1 pump for everything

Poppy828 · 04-03-2005, 06:28 AM

Morning everyone. Been awhile since I have visited and posted. Hope everyone is doing well along with your tanks.

I am in the process of building a custom stand, canopy and sump/refugium for my 75g. With that I am going to have to tear the tank down to make the move. The wife was kind enough to go out and buy a 60g rubbermaid stock tank for me to make it easier. Gotta love her. Anyway, since I am tearing it down I was going to redo my entire plumbing and hopefully downgrade to 1 pump to run the skimmer and return.

I have a dual drain overflow. (2) 1" drains. Not sure of the rating GPH wise, but it moves some water. I would guess 1100-1200 maybe. With that I am running and AquaC-EV-180 skimmer. As it sits rigth now, I am using (2) Mag Drive 9.5' for the return and a Dolphin DP-800 for the skimmer. 3 pumps submersed is too much I feel not to mention the extra heat and maintenance needed.

Is there one submersible or external pump that can run all of this? I was thinking of going with a Mag Drive 18 for the return and then use 1 of the 9.5 for the skimmer. Then I thought 1 pump would be better.

Any advice and help is greatly appreciated.

Thank you as always,

Todd

fletch · 04-03-2005, 06:46 AM

Hi Todd I think I would go with your first choice of the Mag-18 for the return and the Mag-9.5 for the skimmer. I think if you try to use 1 pump to do everything your going to have flow problems as the path of the flow with the least resistance is going to get the most flow from the pump. I suppose you could do it if you use a Y type splitter just after the pump and use a shut off valve on each side of the Y splitter to control the water flow. but that is up to you if it were me just for simplicity I think I would go with the 2 pumps JMO John

Poppy828 · 04-03-2005, 06:55 AM

Thanks for the input Fletch.

The more I have been doodling on paper with the plumbing design and in my head...I too think the 2 pumps would be a better route to take. My only dilemma is this.....

I have a 25w UV that I run one of the 9.5's through currently...so that reduces flow a bit. I also plan to add the SCWD I bought 2 months ago to this setup. Will the 18 be enough to run through the UV and scwd and keep up with the drain? Agin, I beleive the overflow is somewhere around 11-1200. That could be high or low. Not sure. I think with head pressure and device pressure, I may fall a bit short on the return???

Todd

fletch · 04-03-2005, 07:07 AM

Todd I am running 2 mag-7 pumps for my returns and I have a Y in one of the return lines going to my UV filter and I put a shut off valve on the UV filter side of the Y to control the flow threw the UV filter and so far it has been working fine.

Poppy828 · 04-03-2005, 07:14 AM

Are you running a dual drain overflow or single? I know when I turn off 1 of the 9.5's, the drain is far geater than the return can handle. Water level in the fuge goes up an inch or so. I curently have a 30g fuge.

I think if I add a ball valve on the return to make sure I don't have to much flow and also change the drain piping to PVC and add ball valves on those to reduce drainage if need be, then I should be fine. Does anyone use PVC for on overflow drain with ball valves? I have never seen it, but can't imagine I would be the only one trying it.

Thanks Fletch,

T

fletch · 04-03-2005, 07:19 AM

I have 2 - 800 GPH overflows

Yes I am using PVC for my overflow drains John

Poppy828 · 04-03-2005, 07:32 AM

Then the 18 will work fine. I may have to dial it down some actually then. Cool. I knew I could find answers here. Thank you very much John. I appreciate your time and help very much.

I will be changing everything over towards the end of the month. I will try and remember to take pics of the process. I will keep you posted on the progress and results of the pump.

Thanks again John.

T

fletch · 04-03-2005, 07:39 AM

You are very welcome Todd good luck and I hope everything goes smoothly .................... John

Poppy828 · 04-03-2005, 08:06 AM

I too hope everything goes smoothly. I am sure it will. I beleive it will be an all day affair though. Tear tank down Friday night and put the livestock and rock in the 60g stock tank that was set up the night before with a 9.5 pump and heater. That should help keep the PH in line for the fish and corals so they are not shocked. I plan to filter the sand also to get rid of the nasties in it. Not sure if I should do all of it or not. Don't want to shock everything with removing all elements from the sand. Still have not decided how to approach that yet. Then I scrub the inside of the tank nice and clean. Just like brand new. Actually, I am starting all over I guess...LOL

Saturday morning, take measurements with new stand and canopy in place for plumbing. Go to Menards and spend more money...then come back and cut,glue,swear a lot, and hope it all holds. Put the tank on the stand and new refugium under the stand with it's inhabitants. Fill the tank with sand then water. Throw a heater and powerhead in and let everything settle. Once at temp and PH is comparable, throw the livestock in and hope they all make it.

Not sure how much new water to make though? I was thinking 40 gallons or so. I have 150lbs live rock and 100lbs live sand. That should take up some good volume in the tank itself. The fuge is currently holding 30ish lbs live sand and 15lbs live rock.

Any ideas on the best way to do this? *I don't want to lose anything in the move. Wife and I ahve become very attached to everything in the tank.

T

fletch · 04-03-2005, 09:29 AM

Sounds good to me but I don't think I would rinse the sand at all I would just put it back in just as long as it has been kept wet and I would wait a few days checking your basics like Ammonia,Nitrates,Nitrites as well as PH and so on but that is JMO............... John