Rygh's 250 gallon upgrade
- Thread starter rygh
- Start date
Tumbleweed
Guest
It comes in grey and in white.
rygh
Guest
Well, the plumbing tangle is coming along slowly and surely.
Not very happy with the way the pumps attach though. The quiet one 4000 pumps come apart
very easily. Handy, but unfortunately, a little pressure on the pipes is unscrewing the face of the pump.
Need to figure something out there.
Not very happy with the way the pumps attach though. The quiet one 4000 pumps come apart
very easily. Handy, but unfortunately, a little pressure on the pipes is unscrewing the face of the pump.
Need to figure something out there.
rygh
Guest
Power supplies are in and wired up.
24V + 12V + 5V
For Lights, Fans, Micro-controller, and other electronics.
Made a small box, with a fan on top for cooling, and screen to keep up the spiders and sawdust.
Mounted up an well away from any moisture.
The wires go to the correct spots from the supplies, but are not hooked to anything.
24V + 12V + 5V
For Lights, Fans, Micro-controller, and other electronics.
Made a small box, with a fan on top for cooling, and screen to keep up the spiders and sawdust.
Mounted up an well away from any moisture.
The wires go to the correct spots from the supplies, but are not hooked to anything.
rygh
Guest
A maze of wires, rather like my plumbing.
And really full.
But I managed to squeeze in a spot on lower left. But of course, I bought the wrong breaker.
Type NOM, not HOM. The N looks almost exactly like the H, and they almost fit, but not quite.
You would think there would be a single standard...
Planning on two 20 amp circuits. You can see my conduit coming into box at lower left.
And really full.
But I managed to squeeze in a spot on lower left. But of course, I bought the wrong breaker.
Type NOM, not HOM. The N looks almost exactly like the H, and they almost fit, but not quite.
You would think there would be a single standard...
Planning on two 20 amp circuits. You can see my conduit coming into box at lower left.
rygh
Guest
Found the right cement at home depot. 
arty:
Only $28, after taxes, for 20 pounds of cement plus a gallon of additive.
Same thing would be $80 from MarcoRocks.
And I think this might even be better, due to lower limestone usage.
arty:Only $28, after taxes, for 20 pounds of cement plus a gallon of additive.
Same thing would be $80 from MarcoRocks.
And I think this might even be better, due to lower limestone usage.
rygh
Guest
Box-Scaping
I cut up some cardboard and placed some boxes to get a general idea of aqua-scaping plan.
The theory is to have a bowl like area on the left. So rock/coral go all around a central
open area. With just some low corals on the sand in the middle.
The central box is a raised platform like area for SPS. Actual will be a bit lower.
The right side will have one big pillar in the middle. Maybe two. Still tweaking that side.
The plan is to build the left part first, out of cemented rubble, place it, and then completely
change the plan.
I cut up some cardboard and placed some boxes to get a general idea of aqua-scaping plan.
The theory is to have a bowl like area on the left. So rock/coral go all around a central
open area. With just some low corals on the sand in the middle.
The central box is a raised platform like area for SPS. Actual will be a bit lower.
The right side will have one big pillar in the middle. Maybe two. Still tweaking that side.
The plan is to build the left part first, out of cemented rubble, place it, and then completely
change the plan.
rygh
Guest
Been doing a fair amount of electrical work.
Started a few diagrams, did one of the simpler boxes under the tank.
Also fixed up the main breaker box a bit. It was a bit embarrassing like that.
I have not started on the complex parts yet though - relay board and controller board.
Plumbing is almost done. Chance of water tomorrow!
I don't normally do fancy drawings for simple electrical boxes. But it really helps to print a copy
and post it near the box, so years from now, I know how it is connected when something goes screwy.
From Aquarium_Release
(Red one on left is a different circuit, so micro-controller can turn off some pumps at night.)
From Aquarium_Release
Started a few diagrams, did one of the simpler boxes under the tank.
Also fixed up the main breaker box a bit. It was a bit embarrassing like that.
I have not started on the complex parts yet though - relay board and controller board.
Plumbing is almost done. Chance of water tomorrow!
I don't normally do fancy drawings for simple electrical boxes. But it really helps to print a copy
and post it near the box, so years from now, I know how it is connected when something goes screwy.
From Aquarium_Release
(Red one on left is a different circuit, so micro-controller can turn off some pumps at night.)
From Aquarium_Release
rygh
Guest
WATER IN THE TANK!!!! arty:
Testing it out with tap water.
