How to DIY an AC 70 fuge

[coyoteseven]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7192089#post7192089 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by puffer21
Do you think this would work with a 50 one.

The AC mini, 20, 30, 50 and 70 all use the same size impeller assembly. The only difference is the length of the impeller blades... the shorter the blade, the less water that is moved (i.e., less flow).

This is a better solution, IMHO, than trimming or cutting away the original blades yourself. When you do the trimming yourself, no matter how careful you are, the chances of imbalance are greater. Imbalance can cause excessive wear and tear on your unit, requiring a total replacement of the pump and/or entire filter.

Just my 2Ã"šÃ‚¢

 

[puffer21]

ok thanks

 

[puffer21]

Sugar Magnolia did you keep your Jailli light on the tank? How did it work? Also do you think super glue will be able to hold the light up?
Thanks Puffer21

 

[MadSkillzMan]

i think super glue would. I need to find myself a more perminent light

 

[puffer21]

OH but is that light good?

 

[bobajum]

Can someone help me with my AC70 mod??

I made all the proper mods to the AC70 outlined in this thread and I replaced the impeller with the AC20 impeller.

The problem I am having is that I get very little flow with the AC20 impeller. It seems like i barely get a trickle coming out of the output area. I currently dont have my water all the way to the tank's edge as I am waiting for LR. When I look at the U tube that feeds the water to the motor, there is still a lot of air still trapped in there. Is there any way to make the flow any better or is this normal?

Thank you in advance.

BTW...Sugar, thx for the detailed pics for this mod. It was very easy to follow and to do.

 

[MadSkillzMan]

well, based on the fact you dont have the tank full of water AND the lower power impeller, i beleive itd be normal. Do youu have the U tube all the way to the left? you can slide it to regulate flow (i didnt know this at first lol)

Now honestly, ii have the original impeller on mine (actually a new filter all together) and it doesnt come out as strong as it would with just filter media. Depending on the tank, you might want to keept he bigger impeller, as with SW you want some incredible amount of moving water to keep the LR and corals happy. I think a 10g would require the samller impeller, but 20+ you could get away with the bigger impeller.

Oh, big warning, if you have macro algae IIn the aquarium...it WILL grow on the intake tube, and slow your flow down bigtime. I remedied this by putting a foam spongey cartridge from my protein skimmer pump on it. The only drawback is, it fills up with crud (and takes away from the skimmer) but also turns into more of a nitrate factory. I dont see this as being much of a problem though, since the macro algae is inches away..so i just see it as a way to feed it. Well that and im dosing Kalk, so my phosphates are pretty much in check.

Hope this info helps!

 

[coyoteseven]

Even with a full tank of water, my AC70 with the AC20 impeller has air in the intake tube, it doesn't hurt the functioning of the filter a bit.

With the tube set to the left (highest flow setting), the actual flow is still very low... as it should be when used as a fuge. The slower the water passes through the macro, the more contact time it has to process the nitrates/phosphates.

HTH

 

[MadSkillzMan]

ahhh good to know coyoteseven. i may lower mine then...sadly i havent been able to use the light on mine for 2 days due to the ungodly temps up here...its weird how a small flourescant bulb raises the temp so fast

at night ill throw it on..my photoperiods are so messed up right now

 

[bobajum]

Thx for the info Coyote. I was afraid I did something wrong but if the trickle is normal, I guess all turned out correctly.

 

[MadSkillzMan]

anybody have any issues with theirs getting gross? Mines got like brown remains of Cheato all over the place

 

[OrangeKoi]

I put in one of those little bumble bee snails...though I'm not sure you are supposed to...maybe the brown is good? For the critters...

 

[bigmayreefer]

How far does the AC70 hang over into the tank? Im cutting a glass lid for my 5.5 and need to know haw much room to leave for the pickup tube and return for when i get my filter to mod it.
Thanks.

 

[Miggy]

Can you get hold of these in the UK because i really want to put a fuge on my reef.

 

[Colin]

The thread that wouldn't die...

This mod is requested and linked to a lot still, so I thought I'd add my part.

When I did this, I used one of the sides from the filter basket. I left out the filter pad and used an AC 20 impeller. It stays in place without any silicone. Light is provided by a 27W adjustable arm table lamp from Home Depot.

I found that there was just barely a trickle of water coming out. The culprit? When I cut the intake tube (on the U, as recommended) the bulge where the strainer part connects on fell right where the groove in the filter body that holds the tube going into the tank is. The result is that the intake tube would pop up just a little and prevent good suction. The solution was to sand down the ridges on the filter body that were preventing the tube from seating fully.

The other issue I found is that when the power is cut from the filter, the water in the filter syphons back into the tank, potentially overflowing the tank. My solution was to put a small hole in the intake tube on the filter side a little below the normal water line. That way when the water level begins to drop, air enters the tube and breaks the syphon. The downside is that the filter will not re-start unless enough water is added to the filter to cover the hole. Is there a better way to do this? I left the heater in the tank so that if the syphon is broken the tank will still have heat.

Thanks for the great thread!

--Colin

 

[Rosseau]

I currently have an AC fuge going. However I fear that sufficient light isn't reaching my chaeto on the very bottom.


It's packed all the way down. Anyone foresee problems here?

 

[smash102]

This is the first time I have done a salt water tank and a fuge was suggested as on of the filtering possibilities.

1.) How well dose this really work for keeping good chemical balance within your tank?
2.) Have you ever had a problem with the algae sporing and causing levels to spike?

It seams easy to do and maintain, but I am looking for some veteran assurance or discouragement for a first timer.

 

[AnneRiceBowl]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6684151#post6684151 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MadSkillzMan
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v481/MadSkillzMan/IMG_0157.jpg[/IMG]

Is that some kind of DIY skimmer in this pic?

 

[Colin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9130545#post9130545 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by smash102
This is the first time I have done a salt water tank and a fuge was suggested as on of the filtering possibilities.

1.) How well dose this really work for keeping good chemical balance within your tank?
2.) Have you ever had a problem with the algae sporing and causing levels to spike?

It seams easy to do and maintain, but I am looking for some veteran assurance or discouragement for a first timer.

I don't know about the sporing issue, but in the 3 weeks or so that I've had mine up and running with chaeto, I've seen my nitrates go from 30 to near 0. I think it's great.

--Colin

 

[Bmgrocks]

Yes I JUST FINISHED MY mod! Was an AC 70, so excited, and i am waiting on my silicone to dry...

But instead of using Acrylic Bafffle, I just used the Filter Insert, the grey plastic piece as a Baffle. I think its ok.

But what is the purpose of putting a Millenium Filter cartradge infront of the Baffle?

As for the impeller, i broke off 3 of the impellers, to lessen the flow, i don't think that significant imbalance etc. will take place and throw the whole filter outta wack. If so, ijust buy a lower grade AC impeller.

Should I have Sand, Rubble and Chaeto in my new Fuge?