Utilizing a raceway system

[yellowtruck75]

Does anyone use a raceway system for growing out frags? The only person I see on ReefCentral that uses this system is JBNY and the only info I can find on this topic is in Anthony Calfo's book. What are the drawback to such a setup? I was thinking of building one out of acrylic for my 125 SPS tank.

[tekknoschtev]

From the info I have read, a standard raceway system is very linear flow. Of course, you can modify it to have alternating flow as well.

Personally I've looked into it, but didnt have the $$$ and we ended up using an old 40gal tank for our prop. Once we make some $$$ on our corals, we're looking into some sort of raceway system.

[yellowtruck75]

So if the money is there to set one up they are worth it and benificial? Do any of you guys know where there are plans online for a raceway, such as measurements and pictures.

[tekknoschtev]

Originally posted by yellowtruck75
So if the money is there to set one up they are worth it and benificial?

Haha, I really dont have any idea. I just think it'd look cool, . The thing I'm envisioning is a few rows (at least 3-4) of tanks stacked on the wall. Something like 36x8x6 with some nice VHO or T5 lighting above each row. The top one tiers down into the next one and so on, falling finally into a sort of sump that is contained within a clever stand that looks more like a work bench as a place to bag stuff up.

I guess on top of looking cool, it'd have the added benefit of being shallow and allowing the lower light to be more effective. We've got 192W PC over our 40gal (36x12x22) and things grow... so so, but if we could get a good ballast capable of firing 4x 3' bulbs, then we'd be in business.

I do think I'd have to come up with something to work out the very linear flow, or at least reduce the flow a bit. I know if I had our Mag 9.5 doing the return, that there'd be far to much flow because its so concentrated in such a small tank area.

[yellowtruck75]

Tekknoschtev:
Are you talking about using multiple tank instead of one tank?

My idea is one tank with several 4"-5" rows in it that would have the water enter at one end then change direction at the end of the row to continue down the next one and so on (picture in Anthony Calfo's book). This design would incorporate about 5-6 rows and utilizing the space to maximize flow out of a small pump. My idea is to have the return from the tank go straight into the raceway and then continue into the sump. This design will reduce the use of powerheads or pumps to a minimum.

[tekknoschtev]

Ahh, ok, I have seen that idea before. It also seems that it'd be efficient, and easier to switch the direction up (two return pumps on a wave maker circuit, one at each end. That'd give you a GREAT wave action I think.

Not what I was referring to, the link just posted on the same thread in the DIY section is what I am referring to.

[yellowtruck75]

Ok I get you now. I was looking at that link and its the same idea but all of it in one tank, not seperate raceways.

This way you only have to use on MH pendant to light the whole thing, that is if you are growing SPS or acros.

[TimD]

Check out this thread (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=476407&highlight=raceway).

[2thdeekay]

A large coral farm I know of uses raceways. They alternate the laminar flow a couple times a day, with a small period of slackwater. They say it increases feeding efficiency for the corals. I'd like to know how they did their plumbing to alternate the laminar flow.

[fatrip]

they probibly have 2 pumps and 2 drains on the system. one shuts off then it is stagnent for a bit and the other turns on pushing the water the other way. making it stagnant for a few mins would help in the prevention of making large waves in the center and posibbly knocking over coral or spilling water on the floor.

[2thdeekay]

Thanks! I was thinking that too. I'm wanting to upgrade my frag tank, and would like to do that. Having 2 pumps is not a problem, but, I'm wondering how to alternate the drains reliably, to lessen the risk of a flood.

[eshook]

Someone who knows what they are talking about should chime in, but as I see it as long as the drains are on opposite sides and are the same height it shouldn't make a difference. The pumps will push water in one direction that extra "pressure" will mean that the drain on the opposite side of the pump will drain more water than the drain on the same side as the pump. So to simplify the plumbing just have 2 drains of the same height. Of course you will lose a little bit in efficiency but I'm willing to bet its not much.

Again maybe someone with experience will chime in.

[A.T.T.R]

my thinking on a race way is to have it return to the starting point and have one drain.
then you just push the water throu the system using two pumps( one on one off

ill draw it up but it should work

[eshook]

This would make sense if you could make a circular system (e.g. put a partial divider in the center and have the water circle around a tank) Then the pumps would be next to the drain pointing in opposite directions. I'm assuming this is what your talking about ATTR?

[A.T.T.R]

yes

and you could also do it in a system that has mutiple baffles

in the end essentialy all it is is a circle.

[eshook]

This is true. That is even simpler system than what I was thinking of. Of course the more baffles (e.g. turns) the more resistance which equates to less flow. If you have a large pump then its not a problem, but if your trying to optimize energy then fewer baffles would probably be better (using my naive thinking at least)

[2thdeekay]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12436271#post12436271 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by A.T.T.R
my thinking on a race way is to have it return to the starting point and have one drain.
then you just push the water throu the system using two pumps( one on one off

ill draw it up but it should work

ATTR, I look forward to seeing your drawing. I'd like to hear more.

[A.T.T.R]

less flow to start out with.. but eventualy it should all get moving and up to speed


if you wanted full force of pump you could make it alot of bends but no loop around and have two pumps and two bulkheads in the bottom of the tank

with some very easy check valves both the bulk heads could be both a intake or an output based on what pump is running .ill draw that up as well


but lets put it this way
a single 200 gph pump is able to get a 45 gallon tank ( 7 ft by 4 ft by 3 inches) moving in a matter of seconds ( about 6 inches a second surface movment in most areas.)

[2thdeekay]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12435952#post12435952 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by eshook
Someone who knows what they are talking about should chime in, but as I see it as long as the drains are on opposite sides and are the same height it shouldn't make a difference. The pumps will push water in one direction that extra "pressure" will mean that the drain on the opposite side of the pump will drain more water than the drain on the same side as the pump. So to simplify the plumbing just have 2 drains of the same height. Of course you will lose a little bit in efficiency but I'm willing to bet its not much.

Again maybe someone with experience will chime in.

What I have in my head is a "theoretical" raceway, a long trough 12" wide x 18" deep, and ~20 feet long. I may not be getting the right picture with your idea of 2 drains, one each end, both at the same height. Water will follow gravity, but also the path of least resistance. What am I missing? Thanks.

[2thdeekay]

Ok, I see what you mean. Water circulation with in the track raceway would be separate from the overflow/sump return pump.

Yeah, good idea!

[A.T.T.R]

ok
20 ft long system
here is an idea..
use two of them back to back connect with a LARGE bulkhead ( 5 inch or so) and put a prop pump in each one ( 3000 gph or more) and you can turn each one on at different times to get teh circular flow going into the system. would work great.


my next planned tank is a tray system like the one i have except much larger ( about 17 ft long 4 ft wide))

[2thdeekay]

Nice thinking Chris. That will work just fine. Thanks.

[A.T.T.R]

btw i ment the prop pump pumping into the bulk head

( wanted to be very clear)

huge energy savings

less heat to tank

its always cheeper to move large amounts of water at 0 pressure hten it is to move it up and down ( under pressure)
this way you can use a slower return pump
allowing for 3 things
cheeper
cheeper
no microbubbles in return