Yipee!!!!!
From Aquarium_Release
But oops - should have stopped while I was ahead.
Well, I probably needed to wash out the inside of my garage anyway.
From Aquarium_Release
Not a big deal. Anyone care to guess at what went wrong?
The first picture has a big hint in it. (And no, it was not the kid)
arty:Testing it out with tap water.
Yipee!!!!!
From Aquarium_Release
But oops - should have stopped while I was ahead.
Well, I probably needed to wash out the inside of my garage anyway.
From Aquarium_Release
Not a big deal. Anyone care to guess at what went wrong?
The first picture has a big hint in it. (And no, it was not the kid)
rygh
Guest
The flood was due to a boneheaded move on my part.
I put in an extra tube on the return to keep it from splashing as I filled it.
But then the football game started..
So I turned everything off, and watched the game.
Then noticed --- Hmm, sure seems like the water went down a couple of inches.
That little extra tube siphoned the water through the return, back to the sump, which
overflowed and flooded the garage.
No damage, but wow, a couple of inches in the main tank is a lot of water.
I put in an extra tube on the return to keep it from splashing as I filled it.
But then the football game started..
So I turned everything off, and watched the game.
Then noticed --- Hmm, sure seems like the water went down a couple of inches.
That little extra tube siphoned the water through the return, back to the sump, which
overflowed and flooded the garage.
No damage, but wow, a couple of inches in the main tank is a lot of water.
screebo
Guest
I've forgotten that I was filling my ATO reservoir and found it a minute after it began overflowing. Like you, I felt it was a perfect occasion to mop the kitchen floor! Necessity is the mother................
When filling my 5 gallon RO drinking water bottles, I do it in the kitchen sink so that any overflow won't cause collateral damage. Funny that after about 15 minutes of filling, I tend to be well entrenched in other things.
The tank looks great, nice start and great to have a helper too!
When filling my 5 gallon RO drinking water bottles, I do it in the kitchen sink so that any overflow won't cause collateral damage. Funny that after about 15 minutes of filling, I tend to be well entrenched in other things.
The tank looks great, nice start and great to have a helper too!
rygh
Guest
Yep, he is a great helper. Plus loves to pick out and name the fish.
I tried getting him his own freshwater tank, but no interest. Likes the fancy one too much.
Probably sell it one of these days.
Downside - he gave me a cold. Kids are notorious for that.
It is full now!
ISSUES:
1) The overflows make a bit more noise than anticipated. Need to raise the water level.
2) A few unexpected bubbles from the turf scrubber, but they are large, not microbubbles, and
are pretty minimal, so I may leave them.
3) Quiet-One pumps are seriously NOT very quiet.
I think they should be called Not-Loud pumps.
I would be quite annoyed if they were in the main living room.
4) Only 3 small leaks, all exactly the same place - at the pump exit.
I did not want to tighten it too much, to avoid damaging the pump.
Bit of extra teflon tape an silicone, and everything looks perfect.
5) I totally over-built the pipes.
I planned at least 75% extra, but I could probably run 3X the water.
Oh well, just a bit of extra hassle and cost.
As a bonus - no worries as things grow in the pipe.
I am going to change the exit bulkheads to the ATS pumps.
If I get a pipe/pump/tubing/joint failure, the tank would empty about 3/4 of the water.
If I raise the input strainers near the top, it is a lot less risky.
A bit ugly, but when painted, should not show.
Overall -- very happy.
I tried getting him his own freshwater tank, but no interest. Likes the fancy one too much.
Probably sell it one of these days.
Downside - he gave me a cold. Kids are notorious for that.
It is full now!
ISSUES:
1) The overflows make a bit more noise than anticipated. Need to raise the water level.
2) A few unexpected bubbles from the turf scrubber, but they are large, not microbubbles, and
are pretty minimal, so I may leave them.
3) Quiet-One pumps are seriously NOT very quiet.
I think they should be called Not-Loud pumps.
I would be quite annoyed if they were in the main living room.
4) Only 3 small leaks, all exactly the same place - at the pump exit.
I did not want to tighten it too much, to avoid damaging the pump.
Bit of extra teflon tape an silicone, and everything looks perfect.
5) I totally over-built the pipes.
I planned at least 75% extra, but I could probably run 3X the water.
Oh well, just a bit of extra hassle and cost.
As a bonus - no worries as things grow in the pipe.
