CADlights 39g Pro build thread

[reeftivo]

The increased skimmer production intrigues me too - not sure of the mechanics behind it. As for media exhaustion, it will vary based on the ambient CO2 levels - With our smaller skimmers (well except perhaps you RT, Mr. "skimmer of the week, build me a bigger sump so I can have an even BIGGER skimmer" foam fractionating guru :lol2 I think the media will last at least a couple of months. It's color changing so it will be easy to tell - and replacement media is pretty cheap. If it works, it will be worth it, if not, it never hurts to have an extra canister around.

LOL Tom!

I went to see the new sump last night and it looks good! It's finished with the exception of the last baffle in the pump chamber. We talked a bit and I decided to just leave the last two baffles out. I will not be using the original fuge design for anything but Chaeto algae so that influenced my decision. I'll have more options now with this simple design (skimmers/Zeovit reactors etc). Many of the high end skimmers have very limiting base dimensions (recirc etc.). The primary reason I wanted a larger skimmer area is for the room to modify. With this new sump it will give me the ability to run several different 50-125 gallon rated skimmers. I have a fair fish load right now with 5 and with the corals I plan to add, I will need these options. Everyone seems to be having great results with the NAC3 skimmer. I will eventually get around to trying it again with a new pump. The 3 skimmers I plan on trying out with the larger sump are the NAC6, Octo NWB 110 and the Vertex I80. The NAC6 showed promissing results with the air pull but may be too big for the system so the Octo and Vertex may be a better match for the stocking levels I plan to keep. A bit of a note on the old stock CADpro skimmer. I dremmeled the ridges in the 45 degree elbow into the skimmer off the pump and smoothed it out. The air pull increased from 250lph to 280 lph and the skimmate has increased. The concentration is the same but with the air increase, it's pulling more.

 

[mkregs]

A bit of a note on the old stock CADpro skimmer. I dremmeled the ridges in the 45 degree elbow into the skimmer off the pump and smoothed it out. The air pull increased from 250lph to 280 lph and the skimmate has increased. The concentration is the same but with the air increase, it's pulling more.

Has anyone thought about or already have done a mod to the stock skimmer to add a bubble plate? Also, has anyone tried using a better pump with the stock skimmer?

 

[reeftivo]

Are you refering to the old skimmer or the new BM skimmer?

ASM G3 pump is your best bet. It's actually a small rio pump. Rios still have a better rep than Atmans'.

 

[reeftivo]

The BM skimmer would be next to impossible to mod since it does not dissassemble. I don't think it's worth the effort but one could try a pill bottle drilled at the bottom with several small holes to attemp diffusion and relieve turbulence. It would have to be small enough to fit down the neck of the skimmer and would have to be super glued very well to the diffuser flange (red piece with fins). If glueing it sounds to risky, then one could possibly devise notches at the top of the bottle to where it could actually snap on to the flange. Both skimmers have these limits but the BM skimmer has the most potential if one wants to try it.

 

[mkregs]

Are you refering to the old skimmer or the new BM skimmer?

Talking about the old CADLights skimmer.

 

[reeftivo]

Talking about the old CADLights skimmer.

cant do it with the bubble plate! You wouldn't be able to get a large enough chamber mod in there to do any good because the neck size is so small. You could use enkamat P4 for the mesh mod and tie a layer to it with fishing line. That would significatly increase the air but the resun pumps do not balance well with mesh IME. If you put your finger inside the 45 degree elbow at the bottom of the skimmer you will feel the edges of the pvc unions. This will cause slight turbulence at the pump output. By smoothing out the edges my water spins smoother and thus optimizes the pump output increasing the air draw. This worked for me!

 

[mkregs]

cant do it with the bubble plate! You wouldn't be able to get a large enough chamber mod in there to do any good because the neck size is so small. You could use enkamat P4 for the mesh mod and tie a layer to it with fishing line. That would significatly increase the air but the resun pumps do not balance well with mesh IME. If you put your finger inside the 45 degree elbow at the bottom of the skimmer you will feel the edges of the pvc unions. This will cause slight turbulence at the pump output. By smoothing out the edges my water spins smoother and thus optimizes the pump output increasing the air draw. This worked for me!

