Seattle center-drilled 150

[TheWB]

I don’t know if this is feasible because I’ve only ever had AIO tanks so I’m no sump expert. I do know that I love this idea and hope it can be made to work. I love innovation and this just looks like it would be functional and effective. Off the top of my head you might need to have a plan for splashing in the sump. Good luck.

 

[mfinn]

I’ve been considering how best to plumb the dual overflow/return and I need some input from you knowledgeable reefers out there:

Is there any reason I couldn’t pipe both of my overflow down tubes through two algae turf skimmers?

In theory this would mean all of my tank water would filter through an ATS 10+ times and hour, which should help (once it matures) keep some of my parameters really stable with relatively little maintenance... right?

Let me know what you think!
If it helps I’ll upload a layout of my sump tomorrow afternoon

First, I wouldn't do 10 x per hour.
IMO no reason to go more than 5x-6x.

Second looks complicated. ( I hate complicated )

No plans for a skimmer?

 

[Nolan Shinn]

First, I wouldn't do 10 x per hour.
IMO no reason to go more than 5x-6x.

Second looks complicated. ( I hate complicated )

No plans for a skimmer?

Nah, I’ve got a skimmer, as well as a refugium in my sump. My theory was that since it’s already free flowing, by running all the overflow water through an ATS I’d have an additional filtration method with little extra work. But I’m still learning about algae scrubbers, so I’m not sure if the benefits would out-weigh the extra plumbing steps.

 

[Nolan Shinn]

Finally a little forward progress on the tank!

We picked up a couch from my girlfriend’s parents, which was placed on the far side of the fish tank. Once we got that in place the glass was lifted into place.

I still haven’t finished leveling it yet, but I couldn’t resist throwing the sump in there real quick to see what it’ll look like

There’s a reasonable amount of room around the sump. Speaking of, the sump is a modified 55gal standard, which came with the display tank. I may swap it out for something custom eventually, but it’ll do for now! Except for that godaweful wood trim... Thays getting painted pronto.


I also have this spare 10 gallon tank that I could put in the stand for a quarantine tank or top-off reservoir, but I’d have to shift the sump over. What do you guys think?

New plumbing parts came in the mail as well!

 

[Nolan Shinn]

I had a little time on my hands, so I roughly modeled the sump in rhino and grabbed a couple screen shots.

I’m gonna try the dual ATS idea I had, so water will be flowing into the sump from either end. On the right side the ATS will flow into a refugium but I’m not sure what to do with the left side. Maybe a bunch of rubble for pods? Or perhaps another mechanical filter of some sort...

 

[mfinn]

I would not put the skimmer and return pump in the same chamber.
Could end up with micro bubbles in the display tank.

 

[count krunk]

yes, bet practice is to have a bubble trap before going to the return pump. Bubbles in the return is no bueno, looks quite bad in the display

 

[mch1984]

What they said ^^^. I am about to have to redo the sump on my new frag tank because of micro bubbles, not the same thing causing the problem in mine but same result. there are some many bubbles in the frag tank the water looks cloudy.

 

[Nolan Shinn]

I would not put the skimmer and return pump in the same chamber.
Could end up with micro bubbles in the display tank.

Good catch! There is one there, I just forgot to model it .

 

[Nolan Shinn]

As the new year approaches, I may not have built an aquascape or even gotten the tank wet, but a boy can dream...
Here’s a few pictures of the last 150 gallon I had:

Looking back on old photos is an excellent way to critique your own work too... I’m happy to say my photography has improved over the intervening years.

As the tank goes through the less visually interesting early stages in its life, I’ll try to continue to post some of my older pictures as inspiration

 

[Nolan Shinn]

I was traveling for work until yesterday, and take off for another work trip tomorrow afternoon. But I managed to get some of the return lines plumbed!
Layin’ out all the hardline components. There’s about 2ft of braided nylon tubing that connects the return pumps to the valves. This helps reduce vibrational noise.


Union ball valve, wye check valve, and a threaded end for the hose barb. Since the return pumps are in the center of the tanks, and to give the down pipes/ATS’ as much room as possible, the return plumbing hangs at a 45 degree angle.



It’ll be supported near the hose barb to reduce lateral stress on the plumbing.



To cut off water flow...



