Wow,
thanks for all the response and feedback guys.
Have been prepping the final plumbing, and leveling for the steel and form works this week, and everything set for the pour of slab on Saturday. !
Let me try to respond to you first Sam :-
1. Why is your tank plan a drop off style? That adds massive complexity, risk and cost. Especially in a tank this size.
JP - to be frank, the drop off is for the effect of depth on the front viewing panel. Because of its location, this 1100mm short panel is already imposing, and the step-down will give the depth effect. I have seen several others, but with a step down of 400 to 700mm, but that becomes too impractical in the maintenance. The tank builder, Rob, is confident this step-down can be achieved, and is also going to build the steel stand, which will need to be done precisely.
2. What DC pumps are you using for return? They'll need to be something fairly industrial size to flow enough volume from the basement. Perhaps the ultra expensive abyzz pumps?
JP - I am working with my pool guy on the plumbing and pumps. He has assured me the DC pumps we will use, can more than handle the head and flow rates we need. This ia also why we have gone throughout with the bigger pipes I sent you images of last week The overflow is 3x 50mm, to the sump, (Durso ) and 1x 50mm returning from sump, through the overlow floor and through a 4 way manifold to the tank.
The Closed Loop will run on a separate pump. It will take water from the tank, from 2 40mm intakes at the riser of the step down, then join into one 40mm to the basement sump, and then pumped back to the tank with 1 x 50mm through the over flow box floor, to the water surface, through an
Actuator to control left/right, or both, then split into a left
and right 20mm pipe each side of the tank along the Euro
brace line, with several duckbill spouts, each with its own gate value.
3. Your tank dimensions are quite tall. Are you comfortable working on a tank that tall? Any plans on how to reach the bottom?
JP - the plan still show 900 tank height, but will probably go to 850mm... know from 20 years with a 800 deep tank, that it is an issue, but in this build I will have 1100 width, and have better access to the deeper areas.. or so I think.
4. As for in tank flow, what sort of reef are you aiming for? As in, what type of coral? That will determine a lot of your flow requirements.
JP - in a nut shell - what you have. A mix of LPS and SPS - this is why I am so concerned to design in enough flexibility in the water circulation flow rates and directional control.
Guys, this is the concept. As I said yesterday, I want to do a reality check on myself, before i pull the trigger on this, so am open to practical suggestions and comments.
Jac