-Return Water system :
After reviewing the water drain and the system of pipes, valves and overflow.. Now the time to return the water back to the main tank after cleaning and filtering , the return pump is one of the essential components of any salt water aquarium should be selected to not less 10 times of the water volume of tank per hour as we said before in the part 4 .
Control the water must be done and also we need a devise to stop the water coming back by gravity in case of any stop or failures in the pump, we need also diffuser or jet to help us to make additional movement in the tank with wave makers to ensure a better gas exchange..
Don’t forget to put unions for easy dismantle..
Water control : to control the water and also to close or open .. a valve used for this purposes we have two types even by four arms type or the lever type and also there is types come with union for dismantle .. it can be connected by threading or by glue , usually made by Poly ethylene then it is recomended to be connected by thread
Check valve and Non - Return valve : This valve is very important to prevent the water to come back to the sump and flood it is a one way flow valve with gate as you can see the photos below . . It is caled One way valve , Check valve or Non Return valve .
Complete kit to control the water and prevent the water from opposite flow ( Be sure that the materials is all plastic ) :
Union
Gate Valve
Non Return Valve
Check Valve or Non Return Valve , Gate Valve
The gate and the direction of flow the gate will close if the water come back from the opposite direction .. keep in mind to keep at lest 30 - 40 cm to make enough pressure
Water diffusion :
Aquarium quote several things from industry , One of these thing is the fexiable jet nozzle pipes which used to cool the metals crafts on the industrial machines table .. you can buy new one and connected with pvc pipe inlet to the tank .. Also you can select these pipes manufatured by aquarium supplies company with different shapes to make the optimum water stream to add more circulation ..
Above and right are the different shapes and usually come in black to help to hide it between the live rock of these all plastic nozzle pipes and also can be directed easily ..
Below the tool which used to dismantle or Re attached these pipes ..
Below Aquarium tank under construction and you can see the the sequence of pipe come in - Bulkhead - Adapter and then the the nozzle pipe - In the sump after the pump we put the Control valve - Non Return Valve and union
Auto Top Off System ( ATO):
Due to the evaporation , You need to Compensate for the missing water in the sump without lifting heavy buckets or spilling water. Floating sensors monitor water level and activate pump when water level drops due to evaporation. Helps maintain stable salinity/specific gravity and optimum water level to prevent pump from running dry. Features LED panel, Audible Signal alert and linkable brackets for installation. Requireswater pump, sold separately.
The A.T.O. Controller automatically stops power to your top off pump in the event that your reservoir is low on water. The safety feature prevents pumps from running dry and failing.
A complete DIY Auto Top Off or ATO .. Can be find here :
The Normal Auto Top Off which install in the sump , the floating valve sense the level of water when drop the pump inside the water tank will work to discharge the water to the tank .
Above is the water tank which can be hide in a room or sump the size is depends on - When you want to fill the tank weekly or daily .. You can choose bigger tank as the space available .
Above is the smart ATO which all electronic and more accurate with less time to sense, can give te pump signals to work more time but less period in order to keep the water level and then the chemistry as it is - this devise is important when you deal with sensitive corals ..
The Smart ATO is a unique Auto Top Off system with a patent pending contactless digital sensor that monitors and automates refilling evaporated water. Best of all it is very easy to install and contains no moving parts that can fail. Integrated with Auto Feedback Security (AFS) Technology which provides real-time fail safe protection against failure. That's one of the reasons why its called the "Smart" ATO.
Lighting Hinge :
The last section of the marine aquarium construction or set up is the lighting , usually as other you have two choices :
1- Even you make the lighting hood by yourself as a DIY project OR..
2- You can buy it as a Readymade product and need to be hinged ..
Hinging to the wall is a popular solution to utilize the space above the aquarium an it is a cost saving solution.. Others try to fix it above the aquarium in this case a safety considerations to be taken for the electrical wires and lighting by insulate all the bare electrical connectors..
Above is the lighting hood done by hobbyist made from wood .
To the left fans and louvers for ventilation to extract the hot air generated by lighting which can effect on the water temperature and rise it ..
Below some hinged lights hood and it's different supports , You can use steel wire and roof supports or a steel pipes instlled behined the aquarium stand . Be sure that the those supports can carry the light hood or fixture .