Thanks for the tip!

About the Octo NWB 110...will it fit in the CAD sump chamber?

 

[reeftivo]

Thanks for the tip!

About the Octo NWB 110...will it fit in the CAD sump chamber?

No, Too big. Even if you cut down the base plate. The current way they have the wedge pipe and pump intake situated makes it impossible. The Vertex I80 and the Octo nwb110 are a very good match for these tanks but their design limits us with smaller sumps-Too Bad!

Got the new sump in last night with the NAC6. Running with 10 inches of water. Nice to have more space for maintenance! It should take a couple of days to settle in.

 

[CalmSeasQuest]

Wow!

A little reef tank to go along with your SKIMMER there RT?? :jester:

I also note you replaced the PITA stock drain and return lines with flex line - Good idea.

Setup Looks great - All hail our resident Foam Fractionating Guru

 

[reeftivo]

I have the design for this sump so if anyone would like to build one themselves I could send it to them. I had Eddie do it for me because right now I just dont have the area in my garage to do it. I will keep updating on the performance.

 

[reeftivo]

Wow!

A little reef tank to go along with your SKIMMER there RT?? :jester:

I also note you replaced the PITA stock drain and return lines with flex line - Good idea.

Setup Looks great - All hail our resident Foam Fractionating Guru

Thanks Tom! The sump is 15 gallons and after the equipment went in, I measured out a total of 10 gallons that went in to get it to 10 inches. The recommended level for the NAC6 is 10 inches and the sump is 14 inches tall. When I shut down the return, the water level stabilizes 2 inches from the top of the sump so I'm okay. This skimmer operates at a higher water level than all of the other skimmers I've used. I like the extra water volume but I'm not sure yet about this skimmer. It's pulling 15scfh (420+lph) of air and getting better by the hour. The posted air draw is 18scfh (500+lph) and it's not there yet. Too early to know if it is sized alright for the pro. The only things that bother me is that 1)I think they should have made a larger bubble diffuser. There is still alot of turbulence at the surface of the chamber! When I was feeding it with junk in the garage, it didn't seem to affect the production but we will see. The second thing is the Atman pump doesn't like to restart. Two failed restarts so far but it was easily fixed by an airline at the silencer. The restart issue may be because of the mesh wheel impeller but not sure right now.
Flex hose?
The flex hose is not that flexible. Its almost the same as the vinyl. I had to heat it at the ends alot to get it to slide over the fittings. I do like the look though and the fact that I wont have algae in the lines. I do need to devise a way to block light on the reactor. The fuge light is situated perfectly but will start growing algae on the two soon. The pics don't show it well but there is plenty of room to grow chaeto in there. I just have to make sure I bind it so it doesn't get too loose and fragment into the return pump.

So far so good!

Tivo

 

[timdanger]

Wow!

A little reef tank to go along with your SKIMMER there RT?? :jester:

I also note you replaced the PITA stock drain and return lines with flex line - Good idea.

Setup Looks great - All hail our resident Foam Fractionating Guru

NAC6 = dominant. i have bubble plate envy.

i guess, frankly, it's not that much of an issue for me right now, as i am sitting mostly coral free. i do have some LFS credit that i will turn into something soon, though! maybe a green slimer + pearlberry? we'll see what looks good when i'm there next.

but, all other plans are on hold for the time being, as the ServPro inspection yesterday did -not- go well (they have to bring in an "industrial cleaning company" to do testing/analysis because of the amount of mold they found in the crawlspace. ouch. now we are just praying that they don't find mold in the kitchen! if they do, we are screwed.).

 

[CalmSeasQuest]

but, all other plans are on hold for the time being, as the ServPro inspection yesterday did -not- go well (they have to bring in an "industrial cleaning company" to do testing/analysis because of the amount of mold they found in the crawlspace. ouch. now we are just praying that they don't find mold in the kitchen! if they do, we are screwed.).

Ouch! - Sorry to hear that Tim

I think I would break out the bleach and a spray bottle (or cow sprayer depending on the area), rent a blower and have at it. Cost wise, It can get pretty scary when they start talking about black mold.

