Custom In-Wall 150 Project

[conda]

I doubt you'll need nor want a ballvalve on the pump to the skimmer. The gatevalve on the skimmer itself will let you adjust the water within the skimmer body.

Do you ever sleep?

So if the pump is too powerfull, the excess will just flow through the gate valve? I thought I would need to ball valve before the entry. If not, that would make that section alot easier to plumb.

As usual, thanks for all the feedback.

 

[melev]

I had a Mag 12 on my Ev-200 and it worked fine. If you want to use a Mag 18 and Jason at Aqua C says it will work, I'd not worry.

The gate valve is your control, plus there is a JG fitting to adjust the air input going in on the newer ones.

Run it without the ballvalve. If you find it won't work, you can always add one later.

 

[conda]

Is that THIS setup? I'm looking at the third from last pic on that page. How did you plub from the MAG output to the Y barb? If I position the mag like you did there, I should have lots of room left.

 

[melev]

Yes, that is how it was running. I can't believe you found that page, as it is from my old site. I thought I had them all pointing forward to melevsreef.com

 

[bheron]

Hey Conda, sorry to slam you with the "piece of cake" comment and then leave you hangin'! I wasnt thinking of all the bulkheads you have and such. And, I guess, I meant "easy" compared to the job ahead of you!!

Marc made a good point about things fitting tighter and shorter than a dry fit compared to when you glue. But, from the look above, it seems like I'm too late - youre a pro at it now! Nice work!

 

[conda]

Hey Conda, sorry to slam you with the "piece of cake" comment and then leave you hangin'! I wasnt thinking of all the bulkheads you have and such. And, I guess, I meant "easy" compared to the job ahead of you!!

I didn't take it as a slam, I was justing thinking "Darn, I must be retarded or something."

Melev, how did you connect the Mag to the Y barb in that pic? I can't really determine it through the water.

 

[melev]

This is how I got the skimmer used, and I just never bothered to change it. I cleaned it well, but I think it would have had more flow had I increased all the connections.

The connection was actually aggravating, but worked. It is a 3/4" FPT (female pipe thread - aka internal threads like a garden hose) to 3/4" hose barb. It screwed on the pump, then you pressed the hose on to that, then a Y was pressed onto the tubing, which allowed for the split to send tubing to each injector.

What I didn't like was the difficulty of removing the screwed on fitting when I had to service the pump.

Make sure you use the right size plastic hose clamps to prevent any hoses from popping off and spraying water everywhere. MarineDepot sells them, as do some LFS and even the occasional hardware store. http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_plumbing_parts_fittings_hose_clamps_flexible_vinyl_tubing.asp

 

[conda]

Thanks for the link, those clamps are what I need. I got some 3/4" clear flex tube from Home Depot for the skimmer with some metal clamps, but I wasn't sure if I could use them since they were metal.

 

[melev]

Preferably not. They do rust.

 

[conda]

Ordered those plastic clamps today along with a 1" Sea Swirl, that I forgot to get, from The Fish Place in Lancaster. Looks like they have the Outer Orbit HQI I wanted also.

Couldn't bring myself to order from Marine Depot this time. It's been a week and still no replacement pump.

 

[conda]

Ok, I hooked up the skimmer to the Mag18 tonight. Below is an AquaC EV-240 Skimmer with a Mag18. I still need to trim the hose and add the plastic clamps that I just ordered.

The hose is 1" OD x 3/4" ID Vinyl I got from Home Depot. It should be strong enough for the Mag18. If not, I guess I'll find out if my new sump pump works. :hmm3:

I first tried to place the Mag on the right, under the probe holder, but the hose didn't fit too well. Then I placed it where it is in the picture and it seems to be a good fit. Once I trim the hose, it will be a straight shot from the pump to the skimmer.

What do you think?

On the output of the Mag is a 3/4" FEM x 3/4" BARB, like I saw Melev do it on his 55.

 

[melev]

I think that stupid probe holder has been a real pain and you should break it off. (I've never tried doing that, btw.)

Maybe you could glue it in a better spot yourself.

Home Depot sells smoked tubing, which is darker. That would work as well, and resist algae growth within the tubing.

At least everything looks nice and clean still.

That little drain valve on the collection cup: I turned mine upward, and put a small piece of tubing on it as tall as the lid. This helps me make sure to wash out the cup regularly and not put it off.

Also, I put a piece of acrylic under my stand so that the skimmer's moisture and occasional skimmate didn't get the stand wet. You could probably put cloroplast in there quite easily. That is the stuff cheap signs are made of, and it is sold by the sheet at any hobby store in a variety of colors. One day I gotta get a piece and put some pictures on my site so I can show people what I'm talking about.

 

[steve68]

the set up looks nice !
great work, i had a mag 18 on my MR-2 when i first bought it & it gave off some heat, i was like "AHHHH it's winter now" but man when summer came around it became a problem, the only diference is that u'r set up is in the basement so maybee it wont be as bad.
again great job.

 

[conda]

the set up looks nice !
great work, i had a mag 18 on my MR-2 when i first bought it & it gave off some heat, i was like "AHHHH it's winter now" but man when summer came around it became a problem, the only diference is that u'r set up is in the basement so maybee it wont be as bad.
again great job.

Thanks for the comments.

Actually, I have two Mag18 pumps. One for the skimmer and one for the return. How much heat do they give off? I researched pumps for a while and selected the Mags because I thought they would provide a good combination of low heat/low sound.

Melev has been a big help. The hardest part for me is this darn plumbing.

 

[Psyire]

I understand your pain when it comes to plumbing, as I also hate it with a passion.

What do you have planned for standpipes in your overflow to make this setup silent?

 

[Fursphere]

Mmmm, plumbing..... I love it!

Conda, your system layout is very similar to mine, check out this page: http://www.fursphere.com/con4.html

As for the 4-way plumbing, lemme go find a picture of someone else's setup, I think it'll be perfect for you.

 

[Fursphere]

Have you confirmed with Paul at OM that a Barracuda can flow through his 4-way? How many GPH is that?

The OM 4-Way is supposed to be able to handle something like 10,000 GPH. Its WAY overbuilt for the average user.

The only limit is the actual size of the pipe you use. 2" in, 1.5" out is the max size, and I know thats large enough for TONS of flow.

 

[conda]

What do you have planned for standpipes in your overflow to make this setup silent?

I can't think that far ahead. lol.

Mmmm, plumbing..... I love it!

Conda, your system layout is very similar to mine, check out this page: http://www.fursphere.com/con4.html

As for the 4-way plumbing, lemme go find a picture of someone else's setup, I think it'll be perfect for you.

Very similar. Here are some better pics of my plumbing mess as I try to plumb my OM 4-way. :hmm3:

The 4-way is 1.5" in 1.0" out.

Any input would be helpfull at this point.

 

[Fursphere]

Whoa... stop everything!

I see some potential (major) issues, and some ways to fix them.

I'll post up something in a few hours, I'm off to school for now.

 

[conda]

Whoa... stop everything!

I see some potential (major) issues, and some ways to fix them.

I'll post up something in a few hours, I'm off to school for now.

Lol. Ok, I'll wait. Thanks.

I told you I was plumbing challenged. I'm trying to get it all to fit under the stand and not interfere with my wife's laundry room--of which I took over 80% of.