finneganswake
In Memoriam
How is running the overflow directly into the skimmer working out? I've got a new Deltec AP600 waiting for me at home and a gravity fed project that I'll (hopefully) have time to work on tomorrow.
do you use a filter sock?
- Thread starter Reefski's
- Start date
How is running the overflow directly into the skimmer working out? I've got a new Deltec AP600 waiting for me at home and a gravity fed project that I'll (hopefully) have time to work on tomorrow.
Sindjin
New member
It seems to work great. But the problem I had before was that I only had one overflow. So when I would adjust the gate valve to my skimmer, the water level in my sump would adjust way too much. So I added a second overflow ...but now I need the Sock to catch the detritus from that. Is the Deltec a Recirc Skimmer?
finneganswake
In Memoriam
Yep. It's a recirculating model.
Did you put a T pipe between the overflow and the skimmer? That's what I'm doing so that any water not used by the skimmer (which is probably a lot since it only takes 160gph) will back up to the T and then overflow into the sump. Hopefully this will take care of things as this is my first plumbing experiment
Sindjin
New member
Thats a Good Idea, Finn...
What I did initially was place a T and a ball valve on the output from the sump pump. Part of the T went to the tank the other back into the sump. Then I adjusted the flow accordingly and this did not cause backpressure to the pump. I like the sound of your way better, but I would still put a ball valve on it so you can adjust flow to the skimmer if need be.
What I did initially was place a T and a ball valve on the output from the sump pump. Part of the T went to the tank the other back into the sump. Then I adjusted the flow accordingly and this did not cause backpressure to the pump. I like the sound of your way better, but I would still put a ball valve on it so you can adjust flow to the skimmer if need be.
JimW
Premium Member
Maintenance seems to be the key to successfully using filter socks. Might be better not to use them for "the less enthusiastic reefer". Can't see where use of filter sock, or lack there of, would make much difference in the pod/plankton issue, since most people feed regularly anyway.
Reefski's
Active member
Anthony Calfo says to put your skimmer intake before the sock. i had mine after the sock but after hearing Anthony's lecture i shortened the intake pipe to the skimmer so it is actually inside the sock. i still can't tell if it is producing more or less skimmate. there probably is a difference but i can't tell what it is.
Carl
Carl
finneganswake
In Memoriam
Hey now
!I don't use a filter sock but that hardly makes me an unenthusiastic reefer--I'd say I spend about 3 or 4 hours a week minimum on maintainance of my tank. Personally, I think it makes me an enthusiastic reefer as I tried to educate myself about the issue instead of just doing what 99% of people do.
Sindjin
New member
Well, I just added the Berlin Filter Sock Holder thingy from Marine Depot. Its a nice holder. This morning my filter sock was tan....so i know its working. Last night I siphoned out my entire sump and removed all the debris. Hopefully I'll have crystal clear water in the next few days.
Does anyone add carbon to the bottom of their filter sock? I was thinking a few tablespoons may be a good way to run carbon.
Does anyone add carbon to the bottom of their filter sock? I was thinking a few tablespoons may be a good way to run carbon.
finneganswake
In Memoriam
I'd strongly recommend not doing this. I'm a big carbon fan, I just think that having constant waterflow over it will be too much of a drain on your trace elements. Every author I've read suggests using it passively--ie, just putting it in your sump. I do this, at one cup for my 50g, and change it every 30 days. It keeps the water crystaly clear and, IMO, has a lot to do with the success of a mixed reef tank since I keep softies, lps, and sps together with very good results. There were zoas and ricordeas in there at one time and they also thrived so well that I ended up removing them as they were starting to take up way too much space.
fishamajiggle
New member
i dont and definately should.
finneganswake
In Memoriam
Don't tell me Bomber has gotten to you regarding carbon also
Carbon can release phosphate but most aquarium grade carbon doesn't--fortunately, it is the kind you can test for. I've never heard about the iron release, but since I dose iron to begin with, that's not even an issue with me.
So, IMO, you're looking at a negligible chance of leaching phosphate and a possible chance of releasing something many people dose to begin with versus all the benefits of using carbon.
Sindjin
New member
Today is the 2nd day Im running my sock and its brown, full and almost overflowing. Im gonna clean it out when I get home. I ordered 3 more from Marine Depot for back-ups. Also...
Im thinking of making a box out of eggcrate that I can slide between my bubble trap baffles....I was planning on filling it up with filter floss. I figure its a cheap, easy way for periodic mechanical filtration.
Im thinking of making a box out of eggcrate that I can slide between my bubble trap baffles....I was planning on filling it up with filter floss. I figure its a cheap, easy way for periodic mechanical filtration.
finneganswake
In Memoriam
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6485506#post6485506 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sindjin
You dose Iron in your Reef? Is that to feed your algae?
No, that's a popular misconception--that iron automatically leads to algae blooms. I've never had any algae issues in my tank other than the typical cycling stuff. The worst thing that's shown up is maybe three or four (total) single bubble algaes--not the clumps, just isolated bubbles.
The reason I dose iron is that it has a very strong effect on the colors of green and red corals. I'll dose a couple of drops every day until they get really bright, then drop down to a couple of drops every three or four days until they start to lose some of their color. The difference in color is amazing--I've got a acropora millepora that I always thought was pink until I started dosing iron, at which point it turned brick red. I also have a lot of green corals that have gone from kind of green to screaming green after dosing iron.
It's really easy not to overdose--you just tone down the dosage when the colors get nice, as you know at that point that there's enough in the water.
