CHUBAKAH

There is another brace you can't see at the side, but that is a whole other subject. There will be some additional work to the stand, as well as the room. The base of the stand is about 42 inches from the ground. I'm guessing by the responses so far there isn't anything that drastically stands out?

Yes that is the pump. Any thoughts?

I knew someone was going to pick up on that. Yes they were open at testing. I was about to pull it all apart and check for some kind of blockage is why they are off now. I then figured I would come upstairs and start a thread to see if someone saw something way off before I did.

Thanks in advance for taking a look. I

I can also help if that does not work out. I am a general contractor, and have been in the business 28 years. No charge to look as long as it can be during the day during the week when I am in the area. I work the entire NOVA area.

Count me in on a group buy as well if it happens.

Ranson WV by way of Ashburn VA, by way of San Jose CA, but way of Bryans Rd MD. I'm done moving now. Former 20 year member of the Pacific Coast Cichlid Association, now with WAMAS to get my Salt Water grove on. Thanks for having me, Mark

I apologizes.

100 gallon reef 100 gallon sump

Nine months ago is when I decided I was going to go reef, and knew just about nothing about it. Just about everything I know now has come from here and one other board from just searching for articles on certain things. All of it really does seem pretty simple in theory after you know it, but to someone, as I'm sure we can all relate to who has never done it, it all seems very overwhelming. The one thing that does strike me as kind of weird, EVERYONE you talk to has a different way to do things, which adds to the confusion at times. I appreciate your feedback Rascal! Also a huge thanks to Treesprite for allowing me to invade his thread and get some answers along the same lines of his problem. Regards, Chewy

Well on my way home tonight I decided to stop by Fin and Feathers to explain what was going on to the guy who told me how to build it. He is telling me exactly what you have said here, and that I need two pumps to accomplish my needs. Seems he thought I was ONLY talking about the closed loop system, and was not addressing the sump at all. I think I am on the right track with what I need to do, and it seems the only thing I am missing outside of a few new plumbing parts is a new pump to return the water back to the tank. The current pump is going to be in a loop with four exhaust, and four return bulkhead fittings, all located near the bottom of the tank. The two drains I have near the top will still return to the sump, but I am needing to add in two other returns to return water from the sump. To answer your question about tubing, I am using 1 inch schedule 40 PVC. The other question is yes, I am using a check valve, which of course will move from the closed loop side to the sump side. I'm guessing I should probably add in a second one, and just leave the one I have so no water [or sand] ever goes back to the pump. Is that right, or not needed? So now my question is, what am I going to need in the way of a pump to return water from the sump to the tank, and how large should the lines be? That I could use advice on. How many GPH should I need, and do you have a link for a suggested pump? Now I'm really feeling like a tool, and the reason I waited 9 months to post. Thanks in advance guys and gals! Chewy

Rather than start a new thread, if you don't mind I would also like to get some advice on a similar problem I am having. Before I begin, I think this is the first post I have made here, as I have just been reading and learning from others. I've kept fish for more than thirty years, but this is my first venture over to the Reef side. Please excuse my ignorance on this subject. From what I have read here, and the advice I was given by Fin and Feathers, I decided to go with a closed loop system. I have a 100gal acrylic Tru Vu aquarium which I drilled in the front bottom with 4 1" bulkheads. To those I am using a pump which if I remember correctly is 1250GPH. AT the backside near the top I drilled two more holes with 1" bulkheads, and am gravity feeding back in to the sump. I barley have the ball valve open and my tank over fills pretty dramatically if I even go half way on the valve. I just ordered two more bulkheads to add in two more lines which I plan to run independently of the other ones. I'm curious if there is some type of formula as to what is needed? Any other advice for the return is much appreciated. Chewy