Finally Upgraded-Pics Included!!!

[JustOneMoreTank]

OK, can you somehow point the Sedra pump's water away from the exit water of the skimmer? Do you follow me or not? Inside of the skimmers main body... where the output of the Sedra pump is flowing water into the skimmer... can you put a small piece or bend of PVC maybe a 45 degree bend and point it away from the bottom of the skimmer body where it is allowing water to exit the skimmer chamber?

 

[Leviathan]

OK, can you somehow point the Sedra pump's water away from the exit water of the skimmer? Do you follow me or not? Inside of the skimmers main body... where the output of the Sedra pump is flowing water into the skimmer... can you put a small piece or bend of PVC maybe a 45 degree bend and point it away from the bottom of the skimmer body where it is allowing water to exit the skimmer chamber?

Yes, I know exactly what you trying to say. I actually thought about something along thoses lines also, but was worried that it may impair the skimmers ability to skim properly. Did you have to do something like this yourself?

 

[JustOneMoreTank]

Hey,
No I havent had any problems at all with mine. I have a G4 that is heavily modified. I have it plumbed to receive water directly from the overflow and the sedra nw pump just recirculates the water in the skimmer injecting air. I also have a Gate Valve on the riser pipe. I have never had the skimmer running unmodified. When I set up my new tank I installed it fully modified to get the best performance as possible because it seems like so many people talk poorly of the G4 because it doesnt have a monster pump like the G4X.
Knock on wood I have not had any problems with the skimmer drawing out any microbubbles... the water exiting the riser pipe is crystal clear.
However when I was modifying the skimmer I was wondering if I should direct the outflow of the Sedra pump left, right, or up at an angle... ( to hopefully increase its performance). Then I got the idea to direct the water anyway that was away from the skimmers exit along the bottom of the skimmer to prevent microbubbles from being directed out too soon or immediately after coming out of the Sedra pump.

 

[salty child 79]

Love the aquascaping.

 

[Leviathan]

JustOneMoreTank, Thanks for the input on this. I have considered recently mod'ing the skimmer as you have. But until I figure out this problem I think I may just wait a little while.

Salty Child,
Thank you,
Though it has changed recently due to re-modeling the house ( painting ) and a relocation in the living room. When I get some of theses problems under control I will pots a few pictures.

 

[JustOneMoreTank]

Leviath... check out the ASM skimmer whatever thread. I think that maybe all you need is a little valve that will allow you to restrict the amount of air going through the hose into the skimmer. You should be able to find the fitting at HD or Lowes around the PVC or water line fittings like near where the RODI fittings and such are for different size polyethelene tubing...

 

[Leviathan]

Saw your post in the other thread, thanks for the idea. I will try to incorporate a valve this weekend. Hopefully this will solve the problem.

 

[JustOneMoreTank]

Good luck... keep us posted.

 

[Leviathan]

Been meaning to update on whats going on with the skimmer and the tank in general, but between doctor visits and not feeling to well I just havent had a chance till now.

The skimmer was taken completely apart and cleaned, I put a small clamp on the air hose intake to cut down the amount of air reaching the pump, which unfortunatly did nothing to help the bubble problem. I really dont know where to go from here to get it working the way it was.

As far as the system itself goes, theres some good and bad things happening. All of the softy frags that made it through all the power outtages are doing great. However there is a bad bubble algae outbreak on some of the rocks holding up the aquascape. I will need to attend to it soon. ( any reccomendations welcomed, but rocks cant be taken out of the system!! ) I am also planning on beefing back up my cleanup crew this weekend, as with the sps frags most of them did pretty poorly during all the power outtages.

So I guess I am starting to see a slow movement back to stability. I am at least to a point that it dosent hurt to look at it. Step by step I will get this system thriving.

Chris

 

[melev]

You need to contact the vendor about your skimmer problem. Surely they'll know what to tell you.

It is nice to see a tank rebound. Mine looks so much better than it did a few months ago.

 

[Leviathan]

After a lot of reading and a long deliberation over the last few weeks, I have decided that I am going to do something now before I do anything else.

