Lbacha’s 310g GlassCages SPS build

[lbacha]

Here are some pictures of the sump I’m considering having made. The refugium divider will be removable to add flexibility. I set up the return area so the water will be forced past the heaters and I can put media on the egg crate above the heaters prior to it running into the return chamber.

Length - 60”
Width - 24”
Height - 16”
Water volume @ 9” - 54 gallons
Total water volume - 95 gallons

This will give me 41 gallons of extra containment which means my tank can drain over 3” before the sump overflows (I don’t plan on letting this happen as I will have a siphon break on my returns so I should be in good shape

 

[lbacha]

Took som par readings with just 3 OR3 bars mounted 20” over the tank (2 blue plus and a reef day) the par was 250-300 at 6” under the water and 150-200 at the sand. I’m starting out with 4 bars on the new tank so I’ll probably be a bit lower than I want which I expected. Still decent numbers since they will be fairly even the full length of the tank.

 

[lbacha]

Just got the bulkheads for the closed loops on my new tank. I’m using Hayward schedule 80 PVC bulkheads and all I can say is these things are a beast compared to your typical ABS bulkhead. I also found som 90’ sweeps which should help ensure high flow. These 1.5” bulkheads fitting and Random flow generator are massive I may change to 1.25” outputs and fitting and 1.5” intakes. The nice thing with the Hayward bulkheads is the 1.25” and 1.5” use the same size hole so I don’t have to decide at this point.

Bulkhead

90’ Schedule 80 Sweep

ABS 1.5” bulkhead next to the 1.5” Hayward

I have 4 x 1.5” Cepex true union ball valves so I can easily remove whatever pump I decide to use

 

[Stang67]

All the parts are so much fun to assemble.

 

[lbacha]

All the parts are so much fun to assemble.

Yes it is, I think designing the tank is more fun than running it. It is much faster when you decide to change things. Once it is running you just sit back and wait which doesn’t satisfy my need to tinker lol.