Final Tank Design

[smit1260]

Below is two images of my final tank design. I start putting it together this weekend and would like any comments. I have been designing it while waiting to purchase it for 6 months. The tank will be a 40 gallon breeder with custom filtration and refugium in the back. I will be primarily keeping sps corals. Water will overflow from the tank into a berlin sock, and then into the sump, then be pumped into the refugium, and finally it will overflow back into the tank. Main pump will be a MJ-900 and two MJ-900 as circulation pumps, alternating back and forth on a wave maker.

Lighting will be 2 - 250 watt metal halides and 2 - 65 watt 50/50 PC. It will also have moonlights run by the neptune controller. Final tank volume will be 32 gallons, sump 3.4 gallons, and 3.4 gallon refugium.

Auto-top off for evaporation.

Auto-water change. The tank will change 0.75 gallons of water everyday. This will be done by shutting down the main pump, letting the sump fill up and then drain 0.75 gallons of water, then when the pump starts back up it will top-off 0.75 gallons of make-up saltwater.

I would like to thank all the reefs.org members for all the help answering my questions. I will be posting many pictures as the tank comes together. It is getting really exciting!!!!!!!

 

[Len]

So both the sump and the refugium will be hang-on variety (or on the same height level as the tank)? To be honest, I can't quite understand your diagrams.

 

[Len]

I think I am better understanding the diagrams now. Is the sump built into the back of the tank? Also, how is the refugium situated (built into the tank, hang-on, etc.)?

IMO, the "auto-w/c" concept is unnecessary and adds little benefit. I would forego it completely. While tiny volume water changes help minimize shock from sudden changes and can help replenish minerals, they aren't effective at diluting nutrients (which, IMO, is the biggest reason to do water changes). I'd stick with "manual" water changes of 10-20 gallons per month.

Also, I see no plans to incorporate a skimmer. I think this is a very useful piece of equipment, especially if you plan on a SPS only tank.

I'd do away with that Berlin Sock unless you are fully committed to cleaning and/or replacing it several times a week. I use these socks after I do major tank maintainence, but I do not run them 24/7 because they get clogged and dirty very quickly.

 

[smit1260]

Thanks for the reply Len!

The sump and the refugium are going to be built into the tank. The refugium is located above and next to the sump and to the takes up the left 2 feet of the back of the tank. The total sump is 4" tall below the refugium and also takes up the right 1 foot of the back of the tank.

I am glad that you agree that the auto-waterchanges woudl help with mineral additions and reduce shock. However I feel that the daily small water changes will reduce toxins. If I where to change 15 gallons of water a month I would be doing a 40% water change, if I change 10 galllons every two weeks it would effectivly be the same as a 45% monthly water change (in toxin reduction), if I do .75 gallons per day it would effectivly be the same as a 44% monthly water change (in toxin reduction). I would be exchanging 22.5 gallons in a month.

The reason for the lack of skimmer is that I want my tank to be as natural as possible and because I know I am going to be changing large amounts of water. I may leave a spot open just in case. I hope the steady level of minerals, organics, and toxins helps with growth instead of the roller coaster in most tanks.

I am not really committed to changing the berlin sock a couple times a week. Do you think even on a 40 gallon tank it would fully clogg that quickly? It is to bad that they don't make the berlin sock in different microns.

Thanks for all your help Len,

Dave

 

[Len]

Ah, I understand your design completely. I would encourage you to make room or find some way to install a hang-on protein skimmer. It's a nice concept to want to replicate an environment as "natural" as possible, but the reality is there is nothing natural about a closed ecosystem, so we employ unnatural means to achieve the desired results. I've had many tanks skimmed and skimmerless (even nanos where I did 50% w/c), and IME, skimmed is definitely the way to go.

As for water changes, I realize where you are coming. It's just my opinion it is an extra element in the equation that IMO doesn't serve all that much utility. But that's only my opinion/approach If you don't mind keeping up with daily chores and don't think you'll relax your habits over time, then go for it. Just to nitpick .... When you do 0.75 gallons per month, it does not equal a 22.5 gallon per month (0.75x30) dilution since with each water change, you are removing water that has already been previously diluted. Mathematically, the difference is small, but a larger change will be marginally more effective. Oh, I made a typo in my previous post: I meant to type "they aren't AS effective at diluting nutrients." But ya, this difference is pretty minimal in the short run (can add up in the long run).

It's amazing how fast mechanical filters will clog in a reef system, even a small one. Perhaps your sock could last a week before servicing, which is reasonable. In my much bigger tank, it takes less then 48 hours to become very filthy. I only use this sock right after I do my large water changes (where I purposesly kick up the substrate to get detritus in suspension for removal).

 

[smit1260]

Len,
Because of your posts I have been looking at skimmers and redesigning the system somewhat if I decide later that I need one.

When I calculated the effective dilution I did take into account the fact that some water will be new water. It would change 22.5 gallons per month but would be a 44% effective water change. 44% of 38 gallons is about 17 gallons. So I agree, one large water change is more effective at dilution the the same amount over 30 days. But if you bump up the daily amount you can get the same effective water change at the end of the month. And it makes the tank more stable in my opinion.

Just for the record I am being stuburn on the daily water change because of a tank I serviced while working at an aquarium service company had autowater change. It was saltwater and fish only but I have never seen a tank do so well. I had a semilavartus eating out of my hand for the two years I serviced the tank.

I want to use the sock to keep the water clean. I will have a back up plan in the design if it cloggs to fast.

Thanks again Len,
Dave

 

[Len]

There's definitely nothing wrong with your daily water change method ... it's just something I couldn't imagine myself keeping up with over time I'm a realist and a lazy hobbyist by nature, so I know that over time, I'd stop mixing water regularly. But perhaps with a bigger resevoir (if I had the space for one) .... 8)