1,000g+Dual Bow Front in 3,500g+ multi-tank system "Project Morpheus"
Hello All, .... Creature Morpheus is still Growing
Below is a brief synopsis (for more recent and interactive posts there is a build thread on Reef Central - search "Creature Morpheus Canada") on the background to this project (just more from a point of interest in its development). The project got named "Creature Morpheus" because it started out as a little cute little project (creature) that keep "morphing", growing bigger and bigger, now is a monster. There is a dedicated website by me that I did to help give an overview, development and track progress for those that wish to. "creaturemorpheus.com"
Background.....
This is a project that started out as little 150g-200g tank eighteen months ago ... and it has progressively MORPHED into a monster .... 300g ... 330g @ 6 foot (rectangular) .... 450g âSâ bow .... 500g rectangular than to 600g gallon âLâ shaped multi-sided bow front for quite a while, then thought I maxed out the space at 750g 8-side L bow front that had fit the living space. There is a whole story of the morphing history/development and breakdown of the system on a dedicated website
www.creaturemorpheus.com.
Went to MACNA in Des Moines Iowa last week and had many a discussion with some great people and there were a lot of good recommendations, so when back to the drawing board this week. In order to create a live rock aquascape strategic for growing a SPS reef, provide good flow (the âLâ shape one wasn't well suited to good reef dynamics), structural reinforcement of the top perimeter, over flow considerations where many of the main factors influencing changes to the main display tank.
So on the long 14 hour drive home from MACNA .... thoughts that although the creative and unique 100â long custom âLâshaped tank fit and maximized the available space, it was not a great functional tank. Initially a bit distraught about going back to the drawing board to start over, it may have a been a good thing. Taking into account my original goals and the above mentioned factors, I wanted to still do the best I could do. Many facets of this project were well on its way, including the custom mould for the bow front glass which has been finished for a few months. It was an unsettling drive home.
Based on various input and discussions with top aquarists at MACNA from around the world, a more rectangular shaped tank would be best suited for flow, greater depth from front to back would be preferable and utilizing the in production bow front piece of glass as component I could not change ... as Kirk in Star Trek changed the rules of the game by reprogramming the no-win senario, so he could beat the test; the only way I could see a solution was to âchange the spaceâ since such a tank would not fit. In re-examining the space, it would require tearing out and removing part of a built-in custom cabinetry and granite counter tops (and walls) in the adjacent dinning room. In doing so, would allow for a more rectangular tank with characteristicsto achieve good circular flow and aadditional space for a tapering rockscape.
The previous 8-sided was a fabrication nightmare and posed many difficulties in reinforcing it with many more irregular bevelled seams of high risk failure. Therefore simple would be better.
Hence Morpheus keeps earning his name, and morphed dramatically into a 1,000g, 4-sided, double 100" bow-front (same dimensional size as previous) with 50" exterior sides and a centre depth of 66". The proposed height is 39.4" (1M) â presently working on verifying the engineering for this high of glass and a 36â water height. There is also the change from an exterior overflow to a centre internal overflow (offset). The tank shall be be similarly reinforced at the top and bottom. At the top it shall have a 3"x1/2" structural stainless steel band (over lapping the glass 1-3/4") with a welded 1"x1" SS solid inside member, curved to the bow front and straight on the sides. The bottom section shall be reinforced utilizing steel gusset blocks (supporting the bottom 3" of vertical glass) spaced about 16" on centre against a continuous piece of 1/2" corian and hidden beneath the bordering granite counter top ledge. The bottom glass shall be doubled laminated 3/4" x 2 + clear laminate sheet of 1/8th = 1.625â.
Double inferring that two of the sides are bowed and mirrored.
Internal Overflow Design: (still being discussed and designed)
The interior overflow box for exiting to the filtration system (estimated effluent of 4,000 gph) has four internal drain pipes ( two under full siphon, an oversized open channel drain and a safety overflow to a sanitary drain). According to the guide calculator, it needs about 60â linear inches for its overflow. That is not achievable for an external rear overflow box within the confines of the space and exposed glass. Therefore, the internal overflow was the only feasible option.
Closed Loops and Overflow Box Assembly:
There are two concepts being floated for the draws of the closed loops which make a common manifold in the basement for multiple pumps. Both utilizes two surrounding the interior overflow boxes adjacent to the main one, that are like secondary overflow boxes (slightly lower by 1") for the closed loop system (2 @ 3").
The main reason behind this is to draw a greater amount of surface water towards the main overflow and hence to the skimmer.
The two concepts being considered are:
(i) to go through the bottom similar to the internal overflows for the filtration, ut runs the risk of lowering the water level in the tank below that of the main overflow.
(ii) using an over-the-top piping for the closed loop suctions so they will not siphon down the tank if there is a problem. Also limits few holes in the bottom of the tank.
The rear section is a glass false bulkhead to cover (as well as allow smooth water flow around the tank) the closed loop supply return lines to from above the tank to the bottom where the loops shall be buried beneath 3" of heavier sand.
UPDATE: shall be an rear external overflow box with over the top closed loops (no holes inside the main tank).
