The Greatest 120 Ever

[Craig]

Think I should install a checkvalve on the intake plumbing? I'm a bit worried about accidently running the pump dry since it's raised.

 

[jhale]

what's the check valve on the intake going to do?

 

[Craig]

If there's a blackout the pump won't completely empty out due to a check valve. When power is restored it'll be primed. No check valve and the pump will be dry when power is restored.

Am I overanalyzing this? Will it be fine without a check valve as long as there is water in the sump's return chamber?

 

[jhale]

yes as long as there is water in the sump the pump will retain it's prime.
with the power out more water will drain into the sump anyway. don't forget to take that into account. check valves suck imo.

 

[masterswimmer]

I agree that check valves do suck. But Craig has a point. After a power outage the water will drain from the pump and it will lose its prime. I don't see how the pump can retain its prime as long as water flows from high to low and seeks its own level.

swimmer

 

[jhale]

hmm, I thought it would be like the U I have going over my sump for my pumps intake. now that I look at it in the light of day I see what your saying.

 

[masterswimmer]

Craig, the check valve is a much less than optimum solution, but it's one of the only ones that come to mind (short of putting an aqualifter type of pump inline with the return pump to reestablish prime).

Remember, a check valve will add additional head pressure to your return.

swimmer

 

[jhale]

plus they break all the time , not a good track record for them. I would not trust one to save the pump.

 

[kimoyo]

Why didn't you just raised the sump instead of the pump? Or put the ball valve inside the sump? Actually, why didn't you raise the sump and put the bulkhead coming out from the bottom?

 

[Craig]

looks like i'm going to have to rethink the return pump. I'll find a way to make it so the pump is sitting at the same height as the sump.

 

[Craig]

How's this solution sound. I will push the sump as far back in the stand as it can go. The pump will go on the stand floor parallel to the sump. Will then use rigid pvc to do a 180 using two 90 degree elbows with a union ballvalve in the middle.

 

[masterswimmer]

Not ideal, but much better than the last plan. The part that's less than ideal is the two 90's before the pump.

R

 

[pecan2phat]

I think pecan told me once that these pumps can't have 90 degree elbows on the intake. Well they can but it voids the warranty or something. I really don't remember the conversation other than:
90 degree elbow before intake = bad

The 90 degree "elbow" @ the intake can and will most likely cause the pump to produce micro bubbles back into your display.
Investigated this for cali_reef by speaking to Sequence MDM.

 

[jhale]

I have 2 90's in front of my snapper, but the return goes through 16' of spaflex, and a chiller, that might get rid of the bubbles if any.

 

[Craig]

Decided to pose the question to their support guys. Here's the final version thanks to their help.

I learned an important lesson...when measureing the clearance space for a return pump in a stand with an open back, you only need to measure for the space to mount the pump's feet...the backend of the pump can hang out of the back of the stand :banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:





Here's a topdown final design. Thanks for the input everyone. You all just saved me from a headache. Anyone need a pump stand?
:smash:

 

[jhale]

oh yeah, we could have told you that :Blurp:

glad the problem is solved

 

[Craig]

Jim says I'm too anal with some details, so this post is dedicated to him.

I've labeled every single piece of equipment!

 

[House of Laughter]

You've got issues dude

Rock on though - when you're done, can you do mine?

Cant wait to have this up and running on Sunday.

House

Jim says I'm too anal with some details, so this post is dedicated to him.

I've labeled every single piece of equipment!

 

[Craig]

Build Day

Thank you to everyone who made today possible.

Thanks to House of Ha Ha ad Master Swimmer of HOF for hours and hours of plumbing and wiring and carpentry. Thanks to Alex and Allen for the homedepot ventures that saved the day. Thanks to Mike for keeping the livestock from becoming deadstock. Thanks Jhale and Chong for the aquascaping.

And the biggest thanks of all to my other half Liz for being supportive in this massive undertaking, and for being the hostess with the mostest today.

The old tank was broken down. The new tank was moved into place and level. Jim then went to town on the plumbing while the swimming master became the eletrical wiring master. In the endit came out fantastic. It's significantly quieter than my former tank so the Mrs and I can now sleep peacefully.

We just got all of the livestock into the tank today. Tomorrow will be spent aquascapting some more, and tidying up the wiring. The ATO, reefkeeper 2, chiller, and 1st water change are lined up for tomorrow.

 

[Craig]

more pics

more pics