Hello again to all,
First of all, I should like to apologize for my tardiness in posting. Unfortunately, there just does not seem to be enough hours available in each day to meet all substantial ongoing demands on my time and to make time available for interest based matters such as this.
Thanks to all of you for your very kind and generous comments even when I’m not posting. I’m pleasantly surprised by the attention that this thread continues to receive.
Thanks to my friend Pedro Conceição for his good shots. One day I’ll get pics like him. It was for me a nice surprise because I didn’t know that he would post them here.
I certainly intend to return periodically and continue to answer any of your queries.
In the last months I have made some upgrades: one more tank was placed on the stand, the sump was expanded 3 times, tank water outlets and tubing were substantially altered and A/C installed.
The main implemented upgrades throughout last six months are:
1 -The Eco-cooler existing over the sump compartment (1) was moved to the WC and mounted close the floor (as I posted about this some months ago);
2 â€"œ The first sump expansion was done to adapt a sediment retainer;
3 â€"œ The second sump expansion was done to create a new compartment for skimmers (one of two existing Deltec AP703 and to the new H&S type 400-3xF5000);
4 - The third sump expansion (and the last because the sump is just close the door…) to create a new tank destined to quarantine / frags on cradles.
First sump expansion was done to adapt a sediment retainer
Some water coming from the tanks fallen down directly in the mangue compartment was disturbing their roots and now, with the modifications that I have done, the water coming back from the tanks is conducted to the beginning of all filtration system, far from the mangue. To have the water circulation with minimum restriction it was drilled some holes in the zones (A) and (B) in the existing tank (1), see the first scheme.
Scheme of the sump before the 1st expansion
Keeping the tanks and sump functioning while drilling (to avoid disturb the system) I fixed a piece of glass with epoxy as shown below, to create a dried column inside de sump for drilling works
Scheme of the sump after the 1st expansion