I am going to change the exit bulkheads to the ATS pumps.
If I get a pipe/pump/tubing/joint failure, the tank would empty about 3/4 of the water.
If I raise the input strainers near the top, it is a lot less risky.
A bit ugly, but when painted, should not show.
Overall -- very happy.
rygh
Guest
I managed to get the overflows dead-quiet.
Very happy with that. Had to tweak things a fair amount, but it worked.
And they truly are dead quiet. Laminar flow down the sides, a short distance, and zero noise.
BUT: I am very unhappy with the pump noise.
One pump on is not so bad.
But with all 3 on, the vibrations really get going. And they transmit through the walls a bit.
Not loud by any means. The TV on easily drowns it out. But it vibrates a bit up to the bedroom,
and I am pretty picky.
I am also unhappy with turf scrubber flow.
Even with nice big pipe, I expected a fair bit of head-loss due to lengths/bends/etc.
But seems that the flow curve is worse than expected on these pumps.
So really considering a different strategy on the pump situation.
An expensive change as well. Grr.
1) For the sump return, I can stick with the Q1-4000, but put it inside the sump, instead of outside.
I get extra heat transfer, but not that bad. And connected with flex tube, and inside the sump,
I am sure it will be completely quiet.
2) For the ATS returns, I need 2 x 700 GPH total at about a 3' head.
I have a leftover Pan World 50PX-X from a different build, which is also a fairly high flow but low pressure pump.
I might try that, since I have it already.
I know an Iwaki MD55RLT would handle it. But besides the expense, it draws quite a bit of power.
Plus, both the Pan World and Iwaki are not exactly quiet.
And I get a lot more heat transfer than I would like.
Also thinking of going to a ReeFlo Goby Gold or similar in the 2500 range. Split with valves.
Ideas welcome!
Very happy with that. Had to tweak things a fair amount, but it worked.
And they truly are dead quiet. Laminar flow down the sides, a short distance, and zero noise.
BUT: I am very unhappy with the pump noise.
One pump on is not so bad.
But with all 3 on, the vibrations really get going. And they transmit through the walls a bit.
Not loud by any means. The TV on easily drowns it out. But it vibrates a bit up to the bedroom,
and I am pretty picky.
I am also unhappy with turf scrubber flow.
Even with nice big pipe, I expected a fair bit of head-loss due to lengths/bends/etc.
But seems that the flow curve is worse than expected on these pumps.
So really considering a different strategy on the pump situation.
An expensive change as well. Grr.
1) For the sump return, I can stick with the Q1-4000, but put it inside the sump, instead of outside.
I get extra heat transfer, but not that bad. And connected with flex tube, and inside the sump,
I am sure it will be completely quiet.
2) For the ATS returns, I need 2 x 700 GPH total at about a 3' head.
I have a leftover Pan World 50PX-X from a different build, which is also a fairly high flow but low pressure pump.
I might try that, since I have it already.
I know an Iwaki MD55RLT would handle it. But besides the expense, it draws quite a bit of power.
Plus, both the Pan World and Iwaki are not exactly quiet.
And I get a lot more heat transfer than I would like.
Also thinking of going to a ReeFlo Goby Gold or similar in the 2500 range. Split with valves.
Ideas welcome!
rygh
Guest
Well, I replaced the Q1-4000 with a PW 50PX-X.
Fortunately, the inlet/outlet is basically identical.
Supposedly 1017 GPH -> 1100 GPH. Very close one would think.
HA - Not even remotely the same. J)
I think the Pan-World was close to double the flow.
And that was with EXACTLY the same plumbing.
In fact, there is so much flow I need to valve it back a bit.
Noise is a lot better as well - (for me).
The pump itself makes more noise, but it has a small built in fan that is making most of it.
I do not really hear any induced vibration.
Since the pump is in the garage, the fan noise is irrelevant, whereas induced vibration is key.
Fortunately, the inlet/outlet is basically identical.
Supposedly 1017 GPH -> 1100 GPH. Very close one would think.
HA - Not even remotely the same. J)
I think the Pan-World was close to double the flow.
And that was with EXACTLY the same plumbing.
In fact, there is so much flow I need to valve it back a bit.
Noise is a lot better as well - (for me).
The pump itself makes more noise, but it has a small built in fan that is making most of it.
I do not really hear any induced vibration.
Since the pump is in the garage, the fan noise is irrelevant, whereas induced vibration is key.