How to do the Piping connections?

[cdckjn]

I have attached the 2 Jpegs below,

Hopefully this is how I would link my top 2ft tank to the bottom 2ft tank. The bottom tank will then be my sump and refugium - where I can other things here as well as my Weipro.

There is the overflow weir which I will bulid and attached to the side of the tank with acrylci screws. The overflow will then flow into the bottom 2ft tank (now called sump) and there will be a return pump at the sump to pump the water back to the main tank. The return pipe wil have a 2 opening, one at the top and the otehr at the bottom, this is to allow better water circulation and as a pressure relief in case of power failure, it will not permit a backflow. In between the main tank and the sump, on the return pipe there will be a ball valve to control the flow back to the main tank and to cutoff the backflow is needed.

Questions:

a) is this setup ok? any seniors can give inputs to improve the piping?

the overflow pipe and the backflow pipe, can they be the same diameter or the overflow pipe slightly bigger than the backflow? I am think like 20mm and 25mm.

c) what is the best capacity of the return pump? what litre/hour is needed?

Thanks fof the advise in advance. Cheers.

[cdckjn]

2nd picture that I drew using software SketchUp 4.0

[cdckjn]

just bought a Weipro and Pump from a fellow reefer. will install into this sump once the piping can be sorted out. Seniors, Brothers, please advise me.

[framerunner]

Eh, i am no expert in DIY. My 2 cents

1) I am thinking in your sump, shouldnt u partition into 3 compartments? 1st is overflow (including your skimmer), 2nd is your refugium, 3rd is your return pump.

2) In your overflow pipe, try to install a valve for better control of flow.

[cdckjn]

Yes there will be partitions within the sump. 1st the overflow from main tank, the 2nd is the skimmer, the 3rd the main refugium, and then the last the retrun pump back up to the main tank.

Originally I thought of putting the control valve at the return pipe, and putting another one at the overflow pipe is a good idea so that I can both control the up and down flow.

[framerunner]

Sorry no photoshop, using powerpoint to do this.

Is this your plan sump? I suggest u also pump a sheet to prevent water splashes

[cdckjn]

yes. the question now is at the main tank, is the setup of the return pipe to the main tank correct, that is to say, there are two opening at the pipe, one near the surface while the other near the bottom (to provide water circulation around the live rock) the top opening to is prevent backflow once the power is cutoff.

[framerunner]

Shouldnt have an issue on backflow even if power if cut off as long as the pipe is higher than the overflow entry point. If you plan to get a seio to have more water movement, i think it will be probably cheaper if you can extend your pump to cover more areas of tank, have more holes for the return water and you can get a more powerful pump.

[supremo]

bro, i noticed that your sump is going to be 2ft long only, and in your design you'll have 4 chambers with double baffles, let's say you 2 buffles and glass thickness is around 1.5 inches and you'll have three sets to partition the sump into four, then just that would be 4.5 inches. subtract that from 23 inchess gives you only 19.5 inches left, divide that into 4 would be around 5 inches per compartment, that's not a lot of space to work with. so you may want to re-think that design lah or find equipements that'll fit in there nicely.

hope this helps.

[cdckjn]

Okay sorted out the piping with reefer burnerj - he is selling me his DIY overflow - his tank is a 2ft so is mine. Therefore it should work.

Now is the sump, I intend to set up the partitions as such. Will be using 3mm acrylic and silicone and will try to do up the whole thing over the weekend.

please give comments.

[cdckjn]

This is the side view, there is a 1.5" gap between baffles, intending to put some sand (about 3" thick in the refugium, growing some algae there), there will be "teeths" at the baffles before return pump.

[framerunner]

Your first picture look like a floor plan of a 4 room flat

[cdckjn]

But instead of a "straight line" arrangement which is typical of a sump, can I do this "L-shaped" sump? any pros or cons, Pls clarify? Cheers

[Kotobuki]

"Will be using 3mm acrylic and silicone "

It will fall apart in no time. Acrylic and silicone doesnt stick well.

3mm is way to thin to hold the weight of the water.

Your inlet compartment and refugium will over flow as water flow is chocked by your 3" sandbed

DIY is fun but you gotta noe wat your doing.

Refer to http://www.melevsreef.com/ if your really keen.

Just my 2cents

[cdckjn]

Q1. so I should used glass instead of acrylic?

R1. Ok, I personally feel that glass is better but more expensive as I will have to buy them. Acrylic, I can get free.

Q2. In view of your concern regarding the sandbed, then I may as well not have sand in the refugium, just have it "clean".

Q3. I am concerned regarding the "L-shaped" design, any one got opinions regarding this. I really have got to start silicon-ing as the sump have to be ready by next Thursday or so as I have to collect the return pump, overflow and several pieces of tonga live rock. pls give feedback on this. cheers.

[cdckjn]

Sorri another question?

3mm Acrylic sheet cannot be used as baffles? I understand the issue about silicone and acrylic but 3mm it is thcik enough as baffles? I thought that once filled with water the pressure on both sides of the acrylic should equalize and it should not have any problems.