Deep Down Florida 300g In-wall Build
- Thread starter bmanzie
- Start date
Rogger Castells
New member
very nice, were is the salt water tank mixing pump? looks like it is going to be hard to pour salt in the lower drum.
bmanzie
New member
Thanks guys it was certainly challenging to complete this but it is coming along.
Rogger I have a Mag 8 on the inside of the bottom drum which will be used to mix and transport the salt water. As fat as adding the salt, I have cut out the top of the drums and replaced them with clear acrylic. I can lift that high enough to add the salt. I may get some sort of funnel to make it easier.
Thank you all for looking and the complements.
Rogger I have a Mag 8 on the inside of the bottom drum which will be used to mix and transport the salt water. As fat as adding the salt, I have cut out the top of the drums and replaced them with clear acrylic. I can lift that high enough to add the salt. I may get some sort of funnel to make it easier.
Thank you all for looking and the complements.
Rogger Castells
New member
I hope I don't come out negative but I am just trying to spot possible issues and give you heads up.
There is one other thing that I can see from your latest pictures of the set up that could give you trouble, The skimmer you have (down draft type) needs a completely free flow at the output after the gate valve, the way you have it low in the floor it looks like it will be plumbed back in the sump in an area were the output will be submerge under the the water, if so, this will cause that skimmer to be very hard to tune and maintain the level.
The solution would be to lift the skimmer high enough to let the output clear the highest level of the chamber in the sump were you want the water to return, it should return just by gravity.
There is one other thing that I can see from your latest pictures of the set up that could give you trouble, The skimmer you have (down draft type) needs a completely free flow at the output after the gate valve, the way you have it low in the floor it looks like it will be plumbed back in the sump in an area were the output will be submerge under the the water, if so, this will cause that skimmer to be very hard to tune and maintain the level.
The solution would be to lift the skimmer high enough to let the output clear the highest level of the chamber in the sump were you want the water to return, it should return just by gravity.
bmanzie
New member
Rogger I am in no way getting offended by your suggestions. This is partially why I started this thread so people could help me out by pointing out potential issues. I thank you for your observations.
So what you don't see is that the output of the skimmer will not be submerged. I have added another picture with the pipe run outlined.
Raising it above the sump level is not an option so I hope this doesn't cause an issue.
What do you think?
So what you don't see is that the output of the skimmer will not be submerged. I have added another picture with the pipe run outlined.
Raising it above the sump level is not an option so I hope this doesn't cause an issue.
What do you think?
Rogger Castells
New member
Yeah I did noticed that input but you will still have issues with that cause your water will have to push the water upwards to reach the outlet, this will cause back preassure and most likely make it impossible to get that skimmer to work properly.
Rogger Castells
New member
Also is that an iwaki 100 or a 70 driving the skimmer?
slief
RC Sponsor
Rogger after thinking about what you said and after doing some reading I am thinking of changing my plan for the skimmer.
I think i am going to rotate the skimmer so the gate valve is facing me and run the PVC into a bulkhead. I have it outlined in yellow. What do you think?
Looking great so far. I like your second option of rotating the skimmer. That would be the way I would do it if I were in your shoes. Speaking from experience with that skimmer, if you can do that, that is the best choice. If you have the exit line go up like you have it with the red line, you would need a siphon break. Also, your skimmers water level will be somewhat predicated on the height of that pipe which is not ideal as you want to control the water level with the gate valve. Also, you might have issues with surging.
If you keep the exit line low like you have with the yellow line, the water level will be much more stable and it wont surge. You water level will be solely controlled by the gate valve and not effected by an elevated return pipe. In the end, your skimmer will be much more stable and consitant.
Rogger Castells
New member
You can try that but IME with this skimmers they really need a free flow after the gate valve for them to work properly. From your picture the return will still be under water.
mrx66699
New member
Bill .... I have to agree with Roger your still going to get pressure built from the weight of the water in the sump back pressuring into the skimmer. Its going to effect the amount of control meant for the gate valve. Now if it was a fixed constant pressure from the sump water you could calculate the amount of pressure coming back from the sump. You could then compensate the adjustment from the valve........but thats not going to be a fixed constant and will be extremely difficult to do.
bmanzie
New member
It will be a constant pressure for that area will always have the same amount of water unless the power goes out. At this point it will be trial and error. I will try it this way (yellow line) to see if it will work. I do not want to raise the skimmer as high as it is suggested if I don't have to.
Again thank you all for your suggestions.
Again thank you all for your suggestions.
gasman059
The OG mad scientist
That would solve the problem.
I can di upnsome pics of old dd skimmers that I've used and yes all of the above suggestions are true.
Do yourself a favor and continue to be patient with this beautiful build, the skimmer issue needs to be addressed prior to completing the plumming IMO.
Great build !
bmanzie
New member
So I have been busy tweeking things on my tank. I still have some more to do but for the most part I am done.
Here is a picture from the front view. The pvc on the right in not supposed to be there. I was adding RO/DI and forgot to take it out.
This is still the front with my moonlight pods controlled by the reef keeper elite.
In the back side of things I made a change. I moved the output of the skimmer to a new location than I originally wanted. There was some concern from other forum members that the skimmer may not work in this location. I can tell you it is working like a charm and I had to dial it down more than I thought.
I also added a chiller. My original thought was to run tubing in my freezer which is next to the tank. So I tried that....It actually melted some of the ice on the inside of my freezer. So my trial failed. I bought a 1/2hp chiller which is also hooked up to my Reef Keeper Elite.
I think that is it for the changes.
Here is a picture from the front view. The pvc on the right in not supposed to be there. I was adding RO/DI and forgot to take it out.
This is still the front with my moonlight pods controlled by the reef keeper elite.
In the back side of things I made a change. I moved the output of the skimmer to a new location than I originally wanted. There was some concern from other forum members that the skimmer may not work in this location. I can tell you it is working like a charm and I had to dial it down more than I thought.
I also added a chiller. My original thought was to run tubing in my freezer which is next to the tank. So I tried that....It actually melted some of the ice on the inside of my freezer. So my trial failed. I bought a 1/2hp chiller which is also hooked up to my Reef Keeper Elite.
I think that is it for the changes.
bmanzie
New member
You know gasman I am struggling with those power heads. I am having a hard time finding a sport where it will not blow away all my sand. This is one of the items that still needs tweeking. Thank you for the kind words.
Thanks MRX, things are coming along. I am now finshing connecting all my devices to the RK2. Makes me wonder how I got along before without it. Actually I need 2 more PC4s
On another note, my chiller is working like a charm with the RK2. Woke up this morning to see the temp for the first time at 77. I guess a 1/2 hp chiller will do that.
:dance:
Thanks MRX, things are coming along. I am now finshing connecting all my devices to the RK2. Makes me wonder how I got along before without it. Actually I need 2 more PC4s
On another note, my chiller is working like a charm with the RK2. Woke up this morning to see the temp for the first time at 77. I guess a 1/2 hp chiller will do that.
:dance:
