mightymizz
06/06/2011, 10:58 AM
Ok, so I am adding a 20g frag tank that will be connected to my display tank. My display currently uses the Herbie method and it is dead silent and wonderful. I drilled my frag tank to also use the Herbie method, gate valve and emergency drain, to hopefully maintain the wonderful silence that the Herbie method has given.
Frag tank at this point will be GRAVITY fed from the drain of the display tank, very similar to how people set up refugiums sometimes. I have also toyed with the idea of running a tiny return pump up into the frag tank and basically have it work like a typical set-up, but that would be more power used, another pump to heat the water, and another expense at buying the pump. This is why I am leaning towards gravity fed.
My questions are:
1. I was originally thinking of using a "Tee" off the main display drain to direct water into the frag tank. I would use a ball valve below the Tee to force as much water as I want into the frag tank, while allowing any extra to drain into the sump. How well would this work in getting water to the frag system, while maintaining ideally a very silent set up? Any other thoughts that would be better here?? Also, I am thinking I don't want just a straight connection from main tank drain into the frag tank as I feel it might just be too much flow, so that is why I think the idea of having some of the flow drain into the main sump would be nice, but I have no experience yet. THoughts?
2. If I went with the method in #1, would it still be really silent since I have a full siphon coming out of the display? Only concerns would be I would basically be creating a backlog of water that would naturally want to fall straight down with the ball valve which would force it to move down the other pipe into the frag tank.
3. Am I missing something that would just be a better plumbing idea, or more efficient, AND/OR any thoughts regarding using a pump to feed the frag tank and get rid of my gravity fed idea altogether?
Pictures
Frag tank on left
http://i692.photobucket.com/albums/vv283/mightymizz/40g%20Breeder%20Build/SAM_0741.jpg
Shot of the area where the plumbing would take place
http://i692.photobucket.com/albums/vv283/mightymizz/40g%20Breeder%20Build/SAM_0742.jpg
Frag tank at this point will be GRAVITY fed from the drain of the display tank, very similar to how people set up refugiums sometimes. I have also toyed with the idea of running a tiny return pump up into the frag tank and basically have it work like a typical set-up, but that would be more power used, another pump to heat the water, and another expense at buying the pump. This is why I am leaning towards gravity fed.
My questions are:
1. I was originally thinking of using a "Tee" off the main display drain to direct water into the frag tank. I would use a ball valve below the Tee to force as much water as I want into the frag tank, while allowing any extra to drain into the sump. How well would this work in getting water to the frag system, while maintaining ideally a very silent set up? Any other thoughts that would be better here?? Also, I am thinking I don't want just a straight connection from main tank drain into the frag tank as I feel it might just be too much flow, so that is why I think the idea of having some of the flow drain into the main sump would be nice, but I have no experience yet. THoughts?
2. If I went with the method in #1, would it still be really silent since I have a full siphon coming out of the display? Only concerns would be I would basically be creating a backlog of water that would naturally want to fall straight down with the ball valve which would force it to move down the other pipe into the frag tank.
3. Am I missing something that would just be a better plumbing idea, or more efficient, AND/OR any thoughts regarding using a pump to feed the frag tank and get rid of my gravity fed idea altogether?
Pictures
Frag tank on left
http://i692.photobucket.com/albums/vv283/mightymizz/40g%20Breeder%20Build/SAM_0741.jpg
Shot of the area where the plumbing would take place
http://i692.photobucket.com/albums/vv283/mightymizz/40g%20Breeder%20Build/SAM_0742.jpg