New tank installed.

[Flatlander]

Just finished the install on the new 180. Its in one wall, facing the sitting/tv area of the rec room & the 170 is in the other wall facing a different way.

Both sit in the common fish room, shown in my pics. Both will feed to the 30 gal sump. The 180 has a large center V shaped overflow with 2 - 11/4 inch pipes. The 170 will use a large hang overflow, {Spectacular Sea Systems}. We found it down in the lfs basement, hidden away in the old stuff.:D It will not operate when I am away:eek2: , but the 170 is fine without tons of skimming anyways.

I also have a 7 gal refugium sitting on my 170. Skimming will be done by my Euroreef. I gave my ATS to friend at an lfs to try.

170 is still lit with a single 400w 55K Venture and besides corals, will be home to only my pair of cinnamon clowns. It will hold many low flow type corals.

180 is lit with a 400w 12K, plus a 175w 10K on eack side. It will have a much higher flow, has a deeper sandbed, very little rock. Pics soon.

[Ocean Images]

I am currently planning the same idea as your setup. I would like to add a tank to my family room and directly below it in my basement lies my already established 125 gallon reef tank. I am planning on sharing the sump but the $$ is in the lighting for the second tank.......I may do the same as you and have a low light tank upstairs.
** Question**
What is a good pump to take the water from sump to upper tank approx. 15 feet straight up?

:cheers:

[ajx22]

Originally posted by Ocean Images
** Question**
What is a good pump to take the water from sump to upper tank approx. 15 feet straight up?

:cheers:

GEN-X/MAK 4 or 5!! (depending on how much water you want to move).

Wicked pumps...and handle head very well. Likely the MOST reliable pump on the market.

The MAK5 is rated for:
1500gph @ 6' Head
1800gph @ 0' Head
3/4" INPUT/OUTPUT

The MAK4 is rated for:
1000gph @ 5' Head
1190gph @ 0' Head

HTH...

[Flatlander]

Glad Andrew got that one. I have never used large pumps, in my 25 yrs. of keeping aquariums.

The 3MD {jet turbine,:( }, that is going to run my 180, is the biggest I have ever owned. From the general opinion, the pumps mentioned by AJ are good. The Ampmaster seems to be a popular model for large flow requirements. Not sure how it would handle the head, as its not pressure rated.

Does not Little Giant not have a new version of the 4MD, thats liquid cooled instead of the noisy fan. It would handle your needs. The reason I went with them is because of the Canadian availability & fixability.:D

As for my set-up, here are some updates. Re-confirmed my membership in the flood club. :help: It was only a crappy 55 gal rubbermaid tub, I stored some saltwater in, while repairing the overflow. When I shut down my pumps, we found a small leak in the overflow seal, letting tank water in. Of course it was half way down.:rolleyes: We figured an air bubble caused it.

During the draining procedure, decided the piddly 30 gal was not big enough to hold extra water. Have a new 70 gal. being built as we speak.

Have also decided not to run the 170 into the sump. Always wanted to try a good plenum system with barely any rock & corals that do not stress the calcium demand. Would like to see if I could get it self sustaining, so to speak. No additives & very few water changes. Of course I may still put everything into the new 180 & put goldfish in the 170.:bigeek:

[canadawest]

For my next tank I think I am going to go with a large pump to run everything. Circulation, skimmer, etc..

With that in mind I would buy an Ampmaster 3000 in a heartbeat. They are very efficient and move tonnes of water. The 3000 is rated at 3000gph at 5' head, and shutoff is at 17.5'. You could easily run your sump return, circulation, and skimmer off it.

It's almost the same price as a Gen-X Mak 5, is more energy efficient, quieter and flows twice the water, with little to no heat transfer.

But if you are not interested in spending big bucks on a large "do it all" pump, you could easily get by with a more inexpensive MAG Drive pump, like a 12 or 18 for 1/3 to 1/2 the price.

[ajx22]

Just use some caution...

Most people know about the recall that Dolphin issued (http://www.dolphinpumps.com/silent.htm) regarding their older pumps...and that they then discontinued them. The issue that I have with Dolphin is that one of my suppliers (close friend also) used to deal with Dolphin exclusively. There were a LOT of problems with the pumps, and getting service was next to impossible. I have inquired into dealing with Dolphin, and have reservations due to the past service issues.

Also, the Ampmaster pumps (still new on the market) are being highly praised for high-flow/LOW head applications, but most people have realized that they loose pressure quickly when adding head (http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=79336&highlight=Ampmaster+AND+head) . Their best application is with a 3-5' head "Closed-Loop" set-up.

Also, there have been a few issues lately with the AM3000 needing to have new seals installed. (http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=86895&highlight=Ampmaster)

I was considering adding one to my set-up for a closed-loop system on my 220Gal...but after more investigation...had second thoughts.

Just a word of warning...may or may not be needed.

HTH,

[Mitchell]

Well where are some freakin pics man. Remind me what a 180 in a wall looks like

[Flatlander]

There coming. Will shoot some on the weekend. Busy walking over pails of water, fixin the leak. :help:

[Flatlander]

180 from front. Notice the one that jumped out.:laugh:

[Flatlander]

Backside in fish room.

[Flatlander]

Large 5 gal center overflow. Blue acrilic has yet to be attached inside, facing front. Notice all the silicone on left side, where repairs had to be made. Messy as its a lovely place to try work.

[Flatlander]

3 inch tubular iron stand. Also my handy-dandy make shift sump, in use while the 70 gal is being made.

[Flatlander]

:laugh: whoops, forgot the pic. :laugh:

[ajx22]

Lookin GOOD!!!!

Keep up with the pics...I love to see a plan come together!!

:jumpin:

[Ocean Images]

Your well on your way now! I have yet to do the "inside wall" tank but it sure looks great
:cheers:

[Andy]

Excellent Doug. Is this going to be an SPS tank. Keep the pics coming.

Andy

[stephane]

Doug have you try to stop the pumps!

the level in the sumps is very hight an the sumps bucket is very small I suspected a fload comming in power failure :confused:

[Flatlander]

Hi Stephane, thanks for noticing & the concern. Actually the pump is off in the pic. I just filled the sump from one of my tubs. The tank is full to the overflow in the pic, as I was testing the overflow for leakage still. Its now running at a lower level & my 2 returns shown in the pic, just barely break the waters surface. I dont believe in anything that cant break siphon in less than a gallon or so. The new 70 sump will have lots of room though, as my thoughts were the same as yours, when playing around.

Andy, I am not sure what way to go. It wont be all sps, but it will contain all the sps I do have. When I picked up the tank, I purchased/bartered/traded for a whack of different types of good selling soft coral frags. More profit selling them to the stores than sps.:D

I was thinking of installing a plenum in the 170 to experiment with, but really hate to bother my pair of tomato,s. I also hate to move the large bubble coral or the large leather.:eek2: My major concern is the addition of ca/alk. Adding 2-parts is fine for now, but keeps me here.:mixed: It of course has no sump. Perhaps I will get a hang on reactor from George for that tank & use the kalk reactor on the 180.

[Flatlander]

Coming along pics.