600 gal display/900+ gal build thread in the Chicago 'burbs.

[Crazy One]

wmilas: did you rent those suction cups from the rental max in Downers Grove ? Because I'm asking my local rental max here in cresthill if they have them and thier not understanding which ones I'm looking for.
I need those same ones for next week to move a big tank from Lemont to my home in Joliet. Thanks ED

 

[wmilas]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12557880#post12557880 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by smorrow5773
I used flat primer and then epoxy, but nothing wrong with Kilz other than the price.

Well it doesn't have to be kilz, I'll pick up a cheaper oil based primer. The oil based part is the key I think. I think the Menards brand is the same thing and 30% less.

 

[wmilas]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12558101#post12558101 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Crazy One
wmilas: did you rent those suction cups from the rental max in Downers Grove ? Because I'm asking my local rental max here in cresthill if they have them and thier not understanding which ones I'm looking for.
I need those same ones for next week to move a big tank from Lemont to my home in Joliet. Thanks ED

I rented them from the RentalMax on Ogden right off of 355. Tell them you want the big ones that the guy rented 10 of 2 weeks ago. They will know the ones as I was pretty specific when I had them dig them out of their inventory. Or have them call the Ogden store to figure out which ones it is.

There are the giant ones with one suction cup (the ones I used) and the smaller ones with 2 cups attached by a bar.. not as good.

 

[wmilas]

Update on the progress. Drywall is on, 2 coats of mud are on, third coat and final sanding are Monday. Drywall/concrete dust did something to one of the relays in the first floor furnace and my AC wont turn off, so I'm waiting for my cousin to come out and take a look. I've blown off the circuit boards to no avail. Its frustrating as hell.. Two steps forward one back.

The pour for the bathroom shower is in, the bathroom floor is leveled. The outer fishroom pours and leveling will start early next week I hope after the drywall is done. I'll post pictures when I can.

I'm struggling with skimmer selection. I had the selection narrowed down to 3. ETSS, Reeflo Orca 250, or Custom Spazz. The ETSS is really out because of the insane energy use.

That leaves the Orca and the Spazz. The Orca is nice cause its cheap, (realative term here , its in stock, and I can get it with the custom head and baldor pump. If I abuse it and it dies I don't feel like its the end of the world. Its footprint is also acceptable. I will have 800 gallons for sure, and might push 1000 depending and I'm not sure the orca can cut that kind of load. It will in the beginning no problem with light stocking, but I'm not sure over the years.

The Spazz is nice because I can get a custom wet neck, a custom valve for calc reactor injection (will completely oxygenate the co2 thats left), and its a better overall skimmer. Downsides is its freakn HUGE. I'd be dancing around it in the fishroom. Its multiples expense wise as the reeflo, it'll take a few months to make based on spazz's backlog (he needs to hire a helper at this point imho). I'm also worried about the longevity. I'm worried a better skimmer is going to come out in 3 to 5 years and I'm stock with a monster spazz . To be fair, I doubt it'll happen, but it still worries me.

Why not get something ridiculous like a Bubbleking? Because in all honesty for the money the Spazz kicks the snot out of it in everything except perhaps power usage, and even there its close based on the amount skimmed.

So, anyone have any input? Get the Reeflo and sell it in a year or two when/if I have to? Go Spazz from the start?

 

[EBOLII]

How about a visual picture to go with the mental picture of the work thus far?

 

[mcliffy2]

With a system your size, have you thought about 2 skimmers? 2 Reeflos would be sweet (and still less than the spazz?)...having a duplicate is nice in case one fails, you have some protection.

 

[wmilas]

Well, I have. Kinda. The overflows are designed to run 1 skimmer each if I so choose. The problem is I've read that when 2 skimmers are used, one skims a ton, the other skims very little. While I have a hard time believing this, Ive seen multiple posts of people saying this is the case. I have no direct experience with this though.

 

[Bax]

Two ORCAs would be awesome!

But, I'd give my right arm for a chance to have to dance around a Spazz skimmer, and the support he gives seems unparraleled. I am have a feeling he'll retrofit skimmers as technology advances.

 

[Volcano1]

Well I started out with ASM G-6, went to a H&S 200, then to a H&S A300, stil for sale by the way , then to a Spazz. I think I'm finally done.Bang for the buck the Spazz outcompetes the big custom H&S, Deltec for a fraction of thier cost. Is it more than an Orca? Yep but I think once you get here your done.
wmilas
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1393028
might be cost effective way to hold you until you have to upgrade or until a custom can be built.HTH.

Todd

 

[Oldtimer]

I went with a Bubble King 300 Ext Deluxe because they're proven skimmers and I want my system to be as energy efficient as possible. I looked into the Orca and Spazz as well, but the efficiency, quality and reliability of the BK came out on top. The Red Dragon pump was a big part of the decision as well.