Wye valves are primarily a safety measure against back siphoning during a power outage.

 

[Nolan Shinn]

Long time no see! I just got back from a work trip to Orlando this morning, and spent this evening mocking up the sump plumbing and putting together the in-tank plumbing...
Here’s the new overflow (left) next to the old design (right)...
The new design reduces the length of 3” pipe, hopefully reducing overflow noise.
And it’s the perfect spot for an easily accessible filter pad!


Drain grate keeps the critters out...



Just has to be levered open, as it sits flush with the top lip.



Here’s the new return line (left) next to the old design (right).



Installed and looking dope!


I also got the rest of the down pipes finished , with the exception of the ATS box.



I still haven’t decided if I wanna build that ATS return concept or not... it just didn’t work out to have two like I had originally planned (maybe when I buy my first custom tank haha), so I’m contemplating just doing one and letting the other down pipe run straight to the refugium... here’s the ATS prototyped out of foamcore.



Basically turned into a vertical ATS, and I used a universal S-bend to allow the ATS to be removed for cleaning/repairs...
what do you guys think?

 

[Nolan Shinn]

While I was in Orlando, I went and toured @worldwidecorals. What an awesome shop! I’ll post some decent pictures of their gorgeous collection when I get a sec...

This is the last crappy iPhone shot I’ll ever post, thanks to the polyp lab lens I got while I was there...



I also took a day trip out to visit my grandparents and got to explore the beach near their house...


Not exactly a fish...



Fishing...


Hard to beat a gulf coast sunset

 

[mch1984]

Tank is looking great, they announced the new mega store about 2 weeks after my last visit to orlando. Good excuse to go back so I can see the new place.

 

[Nolan Shinn]

Tank is looking great, they announced the new mega store about 2 weeks after my last visit to orlando. Good excuse to go back so I can see the new place.

It was amazing! I just saw the original shop, so I’ll definitely have to check em out after they move. The tanks were so clean!

 

[Nolan Shinn]

I picked up some acrylic and built the Algae Turf Scrubber concept I imagined a little bit ago. Gate valve controls down pipe flow rate, universal bend allows the box to be removed for cleaning and adjustment. The sanded ‘algae surface can be slid out of the back of the scrubber. I’ve got LED growlights coming from Amazon for the lid. Check it out!

Puzzle pieces...



Box is all glued together.


Sanded, removable grow surface...


Inserted into the box.


Prism helps diffuse grow lights (which will be glued to the top, facing down into the box).


Sits on top...


Plumbing...


Assembled (except the LEDs)


Installed in the sump. Ready for water!
Just as soon as I polish out scratches left by the previous owner...

 

[count krunk]

looking good! Orlando has many great reef shops, i love living here

 

[Nolan Shinn]

Finally started on rock work! I’m also discovering how difficult it is to aquascape around those silly centerdrilled overflows...

Tape is holding the rock work in place while the expanding foam sets..


It doesn’t look like much without a strong light source, but this is overhang city...

I wanna devote more of this tank to sps, so I’m trying to design with lighting requirements and coral growth in mind.

I’m also wanting to do something a bit more natural with my rock work than I have in the past, so I’ve been looking through my dive photos for inspiration. Something I noticed, especially with the shallower reefs is that there are very few of the fantastic arches and spires commonly seen in what I think of as a beautiful reef tank. I’m assuming those get blasted apart by storms... instead a lot of what I’m seeing are low relatively flat out toppings, with some really striking negative space created by improbably balanced low overhangs...


What do y’all think so far?

 

[mch1984]

It's looking good, I've never heard of using the expanding foam in rock work. I would be tempted to get small pieces and build two rock columns around those overflows. Nothing drastic and keep the rest of the rock work the same, just hide it some.

 

[Nolan Shinn]

It's looking good, I've never heard of using the expanding foam in rock work. I would be tempted to get small pieces and build two rock columns around those overflows. Nothing drastic and keep the rest of the rock work the same, just hide it some.

Thanks!
The expanding foam works amazing, I’ve used it on two previous tanks with good results. Once it’s dry it holds the rocks in place nearly as well as those reef putties, and I can tear off chunks until it resembles my dry rock in shape, texture and color. In a couple months you won’t be able to see a different at all.

Good idea! I’m headed out this evening to buy more rock for the other side as well