Plannign a DIY nano.

[mikebok]

 

The major DIY part of this operation is going to be the sump-fuge which I am going to convert from a 15g glass aquarium. Are there any major logical failings with the sump design(this would be the first tank I have made with one)?

 

One of my major concerns is subtlety in the display. Its going to be viewable from 3 sides, with the short side with the overflow against the wall. The only powerhead will be against the overflow shooting outwards. The return will come up through the bottom of the tank with the outlet obsured from view from all sides by rockwork.

 

As far as lighting goes, in the past I have only had experience with antinics and soft corals. This time I would like to have much better lighting with more coral options. What kind of arrays should I consider to properly light a 10inch deep tank.

 

Any other suggestions/comments would be appreciated.

Edited August 29, 2007 by mikebok

[bigJPDC]

so - how do you break the siphon on the return in the case of a power failure?

[mikebok]

so - how do you break the siphon on the return in the case of a power failure?

 

Thats why I posted this while I'm still designing. I've never done a sump before and I'm just trying to brainstorm. Is there any sort of valve that only allows unidirectional water flow? If not is there any other way this could be achieved? There was a thread in the RC nano forum with a sandbed return, I'm gonna try and dig that up.

 

If that isnt possible, I could redesign the sump to have the return on the same side as the intake i suppose.

[bigJPDC]

many folks will tell you that check valves all fail - mine hasn't yet and I use it every day at feeding time.

 

What you should plan on is for your system to be able to withstand a failure that would draw back into your sump and still not allow flooding. In my case, I have about 12 gallons free in my sump, which could handle a stuck float switch that would drain my ATO, a bulkhead failure which would drain my overflow, and a check valve failure, which would suck through my return plumbing until the siphon broke.

 

In your case - none of that applies because you would be draining your tank, and killing everything in it. When I have seen such types of returns, they were for closed loops, so not siphonable, unless there was a large leak, in which case you are sol anyways.

 

See if you can work your return over the back instead and maybe add a small closed loop in the rockwork. The good news is that since you are going acrylic you can drill anywhere.

 

jp

[kingfish]

Here are my assumptions:

I am assuming that your return port will be lower than your water level when the return is operable.

 

Recommendations

1. I would recommend making the return alot higher than illustrated in the figure.

2. I would also recommend making the return along one of the vertical panels.

3. I would also design the sump to take the the volume difference between your water level (during operation) to the return level.

4. To maximize living space for the mantis shrimp, I would have my overflow come up through the overflow section of the tank much liken the standard reef ready setup.

 

I hope this helps!

[mikebok]

Here are my assumptions:

I am assuming that your return port will be lower than your water level when the return is operable.

 

Recommendations

1. I would recommend making the return alot higher than illustrated in the figure.

2. I would also recommend making the return along one of the vertical panels.

3. I would also design the sump to take the the volume difference between your water level (during operation) to the return level.

4. To maximize living space for the mantis shrimp, I would have my overflow come up through the overflow section of the tank much liken the standard reef ready setup.

 

I hope this helps!

 

I'm not planning on putting a mantis shrimp in this display, I want to have more than one living thing in the tank

:D

[jason the filter freak]

Maybe put the return back up though the over flow box, and also mount the power head inside of the overflow box and have an outlet going into the tank.