Help with Plumbing A New AGA 180

[cfrussin]

I've got my stand done. It's made of square steel tubing and was welded by one of the reefers here. It's all painted and ready to skin. I had it made tall so I could fit my Euroreef RS 8-3+ under it. I've got an Oceanic Sump 3 and I plant to add a refugium. I'm building the canopy today. I want to start playing with the new lights. 3 Reef Optix III's w/ Ushio 250 DE's and 2 6 ft. Uri's, 1 Actinic,1 Super Actinic. And 4 IceCap ballasts and 2 Ice Cap 4" fans.

Here's my question. I'm really looking for some help here guys! My tank is an AGA 180. It has two overflows with the megaflow setup. Can I use both holes in each overflow as drains to the sump? I just don't think 1" x 2 is enough. I was thinking of using both holes as drains and then pump the return using my Sequence 3200 with an OCEANSMOTIONS 4 way and send the return up the back of the tank where it'll split off to 4 penductors (1 in each corner.

Or should I drill the tank for overflows? If I do that, is there a valve that would keep the water from siphoning out in a power outage. The pump is rated at 3200 gph at 6 ft. So I believe it is AlL I need. I have to be able to put everything under the tank and sequence is so quiet unlike my standby Mak5, I really don't want to add anymore noise. The tank is going to be in the Home Theater Room.

Also, does anyone know how to do a recirculating mod on a Euroreef RS8-3+? The water spilling out of the pipe is noisy and irritating.

 

[G.T]

Cliff i could pop around one day and sort it all out for you? I could bring all the valves, unions and pipework you need

 

[Jim Tansey]

The short answer is yes you could use all four as drain. I'm setting up a 110 with four 1 inch drain lines, using four 1 inch as opposed to a couple of 1 1/2 inch lets me get the tank closer to the wall as they exit the back.

Jim

 

[nitrofish]

is there a valve that would keep the water from siphoning out in a power outage.

a check valve is the only thing like that, but im not sure I would trust one. with age im sure it wont seal 100% of the water.

 

[RichConley]

I've heard the sequence pumps dont deal well with pressure. I remember reading something along the lines of putting eductors on the returns is like adding 15 ft of head.

I could be totally off base here, just think I read that on RC somewhere.

 

[dedfish]

Have you read about anyone using penductors with an OM? Just wondering how it would work out. With having 1 1/2 ports open at all times on the OM I'm very curious to how that would affect the flow.

 

[cfrussin]

I can't say I'm definitely using the penductors. I just was reading about them and was impressed. I thought they'd help. As to the OM, johnny, who I sold a 125 to mentioned them. I went to their site and saw some pretty wild setups. Bottom line is I'm willing to spend whatever it takes to get my tank to look like some of your. You know who you are.....Tank of the month candidates. The largest part of my problem is I'm moving from a 210 AGA that had a 12x12 sump room underneath it in the basement to a house that won't allow such. The only good thing is I'm going to put a header in and use a cut down bi-fold so I can see and work on the back of the tank if I have to. Everything has to fit under the cabinet....I'm so confused......

 

[dedfish]

The OceansMotions units are great! And the service you get from Paul from OM outstanding! If your willing to spend the $$ have you considered having less flow through the sump and going with a Tunze setup in the tank? Heck I'd do both if I had the money.

 

[RichConley]

I read that the OceansMotions dont work too well with penductors if you have them at 1 1/2 ports open. If you get the drums that do 1 port open or 2 ports open they work fine. Something about them hanging up between holes because of the increase in backpressure from the penductors. Also, if your gonna put em on one line from the OM (or pump in general) put them on all the lines.

 

[cfrussin]

Tunze's

From what I gather there aren't many who wouldn't love to have Tunze's but whoa! $$$$$ I already have more into this than I like. Do you know of a definitive thread out there or website that explains the advantages of drilling the back of the tank for bulkhead versus going over the top with the returns? The idea to use both holes in the overflow as returns came to me last night. I'm so new at this and there are lives at stake.

 

[jacqur]

I have my tank set-up very similar to the way you proposed setting up yours. A dolphin pump from my sump(basement) into an ocean motion 4 way. I use both the 3/4" and the 1" in each of my corner overflows as returns.

A couple things to think about - the 1" return is sized to deal with the water flow through the AGA comb on top of the overflow. So using the 3/4" as an additional return doesn't do anything. If you want to be able to accomodate more flow, as I did, you will want to modify the overflow comb. I cut 2 of every three teeth out of my comb. This allows more than double the overflows rated flow. If you do this you will want to use both bulkheads in the overflow to keep up.

The other suggestion is to utilize a pump larger than what you want to push through the Ocean motion. Then put a bypass before the ocean motion and bring it into your tank with a penductor. I suggest this because I'm not sure how the penductors would work with the eradic flow characteristics of the OM. Also I have my 4 returns on the top of my tank blowing onto the rock work but wanted another source of water behind the rockwork to prevent detritus buildup and such.

Here is a link to a thread I responded to with pictures a while back. I'll be happy to answer questions of if you want to come by and check out my set-up for ideas that's fine too.

Good Luck.

http://www.bostonreefers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=15077&referrerid=861

 

[johnny]

ocean motion 8 way is only 75.00 more handles more flow
you can order it to 1 at a timeat a time 2at a time 3at a time 4at a time 5at a time 6at a time 7at a time 8at a time or any way you want it to flow