JapanReef - 450 gallon In-Wall system
- Thread starter JohnL
- Start date
Checked out the Dart CL today. Turned it on and it was working. I then remembered that I turned it off because flow had whittled down to nothing. So I took it apart and saw teh problem - the impeller was incased in Nassarius snails. 
So I dug them all out - all dead anyhow, and soaked it in vinegar for a while. Cleaned it up, whacked it back in and lo and behold I have a working closed loop. The CL takes water out of a 2" bulkhead at the back and returns it via 2 bulkheads on the right side. Unfortunately the pump is a big loud. I realise how spoiled I've been with just the one Iwaki MD-30RXT running for the return (that pump is completely silent, Iwaki ftw). Sat in my office with access doors closed and tank room door closed I can hear it. But it's no big deal.
So then, what has gotten into me? I managed to clean the skimmer and considering the skimmer is part of the return flow as the tank drains into it I had to rig up a bypass so wasn't simple. I service the skimmer pumps, and the return pump. I changed RODI filters, I cleaned the tank and now I "fixed" a closed loop pump.
You know, I think I might be truly back in the game.
So I dug them all out - all dead anyhow, and soaked it in vinegar for a while. Cleaned it up, whacked it back in and lo and behold I have a working closed loop. The CL takes water out of a 2" bulkhead at the back and returns it via 2 bulkheads on the right side. Unfortunately the pump is a big loud. I realise how spoiled I've been with just the one Iwaki MD-30RXT running for the return (that pump is completely silent, Iwaki ftw). Sat in my office with access doors closed and tank room door closed I can hear it. But it's no big deal.
So then, what has gotten into me? I managed to clean the skimmer and considering the skimmer is part of the return flow as the tank drains into it I had to rig up a bypass so wasn't simple. I service the skimmer pumps, and the return pump. I changed RODI filters, I cleaned the tank and now I "fixed" a closed loop pump.
You know, I think I might be truly back in the game.
Dart is leaking a bit. Not too much but enough to soak 2 small towels in 24 hours that I have wrapped around it. I remember someone saying ages ago that pump housing could leak if over-tightened. Any truth in that? Just need to know before I get in there and crank up the nuts.
Nexdog,
I just went through your thread and want to congratulate you for your honesty in reporting it.
I also appreciate the difficulty of planning your whole house+tank+fish room at the same time.
I've been trying to do the same thing but had to put the tank on hold until the rest could be finished.
If I may, I really think you should get a book like "The Reef Aquarium 3" .
I think it has been recommended to you earlier in the thread but it is really a great source for plumbing and wiring tips.
I just went through your thread and want to congratulate you for your honesty in reporting it.
I also appreciate the difficulty of planning your whole house+tank+fish room at the same time.
I've been trying to do the same thing but had to put the tank on hold until the rest could be finished.
If I may, I really think you should get a book like "The Reef Aquarium 3" .
I think it has been recommended to you earlier in the thread but it is really a great source for plumbing and wiring tips.
It seems to be leaking less now. I think the leak is at the very bottom of the housing that is bolted together. I tightened the bottom two nuts a bit more today, will see if that holds it. If it does't what should I use as lube for the o-ring?
snadaud - no point in hiding anything. I'm not out to impress or win any awards. I'm here to learn from all these reef boffins.
Ordering 40kg of live rock within the next 2 weeks and will beginning the makeover. I don't think I'll have to cure it too long, what do you think? When I got the rock before there was substantial die off that stank out the spare room for a few weeks. It gets shipped in wet newspaper, double bagged. But my tank will easily be able to absorb quite alot of die off. I'm thinking cure for a week, get the worst of the die off out and whack it in it. Any thoughts?
snadaud - no point in hiding anything. I'm not out to impress or win any awards. I'm here to learn from all these reef boffins.
Ordering 40kg of live rock within the next 2 weeks and will beginning the makeover. I don't think I'll have to cure it too long, what do you think? When I got the rock before there was substantial die off that stank out the spare room for a few weeks. It gets shipped in wet newspaper, double bagged. But my tank will easily be able to absorb quite alot of die off. I'm thinking cure for a week, get the worst of the die off out and whack it in it. Any thoughts?
jnarowe
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14764014#post14764014 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NexDog
Hopefully no need. Pump is no longer leaking.
Probably just needed to get wet, but, you should pull it apart every few months, inspect, clean, and re-lube as part of your normal maintenence routine.
Okay, so going to hook up the Hammerhead to the back bulkheads today. I really wanted to use the 4-Way but with the valves the thing is so heavy. Rather than sitting it on the pump I wanted to hook it in right behind the bulkheads so I only had to plumb in one line down below the tank to the HH pump. Feeding 4 lines down there is definitely NOT going to happen. So anyone have any ideas for that?
Otherwise what I'll do is rig up a straightforward manifold - T'ing a line off into the 4 bulkheads like this:
|__|__|__|
|
Question is, is there enough flow from a Hammerhead for that? Or will each bulkhead just provide a trickle? I have a Dart hooked in to 2 bulkheads like this on the right side and it provides some good flow. If it's too much I could cut it down to 3 bulkheads maybe? Any thoughts?
Also I'm going to mock up my tank in plywood later and put in all the side/back bulkheads so when the rock comes I can make the structures to the correct sizes first. Going to use epoxy and plastic ties.
Going to have to make a decision on the 3 foot wide anenome though. I have smaller ones in teh sump I could replace it with but I'm sure the Clarkii would heartbroken. Or I might get a blue carpet and see if she'll host in that.
Otherwise what I'll do is rig up a straightforward manifold - T'ing a line off into the 4 bulkheads like this:
|__|__|__|
|
Question is, is there enough flow from a Hammerhead for that? Or will each bulkhead just provide a trickle? I have a Dart hooked in to 2 bulkheads like this on the right side and it provides some good flow. If it's too much I could cut it down to 3 bulkheads maybe? Any thoughts?
Also I'm going to mock up my tank in plywood later and put in all the side/back bulkheads so when the rock comes I can make the structures to the correct sizes first. Going to use epoxy and plastic ties.
Going to have to make a decision on the 3 foot wide anenome though. I have smaller ones in teh sump I could replace it with but I'm sure the Clarkii would heartbroken. Or I might get a blue carpet and see if she'll host in that.
