Newbie Set Up: Plumping Help

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gmpolan

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Now like it says in the title i am new to setting up a larger tank as i came from a cube with all the plumping internal. I will list what i currently have and needs to be set up but im looking for advice on how to run the plumbing, valves etc.

Tank: 72 gal bowfront with overflow
Wet/Dry: Pro Clear 75
Skimmer: DNWB Reef Octopus 110 Recirc
UV sterilizer: Coralife 90
Return: Mag 7
Powerheads: None at the moment but searching for two k'3s or 4's

So any diagram or exact specs for a set up would be greatly appreciated.
I mean i honestly have an idea but im not quite sure about valves or cuts off or whether to use pvc or flex tubing. I am also acquiring and RO/DI unit and are currently researching an ATO unit. Thanks....
 
I have the same 72 gal bow front set up. Soon to be gone, but your welcome to see it. Really simple stuff.

HOB over flows can be a pain down the road. I get bubbles stuck in the over flow tube and it limits the flow out to the sump. I have to shake the crap out of it to get the bubbles out daily it seems. Pain in the rear.

In sump skimmers will make for less plumbing, and that can be good for some. Not sure how you plan it but droppin in the sump is way easyer than all the other stuff you may get into.

The Mag7 is what I use and works well. I think 5/8" hose and barb fittings w/ clamps is all you need.

The HOB over flow has a flex hose? Typical install, but maybe not what you have. Try to keep that hose from traping air. Very important for the noise that would come laster. You can hard plumb stuff if you like, but not at all required to run this set up.

Good luck. Can you tell there is nothing to do at work today. Rambled on for a bit.
 
Thanks for the input but excuse me i think i was misinformed on my wet dry system. I currently have this one but with only one tube inlet

http://www.petsolutions.com/Pro-Clear-Aquatics-WetDry-175-Parts+I85069075+C19.aspx">http://www.petsolutions.com/Pro-Clear-Aquatics-WetDry-175-Parts+I85069075+C19.aspx</a>

And i was planning on sitting the skimmer in there but please correct me if i am wrong as far as that actually working. Thanks
 
The one tube inlet will be for the HOB overflo to plumb into. You do not need two.

There is not much room in that sump for a skimmer. The best thing would be to see if you can fit the mag 7 and the skimmer pump in the sump and hang the skimmer off the side. Do you have hang on back attchments for the skimmer? You don't need them. Put the skimmer at the end of the sump / out side of it or as you see fit. You will need to plumb water to the skimmer and plumb water back the sump. Controlling the bubbles from the skimmer in a bubble camber would a good thing to have in my opinion.
 
I have a 72 bowfront as well. When I purchased it it came with the same wet/dry. From my experience...it was not enough. For starters, I had nitrate trouble because...
1. The bio-balls. I took them out and replaced with LR.
2. The skimmer. I just couldnt find a big enough skimmer to fit in that set-up.

So, I went through the wall behind my tank and built a sump out of a 40 breeder. (Not a lot of room under the bowfront). If this is an option for you I highly recomend it. Otherwise I would try to find a way to incoorporate a larger skimmer and tie in a refugium. You will have to be pretty creative to get it in that stand...but it can be done!
 
Understandable, but honestly i only went with that skimmer because of the reviews and all of the advice posted on the forum. I would have purchased something bigger if i would have known better but nobody suggested it.

So you actually recommend removing the bio balls and putting live rock in the place of?

Alos, i have no kind of room for that kind of set up. its currently in my liviing room and i might be able to fit like a 12 -14 gallon sump under there but im yet to see one with baffles,etc. Most of the ones that will fit are wet dry systems so im just kind of stuck...:unsure:
 
Also, im yet to hear any recommendations on where to place ball or turn valves etc..
 
gmpolan;385338 wrote: Understandable, but honestly i only went with that skimmer because of the reviews and all of the advice posted on the forum. I would have purchased something bigger if i would have known better but nobody suggested it.

So you actually recommend removing the bio balls and putting live rock in the place of?

Alos, i have no kind of room for that kind of set up. its currently in my liviing room and i might be able to fit like a 12 -14 gallon sump under there but im yet to see one with baffles,etc. Most of the ones that will fit are wet dry systems so im just kind of stuck...:unsure:
Click to expand...

No big deal...it will still work out fine. Definetly loose the bio-balls though and replace w/LR. Bio balls are a known nitrate factory. Your skimmer should be fine...I just tend to overkill.

Mine has an overflow too. Wished i'd drilled it.

As far as valves go, I would plumb in a ball valve coming off the drain somewhere...maybe a gate valve off the return pump to regulate the flow.Although you will probably be able to run it wide open. If you can tie in a 10 gallon tank as a fuge...it will help.


Son of Adams idea is good one as well. If you can set the skimmer up externally somehow, you will have more room for other stuff.

Enjoy!
 
Here is a way to use what you got. Move the sump all the way over to one side and measure up the space that is left. Drill the sump and plumb in a container or acrylic tank with some bulk heads. This would help with all the skimmer space requirments in a section and a refungium / return pump section. Have the skimmer putting water back into the original sump. This will loop the skimmer again and controll the bubbles.

Good luck.
 
i never mentioned but it is drilled so no overflow box...but all these ideas sound good. Ill def take all this into consideration when i set it up in two weeks. Thanks guys, def keep up the suggestions
 
Son of Adam;385522 wrote: Here is a way to use what you got. Move the sump all the way over to one side and measure up the space that is left. Drill the sump and plumb in a container or acrylic tank with some bulk heads. This would help with all the skimmer space requirments in a section and a refungium / return pump section. Have the skimmer putting water back into the original sump. This will loop the skimmer again and controll the bubbles.

Good luck.
Click to expand...

Word!
 
i almost a 100 percent sure its a coral life uv 90.
Everyone keeps suggesting stuff but im still not sure how any of this plumbing together. For instance, i have a flex tube that comes down from the overhead to the wet/dry and then thats all that is set up.
Im still trying to configure the skimmer, uv sterilizer and return pump....
Do i need another pump for the skimmer and the uv lamp or what?
 
Yes, you will need a feed pump for the skimmer. The pump on it is for the recurc. Not sure what is a good feed pump flow rate would need to be.

Try to find the required flow rate for the feed pump. My guess is around 250GPH. I am sure you can find it.

You may want to configure the UV and Skimmer with the same feed pump. It will require some fittings to make it all happen.

Anyone agree?
 
Tank size is a 72 and the uv is a 9 watt. i have a mag 7 on the return but besides thats all i have accquired. I cleaned the bio balls but removed them as i will place LR in the drip area. Thanks

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yeah i noticed that i spelled it wrong immediately after it posted but since im at a IT company and half to work quick on forums, i said screw it....but thanks everyone for the input now do i run the line from the uv just back into sump or what?
 
You also can make a manifold and and feed your uv from it so you only have one pump. I did not read the whole thread but I think you can feed your skimmer from a drain line(over flow) a minfold is basiclly a series of t fittings in your return line with ball valves to control the flow of eack line. I will posy this and then see if I can find a pic of a manifold
 
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