230G Rimless Starphire AquaForest (56K!)

[gsd78]

Khoile: For what its worth...I am running a Barracuda as my return pump with only the Mazzei on it (with a bypass loop like you have). I decided to add a second pump (Panworld 100px-x) to power my Pentair Lifegard modules and I only filter the water in my sump with them. The flow I get out of the Panworld and 4 Pentair modules is fairly low, but fits my needs as I am relying on the Barracuda to provide flow in the tank. The Barracuda does provide plenty of flow even pumping from the basement up to the first floor. I even have it valved down quite a bit because I am limited by the flow rates of my overflow and durso standpipes.

[mrkookm]

Originally Posted by gsd78

I decided to add a second pump (Panworld 100px-x) to power my Pentair Lifegard modules and I only filter the water in my sump with them.

Note his Panworld is rated at 790gph @ 21ft and the Barracuda is 19ft Using the Panworld to power the 3~4 Pentair modules made all the difference for gsd78 because if he tried to use his Barracuda then he would have run into problems with the resistance of the Pentairs.

BTW to get better performance from the Mazzei direct all the flow you do not want towards the Mazzei instead of using the ball valve to reduce overall flow. This will make you Co2 performance better.

Originally Posted by gsd78

The Barracuda does provide plenty of flow even pumping from the basement up to the first floor. I even have it valved down quite a bit because I am limited by the flow rates of my overflow and durso standpipes.

I have no doubts the Barracuda's ability to overwhelm the tank when pumping water from the basement to your tank using 1½in PVC. At only 10~15ft the pump is pushing around 3000~2100GPH but this would have been a very different situation if you tried using it to power the 4 Pentairs that has 1in plumbing and then trying to get the Mazzei pressure it needs to sing

Good choice on using a higher head pump for the modules and higher flow pump with descent head for main tank.

My suggestion to khoile to go with a hammehead head is because he has 6 or 7 modules + Mazzei + plus other cool restrictive suff inline very different from you lower resistance setup gsd78

[khoile]

gsd, thanks for the helpful information.

mrkookm, I also have 1.5" PVC. Every time there's a 1" I use a wye split from 1x 1.5" to 2x 1", so in reality I never reduce the pipe size to 1", I just split 1x 1.5" to 2x 1". Would that change your perspective?

Also, the Panworld pump listed by gsd is a 1000ish gph at 0 feet pump with 13feet max. You mentioned a much higher number? did I miss anything?


Thanks for the comments.
Khoi

[mrkookm]

gsd, thanks for the helpful information.

mrkookm, I also have 1.5" PVC. Every time there's a 1" I use a wye split from 1x 1.5" to 2x 1", so in reality I never reduce the pipe size to 1", I just split 1x 1.5" to 2x 1". Would that change your perspective?

Also, the Panworld pump listed by gsd is a 1000ish gph at 0 feet pump with 13feet max. You mentioned a much higher number? did I miss anything?

I missed the double XX so my miscalc there. Even still, he is using 4 modules @ 60% loss and if he was to add 1 more his flow would be dead. How many modules do you have?

Like you've said.... try it and then change it if needed.

[TANKd]

Nice Setup! Keep up the good work!I wanna see some updates with fauna and plants. Nice Job!

[fish_fasinated]

deffidently subscribed. simply amazing.

[khoile]

Finally brought in the tank.

It takes some work but I rented the Genie lift material lifter and bought two glass suction cups.

Anyway here are the pics:




Also I've replaced the reeflo snapper (12' max head) pump with Uno Marlin (37' max head).

Enjoy.

[khoile]

the host is having problem their http server has been on/off intermittently.

[clwatkins10]

wow, this is gonna be awesome

[lauraleellbp]

What's the gizmo attached to the wall on the right?

And what's next? It's awesome finally seeing that monster on the stand!!!

[khoile]

It's the AquaController, it controls the automatic water change, lightning and dosing.

[@marko@]

NICE!
great big tank, great clear glass, great stand (well once it gets some doors), the setup is bound to be good.

your using an AC for a freshwater tank? i have an ACjr on my reef and it has plenty of functions, for a freshwater tank with just WC, dosing, top-off, and lighting, what do you need the advanced (and expensive) one? the ACs work great though, unless you have too much electric noise, but most people dont need to worry too much about that.

[gmccreedy]

I aggree Marko, however there is one key limitation to the jr (besides the web based functionality), it limits the user to 40 lines of code (which really sucks IMO). I have struggled many times with my controller because of it and if I did it again, I would have bought the AC III.

[PlantN0ob]

Solid build, cant even imagine how it would look once filled/planted and all.

[Betowess]

Very Nice! This is an interesting discussion/thread for those contemplating the big leagues. Good luck with the pump decisions too.

PS. I would replace those blue moonlights to all white. Just my opinion.