I hate the thought of dollars that could be so much better spent on your reef tank, being squandered on such things oooh....Pearlberry

 

[timdanger]

Ouch! - Sorry to hear that Tim

I think I would break out the bleach and a spray bottle (or cow sprayer depending on the area), rent a blower and have at it. Cost wise, It can get pretty scary when they start talking about black mold.

I hate the thought of dollars that could be so much better spent on your reef tank, being squandered on such things oooh....Pearlberry

i'm going to be doing my best to "tickle" information out of the person who's coming to evaluate the problem from the "industrial" cleaning company about how to control my costs. it's nice because they are only giving the evaluation, and then i have to go get ServPro (or someone else) to come in and do the work. so, i'm hoping they will say something like "oh, ya, just get yourself some bleach and go to town!"

so, we'll see. i am terrified, as we JUST had to rip apart our entire master bathroom to fix a leakage problem around our shower. turned into a $$$ renovation. hoping to not have the same thing happen to our kitchen. OR ELSE. :uzi:

 

[reeftivo]

Fried the Hyperflow 20F and I'm now using the Tunze 1073.040.
Nicest pump I've ever used-less audible and better than Eheim IMO.

Thanks timdanger!

Tivo

 

[timdanger]

Fried the Hyperflow 20F and I'm now using the Tunze 1073.040.
Nicest pump I've ever used-less audible and better than Eheim IMO.

Thanks timdanger!

Tivo

Great!

Glad you like it -- my 1073.020 is definitely my "favorite" piece of equipment in my tank, just as far as overall satisfaction goes. great product.

 

[CalmSeasQuest]

I wish I had known about the Tunze - I just upgraded the stock pump the the 20F - How long did yours last RT?

On another note, I set up the CO2 scrubber - Need another week or so to trend the data, but I am seeing an increase in overall pH.

Could be a good thing

 

[reeftivo]

3 years. It was run dry for a few seconds . It was starting to rattle a few seconds initially when I would power back up after water changes so It may well have been on its last leg anyways. Still a good afforable low watt and low heat option IMO. One big thing I noticed is the GPH difference. My hyperflow must have been losing gph output and I never noticed. I took off the ball valve at the pump because the Tunze 040 is rated at just under 800gph so I figured I would need the extra flow without obstruction. Well I sure didn't! This sucker pumps!! WOW. Stronger than my hyperflows fully open. I think the hyperflows are good pumps but their gph rating my be scued a bit. The magnets on the Tunze are powerfull with a big paddle impeller. What is interesting is that even with the big magnet and impeller, the pumps are tiny and solid like an anvil. Pretty cool.

 

[reeftivo]

NAC6 pics

It's doing very good right now. Getting darker by the day. These pics are at 36 hours and it is pulling around 16scfh-right now so the longer it runs, the stronger it gets.

I have it set wet right now until the air numbers get stronger. Once it is at or around 500lph, I will tune it drier.

Not bad for $120

The pics are at three days but the skimmer didn't actually kick in until hour 48 so technically these pics are 24 hours of skim. Very impressive to say the least.

The only issue I have with it is start up. I seem to have gotten one of the few that needs to have the airline blown into to get the "ATMAN"!! pump started. Once I do that, it's no problem. The other owners I've corresponded with do not have this issue. Oh well!

 

[reeftivo]

NAC6 pics

It's doing very good right now. Getting darker by the day. These pics are at 36 hours and it is pulling around 16scfh-right now so the longer it runs, the stronger it gets.

I have it set wet right now until the air numbers get stronger. Once it is at or around 500lph, I will tune it drier.

Not bad for $120

The pics are at three days but the skimmer didn't actually kick in until hour 48 so technically these pics are 24 hours of skim. Very impressive to say the least.

The only issue I have with it is start up. I seem to have gotten one of the few that needs to have the airline blown into to get the "ATMAN"!! pump started. Once I do that, it's no problem. The other owners I've corresponded with do not have this issue. Oh well!

Sorry but I meant to write that the skimmer pics were taken at 72 hours, not 36 hours.

My bad!

Tivo