A pair of EcoWheel tanks in the making

[Putawaywet]

OK, no more brain teasers. Here's some pics of what I really have so far:

Here is the layout of the stand that the guys are SoCal Creations fabricated for me.

The black coating is spray-on Linex or "Kona-Coat" as I have so affectionately named it in honor of Ken here. Simply amazing stuff!

I had Randy at SoCal add some 1x2's around the perimeter of the base and after the Linex was sprayed on everything is sealed tight.

I get 3 seperate compartments, waterproof coating, sound deadening, and a built-in catch basin.....

Thanks Ken for the great idea.

 

[Putawaywet]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7227483#post7227483 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by simple_joe
Brett,

Do you still have your IceCap Pendant Spotlight? Will you be using it on your new set-up? I have one and would like to get another. Thanks.

Joseph

Why yes I do. A little surface rust on the stainless pendant but otherwise in great shape. It can be yours with the right financing

Seriously, shoot me a PM and we'll talk more.

Brett

 

[Putawaywet]

The underside of the top is spray-coated as well, but left temporarily removeable so I don't bust my back installing all the equipment like I did on the last project.

Eventually, I'm having a custom peice of granite made for the top.

 

[Putawaywet]

Electrical is mostly Carlon stuff mixed with some sch80 gry fittings I had left over. Moisture resistant housings contain individual GFCI's.

Just visible is my sump, also made by the guys at SoCal. All black acrylic, including 4 black acrylic lids. The front is clear, but I requested a black overlay with cutouts for viewing windows. No doubt Steve and Randy are convinced I'm whacked, I'm pretty sure they've started disguising their voices whenever I call

The sump is pretty straight forward, a seperate section for a fuge or hospital tank, an area for filter socks or filter pads, and then some baffles before the return. The rest is just open area for added water volume.

 

[Putawaywet]

More electrical shots.

A Deltec AP702 is scheduled to sit front and center. Right between the switch boxes. I'm going with an external horizontal overflow so it should be almost a straight shot to gavity feed the skimer. Return pump will be behind the skimmer.

I'm also going with some of the new Vortec pumps so I'm thinking the equipment for that might be mounted on the dividers above the return pump.

Brett

 

[simple_joe]

Brett,

Sent you an e-mail regarding the pendant.

Just when I tought I was getting close, Brett moves the bar even higher with this new set-up. Awesome craftmanship is an understatement.

We now have two new reef terms:

"Kona-Coat"
"PAW-Pilings"
( PutAwayWet = PAW )

Joseph

 

[Putawaywet]

Thanks joe.

On a side note... who's the hottie in your gallery? If she's related to you then all I have to say is....

My Gawd man, for crying out loud find a way to work her into more of your tank shots

Inspiration! that's what this hobby needs... more inspiration!!!

Brett

 

[simple_joe]

Otoha is a Japanese swimsuit model. Google her for more images.

 

[Konadog]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7227636#post7227636 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Putawaywet
The black coating is spray-on Linex or "Kona-Coat" as I have so affectionately named it in honor of Ken here. Simply amazing stuff! ....

...Thanks Ken for the great idea.

You guys crack me up!

Brett, the whole think looks great. Now I wish I would have had my woodwork done beforehand, that's a great idea!

 

[Putawaywet]

Greetings all,

I decided to go ahead and start a new thread following the progress of the new tank for those that might have more time on their hands than they know what to do with.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=856714

I'll continue to tag along on this thread in case any questions or problems come up in the short term. However, I will no longer be posting any updates as things are now moving in a different direction for me.

I do want to say thank you to everyone for all the great discussions and feedback these last couple of years - I had a lot of fun sharing all the great stuff I learned along the way.

Indeed, tis a great hobby we share. And an even greater group of people we share it with!

