Aquapod 24 Surface Film

[topshotta]

Last weekend I setup my Aquapod. Since Sunday it's been running with just freshwater in it only. I'm just making sure that everything is okay before I start stocking it. I can already see though that I'm going to have issues with surface film. I upgraded the pump to a MJ-1200 and I have also closed all of the drains on the intake with the exception of the top. The only way the tank seems to surface skim well is if I take off the locline return. The downside to this is not being able to control the flow of the return line. I also took apart the locline to make sure that it was free from any residual plastic or anything else that would be slowing flow. Possibly I need to upgrade to an even larger pump than the MJ1200?

 

[WillWorkForFish]

you need some surface aggitation.. try adding another powerhead in the display..

 

[topshotta]

I should've mentioned that in the first post - I also have a Hydor Koralia 1 in there.

 

[conformity]

yeah removing the locline return on my tank fixed my problems w/ dead zones and surface film. and how they offer it as a product upgrade still baffles me

 

[Von_Rahvin]

use the cassette mod to put a surface skimmer on it pretty easily.

 

[topshotta]

What exactly is the cassette mod?

 

[sjm1978]

you could do the 2x mj900 mod in your tank.

heres a pic of mine

and here the link to my tank setup thread http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=849093&highlight=sunpod+70w

below the parts list of the fitting i bought to do the mod

i bought all of the fittings at http://www.marinedepot.com/md_searc...&itemsonpage=15

here is a list of all the fittings you will need to do this mod.

Parts List:

1x Double Threaded Bulkhead Fitting - 1/2in
1x Insert Elbow Fitting - 1/2 inch MPT x 1/2 inch Insert
1x Loc-Line 1/2 inch Ball Socket x MPT Connector
1x Loc-Line 1/2 inch Ball Socket Y
1x Loc-Line 1/2 inch Ball Socket Flexible Tube 6 inch (i got only 1 and pulled it apart in the middle you can buy 2 of these but i think 1 split into 2 is perfect)
2x Loc-Line 1/2 inch Flat Slot 125 Nozzle

 

[WillWorkForFish]

I plan on doing the same thing once I go open top, except I'll be doing a closed loop with the MJ instead of it just sitting in the back..
I have to sell my sapphire skimmer first.. I plan on going with a HOB skimmer..

 

[StunnaShadez]

what i did with my loclines is aim one towards the front glass near the surface of the water (1 inch away from the surface) and that seems to have strong currents on top to move the surface film over into the back chambers

 

[Von_Rahvin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9764855#post9764855 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by topshotta
What exactly is the cassette mod?

take 1/2 of a cassette case and if you set it over the overflow grate, it will raise the water level and take only the surface water. easy cheap, and does a great job to skimming the surface.

 

[clowninaround74]

thats what i did and it works great....it also makes it so that only the water in the back chambers goes down when evap happens. without it the water in the display also goes down which bugged me.

 

[clowninaround74]

although i didnt use a casette i used an old credit card and cut it to shape

 

[topshotta]

Can someone take a picture of this cassette mod - I'm just not understanding how this works??

 

[Wooly]

I didn't use a c.t. box, but a piece of plexi glass that was cut to block off the bottom intake and long enough to adjust the flow at the top. Approx. 8" long and 3" wide for my A.P. 12. You want to reduce the area at the top so that the water is flowing over the plexiglass kinda like a waterfall. It will raise the water level in the tank, but it works for skimming. If you still have ?'s, search this nano forum. I did see that someone else did the same thing.

 

[dynaschm0e]

Or another, more expensive, route would be to check out the SRS Nanoskim Select A Flow here: http://www.nanotuners.com/product_i...=247&osCsid=6f7cad7640f024146d08e5ce23f88372g

My buddy(bigwater) put one on his 6gal NC at work and it cleared his tank instantly. HTH -Trey