Figured I should start this thread now, even though I'm a couple of weeks at least from actually acquiring the tank. This is the "thinking out loud" phase if you will. I have not done a tank upgrade before, and the more I think about it, the more daunting it seems. I'll lay out plans for the actual transfer a little later, but right now, I need some feedback on plumbing.

The tank has dual overflows, but is not drilled for returns due to the use of a pair of 1" sea swirls. I'll be keeping those on the system. They're really nice, and really expensive. I plan to have 1 overflow feed straight into the sump, with a tee to gravity feed my skimmer, and the other to feed a separate refugium that will gravity feed back down into the sump, downstream of the skimmer.

I'm going to need something significantly more powerful than my current Mag 18 as a return. any suggestions? I'll have the return pump teed off so that one side will go pump -> UV -> return, and the other will go pump -> chiller -> return.

The real question is how to handle the closed loop? there are 5 1" holes drilled for it in the back. The 4 returns for the CL are drilled along the bottom of the tank, and the current owner has 4 lengths of PVC plumbed to the bulkheads that run 4/5 of the way back to the front of the tank, and then terminate in a 90 elbow so they're pointing more or less straight up. I'd like to do a similar setup, but maybe vary the lengths of the PVC a bit, and maybe rotate the outputs a bit so they're not all pointing straight up. The current owner has an Oceans Motions 4 way on the CL. Unfortunately, that nice bit of equipment will be reused on is new tank, so I can't have it. What I'd like to do, as the poor man's version is this: Plumb a "Y" fitting on the intake pipe, and split it off to 2 separate pumps. I would have each pump feed 2 of the CL outputs. I would then use the Aquacontroller III to switch the pumps back and forth every once in a while. That way, 2 CL returns would run for a while, then the other two would run for a while. Is this advisable? Even possible? Any potential pitfalls?

It's my goal to have enough flow between the returns and the CL to not need any powerheads in the tank. At worst, I might have a Koralia 4 on either side, and cycle them off and on using the controller as well. I know, it results in premature wear, but they're cheap enough that I can deal with replacing them once a year or so.

My other plumbing question is this. I need to plumb in my pair of phosban reactors somewhere. Currently they're teed off the return. I don't know if I want to do that on the new setup, since the returns will have to be working harder, and flow is at a premium. Anyone ever run them teed off a return? I'm not sure there would be enough pressure. I'd really rather not start adding unnecessary pumps back in the sump, but I don't know. it might be the only way.

The sump will also hold the pH ORP and temp probes for the AC III, the temp probe for the Ranco controller currently running the chiller, the phosban reactors, the skimmer, 2 heaters and the float switches for the ATO. I currently have a 30 gal sump, but I might see if I can pick up a cheap 55 somewhere to give me more room to work with.

So, suggestions.... Suggestions on the pumps? On the setup? Anything I'm missing? Anything I should consider? Have I completely lost my mind?

The only thing I see, and I may be off base, would be to T off the return going to the fuge to feed the skimmer, this would keep flow in the fuge to a friendlier speed, without throttling back an overflow, it would also give you plenty of flow into the sump to run whatever equipment you may need.

That's a very good point, thanks!
I'm still up in the air regarding the fuge. I'm not sure if I want to just use part of the 55, or set up a separate, gravity fuge. Using part of the 55 sounds like the easiest solution, and I'd probablu have more room than i would if i used a separate tank.

Decisions, decisions.....

Here are a couple of pics of the tank as it is set up now. The curent owner has targeted May 18th to do his upgrade, so I'll help him with that, and then bring the tank home, so the project can get started in earnest.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e332/pearsonhurst/HPIM4404.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e332/pearsonhurst/HPIM4405.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e332/pearsonhurst/HPIM4407.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e332/pearsonhurst/HPIM4406.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e332/pearsonhurst/HPIM4409.jpg

where are all of the CL returns going back to the tank at ?? i dont see them in the pics.

They're coming through the back glass, and running under the sand to the front of the tank. I circled the returns in this picture:

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e332/pearsonhurst/HPIM44092.jpg

I think I'm going to change that up a bit though, so the flow is more evenly distributed throughout the tank.

might be a good idea to change it up, if i know you this is gonna be a mostly SPS tank, right ?? i would say to come through the back and split it up through the 4 returns with locline outlets. they are much easier to manipulate than PVC.

I'm not sure how I'll do it yet. Unfortunately, the holes for the CL are at the very bottom of the tank, so that'd require a lot of locline. I'm thinking about just varying the length and angle of the PVC outlets.

yeah, that would work. i would not glue the elbows so that you have the ability to move them if you need to. just pointing out some easy things that are sometimes overlooked.

Believe me, I'm happy for any advice I can get.

you COULD always run the pipes up the back, and use the threaded elbows and screw shorter lengths of loc line to them. maybe a little easier to direct the flow where you want it.

Pearson, that looks really nice!

phursty, geeze you got your work cut out for you, that thing is packed to the hilt. reminds me of an indian train so full their even on the roof! :o

You effectivly need an all plastic moving gyro convex dome on the end of your outputs, so it can vary the flow dirrection with each pitch in angle. Problem is i havn't invented it yet & unless they starting putting gurrana & ginsing in beer its a good chance i'll never get round to it ether..lol

i hope you settle on a solution soon bud. But in the meantime do me a favour, dont recreate the same wall structure if you can help it bud, be adventurous & create some funky space as your focus point! ;)

Yeah, I'm deffinitely not going with a rock wall. I'm not sure what I AM going to do,but not that :)

V, give me a shout when you invent your fantabulous flow device ;)

good to here!

& i prob should invent some things, cause ive got plenty of ideas, some could benifit the world twice over, others, well....... not so much..lol :eek: