Tank plumbing suggestions for my 155 gal

[ioreefer45]

I am embarking on a new journey to setup a 155 gallon bow front display tank. I am looking for some plumbing suggestions or if you have pics of your setup that would be great. Here's what I have planned:

155 Gallon Bow Front w/ Dual Corner Overflows
2 x Megaflow Overflow Kits (1 inch drain, 3/4 inch returns)
Sump 48" x 13" x 17" ( planning for skimmer/return/refug) - directly under tank
Return Pump(s): Twin Sequence Dart pumps ?? -- Need to buy
Skimmer: MR2 ?? or similar -- Need to Buy
Water Flow: Tunze Powerheads
Calc Reactor -- Next thing to figure out


A couple of questions or request for comment:

1. Should I go with standard PVC or spa flex?
2. Will there be too much flow by going with 2 pumps?
3. What is a nice quiet pump and have low electric consumption
4. Put skimmer in sump or keep external? Do I need separate pump for skimmer?


Planning on have mixed-reef but will be predominately SPS.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Britrover]

Give this a shot ( Just picture it with dual overflows) - http://www.inlandreef.com/Images/DIY/Plumbing/refugium_plumb.gif

 

[Scuba_Dave]

I think one Dart would give you enough turnover to the sump
2820 gph at 4' - I'm not sure if your drains can handle even that amount

1" drain can handle approx 590 gph x 2 = 1200gph max

RC Calc
http://www.reefcentral.com/calc/drain.php?gph=590&drain=Submit

 

[naturebatslast]

You could modify the megaflow overflow by cutting some of it out, increasing the flow. I could post a pic of mine if need be, it was very easy.

 

[ioreefer45]

Naturebatslast,

yes. Can you please post the pics of your mod? Do you find that the extra flow is beneficial?

 

[ioreefer45]

So two dart pumps is an overkill? I would like to have 2 pumps so that one can be serviced or swap out while keeping the tank running (redundancy). Anyone with 2 pump setup out there and what type of pump do you use?

 

[Reef55]

I agree that two darts would be huge overkill (at least both set up as shown above).

I have my return pump like this:

ball valve - true union - pump - true union - ball valve

When I want to do maintanence on it (or if it were to fail), I have a standby pump with the appropriate union halves already plumbed to the standby pump. I shut both ball valves, undo the unions, remove the first pump, put the backup back in, open the valves, and plug in the backup pump.

 

[Scuba_Dave]

Use a Tunze or some other low powerhead for movement in the tank

Buy 2 pumps if you want a spare - as stated
I have a spare pump for my setup

I am considering 2100gph with a Sequence 3200 & I think that is a lot for a recirc pump. (OK a lot of people think it is too much)

 

[naturebatslast]

I'll post a pic tonight. I'm having a sump design meltdown, and I'm not use to that much flow. Part of it, a pump that rated to a 1000GPH, but my overflow has handled it great, even when I tune the pump to about 1200GPH.

 

[naturebatslast]

Here the pic. It really easy, it just entails cutting the slots out of the overflow and covering with somesort of snailproof/fishproof covering. I took mine off for the pic.NBL

 

[naturebatslast]

Not the greatest pic.

 

[RichConley]

I do something that has a similar effect to NBL. I dont have any teeth on my overflows. My overflow runs the entire length of my 36" tank, so with 900gph from the sump, I only get about 1/16" higher than the overflow lip. This is way too thin for fish to be able to get over. The snails go back and forth from the tank to the overflow, and I have strainers on my standpipes.

 

[ioreefer45]

Ok. Thanks for the pics and suggestions. I may stick with the stock overflows for now and may modify if necessary. Anyone have suggestions for going either in-sump or external protein skimmer. Any advantages for either. Also, where is the best place to go to find the all the plumbing fittings (valves, connectors, spaflex, etc.)?