Swimboy123 October 21, 2012 Author October 21, 2012 That's where i touched the positive to the negative. Not a fun time... Just joking! I think it's spray paint or something.
Swimboy123 October 22, 2012 Author October 22, 2012 Piper27 and I worked on the plumbing a bit this afternoon. Went through the drywall with the drain piping and now just need to pick up a 2" bulkhead to complete. As Piper27 and I were talking it came to light that the reeflo dart that I was planning to use might be a bit too much "oomph" for what the one inch returns with 3/4" loclines can handle. Any body have any thoughts about flow rates? In the meantime, enjoy some more pics...
DaveS October 22, 2012 October 22, 2012 The Dart probably won't have too much oomph. In fact, it may not have enough. It's a flow-biased pump which means it has lots of flow but lacks the ability to generate as much head pressure as you may think. If you go the locline eductor route, it doesn't perform as well as a pressure-biased pump. That having been said, as a flow-biased pump, it doesn't hurt it to have more head pressure. In fact, it runs quieter and consumes less power. Lots of people use Darts and valve the OUTPUT side down. Your 3/4" locline restriction would be doing essentially the same thing. Give it a try and see how it goes.
Swimboy123 October 22, 2012 Author October 22, 2012 I figured that if I was to use the dart, I would have 1.5" inch line running beneath the tank to a "T" section with reducer bushings to get it down to one inch. I've played with the ReefCentral head loss calculator but I'm still wary of back pressure on the pump itself. One of the major things that I have going for me is I already have the dart pump and wouldn't need to worry about getting a new one. I'll do some more investigations and see where it takes me. Thanks DaveS for your input!
Swimboy123 October 22, 2012 Author October 22, 2012 All the stores seem to be closed. Anyone have a two inch bulkhead lying around?
Swimboy123 October 24, 2012 Author October 24, 2012 Found a bulkhead and will commence with the drilling later on this evening!
flooddc October 24, 2012 October 24, 2012 Man! that's a lot of plumbings! Can't wait to see your final product.
Swimboy123 October 26, 2012 Author October 26, 2012 Just got a couple goodies in the mail. Will post pics shortly!
Swimboy123 October 26, 2012 Author October 26, 2012 Loading up the tank with the crushed coral gravel I've chosen
Swimboy123 October 26, 2012 Author October 26, 2012 Just found out that I will be in town this weekend unexpectedly. Looking forward to working on the tank!
Ryan S October 26, 2012 October 26, 2012 Why did you choose crushed coral? I have always heard to stay away from crushed coral as your substrate.
Swimboy123 October 26, 2012 Author October 26, 2012 I don't like having sand as it tends to blow around too much. I haven't heard anything negative about crushed coral so I figured that I would give it a shot. Anyone else have an opinion or history with crushed coral?
surf&turf October 26, 2012 October 26, 2012 Why did you choose crushed coral? I have always heard to stay away from crushed coral as your substrate. +1 Collects to much detritus.
smallreef October 26, 2012 October 26, 2012 I dont mind crushed coral, as long as you dont have any sifting gobies or what not...and CC can keep some of the elements more stable (i think its CC, may be argonite?)
Ryan S October 26, 2012 October 26, 2012 http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?84113-Crushed-coral-is-a-problem-waiting-to-happen
Swimboy123 October 26, 2012 Author October 26, 2012 I can understand the article but there a couple of things that I will do to help mitigate any possible problems. Every water change I plan on "cleaning the substrate with the little water suction cleaners which should get a good bit of the detritus out. I also will be incorporating a bio-denitrator to help keep down nitrates. The last thing is to keep a pretty aggressive refugium full of chaeto to help maintain the water quality. And if worse comes to worse, i'll take it out and put in sand.
Coral Hind October 26, 2012 October 26, 2012 CC is fine, just keep it as a thin layer. Using a vac on it during water changes is a big help to keeping it clean.
Coral Hind October 26, 2012 October 26, 2012 Since you will have a fuge and de-nitrator going I would keep the CC at 1" max, just enough for the appearance factor. With a course material like CC you will not get much nitrate reduction from only a 2" depth unless you were to build an old school plenum.
Swimboy123 October 26, 2012 Author October 26, 2012 I figured that I would 2" of CC and then about an 1" of coarser sand on top for the gobies
Ryan S October 26, 2012 October 26, 2012 The finer sand will fall to the bottom. So it won't stay there for gobies.
ArtFully Acrylic (Adam B) October 26, 2012 October 26, 2012 Could you maybe reverse the figures? 1" of CC and 2" of coarser sand? Then I would think that if any sand does work its way through the CC then you are still left with a "surplus" on top for the gobies...
Swimboy123 October 26, 2012 Author October 26, 2012 I would but I already have 200 lbs of CC. Sweet deal though from Petco. About $10 a bag (10 bags) and free shipping. 25% cost reduction from buying it in the store!
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