Awais' 120g Build

[awais98]

More issues... until later.

Sadly, Ive hardly been getting any comments from any members.... Wonder why:worried:

No one cares to criticize or comment?:hmm4:

I thought natives wanted pics, I think Ive uploaded enough.... and still no comments.....hmmm

 

[awais98]

I just counted: 60 pictures in 2 pages!!!:hmm1:

 

[Mr D smack]

More issues... until later.

Sadly, Ive hardly been getting any comments from any members.... Wonder why:worried:

No one cares to criticize or comment?:hmm4:

I thought natives wanted pics, I think Ive uploaded enough.... and still no comments.....hmmm

Be careful for what you ask for :lol: Your pics are keeping us derailers contempt.

You've got a nice build going on. As of now the one issues I see and it maybe nothing is your drain line/ home made sink. Without knowing your plumbing you need a p-trap to prevent sewer gas coming out of the drain

 

[zero26]

One thing I forgot to mention, I used a few nuts on the bolts to work as standoffs, so the fixtures never touch the wood. Also there is a splash shield to prevent water damage.

If you are going to run biopellets, they must be tumbling vigorously. You can pick up a tlf reactor for pretty cheap.

 

[kegogut]

Awais I dont think biopellets work in a bag. I could be and prolly am totally wrong but from what Ive seen that have to be in a reactor so they can tumble.

Im still going to get you a pic of that rail. I'll get it up for you today!

Everything else looks great! Im excited about it almost being fish/coral time for you. Your way more patient than me. Those param reading would be good enough for me to add fish for sure lol.

If you noticed your thread is the only one that hasnt been derailed. Thats because pics keep the natives happy. Youve been doing everything right in your build and build thread as far as I can tell :thumbsup:

 

[smoothdog]

Looks good Awais! One thing you might want to consider down the road is to have a couple of extra ball valves on hand. The first time you have to do maintenance on your pump you will be dumping a lot of water that is held in the pipes due to your existing valves being so high. I'd have a couple more valves waiting in the wings and when you disconnect the pump put them right next to it on either side. That way when you have to pull the pump in the future there will be very little water spilled when it is disconnected.

 

[awais98]

:celeb1::celeb1::celeb1:
Thanks for input! Yay Im getting feedbacks! :spin1:

I have tapped the drain into the kitchen drain and have a rubber check valve, so atleast the water never comes into my side if the drain.....
I had not thought about the sewer gas.
So far I have not noticed anything, but if it shows up, ill have to do something about it.

Was thinking abt the p trap.... my drain is connected to:
1: the skimmer and continuously drains the skimmate
2: and my sump emergency overflow is also connected to the drain
3: the waste water from the RO/DI.

So my question is, if that skimmate stagnates in the p trap, wouldn't that stink continuously?

Be careful for what you ask for :lol: Your pics are keeping us derailers contempt.

You've got a nice build going on. As of now the one issues I see and it maybe nothing is your drain line/ home made sink. Without knowing your plumbing you need a p-trap to prevent sewer gas coming out of the drain

 

[awais98]

Ah a nut/bolt seperation, well, then that makes sense, thats why a picture speaks a thousand words!

I didnt think ablout a reactor, that it is a must for the biopellets. I will get the two little fishes reactor soon.
Thank you!:fun2:

One thing I forgot to mention, I used a few nuts on the bolts to work as standoffs, so the fixtures never touch the wood. Also there is a splash shield to prevent water damage.

If you are going to run biopellets, they must be tumbling vigorously. You can pick up a tlf reactor for pretty cheap.

 

[awais98]

Ill get a reactor soon, so that should settle it.

And Im still waiting for your pic....what 2 weeks now?:rolleye1:

My job helps me being patient, lol as I don't get much time, some stretches Im very busy, and then I get some relief. March has been very very busy.... hardly gettting any time to even start the canopy...and I dont see any time soon....going out of town soon and then return and working till mid April....:uhoh3:

Thanks, I really hope I am not making big mistakes, or atleast improving! The return pump above the sump was a ridiculous idea, Im glad I re plumbed.

Awais I dont think biopellets work in a bag. I could be and prolly am totally wrong but from what Ive seen that have to be in a reactor so they can tumble.

Im still going to get you a pic of that rail. I'll get it up for you today!

Everything else looks great! Im excited about it almost being fish/coral time for you. Your way more patient than me. Those param reading would be good enough for me to add fish for sure lol.

If you noticed your thread is the only one that hasnt been derailed. Thats because pics keep the natives happy. Youve been doing everything right in your build and build thread as far as I can tell :thumbsup:

 

[awais98]

Thanks smoothdog.

It makes sense. I will get 2 more ball valves for when I do get there near the pump.

Questions:
1:as you see in the picture... I have 2 elbows on the pump outlet about a foot above it, do you think I should or I must change it to a flexspa to eliminate the 2 elbows?
2: how does spaflex handle coupler joints? r they secure enough while manipulating them? ( I had 1.5" spaflex I was thinking of using on my overflows at a time, but got too worried it might loosen due to twist torque)
3: Can you remind me what maintenance I have to do on the pump and when? :spin2: Im a newbie, remember:spin3:

Thank you!!!

