journal Need More Room - It's Rack Time!

[BlueBolts]

Unsure whether the spray bar mid tank will create a reverse suction if the pump is off(power cut) ?

[Squiggle]

You're right BB, if the power cuts out to the tanks the water will siphon back to the sump down to the level of the spray bars & judging by that level, it will definitely flood the sump so when the power comes back on it won't have sufficient water to fill the tanks back up & run dry, most likely burn out your pump too. Well spotted BB :encouragement:

[BlueBolts]

I'd always have the spray bar crashing down to the surface, alternatively, you can install a one way valve ? BUT that will still go against safe proving the tank, as a one way valve can mulfucntion !

[Squiggle]

I built a 2000L tank down in Sydney & I had a solenoid valve to prevent the back siphon effect during a blackout & it caused more problems than it was worth, in the end I just raised the inlet out of the water. A lot more effective & a hell of a lot cheaper too :encouragement:

[JohnH]

Just an idea' date=' you can fill the little section to the left of the bio balls with matrix, more surface are for bio filtration, IMO you can never have too much bio filtration. Also I'd put a couple of Purigen bags on top of the matrix for that extra polishing & also to suck up any rogue organic compounds :encouragement:[/quote']Yep, that's already on the cards, I just have to get the matrix, K1 and purigen.I'm glad I asked. I'll get some different fittings so they are up higher. :tears_of_joy:Slowing filling up for a test and so far no leaks. Looks like the pump should do the job too which is good.

[Squiggle]

How are the shelves holding up? :encouragement:

[JohnH]

Top tanks are full and the bottom tanks are half full. So far there has been now movement with the shelves. :cool-new:

[Squiggle]

Awesome dude :encouragement:

[JohnH]

Hmmm, ideas on on reducing the gurgling noise on the drain pipes?

[BlueBolts]

Just adjust the outflow/spray bar and once an equilibrium is found the gurgling noise should be reduced. Post some pics of the progress if you can....always nice to see thing being setup .

[JohnH]

Not Much more to see yet as I don't have lights yet as photos look pretty ordinary.

I'll head off to Bunnings oe Masters in the morning and get some new fitting to re-do the spray bars. I have some minor dripping on some of the joiners so I'll have to tighten up the plastic clamps. If that doesn't work, I'll swap the plastic clams out for steel hose clamps.

[Matty]

Great build, those spray bars will siphon during a power outage, happens to me on my set up but as long as you move the spray bar up you should be fine. Will be keeping an eye on this build :)

[Squiggle]

It looks awesome, very cool indeed. One suggestion though, you've got way too much water in the sump, reduce it down to the height of the last divider next to the pump, this way you'll have some space for the water in the lines to drain back into the sump without flooding it when you turn the pump off or loose power :encouragement:

[Squiggle]

Also the bio balls need to be out of the water to get maximum effectiveness, the water just dribbles over the surface of the bio balls & the bacteria is more effective because there's more oxygen available, also try to fit as many bio balls as possible in that space :encouragement:

[JohnH]

I have re done the spray bars so they are at the top of the tanks now, just slightly below water level so if power cuts, it will only siphon a small amount back to the sump.

I also picked up some K1 media and some small bio balls. From what I understand, it will take a few days for the K1 media to reach neutral buoyancy?

I also capped off all the air vents I had in the drain system. This cut down a good deal of noise and the water still drains out as before. My wife says it is still too noisy :(

[BlueBolts]

My wife also complaint about the noise....just say you'll get it sorted, just wanted to make sure the system is fully functional, and eventually, they'll get use to the noise....bhahahahahaha

[Squiggle]

IME capping the hoses will create more noise, like the sucking noise in the bath when you pull he plug, you can always try a bit of filter wool in the top to muffle the noise, don't stuff it in too far & make sure there's enough sticking out to get it out again if needed :encouragement:

[JohnH]

My wife also complaint about the noise....just say you'll get it sorted' date=' just wanted to make sure the system is fully functional, and eventually, they'll get use to the noise....bhahahahahaha[/quote']LOL, As funny as it sounds, it about all I can do lolThat's what I thought too. The guy I got my k1 media off today had his rack drain without any air vents and sounded quieter than mine. So on the way home I grabbed the end caps and tried it. It is quieter as the air vents were acting like an echo chamber.

[JohnH]

What size heater(s) should I get? Individual ones in each tank or just one in the sump?

[Robert]

One 250W jager in the sump, 1 50w jagers spare in case you isolate a tank

[JohnH]

Cool, sounds good

[CNgo2006]

I would place 2 in the sump in case one fails! With the noise issue another member had the same issue and I suggested they watch this link

at around the 3 min mark for an easy cheap solution.

[Squiggle]

Careful with the Jagers as they are very long, make sure it will fit in your sump, otherwise Robert & Chi are on to it & definitely keep a spare :encouragement:

[KillieOrCory]

John if your heaters break down down the track and you need one in a hurry, once I move into my fishroom I am going to have gazillions of them spare. :p

[JohnH]

I would place 2 in the sump in case one fails! With the noise issue another member had the same issue and I suggested they watch this link

at around the 3 min mark for an easy cheap solution.

Interesting video. Although I seem to have fixed the gurgling issue for now. I'll keep this in mind if it returns when I start playing with the flow more.

Careful with the Jagers as they are very long' date=' make sure it will fit in your sump, otherwise Robert & Chi are on to it & definitely keep a spare :encouragement:Thanks Serkan, I'll keep that in mind.