I just finished the plumbing on my new 125g tank, check it o

[Reefer Dude1]

I just installed the plumbing for my new 120g tank. This took some serious work to get this thing right. I am using a CPR CS120 overflow that splits to a sump and a refugiam. Two Dolphin DP1200 Submersible Pumps bring the water back. The Dolphins work to well and I have the water flow really cut down with gate valves. I still am trying to get the flow down since it has to be balanced between a sump and a refugiam. All in all I am happy, even though I had been planning this thing for several months is took a lot more time and work then I counted on. I took some pictures of the setup, because of the confined space they may be a little hard to make out. I would appreciate comments and questions thanks.

 

[Reeffreak]

Looks like a sweet setup, I wish I had that much room under my 90G.

 

[cerreta]

Bitchin $7.00 Walmart fan...got one myself...hehehe.
Cheers!

 

[stevemcadoo]

Looks great! Have you turned off the pumps and let it settle and drain to the sumps? It looks like you might not have enough reserve. But your sumps are pretty tall, so maybe youll be ok. I didnt understand why you gated the returns. Did you not want the flow or did your overflow not handle that much flow. Sounds like one over flow box with 2 1200 gph pumps is the weak point, but if you can gate it down and dont hurt the pumps thats ok, you just spent more on pumps than you needed too. Maybe get another overflow and have them seperated-one box to the skimmer and one to the refuge. Steve

 

[tetra]

SWEET!!!!!!What kind of skimmer is that and what kind of pump are you using for it?

 

[Reefer Dude1]

Well I am a newbie at the whole sump thing, and I was afraid that the pumps would not be able to keep up with the 1400gph overflow, with having to push water up a 1" tube I thought that there would be a huge loss in GPH, but these dolphins kick butt, and have to be gated down. I will probably get a smaller hangon and add it to the mix. Everything works (no leaks), but this was my first time, and I wanted to do it right. I still do not have everything dialed in 100%. It has been a great learning experience though. Thanks for the comments.

 

[tetra]

my mistake....hehehe
what kind of pump are you using for the skimmer? thanx

 

[Reefer Dude1]

It is a Berlin Turbo Skimmer, is uses the twelve bladed impeller pump that comes with the turbo. I have not got the thing all the way dialed in yet, but I have been looking at pictures of them, and I think mine is missing a part.

 

[joeyipsc]

happy to read that the Dolphins are working freat. I too have it as a Skimmer pump for my 35G tank. They are strong and for a 4 foot head they give you a lot of GPH that no internal pump can get close to.
my 02 cents
Joey

 

[srbayless]

Howdy,

Reefer Dude, don't worry about the pumps keeping up with the overflows. The amount of water going into the tank (also going out) is dertermined by the pump(s) you are using.

Your CPR overflow should be able to handle 1400gph (it sounds like the CS102). Say you have a total of 1200 return flow going back into the tank. Your overflow will only have to deal with 1200gph.

Where you have to worry is if you have to many gph going into the tank. Say using the same overflow box, you had 1600gph return flow. The overflow box wouldn't be able to handle it, and your tank would overflow.

Anyway, it sound like you figured that out in the end. The whole setup looks great. I too wish I had that much room under my 80g.

Good luck,

Scott.

 

[sawcjack00]

I you plumbed the refugium and sump together, they would be self leveling. I did this with 2 20 gallon rubbermaid containers. I plumbed it with 2" pvc. I have two overflows with one going to each. Because they were connected, the water level stayed the same.

 

[Reefer Dude1]

I thought about doing that, but was not sure if it would work.