New to drilled tanks...

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Thanks for being so helpful!

If you buy the megaflow overflow accessory kit, I think it comes with a Loc Line nozzle. Each box has two cutouts for nozzles...is there any advantage to splitting the flow in two directions as it reenters the tank?

 

[TreyC2010]

Depends on the overall flow. You may put a coral in a spot that requires you to move the nozzle to the right or left. As far as where to aim it may change as you build the tank. I'd put it just below the water surface but be sure it comes out of the water when you do the "fake system failure". That way there's no back siphon.

 

[TreyC2010]

And it's no problem. Glad I was able to help out.

 

[Fin]

Put a ball valve in your return line (after the pump) and you can adjust your flow rate. What are the dimensions of the tank?

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

I was planning on installing full port ball valves in all suction and return lines for isolation, if needed. It costs a little bit more, but you can isolate any line if needed.

The tank dimensions are 72.5" x 18.5" x 23.4".

 

[Harold Green]

Looks like an aqueon to me. Figure the overflow rate by the size of the drain holes in the tank. If they take a one inch bulkhead and pipe then they will flow around 600 gph each. If that's the case you'll need a pump that produces just under 1200gph at the head height of the tank for full flow. Measure the inside dimensions of the stand and buy or build the largest sump you can fit if you plan on putting the sump in the stand.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Thanks for the reply, Harold. I plan on using a 40 gallon sump in the stand unless I take the other (and crazier) route of putting the sump behind the wall in an adjacent room. I'm glad to see your calculations are matching up with mine. I was planning on a 1100-1200GPH pump. The drain holes in the glass are for 1 1/2" pipe, and the pump discharge holes in the glass are for 1" pipe.

I guess everybody just uses schedule 40 PVC pipe for their water lines?

 

[Harold Green]

Depending on the tank head height you may have to go as high as an 1800gph pump to get 1100gph to the tank. Most quality pumps will have a chart listing flow at head height. I'm running a mag 18 on my system with two 1" drains and the pump doesn't produce more than the drains can handle. I wish I could have had a remote sump since it would certainly be easier to maintain if not in the stand.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

I've looked at the pump performance curves and the tank height is about 6 feet, so a Model 18 should do about 1075GPH. However, if I place the sump in the adjacent room, i could reduce the required head to 3-4 feet, so a Model 18 definitely gets me greater than 1100GPH.

 

[Harold Green]

There are lots of pump options including dc pumps that are controllable. Just trying to give you an example from my tank.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

I appreciate the example! Since I'm at the very beginning, money is no object...yet


I've been thinking about just buying the megaflow kits since they're meant for my tank, but the only reason for my hesitation is that the return holes are for 1" pipe but the kits comes with 3/4" return lines. Guess I need to estimate the pressure drop before I just go ahead and buy.

 

[Fin]

I have the same set up with the MegaFlows in my old Oceanic 140. The kit works fine in the overflows. Been running mine for 9 years. I don't use the LokLine anymore though. It has problems with salt creep and will become brittle over time. I had one break off once with the pump running. I just changed all that out with 3/4" PVC. The portion of the PVC that is under the water is black PVC fittings.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

That's good information to make. Do you run any wavemakers?

 

[Fin]

I have a closed loop with an OceansMotions valve with a Dart pump and two MP40s, plus the two returns. I am in the process of changing everything though. I have a new tank in the works (a 125). I will just be running the two MP40s and the returns on it.

This is how I did my returns out of the MegaFlow overflow. Up and over the side with a union so I can remove it easily for cleaning. You can also see part of the closed loop plumbing that runs along the top of the tank and the OceansMotions valve.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

That's really cool. Wish I knew what the heck I was looking at, though. Lol. I'm really bad at telling what's installed from the picture.


Is that egg crate you're using on top? If so, what kind? I've been looking into that as well.

 

[Fin]

I was just showing you how I did my returns out of the overflow (the white PVC sicking up in the rear corner). The eggcrate is only at the front and rear of the tops. The rest is just the regular DIY screen tops. You can get all of the parts off of Bulk Reef Supply to make the tops. You can get the screen frame and fittings at Lowe's, but the mesh is not easy to find locally. I wouldn't use eggcrate for your main tank cover. I needed to run plumbing from the top of the tank at each corner, so I couldn't use the full screen top. I had to improvise and that is what I came up with.

 

[Harold Green]

I appreciate the example! Since I'm at the very beginning, money is no object...yet


I've been thinking about just buying the megaflow kits since they're meant for my tank, but the only reason for my hesitation is that the return holes are for 1" pipe but the kits comes with 3/4" return lines. Guess I need to estimate the pressure drop before I just go ahead and buy.

Many of the overflow kits come with at least one 1" bulkhead fitting that reduces down to a 3/4" pvc for that reason. Ask to look at a kit at any local lfs that stocks them.