bulkhead.