My 125 gallon tank set up

[fishforlife]

http://www.maast.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=41&pictureid=249


Here is the set up to my just recently purchased used 125 gallon tank. What is the area with the X for? Sand Bed? Live rock rubble??
Thoughts?

[Texreefer]

It is an area for chemical or mechanical filtration,, I'm a little concerned that you have the overflow to the right going down to the return bulkhead, you really want your overflows to enter in one area unless you have it tee'd off to a fuge, If you hav an internal pump for a return, I would just plug that bulkhead and not use it

[fishforlife]

What you are saying is that you would plug the return on the Right and only have the overflow going to the top are where the Bio-balls are? And have the return (via submersible pump) come from the bulkhead?

This looked a bit strange to me and I could not figure out why he had two overflows. When I ask him why hesaid that with two overlfows you have better filtration.

[fishypets]

Why not use the overflow on the right as a return line from the sump? It would be cleaner that way and you would have flow all through the sump.

[fishforlife]

Why not use the overflow on the right as a return line from the sump? It would be cleaner that way and you would have flow all through the sump.

I thought of that, but the "right" over flow has a plastic retaining wall surrounding the drilled overflow. If That overflow is not needed I plan on taking out the plastic, and capping the PVC pipe. (it takes up quite a bit of room)...

Could I put my pump at the end of the sump to draw the water through the entire sump?

[LoneStar]

It is an area for chemical or mechanical filtration,, I'm a little concerned that you have the overflow to the right going down to the return bulkhead, you really want your overflows to enter in one area unless you have it tee'd off to a fuge, If you hav an internal pump for a return, I would just plug that bulkhead and not use it

I agree with Mike here.

I would not get rid of the second overflow. Running both of them will help with surface skiming better and will help to get the wastes down to your filter/skimmer. Just incase one overflow gets clogged, you will have the other one as a back up. And as for running the return line, run it up through one of the overflows if there is a bulkhead in place.

[LoneStar]

Could I put my pump at the end of the sump to draw the water through the entire sump?

Yes. The water will move through the entire sump as fast as your return pump will run. The higher the gph, the faster the turn over will be in the sump. Be carefull not to run it too high since that will decrease the contact time you skimmer has to filter the water. You also do not want to run high flow rates through any sort of refugium you may be using.

[fishforlife]

As of now the return goes behind the tank, over the back, and through a small opening in the cover. When you say Run the retun through the overflow...do you mean run the return tubing through the return piping????

What exactly is a bulkhead????

Sorry I do not have the lingo down just yet...:blushing:

[LoneStar]

Depending on how the overflow chamber was built, some manufacturers have two holes on the bottom pane of the glass. One larger and one smaller. The larger diameter one would be used as a drain with a durso pipe. The smaller diamter would be used for a return line that would run over the up vertically through the overflow and out the top with its own plumbing.

A bulkhead would be used to plumb between a pane of glass.
http://www.joetruhan.com/New%20Photos/Bulkhead10.jpg

Take a few minutes to read over this website to get an idea of some plumbing lingo and prices:
www.savko.com

[fishforlife]

Thanks for the info on "bulkhead" I never want to assume anything in this hobby as a mistake can be co$tly. :bigsmile:

I just looked and both bulkheads are the same size.

Would it be a good idea to have both overflows T and run that one pipe in the top of the Sump? And have the return at the end?

The sump was made by "Dan's Aquaplex" any idea on who made this? The sump has some areas that look like they are for mechanical filtration, but I want to make sure.

[LoneStar]

I would keep each drain seperate running into the sump. It would be more as a redundancy that anything else.

Caferacermike pretty much answered who Dan was here:
http://www.maast.org/forums/showthread.php?t=46466

Some of the older members here know Dan but he is pretty hard to get ahold of.

[Gilbert]

you should try and get both overflows going to the bioballs, that would be the best solution to make sure waste gets out of the tank. and the overflows should have 2 bulkheads each, one hole is to move the water in the sump and the other is for the return. as far as the chambers, you can do what ever you want with them, i have seen peoples tanks with just bioballs, just a fuge, with both, and some have removed the bioballs and just used rumble. but the smaller chambers usually are for chemicals or those filter sponge things.

[fishforlife]

Would this be a better set up? Both overflows going into the Bioballs and the return back to the tank.

http://www.maast.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=41&pictureid=250

[FossilReef]

I would stick to both overflows going into the sump independently, easier to solve a problem that way. Also, I would ditch the bioballs and put rubble in that compartment. I've seen too many tanks that had problems with nitrates because of all of the funk that gets caught in/grows on those things. As to the small chamber with the "X" you could put a clump of Chaetomorpha in there and light that section of the sump with a small t5 household light to make a refugium. The way that sump is built, a clump of chaeto should keep rotating enough to maximize growth and therefore suck as many nutrients out of the water as possible. If you plan on keeping herbivores like tangs or angels you could just as easily use Gracilaria and give some to them for a treat every now and then. Just my thoughts on the subject.
Happy reefing,
Jason