Help with setup of 150G - Currently FOWLR

[zellto1971]

Good morning,

Long time lurker, first time poster. He're my dilema:

I'm in the process of rebuilding my 150G FOWLR. The current setup is as follows:

150G all-glass
CPR overflow
30G sump with bioballs
EuroReef skimmer (can't remember the model but it was picked up to work with the 150... sitting in the sump)
Sump is connected to a PondMaster 1800 GPH mag-drive pump... back to the surface.
Lots of worms, small critters in the LR and sand bed, few small sponges here and there.
4" combo sand and crushed coral (top layer of sand just added, older sand and crushed coral about 3.5 years old).

Just added 50 lbs. of dead rock... have about 120 lbs. of assorted LR.

New lighting (not yet installed). Aqua-Medic MH combo with 3 10K 250W and 2 20K 150W, two VHO reflective actinics... all with electronic timers, etc. About 1400 watts of light.

Couple of large RIO powerheads at each corner of the tank (left and right sides).

Fish are all gone... have two cucumbers and LOTs of snails of varying size and variety.

I am building a new stand that will give me better access for plumbing, etc., as well as a new hood. The hood will be open from the top with the MH assembly cabled to the ceiling.

My question is this:

How should I set up the plumbing inside the tank? I am planning on removing everying (saving the water and substrate) and running pvc underneathe to create a flow of water in the tank. I'm just not sure of how to do it all. Will the 1800 mag be enough? Will I need another pump? My plan is to gradually (and I mean GRADUALLY) add corals and such as I can. My wife is concerned about having a "crowded" tank and would rather it look more like an open reef (quite a few fish, etc... she's really into the fish... not so keen on corals). I think I have a lot of good equipment here, I just need to tie it all together.

Can someone point me in the right direction please?

Thanks!
Tom in Virgina Beach

 

[SnowManSnow]

hey man,

welcome

its sounds like you have the basics covered. 1st I assume you'll use the overflow to get the water to the sump. You'll have to plumb it back over the top if the tank isnt drilled. I'm not sure why you want to run PVC under eaverything. I would just run it over the top with PVC and then maybe do a T and make another run along the other side of the tank to spread out the flow. Hopefully some of our plumbing gurus can chime in on this o ne.

as far as having a crowded tank I would suggest removing some of the rock you have in your system (although its difficult to tell what it needs without a pic). Keep in mind that everything you add will add to the "croweded" tank syndrome. IMO I would only have 80-100 lbs of LR in there. When things grow in over the next few years it will really fill out. Try and create an open structure with lots of room for flow, and tables / overhangs to place clams and corals.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU HANG IN THERE!!! A reef tank takes lots of time and patience. Make haste SLOWLY.

B

 

[Anonymous]

zellto1971,
:welcome:

Well, as far as setting up plumbing, do you mean PVC returns from the sump?

 

[zellto1971]

Thanks for the welcome!!

I guess I need to be a little more clear on what I'm trying to do here...


The tank is a center-piece to our family room and actually separates the kitchen from the family room. I will be moving the overflow from the back corner to the side of the tank to help make the tank more see-thru. I was thinking that I would use hard PVC to plumb the overflow to the top of the sump. Right now I have flexible PVC hose that I got from the LFS. I may keep it and add openings on the side of the stand to route the hoses. I think I have this part covered.

The return piece is more of what I'm concerned about. Right now the return from the pump branches into two lines that both exit together at the surface (well two inches below the surface). I don't think that this is adequate for the movement of water in the tank. I would think that bringing the water down to a lower point in the tank near the substrate to help increase flow on the bottom would be better. How then should I situate the powerheads?

As for the amount of rock that I have... I think I need to work on my aquascape shaping skills. Right now the rock is just kinda "in there" (I did make some nice hideaways and caves... nothing that I'm proud of though). So I think I can hold on to the amount of rock that I have as long as I clean it up some.

Anyway... the big thing is plumbing this baby right... good flow AND keeping it nice and clean looking.

Thanks!! This site rocks!!