Return in the drop off

Zante · 10/23/2016, 04:47 AM

I'm planning the build for the new place, and it'll be a drop off tank.

I have decided to use a closed loop to circulate the water in the drop off.
This is a rough sketch of what I'm thinking of.
There are a few things still missing from this sketch, such as the return circuit from the sump, and I want to use bigger pipes for the closed loop.

The possibility of using the return pump from the sump to circulate water in the drop off has been suggested.
basically the idea would be to have, starting from the pump:

- Pump
- Four way split
- Ball valve x4
- Non return valve x4
- Non return valve x4
- Ball valve x4
- Bulkhead

This way, by closing the ball valves each branch can be isolated and dismantled for cleaning, maintenance or replacement.

Is this something that is feasible?
... or should I just go for the normal return to the surface?

For reference the tank has a footprint of 2m x 1m and is 50cm deep, reaching 1m in the drop off

OllieNZ · 10/23/2016, 09:39 AM

Check out flo from Austria 's drop off. I believe he's recently switched to a couple of gyres and was surprised how effective they were creating flow even in the drop off

Zante · 10/23/2016, 11:25 AM

Problem here is that the tank will be viewable on three sides, with the side with the overflow against the wall. Any pump that has access to the drop off from inside will be on a viewing panel, and I'll need a mighty long cord for that pump too.

Zante · 10/23/2016, 01:00 PM

In any case I'd like to see that tank. Do you have a link?

OllieNZ · 10/23/2016, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zante

Problem here is that the tank will be viewable on three sides, with the side with the overflow against the wall. Any pump that has access to the drop off from inside will be on a viewing panel, and I'll need a mighty long cord for that pump too.

Flo's tank is very similar
He was using an mp series pump at the bottom of the drop off, which alleviates the cord issue. The 2 gyres got added under the overflow blasting the length of the tank.

Flo's tank

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...light=austrian

Zante · 10/23/2016, 03:02 PM

Ah, yes, I had seen it on the Google images results. Unfortunately I cannot use one of my MP40s as the acrylic will be too thick. Water is 1m deep there...
I'd have to get an MP60 and that'd be overkill.

NanoReefWanabe · 10/23/2016, 10:03 PM

I would not run your return to the bottom of you drop...if your power ever goes out you will need a huge sump to handle the entire volume of your tank

Flaring Afro · 10/24/2016, 01:58 PM

Check valves fail frequently. I definitely wouldn't rely on one. That's just asking for a flooded room and dead livestock.

Zante · 10/24/2016, 04:53 PM

No worries guys, I've finally been at the new place with a tape measure and the tank won't fit through the doors, so it's going to have to be a standard tank without the drop off.

NanoReefWanabe · 10/25/2016, 12:06 AM

Make it 4" narrower then

Zante · 10/25/2016, 01:21 AM

It would have to be just over half the width, I'd have to lose 16 inches.

NanoReefWanabe · 10/25/2016, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zante

It would have to be just over half the width, I'd have to lose 16 inches.

do you live in hobbiton? how small are you doors?

2m length is not an issue, and the overall 1m height are not an issue as i am sure you are taller then that, the width 1m based on most common door sizes is anywhere from 3-6" too wide 1m=39" most exterior entrance doors are either 34 or 36" and in some rare really old homes 32"...i dont see why you would have to go to 24" that is some seriously tiny doors...

too bad as it would have been one kicka** build

Zante · 10/25/2016, 01:20 PM

Maybe average on the American continent for modern houses.
The door to the room where the aquarium is to be set up is 70cm wide, and the building was erected in the early 70s in Italy.

Zante · 10/25/2016, 01:24 PM

No worries, it was fun to design it that far, and I can go for 60cm depth, with will give almost the same overall volume.
Also I won't have to think up strange technical solutions and increase the amount ofg piping and equipment in the tank.

It's ok, I had the feeling I'd have to downsize a bit to get it in, I just wasn't expecting that much.

NanoReefWanabe · 10/28/2016, 12:05 AM

Dang...a tank of this scale could also be built on site. .. at least they do plenty of on-site tank across the pond here

Zante · 10/28/2016, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NanoReefWanabe

Dang...a tank of this scale could also be built on site. .. at least they do plenty of on-site tank across the pond here

Unfortunately the company I contacted is quite far and won't do it.