 

[jknecht]

I just went through the same internal skimmer debate. I looked at the BK 300, Orca, and Volcano (Spazz). After talking to Spazz for over a month I ended up ordering the Volcano 1850 last week. I had the same concerns as you do in regard to the Volcano but after talking to Spazz I felt good because the skimmer is upgradeable. The main reason I choose it over the others was the options. I was able to add a wet neck, auto shut off, and Rowaphos port. The other reason was the 1850 can handle about 2000 GPH which means I can plumb an overflow straight to the skimmer. Your right, It's a beast with a 18" diameter x 60" high with a foot print of 24" x 30". He makes a larger one as well. I just re-worked my fish room yesterday to make room for it. Good luck with the choice. IMO you can't go wrong with any of them. I'm not that far from you so if I get it before you make your decision your welcome to take a look at it. It should be about 4 to 6 weeks.

 

[chrismunn]

placemark

 

[wmilas]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12562904#post12562904 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jknecht
I just went through the same internal skimmer debate. I looked at the BK 300, Orca, and Volcano (Spazz). After talking to Spazz for over a month I ended up ordering the Volcano 1850 last week. I had the same concerns as you do in regard to the Volcano but after talking to Spazz I felt good because the skimmer is upgradeable. The main reason I choose it over the others was the options. I was able to add a wet neck, auto shut off, and Rowaphos port. The other reason was the 1850 can handle about 2000 GPH which means I can plumb an overflow straight to the skimmer. Your right, It's a beast with a 18" diameter x 60" high with a foot print of 24" x 30". He makes a larger one as well. I just re-worked my fish room yesterday to make room for it. Good luck with the choice. IMO you can't go wrong with any of them. I'm not that far from you so if I get it before you make your decision your welcome to take a look at it. It should be about 4 to 6 weeks.

I'll send you a pm. I'd be most interested in seeing the thing up close.

Spazz told me via email that I'd need a 1875 which would handle up to 1200 gallons of heavy load. It'll do 2500 gph. Good lord. Its the foot print thats killing me. I'm guessing its slightly larger than 24x30 that the 1850 is. I have 90 inches of headroom (well 94 but the floor still hasn't been leveled so I'm going to lose a few). The sump is rather tall. 36". Might not be all the way full but I might have backpressure issues with the volcano if I cant elevate it enough. The Orcas(s) would be easy... just build a stand above the sump and gravity feed into the sump, and pump from the sump. Not as energy efficient but it fits.

I'm having spazz give me a call. See if I can get his input. Having the wet neck, GFO and Calc ports would be awesome. The wetneck alone is almost worth the hassle of this thing

 

[Mikigo]

Got a Volcano for my 700g (total 1100g). Foot print of 24 x 24. The height is over 6' with the collection cup. Options include wet neck (worthless), auto shot off (best option). I did order O3 and phosphate injection ports, but don't know where they are located. Have not able to get in contact with Scott since I received my skimmer. Had to figure out all the plumbing and fittings. No instructions with he skimmer. I do worry about the support. Pumps will go bad in the future. I waited 6 months for the skimmer b/c of pump not available. Over all, this is a very well made skimmer. It will do its job and more. So far I am content with my decision.

 

[wmilas]

Out of curiosity why do you say that the wet neck is worthless? Of all the options, thats the one I most want. Deltec among others cite 30% more skim with the wet neck. Ive heard that if you clean teh cup once a day there is no benefit, but if you clean once a week there is a huge benefit.

 

[Volcano1]

I've had no support issues,always got a quick response. If you phone sometimes the shop equipment is running,so leave a message or try again. I think once you get to the 18 series the base dosn't change much in size,you just get taller.
Wilmas
Your welcome to check mine as well, 61354, little further if your out this way.

 

[jknecht]

Mikigo - I'm not sure if this will help. But Scott did tell me that the skimmer has to be truely level for the wet neck to work properly. I asked because my fish room is in the basement and obviously the floor pitches so I will have to level out the area were I place it. I haven't had any trouble getting in touch with him. He has been quick to respond to my emails and phone calls. Scott is using what is basically the Reeflo Dart gold pump so I would imagine it can be replaced easily.

 

[wmilas]

Does the 1850/1875 have a separate air pump? or is it solely the reeflo?

 

[Mikigo]

I hear you. For about two weeks back in end of March when I got the skimmer. I tried several time to reach Scott and left some messages, but never got a reply (email or phone). Understand he is busy with St. Jude build and I figure out most of the plumbing myself, so, not really a big issue. But if anything else go wrong, I may up the creek.
Anyway, the wet neck does not have a uniform discharge. The water flow in several streaks. The crud built up too fast to be effective. Scott even admitted to me when I ordered the skimmer that he was not completely happy with the design. I want ahead anyway and accept the idea that this may not work. I am not complaining about the wet neck, just to inform prospective reefer who are looking at a Volcano that this option need to be redesigned to be effective.
Overall, I am very happy with my Volcano. This beast has the best skimming ability of any I have seen. Other issue aside, I will order from Scott again.

 

[Mikigo]

Jknecht

I just went and check my skimmer. It is leveled. I think the Volcano works too well for the wet neck to work. The build up is incredible fast that the non uniform flow off the discharge is ineffective.
The wet neck would function better if the cascade would form a 360 fall into the skimmer neck instead of in streaks.