Its Nanotime!

sweet. I like the spacer idea.

I just picked up some weldon #4 and applicators for the places where I'll be joining 2 pieces of acrylic together. Hopefully, That will help some on those parts.

should help quite a bit.

Another small update... I picked up a few small things tonight while at walmart...

The coolest thing being the 25' water change siphon tube.

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...n19updt001.jpg

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...n19updt004.jpg

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...n19updt003.jpg

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...n19updt002.jpg

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...n19updt005.jpg

I hafta know. Does it smell like your setup or what?

LOLOLOL.... Naa, i used it before for a couple of years, then one day wally world was out of it. I saw it in there again tonight. Believe me, it smells NOTHING like "Old Spice".

where did you get the weldon from

somewhere online...

Haha, so today, like Greg, was manifold day for me!!! I completed the plumbing and placement of my CLM!!!!

I learned something today. A wet-test is just that WET!!! I got soaked!!! LOL.

I ended up not being able to put the CL pump right behind the tank. So, I had to put it just inside the stand and plumb it from the blukhead and then back over the top.

For the bulkhead. I ran a T off of it in case I needed to set up an external Dorso... I ended up not needing one. This is where I got wet. I filled up the tank, without extending the open top of the T to be above the water line... Dumb justin! I fixed that by cutting a piece of pvc and sticking it in there for the test. I later capped it with some plastic and a zip-tie... All was well.

The bulkhead did have a slow drip from it. I tightened it up some with a wrench.. That helped alot. At this point, i'm too scared to tighten it up anymore! lol

For the Loop - It is not pvc-cemented at all. Its just zip-tied to the black tank trim using releaseable zip-ties. It is spray-painted with Krylon Fusion.

The pump intake... 1" Bulkhead > sm. pc. of firm pvc > 1" T > 1" spa flex hose > union joint w/ built in ball valve > sm pc of firm pvc > female slip / female threaded adapter > pump.

The pump output > pump > female threaded / female slip adapter > sm pc of firm pvc > union joint > spa flex.

Flow observation - I noticed that the outlets aren't all putting out the same amount of water. I figure this will just add to the chaos of the flow. I also noticed that only about 1/2 of each outlet actually has water coming out. Either the top half, right half, left, bottom... You'll see in the pix.

Pump - Its pretty quiet. No cavitation or flushing noise as long as the T coming off of the bulkhead is sealed tight. The plumbing could actually handle a bigger pump.

BTW the water used was cold, fresh water. Not SW.

And here are the pix... The nozzle pix are in order clockwise starting from the input T.... ENJOY!!

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...t/P1210052.jpg

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...t/P1210053.jpg

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...t/P1210054.jpg

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...t/P1210051.jpg

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...t/P1210049.jpg

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...t/P1210047.jpg

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...t/P1210046.jpg

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...t/P1210045.jpg

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...t/P1210048.jpg

Well.. after looking it over and doing some math, I think I may be short on flow...

Here's some facts and numbers, and you all tell me what you think.

- I don't plan on this being an SPS tank, at least not for a while.
- I'm estimating a combined sump/display water volume of about 35g.
- My CLM is made of 1" PVC, and has 6 x 3/4" outlets.
- Right now, with the Q.O. 3000, on the closed loop, according to a head loss calculator, I'm lookin at 600gph.
- Right now, I have a Q.O. 1200 for my return pump. (I've already been debating upgrading this to a 3000.) This pump will give me about 170gph after head loss.
- My HOTB overflow is rated at 600gph...

Options:
Return pumps - GPH (after head loss) - GPH (at 0 head loss)
A - Q.O. 1200 170gph (~5x) 296gph
B - Q.O. 3000 520gph (14x) 780gph - If i used this option, I have to consider how high the turnover rate would be in the sump.

Closed Loop Pumps - GPH - GPH (at 0 head loss)
C - Q.O. 3000 600gph (17x) 780gph (22x)
D - Q.O. 4000 700gph (20x) 1017gph (29x)

A + C = 22x
A + D = 25x
B + C = 31x
B + D = 34x

I do have 2, maxi jet 900's that I can use to circulate water through the rock work. I don't think I want 2 cords going into the tank, but I can see where using one of these could/would be beneifical.

E- MJ 900 - 230gph (6.5x) (un-modded).
F - Whatever other options you all can sugguest!

Also, I'm not 100% confident that the head-loss calculator I used is that reliable. So, I listed the gph of each pump at 0 head loss.

I'm also not even sure I should be factoring in head loss when it comes to a CLM setup..

Thanks for looking!
-JD