Looks good Awais! One thing you might want to consider down the road is to have a couple of extra ball valves on hand. The first time you have to do maintenance on your pump you will be dumping a lot of water that is held in the pipes due to your existing valves being so high. I'd have a couple more valves waiting in the wings and when you disconnect the pump put them right next to it on either side. That way when you have to pull the pump in the future there will be very little water spilled when it is disconnected.

 

[awais98]

chaeto?

chaeto?

SG: 1.022, pH: 8.3, Ammonia: 0.1 ( between 0 and 0.25), Nitrite: 5, Nitrate: 40/ Phos 0.25

Guys, is it time to get chaeto in???

 

[awais98]

Chaeto vs Biopellets vs GFO

Chaeto vs Biopellets vs GFO

My original plan was to include chaeto and biopellets.

I currently have 1/2 dose of biopellets in a mesh bag which I understand Ill get into a reactor.

But my question is, in this new system total about 200g, biopellts and chaeto combinations sounds good for the nutrient export?

For some reason when I was researching 3 months ago, I came to the conclusion that biopelltets and chaeto would be better then GFO.....

Advice/ comments welcome:celeb3:

 

[kegogut]

As I cant speak for biopellets I use TLF 150 x 2 for carbon-gfo. and I have a bunch of Chaeto in the sump also. But I dont really check my params nearly as often as I should.

 

[VSpeck]

My original plan was to include chaeto and biopellets.

I currently have 1/2 dose of biopellets in a mesh bag which I understand Ill get into a reactor.

But my question is, in this new system total about 200g, biopellts and chaeto combinations sounds good for the nutrient export?

For some reason when I was researching 3 months ago, I came to the conclusion that biopelltets and chaeto would be better then GFO.....

Advice/ comments welcome:celeb3:

Bio pellets really need to be run in a reactor and from my understanding the output of the reactor needs to be pumped near the skimmer to work best.

Chaeto is good for nutrient transport if kept pruned. Both are great for nitrates but From what I've heard gfo is way better for phosphate removal. I like gfo and chaeto combination personally but I've never had high nitrates to deal with so I've never dealt with carbon dosing or bio pellets.

I'm sure some people with more experience on bio pellets will chime in shortly.

The setup is looking awesome though. Well thought out and well done!

 

[awais98]

question about baffle air bubbles.

question about baffle air bubbles.

Hi,

I have a question regarding the baffles.
I have 3 glass baffle siliconed, but I see a lot of bubble make it into the return compartment.
What can I do to eliminate the bubbles? I dont want them getting to the DT, it just creates sound in the pipes upstaris.
See the attached video for the problem:
Thanks.

Here

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/W9OQKbo3fv8?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[VSpeck]

The only thing you can do is slow the flow down.

 

[zero26]

+1 on slowing the flow. I wonder if some sort of sponge after the last baffle but before the return would help, but then it would become a detrius trap. I think slowing the flow is the best idea.

 

[awais98]

Slowing the flow will defeat the purpose of high flow return pump.
I could divert it to the refugium but the refuge return falls exactly between 1& 2nd baffle. it would'nt decrease the flow over the 3rd baffle....
Dialling down the RT output will kill the pump slowly.....

I have 2 ideas, dont know if they will work:

1: I keep the water level in the return compartment high, very close to the water fall from the baffle, it theoretically will remove the air bubbles/sound

2: Does the 3rd right glass baffle serve any purpose at all then? Maybe just remove it and let the water come into the return compartment from under the 2nd baffle.

Any one done that? any experience?

 

[VSpeck]

+1 on slowing the flow. I wonder if some sort of sponge after the last baffle but before the return would help, but then it would become a detrius trap. I think slowing the flow is the best idea.

I tried the sponge thing when I had the same issue on a previous sump and when you run flow that fast the detritus has no time to settle in the sump and it gets caught in the sponge. Not only is it a detritus trap but it eventually gets clogged and the water runs off that just as fast and the bubble and splashing problem is back. It's a lose lose situation. Jme

 

[VSpeck]

Slowing the flow will defeat the purpose of high flow return pump.
I could divert it to the refugium but the refuge return falls exactly between 1& 2nd baffle. it would'nt decrease the flow over the 3rd baffle....
Dialling down the RT output will kill the pump slowly.....

*As long as you restrict the output of the pump and not the input you are fine*



I have 2 ideas, dont know if they will work:

1: I keep the water level in the return compartment high, very close to the water fall from the baffle, it theoretically will remove the air bubbles/sound


*This is what I do in my current sump*

2: Does the 3rd right glass baffle serve any purpose at all then? Maybe just remove it and let the water come into the return compartment from under the 2nd baffle.

*ive seen many sumps like this but I have no actual experience wit them so I can't say*

Any one done that? any experience?