A local company that would do it quoted me about the same price for a 500 litre glass aquarium (less than half the size and without drop off), so I really don't know what they might quote for that.

It'll be still some time before I make the move and there are other companies in Italy. I haven't quite given up yet, but fishkeeping is much more of a niche here than in the US or the UK, and I have to accept that I might have to have a tank without a drop off, and while I'm a little bit disappointed, I'm fine with that. It'll be cheaper and there will be more left over for the discus/altum tank that will follow it.

10/23/2016, 04:47 AM	#1
Zante Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: London (UK) Posts: 338	Return in the drop off I'm planning the build for the new place, and it'll be a drop off tank. I have decided to use a closed loop to circulate the water in the drop off. This is a rough sketch of what I'm thinking of. There are a few things still missing from this sketch, such as the return circuit from the sump, and I want to use bigger pipes for the closed loop. The possibility of using the return pump from the sump to circulate water in the drop off has been suggested. basically the idea would be to have, starting from the pump: - Pump - Four way split - Ball valve x4 - Non return valve x4 - Non return valve x4 - Ball valve x4 - Bulkhead This way, by closing the ball valves each branch can be isolated and dismantled for cleaning, maintenance or replacement. Is this something that is feasible? ... or should I just go for the normal return to the surface? For reference the tank has a footprint of 2m x 1m and is 50cm deep, reaching 1m in the drop off

10/23/2016, 09:39 AM	#2
OllieNZ Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: UK Posts: 569	Check out flo from Austria 's drop off. I believe he's recently switched to a couple of gyres and was surprised how effective they were creating flow even in the drop off __________________ "Perhaps it is boredom, not intelligence, that has propelled humans up the evolutionary ladder." _________ Reefed out

10/23/2016, 11:25 AM	#3
Zante Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: London (UK) Posts: 338	Problem here is that the tank will be viewable on three sides, with the side with the overflow against the wall. Any pump that has access to the drop off from inside will be on a viewing panel, and I'll need a mighty long cord for that pump too.

10/23/2016, 01:00 PM	#4
Zante Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: London (UK) Posts: 338	In any case I'd like to see that tank. Do you have a link?

10/23/2016, 03:02 PM	#6
Zante Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: London (UK) Posts: 338	Ah, yes, I had seen it on the Google images results. Unfortunately I cannot use one of my MP40s as the acrylic will be too thick. Water is 1m deep there... I'd have to get an MP60 and that'd be overkill.

10/23/2016, 10:03 PM	#7
NanoReefWanabe Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 6,639	I would not run your return to the bottom of you drop...if your power ever goes out you will need a huge sump to handle the entire volume of your tank

10/24/2016, 01:58 PM	#8
Flaring Afro Puffer Geek Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 325	Check valves fail frequently. I definitely wouldn't rely on one. That's just asking for a flooded room and dead livestock.

10/24/2016, 04:53 PM	#9
Zante Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: London (UK) Posts: 338	No worries guys, I've finally been at the new place with a tape measure and the tank won't fit through the doors, so it's going to have to be a standard tank without the drop off.

10/25/2016, 12:06 AM	#10
NanoReefWanabe Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 6,639	Make it 4" narrower then

10/25/2016, 01:21 AM	#11
Zante Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: London (UK) Posts: 338	It would have to be just over half the width, I'd have to lose 16 inches.

10/25/2016, 01:20 PM	#13
Zante Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: London (UK) Posts: 338	Maybe average on the American continent for modern houses. The door to the room where the aquarium is to be set up is 70cm wide, and the building was erected in the early 70s in Italy.

10/25/2016, 01:24 PM	#14
Zante Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: London (UK) Posts: 338	No worries, it was fun to design it that far, and I can go for 60cm depth, with will give almost the same overall volume. Also I won't have to think up strange technical solutions and increase the amount ofg piping and equipment in the tank. It's ok, I had the feeling I'd have to downsize a bit to get it in, I just wasn't expecting that much.

10/28/2016, 12:05 AM	#15
NanoReefWanabe Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 6,639	Dang...a tank of this scale could also be built on site. .. at least they do plenty of on-site tank across the pond here