44g Cube Addition - Build Thread

[ikon]

im going to post my progress throughout this project for you guys..here is the first batch of pics..

Vision:

Glass is cut and ready to be drilled and assembled:

Drilled for center overflow standpipe:

Hopefully ill have time to assemble it tommorow..stay tuned

 

[Betta5]

WOW seems like a great idea, so does that mean that your cubes water will be connected to the 110G tanks water? It does right? YEah anyway it is a really good idea cant wait to see how this turns out.

 

[ikon]

yes it will all be connected as one system..thanks! i havent really even thought about whether or not the pumps i have drawn in the diagram will work or not, mainly the one going from the refugium to the sump, then back to the 44g...if it wont work out that way i will just have to fashion a way to overflow the refugium to the sump then have a return pump back to the 44..its so early on in the build that i can address this later but any input is appreciated.

 

[SkiFletch]

Great idea, too bad plumbing it that way would result in a dry refugium or a wet floor . I hate to rain on your parade, but you can't operate a 2-pump system the way you've arrowed it out. One of two scenarios happens:

#1 - Pump in sump is stronger than the pump in the refugium. In this case the pump will push lots of water into the 44g cube. That water will then gravity feed into the refugium. But since the refugium pump is not as strong as the other pump, the refugium will overflow.

#2 - Pump in sump is weaker than the pump in the refugium. In this case the pump will push little water into the 44g cube and therefore little water gravity feeds the refugium. But since the refugium pump is stronger than its counterpart, it will drain the refugium tank.

You're trying to match flowrates and it just doesnt work . The only way to make the 3-part system like this work is to mount the refugium higher in the stand and put the 3rd pump in the main sump and have both refugium and 44g drains go into the sump tank.

That all make sense?

 

[Navarre]

Yep Ski got there before me but he is right. Ven the same pumps never match each others output exactly.. over a period of time one would out pump the other and you would end up with problems somewhere along the line.

What i suggest is that you place the refugium higher than the sump and run an overflow intothe sump.. Allow gravity to finish the last part.

Im looking forward to seeing this thread as i am building a 75 galloncube. Good luck with the project.

 

[ikon]

yep thats exactly what i said below! but thanks for clarifying it.

 

[ikon]

the tank is assembled! still have to put the top glass braces on, and seam the inside joints.. i also found some cured florida keys LR ...50lbs @ $4/lb...i might go pick some up tonight for the new tank...

and about the refugium overflow to the sump...the problem with putting it higher then the sump is that i need the space inside the stand above the refugium for mangrove branches..what if i tee'd off the drain pipe from the 44g to drain to both the sump and the ref and used a small return pump in both to go back to the 44?

 

[Ter]

very nice
Ter

 

[ox5477]

I think i remember seeing your thread talking about your mangroves in the 55G, but if you have some space in there, why not try dividng off a little section in the 55G for the refuge and then you dont even have to mess with the 20G under your cube. I'm not sure of the volume logistics of this whther it will be suitable to sustain both the 110G and 44G, but I think with a few little tweeks of the water levels in both tanks, you could accomplish it. Just depends how much wtaer is in the system I guess.

 

[ikon]

thats the problem..space in the sump..right now they fit, but its really hard to access the sump because of the stand braces..i built it with access to the skimmer cup but thats about it..i want to do a seperate refuge for mangroves, as well as chaeto and some inverts and a deep sand bed and the sump just wont cut it.

 

[ikon]

movin right along...motivation gets #### done! got the bulkhead installed and went to lowes to get the materials for the stand and just finished building it..now the tank sits next to its new big brother..doesnt look like much yet but eventually i will put the finished oak paneling on for the stand and canopy...

Next comes the black background, overflow installation, plumbing....lemme know what you think?!

 

[SkiFletch]

Damn you move fast

 

[Ter]

yeah i was about 2 say that lol
fast stuff
Ter

 

[ikon]

yeah this was all accomplished around a long day of tiling my neighbors patio.. (aka new tank fund )

 

[Mr.September15]

You won't mind building me a tank now would you