The Official Asylum Reef Tank Thread

[Blueface]

Originally Posted by BC-Axeman

Check valves = bad idea. Unless you want to clean and replace them a lot.
I use black plastic or reinforced rubber hoses for everything as light will make too many things grow in the hoses. Even still, things grow everywhere.

If you start out with your tank full up to the point where the siphon breaks, the power off, and your sump filled to the maximum safe level, you can then turn on the pumps and the water in the sump will stabilize to the maximum level it should be filled with the pumps on. I put a piece of tape that says "NEVER FILL OVER THIS LINE!" at that point. (Unless the power is out, of course).

The specs on that refugium Sarge listed look great if it will fit in the cabinet.

All great stuff but he needs to make sure he has the right size sump to set that up as otherwise, the tape mark will go on the floor with the water.

I use hardline PVC for all uses.
Have gone away from flex hose but I am good at that stuff and most folks will find the flex hose much easier.
If you take the return piece that sits inside the tank and drill a hole letting water flow out of it, when the power goes off, syphon breaks immediately, limiting the water flowing back to the sump.

Here is some of my radical plumbing.