Brett

 

[matt & pam]

Brett,

Hoping you still check this page. I've had a bit of a problem with my eco-wheel lately. My top off pump went out, (naturally when I left for a 6 six meeting), and with the resulting effects that the eco-wheel didn't turn and the top 5 or 6 fins dried out. So I've fixed the water level situation, but now the eco-wheel won't turn. At first I thought it was b/c the air pump was going or something, and I even changed the diaphragms. Didn't help. I scraped a bunch of algae off the opposite side to try and even out the weight. Didn't help. Not sure what else I can do.

I tried adding weight to the bare side in the form of a pvc pipe filled with water, that made it even worse. Not sure what else to do.

Over the past week, I've had to run the water level higher than ever just to keep it moving, but that no longer is helping (unless I add a couple inches to my tank LOL).

Any suggestions?

Matt

 

[salty joe]

You might have to pull the wheel to inspect the bearings.

 

[matt & pam]

I pulled the wheel, and the "bearings" did have a coating of coraline algae. I've cleaned them up, tried the eco-wheel again, and no luck. I haven't physically removed the white teflon type material that the wheel turns on, but I did remove the coraline material as much as possible.

Any other suggestions?

I could completely scrape the wheel, but I'm hesitant to have that much of a setback with my filtration.

As of now, I've got the eco-wheel sitting in a trash can with salt water and a pump.

 

[salty joe]

Any grooving or out of round on bearings or shaft?

 

[salty joe]

Also, when I suggested pulling the wheel, I meant disassembly- not just removing the wheel mechanism from the tank.

 

[Putawaywet]

Hey Matt,

I've never really experienced a problem like you describe. I've had a constant fight with my water level to keep the wheel turning, but if I raise the level enough the wheel will turn on it's own.

In lieu of any other ideas I'd have to agree with Joe and suggest you dissassemble the bearings and inspect for wear. Perhaps there is piece of sand or similar that had worked it's way into the material.

One thing I have found is that in spite of the claims it takes very little effort to stop my wheel's rotation on the upstroke. It's been a pain since day one because to keep it turning reliably the water level in the tank cannot vary more than a 1/4".

Best of luck
Brett

 

[matt & pam]

Well, I took out the wheel, and the white bearings and cleaned them up as best I could. I also decided to scrape off a bunch of algea from the "heavy" side. It's now turning again, about 1.5 - 2 revolutions per minute.

The bearings and shaft look pretty much like new after I scraped off the calcium deposits. Not scoring or such.

Brett, not sure if you could check your wheel, but does the bioballs inside the wheel move any if you shake the wheel? I'm trying to determine if they might be off balance or something (although I doubt it since my wheel is now turning again).

Salty joe, Is there anything else that can be taken apart on the wheel? I don't see how anything else comes apart.

Thanks everyone for advice.

 

[salty joe]

If I remember correctly, it only takes the removal of four screws to split the case that houses the wheel. That would be the only way to get a good look at the journal and bearing surfaces. If that's already been done and everything looks OK, I'm out of ideas.

 

[matt & pam]

It's been running for the afternoon without difficulty. My unit is without any screws on the external surfaces. Perhaps inside the open cavity, which I didn't notice. At this point, I'm leaving it alone until next year.

Glad I didn't have to pop for a replacement pump, but now that I said that I'll probably need one shortly. (I still have replacement diaphragms).

 

[caevan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8771785#post8771785 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by matt & pam
It's been running for the afternoon without difficulty. My unit is without any screws on the external surfaces. Perhaps inside the open cavity, which I didn't notice. At this point, I'm leaving it alone until next year.

Glad I didn't have to pop for a replacement pump, but now that I said that I'll probably need one shortly. (I still have replacement diaphragms).

Hi I recently replaced the air blower on my eco-wheel with one of these
http://www.medousa.com/en/product/product_spec.asp?ID=29&prd_ln=lpb

It works on a different principle, with nothing to wear, at least not as quikly as the diaphragms.
Only differance I found is it is longer than the equicvalent diaphragm blower.