reef n ale Posted September 25, 2005 Author Share Posted September 25, 2005 Let me know what you think! Rob Link to comment
Sebea Posted September 25, 2005 Share Posted September 25, 2005 I am so eager to see this thing up and running. Keep up the good work! Link to comment
dweakl01 Posted September 25, 2005 Share Posted September 25, 2005 Looks good , Rob. Get it hooked-up and running, man. FOlks are dying to see this thing in action. Link to comment
reef n ale Posted September 26, 2005 Author Share Posted September 26, 2005 Thanks guys! I'm dying to get this thing going too! It seems trying to keep the plumbing simple and direct has actually made it more difficult to pull off. Working around the external overflow has been a fun challenge! Here is the latest plumbing picture. To get in the "plumbing zone" I suggest the following...chanted to yourself while handling or at all thinking about PVC... "Be the Tigah, Be the Tigah, Be the Tigah..." If you rock back and forth (like Rainman) while chanting, this is what you end up with... Link to comment
FishFreak Posted September 26, 2005 Share Posted September 26, 2005 Wow, I think you "were the tigah" while you were plumbing. Nice! Link to comment
Reefer Addict Posted September 26, 2005 Share Posted September 26, 2005 The only thing that I see that may be a problem is un-equal water return back into the main tank. I don't know if it is too late to plumb a manifold. A manifold equalizes the water pressure. "T" connectors must be plumbed pretty much dead center in order to come close to having the water flow equally through the return bulkheads. Link to comment
reef n ale Posted September 26, 2005 Author Share Posted September 26, 2005 Thanks Freak! Thanks for the input RA! Please tell me if I'm completely wrong on this, but won't having a ball valve on each return let me control the flow from one side to the other???? If not, I may have to rethink this whole thing... Rob Link to comment
Reefer Addict Posted September 26, 2005 Share Posted September 26, 2005 The ball valve though not as accurate as a gate valve (as it relates to water adjustment) may just do the trick. The issue I see that may come up is if you had to do some type of major maintenance (something that would require you to completely close of the ball valves). It maybe difficult to access and re-adjust them when the tank is filled, stocked and against a wall. Link to comment
reef n ale Posted September 26, 2005 Author Share Posted September 26, 2005 Ok RA, I got absolutely no sleep last night! After thinking about this ALL NIGHT and today,I still think it's a valid design. If one return has more flow, adjusting the ball valve of that return will force water to the weaker return. The water will have nowhere else to go. It has to work...right? I thought alot about access to valves when I designed this. I will be able to reach all valves either from the sides or through the cabinet. This should make it fairly easy to adjust as needed. I'll post a side pic tonight to see what you think. Rob Link to comment
Travis Posted September 26, 2005 Share Posted September 26, 2005 Looking good reef 'n ale Link to comment
reef n ale Posted September 27, 2005 Author Share Posted September 27, 2005 Thanks Trav! As you can see, I'm starting to get a little paranoid about my plumbing job. Here's a pic of the plumbing with cabinet access. Rob Link to comment
reef n ale Posted September 27, 2005 Author Share Posted September 27, 2005 Sorry, I got locked up while posting...again. Here's a pic of the side access. Please add any comments/suggestions before I get the glue out! Rob Link to comment
Tigahboy Posted September 27, 2005 Share Posted September 27, 2005 Looks good. The only thing I would've done differently is adding a ball valve before (or above) the first unions right after the bulkheads (for the lower holes especially). so if you needed to take out the pump and it's plumbing, you could close the ball valves to keep the water in the tank, and then disconnect at the unions. For return lines, manifolds would definitely keep them equal. But re: the ball valves to equalize, ultimately it should be fine since you don't need to have the flow EXACTLY even, and the ball valve adjustment will get you close enough. Link to comment
reef n ale Posted September 27, 2005 Author Share Posted September 27, 2005 Thanks for your input Tigah! I see what you're saying about the ball valves. I put a valve and union at each pump, so if/when I have to change one out, I can close the water off right there. The thought of ever having to change plumbing is scary! I guess if it ever came down to that, I could use plugs on the bulkheads to seal the tank completely(from the inside). So, hopefully, what you're saying is that the overall design should work!? Rob Link to comment
Tigahboy Posted September 27, 2005 Share Posted September 27, 2005 Originally posted by reef 'n ale So, hopefully, what you're saying is that the overall design should work!? Rob haha. YES. Link to comment
reef n ale Posted September 27, 2005 Author Share Posted September 27, 2005 I guess I'll stop worrying and... Link to comment
Tigahboy Posted September 27, 2005 Share Posted September 27, 2005 lol. be one w/ the glue. Link to comment
dweakl01 Posted September 28, 2005 Share Posted September 28, 2005 (All chant): "We want water! We want water!" Link to comment
reef n ale Posted September 28, 2005 Author Share Posted September 28, 2005 I hear ya d! I'm getting there slowly but surely. Here's a pic of my unpatented, and probably unoriginal, pump lifter/dampening system. As you can see, it's a very complicated and technical apparatus not to be attempted by amateurs. Rob Link to comment
pookstreet Posted September 29, 2005 Share Posted September 29, 2005 Originally posted by reef 'n ale I hear ya d! I'm getting there slowly but surely. Here's a pic of my unpatented, and probably unoriginal, pump lifter/dampening system. As you can see, it's a very complicated and technical apparatus not to be attempted by amateurs. Rob Is this some kinda high fashion for reef tank plumbing? So are these platform shoes or pumps? Pun intended Man, I thought I took a long time to get my tank up and running. You are setting a new record. I have a 1 year old, so what's your excuse? Keep up the good work and let's see that tank filled soon. Link to comment
reef n ale Posted September 29, 2005 Author Share Posted September 29, 2005 Yeah Kenny, my pump's a pimpin'! And yes, I know I'm slow. I can't help it man, I was born that way! Rob Link to comment
pookstreet Posted September 29, 2005 Share Posted September 29, 2005 Well, slow is good in this case. Just make sure you do everything the way you want and time to fix little problems before they become big problems. Link to comment
reef n ale Posted September 29, 2005 Author Share Posted September 29, 2005 Yes, slow can be good. And for the record, I've been informed by a person of great distinction, that it can also be referred to as "attention to detail". Rob Link to comment
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