Sanity (not salinity) check

[Baffels]

Ok. Here I go. MOAR TANKS.

I currently have a 136G reef tank plumbed to my garage sump. I also have a 15G jelly tank hooked up to a Fluval filter that I want to add to my system. I am picking up a 235G tank to be used as a FOWLR tomorrow that includes a large sump. I plan to use my old sump as a fuge. Here is my poorly drawn plan of attack followed by questions

Questions:

1. Any issues with the plumbing plan above?
2. Adding 250G of new water to an already established 166G (sump included). Is this going to throw too much off? Should I try to cycle the new tank prior? Not sure how to do that without plumbing everything then having to completely redo it all... No live rock in the new tank, just dry rock and Carib sand.
3. Why am I this way? The tank addiction is real...

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Hi, this is going to be Dope!

My first question is how much flow are you running through the 136 and 250??

A 40g sump and 30g frag tank was BARELY big enough to hold the back flow from those tanks during a power outage or system shut down.

Besides holding capacity at failure, I would also be slightly concerned about the speed water is running through the sump with that many primary glass boxes hooked up into one, undersized glass box. My guess is it will be turbulent and pretty loud.

I'm upgrading currently to a 300, and putting a 125 under there.

 

[Baffels]

Hi, this is going to be Dope!

My first question is how much flow are you running through the 136 and 250??

A 40g sump and 30g frag tank was BARELY big enough to hold the back flow from those tanks during a power outage or system shut down.

Besides holding capacity at failure, I would also be slightly concerned about the speed water is running through the sump with that many primary glass boxes hooked up into one, undersized glass box. My guess is it will be turbulent and pretty loud.

I'm upgrading currently to a 300, and putting a 125 under there.

I plan on putting one way check valves on pretty much everything to prevent insane backflow.

If I follow the 25% rule, I would need an almost 100G sump. Thinking about picking up a 75G tank thats on sale at petco to boost sump size. Sound isnt an issue since its in the garage

Thoughts?

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

I plan on putting one way check valves on pretty much everything to prevent insane backflow.

If I follow the 25% rule, I would need an almost 100G sump. Thinking about picking up a 75G tank thats on sale at petco to boost sump size. Sound isnt an issue since its in the garage

Thoughts?

I would Absolutely go bigger on the sump. Especially in a garage. If you are in an area with a lot of people, check craigslist or let go, for a sump tank before buying new. In my area there's three, 75's free to good home right now.

I would (and am) also split off ye ol return, using one pump for the FOWLR, and another for the reef plus jellies.

 

[Baffels]

I would Absolutely go bigger on the sump. Especially in a garage. If you are in an area with a lot of people, check craigslist or let go, for a sump tank before buying new. In my area there's three, 75's free to good home right now.

I would (and am) also split off ye ol return, using one pump for the FOWLR, and another for the reef plus jellies.

Good thinking on used. Ill check around. And I didn't even think of splitting the returns. I like the way you think!

 

[All_talk]

I plan on putting one way check valves on pretty much everything to prevent insane backflow...

I'll probably be the first of many to say, never trust a check valve!

 

[Baffels]

I'll probably be the first of many to say, never trust a check valve!

Ill still definitely make sure I have enough room in the sump(s). Just like having the valves for when I shut off the return for maintenance.

 

[Pistondog]

Ok. Here I go. MOAR TANKS.

I currently have a 136G reef tank plumbed to my garage sump. I also have a 15G jelly tank hooked up to a Fluval filter that I want to add to my system. I am picking up a 235G tank to be used as a FOWLR tomorrow that includes a large sump. I plan to use my old sump as a fuge. Here is my poorly drawn plan of attack followed by questions

Questions:

1. Any issues with the plumbing plan above?
2. Adding 250G of new water to an already established 166G (sump included). Is this going to throw too much off? Should I try to cycle the new tank prior? Not sure how to do that without plumbing everything then having to completely redo it all... No live rock in the new tank, just dry rock and Carib sand.
3. Why am I this way? The tank addiction is real...

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Id reverse the fuge and return in the 30g and only supply 5 to 10 g/min thru the fuge with split return. Make sure the connecting pipe between the 2 sumps is big.
Another option would be to use the 30g solely as fuge and use an external return pump plumbed into the 40.

 

[Baffels]

Id reverse the fuge and return in the 30g and only supply 5 to 10 g/min thru the fuge with split return. Make sure the connecting pipe between the 2 sumps is big.
Another option would be to use the 30g solely as fuge and use an external return pump plumbed into the 40.

The more I think about it, going to pick up a 75G to use instead of the 40.

 

[Baffels]

Any thoughts on adding that much water to an existing set up? Will it start another cycle or anything crazy?

 

[Pistondog]

Any thoughts on adding that much water to an existing set up? Will it start another cycle or anything crazy?

No new cycle, itll be fine.

 

[jabberwock]

What's next?

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Any thoughts on adding that much water to an existing set up? Will it start another cycle or anything crazy?

Nope. That's not how it works. If you added the 250 FOWLR and dumped in a dozen grown up tangs and triggers.. You might have some biocapacity issues. I'm going to assume you are not.

 

[Baffels]

Nope. That's not how it works. If you added the 250 FOWLR and dumped in a dozen grown up tangs and triggers.. You might have some biocapacity issues. I'm going to assume you are not.

That's good news, thank you!

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

I'd add a Rubbermaid 100g troft for excess water Overflow or back flow.
... also water will follow the path of least resistance. Add id add gate valves to the main returns so you can even out the flow.
D