Double or Nothing... AJ's 405-Gallon Reef Savvy Upgrade

[revhtree]

Awesome job!

 

[Stylo328]

Hey everything here looks incredible! Only thing I am concerned with is the valve on the Vectra intake. Never restrict that side to adjust flow! I am guessing you have it there so you can close the valve for pump removal?

Thank you very much. The plan is to use the intake ball valves exclusively for pump removal and maintenance.

 

[Stylo328]

Awesome job!

Thanks Rev!

 

[Stylo328]

Today the loc-line arrived and I was able to finish the last of the plumbing!

Lined up and ready:

Time to start filling the tank!

Here we are, half way done.

Update soon with leak test results.

 

[Ljaus]

Awesome, going to look great with some life in it. Fingers crossed the leak test is a success!

 

[Stylo328]

Awesome, going to look great with some life in it. Fingers crossed the leak test is a success!

Thanks! So far so good.

 

[Stylo328]

Success! Leak test went pretty well. Had to tighten one bulkhead on a phantom overflow, but otherwise dry. Had only one of the L1s plumbed as the other is still on the 187. Will swap the L1 to the other return tomorrow to finish the leak test.

Tank was quieter than I expected. Need to raise the water level in the ghost overflow as I don't like the fact that I can see the waterline under the canopy. Also need to raise the water level in the sump to silence the system altogether.

Here are a few photos. Note the waterline.

And a quick video for "sound effect".



Thanks for checking in.

 

[Ljaus]

That's pretty quiet! Great to hear it was relatively drama free.

 

[Stylo328]

That's pretty quiet! Great to hear it was relatively drama free.

Thanks. I was anxious. Kept imagining a 2" puddle in the living room. Woke up this morning to everything dry. Very encouraged that we will be cycling soon.

 

[revhtree]

Very nice!

 

[justingraham]

Wow very nice sir nice attention to detail is that hose water? And u are going to have to remove it?

 

[locito277]

Thanks bud. Hoping to get some water in there this afternoon.



Thanks for the kind words!



Thank you very much.

Got water?!!

 

[Stylo328]

Very nice!

Thanks Rev. Getting close!!!

Wow very nice sir nice attention to detail is that hose water? And u are going to have to remove it?

Thanks! Yes, it is tap water. I have to slide the tank into place, which will eliminate my access to the rear/plumbing. I needed to water test in place. I will have to drain before moving.

Got water?!!

Oh yeah!!!

 

[reef_ranch]

How are you going to raise the water level in the tank? Does the ghost have an adjustable weir?

 

[Stylo328]

How are you going to raise the water level in the tank? Does the ghost have an adjustable weir?

Not exactly sure yet.

I bit the bullet and ordered another Vectra L1 today. Now I'll have three [emoji849]. One can serve as a back up. This way I can plumb both pumps while the tank is in its current location and mess with flow rates to see if the water level rises.

I also went ahead and raised the height of the drains inside the ghost overflows which raised the water level in the tank about 1/4 of an inch. Still not enough to get it under the canopy but it's definitely better. Let's see how we do once the new pump arrives.

 

[Black Pearl]

Raise the level in the tank by increasing the return pump flow and decreasing the flow out the drains

 

[locito277]

Not exactly sure yet.

I bit the bullet and ordered another Vectra L1 today. Now I'll have three [emoji849]. One can serve as a back up. This way I can plumb both pumps while the tank is in its current location and mess with flow rates to see if the water level rises.

I also went ahead and raised the height of the drains inside the ghost overflows which raised the water level in the tank about 1/4 of an inch. Still not enough to get it under the canopy but it's definitely better. Let's see how we do once the new pump arrives.

The Vectras rock man. No complaints here although I had read a thread where some people had issues. I love them. They rock likemyour tank will soon be doing. Gotta see some frags I got!!

 

[reef_ranch]

Raise the level in the tank by increasing the return pump flow and decreasing the flow out the drains

I don't think this will work. There has to be an equilibrium between the flow in and out. If you pump a boat load of water in the tank it will raise the level above the weir, but only a small amount. There is a weir calculator out there were you can plug in the length of the weir and the amount of flow and it will tell you the water height above the weir. My guess is the L1 can't push enough to raise it more than 1/8th of an inch or so.

I have the same issue with my water level relative to my hood. The only way I have figured to fix it by increasing the level of the overflow by gluing a piece of acrylic to the full length of the overflow or by lowering the hood. I haven't done it yet since I've gotten used to seeing the water line.

 

[Black Pearl]

If he had no valves on his drain pipes maybe so. If he closes those valves his tank would overflow, so it stands to reason that if he slows his out flow the level in the tank will rise, that said he really doesn't have much room, the tank level looks like it's about and inch from overflowing anyway

 

[reef_ranch]

If he had no valves on his drain pipes maybe so. If he closes those valves his tank would overflow, so it stands to reason that if he slows his out flow the level in the tank will rise, that said he really doesn't have much room, the tank level looks like it's about and inch from overflowing anyway

If he pumps in more than he takes out the tank level will rise until it overflowed. No different than closing the valves, just a bit slower to overflow.