I am tired of the algae battle I have had to fight over the last few months ( some GHA, and alot of GBA ), and also dont particularly care for the rubbermaid sump ( with no baffels ) and I would really like to go back with at the very least a SSB if not a full blown DSB. So in one all encompasing swoop, I will be tearing the tank completely down for 2 months, and cooking my LR. During the 8 weeks that I am cooking the rocks, I will be replacing my sump with a more suitable replacement ( with baffels )

I will also need to fix the center door brace on the stand while I have the tank empty. Somehow it got pushed in, and though its not what I would consider a load bearer, I do think its asking for problems to not pull it back into place and clamp it secure. Also during the 8 week cooking phase, I will be getting some form of arganite for either a SSB or DSB ( still not sure yet, most likely SSB and use a larger grain size so I can have a heavier flow ).

I am, going to get this ASM working during the down time as well.

With the few frags I have and the 1 watchman, I think they will do fine in the current sump ( retro'ed as a makeshift holding tank, with lighting and flow added ) so I am not too concerned about anyMORE fatalities.

I plan on starting the cooking process by the weekend, and will be taking some before and after shots of the rocks, to document my personal cooking experience.

Wish me luck, cause when this is all taken care of, I will be back in business at 100%, something that is LONG past its time.

Chris

 

[melev]

Sounds like a good plan.

The only reason I can think that you'd need to cook the rock is to remove the nuisance algae. Because if your system was as nutrient poor as you described, what more can come out of the rock?

Are you going to build your own acrylic sump during this down time?

 

[Leviathan]

Sounds like a good plan.

The only reason I can think that you'd need to cook the rock is to remove the nuisance algae. Because if your system was as nutrient poor as you described, what more can come out of the rock?

Are you going to build your own acrylic sump during this down time?

Well it WAS nutrient poor,,,but with all the power outtages and decaying organisims lately,,,that changed quickly,,,the algae problem needs to be nip in the bud asap,,,befor it gets to far gone IMO.

I am considering building my own,,,not sure yet

 

[Leviathan]

I broke the tank down a little while ago, and put all of the LR in a container with a MJ1200 in it for flow, in the closet. So today marks day one of the next 6-8 weeks of cooking.

I did however completely forget to take before pictures of the rocks, I wish I hadnt done that. Of well, just ridding the algae off the rocks will be reward enough without pictures.

Still deciding on what to do about a new sump, I may just build one if I can find all the materials.

I will keep everyone updated.

Chris

 

[Leviathan]

Cooking Update

Cooking Update

Well tomorrow marks the second week of the cooking process. After the first week ( during the water change ) I noticed no difference in algae on the rocks. I didnt and dont expect to see much visual difference until around week 3 or 4 anyhow. I DID notice 2 big things though. First the amount of detrius was amazing, the water in the swishing contanier was so muddy looking it was scary. Second thing I noticed was as I swished and brushed the rocks off the bubble algae seemed to come off much much easier, its normal tight death grip was no longer present.

I am doing water change # 2 tomorrow, and will take some pictures of the swishing basin to show you what is coming off the rocks.

I am also looking now into getting a 20gallon Long tank for my sump, and making 3 chambers in it using plexiglass baffels( being cut for me next week ) I will imploy the basic over under over baffel system to each section of the sump and create a refugium in one of them. I am also getting enough arg. based sand to do about a 2"- 3" SSB, to bring things back to the way I have always done/liked doing them.

Now if only I could get well, doing all this is tough when you are so sick. Guess I cant expect to have everything go my way!

Will update with pictures soon.
Chris

 

[elephen]

None of those pictures are loading just to give you a heads up.

 

[Leviathan]

None of those pictures are loading just to give you a heads up.

Yes, sorry about that. I did some house cleaning on my host, so there are no longer pictures connected to thoses tags. I figured since it was basically a brand new start, might as well completely start over with all new pictures as well.

Chris

 

[melev]

You might as well start a new thread then.

 

[Leviathan]

You might as well start a new thread then.

Why, just because I wanted to start over with newer pictures?

My host only allows me so much space,,,I saw no reason in taking up space with pictures that had no real relevance anymore

 

[melev]

Well, this thread loses its value when the images that were included are lost, and really this thread doesn't match your current situation.

If you start a new thread with the redesign and implementation, post the link in this thread so all your subscribers can move with you to the new one. This is only a suggestion.

It's a shame that you couldn't keep up the old pictures for those that come across this thread to see what all you did until now. However, as you stated, you ran out of space.